The Snake Fails at Filial Piety

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Snakes can't really show filial piety. Or rather, they're just paper-thin excuses for groups that band together. Or small packs numbering a dozen or so. But when the numbers exceed hundreds. Or when demonic beasts cluster like insect legions in the thousands or tens of thousands. For such a horde to function properly, a powerful leader is naturally essential.

Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as silverback monkeys exist among primate packs, the swamp monster reigns over the insect legion. But an organization can't run on a leader alone. Any group of decent size needs staff officers to realistically execute the leader's will. Among primate demonic beasts, the staff are elderly orangutans called 'sages'. Orangutans aren't chosen for their strength. It's their high intelligence and superior language skills.

And the insect legion had its own staff. A single spider. The Demon Face Tarantula. A demonic beast with a devil's face floating on its plump belly. The commonality between the orangutan and the man-faced spider is their ability to speak. The man-faced spider speaks through the mouth on its belly. And it can hear thoughts, understanding other demonic beasts' minds.

The difference is combat prowess. The Demon Face Tarantula surpasses even the Crimson Teeth Great Centipede in strength. And if you include the spiders it subjugates and commands like limbs, it's truly the legion's number two. Spiders and centipedes don't get along. Since the first persimmon ripened in the heavenly orchard. Since the longest centipede and the largest spider clashed, creating a lake in mutual destruction, their enmity has endured.

But the insects here had finally formed a pack. Under the swamp monster's dominance, spiders and centipedes allied. Yet it couldn't prevent the nerve war between the two insect lords.

Clang, clang. The Great Centipede clashed her poison claws in dissatisfaction. She wasn't alone. Stag beetles, scarabs, grubs, bees—various demonic beasts stood behind her. In contrast, only spiders of countless varieties followed the man-faced spider.

The lips on the face protruding from the man-faced spider's belly moved grotesquely.

"You, should not have, let that snake go."

Its voice carried an eerie echo, like hundreds of spiders chorusing. "A small but, strong-looking, demonic beast. If you'd eaten it, it would've been, fine nourishment."

Its cloying tone clearly blamed the centipede. The man-faced spider's voice infused thoughts. Low-intelligence insects wouldn't understand, but beasts with budding intellect would grasp the rebuke.

"Chase it, and kill it!"

"Kekeke…."

Killing intent laced the Great Centipede's cry. Don't touch that snake. That was the warning.

"The swamp, monster, won't like it." The man-faced spider threatened back. These insects didn't follow the swamp monster out of respect or affection. Only fear—the overwhelming terror of the strongest insect—bound them. Mentioning the swamp monster made some insects tremble.

"Keruk." The centipede raised its body. I'm done listening.

What's its connection to that snake? The man-faced spider felt curiosity. Pushing for extermination might spark war with the centipede. But there was no need. A small spider sent with the monkeys had already whispered the news. The snake had snatched two unripe fruits from the orangutan. Revealing that would justify killing it. The centipede couldn't object forever.

"I'll remember, this."

But the man-faced spider only gave the centipede a moral disadvantage and stopped. Why reveal the fruits? If secretly pocketed, they'd be his. He'd already dispatched subordinates. Through its three watchful eyes, it shared their vision.

'Rocky area.' Foolish snake. Of all places, the rocky zone. Where 'that thing' lived. Of course, it slept buried in rocks all day. Rarely emerging, so even the swamp monster and silverback left it be. So it thought.

'…What.' No way. That thing rising under moonlight.

'Retreat—!' From afar, the man-faced spider ordered its kin. Too late.

Thud thud thud! Vision blacked out as three of eight eyes burst. Yellow pus oozed from the ruptured orbs. Spiderlings gathered worriedly. The man-faced spider bit them with tiny forelegs and devoured. The little ones scattered in panic.

'What the….' Its nurtured kin's deaths harmed even it. Recovering this loss would take time. It burned with sticky rage.

* * *

* * *

That's my father. The name from Deshunan's breeding journal. Polaris. The North Star. Guide for all ships crossing oceans. Attached as the Serpent's prefix. Imagining the beast from the name alone was impossible. I'd thought it pretentious—what kind of show-off name is that?—unfilial as it was.

But seeing father in the flesh, I instantly grasped its meaning. Look at those serene eyes. Like three North Stars in the sky. Father's upward gaze evoked a young captain seeking Polaris. If you ask how a snake conveys that, come see for yourself.

Even straining my eyes yielded scant info. Harder than Gunter. Barely glimpsed one epithet.

Straightforward epithet. Then I understood how my parents met. Medusa Mom was, bluntly put, a total simp.

-A snake that handsome? Yeah. Polaris Serpent was handsomer than any beast I'd seen. Deshunan's creepy 'beautiful' ramblings weren't just perversion—the looks were genuinely stunning. Starlit eyes and scales aside, its perfect form stole souls. Enormous too. Far larger than Medusa Mom; how'd they even meet?

The spiders shared my shock. Creeping back, they froze like soul-stolen. That's when Father's tail moved. A casual swat, like swatting flies.

Kwaaaaang! The ground-shaking impact flung me airborne before landing. Looking back, spiders were pancaked—3D to 2D. A familiar shiver ran up my spine. Tail-smashing to pulp wasn't Medusa Mom's unique skill.

Survivors fled. Father didn't chase foolishly. Just elegantly parted noble jaws. Light gathered inside. I hated this recurring shiver. I knew what was coming. Dragons get breath weapons, not snakes.

Keeeeing! A ray burst from Father's maw, incinerating fleeing spiders. Definitely a breath.

-Destruction Beam! Pellelian exclaimed. Sure, Destruction Beam's cool. His dungeon golems had it too. Could they output like that?

-Not that power. But confirmed…. Amused tone.

-It has magical allure. Likely the Serpent's unique ability.

No matter how handsome, unrelated spiders freezing solid? Pellelian chalked it to Polaris Serpent's power.

-Charm-related mental ability, probably. It didn't faze me with Unbreakable Will. Father gazed curiously. Surprised I wasn't charmed? Or recognized his offspring?

He lowered his massive head close. Even closer, handsomer. I'd thought myself decent for a snake; Father's eclipsed me.

-Be careful. Useless against that thing. Pellelian's worthless advice. My ultimate Heavenly Thunder Decree would just sting. Overwhelming power gap. Yet I felt no fear. No hostility from him. Curiosity shone in those deep blue eyes.

Shhhlit, flick. Tongue tasting air. Snakes understand: scenting. Father, your son has returned.

I'd tried checking his status like with Gunter. Focused hard. Useless. Like a shut mind; even level hidden.

"Shhhlit."

I flicked my tongue similarly. Warmth spread. Blood ties?

Father, your son is back.

Not illusion. I relayed the message to Pellelian.

-Bloodline resonance? Your dam, Medusa Serpent, wasn't one to raise young properly…. Different breed maybe.

Father recognized me. I foresaw my future. Like Kkubugi, Wangnuni, Daegari riding Father's back. Invincible. Unless Gunter shows!

But my happy dream shattered.

Father jolted head up, startled. Then fidgeted awkwardly, glancing around. Mistaking Mom nearby? Before I broke bad news, he spun and fled.

Where you going! Instinct screamed chase. But size difference—he was insanely fast. Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whoosh, gone. Vanished. No hiding that bulk; like evaporation.

Scanned around, asked Pellelian: 'Teleport?' Was Father a Magic Serpent? Archmage snake….

'Teleport's high magic even my era's mages barely used. No beast snake can.

Maybe it can! No clear answer.

-Invisibility would've left presence…. Mana sense it.

Did. Nothing. I shrugged it off. He'll return. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Not eating me; fled scared—no fear here. Dream of riding him someday. Head home for now.

Dotbakyi cowered head in rock crevice, terrified. Yanked her tail. She leaped, recognized me, licked my face.

'Let's go home.' Got loot anyway.