Polaris Serpent: The Great Reversal from Humble Origins

I wondered about Father's origins. Did the Polaris Serpent, that ultimate comeback king from a background character start, begin life as a tiny Little Green Snake? Or maybe as a white snake like me? It was impossible to imagine his larval days from that massive, majestic form.

As a snake, he surely didn't start out grand. He probably began as a scrawny little thread snake. After hatching, he'd have scrapped with his siblings over food. Hell, he might've even offed a few uncles or aunts to survive. I'd seen the savagery of baby snakes firsthand.

Once he survived that, he'd have left ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his parents' side. According to Pellelian, snakes aren't big on paternal or maternal love. Unlike that centipede who carried its young. Even Medusa Mom only did the bare minimum. If Gunter hadn't shown up—and if we'd outgrown clinging to her scalp—Mom would've kicked us into the wild and gone bald again.

Father grew. Most snakes end up as ordinary wild animals, dying unremarkably. It's no exaggeration to say Giant Green Snake is the final evolution for your average snake monster.

But at some point, Father took a different path. White scales stand out in the Great Forest. To survive as one, you have to be strong. When his body ballooned to its current size and his mouth could spew rays to incinerate foes... he probably became the apex monster ruling an entire forest.

And then he met Mom. I tried imagining their romance. Snake romance. Parents' romance.

Hmm... Truth be told, I knew jack about romance. How did my past-life parents meet? Oh, right. Dad had a complex. He was missing his left index and middle fingers. Didn't seem like a big deal to me, but he was always ashamed of it. He wore silicone prosthetics—fake fingers—everywhere.

They were building a good thing early on, but Dad was rotting inside. Third date, and he still hadn't confessed about his fingers. He really liked bold, pretty Mom. He dreaded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her reaction if she found out.

So he always walked on her left, holding hands only with his right. When sitting opposite, he'd tuck his left into his coat, fist clenched. Somehow, he got away with it. Or so he thought.

Mom sensed something off in his behavior. Even in old age, she was sharp—a real spitfire. The moment she stepped to his left, he'd awkwardly shift her back to his left. When it kept happening, she grabbed his left hand without hesitation.

Busted.

Instead of yelling What the hell is this?! she laughed.

"What? I thought you were hiding a wedding ring 'cause you're married."

"Ah, haha..."

"Hide anything from me again, and you're dead."

Dunno what charm she saw in that line. Dad fell for her hard and they even married. But Mom's personality was no joke—Dad ended up firmly under her thumb. Their fiery love eventually turned into fiery fights.

Father might've had a similar romance. When Medusa Mom got offed by that human hero, he let out a long sigh. Relief? Who knows. Though ice tears followed right after.

They fought and split, so there must be more to it. Anyway, after trading a few blows with Father, we seemed to reach an understanding.

He carried me on his back home. That feeling was next-level. Overlooking everything on the ground. Way beyond flying. His massive body cradled me perfectly.

He couldn't fit in the indoor zoo, so he stayed outside by the cliffside house. That's when I discovered something wild: every time he slept, he'd vanish.

Not teleport, not invisible. I'd go to bed, come out next morning—he'd be back. My schedule now included Father time. Not your haha-ho-ho father-son chats, though.

I got snake combat training.

Like this? I whipped my tail through the air. Practicing Tail Whip.

Normal snakes don't use Tail Whip—must be a monster thing.

Right? I looked up at Father. He shook his head slowly. Not quite.

Stoic type—didn't talk much. He demonstrated instead. Lifted his massive tail. Rippled from spine like a wave, then crack!—whipped the air. The motion accelerated to whip-speed at the tip.

CRAAACK! Thunderous. At impact, the tail bent—clearly a sonic boom breaking sound barrier.

Incredible. No wonder he became Polaris Serpent. Not just looks.

I repeated it endlessly. Starting to get the feel. Finally—Paang!

Key was the body wave. Needed to turn my tail into a whip.

Paang! Pang! I went wild making popping sounds.

Father watched impassively. But it wasn't wasted effort.

Lessons from Father manifested as real skills. Not everything becomes a skill, but Tail Whip popping up easy? Snakes must learn it naturally.

Training from a battle-hardened snake vet. Tail Whip's no joke.

Paang! Like whipping a razor-wire chain slathered in poison. Solid mid-range beyond biting.

Next up: Destruction Beam, obviously. I asked Father to teach me. But he yawned hugely, looking sleepy, and flopped down. Once like that, no waking him.

Wonder if Thunder Command would jolt him.

—Not bad at playing dad.

Pellelian stared blankly at lounging Father. Deep in thought. Missing his kids? As far as I knew, he had none.

Surprising.

—What is?

I'd hung with Pellelian long enough to read him.

Thought you'd tell me to shank Grandpa for levels and evolve.

Weak don't survive brutal Great Forest. Polaris off-guard? Eat him, level up, evolve. Expected that pitch.

—Suicide.

Yeah. Probably insane poison resistance too.

—Even if you did off your dad... Pellelian murmured.

—Festival's starting soon. Can't leave the area. Those monkey and bug named monsters will rampage. Even another evolution, you'd struggle against them.

I've gotten strong, but he said it confidently.

—But your dad... might match them.

Hmm, maybe. Haven't grasped Father's full power yet. Nor the monkey or bug bosses'.

Problem is...

Problem?

—He doesn't look healthy.

Hadn't thought of that. Looking back—eyes closed. Tires easy. Perked up after that unripe fruit, though.

Was about to ask why when—

Tsutsutsutsutsu—

My scales bristled. Father too—slowly rose.

Other resting monsters lifted heads skyward.

—Starts the moment I mention it.

Sky already purple-tinged. Then one spot deepened. Like ink bleeding—vivid violet spread across the sky. To ground, everywhere.

—Area demonizing.

Demon realm. Fitting.

Gorilla approached. "Boss... it's starting..."

Ex-monkey lieutenant. Knew the lore.

"Sage... told me... Sage lived forever..."

That orangutan survived multiple festivals. Impressive.

Experiences not in Deshunan's notes.

"Back then... only one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠group... survived."

Cliff view was wide. Far off, a boundary encircled like a dome. No entry, no exit—demon realm sealed.

Drdrdrdr—

Earthquake. Central forest—massive roots sprouting. Not one—tangled into a giant tree.

Movement between roots.

"Guardians... super strong. Protect... glowing fruit."

Fruit forms there? Not visible yet. But monsters will kill for it.

Primates, bugs, our zoo beasts...!

Near cliff—a root sprouted.

Kwaduduk! Growth beyond plant norms. Fruit too.

Red fruit with geometric yellowish patterns.

Zoo beasts' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠leader's me, right?

'Let's go!' I hopped on gorilla's shoulder quick. Close, but another monster might snag it.

And yep—waiters lurked.

"Proboscis monkeys!"

Gorilla warned. Long-faced monkeys charging from below. Fast—commando types.

'No prob, we're faster.'

Root nearby. Father up too, running with us.

Wait—Father faster than me and gorilla. Taller too—easy fruit grab.

Before I arrived—he plucked the top fruit.

—Hey!

'No way... usurpation?!'

True, Polaris way stronger. Hotter, huger. Famous—no monster unafraid. Incoming monkeys flinched, slowed.

Still... zoo beasts my crew. Lose leadership to Dad?

Nope. He held fruit by stem, lowered head. Dropped it before me.

"Saaak!"

I cheered joyfully. Dad tossing fruit like fried chicken after work—filial piety surging.

Uneaten = unfilial. Chomp.

I crunched it down.

Oh, auto-activated.

...That's it? Temporary epithet. Gotta check effects.

Seems basic. But last line's power showed quick.

Piiiing—

Light gathered at Father's mouth. Ray fired.

Proboscis monkey pack—ashes instantly.

Ah. Party hunt, proxy hunt, auto-hunt. Whatever. Dad carry.