You Are Forever Responsible for What You Have Tamed

Riok gathered everything in front of him with its bent forelegs like a rake. If it stretched those legs out straight, they'd fall just short of ten meters. Whipping around those front legs studded with sharp protrusions would snag monkeys or beasts alike, dragging them in or battering them senseless. Once they got close to those teeth—chewing endlessly like some separate creature—it was over. Like a shredder in a waste processing plant.

Riok advanced, relentlessly biting, crushing, and swallowing. A carpet of blood unfurled in its wake.

Normally, Riok's eyes were pitch black. But this Insect King was different. Something worm-like swam in those murky depths, a sign that the symbiotic parasites had finally claimed even its tiny eyes. It must have at least understood its role as leader once, but now only instinct remained. A horrific hunger dominated it completely—enough to hurl aside the silver monkey it had vied with for supremacy and lunge for the nearest prey.

It leaped into the air, then crash-landed almost like a fall. Heading straight for the spot thickest with beasts. Inevitably, that was the right flank of the formation where spiders, bugs, and monkeys clustered. But it also happened to be where the giant centipede lurked.

That she and her children got swept into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ensuing chaos? Pure coincidence. A truly horrific one.

"KkeeeEEE!"

A heartrending roar. Her cry echoed thunderously, reaching even me. Beasts swirled like a vortex amid the frenzy. Amid them, the giant centipede stood out starkly. The three siblings always clinging to her back. No—only two now. The white one was Kkubugi. One was the second... no, third? Hard to tell.

"KkeeeEEE! Kke!"

The giant centipede thrashed wildly, no thought of fleeing. Clearly, one child had been swept away. Even then, Riok kept devouring beasts as it closed in.

Hey, snap out of it.

A chill washed over me like ice water. The World Tree root. I glanced between Riok, the giant centipede, and Father. My pack was here. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The beasts I'd tamed, and my ailing father.

Suddenly, that line came to mind. 'You are forever responsible for what you have tamed.' From a pilot's tale of The Little Prince, one I'd memorized back then. I'd wanted to tell my parents, but never did.

I realized I couldn't abandon the giant centipede or her little centipede babies. Nor could I throw my tamed pack to Riok. Decision made, action followed.

Father.

As always, he gazed down silently.

Watch things here. If I look in real danger, just fire one destruction beam.

And to the gorilla:

Don't get too close or too far—stay clustered.

"Boss...!"

The gorilla called, but I was already heading for the centipedes.

No legs, but full speed ahead. I surged forward like a sprinting crawl. Fleeing beasts blocked my path. Couldn't waste time getting trampled by pounding monkey feet.

I unleashed my aura without restraint. It worked even on beasts drunk on fear and murder. Or maybe the ones commanding them couldn't anymore. A path cleared as beasts parted. I pressed on relentlessly, ripping out hearts from any that didn't yield. Slipping between a massive monkey's legs. Ignoring clinging bugs.

"KkeeeEEE!"

The mother centipede was fully berserk now. The missing one was Wangnuni—the best eater. The biggest...

Boom.

Impact hurled me airborne. A four-legged gorilla charge. This female gorilla had unusually long fangs, different breed maybe. She looked flustered as I righted myself unscathed.

Couldn't rip its heart, but sank fangs deep. Ignored its flailing and pushed on. A locust dog-sized pounced. Breathed fire into its maw. It clung burning to me. Burns hurt, but bearable. Bugs swarmed my body; beasts trampled over.

Ah. Somewhere nearby, Wangnuni must've suffered the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same. Maybe already dead.

Craaaack!

Beasts on me charred black. Freedom regained. Eyes met the giant centipede's. She stared, frozen in shock.

Quick, find your kid.

Hoping she understood. I turned away. Not just her—lightning made Riok stare too, now closer. Did it snap its muddled mind briefly? See me as a rival? Or just shiny prey. Anyway, it stopped devouring.

Good. Come at me. I moved away from the centipede. Riok's head followed. Perfect. Used more eye-catching skills.

"Saaaak!"

That roar might've signaled it. "KweeEEEEK!" Straight at me now. Lure it—ideally toward the monkeys. But miscalculations happened.

Crawl faster, it's catching up!

First, Riok was faster than expected. From afar, its bulk hid speed. Up close? Way faster than me.

Can't use acceleration forever. Mana dipping already. Even post-Crystal Python, with boosted mana?

Second issue: Beasts fled my way too as Riok turned. Spotting heavy, fast non-snakes? Easy. Desperate ones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shoved and trampled me.

No choice. Riok's path shifted from centipede—drop thunder roar, just escape. Few flying bugs nearby. Makes sense—they'd have fled. Found a cicada-like one.

Body lifted. Less flight, more levitation. No control over direction or speed. But can't dig or emergency return now—this'd do. Then—

Flap flap.

A bug latched on. Then two, three. Weight pulling down. Knew it. That's why no flight earlier. Finally, a long-legged monkey grabbed me. Borrowed Flight Lv3 buckled.

"Kkiiik! Wooee!"

Monkey and bug cacophony overwhelming. Swarmed again. Bit wildly to escape.

Heard that faintly. No time to celebrate. Gathered dwindling mana for thunder.

Craaaack!

Thunder Lv1 upleveled—could use it a few times now. Squeezed through charred corpses. Riok closer. Its foreleg swooped to snatch me.

Leaped purely to flee. Whoosh! Claw grazed right behind. Then, centipede's scream-like cry.

"KkeeeEEE!"

Wangnuni dangled limp from her foreleg. Joyous cry? Or anguished wail? Unclear.

Thud, thud!

Riok caught up right behind. One thunder hit...

Ah...! Can't even accelerate. Where's Father? Why no beam?

Dodge, keep moving!

No. Nowhere to run. Dead. Surely. Eaten by that bug. All my fault. Idiot—what overconfidence? Jumped to save centipede, now dying. Lived pathetically forever, thought snake rebirth meant heroics after months?

No. Can't die like...

Mental Strength 20 useless. Sudden terror, regret crashing in.

Then, centipede mother's sob.

"Kke kke, kke..."

Relief mixed in. Looked right. Wangnuni alive, twitching, clinging to mom.

Ah...

I halted.

Hey, what're you doing! Run!

...No mana to run.

One option left. Turned to approaching Riok. Fine—dive in its mouth, devour heart. Fight parasites inside. Its saw-teeth gnashed. Time the leap. Yeah, fuck it—death's all. Next life, earthworm maybe. It closed in. No leap or accel, but I jumped.

Thud!

World went black. Not dead. Something engulfed me whole. Not Riok—soft gums, slick tongue, clenched white teeth. Familiar, warm.

Thud!

It body-slammed Riok with me inside. World spun wildly. Clung to avoid sliding down throat. Yeah—Father. He'd snuck up, mouth-closed rescue. Told him beam if danger. No mana? Came himself...

Dad!

Couldn't resent him. But.

Put me down!

How fight mouth-shut? Can't beam, bite, fang—only constrict. Never stronger than Father to choke bugs.

So drop me. Or swallow.

Spit me out!

Answer: impact.

Boom!

Body floated. Riok's roar outside. Blood scent sharp. Gush from Father's throat. Gross...! More impacts. Blood. Roars. Father silent, mouth sealed. Just writhing onward.

Then, Father's voice—first time. Not advice to me, warning to Riok.

"...Darling."

That was it.

Ha.

Hollow laugh. Despite hopelessness.

Asked Pellelian: Can you peek out, tell me the situation?

...Yeah, sure.

Pellelian did.

Oh dear.

Old mage Pellelian's soul fragment sighed. Seen horrors aplenty, but this? Gruesome. The once-starlit serpent mangled. Starlight scales flayed from spine. Tail third severed, dangling. Blood streamed from one eye. Yet mouth clamped, crawling slowly. Riok trailed.

Its state wrecked too. Two legs left of six. Antennae snapped, crushed belly and rear shedding snake-sized parasites. Still hunger/killing intent? Pursued slowly.

That father... no ordinary beast.

Pellelian muttered bitterly.

Stagger. Serpent collapsed.

Thud.

Vision brightened. Father's mouth opened. I crawled out staggering. Body blood-red—his vomit. Checked him. Eyes unfocused. Alive—breathing ragged. But near death.

I just don't get it...

Tears threatening. Snakes can't cry, but felt like bawling.

Used near-all Nanaruk's potions—poured down his throat. One left, for status peek.

Why hide it so long?

No answer. Focus returning? Maybe seeing me.

Rest now. Here's potion...

Did he heed? Unknown.

Probably stamina/mana depleted. Such wounds, brutal fight.

Eye-catcher:

Giantification Lv10.

Father's bulk shrank. Held giantification released.

Shrinking. Smaller than Riok, gorilla, even Dotbakyi. Thought him huge—how meet mom? Reverse. Shrinking stopped. True size: bit bigger than me.

Not so small after all.

Potion in mouth, on wounds before last breath. Improving—slowly, labored. Wanted to tend, but couldn't.

"KweeEEEEK!"

Damn bug. Riok dragged on two legs.

Wait here a bit.

My turn to fight. If only we'd been honest sooner.

Devoured magic stones—mana restored. Borrow Riok-fight means.

Restored mana vanished instantly.

Vision rose. Body grew.

Finally. If only for a moment. As big as Father.