The Twin-Headed Snake Emerges

A few days after Gunter and his knights, along with the soldiers, set out on their expedition, the Iron Lion Knights left behind in Grayrim Territory had completely sealed off the domain.

Excluding the "plains," the Great Forest boasted one of the continent's largest flat expanses, but the western border was a treacherous zone of rocky terrain and mountains. That rugged area funneled inward like a hopper, with fertile farmland atop it—that was Grayrim. In other words, if a massive monster horde surged out, they had no choice but to pass through Grayrim Territory.

There was no other reason for a domain to be built in such a dangerous spot. It had been planned as a fortress city from the very beginning of its founding. Like the first spire to crumble if a monster wave erupted from the Great Forest.

Thus, Grayrim Territory had been a strategically vital location. That was how it started, but a monster wave never actually occurred. It had walls, sure, but Grayrim gradually became just another ordinary domain. A bit poor, home to somewhat innocent folk.

But not anymore. With only elders, knights, and a handful of soldiers left, the place felt like a ghost town, eerily empty. It had always been a bit gloomy, but today was different.

Before dawn broke, a single carriage rolled out through the gates. The problem was that Lania Grayrim, the lord's daughter, was riding in it.

Guarding the predawn gates weren't Gunter's knights or soldiers. It was a local Grayrim resident—an elderly man, wizened with age. He'd volunteered as a domain soldier after his family fled. The old man, who sometimes shared baked potatoes with the knights, quietly opened the gates and let Lania go.

Zain had the elder by the collar.

"You prepared to die, right?"

Zain drew his sword. He looked ready to execute him on the spot, but the elder showed no fear.

"What's the point of dragging out this old life a few more days...?"

"Let's see if you can say that while the blade's sinking in."

Zain pressed the sword to the elder's throat. A drop of blood welled as the edge bit into skin. The elder started to speak, then clamped his mouth shut. The experienced old man noticed Zain's eyes trembling. Zain's lips twitched ever so slightly.

'Kneel and beg, quick.'

The advice, mouthed silently. Behind Zain stood his senior knights. Had Zain not stepped up, they would've beheaded the duty-shirking elder without hesitation.

The elder didn't beg forgiveness, and Zain couldn't bring himself to swing. He just stood there.

"Zain, put it down for a sec. Hey, old timer."

A senior knight cut in nonchalantly.

"The carriage headed northwest, right?"

"......"

"Just confirming. We already got your statement."

Then the knight murmured to another comrade.

"Akinzrow Gorge, then?"

"Yeah, looks like she's off to see Marquis Gerard Martain."

"What a pain..."

Zain glanced at his seniors. They seemed mildly surprised but not angry or flustered.

"......Poor bastards. Wonder if the captain saw this coming."

Unclear what that meant, but that's what they muttered. Zain chimed in at the right moment.

"I'll throw this old man in the brig and interrogate him more."

"Huh? Yeah, do that."

The elder's death was postponed, for now. Whether it meant anything, who knew.

"We gotta pursue, right?"

'Asking me?'

Zain thought for a split second.

"......Shall I assemble a pursuit squad? To Akinzrow Gorge."

"Yeah, we should. Can't just let it slide."

"You coming too, sir?"

"Nah, you go. We gotta hold this post."

In Zain's judgment, Lania's escape was a big deal. Especially since she'd headed southwest—toward her maternal family's territory, ruled by Gerard Martain.

But for some reason, his seniors were calm. Almost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like they'd known, casually indifferent.

"Take a few soldiers. You can catch a carriage easy. Can't run one through the gorge anyway."

But the orders were clear.

"If you can't capture her, kill her."

The senior patted Zain's shoulder.

"If it gets dicey, save yourself. Run. You'll get it when you see."

"......Yes, sir."

Zain saluted, suppressing his unease.

Roar!

In the heart of the Great Forest, massive flames roared. Fortunately, no rain for days. With oil and the magic engineer's help, the blaze was controlled precisely. As if the heavens aided the kingdom.

"Burns nice."

Soldiers watched the flames, axes in hand. They'd expected swords or bows, but axes saw the most use—felling and stacking wood to direct the fire. Instead of spreading, the blaze stretched in a straight line. A firewall was complete.

The shortest stretched over 1km.

"Magic engineers are something... Fire like that."

"Shh."

A soldier shushed, finger to lips. An elder stood perilously close, beard singed. Ishen, pyromancy master. Top in his tower for fire arts. He manipulated flames, summoned winds, birthed the greatest blaze. And it stretched long like a wall, not spreading sideways.

"Fall back! Done? Back, unless you wanna die!"

Centurions herded soldiers rearward. They had to obey. Brave or not, one wave would end them. All they could do was pray the firewall diverted the wave.

One man orchestrated it all: Hero Gunter Prihansen. Flanked by two magic engineers. Knights defended flame-free zones.

"Master Al Kandura, sighted?"

The gap-toothed engineer peered through a hand-held tube.

"Coming, yes. Heh, live to steer a monster wave up close."

"Distance?"

"About 2km. Damn fast. Formation's narrowed, lengthened. Ishen's gold."

Gunter's first goal: shape the monster wave. No good as a scattered circle—they'd overrun any barrier, shoving through. The wave's madness drew in nearby beasts, snowballing.

To steer it, make it long and narrow. Like a snake slithering.

"Master Dezaka. Grand spell ready?"

"I suck at politics, but..."

The handsome elder engineer eyed Gunter.

"Can't let the wave run wild. Straight to capital? Kingdom's done."

The magic tower spotted the wave's signs first. The king, shocked, tasked hero Gunter—commoner-born, royalist not noble— with a secret mission. Never to leak. Even soldiers thought it a purge op.

But the deeply involved tower mages knew the truth.

"Divert to empire? War? And smash en-route domains?"

Gunter's face unchanged.

"No need for you to worry about fallout."

"Cold one. Heh."

Anyway, blocking this horde with their numbers? Impossible. Especially this scale.

"Good news."

Master Al Kandura said.

"Leader ain't that strong. Laughable for the size. Snake or treant? Who knows."

"Then..."

"New option. Heh."

The mage grinned.

"Kill the head here?"

Wave wouldn't stop, but momentum would falter. Worth trying.

Rumble rumble rumble— Earth shook. Per plan, wave would pass before Gunter and mages.

"Beasts visible, captain!"

"No need to say. Signal flare."

A knight beside Gunter loosed an arrow skyward.

Screeeee!

Hole-pierced arrowhead whistled. Magic-treated, it traced red across twilight sky. Signals echoed sequentially.

Scree— scre— Like beacon fires, red lines lit the heavens in chain.

"Dezaka! Begin!"

Al Kandura rushed his peer. Clownish moves, but their spell was no joke.

"Ishen too!"

Pyromancer dashed up. Ground cleared of grass, packed flat, etched with white-gravel magic circle. Center: severed white bull head, magic stone on forehead. Grade 10, no less.

Mages chantless for minor spells, but grand rites needed incantations.

"I, Al Kandura, of magic."

"I, Ishen, of magic."

"Dezaka of magic!"

Quakes intensified, beasts neared. Mages stayed composed, murmuring runes.

Whoosh!

Bull head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ignited spontaneously. Impervious stone blazed. Mana erupted, amplified by circle. Surged to mages, resonated outward, ballooning.

Power-maxed, stability-sacrificed spell.

Ishen punctuated the grand magic.

"Draco— Flamma. Ignite!"

A fire dragon rose from the circle. Heat so intense, it gleamed like light incarnate.

"Go!"

The flame dragon surged at the horde.

Gunter gulped, eyes wide. Dragon, and beyond—wooden colossal snake, tiny white snake sprouting from its neck...

'Stay put for now. Escape this tree chimera when the chance comes.'

That was my original plan. But I couldn't even try.

Not a hissing saaak, but a bellowing grrooar—this fake snake had no intention of letting me go. Worse, the branch clutching me crept toward its body. I merged with it. Literally.

Half my body buried in its wooden frame.

So 'taming' partially succeeding meant this!

I tried escaping several times after. Desperate bids through the horde. Success!—then branches yanked me back. Now, just my head protruded. Like a Twin-Headed Snake. One head absurdly small—me.

Chimera, pissed, vented on nearby beasts. They got gobbled without fight; it bulked up. Terrifying.

-Worst chimera. Shoddy build.

Self-proclaimed chimera expert Pellelian wasn't impressed. World Tree-made, he'd been thrilled, but it was flawed. Snake-like from me, but superficial. No anus, vital organs botched.

-No asshole on a rush-job chimera... World Tree...

And Terminal status glared.

'Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think of it as a taxi ride.'

-Dunno what that means. But central continent-bound eventually.

Pellelian seemed pleased. He wanted me visiting his other dungeons. Especially one with his corpse. Not in Great Forest, so ride the wave continent-ward.

Not bad. Sudden, but.

Wonder if Nanaruk's safe. Still in forest? Hope she dodges this wave.

-Fire again. Beasts veer once more. Fires everywhere. Suspicious.

Screeeee—

Flare lit the sky that instant. Ominous glow ahead. Another blaze?

'Uh, uhh!'

Fire dragon flew at us. Precisely at me—no, chimera snake.

'Burnt toast!'

Chimera might survive; I'd die. Escape try—

-Draco Flamma, grand magic.

Pellelian calm. Knowledge drop now?

-Why cast so sloppily? Lunatics. Hey snake, douse in water.

'Water?'

-Yes, water magic!

Bellowing Professor Pellelian. Reverse Heaven mage—trust him this once.

Post-evolution, mana surged. Doused me and chimera thoroughly.

"Grrooar!"

Chimera roared happily. Trees like water?

'This blocks that spell?'

-Nuts? No way.

'Then!'

-Make fire orb above. Not too far, not close. Fruit height on those trees.

No time to argue.

Head-sized fireball in air. Flame dragon closed. Chimera charged fearless. Dragon gaped like live beast—and instead of toasting us, whipped head, swallowed my fireball.

Plunged into trailing horde's midst.

BOOM!

Blast wave scorched my nape. Heat resistance Lv10, not direct hit—scales still bristled. Water evaporated instantly.

-You're welcome.

Smug Pellelian got my praise barrage. Dozens barbecued, but advance continued. Now spotted the spellcasting elders. Three geezers, unremarkable. Bickering even now.

"Ishen, you hack! Can't hit one shot?"

"Fuck off, you try!"

Arguing over miss. Grand magic? Maybe hack mages.

Then the knight beside them—

Shrrrk—

Scales flared.

Blackened instantly, of course.

'Gunter!'

Gunter. Killer of Medusa Mom. Spear-thrower at me. Human hero awaited us. He'd brought the mages too, looks like.

Dad flashed—uncaring, vanishing act. But seeing rampaging horde, glad he left. Here? Wouldn't stay put before wife's killer.

Gunter stared blankly.

Chance spotted.

Pierce and kill, Gunter. Destruction Beam, fire.

Ray shot from my maw.

Ting!

Shockingly, Gunter blocked with arm. Ray scattered off his armor.

Gunter drew his infamous halberd.

'Fucked!'

Regret surged—

"Groooar!"

Sensing hostility? Chimera struck. Stem shot from body, smashed Gunter.

Nice one!