RE: Zero King of Kings

Chapter 2: The Black Serpent! and the Warden!

Kaishinmo stood in a strange, desolate landscape, the air thick with an unnatural pressure that made every breath feel labored. The sky above was a swirling mass of deep black and blood red as if a storm had frozen in time. Jagged obsidian mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks disappearing into the eerie haze that stretched endlessly in every direction. The ground beneath him was cracked and dry, fissures releasing thin streams of black smoke that snaked up toward the ominous sky.

Kaishinmo rose to his full height, his muscles tensing as he scanned his surroundings. "What is this place?" he muttered, his voice carrying through the thick silence.

As if in response, a low, guttural hiss reverberated through the air, distant yet resonant, traveling across dimensions. Kaishinmo's gaze snapped to a dark crevice between two jagged rocks.

The hissing ceased. A smirk tugged at Kaishinmo's lips. "So you're watching, are you?"

The fissures in the ground began to widen, releasing streams of black, viscous liquid that shimmered like oil under the red-tinged sky. The ooze slithered and writhed, almost as though searching for something—or someone.

Kaishinmo stood his ground, the faint golden glow of his Eyes piercing through the encroaching darkness, analyzing the movement of the poison.

"Clever. You wait, observe, then strike," he mused, a trace of admiration in his voice. "But hiding won't work with me."

The poison surged forward, targeting his feet. Kaishinmo raised a hand lazily, sending a violent slash of energy through the air. The ooze screeched as it was ripped apart by the force of the attack, the remnants crashing against the jagged rocks, dissolving them into nothingness.

But before he could react further, the ground trembled, and a shadow exploded from the fissures. A serpentine figure emerged—a monstrous creature, its scales as black as the void, its eyes glowing with an unnatural crimson light. The Black Serpent had revealed itself.

Its massive form coiled through the air, moving with an unnerving fluidity, its size dwarfing even the largest of Kaishinmo's enemies. The serpent's forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, sensing Kaishinmo's presence with unsettling accuracy. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat as its crimson eyes locked onto him, calculating, intelligent.

Kaishinmo's expression shifted slightly, the first hint of genuine interest crossing his face. The sheer size of the creature was impressive, but he had faced greater threats before. His mind raced, senses heightened, already feeling the strange disturbance in the air—the flow of energy around him was unlike anything he had encountered.

The serpent's tongue lashed out again, testing the air. It shifted, eyes narrowing, its massive body coiling tighter, preparing to strike.

Kaishinmo remained perfectly still, his gaze unbroken, as an unspoken challenge passed between them. This wasn't just an attack; it was a test, a battle of wits to see who would strike first, who would hold the advantage.

Without warning, the Black Serpent lunged, its massive form cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Its jaws gaped wide, aiming to swallow Kaishinmo whole, while its tail whipped through the air like a blur of darkness.

But Kaishinmo was already gone.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished in a flash of movement, his speed leaving the serpent's jaws snapping shut on empty air. The creature's tail lashed through the space where Kaishinmo had stood, but it was too late.

Appearing behind the creature, Kaishinmo's golden eyes burned with the intensity of his heightened senses. "Too slow."

Without a second thought, he raised his hand, and with a single flick of his fingers, an explosion of energy rippled through the air, crashing into the serpent. The impact was immense, sending the creature reeling backward, its scales splintering and cracking under the force. It wasn't a killing blow, but it staggered the Black Serpent, giving Kaishinmo a momentary advantage.