The Cobra King's Return

The Illusion Cube & Dealing with Villians

.As Peti lay on the arena floor, his body began to regenerate slowly, knitting together broken bones and healing wounds. He felt a faint tingling as his body mended itself, the pain subsiding bit by bit. Despite his exhaustion, he pulled himself to his feet, swaying but determined to stand tall in front of the crowd.

The announcer called his name, and the medal for his team's victory was handed to him. His hands trembled as he accepted it, his legs barely able to support his weight. With an effortful grin, Peti raised his arm in a shaky thumbs-up to the roaring crowd.

Drawing a deep breath, he spoke, his voice hoarse but filled with conviction.

"People always look at snakes and see something to fear—something sly, manipulative, and dangerous. But snakes are survivors. They shed their skin, grow stronger, and adapt to any environment. And isn't that what we're all trying to do? Survive, grow, and be better than we were yesterday?"

The crowd erupted into cheers at his words, but Peti, always one to lighten the mood, smirked and added, "And speaking of snakes... you ever think the snake from the Bible was a woman? I mean, only a woman could talk someone into eating the one fruit they were told not to touch. If that's not manipulation, I don't know what is. Truly, snakes of this generation."

The audience broke into a mix of laughter and scattered gasps, the joke catching them off guard. Peti winked, leaning into his cheeky humor, even in his weakened state.

Turning away from the spotlight, he began to leave the arena, each step heavy but purposeful. The medal dangled loosely in his hand as he exited, leaving the crowd buzzing with a mix of inspiration and amusement at the eccentric hero who had just won their hearts.

The cafeteria was quiet, lit only by the dim glow of overhead lights. Hokori, Poci, Demashi, and Hayaka sat around a table, their plates pushed aside as they leaned in, voices hushed but animated.

Hokori chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, are we really going to do this? Toss Peti and Lily into the illusion cube and see if they finally act like the couple they're clearly destined to be?"

Demashi grinned, his golden tooth catching the light. "Why not? That thing feels so real it's like living another life. They won't know the difference. We're doing them a favor, really. Maybe in the cube, they'll stop dancing around each other."

Hayaka smirked, swirling her drink. "I mean, they've already been acting like parents with Stella. Every time I saw them this summer, it was like watching a family vacation—Lily, the protective mom, and Peti, the goofy but caring dad."

Poci frowned slightly, her ears twitching in concern. "I don't know... Lily's my friend. What if she gets mad at me? Or what if she becomes super sensitive about it? You know how she gets."

Hokori waved her off, laughing. "Come on, Poci. If Peti finds out, he'll probably come after me first. He's got no sense of humor when it comes to jokes about him and Lily."

"But he's out cold," Demashi added with a shrug. "That regeneration is going to take him a while. Same for Lily. They'll never see it coming."

After a brief silence, Hayaka leaned forward, her expression serious. "The cube isn't just for fun, you know. It's been used on villains to mess with their minds. It feels real—like, you could live an entire life in there, traveling the world or facing your fears. You sure they won't freak out when they wake up?"

Demashi shrugged again. "That's what makes it interesting. Plus, it's not like we're torturing them. We're just giving them a little push. If anything, they'll thank us later."