I fought back.
I resurrected my abilities using the last strength in my body. As it surged all over my body, I felt my senses awaken. Since I was so busy, the sensation was a little different, like if a jolt connected my cells and spread throughout my body. My breathing grew quick because I couldn't control it. I attempted to identify it sooner since the agony of having to force my ability to function in an unexpected situation is all over me. My orbs caught the snake's menacing crimson gaze. The snake's spheres darkened as my eyes glowed. The scarlet color exuded strength, as if it had developed an inferiority complex as soon as the bright colors of my eyes challenged it to a staring contest. Despite the fact that I was out of breath owing to the struggle, I resisted the snake's hypnosis and kept my sight fixed on the snake.
I've heard of a deadly snake that kills by staring, and I believe I've met the legendary beast. I would have already been a cadaver on the ground if I hadn't acquired a rare skill. But, because my eyes aren't normal, I was able to resist and repel. It was, however, excruciatingly uncomfortable. Pain flooded through my body as I peered into the eyes of the parlous serpent. My veins on my head were bulging out, and the sting was no joke. But then my colored eyes battled back, and I saw some souls crying out to be set free within that body in the depths of the snake's eye.
"You bad shit." I said gnashing my teeth. My anger arose. Watching the trapped lights that looks like souls to me crying for help boils my blood.
My entire body is already encased by the snake. It gradually consumed me to the point that I couldn't move my legs because its tail was wrapping around my entire body from my feet to my stomach. In the thick undergrowth, I attempted to reach for enormous stitches. Our stare never wavers, and I know that if I lose my capacity, I will give up, and I will not allow that to happen. I shut my eyes and tried to widen my vision. I sense three males approaching me from different directions. They were a long way apart, and two women on the left were sprinting at me.
They probably learned about my presence. They look unpleased, because who would be happy when you're practicing and an intruder without any knowledge suddenly appeared to break the day?
I gritted my teeth as my eyes gradually opened. Just then, I realized... they are unable to reach me. They won't make it on time. The snake will devastate me, and if I do nothing but wait for their arrival, I'll be doomed. Well, I'll end up being swallowed anyway. But the thing is, atleast I could do something for myself before I die once the serpent gulps the sh*t of me.
"Sh*t! Sh*t! No!" I heard the man who dragged me here in the first place cursed loud, he started to smoke his hand and I rolled my eyes. What a hypocrite. He was just trying to make me a pawn earlier and now he's cursing, saying 'No' when I'm about to get eaten?
"Fuck! What is the meaning of this?" Said the man holding the large shield as he runs towards my direction. He sounded angry, I could feel his sharp gazes piercing ahead making the creatures around him halt in consideration of his mood.
Then my gaze was drawn to the man who, among everyone else in the room, had the most powerful presence. He exudes absolute dominance, and his aura is so powerful that I couldn't help but gasp at his presence. I saw a man with an angry expression that I couldn't decipher from my perspective. He's enraged by my presence and the reason I'm here, as though I shouldn't be here. That is exactly what his expression says.
He ran faster in my direction, his fist clenched. He hissed, making my anger rise. "Fight, you stupid girl! Save yourself, naive girl! Wake up idiot!"
I wanted to rush him since I couldn't take the comments he left out about me at this hour. I really want to slap him and tell him that I'm in a very strange circumstance and that I'm not to blame for my bizarre surroundings. Because I was threatened, I was taken out of my consent and forced to enter the labyrinth. And, yes, I was compelled to battle for my life despite having little knowledge of the labyrinth. I wanted to curse him back, but I couldn't deny that his comments had an affect on me, and that it was because of his irritating words that I finally realized death was approaching me.
They wouldn't reach me, I realized once more. I have no one but myself to rely on right now. Despite their speed, none of the people inside the labyrinth were able to save me; perhaps they're slowing down now since I'm wasting their time and they're hurrying for hypocrisy. For example, they must pretend to care for their people, thus they rush slowly to provide assistance because the outcome will not matter. Whether or not their assistance reaches the people.
With a smirk, I said, "F*ck." The snake's mouth opened, and I believe I was only one swallow away, "ARRGGHH!" I cried in pain, and my echoes rebounded when I violently pulled the stick I was clutching. My arm bled excessively after I grabbed the nearest sharp sticks from the bushes. It's completely swelled, adding to the discomfort I was already experiencing and making me much weaker.
But I already have a strategy in mind. I'm not going to stand there and let myself be eaten. Even if I died, I'd have to do something before I completely lost my conscience.
"One..." I said as I let out a deep breath. The snake lifted me, really to take my whole being. "Two..." The snake slowly put me in its mouth. "Three ..." I gripped the broken part of the stick I was holding and let the snake in front of me swallow me. Since snakes doesn't chew, I went straight inside. I could not breathe. I let myself descend inside the snake's body. It was too tight inside because of its flesh, and I was fainting.
"Nooooo!" Shout of the woman who arrived after I was swallowed by a snake. She's too late. I have been swallowed but I am still aware of what's going on around.
The serpent was poisonous. Even the snake's insides are so toxic that if I get out of here, I'll die right away because the venom is slowly seeping into my wounds. I raised the stick in my hand and began piercing the snake's body from the very center. I battered and stabbed it savagely until it was fully severed. I knew the serpent was trembling at the time, and if the serpent could kill me, I would kill it first.
To get out, I penetrated the snake's rigid body from above. There was no more air inside, and I was going to die if I couldn't get out for five seconds. I stabbed and squeezed the snake's flesh repeatedly and with full vigor. This is something I can't do anymore. I peered through the crack. That means I've already sliced the snake's body. I climbed into the hole and out in less than five seconds. I took a deep breath as soon as my head emerged... and blew strongly. I slid down the snake's slick body gently. I can't open my eyes anymore, and I'm not sure if my ability will return when I do, or if I'll never wake up again.
A man's voice said, "She's impossible!" I'm not sure who it was, but I just grinned. I shall not die alone for the last time.
The snake and I will die together. The snake's heart fell into my hand at the same time as my hand. For the first time, I killed something. I killed the most massive snake I've ever seen in my life. Its heart is in my hands.
***
"VE-LU-RI-YA..."
I heard a familiar sound, it was a woman's voice.
"Ve-lu-ri-ya..." I repeated as soon as she said it.
The voice was suddenly filled with happiness, "Veluriya!"
And my voice became clear as gladness was soon exposed, "Verulia!"
I heard a loud laugh, it was my grandmother's voice, teaching me about my name.
"Whatever name I give you, it only means one thing. Your name." She said, smiling, "Do you understand?"
The little version of me in my vision pouted, "It's confusing, grandma..."
She held me in her eyes and I snuggled comfortably, "Oh my dear granddaughter... my beautiful child. No matter what name I call you; Veluriya or Verulia, your name will still be your name. Those are the same." She smiled and tapped my head, "One day you will understand this, I love you dearly my dainty."
My eyes welled in tears, "I love you more grandma..."
My eyes dilated when she started ceasing before me. My heart thumped loud in agony. Why is she disappearing? Her smiling face slowly faded from my eyes, until I saw not a single trace of her. My grandmother has disappeared, what--?
Just then, I realized, I was away for a long time. And I missed her badly that if being with her is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up again.
***
A man's voice suddenly exclaimed, "WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DREAMING?" Grandma's voice had vanished and been replaced by that of a man. My brows furrowed at the sound of a deep hoarse voice. Why am I so irritated when I hear his voice? I'm supposed to be listening to my granny! But it all came to an end because his shrillness had entered my consciousness, which irritated me.
He continued, "She's weeping, what the heck is going on with her? Did you give her the appropriate medicine, Nathalia?"
"Of course I did! Don't go overboard there, she's just dreaming, okay? I treated her well!" That woman appears to be Nathalia.
"Prince, why are you in trouble? You don't seem to care! You don't even glance at us when we get injured! What the hell are you throwing off now?"
"Oh shut up Coreen you bamboozle--witch!"
The girl who think the name's Coreen replied, "Is she important to you now? Huh?"
"Are you insane? Of course not. Need I remind you I'll still have cargo because my region was wrecked and it's all because of her. My team's practice today was ruined!" says the baritone man. No one said anything else. As if they were just scolded by someone mighty who's at verge of exploding in anger.
What the heck is happening now?
I moved my hands to make sure I was still alive. And I did! My hands moved! I'm alive! The last thing I remember doing was grasping the snake's heart! Are all of these real? Is it possible that I'm not dreaming? Is all of this accurate? Did I really killed a venomous snake and survived such a breathtaking event?
"She's awake!" Coreen's voice echoed, "she's moving!"
I shook my head, the agony in my brain still present. My tears continued to pour; perhaps I had been crying in memory of my grandma before. I really miss her. However, I must accept the truth that I am a prisoner in the Palace.
"She's still breathing!"
"Are you insane, Greyson? She's already woken up!"
I cautiously opened my eyes; everything was still fuzzy at first. Nothing is clear in the place; everything is white. Until I could see the surroundings well. They number five, and two more have entered the room where I was.
"She's actually awake!" Said a man who slowly came to approach me.
I followed the man's eyes as it shifted to me. I trembled as fear welled up in me. How could his expression be so solemn as he approached me?
'No...' I couldn't say anything.
"Hey!"
He snatched my arm's cut. And holy geez-- I'm calling all the names in heavens and earth, all the divines who could heal or remove away the pain to please take this man away from me and mend me immediately because the agonizing pain caused by his reckless touch has just consumed my entirely. My eyes rolled back in pain, gosh-- I can't! It's really too much I just want to die rather than experience such nerve-wracking sting.
It hurts! It's excruciatingly painful!
"No, Prince Zavan!"
The moment I heard a woman's voice stopping the man who just ruthlessly touched me, my eyesight dimmed again. As I felt severe anguish, everything went black.
Did I pass out once more? I truly did. I lost consciousness.