Chapter 8: Seia’s Awakening

“Hiss….”

The Giant Python’s head was five times bigger than Seia’s, yet Seia showed no reaction in front of the beast.

Being eaten…

That wouldn’t be so bad…

I’ve already…stopped caring…haven’t I?

The Giant Python, too, was a little curious about this indifferent human.

Normally, other creatures in the forest would run for their lives upon seeing it.

But only this Seia remained unmoved.

Feeling provoked, the Giant Python opened its massive jaws and threatened Seia.

“ROAR!!!!!!”

Yet Seia still didn’t react.

Her whole body was tattered, her spirit utterly broken, too weary to pay attention to the giant serpent before her.

This piqued the Giant Python’s curiosity even more, because it could clearly sense the magical fluctuations from Seia.

Why did this delicious human not move at all…

Could it be…she’s already dead…

Driven by curiosity, the Giant Python brought its head closer to Seia…

“Hiss…”

It pressed its large green eyes closer, staring intently.

In the bulging eyes of the Giant Python, Seia could see her own green reflection.

Look at yourself, Seia…

Dirty…wretched…

Is this…the way Joey wanted to see me?

A single tear finally rolled down Seia’s cheek, her body trembling uncontrollably from sorrow.

“Hiss!”

This movement confirmed for the Giant Python that Seia was still alive.

It flicked its tongue.

A tasty, living prey…ready to eat…hiss!

Saliva began to drip from the Giant Python’s mouth as it prepared to enjoy tonight’s dinner.

Yet Seia remained lost in her own despair…

Joey…why did you make me…wish I were dead…

I…

I…

If I die, wouldn’t that just grant his wish?

With that thought, Seia slowly raised her head.

The Giant Python had already opened its stinking maw, ready to swallow her whole.

Even though…

She hadn’t even asked Joey why he tormented her…

The Giant Python swallowed Seia whole into its mouth, closed its eyes, and was just about to savor swallowing her…

“Hiss?”

Its mouth…hurts…hiss…

It’s Seia!

Seia had used both hands to pry open the Giant Python’s jaws.

Her expression remained as cold as ever, but the despair was gone.

Instead, a new fierceness burned in her eyes.

“ROAR!!!!!!!!!!”

Seia’s resistance enraged the Giant Python.

It let out a furious roar and began lashing Seia with its tongue, hoping to make her lose the will to resist and be swallowed.

The massive tongue whipped Seia’s body like a lash, the pressure from the python’s jaws above and below growing.

It became harder and harder for Seia to hold on…

“Crack!”

Until the Giant Python’s mouth closed once more.

So troublesome…finally, I can eat…hiss…

The Giant Python was about to swallow Seia down its throat when—

“ROOOOOOOOOOAR!!!!!!!!!!”

The Giant Python’s eyes widened as it screamed, green blood pouring from its mouth.

Because Seia hadn’t lost her strength at all.

Inside the python’s mouth, she had ripped its tongue straight out.

“Weren’t you acting arrogant just now!!!”

Seia’s body was covered in welts from the lashing, but her gaze remained sharp.

She threw the python’s tongue aside, ready to dash out from its jaws.

“ROAR!!!!”

The Giant Python, enraged by Seia’s defiance, quickly clamped its mouth shut.

After suffering at the hands of this small human, it grew angrier, determined not to let Seia escape.

Now, with so little space in its mouth, Seia shouldn’t be able to move, right…

But in her fury, Seia didn’t give up fighting.

Her eyes glowed with a terrifying crimson light inside the python’s mouth, and she punched directly at its Great Fang.

“BOOM!!!!!!”

“ROAR!!!”

The Giant Python screamed in pain but refused to loosen its hold.

“BOOM!!!!!!”

Another punch.

The Giant Python was rocked senseless, but it still clung on.

Until…

Seia wrapped both arms around the python’s Great Fang…

“You beast…get out of my wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!”

Seia summoned all her strength and ripped the Great Fang out as if uprooting a giant tree.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The Giant Python howled in agony, finally realizing it had bitten off more than it could chew.

It just wanted Seia to leave as soon as possible.

” Leave? Why should I!!! “

Seia grabbed the Great Fang, turned, and charged straight into the python’s throat.

The Giant Python couldn’t understand what Seia was doing at all…

Until…

“BOOM!!!!!!”

A thunderous explosion echoed—

It was Seia, wielding the Great Fang, piercing straight through the python’s body.

And it wasn’t over.

Like a madwoman, she slashed wildly inside the Giant Python with the Great Fang.

“Ha…hahaha!!!”

“Hahahahahahahaha!!!!”

Seia didn’t realize it.

For the first time in her life, she had never felt so alive…

Seia…you’re the hope of the Village, you must bring glory to the Village!

Seia!

You’re the Hero now!

How can you act so recklessly and rudely!

Seia…I hope you can help promote our products as a Hero…

Eh, advertising fee?

You’re the Hero!

How can you ask us commoners for money???

Seia! Seia! Seia!!!

You village bumpkin!

Why are you the Hero, and not the great Aiki-sama!!!

“Die! Die!!! All of you, just die!!!!”

One after another, wounds opened inside the Giant Python’s body, green blood oozing out.

“And you, useless beast! Dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!”

Seia laughed madly, then leaped from the python’s mouth.

She soared through the air, the Great Fang no longer in her hand.

Where was the Great Fang?

It was wedged in the Giant Python’s mouth by Seia.

And what Seia did next was…

She stomped down on the python’s head!

Until the Great Fang pierced through its skull.

“ROAR!!!!!!!!!!”

With a final scream, the Giant Python collapsed into a pool of its own green blood.

And Seia, immersed in the corrosive liquid, was alternately reduced to white bone and reborn with new flesh, thanks to the Resurrection Spell cast on her by the Necromancer Zixuan.

“Heh….hehe…”

Seia gazed at her own crazed reflection in the green blood.

She couldn’t help but laugh wildly…

So that’s it…

Only when I’m hurt and angry does the power of a Hero erupt from within me…

“Haha…hahahaha…”

So…all that Hero etiquette is nothing but a restraint on power for me…

How ironic…

“Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!”

Seia reveled in the pain of being corroded.

To her, it was no longer pain, but a kind of pleasure.

Because with each wave of agony, more and more power poured into her body.

At last, when Seia’s own blood had run dry, she cut up the python, roasted the meat over a fire, and made a feast of it.

Finally regaining her senses, she washed simply by the riverside, used the Giant Python’s Great Fang to forge a Great Blade, and cut off the long hair she had kept for Joey.

The remaining pieces of python meat were dried and packed into a Snake-skin Bag.

Seia, like a Giant Python herself, completed her transformation…

The once innocent and cute little girl now bore a cold gaze and sported dashing short hair.

Her only purpose now was—

To find Joey…

“Achoo!!!”

Joey sneezed atop the back of a Red Dragon.

“So…you went through all that trouble just to ride on my back and have me fly you around?”

The Red Dragon asked in confusion.

“What’s with that tone? It’s super cool, okay?”

Joey poked at the dragon’s scales.

“Cool, huh? Young Master, if you keep this up you’ll catch a cold…”

Aiki muttered from the side.

“Why do you care so much…”

The shota stuck out his tongue at Aiki.

“Alright…”

“To celebrate gaining a new slave, I’m going to feast tonight.”

Joey pointed at the distant Gothic-style buildings.

“Let’s do it right here in Hongmao Pi City of Entia Kingdom.”

“What a mouthful of a name.”

Aiki frowned.

“Humans are truly strange…”

“I’ve heard the customs are pretty outrageous, too. Suits the name…”

The shota pursed his lips.