***EXTRA LONG Chapter***
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Midas clenched his jaw, his eyebrows furrowed as he witnessed Sergalas’s massive head rise from the pile of bones.
The snake’s tongue slithered and hissed aggressively, a gust of wind flying past Midas’s face.
’I’ve thought long about how I’d deal with this situation.’ Midas thought to himself, ’In the end, strength will not aid . I can only defeat Sergalas using his own arrogance, as I have done before.’ He noted at that mont.
First, I will make sure not to say a word about what happened between us. I know Sergalas wants his revenge. He will kill at any chance he gets. However... Sergalas also has a bit of respect for . That is why I’m not dead already. In our past feud, I showed him that I am capable of defeating him at least in one way.’ Midas thought, thinking deeply about his next steps.
’He returns... alone. He is still weak... yet he dares face so bravely?’ Sergalas thought to himself, uncoiling further as he rose above Midas several more feet.
"What happened before... You escaped like an ant crawling into its burrow. Your fear of has not disappeared, Midas the Player." The serpent rumbled.
However, Midas did not react to this taunt at all whatsoever.
"I ca because there is a worldwide event. One hosted by the ga." He stated blankly.
What ensued was silence. He had no smirk, nor was there a reference to the breath contest.
Sergalas was slightly taken aback. He expected Midas to say sothing about the breath-holding contest and his surrender, but Midas did not twist that knife.
"You survived because I entertained your foolish challenge," Sergalas spoke at a lower tone now.
It felt like both Midas and Sergalas were having their own conversations. It was a battle of ego already, and the talk had only just begun.
"A mighty serpent such as I does not lose to a man. Instead, such a serpent allows one to breathe." Sergalas said, furthering his aggression.
Midas simply nodded.
"If that is how you rember it." He repeated, not correcting the beast nor defending himself. He refused to argue with the truth.
By allowing Sergalas’ version to stand, Midas removed the need for revenge.
Now, instead of Sergalas’s defeat being seen as humiliation, it was rely a choice made by him. Although it was only implied, this at the very least preserved the serpent’s pride.
Still, he was not willing to be cordial so easily. He leaned forward nacingly.
"You speak boldly for sothing that once trembled beneath my gaze." He spoke, a slight smirk appearing on his slithery maw.
Midas’s eyes didn’t narrow, nor did his stance change.
"I don’t need you." He stated, and that was all. Along ca no threat, nor attempt to assert control.
Sergalas was once again confused.
’This human... he once seed to have great ambition. His arrogance was not low either. But now, he seems to have lted into a shell of his forr self. He speaks as pathetically as any other being that has faced in the past. re words, yet no ambition behind them.’ Sergalas was convinced that Midas had lost the will to fight.
"I will fight in this ga event regardless. I thought you might prefer to be part of sothing rembered." Midas stated, turning around, but not walking away.
Still, it was enough to show that he wasn’t here to plead to the serpent. He did not want to overpower the serpent.
Instead, he wished to show indifference. Such a tone was much more likely to wound arrogance as compared to dominance.
’Part of sothing rembered? He speaks as though I am below him... how insolent!’ Sergalas thought inwardly.
"You think this little war matters to ?" He hissed at a low tone.
Midas turned, finally glancing up at him.
"It will be the first war under the Ga," Midas said.
A short pause fell over the chamber.
"It will be rembered long after this cavern collapses." Midas broke the silence for only a couple of seconds before pausing again.
"Nas will be spoken, and yours can be one of them." He finished off with this statent.
He didn’t say that Sergalas could be under him. He didn’t even imply that this was for his cause in the first place.
Instead, Midas made joining the event seem like an individual privilege, a part of history.
’If there’s one thing ancient beings like this snake care about... It’s permanence. Now, hopefully, this conversation is past humiliation.’ Midas thought.
He raised his hand, the Warlord’s Ring quickly illuminating. A contract sigil was manifested into the air before him.
"This is the call." He said as the contract slowly floated over to Sergalas. "I will not ask again." He turned, walking toward the exit without looking back.
He wanted to make it seem like he did not need Sergalas. That this event was a far bigger deal, and that Sergalas was only a small part of the ocean that he was soon to sail.
"When the world shifts, do not bla for leaving you behind." These were Midas’s final words as he exited the cavern.
The chamber remained silent. Sergalas did not roar, nor did he retort aggressively.
He was utterly shocked at Midas’s deanor.
’He...’ The serpent thought, ’An event hosted by the ga, huh?’ He glanced down at the contract before him. ’Hmph... such a ga will not change my temper!’ He shouted inwardly.
Finally, he closed his eyes and returned to a coiled-up stance beneath the mountain of bones.
’Regardless, my slumber is almost complete. This ti, I feel an odd energy flowing through my ridians. I will surely break through or possibly gain a new power. Midas can wait... as soon as my slumber ends, I can dominate this entire island with ease.’ He thought to himself with an inward smirk; his slumber continued.
Outside, Midas heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
"Phew!" He wiped the sweat off his brow, "That... sohow worked!" He muttered with excitent.
’Well...’ A serious expression appeared on his face, ’Not exactly. I survived, but I couldn’t exactly recruit Sergalas either. However, that control won’t leave him until I say so, or he joins. I can only hope that when he is needed, he will change his mind.’ He thought as he left the deeper parts of the cavern.
Outside in the mineshafts, dozens of goblins carried carts filled with ore from one side of the shaft to the next.
So mined with pickaxes, others delivered food and water.
"My lord! How did it go? Were you successful in recruiting Sergalas?" Bzzrt asked, eager.
Midas glanced at him, shaking his head with a sigh.
"I see..." Bzzrt replied, "Well, at least you are safe and sound. I can’t imagine what tactics you must have used to stay safe." He said with confusion as they exited the cavern.
As Midas rode atop Bzzrt’s back, he gazed into the broad sky with narrowed eyes.
’The third breath has boosted my power by many leagues. Now, with all the breaths, my power is about double that of anyone else at the sa level as . However, without Sergalas joining the battle, I’m afraid it still is nowhere near enough. Dorian said my swordwork was good, but that doesn’t an jack when it cos to the abilities given to players and beast kings around the planet. I need to get stronger... and fast.’ He thought calmly.
"My lord," Bzzrt said, glancing up at Midas.
"What is it?" The young man replied.
"I believe everyone under your legion is trying their best to gain power. But... I care about your safety as well. There are ways to gain power that I have not seen you try. Would you like to know about them?" Bzzrt asked, his tone still humble.
"W-what!? There are? What are they? Tell !" Midas asked, surprised but eager to learn.
’Hmm... I thought he already knew, but I guess it makes sense. He is new to this planet, so it’s fair that he wouldn’t know the very basics either.’ Bzzrt thought.
"There are fruits and ingredients on this island that allow one to accelerate their tier quite fast, such as the Eloqi fruit and the cores found within beasts," Bzzrt said.
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