God Quest

As Banri and the others stepped through the gate, they found themselves face to face with a colossal snake.

"Welcome, mutants," the snake said, its voice resonating with authority. "I am here to instruct you on your first quest to become gods."

The colossal snake loomed before them, its scales shimmering like polished obsidian under the faint light, each movement revealing a mesmerizing pattern that seemed to dance with an otherworldly energy. Its long, forked tongue slithered in and out of its mouth, tasting the air with a serpentine grace, while glistening saliva dripped from its large, menacing fangs, pooling on the ground below. The snake's eyes, slitted and piercing, held an ancient wisdom that was both captivating and terrifying, as if it could see into the very souls of those who dared to meet its gaze. As it spoke, its voice resonated with authority, echoing through the air like a dark melody.

"To be accepted into the holy land of God Valley, you must prove your worth," it continued, its eyes glinting with an ancient wisdom.

Banri and the others exchanged wary glances, astonished that such a creature could speak.

"To prove your worth, you must defeat one of the celestial beasts in the labyrinth below and consume its heart. The heart of a celestial beast will greatly enhance your mutant abilities."

Alina frowned, a look of disgust crossing her face as she heard this. "Its heart? Why do we have to eat its heart? And what exactly is a celestial beast?"

"A celestial beast is a type of creature that has been granted powers by the gods. Its heart contains the divine power bestowed upon it, and any mutant who consumes the heart will inherit that power."

"Bear in mind that these beasts will be difficult to locate within the labyrinth, and there will also be lower-level creatures that may prove to be a nuisance. The beast you seek takes the form of a Chimera. A Chimera is a type of celestial beast that is part lion, part goat, and part snake.", the snake continued

"Fortunately, it has three hearts—one for the lion, one for the goat, and one for the snake. There are five paths ahead of you, and at the end of each path, there is a teleportation circle that will transport you to the labyrinth. You will each take a path, don't worry you will be transported to the same Labrinth together." 

As the beast spoke, Banri locked eyes with the snake, his gaze unwavering. The creature met his stare, and a flicker of confusion crossed its mind. What is this? the snake thought to itself. Who is this boy? Why is he staring at me like that? Is he afraid? No! This is the same look— the look of a predator gazing upon its prey. At that moment, a stream of saliva dripped from the snake's mouth, pooling on the ground below, as if it were preparing for digestion.

Katherine turned to Hikari. "What should we do now?"

"We should head for the Labyrinth."

Banri was displeased at the thought of being in a dark, wet Labrinth covered by the disgusting smell of monsters filled him with dread

Banri and the others looked at one another, a silent understanding passing between them. With a slight nod, they steeled themselves and headed down one of the paths. At the end of the path lay a glowing circle etched into the ground, adorned with strange symbols drawn in intricate patterns. As they stepped into the center of the circle, the glowing light got brighter to the point where they were unable to see and in a split second they were transported to the Labrinth.

"So, you came back!" the snake hissed, baring its sharp teeth in a menacing grin.

"Is there something you wish to say?" it continued, raising its voice until it echoed ominously through the chamber.

While slowly walking towards the snake Banri replied "I have something to ask you," 

"Be done with it and ask your question," the snake snapped back, impatience lacing its tone.

Banri placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, locking gazes with the snake's slitted eyes. "Are you a celestial beast?" he asked, his expression turning cold.

"I am," the snake replied, and as the words left its mouth, Banri lunged into the air with incredible speed, aiming for the creature's giant eyes—an apparent weak spot compared to its armored scales. But with lightning-fast reflexes, the snake swatted him out of the air.

The impact sent Banri crashing into the wall, but before he could hit the ground, the snake sank its teeth into his shoulder, thrashing him violently the snake managed to bite off the his arm and with a single gulp, the creature swallowed it whole.

"You should have gone to the labyrinth, boy! You're no match for me. I've ripped your arm off and pumped you full of venom; now you will die a slow, painful death."

"Venom? Well, I do feel a little tingly," Banri muttered. In that moment, as he struggled to his feet, his arm began to regenerate, bone, flesh, and veins weaving together in perfect harmony.

His eyes transformed, taking on a feline appearance, allowing him to perceive the snake's movements with newfound clarity. His muscles grew tougher and stronger, and his skin thickened to withstand the snake's sharp teeth.

The snake launched a furious barrage of attacks, but Banri ducked and wove with incredible agility, evading each strike. Spotting an opening, he rushed at the snake, slashing his blade against its skin, but the weapon shattered upon impact.

Seizing the moment, the snake retaliated, sending Banri flying across the chamber. "Damn lizard! I didn't want to go crawling around in some stinky cave. I thought this would be easy, and I could take a nap while I waited for the others," Banri thought to himself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"Mind telling me where your heart is? It would be a pain to search for it as I rip you apart," Banri sighed, a hint of dread flickering in his eyes.

With his voice filled with condescending pity, the snake retorted "You foolish boy," 

In that moment, Banri's hands began to change, growing into large, formidable claws, ready to face the beast once more.

The snake lunge at him but Banri managed to get a hold of him with his claws, He sank them deep into the snake's scaled hide, feeling the resistance give way as he tore through flesh with savage ferocity. The creature writhed in agony, its massive body thrashing as Banri ripped away chunks of its sinewy form, each movement fueled by a raw, unrelenting power.

His teeth, sharp and powerful, clamped down on the snake's neck, tearing through muscle and sinew as he savagely pulled apart the creature piece by piece. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, soaking the ground as he continued his relentless assault, his primal instincts driving him to dismantle the once-mighty beast. The snake's anguished hisses filled the air, but Banri was undeterred, consumed by the thrill of the hunt and the intoxicating taste of victory. With each brutal strike, he felt the weight of his power, reveling in the chaos as he reduced the colossal serpent to nothing more than a shattered remnant of its former self.

With its last breath, the snake muttered, "What are you?"

 "The Perfect Being."

He held the snake's heart in his hands, astonished that it was still beating. Without hesitation, he sank his teeth into it, devouring it until nothing remained.

As the battle came to an end, Banri considered taking a moment to rest, but then he heard a voice echo in his mind.

[Quest completed. You have consumed the heart of a Celestial Beast. You will be transported to God Valley.]