The Beast Tamer Clan's Monster Overlord

Axelius and Owen made their way closer to the river, the steady rush of water filling the silence between the roars and stomps of orcs working behind them.

Axelius crouched low, watching Owen slither along the damp soil.

"So," Axelius asked, one brow raised, "you can't mimic anymore? You're stuck as Nargacrypta then?"

Owen paused mid-slither, coiling up a little before nodding, his glassy black scales glinting faintly in the light.

"Yeah," he admitted, "I can't turn into other creatures like before. My mimic skill… it's gone." He lifted his head with a sly grin, his tongue flickering. "But—I can copy the abilities of the creatures I've eaten. That part stayed. Awesome, right?"

Axelius tilted his head, thoughtful, then leaned back with a grin. "Not bad. You traded in being a jack-of-all-trades for… something a little sharper. Makes sense."

Owen gave a little hiss of excitement, then suddenly darted forward, slithering faster than Axelius expected.

His long body cut across the ground in a blur, weaving in and out of rocks near the riverbank, the grass and mud scattering behind him.

"Whoa look at this speed!" Owen shouted proudly, his voice carrying as he circled back toward Axelius.

Axelius watched closely, arms crossed, golden eyes following every twist and turn. "Hmmm," he muttered with a faint smirk. "Not bad, snake. You've got legs without actually having legs."

Owen coiled tightly, lifted his upper body high, and flicked his tongue, eyes glowing faintly with excitement. "Heh. This time… A new story. I'll follow rimuru step."

Axelius's grin widened as he stood. "Good. Then let's test how far you've really come." He reached for his katana, the blade humming faintly as he drew it free. "Try not to disappoint me, partner."

He held his katana loosely at his side, eyes sharp, watching Owen slither in a wide arc across the grass.

Owen darted forward first, his black glassy scales flashing under the sunlight as he weaved left and right with surprising speed.

Axelius grinned, bent his knees, and leaned back as Owen suddenly lunged, fangs bared.

With a quick step to the side, Axelius swung his katana in a clean arc, the flat of the blade grazing Owen's body and forcing him to twist back with a hiss.

"Hah, not bad," Axelius laughed, sliding his foot back into stance, katana raised in one hand.

Owen hissed again, coiling low, his red serpent eyes glinting. "Try blocking this!"

Suddenly, the scales along his back bristled like a wave, sharp black spikes jutting out with a metallic shimmer. With a whip of his body, the spikes shot forward like arrows.

Axelius's eyes widened, his grin stretching even further. "Ohhh?! Amazing!" he shouted as he spun his katana in a blur, the sharp ring of steel clashing against each spike as they flew.

He sidestepped two, ducked under one, then batted away the last with a clean slice that sent it clattering into the dirt beside him.

He stopped, laughing, his chest rising and falling with excitement. "Where did that come from, huh?!" he yelled across the field, his golden eyes blazing with delight.

Owen slithered proudly in a circle, tongue flicking smugly as his scales began to settle. "Heh. Just discovered it myself," he hissed, raising his head high, his spikes still bristling like a crown before slowly melting back into the smooth, glassy sheen of his body.

Axelius pointed his katana at him, still grinning. "Now you look like a Narga. That's the kind of power I expect."

Owen tilted his head proudly, puffing his chest like a bird even though he was still a sleek snake. "The only problem is… I can't hold it for long. A few seconds at best. Then it fades."

As if to prove it, the last faint shimmer of his spikes receded, leaving him smooth and glassy once more.

Axelius lowered his katana with a chuckle, his expression still brimming with pride. "Doesn't matter. Even a few seconds is enough to kill someone if you know how to use it." He twirled his katana and rested it against his shoulder. "And you, partner, just became even more dangerous."

Owen slithered back to his side, smugly hissing as he coiled loosely near Axelius's feet. "Heh. You're just lucky I'm on your side."

Axelius smirked, leaning down to pat him on the head. "No. I'm lucky you're my brother."

Owen felt awkward as his tongue flicked the air. "You changed a lot, I see you're maturing huh, Axel."

Axelius stood up slowly, brushing the dirt from his clothes, and then suddenly jumped back, swinging the katana to both sides with sharp precision.

His golden eyes glinted as he lowered himself into a stance. "We're not done, Owen. Show me all that you can do."

After swinging the katana once more, he steadied his footing, his body leaning forward like a predator ready to strike.

Owen let out a low hiss, laughter echoing strangely from his serpent's throat. "Get ready! I'm no longer the slime you knew!" His scales bristled, his body gleaming black like glass under the sunlight.

Axelius smirked. "Good. That's what I want."

They both rushed toward each other, one blade flashing, one serpent lunging, their speed so fast it blurred like shadows clashing.

The moment their bodies clashed, the sound was like a thunderclap rolling across the riverbank. Dust and dirt flew high into the air, leaves scattered, and the very ground trembled as if it could not contain the force of their spar.

For a long heartbeat, nothing could be seen only the swirling haze of smoke and soil.

Then the dust began to clear.

Standing at the center was Axelius no longer the small boy who once swung a katana with wide eyes and childish grins. His frame had grown taller, his shoulders broader, his golden eyes sharper and colder.

His black hair hung messily down his face, and his grip on the katana was steady, the stance of someone who had trained for years without pause.

Fifteen years old now.

And opposite him, coiling like a living shadow, was Owen. No longer the small glass-scaled snake that once perched on Axel's shoulder. He had grown into a sleek, powerful serpent, his length matching Axelius's height, his body thick with muscle hidden under glimmering scales that reflected the light like shards of obsidian glass.

His eyes burned with the red hue of a predator, and when he hissed, the sound rumbled deep like thunder.

Three years had passed in the blink of an instant.

Axelius tilted his head, katana raised lazily at his side, his expression calm but filled with quiet fire.

Owen lunged at the same time, his body blurring with speed, fangs gleaming.

The impact of their clash once again sent a boom echoing through the forest and a shockwave rippling across the river.