Chapter 86: Preparations Part 1

Versailles sat on the Scorpion King's back as the arachnid crawled and leaped over insidious molten lava and exploding mounds. The ear exploding sounds of erupting volcanos' accompanied their cautious actions and heightened senses.

All around them, volcanos' of various sizes went off intermittently, their bright glare lightening the flaming region in a resplendent red-orange glow. Large flame crocodiles, lava lizards, and fire centipedes moved about busily, either dragging preys or engaged in battle for territories.

This region was known as the Erupting Volcanos' Region of the Nar realm. It was the designated location of the Battle of Wit, set to start in less then three ice nights.

As a land of danger, both from the creatures dwelling in it and the unpredictable erupting volcanos', few immortal or mortal beasts were able to survive in it.

As such, the six supreme clans chose it as the next arena for the Battle of Wars, the Battle of Wit.

As the name implied, it took shrewdness, keen intelligence, and cleverness to overcome the natural obstacles of the environment, native beasts, and competitive immortal participants. Surviving and coming out victorious from the clash was an ordeal that tested the sharp mental fortitude of the competitors.

"Scorpion King, jump!" Versailles yelled at the distressed scorpion dragging his feet. 

The Scorpion King jumped accordingly, narrowly dodging the razor sharp teeth of the flame crocodile. Without pause, he anxiously continued forward, cold sweat sliding down his hideous face.

'The Nar! Why have the heavens placed this venomous serpentine on my back!' 

The teary expression on his face was one filled with grievance, fear, and worry for his dear life. His movements were panicky and jerky, but every leg he moved was swift and accurate, placing it just slightly out of the crocodiles reach.

Although the Scorpion King complained and cried nonstop both internally and outwardly, he did not hold back any skill and ability to safeguard his life, and hence, Versailles' as well.

This was the reason why Versailles had taken him along for the ride.

Not only did the beast fear the strong. He also feared death and treasured his immortal life. Combined with his craftiness, it would be a breeze for her to traverse through the Erupting Volcanos' with him around, and make preparations for the upcoming Battle of Wit.

'I am glad I brought him along. His survival instincts are quiet sharp.'

There was a slight smile on her lips as she enjoyed his mournful expression.

"What, you don't enjoy accompanying this Mistress?" She darkly asked.

"Of...Of course I enjoy it! Of all the beasts gathered in the fortress, Mistress picked only me!" The scorpion shrieked.

"Hmph! Good that you know!" She arrogantly raised her head, her arms crossed over her chest.

'Good that I know? Good that I know? I know what? That you want to kill me? Of all the beasts gathered in the fortress, you only had to pick me!' 

He raged internally, not daring to breath a word externally.

Moving from side to side, he nimbly navigated his way through yet another throng of lava lizards and arrived before a molten crack. The crack led to the inside of the volcano, emitting extreme heat and brilliant flare as it greeted their sight.

"Master, the temperature here is very high! We will be burnt to a crisp before we can even do anything. Why don't we go back, huh? In the end, it is still a lot smarter for us to stay alive, then walk right into death's embrace." Even though the words sounded reasonable and impartial, Versailles felt the silent plea in his eyes as he hopefully gazed at her.

'This wretched scorpion! All he ever thinks about is preserving his life. If he wasn't fearful of evoking my wrath, he would've already dumped me and ran away.' 

Furrowing her brows, she resolutely rejected him.

"You can forget about it. We are not going back! Now, enter the volcano!"

Dejected, he despondently bowed his head and warily stepped into the red-orange crack.

The Scorpion King attentively swept his eyes around, checking every direction before vigilantly moving forward. He knew the serpentine wouldn't ask him to enter the volcano, if she was not confident of ensuring her life.

He also knew she probably had a method to deal with the boiling, molten lava and that his cautious behavior was uncalled for. 

However, he still preferred to remain alert.

'What a joke! This serpentine clearly knows how dangerous the Erupting Volcanos are, and yet, she still dragged me along. It needs no saying to know that she will dump me the moment the situation turns deadly. She won't care about the life of a lesser race like me. Hmph! I cannot entrust my life to this malicious and venomous serpentine!'

He continued his grumbles inwardly, not trusting the serpentine at all. After all, his life was precious to him and only he knew how to truly value it.

As for others?

He would be glad enough if they didn't try to snatch it while he was in an impasse. 

Versailles knew the thoughts running through the Scorpion King's mind from the gleaming light in his eyes and vigilant behavior. However, she did not mind.

Because if a situation truly did arose where she had to choose between helping him and helping herself, she would choose to help herself.

As such, she was pleased with his behavior, approving of his actions.

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'In this Nar realm, a beast can only trust itself.'

And the fact that the Scorpion King was aware of this made her feel more satisfied with her decision. Only smart individuals could decisively work together and break through a blockade, while keeping their guard up against each other.

"Master, is there a specific direction we are heading in? Otherwise, everything looks the same to me here." After looking around for a long while, he was not able to decide which direction to go.

Everywhere and everything looked the same here.

"There isn't a specific direction we are heading. Just locate an area where group scuffles are more likely to occur, and disperse your venom."

"Are we laying down a poison trap for someone? I left my venom in the landscape and volcanos' we already passed. We are still setting more poison fields?"

The Scorpion King was confused.

Why was the serpentine setting up poison traps all around the roads and landscapes leading to the Erupting Volcanos? Why was she dispersing venom inside the volcanos? And why was she leading the native beasts into certain locations?

It felt, and seemed, as if she was setting a giant labyrinth for someone specific.

'But who was the one that deserved to receive the malicious, sinister, and deadly scheme of this serpentine? Who was the unlucky beast that wrongly stroked her serpent scales?'

The more he thought of the traps they planted so far, the fiercer his limbs shuddered.

'Whoever the beast is, he has a lot waiting in store for him.'

He darkly chuckled inside, excited to know there was a more unfortunate individual than him out there.

At this moment, he was thankful for being in some sort of a subordinate relationship with the serpentine. At least then, the chance of her viewing him as an enemy was minimal. He did not want to be on the receiving end of her scheme.

"Focus on the task at hand. Do not try to use your measly brain to figure out what is going on in mine."

"Measly? Master, are you referring to me? When has my brain size shrunk?" The Scorpion King frowned unhappily, very displeased at the label.

Versailles snorted disdainfully as she roughly slapped the scorpion's back.

The slap seemed playful, but the Scorpion King immediately understood for what it was.

A warning.

She was warning him to not stick himself into matters beyond his capability to bear.

*

A while later, in the center of the volcano, the scorpion and serpentine appeared before a boiling lave. If by misstep, they fell into the lava, the fiery red-orange liquid would burn them into skeletons, within a matter of seconds.

"Master, I am almost done."

The Scorpion King waved his stinger, inserting the sharp, venomous tail in the sea of fire, as he cautiously spewed his poison.

"Hmm. Make it quick. The scalding lavas of the Erupting Volcanos are fierce enough to burn the whole Nar realm. I cannot ward it off for long." In the end, she was still too weak.

After leaving the Sybil realm and entering the Nar realm, she barely had time to focus on mastering her powers. 

In her previous life, her plan was to use the Battle of Wars as a grinding method to hasten the adaptability and flexibility of her snake body. But many dramatic series of events occurred, hindering her progress.

'This time, I will make sure to achieve the goal of mastering my powers. That too, in the Battle of Wit, three ice nights from now!' 

With a fiery light flashing through her violet-gold eyes, Versailles efficiently controlled her flame power, enveloping the red-gold radiance on her and the Scorpion King's figures.

As the scorpion left yet another poison trap, she reduced the degree of the heat waves battering their bodies by a huge margin. 

"Are you done yet?" Her control was weakening, the strain of sustaining the usage of her power burdening her mind and soul. 

"Almost there! Do not slacken your control yet, Master!"

The Scorpion King did not want to die by boiling alive in the erupting volcano. He still treasured his life and was not planning on burying his bones within the sea of flames.

As such, he forced himself to endure the scorching pain transmitted to his limbs and sunk his red-gold flame covered stinger into the lava.

"Hisss!"

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