“Everyone, we don’t have much time—the bitch and her minions are almost here. One after the other, get inside the portal, quickly!” Skylar instructed, obviously excited, as the portal that appeared stabilized.

  At the same time, the last wave of zombies—who had probably regained their original programming—flooded the sacred ground from every direction, intent on punishing all intruders, not just the two females.

  Meanwhile, to the side, Lady Cat gestured. An air blade materialized midair and bisected a colossal cyclop in two. Immediately after, she transmitted her voice to Skylar.

  ["My mate, you go first. This great me will take the rear."]

  Skylar was about to reply when a group of giant snakes suddenly broke away from the rest. Like a well-timed, masterful maneuver, they flooded a section of the sacred ground, positioning themselves in front of the altar and cutting Skylar off from the others.

  “What are they up to?” Skylar muttered as he leapt into the air, attempting to jump over the giant snakes standing like dutiful guards.

  “Everyone, get inside now!” he shouted.

  He expected to descend—but what he witnessed as he hung midair stunned him.

  One of Raftelia’s creeping plants suddenly went rogue. In a flash of lightning, it grabbed its master—the unsuspecting Raftelia—coiling tightly around her. At the same time, another vine branch seized the stunned and crazed little guy, flinging both of them into the portal before they could react.

  Simultaneously, Mr. Rabbit, who was running toward the portal and had nearly reached it, was struck from behind by another branch of the same creeping plant. Energized with amplified spiritual natural energy, the force it exerted launched Mr. Rabbit straight into the portal, ejecting him from the ruin just like Raftelia and the little guy.

  Before Skylar could fully process what had occurred in that split second, his attention was drawn to a massive shadow creeping across the sacred ground. The shadow—a giant silhouette of a serpent filled the space as it slithered toward him.

  Before he could speak, he was tightly bound—mouth, legs, and hands—by the branches of another rogue vine, adding to the one that hung him midair, coiling around his waist.

  Fuck this bitch. She’s been here all along… was she hiding among the snakes? Talk about crazy…

  Bound and completely unable to struggle, Skylar frowned as he watched Lady Cat’s shadow grow, matching the serpent’s colossal size. Sadly, after only a few short breaths, and for reasons unknown to him, her shadow shrank back to its natural size.

  At the same time, the energized sharp tip of a vine branch rushed toward his defenseless forehead at terrifying speed, stopping just as it touched his skin—poised to pierce his head at any moment.

  “Bitch, let him go!”

  A savage-looking Lady Cat bared her fangs at the serpent’s shadow. Her hackles were raised, her eyes literally burning as she stood on the sacred ground, shielding Skylar, who was suspended and bound above her.

  “At this rate, aunty, I don’t want to,” the shadow replied through a telepathic message. “What I can’t have, I will destroy.”

  More energized vine tips rushed toward Skylar, stopping mere millimeters from his body, all holding the same lethal intent.

  The serpent’s voice continued inside Lady Cat’s head. “Please, aunty, just enter the portal. I can guarantee he will be safe until the day you return to claim him. This time, it’s clearly your loss—and the fight that would happen if I kill him is not what either of us wants.”

  “Just shut it already, bitch,” Lady Cat snapped, growling. “He’d better not have a scratch on his body. And this great me advises you—next time this great me comes for you, you’d better run to the end of the cosmos or seek refuge on the bed of a supreme.”

  Bitch, you dare humiliate me and steal from me… Lady cat eyes became cold and her presence chilling. This great me will give it to you. You are brave—very brave. This great me looks forward to our next meeting. The horrors this great me will bestow upon you, your screams, your despair… this great me hopes you will be ready.

  Lady Cat growled one last time. Her immaculate white fur glowed faintly, her large furry tail raised symbolically as her energy field radiated mysterious might. Without looking back, she walked toward the portal—graceful and majestic.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  She paused once. Then, taking her final step, she was swallowed by the portal’s light, vanishing from the ruin like the others.

  Meanwhile, her voice echoed in Skylar’s mind as he watched her disappear.

  “My mate, take care of yourself. And don’t forget—you have a lot of explaining to do the next time we meet. Until we reunite, which this great me is certain will be very soon.”

  The voice faded. The portal—a screen of light occupying one of the trilithons of the inner ring—vanished, replaced by empty space as if it had never existed.

  This bitch must have threatened her with my life… Skylar thought. If only she knew I wouldn’t die. I should have told her everything… but it’s not bad either way. It just means I’ll have to get a bit serious.

  Elsewhere, another thought leaked through the shadows.

  The annoying nuisances are all gone. Uncle is finally mine alone.

  A loud hiss followed.

  “Bitch! Just put me down already—it’s not like I can fly out of here!” Skylar shouted, amplifying his voice.

  The binds loosened. He gently landed on the edge of the altar and sat there, scanning the countless giant snakes that filled the stone structure with no space between them—many more likely still outside.

  “Where is that bitch?” he frowned, unable to find the serpent.

  “Bitch, just come out already!” he shouted.

  As his voice reverberated across the sacred ground, the snakes parted like a sea, forming a clear path toward him.

  A shadowy figure traversed the path, moving like a supreme goddess walking the mortal world. As it drew closer, its true glory was revealed, as though a spotlight had been turned on.

  A supremely enchanting barefoot young woman emerged—her glossy, glowing brown-olive skin triggering ancient memories. She wore a dress reminiscent of an Egyptian goddess, adorned with countless sparkling jewels that restrained her mind-twisting beauty.

  Her seductive curves—clearly reminiscent of those of the primordial serpent—moved rhythmically, like a dance. Tiny bells attached to her anklets, bracelets, and waist chains jingled in harmony with the sway of her wide hips.

  Yet it was her overall allure—especially her ripe, bountiful assets and softly glowing green wavy hair framing her delicate, sexy facial features—that seized Skylar’s gaze, demanding awe while treacherously invading his depth.

  “Fuck!” Skylar cursed.

  Her mature temperament and frame, perfectly suited for childbearing, coupled with her overwhelming presence, ignited his primordial mating instincts. Reacting in panic, he threw himself backward off the opposite side of the altar to escape her sight.

  Too late.

  A wet stain appeared on his pants—right at the crotch. Something he would never forget.

  The forbidden serpent hissed softly, licking her plump lips with her forked tongue, amused by the sight.

  His will is on another level… even a divine being would have lost rationality by now. It’s worth offending them—daddy will protect me.

  “How many children should I have with uncle…?” she murmured dreamily, rolling her radiant green eyes before fixing them on Skylar, who clung precariously to the altar’s edge, his face etched with struggle.

  She leaned forward, whispering sweetly, “Uncle, are you having a hard time?”

  Her voice and gestures multiplied the overwhelming desire threatening to rip Skylar beating heart apart.

  “At this rate, I can help,” she continued. “We can use the altar. My children won’t mind us going at it like beasts on this sacred ground.”

  This bitch… she’s doing this on purpose, Skylar thought grimly. Just wait—I’ll soon get immune to your crazy charm.

  He sighed.

  “Bitch… okay. You win. I can’t stand it anymore. Let’s talk business.”

  Conceding, he climbed back onto the altar, stubbornly looking away from her as he fought to preserve his rationality.

  “Uncle, at this rate I’m not even doing anything to you,” she replied, her seductive voice deepening his torment. She casually licked her plump, moist lips again with her long forked tongue.

  Annoyed, Skylar shut his eyes and shouted, “Bitch, believe me—I’ll just leave and never come back!”

  She sighed. Her figure dissolved into shadow before morphing back into the massive green serpent Skylar recognized.

  How did she do that? he wondered. No energy fluctuation at all… it just happened.

  “I didn’t tell you to turn into this ugly bitch,” Skylar said, finally standing upright on the golden altar with dignity.

  The serpent hissed playfully. "Uncle, at this rate, are you saying I should return to that form?"

  “Okay, that’s enough. Come here,” Skylar interrupted, beckoning. He jumped down the side of the altar behind him. “I think there’s something inside this altar—and I want it.”

  "Anything for my lord," the serpent hissed; she replied obediently as she approached, towering over the altar like a loyal servant.

  Skylar smirked, then palmed his face.

  “Just help me pull it to your side a bit. I need a small gap to see what’s inside.”

  The serpent bowed as if receiving an imperial edict. Gripping the altar’s edge with her massive claws, she pulled—and the altar yielded with ease.

  As its cylindrical base was exposed, Skylar jumped onto the edge to peer inside.

  However, a whirlpool suddenly formed beneath the altar’s opening. In a blink—like a sneaky thief—it dragged Skylar in and swallowed him whole.

  Everything happened too fast for anyone to react.

  "Uncle! Are you hurt?!" the serpent hissed loudly, panicking. She rushed to peer into the altar’s exposed interior.

  Is the heavens mocking me?!

  Rage consumed her. Her eyes turned bloodshot as golden patterns appeared and glowed on her green scales. Her will nearly crushed the entire ruin—yet still, the altar was reduced to dust.

  Finally, she calmed herself. Turning to her army, she hissed solemnly.

  "We are returning," she announced.

  Then she repeated, her hissing cold and final:

  "We are returning to the Old Empire’s imperial capital."