Chapter 126: The Sky-Occluding Serpent
The darkness that still covered most of the arena swallowed Fenrir whole, making it seem as though the beast had fled.
However, Zeus' words suggested otherwise.
Suddenly, two glowing red dots appeared within the pool of darkness.
The red lights flickered off momentarily before reigniting.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to describe them as glowing eyes that had blinked, hence the momentary darkness before they lit up again.
Only the motion of eyelids closing could explain such a gradual dimming rather than an instant extinguishing.
Hssss~~~!
A strange sound emerged from within.
This sound sent an inexplicable chill down the spines of the gods who heard it.
The chill was even more intense than when they had heard Fenrir's roar, as if the owner of this voice was a monster far more dangerous than Fenrir.
"Did Loki create another monster?"
"What else is there besides Fenrir?"
Some questioned the Norse gods, but even they had no answers.
"Oh dear, no bait took the hook. How disappointing, Lord Zeus~"
A mocking voice rang out—none other than Loki's.
This confirmed that Fenrir's leap into the darkness had been a ruse, likely concealing a trap meant to lure the gods in.
Pupils contracting, the gods watched as Loki's form, now melted into a dark swamp, began to writhe.
The darkness twisted and contorted, forming Loki's enormous face—a visage full of scorn and ridicule.
"Now, let this one keep you entertained. Its appetite is just a tad bigger than Fenrir's."
After speaking, Loki let out a sinister laugh that unsettled countless gods.
Fenrir alone had already caused significant casualties among the gods.
And now, a monster with an even greater appetite than Fenrir? Meaning it was even more terrifying?
"Waaah!"
Someone let out a terrified scream as Loki's face bulged upward, something pushing up from beneath.
But with Loki's grotesque, twisted grin still in place, no one could immediately discern the shape of the emerging monster.
The next instant, the creature suddenly shot skyward, soaring past the top of the arena in a flash—and still climbing.
"W-w-w-what is that, Sister Brunhilde?!"
Göll's voice trembled so much it cracked.
Before their eyes, an enormous black pillar continued to rise into the sky, appearing even larger than the fused tentacle pillar King Solomon had summoned.
Ah!
The sky was blotted out by the coiling black column, and then the darkened heavens began to descend.
"BOOM—!!!"
The entire arena shook and groaned.
No—it was more accurate to say the entire floating island was groaning, as if bearing an unbearable weight.
Just what kind of monster had Loki summoned?
"The arena's surrounded!"
"Are they trying to trap us inside?"
"What is that black thing?"
As he spoke, the arena was encircled by massive black pillars, coiling around it like a serpent.
Hiss—!
That eerie sound sent chills down everyone's spine once more.
"Ah—!"
Göll let out a voiceless scream—was she seeing things?
The sky above the arena, now halved in size, seemed to flicker with something forked before retracting.
Her pupils contracted as the writhing, protruding pillars on the arena slowed their movement, shrinking and thinning until they resembled... a snake's tail?
A snake?
That forked flicker in the sky earlier—come to think of it, it was like a serpent's tongue.
And that bizarre sound—it, too, was reminiscent of a snake.
No... no way. That couldn't be!
Göll refused to believe it.
Many others shared her suspicion, yet none dared to accept such a terrifying possibility.
"Heimdall, hurry up and adjust the external cameras!"
"Show us what that thing really is!"
"Now!"
"Y-yes!"
Urged by the increasingly restless gods, Heimdall activated his omnidirectional cameras—not just those inside the arena, but also the ones outside.
"Then allow me to unveil the colossal entity surrounding the arena..."
As the footage appeared, what came into view was... a tiny floating rock? With a small black snake coiled around it?
"Heimdall, what the hell are you doing?"
"We told you to show us what's surrounding this place!"
"This isn't some damn wildlife broadcast, you idiot!!!"
Some gods began cursing.
Yet, a select few widened their eyes in horror, cold sweat pouring down their backs.
Those who paid attention to the chief gods would notice their expressions had turned grave.
"Strange... I definitely set the cameras to focus on the arena. Did I mess up the angle?"
Still oblivious, Heimdall, the commentator, assumed he had misadjusted the lens.
He checked again—yes, it was indeed aimed at the arena. So why was this the footage being displayed?
Adjusting his glasses, he squinted at the screen. Gradually, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he swallowed hard several times.
The camera wasn't wrong—it was capturing the arena.
The problem was... the lens was zoomed out too far.
So he began adjusting, magnifying the image again and again.
The gods, still confused at first, continued their impatient shouts—until, one by one, they fell silent.
The screen now clearly revealed what was encircling the arena, and terror painted every face.
It was an unimaginably colossal serpent, its massive body coiling around the entire coliseum.
Suddenly, the sky above the arena darkened—half of the upper exit was now obscured by a monstrous head.
The serpent's head, flicking its tongue, gazed down at them all.
Drool dripped from its maw, splattering onto the arena floor.
Sizzle—!
The ground melted instantly, as if plastic foam touched by molten metal, leaving behind a gaping crater.