CHAPTER 34: The price of survival
Darkness did not lift all at once.
It peeled back slowly—layer by layer—like a stubborn fog clinging to his mind.
Zodac's consciousness drifted upward from a deep, heavy void. At first, there was only sensation: warmth against his skin, a dull ache threaded through his bones, and the faint scent of herbs and clean water. His body felt heavier than stone, every muscle tight, sore, and uncooperative, as though he had been reforged and not yet tempered.
Then came sound.
Soft murmurs. The quiet slosh of water. The whisper of cloth brushing skin.
His eyelids fluttered.
Light stabbed through the thin cracks, forcing a low groan from his throat. He turned his head slightly, breath shallow, and forced his eyes open.
A room greeted him—wide, spacious, and unfamiliar. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows draped in pale curtains, illuminating polished wooden walls and a ceiling etched with simple but elegant carvings. The bed beneath him was larger than any he had ever rested on, the sheets clean and soft against his bare skin.
Bare.
That thought registered a heartbeat later.
Zodac stiffened, pain flaring instantly through his chest and limbs. He sucked in a sharp breath, teeth clenching as his muscles protested the movement.
At his sides stood two young women.
They froze the moment they noticed his eyes open.
Both wore light garments—loose and thin enough to be practical, but not enough to fully conceal their figures. Each held a steaming cloth in her hands, which had clearly been used to clean the dried blood and grime from his body. Their expressions shifted rapidly from surprise… to fascination.
"Well…" one of them whispered, eyes flicking over his scarred chest.
"…he's awake," the other said, a hint of excitement slipping into her voice.
Before Zodac could speak—or even properly process the situation—both girls straightened, exchanged a quick look, and then giggled.
"Good morning, Sir Hero," they said in practiced unison.
The door opened and shut behind them before he could respond.
Silence returned.
"Oh my God isn't he cute" He hears coming from outside door,
"Yeah I want him" The other responded before both girls began to shush each other so He wouldn't hear.
Ughghh
He groaned,
Zodac exhaled slowly, jaw tightening.
"…Hero?" he muttered.
He pushed himself upright, every movement deliberate. Pain rippled through his body like aftershocks from a collapsed mountain. His head throbbed, a deep, lingering ache that pulsed behind his eyes.
"What… happened?" he murmured.
Fragments rushed back to him.
The cavern.
The serpent.
Blood.
Collapse.
"Right… I lost consciousness."
His gaze dropped instinctively to his body.
The wounds were gone.
Or rather—*healed*
He lifted a hand to his collarbone and froze. Where the 2 headed dogs bite had pierced him, a thick scar now rested against his skin, pale and jagged. His fingers traced it slowly, then moved downward.
His leg.
A long, brutal line ran from his foot to just below the knee—evidence of the serpent's tail. It had closed cleanly, but the scar remained as a permanent reminder of how close he had come to death.
Zodac swallowed.
He rose unsteadily and moved toward a tall mirror positioned against the far wall. Each step sent a warning through his nerves, but he ignored it.
The reflection staring back at him made his breath hitch.
Scars covered his body.
Old ones. New ones.
Across his chest, three deep marks slashed diagonally—Sentico's claws, etched into his flesh like a brand. Smaller scars dotted his ribs, arms, and shoulders, remnants of flying scales, spikes, and claws. His body looked less like that of a man now… and more like a battlefield that had survived countless wars.
"…So this is the price," he murmured.
He clenched his fist.
A translucent panel flickered into existence before his eyes.
Another panel followed immediately.
Zodac exhaled softly.
"So it wasn't a dream."
Curiosity overtook the pain.
He raised his right arm.
At once, a soft green glow pulsed from the orb bound to his forearm, spreading outward. Scales emerged rapidly, layering over his skin in overlapping plates of hardened emerald armor. In seconds, his arm was completely transformed—from fingertips to shoulder
Black, talon-like nails formed at the ends of his fingers.
Zodac stared at the reflection, eyes sharp and analytical.
"…Interesting."
The arm felt heavier—but not cumbersome. Power thrummed beneath the surface, restrained yet eager, like a coiled predator awaiting release.
He focused.
Type: Attack
Form: Gauntling
Attribute: Poison
"Let's test you," he said calmly.
"Gauntling."
The scales on the shielded surface of his arm rose slightly, aligning themselves. He extended his hand upward toward the ceiling.
In an instant—
A rapid barrage of scales fired outward, slicing through the air with violent precision. The sound was sharp, metallic, and relentless—like a storm of blades. They embedded themselves deep into the reinforced ceiling before dissolving into mana.
Zodac lowered his arm.
"…Stop."
The attack ceased immediately. The raised scales flattened, merging seamlessly back into the armor.
He nodded once.
"Efficient."
Then the orb pulsed again.
The scales on the shield that stood high and tall laid back down merging with the shield to once again become a flat smooth surface. Then Zodac activated something else, the shield pulsed like it came to life, then out of the orb came a cobra's head that slithered out standing tall a triangle at center of it's forehead, like a mini version of Nagendra on his shield as it stares at him eye to eye.
Zodac stares at it fascinated his head bent to the left and it followed as if responding to his will and inner command while at the same time seem to carry a mind of its own. Then bent his head again to the right and it so again as thier gaze locked unto each other.
Then someone opens to the door and walks into the room, his head bowed.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion my lord, I hope I have not come at a bad moment"
The snake vanished so as the shield as his scales filled hand returns to normal, and stared at the man who he did not recognize in shock,
"Lord?" He asked inwardly, but didn't think much of it.
"From monster to lord, I'll just play along to understand what's going on" He said inwardly,
"You may rise" He spoke in a tone commanding.
The man raised his head and Zodac looked at the man with bright blonde hair purple long sleeve shirt and purple trousers wearing glasses as he dressed in fine ware like a noble. Zodac could not get his gaze off as he look eary familiar.
"I have come to once again thank you for what you've done for us, if not for you we would not have..."
"Once again??" Zodac asked as he had no memory of the man,
"Oh let me introduce myself" he said then bowed his head,
"My name is Julius Rieapaca, the present head of this town" He said,
"Present head of this town?" Zodac asked,
"You may remember me as the man who came to thank you the moment you saved our town from the monsters" He said and it suddenly hit him, remembering the man who wanted to help him but he refused, due to his lack of trust and paranoia.
"That's was you?" Zodac said in shock,
"You look different, it's hard not to notice" He said as the man before him carried an aura of respect that may rival a noble man.
"I'm honoured that you noticed" He said his head bows once more.
"How long have I been out" Zodac said staring at the window,
"About 3 days" Julius said,
"3 Days!!!' He responded in shock,
Silence before Zodac finally spoke,
"Julius" He said
"Thank you for helping me" Zodac said,
"No it's the little we can do, we actually owe a lot more to you for helping us" The man said he head bowed once again,
"Isn't that like a overstatement, all I did was kill a couple of monsters" Zodac said,
"How about I show you, I'm still yet to give you a tour after all" Julius said,
"Will be looking forward to it" Zodac Said,
"I have other matters to attend to today I'll be waiting for just outside to show you around this lovely town of ours" Julius said and turns to leave,
"Those girls?" Zodac asked with curiosity.
"Oh them!!!, they actually volunteered to do it Sir" Zodac just grin as he rose from his bed,
"Anything else sir" Julius asked,
"Armour and belongings?" Zodac asked,
"Your damaged armour was fully repaired yesterday and I took the liberty on imposing upgrades and hope it would be to your liking" Julius said,
"Hmm" Was Zodac response,
"It's like everything is fine, I was worried when we weren't able to remove the...." Julius said pointing at the orb on his arm, now that he thinks about it, it just occurred to him that the orb was connected to an iron strap which refuses to leave his arm.
Not like he cared anyway, it helped and carried him through the fight,
"No worries it's fine" Zodac responded,
"Your belongings are in the drawer beside the bed" The man said and Zodac follows his gaze to look at the drawer beside the bed,
"I'll make preparation for you meal" The man said then he continues,
"And I'll have you armour transported here at once"
"I'll have your armour transported here also" He said then turns around to leave closing the door gently behind him, but before he could go,
"Wait" Zodac spoke,
Julius turns to meet his gaze,
"Anything else sir hero" He asked again,
"Thank you" He said sincerely,
"I'm honoured" Julius bows his head once more,
"But it's actually I who should be thankful to you, I'm Forever in your debt" He said then bowed his head opens the door and left.