"Clearly, you're strong, so this clone of yours should be a downgraded version of yourself, right?" Apollo asked, pointing at the serpent's sinuous body. He wasn't sure whether the Great Serpent in front of him was the real deal or just a projection, but he could feel that this serpent was something he couldn't defeat with his current cultivation.
"I am… but a mere… fragment… however, my clones… are enough for… you," the Great Serpent explained in its slow, low voice.
"Enough for me? To defeat it or for it to defeat me?" Apollo asked, but the serpent didn't respond. Its glowing body brightened before shrinking into a two-meter-tall ball of light.
The light slowly descended in front of the beggar.
"I guess we're starting then," Apollo muttered, his demeanor turning serious. His small frame stood face-to-face with the ball of light as his body tensed. If this ball of light made any sudden moves that threatened him, he was ready to act.
Lowering his stance, the beggar waited.
A few seconds later, the ball of light began to shift. Its form changed into various shapes until it settled into the figure of a two-meter-tall man.
Then the details emerged—long white hair with a hint of blue, reaching down to the waist. The man's face had no eyebrows, but was covered in pale blue, almost white scales. His eyes were a deep ocean blue, reminiscent of the unreachable depths of Point Nemo.
His body was covered in white and blue scales, which seemed to function as armor.
Apollo's eyes widened as he took in the sight. A sudden flicking sound echoed behind the man, and when Apollo looked, he saw a long white tail swishing over the water-covered floor.
Though the winds summoned weren't as powerful as those from the larger Great Serpent, they were strong enough to blow the beggar's hair and clothes.
"You… are you the Great Serpent?" Apollo asked, raising his fists in front of him.
"I am but a mere clone, a fragment scattered across the entire Drakarin continent," the Great Serpent answered. His voice was much clearer now than when he was in his snake form.
Apollo nodded. The serpent had already explained the fragment earlier. So these fragments were clones of the real Great Serpent? Then where was the real one? The question lingered in his mind, and he decided to search for the answer later.
He had only learned the basic knowledge on the first floor, and if he wanted to understand more, he would need to spend more time reading, which he wasn't keen on doing right now.
"If I defeat you, I'll gain the Great Serpent Ascendant Transformation?" Apollo asked. He didn't know much about the technique yet, but it sounded cool, and he hoped it lived up to its name.
"Yes," the clone nodded, flicking its tail once more. "We shall begin."
Upon hearing this, Apollo jumped back to maintain distance, covering both his hands with the Simple Wind Sword Technique.
Apollo narrowed his eyes, every nerve on high alert. He hadn't expected that acquiring this technique would lead him into a battle—and against one of the Legendary beings, the Great Serpent, no less.
Even though it was only a clone, Apollo would still consider it the real deal—just for the sake of the story he'd tell later, if he decided to brag about the battle.
Apollo took a deep breath as his opponent remained still, seemingly waiting for him to make the first move.
"Hey! Why aren't you moving?" Apollo shouted, but the humanoid Great Serpent stayed silent, its tail swaying behind it. "Fine! I'll take the first move!"
If his opponent wouldn't act first, he'd gladly take the initiative! However, the moment Apollo stepped forward, the scaled man became a blur, and before the beggar knew it, a white and blue fist was inches from his face!
"F*ck!" Apollo cursed, realizing he couldn't dodge in time.
With a loud crack, the fist slammed into his face, sending him flying through the air and crashing into the water, parting it in half!
Apollo quickly flipped himself up, somersaulting in the air before landing squarely on his feet.
"That hurt," he muttered, rubbing his now-red cheek. He tasted blood on his lips. Wiping it with his hand, he glared angrily at the distant Great Serpent. "I'm just a kid! Can't you hold back?!"
The humanoid Great Serpent didn't respond.
"Damnit," Apollo spat into the water, watching the blood fall slowly towards the floor. "You've pissed me off."
Fire Blast and Wind Blast. The two techniques appeared before him as he raised his hands, aiming at his opponent.
As the blasts formed, Apollo noticed that the Great Serpent still wasn't moving. He narrowed his eyes. The moment he'd moved earlier, the serpent had appeared in front of him, but now, as he combined Fire Blast and Wind Blast, the snake remained stationary.
"Fine! Stay still then!" Apollo shouted, releasing his attack.
Like a meteor, the fire and wind blasts shot through the water, surging toward the Great Serpent!
But just as the blast left his hands, Apollo felt an overwhelming sense of danger. And sure enough, the serpent blurred again, reappearing right in front of him as the fire and wind combination exploded at its previous location!
Seeing the incoming fist, Apollo raised his own, throwing a punch with all his strength!
A shockwave erupted between them, sending water splashing high into the air, revealing the black floor beneath.
Apollo could feel the immense power behind the white and blue fist, pushing his hand back. He gritted his teeth, staring into the creature's deep blue eyes.
Simple Wind Sword Technique!
Suddenly, Apollo's fist turned razor-sharp, slicing through the serpent's hand, sending blood spraying onto the floor!
"Gotcha!" Apollo smirked as he forced the Great Serpent's hand back.
Seizing the opening, he launched a punch with his other fist! But the serpent's kick came faster, sending his body flying to the side!
Apollo tumbled across the water-covered floor, his entire body drenched.
He quickly stood up and wiped his face.
"Argh," Apollo groaned in pain. Glancing down, he saw blood trickling from his waist. "I can't react in time!"
The Great Serpent was incredibly fast. He had thought his punch would land, but the monster was always one step ahead.