The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

They pushed forward, drawn by the weight of the aura pressing against their senses. The path opened into a small clearing, and there, standing in the center as if they had been waiting, were three figures.

The man at the front was unmistakable. Long purple hair cascaded past his shoulders, and twin horns swept back from his temples like a crown of obsidian. His presence was dense, suffocating—an aura that pressed against the group like a physical weight, making each breath a conscious effort.

Flanking him were two women. One had silver-white hair that caught the dim light like spun moonlight, her crimson eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. The other was pale, her hair a deep crimson, a crown of thorns blooming atop her brow—each petal pulsing with a faint, inner light.

Franc’s hand tightened on his sword hilt, his voice low and sharp. ”Are they demons too?”

Bianca’s brow furrowed, her eyes scanning the figures with rapid assessment. ”They don’t match any of the information we have on demon commanders or high-ranking officers. Their appearances don’t fit the profiles.”

Gilbert’s voice was a low murmur, his gaze fixed on the horned man. ”They could be subordinates of Celine’s. Elite soldiers we haven’t seen before.”

Reith’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a sharp whisper. ”No. Their auras are on par with Celine’s—maybe stronger. If they’re subordinates, they answer to someone far above her. They’re likely direct vassals of the Demon King himself.”

Franc’s breath caught. His voice was barely a whisper. ”Then they’re members of the Four Heavenly Kings?”

Reith’s jaw tightened. ”It’s possible.”

Gilbert let out a low, frustrated curse. ”Fuck. We’re not lucky at all.”

Before anyone could respond, a wet cough cut through the tension. Kloss stirred on Franc’s shoulder, his body convulsing as consciousness clawed its way back to him.

”Ugh... uhk...”

The sound was faint, but in the heavy silence, it carried like a shout.

The silver-haired woman’s head turned slowly, her crimson eyes fixing on the group with the patient curiosity of a cat noticing a mouse. A slow, amused smile curved her lips.

”My, my... It seems we have guests.”

Franc didn’t hesitate. His voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and commanding.

”Run!”

The group surged into motion, their boots pounding against the uneven ground as they scrambled toward the treeline. But before they could take more than a few steps, the silver-haired woman’s voice drifted after them, smooth and amused.

”My, my... You’ve come all this way, and now you want to run? How disappointing.”

Her fingers twitched, and silver threads shot from her fingertips—thin as spider silk, but gleaming with an unnatural light. They sliced through the air with surgical precision, weaving a web that closed around the fleeing soldiers in the space of a heartbeat.

Reith spun, his blade already in motion. He swung at the threads with all his strength, the steel singing as it met the silk.

CLANG!

The blade bit into the threads and stopped. The impact sent a jolt up his arm, and his eyes widened as he realized the threads hadn’t even been scratched. They were harder than steel, more resilient than anything he had ever cut.

”Tch! These threads are too tough!” Reith gritted his teeth, pulling back for another strike.

Bianca’s hands shot forward, flames erupting from her palms in a roaring torrent. The fire licked at the threads, and for a moment, they held—then the silk began to blacken, curling at the edges.

”It’s working! Keep—”

But before she could finish, the silver-haired woman’s threads flared with a cold, silver light, and the flames guttered out. The silk reformed, stronger than before, tightening around the group.

Reith’s jaw tightened. His blade was still trembling in his grip, the threads still unbroken. His internal voice was sharp with frustration.

’This isn’t working. The threads are too strong—we can’t cut through them, and fire only slows them down.’

He glanced at Bianca, then at Franc, then at the figures standing calmly at the edge of the clearing. A cold realization settled in his chest.

’We’re outmatched. We need a different approach.’

The silver-haired woman tilted her head, studying them with the same patient curiosity. Her voice carried a note of genuine interest.

”Hmm. You have some fight in you after all. How entertaining.”

The red-haired woman voice cut through the tension, sharp and weary. ”Lilith. Don’t attack humans without reason. It will only cause more problems.”

Lilith’s smile didn’t waver. Her crimson eyes gleamed with dark amusement as she tilted her head, her silver threads still holding the soldiers in place.

”Oh? But they’ve been spying on us. That’s reason enough to kill them, isn’t it, Isolde?” She paused, her voice dropping to a silken murmur. ”I have a reason. So I’m justified.”

Isolde let out a long, weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her voice carried the particular exasperation of someone who had dealt with Lilith’s logic far too many times.

”Haaah... You and your reasoning. Stop it. We’re only here to guard Adam until he wakes up. We don’t need unnecessary bloodshed.”

Bianca’s sharp ears caught the name. Her brow furrowed, her voice carrying a note of recognition.

”Isolde...? I’ve heard that name before.”

Gilbert’s gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a low murmur. ”Isolde Draven? The Vampire Queen?”

Bianca’s eyes narrowed, studying the red-haired woman with new intensity. ”No, it can’t be. The Vampire Queen’s hair was white. This woman’s hair is crimson.”

Reith saw his opening.

While Lilith’s attention was still on the argument, he lunged forward, his blade already singing through the air. The steel arced toward Lilith’s exposed side with brutal precision.

Lilith didn’t turn.

Her hand shot up, catching the blade between two fingers. The steel stopped mid-swing, held in place by a grip that seemed effortless. Her head tilted slowly, her crimson eyes fixing on Reith with cold amusement.

”Tch. Trying to attack me while I’m busy? How rude.”

She flicked her wrist, and Reith was sent stumbling back, his blade nearly torn from his grip. His boots scraped against the ground as he fought to regain his balance, his eyes wide with shock.

Lilith’s smile widened, her voice carrying a note of predatory delight.

”Did you really think that would work?”