The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Meanwhile....

Inside a half-collapsed building near the ruined plaza, a massive wolf stalked forward through the shadows. Every step it took made the broken floorboards groan.

Gill stood a few paces away, both hands raised, his back pressed against a cracked pillar.

”I already told you,” he said, keeping his voice level. ”I was forced into this. It wasn’t my choice.”

The wolf kept coming. A low growl rumbled from its throat, deep enough to vibrate through the floor.

GRRRRRR....

Gill took a step back, hands still raised.

”At least listen to me—”

The wolf lunged with incredible speed.

Its jaws snapped shut inches from Gill’s face. He twisted aside at the last second, his shoulder slamming into the pillar as he dodged. Dust rained down from the ceiling. He stumbled, caught himself, and scrambled back.

”Okay, okay! I get it! Let’s talk it over!”

The wolf turned, slowly and intimidatingly. its eyes never leaving him. When it spoke, its voice was rough and guttural, more beast than man.

”Why should I listen to the ramblings of someone who helped kill my people?”

Gill’s mouth opened, then closed.

The wolf took another step forward, claws scraping against the stone.

”You say you were forced and it wasn’t your choice.” Its lips peeled back, baring teeth. ”But it was still your hands that did it.”

Gill’s back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat.

’Shit!’

The wolf stopped a pace away, close enough that Gill could feel the heat of its breath. Its eyes bore into him, unblinking.

”So tell me, Archivist.” The word was spat like poison. ”Why should your excuse mean anything to me?”

Gill stared at the wolf, which seemed unwilling to let him live through the night. Then, slowly, he let out a breath and lowered his hands.

”...You’re right,” he said quietly. ”It doesn’t.”

The wolf’s eyes narrowed. Its lips pulled back, baring teeth still wet with saliva.

”Then what are your last words?”

Gill let out a long, slow breath. He felt incredibly unlucky tonight, with a massive wolf hunting him, it seemed his life wouldn’t last much longer. He closed his eyes for a moment.

’This one won’t listen to me no matter what I say...’

He opened his eyes and looked at the wolf. He felt certain it would hurt when those sharp fangs bit into him.

The wolf stared back. When Gill didn’t speak, it took one final step forward.

”Then die.”

Its jaws opened wide, saliva dripping onto the stone. It lunged—

”Stop!”

The wolf froze mid-lunge. Its jaws snapped shut an inch from Gill’s throat. For a moment, he just stood there, breathing heavily and his large body shaking with barely controlled rage.

Then it turned its head slowly toward the doorway.

Selena stood at the entrance, her sword still sheathed, her expression calm but firm.

Garrick’s growl rumbled low in his chest.

”Don’t get in my way, Selena.” His voice was rough, each word grinding out through clenched teeth. ”My mood is already bad enough.”

Selena stepped into the room, she calmly walked without fear of the wolf in front of her.

”I can see that,” she said quietly. ”But killing him won’t bring them back.”

Garrick’s claws scraped against the stone floor, hearing Selena’s words made his anger rise even more.

She stopped a few paces away, close enough to be heard but not close enough to challenge him.

”If you kill him now, you lose the only person who might know what happened to your people.”

Selena’s words sounded reasonable. Killing the Archivist would mean never knowing what happened to his people. His growl stopped for a moment.

Gill, still pressed against the pillar, let out a weak, nervous laugh.

”Uwah... good timing, Lady Selena.”

Selena glanced at him.

”Shut up.”

Gill shut up. He didn’t want to make things worse.

Garrick’s jaws slowly closed. The golden light in his eyes dimmed, and his massive form began to shift. Fur receded. Bones cracked and reformed. Within moments, the giant wolf was gone, replaced by a broad-shouldered beastkin man.

He straightened to his full height and glared down at her.

”What are you doing that this city has fallen into chaos again, Selena?” His voice was low, rough, scraping against the air. ”Are you joking?”

Selena met his gaze without flinching.

”I know.”

”You know?” He took a step forward, boots cracking against the broken floor. ”That’s all you have to say? You know?”

”I’ll listen to your complaints later,” Selena said calmly. ”Right now—”

”Later?” Garrick cut her off, his voice rising. He slammed his foot against the ground, the impact splitting the stone beneath his boot. His right arm swung out to the side, fingers curled into a fist. ”A leader like you... what kind of leader are you?!”

The shout echoed through the ruined building.

Gill, still pressed against the pillar, quietly took a step sideways, putting more distance between himself and the beastkin.

Garrick’s chest heaved. He was fed up with what had happened to him.

”I trusted you. I believed you could make this city better. I supported you, stood behind you when everyone else doubted.” He clenched his fist tighter, knuckles whitening. ”And now look at it. Everything’s falling apart again.”

Selena let him finish. Then she spoke without raising her voice.

”First,” she said quietly, ”calm yourself down, Garrick.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but she kept going.

”If you can’t control your emotions, your decisions will fall apart. And I don’t have time to deal with that right now.”

Garrick’s jaw tightened. His hands clenched at his sides.

”Oh, so that’s how it is?” he said. ”You won’t answer my question? Do you not need my help anymore?”

Selena held his gaze.

”I’m saying we still need to find out what our enemy is planning and how to stop it. The answer is right in front of us.”

Then Selena looked at Gill who was trying to slowly escape.

”We finish this first. After that, you can complain, or stop supporting me. I don’t care. As long as we stop the one who tore our city apart.”

Garrick looked toward Gill, then grabbed him and pinned him against his arm so he couldn’t escape. He understood that what Selena was saying had some truth to it. It was better to control the situation first, then punish the one responsible for all of this.

Slowly, the tension bled out of his shoulders. He let out a harsh breath through his nose and turned his head away.

”...Alright,” he muttered.