CHAPTER 82: SERPENTS OF FIRE

The sorcerer’s face twisted in fury. "We’ll see about that!" He slammed his staff against the floor. The ground shook.

From the cracks, two massive serpents rose—each twice the size of a man, their scales glowing red-hot. Flames licked from their fanged maws as they hissed, the heat distorting the air around them.

"What the hell is this?!" Nolan growled.

The sorcerer spread his arms wide. "Behold! Fire-breathing serpents, summoned from the demon world itself. You’ve crossed the wrong man, and now you’ll burn!"

Lyra’s eyes narrowed, her voice low and dangerous. "Those aren’t ordinary serpents. They breathe fire... and they’re meant to kill without mercy."

"There’s no need to tell me," Nolan muttered, his eyes fixed on the serpent. "Creatures like this don’t stand a chance against me. The only problem... is I’ll try not to kill it. I want to tame it."

"You’re insane," the sorcerer spat. "These beasts obey only me!"

"Well," Nolan smirked, cracking his knuckles, "watch me."

The first serpent lunged, fangs wide. Nolan met it head-on, his fist slamming into its skull with a thunderous crack. He pinned its massive head to the floor, sparks scattering from its scales.

"Tame."

The serpent thrashed, unyielding.

"Tch. Didn’t work." Nolan’s eyes flicked toward the sorcerer. "So long as this bastard controls them, I can’t bind them. Looks like I’ll have to deal with you first."

The second serpent struck, its maw snapping for Nolan’s shoulder. He twisted away at the last second, flames searing the floor where he’d stood.

"Yikes... that was close." Nolan smirked. "Not bad. Let’s see which of us is stronger."

Both serpents reared up like cobras, hissing. Their throats glowed red before they spewed twin torrents of fire.

"Perfect." Nolan stretched out his hand. Mana flared, and fire erupted from his palm in a roaring stream. The blasts collided mid-air, a clash of burning power. The room shook with heat and light—until Nolan’s flames overwhelmed theirs, shoving the inferno back down their throats.

The serpents crashed to the floor, writhing in agony.

The sorcerer’s eyes widened. "W-what?! Impossible! No human could—just what in the hell are you?!"

Nolan dusted off his shoulder. "Me? I’m just your average guy."

"Average?!" the sorcerer shrieked. "You’re mocking me! That fire was stronger than both serpents combined—you’re no human! You’re a monster!"

But before he could say another word—Nolan vanished.

The sorcerer’s eyes darted around wildly. "Where did he—"

A fist slammed into his gut, folding him in half. He coughed blood, choking as he collapsed to the ground.

Nolan towered over him, seizing his staff. With one clean snap, he broke it in two. The runes shattered, the cursed seal in the serpents’ eyes dissolving. The beasts blinked, their movements loosening as control slipped away.

"Finally." Nolan stepped back as the serpents lowered their heads. "Now you’re mine."

The creatures slithered to his side, subdued but free.

Meanwhile, Sylvester had begun tiptoeing toward the door, sweat pouring down his face. "This sorcerer... useless trash. I need to get out of here before they notice—"

"Not so fast!" Aria shouted.

Sylvester bolted for the exit. Aria slipped off her heel and hurled it across the room. The shoe smacked the back of his head with a loud crack.

"Argh! Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Sylvester yelped as he toppled face-first to the floor.

Nolan strolled over, grabbed him by the shirt, and yanked him up effortlessly.

"You’re not going anywhere." Nolan’s eyes burned into his. "Now, tell us the real reason you did this."

"Let go of me! Let go! My head is still hot—get your hands off me now!" Sylvester struggled, his voice shaking.

"Fine," Nolan said coldly. He released him and shoved him back into the wall.

"Ouch! How dare you throw me like that? Do you even know who I am?!" Sylvester snapped. "My men are outside. They should have stormed in by now."

"You’re truly dumb," Nolan said with a smirk. "We defeated them before we came in."

Aria stepped forward, eyes burning. "Then answer me—why did you put a curse on me? You were about to place another one too. Did you want me to die? My daughter Mira had to take care of the inn after you cursed me. But they—" she pointed at Nolan and the others—"they dispelled it. They healed me. The curse vanished."

Sylvester gritted his teeth. "So it was them... you ruined everything. That curse was supposed to be unstoppable. Powerful. Yet somehow it failed. I can’t believe I lost to the likes of you."

"You’re going to talk," Nolan growled. He grabbed Sylvester by the shirt and dragged him to the window, holding him halfway out.

Sylvester’s eyes widened as he looked down at the drop. "H-Hey! What are you doing?! If I fall from here, I’ll die!"

"Exactly. Unless you tell us the truth, I’ll let go. Do you think I’m joking?" Nolan’s voice was deadly serious.

Sylvester looked into Nolan’s eyes and felt a chill run through him. He’s not bluffing... if I fall, I’ll die. All my money, everything I’ve saved, wasted.

"Okay! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!" Sylvester shouted, panicked. Nolan pulled him back inside and shoved him onto the floor. Sylvester gasped for breath, sweating. "I almost died..."

"Then speak," Lyra ordered sharply.

Sylvester hesitated, then muttered bitterly, "My inn is better than Aria’s in every way. More luxurious. But for some reason... hers is always full. People flock to her instead of me."

"What do you mean for some reason? That shouldn’t be a problem," Aria replied firmly. "Rich people usually go to your inn. Mine is for average folk. Yours is far more expensive—only the wealthy can afford it."

"That doesn’t matter!" Sylvester snapped. "It’s because you’re there. Some of the rich even go to you because they say your cooking is better than mine."

Nolan’s eyes narrowed. "So just because of that, you wanted to kill your own sister?"

"What do you mean just?!" Sylvester screamed. "You don’t understand! I worked every day, yet she kept up with me. I’m supposed to be the richest in this family. I’m the one with a house, But she built a bigger house for our parents than I did, and they moved into hers instead of mine!"