Tap. Tap. Tap.

The soft rhythm of heels clicking against the tongue of the massive stone head echoed through the air.

A figure emerged from the darkness, stepping forward with an elegant, almost serpent-like grace—each movement slow, deliberate, and mischievous.

It was a woman.

Another damn woman.

'What is the ratio of women to men in this world..?' Finn's eye twitched at the sight.

Her hair was long and jet black, part of it tied neatly at the back while the rest cascaded down past her waist. Strands framed her pale face perfectly, her bangs parting just enough to reveal a small black tattoo marked in the center of her forehead.

Her eyes were sharp and narrow—serpent-like, glowing faintly with a golden hue. Slitted pupils stared them down with a mixture of amusement and danger. Her skin was pale, almost ghostly.

She wore a flowing black robe traced with golden serpentine patterns. The sleeves were loose and wide, though the left one was torn short, revealing a smooth, pale arm. The robe split at the sides near her legs, revealing flashes of her thighs. Around her waist was a golden sash shaped like a coiled snake.

Small metal shoulder plates gleamed a dull yellow, lined with hints of red. Her high heels—black and gold with red soles—connected seamlessly into thigh-high stockings that hugged her legs.

As she moved forward, her lips parted to reveal unnaturally white teeth—and two unmistakable fangs. Her tongue flicked out, split like a snake's, before she raised her hands playfully.

"Surrendeerr~~!" she sang in a teasing tone, her voice slithering through the air.

Everyone froze, staring at her in a mix of shock and confusion.

The German maids, however, didn't flinch. Their posture straightened, expressions tightening.

Theron's entire demeanor shifted—his usual calm replaced by cold, sharp focus. Whoever this woman was, she wasn't just anyone.

Even Isolde's expression hardened, her gaze fixed squarely on the mysterious figure.

Finn swallowed, glancing between the two groups before looking back at the snake-like woman.

'The hell did this woman do?!'

Glancing over to Isolde, who stood beside him with her full attention locked on the serpent-like woman, Finn whispered:

"Psst. What did she do for you guys to look this pissed? Mock the owner of your maid agency or something?" He genuinely wanted to know the history behind the sudden tension.

Isolde's voice came sharp and low, her eyes never leaving the figure ahead. "It is not the time for games, Mister Finn."

"Not a game," Finn pressed, squinting at the woman. "Seriously, what did she do? Why are you guys so focused on her?"

Isolde's tone deepened, the slightest edge creeping in. "Because she is one of the Demon Lord's generals."

Finn's eyebrows shot up. "Oh damn…" He paused. "Wait—what's that again?"

Before Isolde could even react to his idiocy, the snake woman slowly turned her head, scanning the entire group like a predator sizing up its prey. Her eyes glimmered with sickly amusement as a sly, fanged grin curved her lips.

"Good," she purred, voice silken and slow. "Then you all know better."

Seraphina clutched her staff tightly to her chest, trembling. Her lips moved in a quiet prayer, whispering divine words under her breath.

The woman's golden eyes flicked toward her—playful, hungry. Her tongue flicked out with a faint hiss.

Finn blinked. 'I wonder what she could do with that tongue…'

Seraphina, realizing she'd been noticed, froze on the spot. "S-Stay away!" she shouted, voice cracking.

The snake woman's grin widened, her fangs flashing. "Or what~?" she teased, tone dripping with mockery.

"Leave her alone!"

Finn's voice rang out before his brain caught up with his mouth.

Both women turned to him—Seraphina blinking in shock and the snake woman's grin curling into something even more entertained.

Finn immediately realized his mistake. "Ah—uh, I mean—" he whimpered, shuffling behind Isolde like a cowardly child. "Mommy…"

Sighing deeply at Finn's cowardice, Isolde nevertheless tightened her grip around him as he trembled behind her—his whole body shaking like a chihuahua in a thunderstorm. He began to fully understand, for the first time somehow, why the edgy sword guy was genuinely afraid of women.

'Speaking of him…' he thought, glancing toward where he'd been.

Only to find that the man was gone. Completely vanished. Not a trace left—no sword, no footprints—just empty air and the faint echo of someone sprinting away at full speed.

'Great…' he thought grimly.

Finn peeked out from behind her shoulder, completely shocked and not. "Did that guy just run away?!"

The others were no better—everyone's eyes darted around in collective confusion, even Chestelle momentarily pausing from whatever weird thing she was doing.

The snake woman, however, looked delighted. Her golden eyes flickered with amusement, a low, serpentine laugh rolling out of her throat. She leaned forward slightly, resting a finger on her lips as her gaze locked onto Finn.

"Well, well…" she cooed. "You're quite the brave one, aren't you?"

Finn froze. Then slowly pointed at himself. "Who, me?"

She grinned wider, stepping closer. "Mhm~ You told me to stop."

Gulp. 'Shit. Not good. Not good!' His eyes darted wildly for an escape route, a hole, a miracle, anything.

"What's the matter?" she teased, her voice honeyed but threatening. "Are you—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Theron's voice cut sharply through the air like a whip.

"What is it that you want here?" he demanded coldly, cane pointed forward. "What are you doing here… Zyssara?"

Instantly, the playfulness drained from the woman's face. Her smile vanished, her tone hardening. "You stay out of this."

"I will not—"

SPLOOORT!

Both froze mid-argument, eyes twitching toward the sound.

Chestelle.

The unhinged menace was poking and slapping the slime cocoon again, giggling like a kid with bubble wrap. "Hehehe—it's so jiggly!"

Finn smacked his forehead. "Damn it, Chestelle!" Muttering to himself.

Theron's eye twitched. Zyssara looked visibly offended.

And Chestelle? She was now hugging the cocoon.

"Oh no," Finn muttered. "She's making things worse again… she's gonna make it worse again—"

Chestelle then fell straight into the cocoon again, giggling uncontrollably like a toddler discovering a trampoline for the first time. The whole mass of slime wobbled under her weight, making disgusting squelching noises that echoed through the field.

Zyssara's glowing golden eyes locked on her instantly. Her pupils thinned into sharp slits as her expression soured—equal parts confusion and rage twisting across her face. It was like watching someone watch a raccoon rummage through their sacred shrine.

"Get her away from that," Zyssara hissed, her tone no longer teasing—low, venomous, and dangerous.

RahRah immediately puffed out his chest, balancing proudly atop Big Tim's shoulders. "Why should we listen to someone like you?!" He shouted, pointing down at the snake woman. "You're just a small woman! What are you going to do, hiss at us?" He crossed his arms, giving Zyssara the most smug look imaginable.

Finn's soul left his body. 'You can't be serious right now…'

As if RahRah hadn't already poked the metaphorical hornet's nest, the universe decided that wasn't enough stupidity.

FWIP!

A dagger suddenly flew through the air, whizzing past Zyssara's face so close it grazed a few strands of her black hair before embedding itself into the stone teeth behind her with a solid THUNK.

The woman didn't even flinch. Her eyes merely slid toward the blade, then back at the group—her face blank, expression flat, aura lethal.

Raze stood there, looking smugly self-satisfied, twirling another dagger between his fingers. "She understands the shadows," he said, nodding solemnly to himself. "Hmph."

Finn's jaw dropped. 'YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL IDIOTS!' he screamed internally.

Zyssara stood still for several long, terrifying seconds—completely silent. The tension was suffocating.

Then, just as Finn thought she might strike, her lips curved into another sly, playful smile. "You people are so bold," she purred. "But I'm not here to fight… unless you force me to~" A soft giggle escaped her, the sound somehow both charming and unsettling.

Her tone darkened again, the playfulness fading as her gaze drifted toward the slime cocoon. "But…" she continued, "I am here for that. And it would be much better if your little fool would step away from it."

Finn blinked, pointing uncertainly. "Wait—do you mean Chestelle, or the cocoon thing?"

Zyssara turned her glowing eyes on him, her tongue flicking out slightly like a serpent's. She tilted her head and smiled faintly.

"Which one do you think~?"

Finn thought for a moment, merely a few seconds. Deciding if she wanted Chestelle or the cocoon thing. Chestelle though was dumb—she was special—and the cocoon thing was special too, kinda. But it was kinda destroyed by Chestelle.

So…

"You are here for the cocoon thing," Finn said like it was his final answer on a game show.

Her lips smirked, lifting her arm up and pointing a teasing finger at him. "You are right~"

"Let's go!" Finn cheered to himself. "Too easy."

"What's taking so long?" A familiar, somewhat prideful voice came from behind Zyssara.

Finn's eyes widened some. 'Is that who I think it is…?'

And soon another person emerged from the head's mouth.

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