Swis.h.!.+

When they were a few meters above the gulch, they heard a sound of a movement . They all turned their heads towards the source and what they saw made them shudder . In the long gulch was a long brown serpent with white patches . Cold energies wafted from its silky scales making its surrounding extremely cold . It had a small head which contrasted its enormous size . The sound of the movement came from its tiny head which it was moving from time to time .

"What brings you strangers here at this time of the day?"

The serpent roared even before the group of seven reached it . Ratong' wanted to give an answer but even before it opened its mouth, the serpent's tail swept out making the seven plummet from the sky with great force . Since the floor of the gulch was rocky, the cracking of bones, spilling of blood and painful wails filled the air as the seven fell one by one . Not even Ochieng' was spared this time .

"How can a filthy snake like you dare attack us, we special people? I must kill you!"

Ratong' stood with flames of fury rising from its toes all the way up to its head . It goes without saying that among its companions, it had the strongest skin . While that fall could have injured the others to the point that they could not rise at least for a minute, it was still fine . Since it was 'ordained', it had never met an animal that could dare touch it let alone attack it . This made it so angry that it could puke blood . It jumped towards the serpent with its greatest speed making it reach the serpent in a flash .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Such a lowly creature calls me filthy . I cannot let you get away with it . "

The serpent snorted before it swept its tail once again to meet Ratong's attack . The tail and the fast moving Ratong' collided with great momentum producing shockwaves that spread like fire on dry gra.s.sland .

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Thud!

Ratong' was sent flying several meters away before falling with a resounding thud on the rocky ground . The serpent did not even move an inch . In fact, it coiled beautifully while lifting it's tiny head loftily .

Ochieng', Jade Eagle and the other three lions were now standing looking at the serpent confusedly . Mudho and Ochieng' had consumed the 'hono' fruit, they could recover in a lightning speed . As for Mang'weya, Jade Eagle and the tribe head, their bodies had been tempered in the Spiritual dimension, they were not any way inferior to the two . Nalianya and the other man were however still wriggling in pain on the ground .

"You messed with the wrong guy!"

Ochieng' billowed as a three foot long sword appeared in his right hand . The sword was glowing in red and yellow . That was the Apotheosis Sword . These beasts were his friends . Mudho for example was like a parent to him, he could not stomach seeing the others being injured much less Mudho .

"Harrumph,"

The serpent harrumphed as it saw a twenty year old man das.h.i.+ng at him with a fire like sword . It straightened itself out before forcefully sending its tiny head towards Ochieng' .

The Apotheosis Sword and the beast's head collided with an ear deafening clang sound . Ochieng's hand that held the sword vibrated before a stifling pain rose from the hand all the way up to his arm . He released the sword which fragmented a nearby rock . He himself was thrown a few meters away before falling in a wrecked state .

Surprisingly enough, the serpent coiled as if nothing happened . The look it was throwing at Ochieng' and his group was disdainful . It was as if they were not living things in its eyes .

The others ran up to Ochieng' with fears and worries written on their faces . This was the strongest fellow in this crew . Furthermore, the fate of Keniya rested on his shoulders . If he died here, he could be a failure to mankind . He had consumed a 'hono' fruit, but that did not mean he was immortal and immune to injuries . The medicinal efficacy of the fruit eroded with time and this was especially so if he was to be exposed to injuries all the time . His body had been tempered in the Spiritual dimension but that did not include getting the ability to regenerate since he had achieved that by consuming the fruit .

"Are you okay brother?" Mudho asked with a lot of concern .

"I am brother . "

Ochieng' replied as he struggled up . Then he looked at the serpent in horror . In front of that beast, he was helpless and weak . He was like a mouse in front of a cat . Since he realized he was an Ordainer, he had never met a creature that could render him that helpless .

His injuries were grievous this time and it was taking time for him to heal . It was clear he could take at least two to three days before he recovered completely .

"What do we do . . ?" The lion tribe head asked .

"What exactly do you want from us?"

Even before the tribe head closed its mouth, he heard an angry thunderous voice resounding not far away from it . It turned its head only to meet a darkened Ratong' with deep frowns on its ugly dark face .

"I was sleeping peacefully in my territory until you arrived . Are you not the one to give me the answer to that question?" The serpent asked with a nonchalant smile .

"We are sorry then . Will you let us pa.s.s at least?" Mudho chipped in .

"I am sorry I cannot do that . Not after you decided to attack me . " The beast shook its head .

"But you struck first . " Jade Eagle said with an indignant expression . It had been keeping quiet all this while . At this point, it could not keep its cool .

Ochieng' wanted to say something but just before he did, he heard the serpent roaring loudly . The surrounding became even colder and without knowing, Ochieng's vision turned black . His companions were going through the same thing .

"You can always offend everyone but not me, The Ice Serpent . "

The serpent snorted before dragging Ochieng' and his companions away using an invisible energy .