PROLOGUE
The Rise of Chaos
Long ago, there existed a land called Lenimvan. It was a place of immense beauty where the earth remained lush and green from boundary to boundary. The sky was a shade of blue so deep that it appeared to be painted by the gods themselves. The sun shone brightly and cast a perfect warmth that was neither too hot nor too cold. Crystal-clear streams crisscrossed the plains and revealed every tiny living thing within their pristine waters. The weather existed in perfect harmony because it never rained too much, never grew too chilly, and never became unbearably hot. Every plant and animal in Lenimvan thrived as they lived vibrant and abundant lives.
The humans who inhabited the land shared a similar stature across every village and town. Their beauty and diversity were expressed through their complexions, as some were dark, some were light, and others fell in between, much like the people of our world today. The women were captivatingly beautiful, and their well-fed bodies struck an ideal balance between strength and grace. Their physical forms represented a perfect harmony of health and beauty. The men were equally robust, possessing physiques that epitomized vitality and power. Each village and town maintained its own distinct clothing styles and unique systems of governance.
Living harmoniously among the humans were the serpent creatures. These towering serpents were gifted with the power of speech and communicated with humans as equals. They possessed two powerful arms and moved with a sinuous grace despite their lack of legs. Their scaly hides gleamed like polished armor, and their fangs rivaled the deadliest weapons ever forged by human hands. Various species thrived among them, ranging from massive anacondas to lethal cobras, and each group added its own unique presence to the lands they inhabited.
This peace was eventually shattered when the serpents began to view themselves as superior beings. They believed that their uniqueness granted them supremacy over humanity, so they began to enslave the humans and destroy every place of worship dedicated to the gods. The humans rebelled fiercely, which made any further coexistence impossible. When the gods witnessed this chaos, they decided to intervene. They descended from the sky like rockets with a brilliance so intense that it temporarily blinded everyone who dared to look directly at them.
CHAPTER 1
The Rise of Lord Python
As the years passed, the serpents could no longer endure their life within the dark forest. Although neither the moon nor the sun shone their light into those woods, the temperature always felt as if one were standing next to a burning bush. No animals could survive in such harsh conditions because the soil was dry and hot. The trees were nothing more than old stems that had borne no fruit for years and produced only sharp prickles. This forest knew only one climate, which consisted of darkness thick enough to see and heat sharp enough to sting.
As clever as the serpents were, they knew they needed to survive to prevail. They eventually managed to trick the formless spirits that stood between them and the sunlit lands. With these ethereal beings now under their influence, the serpents would venture into the sunlit areas to capture animals for food. Each time they entered those bright lands, they envied the humans more and more. Eventually, they sought nothing but revenge and aimed to wipe out all of humanity now that they finally possessed the means to do so.
With a new plan in place, a python rose to leadership to command and rule the serpent society. He was called Lord Python. He was stumpy and short compared to others of his species. If there was anything to fear about him, it was not merely his arrogant nature but his mangled and hideous face. From a young age, Lord Python tolerated no talk of humans unless it brought news of their impending destruction...
CHAPTER 1
Echoes of Treachery
The dark forest where the gods had confined the serpent creatures remained a place of unrelenting torment. Known to the outside world as the shadow lands, its borders marked a stark transition from the lush beauty of human territories to a realm of dread. It was to this grim edge that a human messenger arrived, his body trembling with terror. He knew that to return to his leader, Francis, without an audience with the serpent lord would mean certain death. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he forced his right foot across the threshold into the shadow lands.
Instantly, the dry and baking soil sent a sharp sting through his feet, and an oppressive wave of heat crashed against his body. He screamed from the intense burning sensation, feeling as though his flesh were catching fire. Yet when he looked down, his skin remained unmarked. The torment of the forest was an illusion of the senses, but the agony was undeniably real.
“How am I supposed to continue my mission?” the messenger shouted into the dark, towering woods.
Suddenly, the border of the shadow land began to freeze. The air shifted violently from a stinging heat to a biting cold. The messenger fell to his knees, shivering. He strained to raise his head, but he could not lift it high enough to see the full majesty of the figure hovering slightly off the ground before him: a formless, ethereal being.
“No man shall enter here unless you seek death for yourself,” the ethereal guardian said, its voice a soft, echoing whisper...
