Meanwhile in South Africa,

“Welcome, Lord and Lady Hawthorne,” a dark-skinned man wearing intricate robes and different-colored rings on each finger said to Simon and Edwina.

Simon, wearing a majestic black wolf-fur coat, nodded at the man. “Thank you, Elder Naledi, for your hospitality,” Simon said.

Elder Naledi gestured to the vibrant magical community around him. “We of the Duwara tribe pride ourselves on our hospitality,” the elder said as drinks were served to them.

He then turned solemn and let out a breath. “And that is the reason I urge you to restrain from the endeavor you came to accomplish here. The Grootslang is a creature of power and tyranny, a mistake of the gods, granted a sliver of divinity,” the elder said in genuine concern.

Simon raised an eyebrow. “You did request aid in slaying the creature from the Alliance, did you not?” Simon asked.

The elder sighed. “I did… and please excuse my bluntness I recognize you as one of the strongest wizards of our generation. Still, I expected a force numbered greater than… two.”

Simon smiled at the elder’s honesty. “I understand your concerns and take full responsibility for our actions and endeavors,” Simon assured as the elder took a secret sigh of relief.

Simon got up, offering his hand to Edwina, who took it and stood as well. “We must take our leave. Feasts can wait for when we return,” Simon said and left. Volkrin exited the shadows and joined the two.

After they left, a young man beside the elder sighed. “It seems your first impression of him was wrong. He is not as wise as you thought,” the young man muttered.

The elder shrugged. “That is to be decided by their possible return. He did take full responsibility for himself, so it will not cause an international incident if they… fail. Just a pity, The family is of good people that could have helped our people.” the elder said tiredly.

Simon and Edwina neared the Annisfontein spring, searching for the Wondergat, as the natives called it the place where the Grootslang resided.

Edwina marveled at the beauty of the place. “Let’s bring Aaric with us next time. I want to have a picnic with him here,” she said, gesturing around her.

“Am I invited to the picnic?” Simon asked with a smirk.

“Of course… not,” Edwina said instantly, making Simon’s smile fall.

Edwina laughed and kissed him. “Don’t make that face you are still not invited,” she teased as they searched for the location.

It took them, well…Volkrin ten more minutes to find the famed Wondergat.

“I wish we had a guide; would’ve saved us some time,” Simon muttered.

“Like anyone who knows of the place would come with us willingly,” Edwina rolled her eyes.

They found a deep cavern that seemed bottomless darkness swirling inside it as if the abyss itself were eager to devour them.

They held hands and smiled, floating into the cavern with measured speed. Sylvenna nestled within Edwina’s other arm while Volkrin, covered in electricity, walked on the wall, illuminating the path for them.

After descending about fifty feet, they noticed the cave walls shining with every flash of lightning diamonds and precious metals reflecting the light beautifully.

After about twenty more feet, they saw a steep incline and entered it, finding many branching paths. They guessed the right one by following the human and animal bones scattered around.

Simon felt a breath behind him and whipped his head around, holding Edwina behind him to shield her.

He found nothing behind him except skulls mouths open as if to scream even in death, eyes hollow.

Volkrin growled and led them in the right direction. Simon took a breath while Edwina waved her hand, sending out a glowing blue mist in all directions.

Her eyes turned into green flowers as Simon drew his sword, adjusting his coat and taking out a new one from his pouch, draping it over Edwina.

The black coats were made of the wolf hide from the strongest black wolves tough enough to block most blades.

Simon and Edwina had made regular trips to the Dark Island to train and increase their armies respectively, so they had many of these coats made from the lesser wolves as well as the greatest ones.

Edwina’s eyes glowed, and an army of black snakes with green flower-like eyes appeared, flooding the cave and moving in every direction.

A loud rumbling was heard as the cave shook and rocks were thrown at the couple. Simon swung his sword, cutting the rocks in two, while Edwina used telekinesis to change their trajectory.

A wall beside them burst open, and the trumpet of an elephant filled the cave as a colossal beast entered their sight.

The Grootslang looked like a mix of elephant and snake, the face of an elephant and the lower body of a serpent, a sixty-foot-tall monster.

Its eyes were golden gems, floating in its skull as it looked at the intruders and flung its trunk, sending rocks flying toward them.

Simon cut down the rocks as the army of black snakes attacked. The creature swung its tail, flinging the snakes away while creating a gust of wind from the sheer force.

It then rushed at Simon, trampling the snakes beneath it as if they didn’t harm it in the slightest.

Simon crouched low and put all his strength into his legs, launching himself at the monster. The ground beneath him cracked as he reached the beast in a blur, swinging his sword.

The monster stopped the blade with its tail, covered in diamonds and scales harder than steel. The collision created a shockwave that sent the snakes flying in all directions.

Simon locked eyes with the monster. Grey and gold clashed as Simon was pushed back. He staggered as the Grootslang swung its tail again, only for Volkrin to charge into it at the speed of lightning, blocking the strike.

Simon shook his head and put up every Occlumency defense he could muster. “Don’t lock eyes with it the creature seems to have mind-attacking capability.”

Edwina nodded, and the mist around them thickened. The monster raised its elephant-like trunk, blowing a gust of wind that thinned the mist.

Volkrin charged again, covered in lightning, and crashed into the monster’s chest creating another shockwave and sending the beast back a few feet.

Edwina was using her strength to reinforce the cave while spreading the poisonous mist that was slowly but surely affecting the Grootslang.

The monster roared, rushing at Simon again. Volkrin tried to intercept but was flung away by its tail this time.

Simon frowned in worry, glancing at Volkrin as Sylvenna flew to the wolf to heal him. Simon roared, charging at the monster.

The Grootslang used its trunk to deflect the sword and unleashed a powerful venomous breath at Simon point-blank.

Simon coated himself fully in the Aether Veil but to his surprise, the venom began to burn the coat of pure magic. He gritted his teeth as the veil and poison fought.

A moment later, the ground around the monster transfigured, forming spikes with gem-tipped ends that impaled the creature’s stomach. It roared in pain Edwina smirked from behind.

Simon took that opportunity and used his free hand to shoot out ice, staggering the Grootslang back a few feet and giving him the chance to swing his sword, carving a deep gash into its torso.

Edwina intensified the release of poison with the help of Sylvenna, who had returned after healing Volkrin.

The Grootslang roared and shook its massive head, trying to ward off the effects of the poison but it was too late.

The monster limped, using the walls as support, golden gem-eyes glaring at the two. Edwina met its gaze head-on.

Green and gold clashed as Edwina intensified the poison. The monster made a weak roar; even in this state, its wounds were healing slowly.

The golden gems flashed green for a moment. The monster shook its head and roared in defiance.

The clash of wills lasted ten more minutes before the gold gems turned fully green and the monster knelt, completely docile.

Simon was supporting Edwina by now as she seemed exhausted.

“That elder was not wrong,” Edwina said softly. “It really does seem to have a sliver of divinity.”

A/n: gimme power stones and reviews.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep