The guards quarreled tirelessly under the tree.
But as the snake dance proceeded, their dispute gradually calmed down.
The Green Snake's scales were purely green, without the dazzling iridescence of the Gleaming Scale Serpent.
However, under the sunlight filtered through the treetops, her scales glistened like jade stones, softly reflecting a calming, serene light, while her swaying body was gentle and rhythmic.
At times she raised high, at times she spun, weaving through the air in graceful arcs, casting a tranquil emerald hue under the light.
Merely a snake swaying, it seemed to the guards beneath the tree as if they were watching a girl, gracefully dancing with her delicate waist.
"...Miss Hero's dance is actually quite beautiful."
"It is quite nice—Wait, snap out of it, that's a snake!"
"But you did just say it was a person transformed, right."
[Gleaming Scale Serpent's Response]
1. Retreated in inferiority
3. I will keep striving, until I am worthy of you
4. Angrily launched an assault
9. Elf Rabbit curiously watched this scene. (+5)
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
The Green Snake's dance came to an end.
And the Gleaming Scale Serpent, disheartened, withdrew its expectant gaze, lowering its head in inferiority.
Such a noble kin, not one like itself, dark and dull, could be worthy.
However, leaving now might mean never again witnessing such beauty among its kin for the rest of its life.
Gleaming Scale Serpent slowly bowed down and then turned over, exposing its unguarded jaw.
Therefore, I pledge my allegiance to you, my queen.
The Green Snake, upon seeing this, proudly gazed down at the Gleaming Scale Serpent for a moment and, observing its unwavering submissive posture, finally extended the tip of its tail, lightly touching the Gleaming Scale Serpent's jaw.
The magical power of the same species intertwined, imprinting on the Gleaming Scale Serpent the mark of the Hero.
[Hero gained a Familiar: Gleaming Scale Serpent LV19]
The three guards below watched this scene in silence, as if witnessing a sacred ordination ceremony.
"...How to say this, if only one day our miss could bestow knighthood upon us like that."
"That'll take time, not to mention the lady, it's your strength we're talking about. You can't hope to be knighted unless you reach the second transformation first."
"...Hey, look over there."
"What's up, Miss Hero just ended the ordination, and I still want to savor the moment..."
"Rabbits, those Elf Rabbits!" (whispering)
The other two guards were momentarily stunned, then quickly snapped to attention, and soon spotted those remarkable entities.
In the treetops, in the shade, even nearby at their feet, several completely bluish-green rabbit-like wonderful creatures had somehow gathered.
[Third wave ended, Elf Rabbits appeared]
[Number of Elf Rabbits]
[The extraordinary sight attracted a multitude of Elf Rabbits]
World Heart: Immune to all skill effects and magic damage, can only be attacked in the first round only.
[Hunt the Rabbits Explanation]
After the rabbits appear, the guards will shoot at them, dropping once per 10 damage.
Each rabbit only drops once.
If multiple rabbits are present, determine agility, allowing second round shooting if successful.
Hero and their familiar can also participate in the attack.
Each drop requires a lucky roll to determine the gemstone's attribute.
1,2 for green, 3,4 for red, 5,6 for blue, 7,8 for purple
9 changes to silver, gold, and guarantees another gemstone will drop,
10 changes to silver (1-4), gold (4-9), rainbow (10), and drops all four other gemstones simultaneously.
"One, two, three...Gosh, twelve of them."
The guards held their excited breaths, counting the number of rabbits.
A full dozen of crystal-clear, bluish-green little rabbits, incarnations of the mountains and forest's elves, staring intently at the two snakes that had just completed the ordination ceremony.
Having existed with the earth, the forest, and this world for so many years, what sight haven't they seen?
Murder, wild mating, disasters, arguments, farewells, encounters...
These broad mountains and forests witnessed the joys and sorrows of countless humans, countless lives.
Naturally, a snake pledging loyalty to another snake-turned-human, such a sight—
Such a sight had indeed never been seen before.
And likewise, even the village's oldest elder probably had never seen such a large gathering of Elf Rabbits in one place.
The three guards put away their longswords, taking out short bows, drawing them slowly, afraid of alarming the little elves.
"Having too many is also a fortunate dilemma." Guard A muttered softly.
But as the group cautiously prepared, the Elf Rabbits showed no awareness of danger, nor any inclination to flee.
The guards all recalled the Hero's description.
Elf Rabbits were undying, uncontainable.
Therefore, they inherently had no sense of crisis, and would only flee when humans approached too closely, likely because only humans would persistently pursue them.
Yet, as long as you didn't approach, even seeing you aiming at them with bows and arrows, they wouldn't react.
"I'll count down, and then we'll all shoot together." Guard B said softly.
On the other side, on the tree, the two snakes also started to move, slowly approaching the curious little rabbits.