Island God: Going From Level 1 To World Ruler-Chapter 46: Midas’s Challenge (Episode 1)
Gool had already escaped the scene. He hid behind the same pillar that he was standing next to a second ago.
’No way I’m facing that thing! We shouldn’t have come here... that serpent is no ordinary Water Drake. He’s massive! Far too big to handle.’ Gool said in his head as concern built up.
He glanced at Midas, who was currently standing in the center of Sergalas’s vision.
"It is a mighty honor to meet you, oh great serpent!" Midas shouted, walking forward as he stuck his hands out to the sides. "I have heard many stories about you... of your glory and magnificence. But truly... You are far more terrifying than I could have ever imagined!"
As Midas said this, the massive serpent raised his head higher and revealed more of his coiled body.
"I have no use for your flattery, human!" Sergalas’s voice was immense, vibrating Midas’s eardrums every time he spoke. "Spare me your niceties and speak your reason!" The serpent lowered his head closer, his eyes peering at Midas with a piercing gaze.
’Damn it... this snake is hard to please. Since he keeps saying human, that might mean he has a grudge against my kind. That... is not good.’ Midas thought to himself. He had already started off on the wrong foot.
"Oh, great serpent, forgive me if I ever offended you. I know that you are superior to me in all ways. I come here with a humble mission. One that will be of service to you, great king." Midas spoke with all the confidence he could muster.
This confidence could have been the factor that determined whether he lived or died right now.
It felt like any wrong move, and both Midas and Gool would be snake fodder in seconds.
"Of service?" Sergalas said, his tone skeptical, "What service can a measly human bring to me!?" His voice raised, the chamber rattling, "I am the mightiest beast under the sun! Of what interest is it to me, what you deem to be important?"
The serpent wasn’t loosening up his tone even one bit. Instead, he seemed to be getting angrier as more time progressed.
"The information I carry is regarding orcs, your prime enemy, lord Sergalas," Midas shouted.
Sergalas leaned his head back, "Orc filth?" He muttered in a low tone, "They are in these cavern walls..." His voice sounded like a deep hiss, "Why are they here?"
"Exactly, lord Sergalas! They are here to use a powerful weapon upon you! One that can destroy a serpent of even your caliber!" Midas said, using this opportunity to lie.
Of course, the true weapon that the orcs had was power in numbers. However, Midas knew he couldn’t use such a concept to capture the intrigue of the serpent.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Sergalas’s voice boomed and resonated across the entirety of his cavern. He slithered to the left side of the giant chamber, circling around the massive wall before arriving behind Midas and facing his back.
Midas was shocked to see this serpent move so fast. His body was like a landmass. The concept of such a creature being sentient was otherworldly. Such a thing shouldn’t exist!
Midas immediately turned to face Sergalas. Beside him, Gool now also faced the serpent, gulping with fear.
’Shit... I didn’t think he’d spin around the pillar...’ Gool thought to himself, his cover now blown. He pushed himself against the pillar, frozen in fear. He wasn’t even able to look Sergalas in the eyes.
"It is true, oh mighty serpent! There is a reason that the orc filth have not attacked these eastern lands for many decades. You have noticed it too, haven’t you?" Midas shouted, attempting to regain control of the conversation and sway the drake.
"They have gone into hiding! Those orc filth are no longer worthy of challenging my absolute rule..." Sergalas said.
"Then why are they here!? You said it yourself, didn’t you!?" Midas retorted, attempting desperately to sound correct.
After all, if he forfeited the argument here, he was sure to die.
Sergalas let out a loud and grumbling groan from his nostrils, "Tell me... what weapon have they created?" He uttered, his tone low.
Midas smiled inwardly, his eyes lighting up. He gulped, the serpent having fallen for his bait. At least, for now.
"That, oh, absolute ruler, is something that I can not tell you without a price." Midas retorted. He was balancing on a rope of life and death with no safety equipment.
"There is a reason I have come here as well. I am no ordinary human, despite the looks of it. I, too, hold dominion over a small part of this island." As Midas spoke, Sergalas slowly moved around the walls of the chamber.
The beast’s movement was slow, yet fast due to his massive body. Above that, it felt incredibly freaky and horrifying.
Chills crawled up Midas’s back as he followed Sergalas with his eyes and continued speaking.
"I want to propose a challenge! A contest between you and me that will decide whether or not you receive the knowledge you seek." Midas finally said, his heart pounding with suspense.
"A challenge? A mere human challenges me? Mmhaha!" Sergalas’s laugh was like a vortex swallowing up all the silence around it. "And what if I lose? What will happen then?"
"Lose? There is no need for you to worry about losing, oh great serpent! You will surely win against a measly human like me, and attain the knowledge you desire." Midas purposefully led the serpent on, noticing the arrogance that Sergalas possessed.
’I can use this arrogance to my favor...’ Midas thought.
"Who allowed you to deny my question? Answer me, pest!" Sergalas roared in rebuttal.
"Fine..." Midas said, his eyes closed, "Let’s make it crazy! Something that’s completely out of this world, and unbelievable!" His eyes flew open, gazing directly into those of Sergalas, "If you lose, you will surrender unto me, Midas the player!"
Sergalas aggressively hissed from his nostrils, "You dare speak such nonsense!?" His tail moved out from a massive pile of bones and slammed against the cavern wall, sending a tremble through the ground.
"Exactly! Nonsense is all that it is!" Midas stood his ground, "That is why I have proposed it, since there is no conceivable way you will ever lose this challenge." Midas shouted.
"That will be for me to decide..." Sergalas grunted, "What is it... this challenge you propose?"
Midas’s eyes widened, ’He actually is going for it? Seriously?’ He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
He knew this would have been a desperate attempt from the beginning, since Sergalas was much more aggressive and violent than he had first imagined.
However, Midas had managed to swindle the beast’s anger and arrogance just enough to come to this climactic moment.
He inhaled, and then his lips moved.
"Who can hold one breath longer?" Midas said. The question was simple. A challenge that could be done by two of any species across the world. No caveats, no special rules. Just a fair breath-holding contest.
