Hitman with a Badass System
chapter-1019

Michael forcefully pulled out the crimson-red trident that was embedded in his hand, grimacing at the pain it caused. As he struggled to free himself, the Serpent King swiftly approached, his transformed cobra head locking eyes with Michael's gaze.

"I have waited countless years for this moment," hissed the Serpent King, his voice dripping with venom. However, faced with a fallen god and a threatening giant cobra, Michael remained unfazed.

With a hint of mockery in his voice, Michael retorted, "Ever heard of breath mints?" He knew that as a god, he couldn't be killed, and he sensed that the Serpent King was about to embark on a peculiar tale.

"You destroyed my love. Because of you, she never loved me back," hissed the Serpent King, his voice filled with bitterness and resentment.

"Are you talking about Cindy?" Michael asked, his eyes cold and unyielding. As he uttered those words, the Serpent King's tail slowly coiled around Michael, tightening its grip.

"My eternal love, the love you shattered," hissed the Serpent King, his eyes revealing the pain of lost love and the bitterness of failure.

With a cold tone, Michael replied, "You do realize that Cindy is just eleven years old, and I have no idea what you're talking about."

A sinister smile crept across the Serpent King's face as his tail tightened its grip around Michael, exerting pressure that would shatter ordinary bones.

"Allow me to refresh your memories, Dark Lord," hissed the Serpent King, his voice filled with a twisted determination.

"When you stripped me of my grace, I hid my memories along with it. But now, I will make you open the barrier you placed around the mortal realm. Once I reclaim my true form, I will be unstoppable, and I will claim Cindy, the most exquisite mortal in all realms," the Serpent King revealed his true intentions, fueled by a burning desire for power and possession.

Amidst the escalating tension, Michael's laughter erupted, echoing through the water. The Serpent King's tail exerted immense pressure, but Michael remained unaffected, his strength surpassing mortal limits, bolstered by his impenetrable armor.

"What's so amusing? I may not be able to kill you, but I can break your mortal vessel and condemn your soul to wander this world for eternity," threatened the Serpent King, his voice laced with malice.

Yet, Michael's laughter ceased abruptly, replaced by a sly smirk on his face.

"So, you've regained your memories, and yet you chose to cross my path," Michael snickered, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Listen carefully, you foolish snake. I am married to a serpent far more fearsome than you could ever comprehend. Believe me when I say that the version of me you encountered five thousand years ago pales in comparison to the cruelty I am capable of. I possess a twisted creativity when it comes to dealing with my enemies. Trust me, you do not want to become my enemy. Step aside while you still have the chance," Michael warned, his tone laced with a hint of menace.

However, the Serpent King paid no heed to Michael's warning. Arrogance consumed him, convinced that his elevated status as a level 2 god surpassed Michael's level 1 godhood. Little did he realize the depths of darkness and power that Michael truly held.

"As much I hate you, I love the words you said to me before you stripped me of my grace. When you have your enemy at your mercy, don't talk, just end them," the Serpent King echoed the words of the Previous Dark Lord.

Despite the tightening grip of the Serpent King's tail and the venomous fangs poised to strike, Michael remained resolute. He prepared to unleash his dark flames upon his adversary, but before he could, a golden ball of light materialized above the Serpent King.

In a flash, the golden ball struck the Serpent King, sending him stumbling backward through the depths of the water. As the radiant light subsided, Evan emerged, his presence commanding and powerful.

Evan turned his gaze towards Michael, their eyes meeting once again. The last time they crossed paths, Evan had feared the overwhelming power of Ghost, but now he stood stronger, filled with the conviction that he could vanquish the Dark Lord he had become. However, the situation became complicated for Evan as he found himself facing the Dark Lord, standing before the very object Salesi had ordered him to protect.

Evan could sense the arrogance emanating from behind the skull mask worn by Ghost. At first, Evan had been reluctant to believe the rumors about Ghost, the stories of his insatiable hunger for power, his manipulative nature, and his cruel actions. But witnessing the devastation brought upon Thusia and the Guardian Guild, Evan couldn't deny the truth. Thousands of lives had been lost, and the world continued to bear the consequences of Ghost's actions.

Seeing the Dark Lord before him, Evan's grip tightened on the trident lodged in Michael's hand, driving it deeper into the unforgiving marble.

"You cannot face him alone," Michael calmly stated, his voice laced with an underlying understanding.

"Even if I cannot defeat him, I won't strike a deal with the devil," Evan sneered, his determination unwavering.

"Better the known devil than the unknown angel," Michael retorted, his words hinting at the complexities of their predicament.

The Serpent King roared in frustration, his voice echoing through the depths of the ocean. "I've had enough of your annoying interference, you stupid fool god!" he snarled, his serpentine form surging forward to attack Evan.

Evan, undeterred by the Serpent King's insults, stood his ground, determination gleaming in his eyes. "You are wasting my time, Serpent King!" he retorted with unwavering confidence.

As the two clashed, the water around them became turbulent, swirling and churning with their powerful spells. The Serpent King conjured swirling currents that twisted and thrashed, while Evan called upon beams of radiant energy that pierced through the dark waters.

The spells took on magnificent forms—serpents of lightning slithered through the water, crackling with electric energy, while bursts of golden light erupted like celestial explosions. The surrounding ocean itself seemed to respond, with currents shifting and waves crashing against unseen barriers.

The combatants exchanged lightning-fast blows, their movements a blur of speed and precision. The Serpent King's massive jaws snapped, aiming to ensnare Evan, while Evan's agile maneuvers evaded the deadly bite. Evan retaliated with divine strikes, his punches empowered by his celestial grace, while the Serpent King thrashed his massive tail, seeking to batter Evan into submission.

The clash of their powers and physical blows reverberated through the underwater realm, creating shockwaves that rippled across the ocean floor. Each strike echoed with a display of immense strength and skill, as they fought for dominance in the depths.

Amidst the fierce battle, their exchanges were punctuated by snarls and roars, their voices echoing through the watery expanse. The Serpent King taunted Evan, his voice dripping with venom. "You can't defeat me, little god! I am the true ruler of the sea!"

The Serpent King's hands, awkwardly protruding from his serpentine form, rose into the air. In a mesmerizing display, the crimson red trident, held firmly in Michael's hand moments ago, was pulled back by an invisible force, leaving Michael free. The trident flew back to the Serpent King, nestling into his grasp.

As the trident reunited with its master, a surge of power radiated from the Serpent King, causing the ocean itself to respond to his command. The waters around him stirred and swirled as if acknowledging his authority. With the trident firmly in his hand, he aimed its sharp points directly at Evan.

A powerful gust of current, unleashed by the Serpent King's command, surged forward with incredible force. It struck Evan square in the chest before he could even react, the impact sending him reeling backward. The sheer power of the current's impact was overwhelming, leaving Evan momentarily stunned.

As the battle unfolded deep within the ocean, the Serpent King exerted his control over the watery realm with immense power. He unleashed a barrage of ferocious attacks against Evan, each one more devastating than the last.

With a flick of his tail, the Serpent King conjured a massive whirlpool that spiraled toward Evan. The swirling currents threatened to engulf him, pulling him deeper into the depths of the ocean. The Serpent King taunted Evan, his voice dripping with superiority.

"Pathetic fool! You should have left when you still had the chance!"

As Evan struggled to break free from the powerful currents, the Serpent King summoned pillars of water, shooting them upward with incredible force. The water pillars crashed down upon Evan, their impact sending shockwaves through his body. The Serpent King reveled in his dominance, his laughter echoing through the water.

"Is this the extent of your power, little god?"

Undeterred by the onslaught, Evan mustered his own powers, retaliating with bursts of golden energy. However, the Serpent King's mastery over the ocean allowed him to dodge and deflect Evan's attacks effortlessly. With a flick of his trident, he created a massive wave that surged toward Evan, threatening to engulf him in its crashing force.

"I command this very ocean. You, an anomaly, cannot defeat me!"

The Serpent King continued his assault, conjuring storms of swirling currents, lightning bolts that crackled with electrical energy, and massive tidal waves that threatened to consume Evan. With every attack, he taunted Evan, mocking his feeble attempts to challenge his authority.

"You are nothing but an insect before my power! Kneel before me and beg for mercy, for I am a god unmatched in strength and dominion!"

As the battle raged on, the Serpent King's taunts and relentless attacks aimed to crush Evan's spirit and prove his own superiority as a god who controlled the very forces of the ocean.

As the relentless assault from the Serpent King took its toll on Evan, he began to weaken. Blood trickled from his wounds, staining the water around him. Sensing his advantage, the Serpent King moved with lightning speed, his attacks becoming even more rapid and vicious.

In a swift motion, the Serpent King closed in on Evan, his scaled grip tightening around him. With a malicious grin, he prepared to deliver a devastating finishing blow, one that would shatter Evan's spirit and seal his defeat. The anticipation hung heavy in the air as the Serpent King readied himself to strike.

But before the Serpent King could land the final blow, a forceful impact resonated through the water. Michael, wielding his mighty Doombringer war hammer, had intervened, intercepting the Serpent King's attack. The force of Michael's strike sent the Serpent King hurtling backward, disoriented and momentarily stunned.

With a calm and commanding presence, Michael turned his attention to Evan, his voice carrying a sense of purpose. "Evan, listen to me. We have a choice. We can either join forces and bring down the Serpent King together, or we can continue to fight each other while he remains a threat to both of us."

Evan, weakened and battered, looked at Michael with a mixture of determination and trust. He understood the gravity of the situation and the importance of unity against their common enemy. Slowly, Evan nodded, his resolve firm.

"Let's end this together," Evan said, his voice filled with newfound strength. United in their purpose, Michael and Evan set their sights on the recovering Serpent King, ready to unleash their combined might and forge a path to victory.

Evan and Michael moved with synchronized precision, their attacks and spells intertwining seamlessly. Michael swung his Doombringer, summoning icy gusts that formed into swirling frost storms, chilling the water around them. He followed it up with black lightning bolts crackling from his hands, striking the Serpent King with electrifying force. Meanwhile, Evan utilized his celestial powers, channeling beams of radiant light that pierced through the depths, illuminating their battleground.

The combination of frost storms and lightning bolts created a powerful synergy. As the Serpent King attempted to dodge the onslaught, he found himself caught in the crossfire, unable to evade every strike. But he proved to be a formidable opponent, retaliating with spells and attacks of his own. He conjured powerful currents, manipulating the ocean to disrupt Evan and Michael's movements. Waves crashed against them, threatening to engulf their efforts.

Taunts escaped the Serpent King's lips as he lashed out. "You fools! This is my domain! No one can overcome the might of the ocean and its rightful ruler!" His voice echoed through the water, his confidence unyielding. He deftly evaded Michael's dark flames, using his serpentine agility to slither away from the consuming fire.

Undeterred, Evan and Michael continued their onslaught. Evan channeled his celestial energy into radiant beams, guiding them with precision to strike the Serpent King's vulnerable spots. Michael, with eyes gleaming with darkness, unleashed dark beams from his gaze, seeking to pierce through the Serpent King's defenses.

However, the Serpent King's control over the ocean remained a formidable challenge. He summoned colossal tidal waves, threatening to engulf Evan and Michael. Their movements were hindered, their attacks disrupted by the sheer force of the water. Yet, even in the face of adversity, they refused to yield.

As the fierce battle raged on, a sudden shock and surprise coursed through Michael's veins as he witnessed the eel he had freed earlier join the fight against the Serpent King. His eyes widened with astonishment, realizing the unexpected ally that had come to his aid.

The eel crackled with electric energy, its body emanating lightning bolts that surrounded the Serpent King, forming a cage of electricity. The Serpent King roared in frustration as the crackling bolts prevented him from maneuvering freely.

With the Serpent King momentarily trapped, Evan seized the opportunity, unleashing beams of golden energy upon the weakened Serpent King. Each beam struck with precision, lashing out with a radiant force. At the same time, Michael released a relentless stream of dark flames, their infernal heat engulfing the Serpent King's form.

With each strike, Evan and Michael roared in unison, their determination fueling their attacks. The battle reached its climax as the Serpent King found himself on the brink of defeat.

A devilish grin crossed Michael's face as he observed the Serpent King's weakening state. In his mind, a sinister plan took shape, a way to secure his own victory. Though the Serpent King was dying, Michael knew he had an opportunity to exploit the situation, to gain an advantage that would secure their triumph.

The Serpent King, wracked with pain and seething with rage, cursed the eel that had betrayed him. "Traitor! I will ensure your suffering knows no bounds for this treachery!" he spat, his voice filled with venomous hatred.

Evan, a tinge of regret in his voice, responded to the Serpent King's curses. "I never wanted to hurt you, but you've left me with no choice,"

As the intense heat from Evan's attack and Michael's dark flames consumed the Serpent King's physical form, it melted away, dissolving into nothingness. The air grew still, the weight of the battle settling upon their weary shoulders. Evan and Michael both breathed heavily, their chests rising and falling as they took in the aftermath of their victorious struggle.

Evan's gaze shifted between Michael and the cube-shaped structure that lay before them, its secrets beckoning. A devious grin played across his face as he reached into his belongings and pulled out a set of golden ropes. With a swift motion, he threw the ropes around Michael, expertly coiling him within their shimmering embrace.

A smirk etched upon Evan's lips as he declared, "Our temporary alliance against the Serpent King is terminated, my dear Dark Lord." His tone carried a subtle hint of amusement, a snicker betraying his mischievous intentions.

Evan's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and cunning as he tightened the golden ropes around Michael, ensuring his immobilization. The Dark Lord, though bound, maintained a composed demeanor, his eyes fixed upon Evan.

With a slight chuckle, Evan continued, his voice dripping with slyness, "You know, it's not necessarily a bad thing to stab the Dark Lord in the back. In fact, I'm quite sure you would have done the same to me if I hadn't beaten you to it." He tilted his head, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his gaze.