As the giant serpent drew near, Diego felt a sharp stab deep within his soul, as though its Venom Fang had sunk deeply into his mind.
He immediately erected a solid barrier within himself, forcing back the corrupting venom.
"I will bring all of this to an end."
Hearing his words, the giant serpent let out a humanlike sneer.
"Hehehe, powers older than your pathetic race failed to succeed. What makes you think you can surpass them?"
"I have stared into the abyss and battled its darkest powers. I defeated them, and you are merely one part of them."
"Ah, such arrogance. Such confidence."
The giant serpent said delightedly:
"This brings me such joy! All the foulest sins are born from this kind of confidence—envy, lust... pride. No force in existence can stand against a self-assured mortal. Aeldari, you satisfy me, =."
"Oh? Then what are you? Do you have a name?"
"If I had a name, why would you think I would be foolish enough to tell you?"
"Arrogance."
Diego said with a laugh.
"If I am guilty of sin, then so are you. You want me to know who you are, or else why would you appear before me like this?"
"I hope you do not mind the cliché, but I have many names."
The giant serpent laughed as it coiled its body through the air.
"To you, I shall be Istab, the Guide."
"The Guide? You think you can guide me?"
"Isn't it wonderful?"
The giant serpent smiled, wrapping itself around Diego's legs and slithering up his body.
The giant serpent raised its head to face him, its gleaming body still coiled around his torso.
"You cannot intimidate me,"
he told the giant serpent.
"Here, I am stronger than you. The only reason you can exist is