After Hectos, God of Flame, shouted, the mountain range, so quiet at night, began to hiss. Colorful venomous snakes darted out of the undergrowth, their slit-pupiled eyes fixed on him with hatred.
Hectos made an involuntary slurping sound, then covered it up. "Where's your god, Veminaga? I have good news for him."
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground split with a thunderous crash. Trees and grass toppled aside with the soil beneath them. A head so enormous it made them shudder rose from underground, followed inch by inch by a body of staggering size.
"What a huge snake." The Big-Tailed Red Rat perched on Antonio's shoulder was so startled that he spoke in human language.
"Before he became a False God, he was already a giant serpent with Titan blood in his veins. Afterward, he drew power from blood sacrifices and faith, and his body kept growing until he became what you see now."
"Too bad he has no idea how to use his power. He can't teleport or fly. He's just a big brute with nothing but size and strength."
Hectos made no secret of his contempt.
Just then, a thunderous voice rang out from the Great Serpent's island-sized head.
"Hectos."
"You actually dare come looking for me?"
Hectos's face stiffened slightly. "I came with good news."
"Good news? Eating you would be the best news of all."
Before the words had even faded, the enormous serpent opened his jaws and lunged at Jiang Hao and the other two. "Not even a god can save you today. You have my word."
Boom—
A bolt of lightning nearly as thick as the serpent himself struck him. In an instant, white light illuminated the entire mountain range as brightly as Daylight.
The venomous snakes felt that overwhelming heavenly might.