Darkness.
Zhao Si had no idea when he had started dealing with darkness so often.
There was not a trace of light in the cave. Only then did he remember that the cave had been well lit because, besides the lava, cages and chandeliers had hung from the ceiling.
After merging with the Gelmir God-Devouring Serpent, Rykard had still cared about his standard of living and decorated the cave. Right now, however, the serpent lived here alone and naturally had not bothered decorating. In other words, there were no light sources.
A miscalculation.
Relying on experience could get a man killed.
The way the Volcano Manor storyline had been designed in the game had actually left Zhao Si rather frustrated. Back then, he had learned about Volcano Manor from Rya, the little snake girl, and after going to some trouble to enter the manor with her, he had met Tanith, whom he could talk to.
Tanith had invited the game's protagonist to join Volcano Manor.
Everyone in Volcano Manor was a Recusant-as the name suggested, they were a group who had betrayed the Golden Order and the Erdtree.
They had taken in a number of Tarnished dissatisfied with the Golden Order, then sent them to hunt other Tarnished.
The protagonist's main task had been to kill people according to the assignments issued by Volcano Manor. After all the assassination jobs were completed, Tanith would let the protagonist go directly to see Rykard.
Incidentally, Bagralim had been on Volcano Manor's list. That was another reason Zhao Si would never pledge his allegiance to Volcano Manor.
Then, following the game's progression, when the protagonist went for an audience with Rykard, what awaited them turned out to be the Gelmir God-Devouring Serpent, which had evolved limbs and whose twisted body was coiled into