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  Chapter 8: Serpent's Wrath (3)

  The air was thick with tension as the Titanoconda lay before them, its massive form coiled and motionless, its scales gleaming like dark obsidian. The creature's labored breaths were the only sounds, punctuated by the faint hissing of the serpent's breath. Despite the beating it had taken, the Titanoconda still radiated a primal, unyielding energy. Garon kept his weapon poised, eyes never leaving the serpent’s hulking form, ready for any sudden movements.

  "Garon!" Throne's voice cut through the tension, steady and urgent. "Wait!"

  Garon's grip on his weapon tightened, and he glanced at Throne, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean, wait? It’s weakened! We should finish it now!"

  "No!" Throne stepped forward, his face set with determination. "It’s not dead yet. It’s still alive, and I think—"

  Garon hesitated, a mix of confusion and curiosity flashing in his eyes. "You think it can be tamed?"

  Throne nodded without hesitation, a fire in his eyes. "Yes. It’s powerful. Imagine if we could harness that strength. We don’t have to kill it—we could make it an ally."

  Garon studied the serpent again. The creature’s eyes were half-lidded, its immense form still but radiating an undercurrent of fury. His instincts screamed to finish what they started, but Throne's words, laced with conviction, made him hesitate.

  "Are you insane?" Garon shook his head, glancing between Throne and the Titanoconda. "After everything it’s been through, you think it’ll just accept us?"

  "It’s not about acceptance," Throne replied firmly, his voice softer now. "It’s about understanding. This creature is in pain—it doesn’t have a purpose. We could give it a reason to fight with us instead of against us."

  Garon exhaled sharply, wrestling with his instincts. He knew Throne wasn’t reckless; this was a calculated risk. If anyone could connect with a creature like this, it was Throne. "Alright," he said slowly, lowering his weapon but keeping a firm grip on it, "but I’ll be ready if anything goes wrong."

  Throne nodded, unbothered by Garon’s caution. With measured steps, he moved toward the Titanoconda, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. He spoke slowly, his voice smooth and calm, almost like he was trying to weave a spell of peace around the furious beast. “I know you’re in pain. We’re not your enemies. If you’ll allow us, we can help you. If you want, I can give you a purpose.”

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  The Titanoconda’s head shifted toward Throne, its enormous eyes narrowing, but there was something in the way it looked—less threatening, more curious. A low hiss escaped its throat, but there was no immediate attack. Throne continued, his tone soothing, his words like a promise.

  “You don’t have to fight anymore,” Throne said. “There’s more to life than destruction. You can be more than a weapon.”

  The serpent’s body trembled slightly, as if torn between its primal instincts and something new, something less familiar. Garon’s eyes never left the Titanoconda, every muscle tensed, waiting for the next move.

  Throne’s words grew firmer, carrying a deep strength. "I can give you a chance to change. You don’t have to stay trapped in this endless rage."

  For a long, agonizing moment, the two forces—one of wild destruction, the other of calm determination—seemed to battle for control. The Titanoconda thrashed briefly, but there was something different about it now. The violence of its movements wasn’t directed at them. Garon could see the tension in its muscles, as if the creature was torn between submission and rebellion.

  Garon stepped forward, his voice low. “I don’t know how you’re doing it, but keep it up.”

  Throne’s focus remained steady, and as if sensing a change, the Titanoconda’s thrashing slowed. It regarded Throne with an unspoken understanding—there was something in its eyes now, something beyond aggression. It was listening.

  Throne’s breath was shallow as he continued to speak softly, his gaze unwavering. "Come on, big guy. You can trust us."

  The Titanoconda’s enormous head dipped lower, its once-aggressive posture now more resigned. It hissed once, then fell silent, its breathing steadying. The creature, though still cautious, seemed to have reached a tentative truce with Throne.

  “It’s working,” Throne whispered, sweat beading on his brow from the effort. “It’s listening.”

  Garon exhaled in relief, still keeping his guard up but feeling the tension ease. "If anyone could pull it off, it’s you," he muttered, his tone filled with respect and awe.

  Throne gave a small, weary smile. “This isn’t over yet,” he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “We’ve made contact, but this is just the beginning.”

  The Titanoconda's massive form remained still, its enormous head turned toward Throne with a mixture of curiosity and cautious acknowledgment. The energy that once emanated from the serpent, fierce and uncontrollable, had shifted. Now, it was a quiet storm—a beast with power yet to be fully understood.

  With a final, deliberate step, Throne moved closer, eyes never leaving the creature. “We need to build trust. One step at a time.”

  Garon stood at his side, silently observing the transformation. The Titanoconda, though still wary, seemed to accept their presence. Garon couldn’t believe it. They had walked the line between destruction and allyship, and now, something unexpected was beginning to bloom.

  “Let’s show it that it can believe in us,” Throne suggested, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He reached out slowly, palm facing the serpent, a final plea for connection.

  As the Titanoconda stared at them, Garon felt the pull of something greater. It wasn’t just a beast they had battled—it was a potential ally, a new force that could shift the balance of everything. Together, they would forge a path forward, not just as summoners and their beasts, but as companions, as allies in a world filled with danger and uncertainty.

  The Titanoconda, though still wary, now regarded them with something like understanding. Garon met its gaze, feeling the weight of the bond they had just begun to form.

  "Alright," Garon said, his voice steady. “Let’s see where this leads us.”

  The silence that followed was filled with an unspoken promise. The battle had been fierce, the path uncertain, but now, for the first time, there was hope. The tides of their journey had begun to shift, and with it, the potential for something far greater than either Garon or Throne had anticipated.

  To be continued...

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