The oppressive heat of the molten chamber had long faded, replaced by the damp chill of deeper caverns. Shadows stretched endlessly, and the faint hum of resonance pulse kept him aware of the jagged walls and hidden paths ahead. Moving cautiously, Akira advanced into a spacious chamber. The faint glint of metallic veins in the walls reflected a dim, eerie glow.

  The quiet didn’t last. A deep, rattling hiss echoed through the cavern, and Akira’s core pulsed with warning. From the shadows emerged a massive serpent, its body covered in metallic scales that shimmered faintly. Its six glowing eyes locked onto him, and its tongue flicked out to taste the air.

  Iron Serpent. Threat level: high.

  The creature slithered forward, its movements fluid and deliberate, each twist of its massive body scraping against the rocky floor. It lunged suddenly, striking with terrifying speed. Akira compressed his form, narrowly avoiding the strike. The serpent’s fangs smashed into the stone where he had been, cracking the floor.

  Realizing that evasion alone wouldn’t suffice, Akira sought an opening. Instead of retreating, he surged forward, flowing beneath the serpent’s head. His tendrils lashed out, aiming for the softer underside near its jaw. The serpent jerked back violently, its tail whipping toward him. The impact sent him sprawling across the chamber, his gelatinous body rippling from the force.

  The serpent didn’t let up, its massive form coiling around him. Akira activated shadow cloak, dimming his glow and blending with the darkness, but the serpent’s glowing eyes scanned the area, undeterred. It lunged again, jaws wide.

  This time, Akira didn’t dodge. Instead, he solidified part of his form into a spiked mass, letting the serpent bite down on the hardened surface. The creature recoiled, hissing in pain as a small crack formed in one of its fangs.

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  Seizing the opportunity, he activated resonance pulse, not to map the cavern but to disrupt the serpent. The skill sent out a deep vibration that resonated through the metallic scales, causing the creature to shudder. The effect was temporary, but it slowed the serpent’s movements enough for Akira to reposition.

  The serpent, now enraged, began thrashing wildly, its tail smashing into the chamber walls. Debris rained down as it coiled again, this time attempting to crush him. Akira shifted his form, flowing between the gaps in the serpent’s coils and reforming on its back.

  Using his body’s adhesive properties, he clung to the serpent’s upper body and extended tendrils to its neck. The metallic scales resisted, but a small gap near the base of its head revealed softer flesh. He focused his energy, delivering a concentrated shock using an improvised form of his light burst. The serpent convulsed, its body spasming as the energy coursed through it.

  The creature collapsed, twitching but still alive. Akira hesitated, then activated consume. His tendrils pierced the exposed flesh, drawing out fragments of the serpent’s essence.

  Consume skill activated. Partial traits acquired: metallic scales (passive - incomplete), venom resistance (passive - partial).

  The serpent hissed weakly, its massive body shuddering as it slithered away into the darkness. Akira didn’t pursue. Exhausted and battered, he allowed himself a moment to recover.

  Near the chamber’s center, something glimmered faintly. It was a small crystal, pulsing softly with an otherworldly light. Extending a tendril, Akira absorbed it cautiously.

  Consume skill activated. New ability acquired: resonance pulse (active) - enhanced mapping and environmental interaction.

  The chamber seemed to shrink as his awareness expanded, the echoes of the cavern now vivid in his mind. He could sense hidden tunnels, faint vibrations of distant creatures, and even subtle weaknesses in the surrounding walls.

  With the serpent defeated and a new ability in his arsenal, Akira turned toward the next tunnel. The Cavern of Trials had proven its name, but every challenge brought him closer to his goal. For now, survival was enough.