After the intense battle with the Feral Spirit Bear, Apophis continued its journey, slithering deeper into the forest. The air grew denser, cooler, and the sunlight barely penetrated the thick canopy overhead. Somewhere ahead lay the hidden treasure it had been seeking—a legendary artifact said to contain immense power, the key to ascending to a higher level of strength.

With every movement, Apophis felt the residual strength from its recent battle flowing through its body. Its senses were heightened, its instincts sharper, and the faint traces of magic in the air guided it toward its goal. The forest seemed alive with mystery, ancient energy vibrating through the soil beneath it. Apophis moved cautiously, knowing that the final obstacle lay ahead.

Finally, the landscape changed. The trees gave way to a clearing, at the center of which stood a large, moss-covered stone altar. Surrounding the altar were twisted, broken statues of monsters long forgotten, their expressions frozen in agony. In the center of the altar, barely visible beneath layers of overgrown vines, was a shimmering object—Apophis had found the treasure.

The altar was surrounded by a faint barrier of swirling energy, pulsing gently in rhythm with the magic in the air. Apophis paused, feeling the power radiating from the treasure. Whatever was hidden beneath those vines had been sealed away for centuries, possibly millennia. It wouldn’t be easy to retrieve it.

"Essence of the Abyss, guide me." Apophis murmured as it focused its mind, drawing upon the essence it had been cultivating. In this moment of calm, it activated its Essence of the Abyss, allowing the energy to envelop its body like a dark mist. The power of the abyss resonated with the magical barrier, and with a low hiss, Apophis slowly began probing for weaknesses.

The barrier shimmered, and the mist surrounding Apophis pressed against it. For a moment, there was resistance, but then something gave way—a crack in the barrier. Without wasting time, Apophis concentrated its energy and injected the Essence of the Abyss into the crack. The energy rippled outward, and with a sudden flash of light, the barrier shattered like glass, dissipating into the air.

Apophis slithered forward cautiously, coiling around the altar, its eyes fixed on the shimmering object beneath the vines. Using its tail, it swept away the overgrowth, revealing an ancient, intricately carved amulet. The amulet was adorned with strange runes, glowing faintly with a deep, otherworldly light. It pulsed with raw energy, and as Apophis gazed at it, it could feel the power coursing through the artifact.

“This is it… the treasure I’ve been searching for,” Apophis thought, a mixture of awe and hunger for power filling its mind.

The moment it touched the amulet with its tail, a surge of energy shot through its body. The runes on the amulet flared to life, and the blue screen appeared before Apophis's eyes.

【Artifact Acquired: Abyssal Heart】

【Absorbing Abyssal Energy...】

【Potential Points +3】

【Initiating Evolution...】

The blue screen faded, and the amulet melted into a pool of dark liquid, which began to seep into Apophis’s scales. A burning sensation spread across its entire body as the artifact fused with it. For a moment, Apophis felt as if it was on fire, every nerve igniting with the overwhelming power of the Abyssal Heart.

It coiled tighter, trying to suppress the pain. But as the searing heat began to fade, a new sensation took over—strength. Its muscles rippled beneath its scales, and the essence of the abyss that it had been cultivating for so long now surged through it, stronger than ever before.

Apophis could feel its very being evolving. The amulet had unlocked a part of its potential that had been lying dormant, waiting for the right catalyst. It was no longer just a snake—it was something far more powerful, far more dangerous. Its body expanded slightly, muscles tightening and growing denser, and its senses sharpened to a razor edge. The essence inside it churned like a storm, pushing it toward the next stage of its evolution.

The blue screen appeared once more:

【Abyssal Transformation: Complete.】

l 【State: Wild Awakening (700/1000)】

【New Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Domain】

【Abyssal Domain (Lv1): Create a zone infused with the Essence of the Abyss, weakening enemies and empowering the user within the domain.】

Apophis hissed in satisfaction, feeling the raw power coursing through its veins. This new skill, the Abyssal Domain, would allow it to turn the tide in any battle. Within the domain, its enemies would be weakened, while it would grow stronger with every passing moment. This was the power it had been seeking—an ability that would allow it to control the battlefield, to dominate its foes.

As the energy from the Abyssal Heart continued to surge through Apophis, it felt another wave of transformation ripple across its body. The subtle heat it had experienced earlier began to intensify, but this time, the changes were more profound. This wasn’t just an increase in strength—it was a complete metamorphosis of its physical form.

Apophis could feel its scales shifting, thickening and hardening with each passing moment. Its body stretched, coiling tighter as its form grew even more massive. The sleek black sheen of its scales was now replaced by something far more menacing. Across its body, glowing markings began to appear—strange, jagged lines and intricate patterns that pulsed faintly with dark energy. These markings weren’t just for show. They were the result of its deeper connection to the Essence of the Abyss, a physical manifestation of its growing power.

As it gazed down at its own body, Apophis marveled at the transformation. Its once smooth, unbroken scales were now adorned with swirling, chaotic lines, almost like cracks in the surface, except these cracks were alive with energy. The dark, almost purple-black patterns seemed to flicker and shift, as if they had a life of their own, dancing across its skin like living shadows.

Its once dark eyes were now glowing, the deep red irises illuminated by an inner light, giving its gaze an even more predatory intensity. The sharp fangs in its mouth grew slightly longer, and a constant faint hiss of venom now dripped from them, adding to the threatening aura it exuded. Even its tongue, flicking out to taste the air, seemed sharper, more dangerous.

Apophis stretched its neck, and the muscles beneath its scaled hide rippled with raw power. Its body, once as thick as a human’s thigh, had now swelled to the size of a tree trunk. Each movement it made was smoother, faster, but also more deliberate, as if its entire form had been perfectly honed for the hunt. Its tail lashed out, and the force of its movement cracked a nearby stone boulder into pieces with ease. The air around it shimmered with a faint distortion—the lingering energy of the Abyssal Domain it now carried within itself.

The markings on its skin weren’t just for intimidation—they were a conduit for its newfound powers. Every time Apophis concentrated, it could feel the Essence of the Abyss flowing through these lines, amplifying its strength, speed, and perception. It was as if the very essence of the abyss had become one with its flesh, making it a true predator of the shadows.

As it slithered forward, the earth trembled slightly beneath the sheer weight and power of its form. Apophis's head, now larger and more angular, possessed a terrifying grace. Along its jawline, small, jagged ridges had formed—sharp bony protrusions that added to its terrifying visage. Its entire presence screamed danger, a beast of unparalleled might.

The reflective surface of the altar caught its attention, and for the first time since its transformation, Apophis caught a glimpse of its own reflection. What it saw nearly took even it by surprise. The creature staring back from the surface was monstrous—an apex predator unlike anything it had ever seen before.