The towering figure of the Forest King’s servant had vanished into the distance, but the air was still thick with its presence. Apophis coiled his body tighter, feeling the tension in the air. The battle with Thorne had pushed his companions to their limits. Both Cyrus and Finn were injured, but their eyes remained fixed on him, silently questioning what he would do next.

The silence was broken by the slow, deliberate footsteps of another figure approaching. Emerging from the shadows of the trees was a hulking beast, its body rippling with muscle and thick, fur-like armor. It stood even taller than Thorne, with piercing green eyes that glowed in the dim light of the forest. The aura around it was suffocating, a clear sign that this was one of the Forest King’s chosen elite.

“Another of his servants?” Finn growled, blood still dripping from his matted fur. He staggered to his feet, ready to defend his territory, but his movements were sluggish.

“Rest, Finn,” Apophis said, his voice calm but commanding. The usual playful glint in his golden eyes was gone, replaced by a steady determination. He turned to the approaching beast, its powerful frame casting a long shadow over the clearing. “This one is mine.”

Cyrus blinked in surprise, his massive jaw tightening as he exchanged a glance with Finn. “Is he serious?” the crocodile rumbled under his breath. Finn could only stare, unsure of what Apophis planned.

The beast stepped into the clearing, a guttural growl escaping its throat as it flexed its claws. “You dare challenge me, serpent? I am Gorrak, the Forest King’s enforcer. You are nothing but a slithering worm.”

Apophis remained unfazed. His body coiled tighter, muscles rippling beneath his scales as he focused on the rhythm of his breathing. The essence of the abyss within him stirred, awakening with a new sense of purpose. He felt stronger than ever before, his mind sharper, his senses more attuned to the flow of energy around him.

Finn and Cyrus watched in stunned silence as Apophis began to move, his lithe form sliding gracefully across the ground. It was different from before. His movements were no longer just instinctual—they were deliberate, precise, filled with a power that had been building inside him since the day they met.

Gorrak lunged first, a massive paw crashing down where Apophis had just been. The ground shook from the force of the impact, but the serpent had already darted out of reach, his body a blur of motion. Before Gorrak could recover, Apophis struck. His fangs flashed as they sank into the beast’s foreleg, injecting a venom potent enough to cripple most opponents.

But Gorrak was no ordinary enemy. With a deafening roar, he swung his other arm, slamming it into Apophis and sending him flying across the clearing. The serpent landed hard, the impact sending shockwaves through his body. For a moment, the forest fell still again, as if waiting to see if Apophis would rise.

“He’s... grown stronger,” Finn whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. “That strike... it should have knocked him out cold.”

Cyrus nodded, his eyes narrowing. “But look—he’s getting back up.”

And indeed, Apophis slithered back to his full height, his eyes burning with fierce determination. The venom had already started to work; Gorrak’s movements had slowed, his muscles twitching uncontrollably. Apophis could feel it—the battle was turning in his favor.

“You think you’ve won, serpent?” Gorrak snarled, though there was a hint of desperation in his voice. “I am the Forest King’s chosen! You are nothing!”

“I am more than you can understand,” Apophis replied, his voice cold and steady. With a powerful strike of his tail, he launched himself forward, weaving through Gorrak’s sluggish swipes. This time, Apophis aimed for the beast’s throat. His fangs sunk deep into the soft flesh, and with a burst of strength, he coiled tightly around Gorrak’s neck, cutting off his air supply.

The massive beast thrashed wildly, but Apophis held firm, his body constricting tighter with each passing moment. Finn and Cyrus watched in stunned awe as Apophis tightened his grip, his movements precise and calculated, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.

Finally, with one last roar of defiance, Gorrak collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Apophis loosened his coils and slithered back, watching as the once-proud enforcer lay defeated before him.

Apophis turned to Cyrus and Finn, his golden eyes filled with confusion. “Why do they keep coming after us? What does this Forest King want?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying frustration, a need for answers.

Cyrus, still catching his breath after the battle, shook his massive head. “I don’t know. He’s been ruling the forest for as long as I can remember, but this is different. Something has changed.”

Finn, limping closer, spat on the ground. “The Forest King’s never sent his enforcers after us like this. It’s almost like he’s preparing for something… something bigger.”

Apophis narrowed his eyes. “Bigger? What could he possibly be after?”

“I’ve heard whispers,” Cyrus rumbled. “Some say he’s trying to expand his territory beyond the forest, to challenge even the ancient powers. But I never thought he’d target us.”

Finn scoffed, though there was tension in his voice. “We’re not part of his plans, Apophis. At least, not directly. He wants control. Anyone who stands in his way—or refuses to submit—becomes a target.”