The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Chapter 381: An Offer

Adam stirred from his sleep, a gentle presence pulling him from the depths of unconsciousness. His eyes fluttered open, vision still blurry, and he saw Isolde’s silhouette outlined against the dim glow of the dying fire. Her face, pale and beautiful in the faint light, was close—close enough that he could see the flecks of silver in her pale blue eyes.

"It’s time for your watch," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet urgency. "You need to take over."

Adam blinked, his mind still sluggish with sleep. He let out a low, groggy groan, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Yeah, yeah... I’m getting up."

Isolde inclined her head once, a small, almost imperceptible nod, and turned. She slipped out of the tent without another word, the canvas rustling softly behind her.

Adam sat up slowly, his joints protesting as he stretched his arms above his head. A low, satisfied groan escaped his lips as his spine popped. He rose to his feet and ducked out of the tent, the cool night air washing over him.

Isolde was already by the fire, adding a few pieces of wood to the embers. The flames flickered to life, casting warm shadows across the clearing. Adam paused, his gaze drifting to the tent where Alice and Lilith were sleeping.

Through the crack in the canvas, he could see them—both fast asleep, their earlier hostility melted away in the quiet of the night. Alice had curled into a ball, her tail wrapped around her body. Lilith lay on her back, her silver-white hair spread across the bedroll like spilled moonlight. They weren’t touching, but they weren’t at each other’s throats either.

Adam’s lips curved into a soft, pleased smile. His voice carried a note of quiet satisfaction as he spoke to himself.

"See? Told you it was a good idea."

He moved to the fire, settling onto a flat stone across from Isolde. The warmth of the flames seeped into his skin as he let out a slow, contented breath.

Isolde didn’t look up, her pale eyes fixed on the flames. Her voice came out quiet, carrying a note of careful calm.

"They slept peacefully. No fighting."

Adam nodded, his gaze drifting to the tent where Ignis and Azrynn were sleeping. Through the gap in the canvas, he could see Ignis sprawled across the bedroll like a starfish, her limbs splayed in every direction. Azrynn was pressed against the far edge, her expression carrying a distinct look of mild suffering, as if she had been pushed off her own sleeping space by the drake’s enthusiastic sleeping habits.

Adam let out a low chuckle, his voice carrying a note of amused sympathy.

"Azrynn’s suffering in there. I’ll need to apologize to her later."

Isolde’s lips twitched, almost a smile. A rare, fleeting sight. Her voice was still soft, but carried a hint of warmth.

"She’ll survive. She’s tougher than she looks."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the fire crackling softly between them. The stars wheeled overhead, scattered like diamonds across the deep blue sky. The only sounds were the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant call of a night bird.

Isolde broke the comfortable silence, her voice carrying a note of quiet curiosity that cut through the crackling of the fire.

"Adam. About your Gluttony... have you been experiencing anything unusual?"

Adam blinked, caught off guard by the question. He turned to look at her, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly with surprise. "So you noticed it too, huh?"

Isolde nodded slowly, her pale blue eyes fixed on the flames as if searching for the right words. Her voice carried a note of careful precision.

"When we fought the wryms, and you manifested the Crown... your expression changed." She paused, her gaze flickering to him. "What happened?"

Adam let out a slow breath, his gaze dropping to the fire. "I’ve been using the Crown too much. It’s... affecting my soul."

Isolde’s brow furrowed, her voice carrying a note of genuine concern. "Can I check it?"

Adam’s eyebrows rose, his voice carrying a note of cautious curiosity. "Check what? The Crown?"

Isolde shook her head slowly. "No. Your soul. I have some knowledge of necromancy, enough to feel the state of a person’s soul." She paused, her voice dropping. "I can sense what’s inside you."

Adam was silent for a moment, weighing her words. Then he nodded slowly. "Alright."

Isolde reached out, her small hand pressing gently against his chest, just above his heart. Her eyes closed, her brow furrowing as she focused.

Her internal voice was quiet, sharp with surprise.

’His soul... what is this? There’s something else woven into it. Something foreign—trying to merge with him.’

Her hand lingered, her fingers trembling slightly.

Adam’s voice came out low, tense. "Isolde? What is it?"

Isolde pulled her hand back slowly, her pale blue eyes meeting his. Her voice was quiet, but carried a weight that made Adam’s blood run cold.

"Adam, there’s something foreign inside you. Something that doesn’t belong—trying to merge with your soul."

Adam’s internal voice was sharp, confused.

’Merging? What does she mean by that?’

Isolde studied Adam’s confused expression, her pale blue eyes carrying a flicker of something between concern and certainty.

"It seems the Crown of Gluttony is trying to devour your soul. Every time you borrow its power, it takes a little more of you in return. That’s my hypothesis. The Crown grows stronger by consuming the souls of your enemies—but it doesn’t discriminate. It’s been feeding on you too."

Adam’s brow furrowed, his voice carrying a note of grim realization.

"So the more I use it, the more of my soul it eats?"

Isolde nodded slowly, her voice dropping lower.

"That’s a possibility."

Adam let out a low, humorless laugh, shaking his head as he stared into the fire. His voice carried a note of dark amusement.

"Hee... so that’s what’s been happening. No wonder my soul felt strange. It’s been quietly eating me from the inside." He glanced up at the sky, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Gluttony indeed. You really live up to your name, don’t you?"

Isolde’s eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a note of incredulous concern.

"You’re taking this surprisingly calmly. That artifact could consume your entire soul—destroy you completely."

Adam’s smile didn’t waver, his voice carrying a note of quiet certainty.

"The Crown is greedy, yes. But it’s also saved my life more times than I can count. If the price for that is a little piece of my soul... it’s a fair trade."

Isolde was silent for a moment, processing his words. Then she let out a slow, measured breath, her voice softening just slightly.

"A costly deal. But... if it keeps you alive, I suppose it’s worth the price."

She paused, her pale blue eyes meeting his with renewed intensity.

"Adam. I have an offer. Would you hear it?"

Adam’s gaze shifted to her, his crimson eyes carrying a note of quiet curiosity.

"What kind of offer?"