The chief kept his weapon raised.
Traveler looked at him.
"Who created these laws?"
The chief hesitated.
"People who survived."
"That's not an answer."
The chief's expression hardened.
"The first elders."
"Why?"
"Because they watched the first Blood Moon."
Traveler waited.
The chief continued.
"After that night, the serpent women began appearing."
He looked toward the forest.
"They made the laws because they believed fear was the only thing keeping this village alive."
Traveler glanced at Seris.
Then back at the chief.
"So your laws were created by frightened people."
"They kept us alive."
"Perhaps."
Traveler's voice became colder.
"But they don't give you the right to kill someone who hasn't attacked you."
The chief raised his weapon.
"She is one of them."
Traveler's eyes hardened.
"And you still don't understand."
The chief gave the order.
"Kill them."
The villagers moved.
That was their mistake.
Traveler's expression changed.
Whatever restraint had remained disappeared.
The first man rushed toward him with a blade.
Traveler caught him by the face.
The man's feet left the ground.
Traveler drove him into the earth.
The impact silenced the entire group.
Traveler took the man's weapon.
Another villager attacked.
Traveler turned.
One strike.
The man collapsed.
A third came from behind.
Traveler seized him.
The man's weapon fell from his hand.
Traveler threw him aside.
Three men were already down.
The remaining villagers stopped.
Traveler stood among them.
There was no panic in his face.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
The chief stared.
Traveler slowly dropped the stolen blade.
"Listen carefully."
Nobody moved.
"I warned you."
His eyes traveled across the villagers.
"You chose not to listen."
The chief tightened his grip.
Traveler stepped forward.
"Anyone who attacks me again dies."
Silence.
"Anyone who attacks her dies."
Seris stared at him.
She had never seen anyone move like that.
Not even among the strongest serpent hunters.
Traveler looked directly at the chief.
"If you want your villagers alive..."
He paused.
"...leave."
The chief remained frozen.
Traveler's voice became quieter.
"Now."
Nobody moved.
The chief looked around.
His villagers were terrified.
Not because Traveler had threatened them.
Because they had already seen what happened when they ignored his warning.
The chief slowly lowered his weapon.
Traveler did not relax.
Seris stood behind him.
The forest remained silent.
No Blood Moon.
No ancient power.
No connection to the Abyss.
Just a village ruled by fear—
and a man who had finally decided he would no longer tolerate it.
The chief took one step backward.
Then another.
The villagers followed.
Traveler watched until they disappeared between the trees.
Only then did he turn toward Seris.
She was staring at him.
"You killed them."
Traveler looked at the bodies.
"They attacked me."
Seris lowered her eyes.
Traveler looked toward the village.
"Come."
"Where?"
"The village."
Seris hesitated.
"They will kill me."
Traveler looked at her.
"Not while I'm there."
And the two began walking toward the sealed village.
Behind them, deep within the forest—
the Devourer watched.
It did not follow.
It simply waited.
Because its Lord's vessel had just revealed something the Devourer had not seen before.
Not Arafial.
Not the Abyss.
Something belonging entirely to Traveler.
And it was becoming stronger.