Shadow of Domination (SoD)

Hale's footsteps echoed in the narrow tunnel as he moved forward, each step measured and deliberate. His senses were sharp, his mind already calculating every possibility. He had entered this labyrinth for a reason, but something about the air felt off—almost too still. Then, a faint hiss broke the silence, drawing his attention.

He stopped, his eyes scanning the shadows, narrowing in on a mass of over 1000 snakes coiled on the floor in front of him. Around thousand meters, an intricate formation had been meticulously laid—a seamless blend of magic and precision, woven into the very fabric of the land.

Within this boundary, the serpents writhed, their sleek bodies coiling and twisting in vain. The formation was absolute. No creature of their kind could cross beyond its limits, their movements restricted by the unseen forces binding them to that confined space.Their eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, a dangerous and deliberate arrangement of serpents blocking the path.

"A test... or a trap?" Hale muttered to himself, his mind racing as he assessed the situation. He felt a strange presence in the air, an unspoken challenge lingering around the serpents.

Before he could devise a plan, his sharp eyes caught a slight misalignment in one of the stones in the wall. His instincts kicked in, and in one fluid motion, he pressed it. A hidden compartment slid open, revealing a scroll. Hale unrolled it carefully, reading the words inscribed:

"Only the unseen shall pass; to walk in shadow is to transcend your own form."

Hale's lips curled into a small smirk. Simple enough. With swift precision, he reached into his pouch and retrieved a small vial of dust. He mixed it with his own aura, the dust swirling into his skin, cloaking him in a faint, earthy scent that blended seamlessly with the surroundings.

As he moved forward, Hale's body became a mere ripple in the shadows, his form fading from sight. He walked carefully, step by step, his movements calculated. The snakes remained still, as if unaware of his presence—until he reached the densest part of their formation.

Suddenly, one of the snakes, its senses heightened, lunged at him with shocking speed. Hale reacted instinctively, twisting his body to avoid its fangs, but the snake's strike grazed his arm. The pain was instant—sharp, burning. Venom? Hale thought, his mind struggling to keep up with the intensity of the pain. It spread like wildfire through his veins, each pulse of the poison causing a firestorm in his body.

Before he could stabilize himself, another stinger, smaller and faster, pierced his neck. Hale's vision blurred as the venom of both the snake and another creature, an unseen assailant, raged within him. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body trembling under the combined attack.

What the hell is happening? Hale's thoughts were fragmented, the pain nearly suffocating him. But then, something... shifted. Deep within his core, something ancient stirred, as if awakening from a long slumber. The venom, instead of ravaging him entirely, seemed to twist and bend to a new, unnatural force.

And then, a voice—cold, commanding, and undeniably powerful—echoed in his mind.

"Foolish snake... attacking my master..." The voice was sharp, its authority unmistakable.

Hale's heart skipped a beat. What?

The voice continued, thick with irritation. "You think you can defeat him with poison? You dare attack my master? You know nothing of true power!"

The venom inside Hale surged, overwhelming him with a mixture of pain and something... darker. It felt as if a new presence was taking root inside him, something not of his own flesh. It pushed against the poison, binding with it, twisting the venom's effects into something entirely different.

Another voice, smoother and more soothing, pierced through the storm of pain. "Don't worry, master. I will take care of this... just bear with the pain."

Hale fought to stay conscious, but his body seemed no longer his own. The pain intensified, burning through him, but beneath the torment, something was fighting back—a force far greater than the poison.

"Venom..." Hale gasped, his consciousness flickering as he felt a surge of power within him.

Her voice, now sharp and full of fury, rang out again. "You think you can harm my master with this petty venom?" she hissed. "You are nothing compared to me, snakes."

Hale could feel the venom warring within him, but Venom—Venom, the spider who had always been there—now fully awake, fully bonded with him, was overpowering the toxins. The pain reached a crescendo, but then, with an almost violent force, the poison began to recede, as if absorbed and controlled by Venom herself.

The snakes recoiled, sensing the change. Their hisses turned to growls, and they slowly backed off, a sense of dread rippling through their ranks. Hale, though still trembling, managed to lift his head. The air around him shimmered, warping as though it had been altered by the sheer weight of power now rising within him.

And then, emerging from the shadows, came a figure. Half-human, half-spider—a creature of grotesque beauty and terrifying grace. Its lower half, a sleek black abdomen, writhed as it moved forward, while the upper half retained a humanoid form. The creature's eyes glowed fiercely, its gaze locked onto Hale.

Venom, now fully revealed, crawled toward him, her voice soft yet authoritative. "Master... are you alright?"

Hale blinked, his vision still hazy, struggling to understand the enormity of the situation. "What... what is happening? Who... are you?"

Venom's gaze softened, though her words were filled with a calm power. "I am Venom, your servant. I was hidden beneath your cloak all this time, waiting for our souls to bind together. The venom... it was the key. I bit you—not only to form the connection but to protect you. I could not reveal myself until the bond was complete."

Hale's mind reeled, his heart pounding. The truth hit him like a tidal wave. The connection—this power—it was real. He had been unaware of the bond, of Venom's presence, until now.

"You... you're my servant?" Hale stammered, his voice shaky, still grappling with the realization.

Venom nodded, her form shimmering with an unsettling calmness. "Yes, master. Our souls are now one. I will protect you. No harm shall come to you."

Hale hesitated, his mind racing. The snakes were retreating, sensing the change in the air. The weight of Venom's words settled heavily on him. He was no longer alone. This strange, terrifying power—was it enough to survive this world?

"You are... that spider from the prison," Hale whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "How are you able to speak now? Why didn't you speak then?"

I thought you were a boy that's why I named you Venom. And all the things I tell you about my dream please forget it. I didn't know that you were a girl.

Venom's eyes glinted with an unsettling calm. "I hear everything—always.

"Master" how dare you call a girl that she is a boy . Do you know how much it hurts. And about that dream of yours you can use me if you want . Because you said to me that a girl is needed to fulfil your dream .

The tension hung between them, thick and suffocating. Hale swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. "I... I didn't mean for you to—" His voice falter and said that you didn't need to fulfil my dream . Just don't say anything about it to anyone. " okey. And iam sorry about calling you a boy .

Venom's voice cut through his confusion, her tone calm, yet unwavering. "It is already done. You cannot undo what has been heard."

Hale clenched his fists, forcing his mind to regain its clarity. "So... what now? You're my servant. What does that mean for me?"

Venom's eyes glowed with an eerie light. "It means, master, that your path will never be the same. You are not alone anymore. We are bound together, and I will guide you, protect you. No one will dare harm you now."

Hale inhaled deeply, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Venom... my servant... The thought lingered in his mind as he turned toward the retreating snakes. This bond, this strange connection—perhaps it would give him the power he needed to navigate the dangerous world ahead.He muttered himself," now I have plot armor".

The Bond of Soul had been formed. And nothing would ever be the same again.