"Help! Can't you ask for help properly? Did you have to make such a scene?" Yarrow said, exasperated.
The little fat snake, still looking pitiful, hurriedly responded, "Please, I'll reflect on my actions. Just take me with you. I really want to go home. There are so many strange things here. I even saw a dog with black ears and yellow fur pull an entire mountain with just a rope... It was terrifying," it said, nearly on the verge of tears.
"A dog with black ears?" Yarrow thought, a flicker of recognition passing through his mind. "Druby?"
"You keep saying you're a Quetzalcoatl, but do you have anything to prove it?" Yarrow asked skeptically.
"Prove it?" The little fat snake looked a little embarrassed. "I—I'm still young. My magic isn't strong enough yet. But… but look at me! It's obvious I'm from the Quetzalcoatl race, right?"
Yarrow eyed the little creature. It certainly didn't look like much, but there was something undeniably innocent about its demeanor. He felt a flicker of hesitation. If it was truly from the Quetzalcoatl race, it could be very beneficial to help it—but the nagging feeling that it might have ulterior motives remained.
He turned to Peach Fox and pulled her aside, speaking quietly, "Peach Fox, can you sense anything from it?"
Peach Fox, a beastman, should be able to detect any Quetzalcoatl's aura—just as Zen's presence had the same suppressive force over ordinary beastmen. But Peach Fox shook her head, her ears flicking slightly. "No, there's nothing. It feels like this little snake's cultivation is even lower than mine."
Yarrow glanced back at the little fat snake, still waiting patiently, looking hopeful but clearly nervous.
He thought for a moment before speaking again. "You can follow us, but no tricks. If I find out you have any bad intentions, you'll regret it."
"Don't worry! I just want to leave this place. As long as you take me with you when you go, that's all I want," the little snake said, hopping up and down happily.
Yarrow sighed, his hand on his chin. "Alright, what now? When are you going back?"
"We need to get something first," Yarrow replied. "Once we have it, we can leave."
"Yay! We're going home!" The little fat snake spun in circles, elated. But then, suddenly, its head collided with something.
"Hey! What was that for? Why'd you hit me?" the little snake yelped, glaring at Yarrow.
"Oops, sorry," Yarrow muttered, bending down to pick up the Poké Ball that had rolled off his belt. "It's not working… Am I using it wrong?" He looked at it in confusion. Then, as an afterthought, he added, "Oh, right. I haven't even asked your name yet."
"Rene" the little fat snake replied with a pout, clearly still upset.
With the little Quetzalcoatl, Rene, now following them, Yarrow and Peach Fox continued their journey. After more than two hours of walking, they finally reached their destination—a massive, castle-like building.
The sight before them was much larger than Yarrow had expected. However, it was also far more dilapidated than he'd imagined. The towering structure, once imposing, now looked forlorn.
The gate, marked with deep wolf claw prints, was overrun with weeds, the wall plaster was peeling, and spider webs filled every corner. The heavy wooden door stood slightly ajar, eerily silent.
Yarrow pushed the gate open, revealing a dark, empty hall. He took out the fluorescent stone from his pouch and illuminated the space ahead. The throne at the far end of the hall was covered in a thick layer of dust.
He walked around, taking in the desolate sight. Dust had settled on the ground, and cobwebs stretched across the room. It was clear there were no wolves here anymore.
"It feels like tea left to go cold after the host has left…" Yarrow mused quietly to himself.
As he walked further into the hall, his gaze fell on a wine bottle discarded on the floor. He picked it up, recognizing the label. It was made by a brewery in the royal capital of the Will Kingdom—something from outside the secret realm.
"Looks like we're in the right place," Yarrow muttered.
He pulled out the item locator. The hour and minute hands were overlapping, while the second hand was pointed in the opposite direction, indicating the target was nearby and above.
"Peach Fox, can your senses pick anything up now?" Yarrow asked, glancing at her.
Peach Fox perked up, her ears twitching. "Mm… I sense a very strong aura of a treasure nearby!" Her eyes sharpened with focus, her posture alert.
Yarrow's expression shifted to one of determination. "Let's move forward. The treasure should be close."
"Then you lead the way," Yarrow said.
"Hey, what are we looking for? It's so dark in here..." Rene complained, trailing behind them, clearly a little scared.
"Are divine beasts afraid of the dark?" Yarrow asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I told you, I'm just a child," the little fat snake muttered defensively.
"By the way, are you two entering the secret realm for the first time? I can't shake the feeling that you're pretty familiar with this place," Rene asked Yarrow, her curiosity piqued.
"I've been here in my dreams," Yarrow replied casually, not elaborating further.
"How perfunctory," Rene huffed, unimpressed.
Peach Fox, undeterred, led the way through the castle, winding around its periphery until they came to a large door.
"It's in here," Peach Fox said, glancing back at Yarrow.
Yarrow nodded and placed his hand on the door, pushing with effort. The heavy door groaned against the floor, the sound of its movement filling the air as it slowly creaked open inward.
"Cough, cough…" A cloud of dust burst out from the door, causing Peach Fox to cough and cover her mouth, waving her hand in front of her face.
It was pitch dark inside, and nothing was visible beyond the threshold.
Yarrow paused for a moment before raising his hand and casting an illumination spell. A ball of light rose from his palm like a firework, hovering in the air and instantly illuminating the vast interior as if it were daytime.
Over the past months, his magical abilities had seen significant improvement, especially under Serena's guidance.
The moment the space was revealed, both Peach Fox and Rene were left wide-eyed in shock. The room was far larger than they had imagined—more like a giant warehouse than anything else. Items of all kinds were stacked in chaotic piles, as though the entire space had become a massive storage maze.
"Did they store all the props used in thousands of episodes here?" Yarrow marveled.
Most of the items looked worn, aged, and abandoned, as if left to decay in this forgotten place.
"Ah!" Peach Fox swayed, covering her head. Yarrow quickly stepped forward, catching her to steady her.
"Are you okay, Peach Fox? What's wrong?" he asked, his concern growing.
"There's just… too much stuff," Peach Fox murmured, her eyes unfocused. "The overwhelming flood of information about all these items is maofking my head spin…"
Yarrow immediately began to reach for his storage bag. "Wait a second, I have some recovery potions here. Drink one and you'll feel better…"
But before he could find the potions, Rene slid forward, her slender tail stretching out to gently tap Peach Fox's shoulder. A soft, glowing halo spread over her, and the effect was almost immediate. Peach Fox's eyes cleared, and she straightened up, blinking in surprise.
"Huh? I'm better now," she said, her voice tinged with astonishment.
"Hmph, hmph. This is the blessing of the Quetzalcoatl," Rene said, raising her head proudly. "It grants the blessed a temporary period of mental protection."
"Thank you, Rene ," Peach Fox said with a grateful smile.
"It's nothing," Rene replied, her tail swishing with pride. "As a divine beast, I'm happy to help with little things like this."
Yarrow watched the little fat snake, still unsure. Could it really be that kind-hearted? Was he overthinking things?
With her mental clarity restored, Peach Fox seemed much better, no longer dizzy as she surveyed the mountain of items around them.
"So, how is it? Is there anything here that can be taken with us?" Yarrow asked.
Peach Fox wandered among the clutter, her eyes scanning the piles until she stopped in front of a frying pan. She picked it up, examining it with interest.
"Huh?" Yarrow raised an eyebrow. "This pan is actually a throwing weapon? And the damage is incredibly high."
"You didn't even need to say it," Peach Fox said, a playful glint in her eyes as she twirled the pan in her hand.
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