Only God
Chapter 316 - 273: The Bet between Solamus and Mona

Chapter 316: Chapter 273: The Bet between Solamus and Mona

The giant python, Sam, had grown to the height of two men in just two years, demonstrating the nearly perverse growth abilities of its species.

In fact, Solamus had used Ancient Language multiple times to shrink him, but Sam still grew larger each day.

Before long, the giant python Sam had become the sole ruler of the secret forest in the area.

Originally, this area had been home to fierce animals such as wolves, tigers, and brown bears, but Sam had devoured nearly all of them, and the remaining ones soon scattered. Even groups of wild boars that had roamed aggressively were left few in number after falling prey to Sam.

Despite being a gluttonous python, the mountain-coiling giant python was actually very gentle to its master.

So, even though Sam would show his fangs to the beasts he considered prey, he behaved very obediently in front of his master, much like a six or seven-year-old girl.

On this day, Solamus slowly stepped out of the tree hollow, her gaze sweeping across the distant secret forest—what had she caught sight of?

"Sam, head west."

Solamus raised her wooden staff and pointed towards the west.

Upon hearing this, Sam didn’t hesitate. He quickly lowered his towering head and with the speed of a gallop, his body moved swiftly and vanished in an instant from Solamus’s presence.

Solamus focused intently on the distance, where among the overlapping shadows of trees, a magical deer was leaping back and forth between the roots.

The magical deer and the secret forest—when mentioning these two things, the only Divine figure people could think of was the Forest God Lipo.

In those temples dedicated to the Forest God, Lipo’s Divine Statue was always depicted holding a tree branch with a magical deer nestled by his side.

Like coconut dates and the third eye of the Three-eyed Ape People often suggest Kagawus, the secret forest and the magical deer also symbolize the Divine Authority of the Forest God Lipo.

And Solamus wanted her giant python Sam to capture this magical deer and bring it to her forest dwelling.

It wasn’t long before a sparse rustling of leaves came from the secret forest. A strong wind blew, causing the trees to shake and the frightened cries of the magical deer and the sound of snake scales sliding on dirt gradually reached from afar.

Sam emerged from the depths of the secret forest, holding the magical deer, and leisurely returned to the witch’s forest cottage.

Sam spat the magical deer onto the ground, and amidst its mournful cries, one of its hind legs was broken—Sam had shattered it with his body to prevent its escape.

Solamus walked over, and seeing the figure of the witch, the deer became even more frantic. Its piteous cries startled half the birds in the forest.

Sam lowered his head, thick breath coming from his mouth, and slowly, his long tongue came out, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight.

The magical deer, far more intelligent than ordinary herbivores, was startled. It shut its mouth, its pupils filled with fear and tears wetting its eyes.

Unlike ordinary deer, the magical deer’s antlers were striated blue and green, resembling radiant crystals that contained intense Magic Power. Living in the secret forest, they often used the Magic Power of their antlers to help the forest’s flora grow robustly. They then fed on the precious herbs to replenish their Magic Power and strength.

Solamus drew a Light Blade from her fingers and swiftly cut off the magical deer’s antlers.

A pale blue fluid mixed with the deer’s blood, and the magical deer couldn’t help but let out a sorrowful wail.

Solamus chanted the Ancient Language; before the deer’s cries could cease, new antlers started emerging slowly from the severed stump.

Sam watched Solamus, hissing softly.

"I know you want to eat it, but you can’t. It belongs to the Forest God Lipo,"

Solamus looked at the blue-green antlers in his hand,

"Now, I need to go to the temple of the Forest God Lipo once more and place these antlers on his altar.

Soon, he will come here to visit and appear before us."

The python, Sam, couldn’t understand the complex words; it only knew that Solamus wouldn’t let it eat the sacred deer and hung its head in disappointment.

Solamus smiled and petted the python’s cool, scaly head.

"Sam, what do you think the outcome of the wager between Mona and me will be?"

Solamus spoke up, using a different topic to alleviate the python’s disappointment.

When in the dreams of the Divine, the god on the throne often did the same.

Sam looked up curiously, then with a resolute gaze, issued a soft hissing sound.

With the Angel Grace, could Solamus understand what Sam was really saying?

"I know you think that nothing will happen beyond my expectations."

Solamus gazed beyond the Secret Forest at Mona, who appeared before her mother disguised as a witch.

Before leaving the Secret Forest, Solamus and her apprentice had made a small wager.

The stakes were whether her mother, Carlo, would betray everything for a Magic Potion.

Naturally, Mona bet that Carlo wouldn’t betray everything.

And until the bet was decided, Mona couldn’t reveal her true identity to Carlo, otherwise the wager would automatically be deemed a victory for Solamus.

The python, Sam, looked at Solamus somewhat confused, making an inquiring hiss.

It seemed to say, "Master, don’t you hope that Mona fails?"

Solamus shook her head, whispering softly,

"I actually don’t hope for that child to lose miserably.

I’ve seen her tossing and turning in bed many nights and even crying secretly for half the night every birthday. Such days have persisted for seven or eight years."

"Although she knows that it was her mother, Carlo, who abandoned her, in her heart, she still believes in her mother’s love, believing that her mother was just confused at that time."

Solamus slowly shifted her gaze; she had seen Mona meet her mother, Carlo.

"I hope that her mother’s love for her can overcome the greed in her heart.

Even if Mona leaves me and no longer becomes my apprentice,

compared to what I lose, this girl will gain much more."