Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 911: Descendants of the Sun (3)

They fled in terror toward the cave's exit, no longer caring about the supposedly important Incan cultural research materials—despite Professor Dolin's frantic shouting.

However, the terrifying thing about the black one-horned giant serpent was not only its massive size, capable of swallowing a person whole in one bite, but also its ability to move swiftly, its muscles contracting as it slithered forward rapidly.

In just a flash, the black one-horned serpent appeared ahead of the fleeing archaeology team, coiling its body near the cave's entrance, its cold, menacing eyes watching them like a predator.

This forced the more capable members of the team, responsible for combat, to fight back. They had already seen what happened to their leader, Santa, and none of them wanted to be the next to die in the serpent’s jaws.

Bang, bang, bang!!!

Pistols, machine guns—all provided by their sponsors—fired wildly at the black one-horned serpent.

Gunfire lit up the cave in flashes of light.

"This monster!!"

Cries of fear echoed in the darkness, followed by screams—a team member had been targeted by the serpent.

His body was crushed within the serpent's coils, and amidst his agonized screams, the sound of his bones shattering could be heard!The serpent's skin, like armor, deflected the bullets, which only made clinking sounds as they hit. Although a few black scales were dislodged, the serpent seemed unaffected, as if it felt no pain.

One by one, the team members, gripped by fear, became the serpent’s prey—this seemed like punishment for all who dared trespass here.

Trembling and terrified, the remaining survivors huddled together in a small area as the serpent coiled its body around them, completely trapping them.

"Is this it... are we going to die here?" one of the team members muttered, collapsing to her knees, crying. She was one of the few women in the team and a student of Professor Dolin.

Song remained hidden behind a rock, observing the serpent’s every move, with no intention of intervening.

He wasn’t cold-blooded, but he had his own moral code. Growing up in his village, he had been taught the philosophy of survival of the fittest.

Some members of the archaeology team were criminals, others harbored malicious intent. Even Professor Dolin had once secretly taken credit for a student's research, leading the student to commit suicide. Santa, the team leader, had a habit of abusing children.

Selecting these people had been more of a personal hobby, a form of alternative judgment. Their first expedition months ago followed the same pattern.

Song never saw himself as a moral guardian. He felt no guilt about killing, nor did he feel any remorse for assembling this greedy archaeology team.

He knew what he wanted and how to get it, and he had no intention of regretting anything—even if this archaeology team had been full of kind people.

After all, even a rabbit, though innocent, would end up in a tiger’s jaws.

At that moment, the serpent’s eyes suddenly glowed red, like two brilliant gemstones. Under this red light, the team members collapsed to the ground.

The serpent then used its tail to wrap everyone up—just as it had done during the previous expedition.

Song’s heart skipped a beat, sensing something unusual—following the black serpent might reveal certain secrets.

The strange whispers in his mind grew more frequent, urging him on.

A flash of excitement appeared in Song’s eyes. He reveled in the thrill—it made him feel more alive than ever before.

Like a moth drawn to a flame, he instinctively pursued the excitement.

The black one-horned serpent seemed unaware of the follower behind it as it slithered forward. Finally, it entered a dark underground tunnel.

Song hesitated before the tunnel, quietly listening. The whispers in his head were now clearer, as though they were coming from deep within the tunnel itself. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but his expression remained one of exhilaration.

He clutched his chest, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and stepped into the tunnel. Instantly, he felt himself sliding rapidly downward!

The tunnel was long and smooth, likely worn down by the serpent’s frequent passing, its tough scales polishing the rocks to a slick surface.

Song silently counted the seconds, and when he reached about a hundred, his body was suddenly thrown out into the open. The sensation of falling intensified, and he quickly opened his eyes to see a flash of light.

The tunnel led to an underground lake.

The water glowed faintly from algae, casting a bluish light that illuminated the entire cave. In the center of the lake stood a temple-like structure—a stepped pyramid!

Splash!

Song’s body hit the water, sending ripples across the lake. He quickly swam toward the pyramid, climbing onto its edge.

A look of excitement flickered in his eyes. There was nothing more thrilling to him than discovering a treasure after enduring danger and risk!

Whistling softly, Song wrung the water from his clothes and began walking toward the pyramid’s entrance. But then he suddenly froze.

He had lifted his head—and saw a pair of cold eyes staring down at him—the black one-horned serpent!

The serpent was coiled around the pyramid, its body extending down in segments. Its massive head was right in front of Song.

Taking a deep breath, Song cautiously stepped back, his throat tightening.

Yet, the serpent didn’t move to devour him. It simply stared at him in silence.

Then, something unforgettable happened. The terrifying black one-horned serpent began to turn to stone.

Yes, it slowly petrified, coiling around the pyramid until it became a massive stone structure—its head raised, forever gazing ahead like a guardian.

Song suddenly understood. This serpent was the guardian of the pyramid—but it had chosen not to attack him, instead becoming a statue.

"Is this an invitation to enter?" Song steadied himself.

At this moment, the whispers in Song's mind could no longer be called whispers... they felt more like a call!

But... what about the archaeologists who were captured by the giant serpent? Had they already been swallowed in such a short time?

Song quickly solved his doubts—because he soon found where the archaeologists were.

They were inside the trapezoidal pyramid. Not only that, but Song also saw a naked strong man inside the pyramid!

This man was carrying the archaeologists one by one into a large square pit. In front of the pit stood a gigantic golden statue!

The statue was inlaid with countless jewels and jade, and it was made entirely of gold. The moment Song saw the statue, he felt mesmerized.

After placing the last archaeologist into the pit, the strong man knelt completely on the ground, almost kissing the floor, appearing extremely humble.

The man then performed a series of complex movements, seemingly a ritual—clearly worshiping the golden statue.

Song took out his pistol, pointing it at the man's back from a distance, moving around him. As he did, he saw the side of the man's face.

It was covered in black tattoos, and the man slowly turned his neck toward Song... Song saw his cold, emotionless eyes.

In that instant, Song felt as though a giant serpent was staring at him—just like the black-horned serpent that had appeared before.

"Inti," the man whispered.

Song frowned and tested, "Inti... Inti?"

The man did not respond, only shifting his gaze to the golden statue before the pit, uttering the word again, "Inti."

"Is it... Inti?" Song pointed at the golden statue.

The man nodded slowly... Song thought to himself, this man doesn't seem hostile, but why had he thrown the archaeologists into the pit?

Were the members of the last expedition also thrown into this pit? Song tried to find some clues, noticing that these people weren’t dead, just unconscious.

Suddenly, the man pointed at Song, then at the golden statue.

Song was startled and asked instinctively, "You... want me to approach it?"

The man nodded again.

Song hesitated for a moment, but still, keeping his guard up and watching the man's every move, he slowly approached the golden statue.

"There’s nothing here," Song muttered as he raised his head to take a quick look. Aside from the preciousness of the statue, there was nothing special—nor was there any danger.

Song had always had a sharp intuition, especially about danger—it had saved him from deadly situations many times.

The man simply stared silently at Song, not speaking, even closing his eyes as if he had become a statue himself.

Song frowned. Then, remembering the man's earlier ritual, he thought for a moment.

He had a good memory... recalling the man’s complex gestures during the kneeling, Song mimicked the movements in front of the golden statue.

Still, nothing changed. Song was more confused than ever.

Just then!

The eyes of the golden statue suddenly opened—yes, the eyeballs opened, revealing two black swirling voids. Song instinctively sensed immense danger and felt a chill run down his spine!

He took a step back, but in that moment, an intense pain shot through his body!

Song looked down at his chest—his torso had been pierced by a hand from behind, and blood instantly soaked his chest!

Song couldn’t breathe. In that instant, he saw his own death.

He heard nothing, only a buzzing in his head as his vision began to fade. His body was lifted by the arm that had pierced him from behind.

He was drawn closer to the golden statue.

At that moment, a small medallion embedded in the statue's chest protruded.

Countless whispers filled Song’s mind. Along with the physical pain, he felt as if his spirit was being crushed.

"Inti—!!!"

Song suddenly opened his eyes and shouted the word in agony!

...

Inti!

That call echoed in his mind every time… Song Haoran opened his eyes, and his chest still bore a large wound—from the terrifying spider’s claw in the treasure chamber.

Song Haoran lay on the ground, knowing he had already died once.

Yes, he had died once before—but this wasn't his first death.

During the mysterious pyramid expedition near the Golden Lake, he had died once—yet returned to life, pulled back from the grip of death.

Then, two years ago, while sailing in the Caribbean, pirates sank his ship. He should have perished at sea, but the waves washed him ashore, and he woke up again.

"The Sun God's Medallion."

Song Haoran knew this was the "Sun God's Medallion"—or "Inti"—that had granted him the power of rebirth.

But this power came from life! The lives buried in that golden statue! Their life force had somehow been tied to his.

Like a resurrection coin, each time he died, one of the lives bound to him would be consumed!

At this moment, Song Haoran felt an extraordinary power surging through his body, as if imbued with divine strength!

Lying on the ground, he reached out and grabbed an ancient sword that had been thrown aside by Song San’s grenade in the treasure chamber.

Song Haoran moved faster than he ever had before, plunging the sword into the belly of the monstrous spider!

In an instant, the spider’s body swelled rapidly... until it reached its limit and exploded. Flames burst from its ruptured body.

Song Haoran stared at his hands... they had turned golden, like pure gold.