Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 171: Uri’s Trial (2)

But he could no longer think about whether Visha was safe. A voice in the abyss echoed. It wasn’t loud. But it was clearly present.

"Only those brave enough to face what others cannot will pass."

The pressure around him becomes heavier. There is nothing for him to hold on to, and nothing to help him resist the pressure. He couldn’t help asking himself where the pressure came from. What is the threat? How will he defend himself with no cover?

Still, nothing appeared, and the pressure became heavier, threatening to push him down. As he struggled against the pressure, the water began to move. Shapes began to appear.

These shapes were of other snakes. Uri, still under pressure, saw their bodies rising from the depths. It took him a fraction of a second to realize what these snakes were. They were all him, different versions of himself.

One was hesitant, another mocking. One cold. They all had different expressions. There was one that struck at the shadows as if preempting a strike. He could hear the voices of them all. One wanted him to rule through fear. Another asked for caution. One told him to abandon his bond to become stronger.

He found himself falling towards a specific snake before he stopped himself.

No, he thought, this would never be the choice he made. The choice of manipulation was never and will never be the best option for getting stronger.

The water began to churn, and the different snake bodies circled him.

He knew this test was not about strength; it was about control. Control of his people, control of his emotion, his territory, and ultimately himself. Would he drown in the need for control or rise above it?

"Will you drown your own potential?"

The voice echoed again. As though it knew what he was thinking. Was it expecting him to lose control? Or did it mean to guide him on how to control himself?

The snakes lunged. They did not open their mouths; they sank into his body. Each caused a tremendous amount of pain. Uri felt as though his body was being torn apart. He couldn’t speak, only making hissing sounds to express his pain.

His body twisted, convulsed, and contorted, but he could not allow himself to stop feeling. If he allowed himself to stop at any point, he knew he would die. This isn’t a simple bid for control. This marks whether his soul will be absorbed by his own need to control.

At first, he tried to resist. But rejecting only made things worse. He could feel his skin tearing. So he tried to acknowledge them all, fuse them into himself, since they were all part of him. That was also a failure.

He felt as though his brain would explode.

Then he heard the voices, separate yet complete. Each voiced their own opinions, but when put together, formed a complete picture.

Uri knew what to do. He had to integrate them. He had to feel each need separately. When he had learned one, he would continue to fuse the others.

The pressure he had been fighting against was still weighing on him. This time, he did not resist. He allowed himself to fall.

He sank rapidly, the different versions of himself waging war as he tried to integrate them. Reaching the trench floor, he fell on top of a colossal snake skeleton.

"The deepest parts of yourself should not scream or boast. You quietly pull yourself forward. Resolute."

Now he faced another challenge.

As he lay on the skeletal remains, he found himself sinking into it. His body lengthened, aligning himself with that snake. The more he stretched, the easier it became to integrate the voices.

As the versions of himself integrated, he found something forming in his consciousness. A snake coiling, resting, waiting. Boundless energy trapped beneath its scales. Obedient to Uri’s thoughts.

Outside, where others could not see, Uri was covered in a whirlwind of energy. Each energy strand resembles a snake. They coil around every section of his body, leaving no space for others to get in.

A part of the energy is concentrated on the section of the missing arm. The skin at the nub trembled, and tiny ripples spread outward. The first signs of bone took shape. A faint glowing line appeared where nothing had been before. IT slowly solidified, bones growing outward.

Sinew unfurled, twisting and weaving, like an intricate pattern. Gradually covering the bone. The sinews glistened with a faint sheen. Tendons connected each finger, aligning perfectly with newly formed joints.

The skin followed next, soft, almost translucent. It stretched over the sinew and bone. It wrinkled and bubbled as it expanded before falling delicately over the sinew. Tiny veins flickered under the surface.

The energy tightened around the new hand, moving as though flexing fingers. Muscle and skin tightened, the hand was fully restored.

Of course, Uri was not aware of this as he continued to integrate and expand.

This went on for what seemed like forever. Uri became lost in his transformation. So many options, so many ways to grow. He could feel the power of the form, but he knew he could not touch it. He could only wait until it was time.

When he finally integrated everything, he opened his eyes. Still at the bottom of the trench, he could feel the echo of power. His eyes opened, glowing a mesmerizing blue. Eyes full of intensity and hidden depth. Surrounding his hypnotic eyes were glossy emerald green and black scales.

A rush of power flowed through his body. He closed and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he found himself in the maw.

His body emitted a cold aura that made others feel dread and awe. He had not yet started on his path, but his body already showed signs of change.

The scales on his body flattened, feeling like nothing more than skin, glimmering in the light. His body, once lean, became more powerful and muscular. His hair, once a mix of reds and yellows, now settled into an ombre of emerald green and black.