Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

"Snapped!"

Samael gasped, staring at the vine that had lashed out like a snake, and withdrew his swollen claws, grimacing inwardly.

It seems that casually stealing three golden apples was the limit of what the Earth Mother Goddess could tolerate.

Tsk, stingy!

Knowing he had no chance of plucking all the fruit from the golden apple tree, Samael retreated dejectedly outside the fence, activated the magic circle, and left the rest of the time to Medusa, who was waiting for her test.

hum!

As soon as Samael retreated to the edge of the boundary, the soil around the Golden Apple Tree surged, and brownish-yellow rocks rose and closed towards the center like flower buds.

At the same time, a rustling sound came from below, and golden branches, like curtains, drooped down, embracing Medusa's figure within them.

This is the Golden Apple, a beautiful object enjoyed by the gods and a treasure coveted by mortals. After eating it, it can grant the user immortality and pure life force.

Samael stood before him, twirling a golden apple in his hand, secretly marveling at his good fortune.

Just as the ancient serpent was about to succumb to the temptation and take a bite, his peripheral vision caught sight of a dragon-like creature lying on the open ground of the sacred garden, half its head asleep and the other half on alert.

"Want to play cards?"

La Dong looked down at the smiling Teacher Changchong who had come up to him and was asking questions. He instinctively hugged his gem tightly, and the hundred or so heads that had been awakened shook in unison.

Chapter 88. Things belong to others, but life belongs to yourself (3/3)

The atmosphere in the sacred garden was unusually solemn. Two figures sat facing each other, creating a tense atmosphere.

Samael shook the last stone slab he had carved and smoothed, the one with the image engraved on it, glanced at the claws covering the other's hand, and a smile played on his lips.

Six days have passed since Medusa entered the earth fortress created by the golden apple tree and comprehended the power of the Earth Mother.

During this time, all the atmosphere was obscured and concealed by the earthy yellow light patterns and the drooping branches of the golden apple tree.

Samael had no idea what was going on inside.

He could only vaguely sense, through his biological instincts, that Medusa was undergoing a tremendous transformation, which subtly increased the sense of oppression he felt.

In the process of comprehending the divine authority of the earth, no news is the best news.

As for the golden apples, I have three on hand. They're not going anywhere, and I can eat them anytime. My priority is to ensure Medusa's safety during this period.

Samael gradually calmed down and began to find some entertainment to pass the time.

Playing by myself for a day or two is fine, but after three to five days it gets a bit boring.

Out of sheer boredom, the ancient snake decided to trick Ladon into playing a game of drawing jokers together.

As a dragon-type deity, and with the added stats from a mage, this hundred-headed dragon always prefers to lie down rather than stand up; sleeping and counting money are its favorite daily routines.

However, even the most resolute dragon cannot resist the allure of gems and precious metals.

After Samael smiled and showed off a few exquisite Sumerian-style gold coins, Radon promptly abandoned his sleepiness and started playing games with the ancient snake to pass the time.

After several days of clashes, both sides had their share of victories and defeats.

Whenever the ancient serpent took the gem it was clutching from Ladon's arms, the creature's expression was as if it were being torn apart; its hundred or so heads trembled together, and its opening and closing serpentine eyes stared sinisterly at the evil hand.

Samael suspected that if this guy hadn't been "taught a proper lesson" by him, the dragon in front of him might have had a high blood pressure and bit off a hundred or so heads, possibly even killing his master on the spot.

As for the process of getting students to listen attentively, it's naturally to beat them into submission first, and then reason with them.

Do you really think that the title of "Black Demon" is just for show, that these unruly gods and monsters can be so obedient?

Tch, a spell to cover up and conceal one's aura on a card? Interesting.

Let me show you what it means to be someone's teacher after all...

"coming!"

Suddenly, the ancient snake's pupils contracted sharply, its gaze fixed ahead, and it abruptly stood up.

Ladon's eyes sharpened, and he subconsciously turned his head.

Tsk, you fell for it so easily? Your brain is probably smaller than a walnut, and you still want to play with me?

The ancient serpent, having succeeded in its wicked scheme, smirked coldly. Just as it stretched out its head, ready to check the position of the Joker in Ladon's claws...

However, in an instant, the sight of dozens of peering eyes around him, and the heads hanging down from all directions, froze Samael's slightly forward-leaning body in mid-air, his smile awkward.

"Why do you have so many heads? And you even have an invisibility spell on you. That's too much."

The ancient serpent, which had been reaching for Ladon's claws, raised its paws high, then gently lowered them, landing on the delicate, silvery scales of the main brain, which was elegant and possessed exquisite lines, with a sullen expression.

"Roar!"

As Ladon gradually became familiar with the rules, he expressionlessly stretched out his head, which was always responsible for monitoring some bad guy, while pushing his hand forward, signaling this guy not to dawdle and to hurry up.

Casinos don't have master-apprentice relationships. Although Samael taught him the game, this magical dragon, who was clearly tricked into developing high intelligence, is already showing signs of surpassing its master.

Surrounded by dozens of heads and caught red-handed, even with his thick skin, Samael couldn't withstand the contemptuous gazes.

Left with no other choice, the ancient snake randomly drew a card, only to find that it was the Joker.

Tsk, I've never been disappointed by my own luck.

Samael muttered to himself, then after shuffling the cards slightly, he recklessly shoved his hand in front of Radon.

Without hesitation, the hundred-headed dragon extended its claws and precisely selected the card with the suit, winning the game perfectly.

"That's all, I'm out of money."

But when faced with Ladon's demands for repayment, Samael simply shrugged.

You have no money? Then where did you hide the jewels you stole from me?

You have no money and you still want me to hang out with you?! Do you know I haven't slept for four or five days?!

The hundred-headed dragon was instantly enraged, its teeth itching with hatred at the sight of such an unscrupulous teacher.

"Fine, take this to pay off the debt."

Samael seemed a little guilty under the stares of a hundred or so heads, and casually tossed a golden object to Ladon on the other side.

Golden Apple?

The hundred-headed dragon stared in astonishment at the oval fruit that had fallen into its claws.

"I'm not playing anymore, it's no fun."

Then, the ancient snake stretched and got up from the ground listlessly, stretching its limbs.

After Samael had moved around for a while, he turned around and saw Ladon still holding the golden apple, with a hundred or so heads staring at each other with troubled expressions. He immediately gave a light snort of annoyance.

"The three daughters of the Night God will be here in a day or two. Are you stupid to still keep the stolen goods?"

"Hurry up and eat! This isn't for collecting."

Just as Ladon was still hesitating, the ancient serpent impatiently raised its hand, snatched the golden apple, clenched its five fingers, and crushed it instantly.

Samael casually stuffed a dark golden mist containing immortality into the mouth of the hundred-headed dragon's main brain.

Immediately, a massive life force exploded within Ladon's body, and its immortality surged into its muscle core. The hundred-headed dragon was forced to droop its head and concentrate on absorbing the divine power bestowed by the golden apple.

Under the sunlight, this dragon-like creature, with its silvery scales and graceful form, resembled a large salted fish being dried in the sun, exuding a lazy and drowsy aura.

Samael glanced at it a few times and couldn't help but yawn.

However, as the fingers reached into his robes and pulled out a few glittering gems, the ancient snake regained some consciousness and casually tossed and tapped them in his palm.

After glancing at Ladon behind him, Samael shook his head and muttered to himself.

Still lost money...

Since Ladon was a fully formed deity, its digestive ability was stronger than Medusa's, so the hundred-headed dragon woke up leisurely after only half a day.

As this Typhon descendant regained consciousness, he instinctively observed his surroundings and was shocked to discover that he was surrounded by a layer of chaotic and obscure divine power, like a tough membrane separating the world.

"Snapped!"

"Look where you're looking, and listen carefully!"

Samael, who was sitting on the side of the rock, raised his hand and slapped Ladon's main brain, snorting coldly in annoyance.

"Remember this: you're just guarding the sacred garden. The things belong to others, but your life is your own."

“You’re all just working for someone else. Learn from Yagami’s three daughters. Do what they do, and if something goes wrong, take the blame with them.”

"You are, after all, the guardian appointed by the Earth Mother Gaia. Olympus won't do anything to you."

Then, the ancient serpent frowned and looked at the vast mountains outside the sacred garden, as well as the clouds and waves hanging down from the western sky, its gaze deep and mysterious.

"Also, be especially careful of a big guy named Hercules, and that Titan over there called Atlas."

"If they come to collect the golden apples, just go through the motions. Tsk, it's all Zeus's petty squabbles, don't get involved..."

Samael patted Ladon on the head and gave him earnest advice.

"Forget it, you should just run if you run into them. Two idiots plus a berserker with cheat codes, your mage body probably can't take it."

Chapter 89 A Woman's Pathetic Competitive Spirit (1/2)

"Um...um..."

Although Ladon was confused, he still nodded seriously at the main brain and wrote down the advice in the face of the teacher's serious demeanor.

The ancient serpent's tense face softened into a relaxed smile as it gently stroked La Dong's cool, gleaming silver dragon scales, finally putting its mind at ease.

In his memory, Harpy was far from land and did not encounter much danger, while Cerberus, although repeatedly taken away, remained safe and sound as an important guardian of the gates of the underworld.

Ladon, the strongest of the hundred-headed dragons, was the only one of the three active gods and monsters to have a death record because he guarded a precious divine artifact.

In the future, the eleventh of Hercules' twelve trials was to steal the golden apple from the sacred garden guarded by a hundred-headed dragon and the three daughters of Nymph.

This Greek cheat had no details of his direct battle with Ladon. In exchange for helping the Titan Atlas lift the sky, he allowed the giant to infiltrate the Sacred Garden, causing Ladon to fall into a deep sleep, steal a golden apple, and kill it.

The location of the Sacred Garden is Mount Atlas, which means that the Titan that will eventually defeat Ladon will likely be roaming in this area.

Although, just in case, Samael fed Radon a golden apple, granting him immortality.

But Atlas and Heracles, who came looking for trouble, were respectively a reckless giant god who dared to rebel against Zeus and a notorious killer of gods and monsters.

It's true that they're all a bunch of simpletons and cheats.

Samael worried that these two hot-tempered men might encounter the well-prepared Radon, and after their initial setback, they might become even more determined and come up side by side to push the female dragon away.

Uh, that's right, both the hundred-headed dragon Ladon and the hydra Hydra are female.

Furthermore, Hercules' twelve trials were ostensibly to atone for his sin of murdering children in his madness.

In reality, this was a compromise with the gods, pleading with Hera, the queen of the gods, to stop persecuting him, her illegitimate son.

This is corroborated by the fact that after obtaining the golden apple, the demigod hero felt he had no right to dispose of it and returned it to the goddess Hera.

In other words, the twelve trials of Hercules were manipulated by the gods. If Ladon had jumped in unaware of the situation, he might not have even known how he died.

After all, the immortality of the golden apple is not omnipotent.

Seeing that the highly intelligent magic dragon was somewhat heeding his advice, Samael finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his worries gradually disappeared.

Although the wild and untamed Typhon offspring were all eager to sign up at the mere mention of escaping the Arima crypts and venturing out into the wild, the three little ones who participated in the work independently were all volunteers.

But Samael was well aware of the risks and dangers involved, and having raised them for so long, he had developed a strong bond with them, so it was hard for him not to care about their safety.

However, those were golden apples! Golden apples that even the gods rarely enjoyed!

The ancient serpent stared at the few gems in its palm, its lips twitching, clearly feeling a pang of heartache.

Thief! You villain! That's my jewel! That's a treasure I stole at the risk of angering the Earth Mother!

At the same time, Ladon's mastermind felt his heart bleeding as his gaze followed the shimmering color between Samael's fingers and palm.

"whispering sound!"

"Pooh!"

The two stared at each other, silently expressing their disdain and feeling that they had been taken advantage of.

hum!

Just as the master and disciple's gazes grew increasingly malevolent, as if they were considering whether to back out, the rock buds formed by the power of the earth around the golden apple tree shattered with a heavy and majestic resonance.

Ripples of purple-yellow light spread out, and the soil of the still untidied and somewhat barren Sacred Garden Rocky Ground trembled instantly.