Chapter 99: Return of The Serpent

Ty, glancing down at General Mattison who was struggling to his feet, asked with a hint of disbelief, "And why would you do something like that?"

Mattison, giving a slight cough as he picked himself up, replied, "Well, lying about a Royal daughter is a serious matter, but claiming you know who tried to assassinate the royals adds to the suspicion. And stumbling upon a rebel group bold enough to attack the cathedral during the New Year's event... I can't help but suspect your involvement."

Ty, unfazed, returned a smirk. "Well, those events all have explanations," he said, just as Todd and Nana stepped out behind him, with Lady Amaris following close behind.

Lady Amaris, upon noticing General Mattison, started in surprise, "Mattison?! What are you doing o—"

Her words were abruptly cut off by a commanding, vibrant voice. The man with the eyepatch, casually smoking what appeared to be a cigarette, a trail of smoke rising into the air, interjected, "Hey, don't think I'm just going to wait around for you all to have a cute reunion."

Ty's confidence was evident as he faced the man with the eyepatch, his smirk betraying his lack of fear. "Oh, I thought you were that thunderclap guy, what with the eyepatch and all. How about this: take your injured friends and leave before I decide to make it two eyepatches for you."

The man's expression hardened. "So, you're the one who almost took him down, huh? Well, I'm here with a proposal. Join us and our cause, or face the consequences. I'd say that's a fair—"

But Ty didn't let him finish. With swift determination, he struck the man's face with a solid punch, snapping his head back. "Sorry, I'm not interested in playing rebel," Ty retorted, his tone dismissive. "I've got my own issues to deal with. But if it's a fight you want, I won't back down. Just don't complain about ending up blind."

But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted. The man materialized above him, delivering a crushing punch to Ty's jaw. The force sent Ty plunging into the ocean's depths. Underwater, Ty couldn't help but realize, "Okay, that was more than just speed. He practically teleported in front of me."

Floating beneath the waves, a strange sense of calm enveloped Ty. "I guess it's nice not needing to breathe," he mused, feeling oddly detached from the urgency of the battle. His brief respite was disturbed as he sensed a current swirling around him, indicating movement in the water.

Looking into the murky depths, he saw a pair of searing eyes staring back at him from a distance. The eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, locking onto Ty with a red glare piercing through the dark waters as the moon slowly hangs over the night.

Ty, recognizing the creature from their previous encounter, couldn't help but remark with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh, great, it's you again. Still mad about me leaving you in the lurch last time, huh?"

The creature responded with a short, thunderous roar underwater. Lightning crackled from its sides, illuminating the dark waters as it surged towards Ty.

He reacted swiftly, his black flames propelling him away, but the creature's speed was overwhelming.

Its razor-sharp teeth clamped down on his right arm, severing it from his shoulder. Pain seared through him, though his mind was the only place where his curses could be heard.

As the creature prepared to strike again, Ty watched in both horror and fascination. The bones from the severed arm began to move independently, drawn back towards him. They reformed around the stump of his shoulder, and then, to his expectations, the flesh began to regenerate. However, his clothing didn't return; his arm was restored, but it remained bare.

Floating there in the water, watching the creature circle back for another attack, an idea sparked in Ty's mind. "Well, I think I might have one idea to deal with that guy,"