Adventure Time Rebellion: Fight for the Throne

Chapter 12: The Great River Serpent

Amid the tranquil green fields, the setting sun bathed the landscape in golden light as Finn squared off against his adversary. The massive bull, its muscular frame rippling with power, stood as an embodiment of raw strength and primal fury. Its sleek, brown coat gleamed like polished bronze, while its sharp white horns reflected the sunlight, menacingly lethal. The ground trembled with every snort it released, steam billowing from its nostrils like smoke from a raging furnace.

Finn's heart pounded like a war drum, his molten arm pulsing with heat as his anger threatened to overflow. His blue eyes burned with unrelenting determination, his blonde hair slick with sweat from the mounting tension. Every moment leading to this battle—every frustration, every manipulation—boiled over in his veins, feeding the flames coursing through his molten arm.

With a deafening bellow, the bull charged, its hooves hammering the earth like a rolling thunderstorm. The ground shook with its approach, and Finn braced himself, crouching low like a coiled spring. At the last possible moment, he lunged to the side, narrowly evading the bull's razor-sharp horns. As the beast thundered past, Finn slashed at its flank with his sword, the blade cutting through the tough hide and drawing dark, steaming blood.

The bull roared in pain, its cry shaking the air, and spun on its hooves with surprising agility. Its massive head swung toward Finn, aiming its deadly horns. This time, the creature lunged, driving its entire weight into its attack. Finn raised his molten arm to block, the heat radiating off it warping the air, but the bull's force was overwhelming. The impact sent Finn skidding across the grass, his boots carving trenches in the dirt.

"You'll have to do better than that," Finn growled, pushing himself upright. His molten arm flared brighter, streams of magma dripping from his fingers and hissing as they touched the ground. He flexed his free hand around the hilt of his sword, tightening his grip as the bull pawed the ground, preparing for another charge.

The two adversaries locked eyes—Finn, his body tense and blazing, and the bull, its rage unyielding and primal. The silence between them was electric, broken only by the bull's snorts and the crackling of molten heat radiating from Finn's arm.

When the bull charged again, it was faster, more calculated. Finn lunged forward to meet it, his molten fist slamming into its face with a force that cracked the earth beneath them. The bull staggered, its knees buckling under the impact, but it retaliated instantly, swinging its massive head and clipping Finn with its horns. The blow sent Finn tumbling through the air, landing hard on his back several meters away.

"Get up," Finn muttered to himself, coughing as he rose to his feet. Blood dripped from a gash on his temple, mingling with the sweat on his face, but he refused to back down. The flames on his arm roared to life, spiraling upward as he prepared for his counterattack.

The bull roared and charged again, its massive body a blur of motion. Finn met it head-on this time, leaping into the air to avoid its deadly horns. At the apex of his jump, he brought his molten fist crashing down onto the bull's head, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground and forcing the beast to its knees.

But the bull wasn't finished. It lunged upward with a desperate surge of energy, catching Finn mid-air and tossing him like a ragdoll. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him, and rolled several times before coming to a stop.

Groaning, Finn pushed himself up, his vision swimming. The bull was relentless, already bearing down on him for the final strike. Finn gritted his teeth, planting his feet firmly into the earth, and raised both his molten arm and sword.

"Not this time," he growled, channeling every ounce of strength into his attack.

The bull lunged, its horns aimed for Finn's chest, but Finn sidestepped at the last moment, pivoting with the precision of a seasoned warrior. His molten arm swung wide, slamming into the bull's head with a fiery explosion that sent the creature reeling. With his sword raised high, Finn drove the blade deep into its exposed side, twisting it with a brutal force that made the beast bellow in agony.

Blood poured from the wound, steam rising as it hissed against the molten heat of Finn's arm. The bull stumbled, its massive frame shaking as it tried to stay upright. Finn staggered back, panting heavily, his body trembling from the exertion.

The beast wasn't done yet. With a final surge of energy, it roared and charged, its massive frame hurtling toward Finn like a runaway freight train. Finn, his molten arm blazing and his sword raised, prepared to meet the bull head-on. Their clash seemed inevitable, the air between them crackling with tension as both hurtled toward one another.

But just as they were about to collide, a colossal shadow loomed overhead.

"Fight someone your own size, you giant furball!"

A booming voice cut through the chaos, and in an instant, Jake appeared, his colossal form towering over the battlefield. With one massive hand, he grabbed the bull by its horns, lifting it into the air like it weighed nothing. The creature thrashed wildly, but Jake's grip was unyielding.

With a grunt of effort, Jake slammed the bull into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the earth. The beast let out one final, pitiful cry before collapsing into a broken heap of flesh and bone.

Jake shrank back to his normal size, brushing off his hands as he turned to Finn. His face softened with concern as he approached his battered brother.

"You okay, bro?" he asked, offering a hand to help Finn up.

Finn took it, wincing as he got to his feet. "Yeah… I'm fine. Thanks, Jake," Finn mumbled, his expression conflicted.

"Wow, looks like you've gained some new powers," Jake remarked, pointing at Finn's molten arm.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Finn admitted, though his tone lacked enthusiasm.

"But don't push yourself too hard, bro. You're strong, but there are way stronger beings out there. Don't forget that," Jake said earnestly.

The words hit Finn like a blow, and he glanced at his brother, who continued offering advice.

"Sika, what's his power level?" Finn asked.

[Level three of the True Phase.]

Finn's silence spoke volumes.

The two brothers eventually headed back to the treehouse. Finn sat at the dining table, a white bandage wrapped around his head as he watched Jake hum a tune while cooking.

"There are way stronger people than me…" Finn muttered, sipping tea from his cup.

"So, where did that thing come from? I've never seen anything like it before," Jake asked without turning around.

"I don't know," Finn replied indifferently. Jake didn't push further, focusing instead on the meal. Finally, he placed a plate in front of each of them and sat down.

"The best thing after Lady Rainicorn is a good meal after an epic battle!" Jake exclaimed, raising his fork.

"More like a losing battle…" Finn muttered, poking at his food without eating. Jake set his fork down and looked at his brother sympathetically.

"Come on, man. You're not even fourteen, and you're already this strong. Imagine what you'll be capable of when you're older," Jake said with a sad smile.

"Don't try to cheer me up, Jake," Finn replied, resting his cheek on his hand.

Jake sighed in disappointment but suddenly perked up with a grin. "I know what'll cheer you up!" He grabbed Finn's arm and pulled him outside.

In front of a cave entrance atop a rocky mountain, Jake studied a scroll in his hands while Finn stood behind him, looking bored.

"Why are we here again?" Finn asked.

"For the tenth time, I was digging through Dad's stuff and found this scroll. According to it, this leads to some kind of special place," Jake explained, holding up the parchment.

"Jake, we have an entire floor full of gold and jewels that anyone could dream of. We're richer than most kingdoms in Ooo," Finn complained loudly.

"The treasure isn't the point. It's about spending time together, you know… brotherly time," Jake said with a warm smile.

Finn considered leaving but was interrupted by Sika.

[Don't go.]

"Why not?"

[There's something valuable for you down there.]

"Like what?" He stopped in his tracks.

[I can't tell you, but you're on the verge of discovering something extraordinary. You don't have to follow my advice, but ignoring it wouldn't be wise.]

Finn pondered for a moment, Jake watching him intently for his decision. "Fine, let's go," Finn finally said, heading toward the cave entrance.

The rocky entrance was illuminated by glowing red stones embedded in the ceiling of the deep cavern, casting a warm light over the long, winding path. However, the cave was far from empty or peaceful.

On their way, Finn and Jake encountered numerous challenges: venomous snakes, a rock monster, a massive pit to cross, and various other obstacles that seemed to be guarding something.

Throughout all this, Finn found himself unexpectedly working well with Jake. It wasn't that he felt any deep affection for his brother, but Jake had a charm that was hard to ignore—or dislike—even for someone as solitary as Finn.

After two grueling hours, the two boys sat down, gasping for air.

"That tiger was fast," Jake muttered.

"Yeah, but that punch will leave a mark," Finn boasted, flexing his fist.

"True, but seriously, what's up with your strength? That thing looked like it was about to puke its guts out," Jake said, raising an eyebrow.

"Just some training… and a lot of cheating," Finn smirked.

Jake didn't bother with the unclear joke and moved forward beside Finn. The path grew narrower until they stood before a masterfully carved stone staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly downward.

They exchanged a glance before descending the stairs, which took nearly half an hour before the bottom came into view. Seeing the end in sight, they quickened their pace.

At the bottom, they found a small rocky chamber with a glowing crimson orb embedded in the ground at its center. The radiance was mesmerizing. The pair moved closer, but Finn, encouraged by Sika's insistence, took the lead.

They stopped at the edge, and Finn glanced at Jake, who nodded in approval. Slowly, Finn extended his hand toward the glowing orb.

The moment his hand touched it, a shiver ran through his entire body, as if he were submerged in water. He pulled his hand back instantly, but the entire environment shifted around him.

He was now in a vast crimson space, his body floating weightlessly. Turning around, he realized Jake was gone.

"Sika, what's happening?" Finn asked, trying to stay calm. He waited for a response, but none came.

"Sika?" he called out louder. Her silence unnerved him—it was entirely out of character for the usually responsive system.

[She won't answer you,] a female voice, dripping with arrogance, echoed through the space.

"Uh, Sika? If that's you, your usual voice is better," Finn retorted, startled by the external sound, unlike Sika's usual internal tone.

[No! How dare you compare me to that piece of scrap!]

"Who are you?" Finn asked cautiously.

[I am the last remnant of the soul of the Great River Serpent,] the voice declared, brimming with pride.

"The Great River Serpent?" Finn echoed, puzzled. The name was unfamiliar, even from the show he had watched. This was something entirely new.

However, Finn's old memories surfaced—stories of mythical creatures ruling the corners of Ooo in ancient times. They were dismissed as mere legends by most, including the tale of the Great River Serpent.

[What?! You don't know who the Great River Serpent is, you lowly creature?] the once-calm voice now roared with irritation.

"I mean, I thought it was just a myth," Finn said, shrugging.

[Hah, of course you would. Sacred beasts are far beyond the comprehension of common beings like you. Naturally, you'd think of us as legends.]

"You said 'us'?" Finn pressed for more information.

[Are you deaf? I said the sacred ancient beasts. There are many of us, and I am one of them.]

"You're one of them? But didn't you say you're just a fragment of a soul?" Finn shot back, his tone smug. The silence that followed was proof of his well-aimed jab.

[Unmm… Well… technically, yes. I am the last conscious remnant of the serpent.]

"And she just left you behind?"

[Indeed. All sacred beasts hope to preserve their legacy. That's why fragments like me exist—to pass on some of their power to lesser creatures.]

"Pass on their power?" Finn asked, now intrigued. Any opportunity to grow stronger was like gold to him.

[Yes, through a trial consisting of three stages.]

"And what kind of power are we talking about?"

[That depends. You might gain one of her techniques or weapons. If you're lucky, you'll even receive drops of her blood.]

"Wait… this sounds really familiar, like something from a story—trials, sacred beasts, bloodline inheritance… Hold on." Finn thought for a moment before his eyes widened. "Are there sacred beasts with names like Phoenix, Golden Crow, Dragon, or Ice Phoenix?"

[What are you even talking about? None of the sacred beasts in Ooo have ridiculous names like that,] the voice replied, confused.

"Do beings like you exist outside of Ooo?" Finn asked directly.

[Yes, but knowing their names is impossible. This world seems to be… isolated.]

Placing his hand on his chin, Finn pondered. It seemed that this wasn't just an adventure—it was another fantastical story intertwined with his reality.

After a moment of thought, Finn decided it was time to proceed.

"Start the trial," he said.

As soon as the words left his lips, the crimson glow disappeared, and he found himself standing in a barren grassy field.

[The first stage has begun.]