My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world-Chapter 122: The Abyss of the Serpent.

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He drew into his cache and called upon it. The Crimson Flame sword radiated with light in his hand. The sword burned with black and dark red embers, its blade blazing with Hellfire concentrated to a point. The instant it kissed the air, the mist that had wrapped around them broke apart, and the wind retreated from the flames.

Sylphara's teasing smile missed by a hair's breadth. "Oh?"

Kent swung the sword once, acclimating himself to how it felt. His smile grew. "Let's dance."

He charged at her using flashing steps with a burst of speed. The sword cut, moving through the air like a hot knife through butter. When he struck her, Sylphara dissolved, breaking apart into mist.

But this time—!

Kent whirled across the air, planting the Crimson Flame sword into the ground. A streamlined fire shockwave flared, immolating a crescent-shaped path of blazing debris across the battlefield.

A frosty hiss rippled through the storm. Kent didn't even stop. He burst, closing on the uproar.

"Gotcha."

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Sylphara never had time to defend herself before he loomed over her. She lifted her arms, conjuring one last windshield, but it was too late. Kent yelled…

"EMBER SLASH!"

Kent's sword sliced down with a snarl of flame. A bale of hellfire shrieked through the windscreen, slamming into Sylphara with awful energy.

She screamed with her burning flesh, her body writhing and twisting like a living horror in death. The winds raging around her died, shattering like smashed glass. The storm was done. The battlefield was still.

Kent fell to his knees, his chest panting, the Crimson Flame still burning in his hand. He looked at the body of Sylphara on the ground, her regal beauty lost.

She coughed, her shimmering wings flickering like dying embers. "…Impressive."

Kent spun the sword once before resting it on his shoulder. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Sylphara exhaled, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "You truly are an odd human." She raised a trembling hand. On her palm was a tiny globe of wind swirling, reforming into the form of a small sleeping cub with silver fur. "Take this."

Kent's eyes widened. "Wait, is that—?"

A baby Wind Spirit, she confirmed. "You've won. By the laws of this world, I recognize your power. This cub is yours as a reward."

Kent winced, then took the little beast. The moment his fingers came into contact with it, he felt a thrill run through his arm, as if a soft wind wrapped itself around him. The cub gave a drowsy, whimpering whine and burrowed into his chest.

Sylphara twisted a lip. "Take care of it, human."

Kent looked at the little creature, then her. "This is some kind of trick, isn't it?"

Sylphara laughed. "Oh, please. I am great at many things, but lies are not one of them." She fought to sit up, her body clearly exhausted. "One day I will be back. But for now, the trial is complete."

Sylphara smiled wryly. "Good luck, fool. You'll need it." She disappeared in a gust of wind.

Kent's eyebrow shot up. "Huh. Didn't see that coming."

The cub blinked, then snorted out a small pout of air, making his hair blow messily.

He sighed, running his hand over his head. He talked to the baby wind spirit while fixing his hair, "I see you inherited her attitude."

[Ding! System notifications: Wind Guardian Defeated! The Wind Guardian left her offspring to you. New Companion Acquired: Name her.]

Kent scanned the system message. "Huh. I have to give her a name."

He crouched slightly, poking the cub's cheek. The tiny creature huffed, puffing up her fur in protest, then blew a miniature whirlwind in his face.

Kent laughed. "Alright, alright. No need to get all worked up."

He crossed his arms, thinking. "Okay. You're a wind-type spirit. Small, kinda cranky."

The cub swishes its tail back and forth, creating a light breeze around them, ruffling the grass.

Kent snapped his fingers. "Windy. I'll call you Windy."

The cub tensed, its big silver eyes blinking at him. Then, for the first time, it gave a soft, satisfied puurr, folding over in mid-air and nuzzling his hand.

[New Name Registered: Windy!]

Kent smiled. "So you like it, huh?"

Windy nodded frantically, then suddenly shot up into the air, spinning like a playful whirlwind.

"Guess that means we're officially bonded now."

Windy grinned—then puffed another gust of air directly into Kent's face. His hair became upright in a crazed frizz.

Kent growled. "Oh, great."

Windy giggled and capered around him, clearly enjoying her harassment.

Kent slicked his ratty hair back. "Yeah. This is going to be a long partnership."

With a shake of his head, he gestured to take Windy's place on his shoulder.

"Let's go, little Windy. We've still got more guardians to find."

Windy gave a tiny salute. And with that, the next adventure began.

Kent murmured to himself, "Well, that was fun." He stretched his neck before smiling. "Two guardians down. Two to go."

Kent trudged through the green forest, his boots kicking against damp leaves and roots. The System had led him deeper than he meant to go, far beyond the last guardian's territory. Light had difficulty penetrating the dense tree cover, making bony shadows on the ragged landscape. Water clung in the air, causing his clothes to adhere painfully to his skin.

Perched on his shoulder, infant wind spirit Windy fluttered her small translucent wings. She was no bigger than the palm of Kent's hand and already possessed a sassiness.

Purr! "Lost?" she asked with sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Kent sighed. "No. We're following the right directions."

Windy tilted her head. Purr! "Are you positive it's not leading you to your own downfall?"

Kent furrowed an eyebrow. "You're awfully confident for someone who has just been born."

Windy huffed and crossed her arms. Purr! "."

Windy blew out through her cheeks but said nothing.

Another hour of marching passed, and finally the trees gave way to open land. The far-off rumble of water filled his ears, and the heavy dampness left his skin sticky. Kent pushed through the last group of trees and—! The enormous lake stretched out before him.

Kent was shocked. It was gigantic, leaving him breathless. The hue was unnatural blue, a dark, near-black, color like an infinite gulf. The lake itself was unnaturally still, giving off a queer feeling of peace as it mirrored the sky above an unbroken mirror. Mist clung just above the lake, curling in sluggish waves.

More ominous was the silence. Not one fish breached the lake. Not a single bird sang. Even the wind had died down.

Kent's stomach growled at him. Something was hidden.

[Ding! System notifications - Warning, You have entered the domain of the Third Guardian:The Abyssal Serpent.]

Windy, shivered. Purr! "Ewww, I don't like it here."

Kent responded. "Yeah… It's way too quiet."

He progressed cautiously. As soon as his boot hit the edge of the water, the silence was shattered.

BOOM!

The entire lake exploded. From the bottom of the lake a gigantic shadow bubbled out of the depths below, a tidal wave frothing out to shore. Kent stepped back as water poured out, covering trees, boulders, and all in between.

The shockwave sent him stumbling. When the spray dispersed, he at last got to behold—The Abyssal Serpent.

[Ding! System Notification]

Name: The Abyssal Serpent

Species: Azure Water Serpent

Cultivation: Level C (Weak due to loss of spiritual energy.)

Age: Unknown.]

It was enormous, at least a hundred meters long. Its snake-like, streamlined body was covered in shining sapphire-blue scales, each of which was etched with glowing runes that cast a soft glow. Barbed spines along its spine curved like death daggers.

Its dragon-like head was topped with curling, horn-like growths that hummed with hidden water energy. Its cold, abyssal-blue eyes locked onto Kent, radiating an otherworldly intelligence. When it did speak, its voice trembled like an earthquake beneath the sea.

"A puny human… dares come into my domain?"

Kent takes a deep breath, adjusting his gloves. "I could've sworn I've heard this one before. You all need to work out some new lines."

The serpent's eyes slitted. "Your arrogance is misplaced, mortal."

Kent laughed. "I mean, I defeated the last two guardians with my flames. And you're not much different."

Windy cuts in, gliding beside him and gives a loud purr! Kent gave her a confused glance. "You wanted to help me in fighting? Not today, maybe some other day."

Meanwhile, The Abyssal Serpent snarled. The lake churned furiously, as if it were responding to its fury.

"You think fire will rescue you here?" the serpent sneered. "You are in the center of the water. Your candle will be blown away by me."

Kent cracked his knuckles. "Let's see if that works."

In response, the jaws of the serpent opened. A tidal wave roared, a rolling hill of water crashing toward Kent. Its raw brute power would obliterate a city block in the time it took to blink.