Chapter 14: Intense Struggle

With his anger flaring, Ain grabbed the vicious green snake that had sunk its fangs into his legs with Phantom Claws. Sensing impending danger, the snake retrieved its fangs, preparing to spew venom at its opponent’s face. However, all that left its mouth was an agonizing cry permeating with excruciating pain.

Hopeless times lead to desperate measures. In the past, Ain had often caught pests and rodents for meat, and a rare few snakes had met misfortune at his hands as well. He’d seen someone point out a snake’s gallbladder right above its intestines before.

Veins bulged on Ain’s forehead as his lethal claws penetrated the leafy green scales, plunging into the snake’s flesh halfway along its length. Ignoring the searing pain in his calf, he pulled the flesh apart with brutal strength. Like a ruptured pipe, blood sprayed out of the snake’s wound, drenching his body red while carrying a nauseating smell. The brilliant white sand underneath, veiled by the poisonous cloud, was dyed a crimson red as well.

“Hiss! Hiss!” The snake’s anguished wails intensified Ain’s cruelty. In its hysterical struggles, it tried to bite the menacing white claws, but its retaliation was futile.

Amidst the snake’s screeches, with great strength, Ain tore the green snake in half. Searching through copious amounts of blood and scattered innards, he discovered a dull green ball of flesh, the gallbladder.

Despite the dismemberment, the snake’s vitality had yet to extinguish. With a frenzied mind, it continued to bite at Ain’s white claw, unaware of the redundancy of its actions. Its fangs couldn’t pierce through the white substance comprising the claws.

Using the tip of his forefinger as a deformed skewer, Ain picked out the gallbladder before swallowing it whole. Without waiting for any results, he pinched the snake’s head, his pointed claws stabbing through its beady eyes, right into its brain.

As a pungent liquid flowed along his claw, another disturbing scream sounded nearby.

“Aaaargh! You bastard! You killed Obo!” Mason screamed hysterically.

A spirit master’s aether ring served as a medium for contracts. The connection between a spirit master and their spirit pet is intimate and profound. His spirit pet’s demise was sensed by Mason instantaneously, and he suffered a fierce backlash, spewing out a mouthful of blood. He plopped onto his knees weakly, enduring the mind-breaking pain in his body and soul.

The surrounding puppets didn’t show mercy, bombarding his downed figure. Mason struggled to his feet with bloodshot eyes, bore the pain, and fought off the weak puppets. The Puppet Command Token that had fallen at some point was back in his hands as he sought his puppets for assistance.

Ain tossed the snake’s corpse away, its own poisonous cloud serving as its resting place. This cloud was formed by the snake’s magical skill, and it would be a while before it dissipated. As he was already at the edge, it wasn’t long before he left its influence.

With all his efforts, Ain searched for the struggling Mason. The compound effects of the poisonous gas and snake venom were causing mayhem inside him. Nox’s Possession, his own aether, and the effects of the gallbladder united to restrain the toxins a little, but the damage they’d already caused couldn’t be restored, throwing him into a coughing fit.

“Cough-cough-cough!” Small amounts of blood escaped Ain’s mouth, trailing down the corners of his lips. With faltering footsteps, he discovered Mason nearby, struggling against the puppets with a pale complexion. The backlash from his spirit pet’s death was intense, but it wasn’t enough to incapacitate him.

Although slaughtering the snake eased Ain’s emotions a little, the gallbladder’s effects were still uncertain. As someone who’d foraged for food in the forest near the slum, he’d learned that a poison’s cure was often found near its source. The snake’s spirit master, Mason, likely possessed the relevant antidotes.

The Puppet Command Token was lost in the poisonous cloud. Ain had lost the ability to issue new commands, but his aether was no longer being consumed either. He stared at Mason while thinking, “I don’t have enough aether for Temporal Blitz, but Phantom Claws can still be used for a little longer…”

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Ain was aware of his limited arsenal. He had to finish Mason in one move!

Stepping heavily on the pearly white sand, he was just about to make a move when he saw something that slashed his hopes.

It was the gray ferret!

As it rushed over, it was only a few meters behind Mason, whereas Ain was still farther away. He couldn’t get there before the gray ferret arrived.

His condition was worsening with each passing second. His odds of surviving their joint onslaught were minimal. Ain hesitated and subconsciously paused.

The gray ferret rushed over speedily, quickly arriving beside Mason. The latter rejoiced at its unexpected arrival, pointed at Ain, and shouted, “Kill him!”

As Carl’s spirit pet, Mason was naturally familiar with the gray ferret. It regularly played with his own, now deceased, spirit pet. During their decade-long partnership, it was even taught to obey his commands in Carl’s absence.

Upon arrival, the gray ferret leapt onto Mason’s shoulder. Understanding the latter’s intentions, it even nodded its tiny head to display affirmation. Then, under Ain’s stunned gaze, its claws glowed a metallic gold before slashing through Mason’s vulnerable neck.

Slit!

With a severed carotid artery, a fountain of blood spurted out. Mason’s eyes widened in disbelief, craning his fatally wounded neck at the gray ferret still audaciously perched atop his shoulder, “Why…”

As he attempted to speak, Mason’s strength gradually dissipated, and he stumbled onto the white sand. Behind the crowd of puppets, a smug voice appeared, “Hahaha! Why? You would’ve done the same thing! Look! I’ve already mastered the spell I got last week!”

Accompanied by the voice, a figure abruptly bulldozed through the crowd of puppets, scattering their broken remains in all directions. With his body displaying a metallic sheen, Carl appeared before Mason arrogantly, sweeping away all obstructions. With its contractor’s appearance, the cunning gray ferret hopped away right as Mason collapsed onto the white sand.

Ain’s Rank-1 puppet was hot on Carl’s trail, attacking him from behind relentlessly. However, try as it may, Carl suffered minimal damage from the wooden fists.

Is that a spell?! Ain wondered desperately while stepping back. The metallic layer atop Carl’s body nullified the Rank-1 puppet’s attacks. As the situation was progressing, his hopes of survival were even dimmer!

Ain’s aether reserves were almost exhausted, and he was severely poisoned. The seemingly invincible momentum exuded by Carl greatly deterred him. Obtaining the antidote from Mason seemed hopeless. After a moment of hesitation, he followed his instincts.

Escape!

The moment Ain moved, Carl, who was seemingly focused on Mason, suddenly bolted in his direction, “Where do you think you’re going!?”

While chasing after Ain, Carl left behind telepathic instructions for his spirit pet. The gray ferret glanced at its contractor before facing the dying Mason.

Mason, on his final breath, lay on the white sand with glazed eyes, his head turned to the side weakly. The gray ferret approached casually, extended its sharp claws, ready to strike. However, at that moment, Mason’s glazed eyes suddenly widened, revealing a murderous light as he opened his mouth!

The gray ferret was startled, and before it could react, a purplish-red beam of light shot out of Mason’s mouth, drowning its figure!

“Screech!” The gray ferret shrieked in pain after being enveloped by the unexpected attack. The light seemed to possess lethal corrosive properties, instantly corroding the creature’s gray fur before dissolving its flesh and blood.

The gray ferret was no longer gray. Its gruesome body rolled over on the sand, flailing and thrashing about excruciatingly. The foul smell of rotten flesh and decaying bones spread in the vicinity.

Carl, who’d just chased after Ain, sensed his spirit pet’s deadly plight and immediately pressed on the brakes. Regardless of their mental connection, the heart-wrenching shrieks resounding louder than the clashing puppets conveyed everything.

With the pursuer abruptly leaving his tail, Ain glanced over his shoulder. He followed Carl’s distressingly retreating figure and discovered the dying ferret flailing around in extreme agony. It was exuding wisps of black smoke, seemingly having suffered from extreme burns.

The sight rekindled the hope in Ain’s heart. Mason’s downfall was analogous with his spirit pet’s demise. If this ferret was killed, Carl’s outcome should be no different.

Carl’s trump card was the defensive spell spawning the metallic layer on his body. The Rank-1 puppet couldn’t damage Carl, but given the opportunity, Phantom Claws could deal a lethal blow. Recalling how he’d killed the green snake earlier, Ain steeled his heart and chased after Carl.

That ferret had to die!

Carl arrived beside the struggling ferret while fishing out a tiny potion vial from his pockets. He ignored the Rank-1 puppet’s onslaught, anxiously observing his spirit pet’s fatal injuries. He subconsciously glanced at the perpetrator, and what he saw instantly ignited his fury.

Mason, who’d already passed away, supported a wide blood-tinted smile, appearing exceedingly creepy. From his appearance, even in death, he seemed to be mocking Carl, having foreseen the latter’s ultimate demise.

Infuriated, Carl kicked Mason’s head forcibly, hurling the corpse through the air. Ignoring the outcome, he emptied the potion vial onto his spirit pet in a hurry while pushing away the relentless puppets with his metallic arm.

Within a few seconds, Ain arrived with rapid footsteps.