As I got down to the other side of the hill the snow started to thin out and the ground started to level. When the slope of the hill finally ended the snow level was at my ankles. How strange there should be less snow on the hill and more in the flat areas, I'd think ? With no answers coming to me I continued forward at an average pace. I didn't want to rush and tire myself out. Like the long ruck marches my body is still accustom too I just looked forward at my destination and started counting my steps.

Almost halfway I heard something. I stopped and stilled my body. There it is again, What is that sound? It felt like it was coming from every direction it wasn't very loud but I couldn't pin point the source. It sounded like the roar of a lion but different sounded a bit more whispery. I bet this is a warning oh well let's see what there warning me about. This time I continued forward at a much slower pace watching my surroundings listening trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound after about 10 minutes the sound stopped. But I was still weary of an attack. I continued to move forward slowly and cautiously I could see the forest line. I was getting close.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit relieved I felt a tremble beneath my feet. It was subtle but there. As the seconds ticked by I could feel it growing stronger and stronger whatever is coming after me is coming and it'll be here fast. I had a weird connection with the earth beneath almost as if it were warning and giving me feedback of how close the threat was. It was just a weird feeling almost as if it were influencing my emotions. I decided to trust in it. I closed my eyes and focused on the feeling. I concentrated on it with all I could muster and was rewarded. NOW! Something inside me spring to life and I did a combat roll to the side. Mid roll I could see the ground beneath me bulging and then pop like a bubble and out flew a beast of pure black fur and shimmering scaled with shinning white eyes. It had the head of a lion and body of a snake. I recovered readying myself for the next attack. I focused on it, and observed it looking for a weak point to attack. This thing was huge at least 30meters in length it's head was twice that of a normal lion. Though it could just be the adrenaline talking. It brought it's head up and stared into my eyes licking his lip, thinking it had cornered it's pray. he slowly slithered closer I noticed a point below it's neck where the black mane of the head the shiny scales intersect I decided this was a good as place as any to attack, and not wanting to let the creature set the pace I readied my body and put my weight on my back foot. Im not gonna die a coward I pushed against the ground and felt it tremble as I took off at a shocking speed every step I took the ground shook and almost felt as it were giving me a boost. The lionsnake thing must not have expected me to attack because suprise flickered into it's face momentarily then excitement. When I got close enough to it's attack range it reared back it's body. I knew he readying to make quick and deadly strick, One I would not survive. Then I had another feeling from the ground I was touching like a faint warning when my right foot hit the ground as I entered it's range and in a blink roaring ivory teeth dripping with sizzling purple venom was headed for my face. As if time slowed I dropped my weight down into a slide just as I fell I saw his head fly above mine and saw my weakspot. Not having time to accurately strick I grabbed onto his body. Even with my new greater wingspan. My arms didn't fit half way around his girth. Luckily where I grabbed was soft meat and I was able to dig my new reinforced fingers into his body and get a grip. Hanging on for dear life the monster quickly pulled back realizing he missed and he was causing it an insane amount of pain. The monster tried flinging his body around to get me off but I was kicking him with all my force. Each kick opening for holes into his body. After what felt like an hour the skin where I was holding ripped and I was thrown through the snow. I quickly jumped to my feet. Then isaw the havoc I caused. There were two huge gashes where my hands were, and as he was thrashing around I refused to let go and pulled back alot of skin revealing bare muscle. Blood was pooling out faster then I've ever seen, even the several smaller gashes below where I was kicking. I readied myself for another charge but the Lionsnake looked to be in a lot of pain as he moved toward me his freshly mutilated stomach scrapping the ground leaving behind a trail of red blood it's wake. It's movements obviously slowed. He approached as fast and as cautiously as he could I don't think he'll make the same mistake twice then I had an idea. I took a step forward and dropped to one knee holding it, like I twisted my knee. Feigning an injury might take his guard down was my crazy idea. As he was getting closer I put a worried look on my face and then tried to put weight on the same knee and half fell. I could almost here the monster snickering. It rushed forward in the same reckless way as before but he was going low not to expose his already shredded belly and when got close enough he coiled up and then shot like a gun to me. I got on all fours and felt the ground hoping to feel something but nothing came I was on my own. When the time was right I but pressure on my back legs and rolled to the side. Bwam! Something hit me hard in my back mid jump and sent me flying towards the tree line. Tumbling through the air my back cracked against a thick tree making it bend at an unnatural angle branches and limbs fell . My world erupted into a pain like I've never felt before. He must have seen through my shitty trick, fuuuck this hurts. Lesson learned. I opened my eyes and could see the giant lions mane swerving through the air with increased vigor. Im not gonna die here I struggled to my feet focused on my breathing to block out my pain and it worked! The tree that caught me had several branches broken off. I grabbed the biggest one around me about as thick as a human's body and 8 ft long. I lifted it up and was surprised by how easy it was. Hopefully it isn't just flimsy wood. When he got close enough I swung my body around 360 degrees and threw the tree with all the strength I had. Then I sprinted towards him while grabbing a couple smaller tree limbs. Mid run I broke them so they were sharp as possible. The limb hit the lion snake monster and it exploded against his face knocking to the ground. When I reached it, it was still recovering it's body trembling while trying to stand erect obviously dazed. I jumped with the branches in my hand and stabbed them into his exposed belly. Blood fountained out of the wound showering me covering my face. A primal scream erupted from the monsters mouth stunning me and causing my ears to drip with blood. Before I could react he whipped his tail around and slammed it into my side sending me flying once again. A loud boom filled the air as I impacted another tree this time the tree cracked and toppled over after I had fallen to the ground

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

My limbs went numb and I could feel myself on the verge of unconsiousness. I wanted to see my health and three bars appeared in my peripherals I could see but a sliver. When I consentrated on it revealed I had 8 health points remaining. Looking back at the monster it was hurt, about 50m away the snakes body was wriggling in a pool of blood saturated snow struggling to maintain control. It stopped moving is it dead ? Then his head lifted from the earth and it looked at me with disgust he started slowly making his way towards me and his head lunged for me. Not close enough for it to connect I could see it's black eyes. They were filled with a pain and bloodlust I could tell it wanted to kill me for causing it so much turmoil, rather it died in the process of not. His head pulled back and it started slithering closer. He tried to lunge again and the top half of his belly collapsed to the ground the tree limbs I stuck into him drove deeper into his insides. He let out another scream and rolled to his sides. I can't move, my whole body isn't responding I hope im not paralyzed I looked back at my health and it had increased to 15. Then I noticed below my health bar where some icons one was a simple a picture of a broken spine 5min timer below it another a Picture of a pair of broken legs another 5 mins below. then the last of a sword with wings under it and a 10 min timer. Before I could figure out what the last one was. A loud scream reverberated throughout the air knocking my health down by 10 points and the monster coiled up and like a spring then threw his heavy body towards me. I could see his face he was bearing his fangs ready to end my existence I still couldn't move and he was coming right towards me. I can't move! I guess there's worse ways to die. I was staring into his eyes as I was rapidly approaching my death. I wanted to look him in the face and I wanted to know I didn't die because I was a coward.

Right before he hit me I saw the life leave his eyes and I felt a wave of relief and warmth spread throughout me. My strength and body finally returned and with renewed vigor I slung my body out of the way with every muscle I could control. Then hell came crashing down his teeth may have missed me but the rest of his body that followed landed right on top of me. But I was alive I just laid there. I can't believe it what luck I just had. But why did my strength return.

[During the combat phase 12 new notifications have been delayed would you like to view them now [Y][N] ]

I almost forgot my body is in a game world that's crazy and a little creepy how fast I came back from the literal brink of death I could have counted the breaths I had left. But I survived. I need get out from underneath this thing before I can do anything. I first tried to lift his body of me but even with my greater strength the body was so flexible I couldn't pick it up enough to slide out. So I did what I had to do. I straighted my hands pointed my fingers toward the flesh in front of me and thrust them into the body and began slowly clawing my way through guts and muscle.

After what felt like 3 or 4 hours passed I made it free. Blood and guts surrounded me. I guess there weren't any close predators or they'd have found me before I escaped. I stood up almost too exhausted to even do that I shuffled to the monsters head I looked at him with anger for almost killing me, but that quickly faded I felt pride and appreciation to have survived such a strong monster. Now I think im gonna sit up next to this tree and recover. Also a good time to go over the wall of text that's about to bombard me when I accept.