Now that Daryl had some Stone Ape gear he was ready to go forward and utilize more abilities. The fact that the skill book also enabled him to more readily use his martial arts skills was also a plus. Orin and Cindy were walking behind him as they headed towards the next type of monster they were facing.
Daryl still thought it was going to be smart to finish farming Stone Apes, that unlimited stamina skill would be great. He would be able to really blow through a lot or use it as a last resort at the end of a fight. Daryl also thought it would be smart to combine a lower level of Unending Stamina with the Titanic Punch level 2 could be a huge asset for burst damage. Maybe that would appease Cindy.
“So what kind of monster are we fighting anyways. I know they are called Sand Serpents but I couldn’t find much information on what they do. Do you know Orin?” Daryl looked over his shoulder at the slight man and his new crossbow from the Stone Apes. He still wore his Boroclops armor for the dash he could use to keep safe. An obvious vote of no confidence in Daryl.
“Well they have a burrow attack and a binding attack. They will be immune to poison damage though so put that weapon away. Your new skill book will make up for the loss in weapon damage.” Orin adjusted his crossbow as his head was on a swivel. The beach area seemed riddled with dozens of crab-like monsters that would occasionally charge the little group they were in. A single spell from Cindy seemed to do the trick easily.
That's when the trio saw it. A giant serpent with tan scales and a flare of stone like cobra hood. It was wrapped around another monster slowly trying to ingest the creature. Its jaw was completely unhinged as it worked its meal into its gaping maw. Its green eyes were dilated and wide as the three prepared.
Orin lined up his net shot as Cindy charged a potent spell. Both of them showed absolute focus as Daryl warmed up his body. Hopping from foot to foot in the deep sand. His sandals slapping hard against his soles. He was ready with Ape Leap to close the gap. It also allowed for a great amount of aggro. At least that is what the help menu told him.
Waiting for the signal Daryl felt the instinctual activation of the leap skill. His body coiled and tensed as they all exploded with their combined first attack. The net arrow slammed into the beast’s head as Cindy’s massive fireball exploded over its coiled body. Instantly Daryl found himself flying through the air. His hands laced their fingers together above his head as he fell like a comet. With a massive hammer blow the serpents meal was knocked free of its mouth. It looked minorly stunned as Daryl unloaded with a combination of attacks.
Arrows whizzed by his ear as the serpent finally came to its senses. It hissed and snapped at Daryl, fangs dripping with dark purple poison as it attempted to wrap its mouth around his forearm. Dancing backwards as quick as he could he swiped his arms away quickly to stay safe. As soon as it was over extended he landed a sweeping kick dropping his stamina by a chunk as he knocked the beast sideways. A bolt of sustained lightning pumped into the creature making it spasm slightly before it sunk below the ground in one swift burrowing movement.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Watch out! It’s going into its grappling phase!” Orin cried out. It was too late.
The beast emerged wrapping around Daryl so swiftly he couldn’t do much but have his one hand free of the coiling enemy. The crushing force of its muscles started to drain his health slowly. Daryl wrapped his one free hand over the beasts muzzle clamping it shut as it writhed to get itself free. He could feel the impact of attacks against the outside of the serpent but there was no sign of spells connecting.
“Cindy! We have to damage it to free Dad!” Orin yelled, “Don’t just stand there!”
“Water Beam Channel!” Cindy screamed out her voice cracking. The thick torrent of water burst from her hands and started to slam into the serpent like a super powerful fireman’s hose. Daryl could feel the water misting around his head but it seemed the coils were so tight he stayed dry.
The beast relaxed just enough before it slithered free pulling its head so hard it knocked Daryl onto his side, his legs swept aside by the tail. It tilted its head back and let out a new attack. It bellowed out a hissing cry that shook all three of the hunters to their cores causing each of them to free and clamp hands over their ears. In that moment of respite it charged the two back liners. Slowly burrowing under ground.
Daryl kipped up, his body digging furrows in the sand from the explosive movement. He lifted one powerful leg and felt his mouth open up with a yell of the next attack, “QUAKE THE EARTH!” His foot came down with such an unnatural weight that sand exploded in all directions. A crack in the ground opened up and shot towards the serpent. The ground seemed to reject the beast in an explosion of power.
Erupting from the sand the serpent flew into the air at least ten feet up and slammed down on its back. It wriggled lost in a stun effect as Daryl activated his third skill dropping his stamina dangerously low as he charged like a boroclops at the fallen creature. Daryl twirled, lifting his leg in an arching axe kick into the center of his enemy. He could feel the fatigue of his nearly empty stamina fill his body. Daryl mentally unclicked his stamina spending for his martial arts.
Net shot came off cooldown and instantly the serpent was wrapped up. A flood of more water sloshed against the skull of the creature. Cindy yelled out something as soon as the creature broke free and rolled onto its stomach. The giant glowing blue rune on the ground exploded in a geyser of power from a trap that Cindy must have cast. “I’m nearly out of mana! Keep him off me.”
Daryl watched as his daughter assumed a lotus position and seemed to space out in an instant. Orin dashed sideways sending a spread of bolts into the side of the serpent to keep its attention on either Daryl or himself. The movements of the creature was sluggish as a torrent of drool dripped from its mouth, evaporating before it connected with the sand below. In an explosion of movement it snapped its mouth around Daryl’s arm and he felt a flood of poison fill his veins in a moment. His stamina stopped refilling instantly as his health began to tick down.
Daryl stumbled back away from the thing as it coiled to strike again. His mind reeled in and he activated the antidote potion, his health was below half so he popped a health potion just as he promised to Cindy. Shooting him up another hundred hit points and curing the poison. Just in time for the serpent to snap forward. A bolt pierced through the beast’s eye shattering the side of the head in a killing spread of glowing light.
Orin yelled in joy as the creature stilled and those motes of light signalling loot started to fly into all three of their chests. “Wow, we did so much better now that you two are upgraded. I think we can take another two or three of the creatures before we head back to town. Let's do this!”