With Python immobilized, Sorin and Lorimer were free to do as they wished. Sorin used Nemesis to carve at Python's flesh, prioritizing necrotoxins and manatoxins instead of the previous hemotoxin blend, abusing a weakness in the serpent's resistance to rot away its tough, scaley skin. Meanwhile, Lorimer used Sorin's most potent attack skill, Hand of the Twisted Physician, to deliver doses of his own poisonous blood.

Python responded to their attacks by increasing gravity and transforming the ground beneath Sorin into a hellscape of diamond-hard earthen spikes. They impaled him through the thick of his left leg, his liver, and his lung while simultaneously immobilizing him for a lethal strike.

The serpent was about to bite down on Sorin when a second bear appeared. It was smaller than the first but possessed all its abilities, including its ability to taunt.

Sorin took advantage of the opening to pry himself off the spikes and channel the life force into his body to restore critical functions. As he did so, he analyzed the performance of his poisons and tweaked them ever so slightly.

Since Python has adaptive regeneration, I can only change my poisons with every application. Moreover, adaptive regeneration might not be good for it.

"What are you doing, lazing around?" snapped Charles from a hundred feet away. The mage stood at the center of an impressive spell circle that served as the focal point for a channeled spell called Agonizing Deluge. "I've already dealt ten times more damage than you have. You're going to have to do a lot more to catch up."

"It's not a race," said Sorin. "I'm fine if out you out-damage me. Speaking of which, have you taken note of its resistances?"

"It's trying to adapt but having a hard time of it," said Charles. "I've already marked it as an enemy, so my poisons bypass its resistances to some extent."

"Why not just let its resistance build up?" asked Sorin.

Charles's eyes narrowed. "I see where this is going. You're assuming its adaptation is imperfect?"

"Correction," said Sorin. "I've confirmed its adaption is imperfect in our first clash with it. How about you lay off your spells for thirty seconds? I'll let you be the star."

Charles nodded. "Alright. I'll charge up something big."

With Charles no longer engaging with Python, Sorin was immediately perceived as the greater threat. He used Adder Rush to avoid a belt of earthen spikes and hopped onto Lorimer, who'd pulled back from chipping off the creature's tough skin with his hard, poisonous teeth, leaving wide gaps in his scales for the others to take advantage of.

Despite its heavy wounds, Python was still brimming with vitality. Its flesh and even its scales were regenerating. Finishing quickly would be out of the question.

But it's possible to speed things up, thought Sorin, tossing a spear at the serpent. The spear barely drew blood but managed to deliver a potent payload of mixed necrotoxins, neurotoxins, and manatoxins. It was followed by dozens more spheres that caused decreasing amounts of damage as the serpent adapted.

"Everyone, switch up your poisons," said Sorin, tossing each of his companions a vial. "Wait for it. Wait for it! Everyone, now!"

Daphne's fireballs instantly turned a sickly green and blasted down on Python's position. Lawrence appeared on the creature's patch of exposed flesh and unleashed three deadly blows that damaged its bones.

A green cloud that had been building up above Charles rained sickly green icicles that pierced into Python's scales and created gaping holes in its skin. It was naturally powered by potent acitoxins, a poison that Python had switched away from due to Sorin's repetitive attacks using other poisons.

Sorin also switched to acitoxins and teleported to its side using his Wraith Hair Boots, where he continued carving at the creature's side and applied an increasingly large dose of Eater of All mixed in with Symphony of Blood.

Thick patches of scales melted off the aggrieved serpent, and its vitality began to drop at a noticeable rate. "Guys, I think it's reaching the halfway point!" called out Lawrence. "Everyone, retreat!"

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Sorin and Lorimer pulled back. Fenrig and Stephan retreated, and Astley switched from bear form and summoned dozens of Mist Wraiths to screen their retreat.

A ripple of spikes burst outward from Python, striking down Astley's summons but fortunately missing the rest of them. They were unable to avoid the gravity effects of the ability, however, and began sliding backward towards the furious serpent.

"Hey! Over here! You remember me, don't you?!" said Lawrence, flying in before Python could bite down on their slowest member, Fenrig. "I'm the one who got away. The snack uneaten. Are you really going to let slip away one more time?"

The serpent hissed and bit towards Lawrence, who immediately ducked into the shadows. Its attack speed was greatly increased and seemed to tear through space, forcing Lawrence out of his hiding place. "Screw this, I'm out!" said Lawrence as his health fell precipitously from the backlash of his skill getting canceled.

Python was about to chase him down when suddenly, an abnormally large and heavy arrow struck its head and blew a small crater in its flesh. "Eat Divine Siege Arrows!" yelled Michael as he released several consecutive arrows, each filled with enormous amounts of mana and divinity.

The impact of each shot was enough to send Python tumbling backward. And whenever it steadied itself, Daphne followed up with waves of pre-prepared corrosive fireballs that melted away what remained of its scales.

The serpent's state soon returned to normal. Its speed and strength dropped to manageable levels. However, the creature was clearly much stronger than before, so they resumed with caution.

"It's behaving strangely," warned Gareth. Prepare for surprise maneuvers." No sooner did he speak than Python's eyes flashed. A shockwave burst out with it as the point of origin, causing them to sink two feet into the earth.

Python similarly sank into the earth, which parted like water to cover most of its body, with the exception of its neck and its armor-plated head.

"Its aspect is confirmed to be Madness," said Michael. "It seems to have adopted a sort of hybrid aquatic and earth form, making it difficult to target directly."

"Um, guys," Lawrence warned. "I can't detect the rest of its body. If its head dips underground, I'm not sure if I'll be able to find it on time."

Sure as rain, Python ducked beneath the surface of the earth. Any imperfections in the earth rapidly smoothed out as they lost any indication of its presence.

"I can't find it," said Lawrence.

"I can't sense it through poison either," said Sorin.

"It's immune to my marks," said Gareth. "We'll have to stay on our toes."

"Can it stay down there indefinitely?" asked Charles.

"Unlikely," said Bast. "Such abilities typically consume massive amounts of energy. It's better off attacking us while it still can."

"Then why hasn't it?" snapped Daphne. "It's clearly grown more cautious. Unless—the front lines!"

Python suddenly emerged several hundred feet away from their position and gobbled up an unfortunate hero. Faile and Joseph immediately called a retreat, and Onesca threw curses at the creature to slow it down.

Unfortunately, Python had achieved its aim. The ranks of defending heroes buckled as the demons gained the upper hand.

Everything was on the verge of falling apart when Stephan suddenly activated his Aspect Transformation and turned into a thirty-foot Arctic Rune Bear. Thanks to his great size, he quickly closed in on his target, Python, and pulled the creature into a tight bear hug.

A thick layer of ice covered Python as it bit down onto Stephan's armored body. Though much larger than the bear, it was clearly weaker by a point and, therefore, failed to free itself from Stephan's grasp.

"This fight just became all kinds of messy," muttered Sorin. "Do you have a specific strategy in mind? Because Stephan won't be able to hold on forever." Already, the creature was beginning to shake him off by sloughing off a layer of frozen scales.

Gareth shook his head. "Grouping up together to defend will only make things worse. Python will be able to attack attack everyone at once."

"I hate to point out the obvious, but shouldn't we just break into the central complex while it's distracted?" said Bast.

"A fair point," said Michael. "But the cost will be high. Also, can you even break through that formation when it's drawing on Python's vitality?"

"The difficulty is high but manageable," said Bast. "I just need the help of a few people. Specifically, I'll take Sorin, Charles, and Daphne. You can have the rest."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Only three of our heaviest hitters."

"I honestly don't know what else to do at this point," said Bast. "Haven't you noticed the corruption in the air steadily increasing? Melinoë is clearly undoing the seal. The longer we wait, the stronger Python and the demons will get and the closer we'll be to defeat."

"I agree with Bast," said Sorin. "What's more, it seems Python and the demons fear the divine nature of these ruins. If we open a path, the survivors will be able to take up a much more defensible position."

Michael frowned. "The casualties will be high."

"The casualties will likely be higher if we don't pursue a better solution than fighting Python in the middle of a battlefield," said Sorin. "Especially since Melinoë seems to be able to control these demons and Python as well. They won't stop even if we breach the temple, but at least we'll have a terrain advantage."

In the end, Michael gave in. "Fine. But if it looks impossible, you are all to regroup with us immediately."

"Worry not," said Bast. "I'm very proficient at spell-breaking."

"I have a bit of experience when it comes to spell-breaking," said Sorin. "I might be able to help."

"When it's piercing through defensive formation, I'm second to none," said Charles. "Though I'm a little worried about this shield's power source and its link to Python's life force."

"I believe such problems can easily be solved through precise calculations and sufficient amounts of firepower," said Daphne. She turned to Bast. "Embrittle and shatter?"

"Embrittle and shatter," confirmed Bast. "Let's strike it with a few probing waves and perform a preliminary analysis. Then we'll come up with a solid plan that will let us take it apart piece by piece."