Charlie, still latched on to the lizards thigh, released [Hollow Fang] after [Hollow Fang] and filling the still-unwavering lizard with a copious amount of venom. This was the first creature Charlie had come across that did not immediately falter when they had venom coursing through their bodies, and at this quantity too.

It was a silent and an insidious killer, sapping away the strength from its victims and corrupting their organs - until they were dead, and cold.

Yet, this beast still stood, still fought.

It thrashed about wildly, swinging it's body in a desperate attempt to throw the annoying serpent off. The frustrating little snake never let go, though. It's sharp fangs refused to unlatch no matter how hard the lizard tried, no matter how furiously it shook. Maddened beyond reason, the lizard threw itself at the sharp and pointed stone in the hopes of squishing the little parasite.

Charlie took heavy blows from all sides, rocking his brain and opening many small wounds all over his body.

Charlie didn't let go. Even when the lizard ran into a group of creatures and leapt into a murky pool of water, Charlie held on.

Even as the powerful currents of water rushed passed Charlie at intense pressures, as his lungs burned for air, he held on.

The lizard creature couldn't get the parasite off of its body no mater what it tried - and slowly, it grew sluggish.

Charlie's mind went aflame with a sadistic glee, savouring both the blood that filled his mouth and the growing struggle of the lizard. It's movements lost their power, the water current no longer threatened to knock him off with its pressure and severity - the lizard would fall, too.

Charlie's heart felt like jumping for joy, but his lungs reminded him that he had no more time. On cue, too, as his fangs had started to itch, he had exhausted his pool of Mana and would need to unlatch anyway.

Finally letting go, Charlie wriggled his body violently in the water and ascended upwards. The dying lizard refused to go down without enacting it's vengeance, and chased Charlie onto the surface with rabid ferocity.

Deep in the darkened cave, Charlie broke through the surface of the sparkling, and bright water - startling some nearby creatures taking a leisurely sip. With the path cleared, Charlie hurried up onto the shore, and not a moment too soon, as the lizard broke through the surface in a violent display of fading rage.

The lizard splashed the water in all directions as it tore through the current and waddled onto the shore. It's heavy body and weakened strength made it a difficult ordeal, and even Charlie could see that it was all bark and no bite at this point.

It had moments, at best, and not an ounce of strength left - yet it continued to glare at Charlie - and in its final moments, let out a deep and shrill hiss. It was powerful, and deeply unnerving to hear the strange sound come out of a living being. It suddenly felt like the creature was more threatening than before, towering over his shrinking body - tempting Charlie to O immediately flee.

But, it didn't make sense.

The creature was, clear as day, dying while it still barely stood. Yet, Charlie could not shake the fear that grew in his heart, growing deeper and more intense the longer the lizard continued the death-howl of a hiss.

As Charlie was starting lose his confidence, the creature could no longer stand under it's own weight, and fell. The hiss that wormed it's way into Charlie's mind suddenly stopped, and all of the accumulated fear vanished in a flash.

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Confused, but suddenly clear-headed, Charlie created some distance between himself and the creature. Content with letting his venom run it's course, Charlie decided to simply observe the creatures last moments in simple glee.

It was not often he could stare down a creature much larger than himself. Not quite the size of the Razorclaw, but it would definitely make it work for it's money if they were to go toe-to-toe.

The injured and dying lizard stared down Charlie until it's very last breath, never breaking eye contact.

The murderous glee that bloomed in Charlie's heart had subsided somewhat at the sight. It wasn't often that he could stare down a creature so much larger than itself, and watch it die. It felt... More raw. Demanding more respect, if just a little.

The creature fought with everything it had, and bringing Charlie to the brink under its own efforts. If it could have held on for a moment longer, Charlie wasn't sure if he would have come out on top.

Charlie didn't want to, but he couldn't help but feel a tinge of respect for the fallen lizard.

It was a much too human emotion to have out here.

With his mood strangely soured, Charlie ignored the cooling body of the lizard and studied his new surroundings.

It was too chaotic to have kept track of where they went and for how long, and unfortunately, Charlie had no idea where he was. The landscape was foreign and completely different to the human cave he had attempted to descend. Unlike the unnaturally smooth floors and walls of the human cave, this had rocks, boulders, a sparkling river coursing through the middle, with aquatic weeds sprouting in and around the water.

There were a myriad of slimy and curious creatures all around silently staring at Charlie, not moving a single muscle. It was eerie too, hundreds of dark eyes glinted in the darkness as the light from the sparkling river illuminated their gaze briefly. It was almost unnerving to be perceived by so many at once - particularly due to spending most of his time alone and unseen.

Yet, one by one, they slowly turned away and descended deeper, somewhere off into the darkness, away from the bright waters of the river.

It seemed they were unwilling to take their chances with a creature that could take down the massive lizard. Good, it would do well for Charlie to avoid any further unnecessary fighting.

Though initially nothing more than a scratch, the wound the lizard inflicted onto Charlie had began to pulse with an unfortunately familiar throb. Charlie hoped that it wasn't an infection, as unlike before, this one was not borne of having an injury for a prolonged period of time. It meant that the lizard had some sort of poison or substance that mimicked Charlie's venom to some degree.

Considering the sheer physical power of the lizard, Charlie wondered what sort of reason it needed to have such a powerful poison at its disposal. The speed at which it affected Charlie also worried him greatly, and knowing of only one way to help himself, Charlie returned to the fallen corpse.

Using his hooked teeth, Charlie tore into the scaly flesh of the lizard like a messy amateur butcher - tearing up scale and flesh like a rabid dog.

Charlie started to feel a touch of panic, he had torn up the chest of the creature, it's lower abdomen and even it's tail - yet there was no translucent gem. His own stubby tail was in severe pain now, the infection had spread to his lower abdomen and felt like fire coursing through his veins.

Though his stomach was not complaining. Charlie did indeed have to find the gem, but why shouldn't he eat the flesh he needed to get through? It wasn't like he needed to chew before swallowing. In filling his stomach, Charlie also drank enough of its blood to finally quench his thirst, albeit in a rather morbid fashion.

Covered from head to stub in the blood and viscera of his slain enemy, Charlie dove down again and tore open the skin and muscle surrounding the hardened head. Finally, the gem was in sight. It was located at the base of its skull, right where his spine and head connected.

No wonder it had a hard time moving - a single mistake could damage it's translucent gem. Being not only forced to move on those stubby and awkward legs, it had a rock on the back of his head that could shatter any moment. Though, Charlie wasn't certain - if the translucent gen broke, would they die immediately? Was it as important as, say, a heart?

Nevertheless, it was a stupid location, if Charlie was being honest. Though, Charlie supposed they didn't choose it themselves. Every creature had their own limitations and weaknesses they needed to overcome, so this should have been more obvious to Charlie. It made him wonder though, where was his translucent gem. A curious thought for another time.

With the translucent gem in sight, Charlie got himself ready and tried to unleash the insatiable spark of hunger, [Devour].

Yet, all Charlie felt was a deeply familiar, yet infernal, itch manifest it's maddening burn from somewhere deep inside.