I was still riding the high of the skill acquisition when Wang Jian crouched next to me, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness around us. His presence was steady, a calm counterbalance to the chaos swirling in my head. The System’s notifications echoed faintly in my mind, promising power and growth, but the oppressive atmosphere of the mine quickly reminded me that promises weren’t enough. Down here, survival was everything.
“That thing you just did,” Wang Jian began, his voice low but charged with curiosity. “How much more of that are you hiding?”
I hesitated, torn between honesty and caution. “Enough to make a difference,” I said, my tone evasive but firm. Revealing everything about Mira felt too risky. I couldn’t afford to lose the one advantage I had.
Ming Lian, leaning against the jagged wall a few paces away, let out a bitter chuckle. “Difference, huh? You’d better hope that ‘difference’ keeps us alive, or you’ll be nothing more than a memory in this place.”
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. “Stick around, and maybe I’ll surprise you.”
“Surprises are usually the first step toward disaster,” Ming Lian replied, his tone sharp but laced with exhaustion. He shifted uncomfortably, the sling supporting his injured arm swaying slightly.
Wang Jian shot him a sidelong glance. “If he’s got a trick up his sleeve, we’ll take it. Stop acting like the world owes you an apology.”
The tension in the air between them dissipated as the ground beneath my feet vibrated faintly. Earth Sense flared to life, painting a picture in my mind. Something massive was moving closer, slow and deliberate. My pulse quickened.
“Wait,” I said sharply, raising a hand. “Something’s coming.”
Wang Jian stiffened, his grip tightening on his pickaxe. Ming Lian’s expression darkened, his pickaxe raised defensively despite his injury.
The faint vibrations became stronger, accompanied by a low, menacing hiss that sent a chill down my spine. The flickering torchlight cast jagged shadows along the walls as a massive shape emerged from the darkness.
A python. Its immense body gleamed like polished obsidian under the faint blue glow of embedded spirit stones. Glowing yellow eyes locked onto us, unblinking, as its muscular frame coiled in preparation to strike.
“Spread out,” Wang Jian ordered, his voice steady but urgent.
Ming Lian shifted to the left, his movements slower than usual but deliberate. Wang Jian moved to the right, his weapon poised. I stayed in the center, gripping my pickaxe tightly as adrenaline surged through me. The python’s head swayed, its predatory gaze moving between the three of us with unsettling intelligence.
Without warning, it struck. Its massive head lunged at Wang Jian with lightning speed. He ducked, his pickaxe slicing into the python’s side in a fluid counter. The blade barely grazed its thick scales, leaving only a shallow mark. The beast hissed, furious, and its tail lashed out, knocking Wang Jian off balance.
Ming Lian seized the opening, swinging his pickaxe with impressive force despite his injury. The weapon struck the python’s flank, the impact producing a sickening crunch. The creature recoiled, thrashing violently and letting out a guttural hiss that echoed through the cavern.
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“Watch its tail!” Ming Lian shouted, his voice strained as he stumbled back from a retaliatory swing.
Wang Jian regained his footing and lunged forward, his pickaxe narrowly missing the python’s head as it twisted away. “This thing’s smarter than it looks!” he called out, his frustration evident.
I gritted my teeth, focusing on the vibrations through the ground. Earth Sense painted a clear picture of the python’s movements. It was coiling for another strike. “Keep it distracted!” I shouted, stepping forward to position myself.
The System’s interface flickered in my vision, highlighting weak points along the python’s body. Its neck was the most vulnerable, but getting close enough to exploit it would be a gamble. Wang Jian feinted to the left, drawing the python’s attention as his pickaxe narrowly missed its glistening scales. The beast lunged at him, exposing its flank.
Ming Lian took the opportunity to swing his pickaxe again, the blade sinking into its side. The python hissed in fury, its massive tail lashing out in a deadly arc. Ming Lian barely avoided the strike, stumbling as the force of the tail cracked the ground near him.
This was my moment.
I darted forward, my muscles coiled with adrenaline. Using the information from Earth Sense, I anticipated the python’s next move and ducked under its lunging strike. My pickaxe came down with all the force I could muster, driving into its neck.
The blade sank deep, and the python thrashed wildly, its body whipping through the cavern like a living hurricane. Dust and loose stones rained down from the ceiling as the cavern trembled under its weight. I held on, every muscle in my body straining against its violent movements.
“Now! Hit it again!” I yelled, my voice raw with effort.
Wang Jian and Ming Lian responded without hesitation. Wang Jian’s pickaxe struck the python’s side with brutal force, while Ming Lian delivered a calculated blow to its lower flank. The creature’s thrashing grew weaker, its guttural hisses turning into desperate wheezes.
Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I drove my pickaxe deeper into its neck. The python let out a final, bone-chilling hiss before collapsing. Its massive body fell limp, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.
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CLAIMING THE SKILL
The cavern fell silent, save for the sound of our ragged breathing. Dust settled, the faint glow of spirit stones casting eerie reflections on the jagged walls. A faint blue mystical light enveloped the python’s body, signaling another opportunity.
Wang Jian wiped sweat from his brow, his chest heaving. “You’ve got a knack for turning impossible into barely survivable,” he said, shaking his head. “Go on, see what you can get.”
Ming Lian leaned heavily against the wall, his expression a mix of exhaustion and awe. “Whatever you’re doing, it’s working,” he said quietly. “Don’t stop now.”
I didn’t need further encouragement. Stepping forward, I focused on the glowing aura as the System’s interface materialized in my vision:
[You have defeated: Stone Tunnel Python]
[Available Skill to Reap: Stone Skin (Passive, Rank 1)]
Hardens your body like rock, reducing physical damage. Effect lasts as long as you are in contact with earth or stone.
The description sent a surge of anticipation through me. Hardening my body like stone? That could be a game-changer. I confirmed the selection, and a wave of energy rippled through me as the skill integrated into the System. My skin tingled, hardening slightly as a thin, rock-like texture spread across my arms. I flexed my fingers, marveling at the newfound resilience.
“Good,” Wang Jian said, his tone more serious now. “You’re starting to look like someone who can handle what’s coming.”
Ming Lian managed a faint smirk. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
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MOVING FORWARD
The three of us regrouped, the exhaustion from the fight settling over us like a heavy blanket. The faint glow of the spirit stones bathed the cavern in an eerie light, but for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.
“We can’t stop now,” I said, breaking the silence. “The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are. There’s no telling what else is in these tunnels.”
Wang Jian nodded. “Agreed. Let’s keep moving. If there’s one of those things, there might be more.”
Ming Lian gave a weary shrug. “Lead the way, hero.”
With my new skill and a determination burning brighter than ever, I led the way deeper into the tunnels, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.