Talax's heart pounded in his chest as he watched in abject terror the enormous serpentine body slowly emerged from the bottomless pond. The creature's massive body was thicker than his own torso and shimmered in the scant illumination of the cave, reflecting the light like an oily slick. Its lithe form was covered in green-blue streaks that crisscrossed along its skin, giving it an intimidating appearance.
As the serpent rose three meters into the air, baring its razor-sharp fangs, Talax felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, he would become nothing more than a meal for the beast.
As he scurried away, he heard the woman's voice say, "If there was another way, I would pursue it. But I have to watch impotently as I wait for your blood to flow. Now Hereafth, please save my daughter!"
Talax had managed to move a few meters away when he heard the enormous serpent move. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he unstrung his bow and aimed for the serpent's head. His hand shook with fear as he let an arrow fly, but his aim was off, and the arrow hit the ground harmlessly.
The serpent's jaws snapped open, its saliva-drenched fangs gleaming menacingly in the dim light. In an instant, the serpent struck, lunging towards Talax with incredible speed. Reacting on instinct, Talax leaped to the side, barely avoiding the snapping jaws of the beast. He landed hard on the ground, feeling the impact reverberate through his body.
With a grunted "Umph," Talax rolled to the side and sprang to his feet. The serpent's maw was open wide, its fangs dripping with saliva as it prepared to strike again.
Talax knew that he was outmatched, but he refused to give up. As he tried to regain his footing, he saw the beast's massive form moving towards him with alarming speed.
With his heart racing, he raced to the other side of the cavern trying to get some distance. His bow was left behind, forgotten in his haste and he was now left with only his short sword and daggers. Not the best weapons to counter a four-meter-long snake that looked like it had recently eaten a horse and had a serious case of indigestion.
The serpent closed in on him, its blue fins slowing it down on land but still propelling it forward with terrifying force. Talax knew he had to think fast, and he began to run, his mind racing with ideas on how to outsmart the creature.
As he ran, he looked over his shoulder, watching as the serpent slithered towards him with deadly intent. He saw its fins catching on rocks and small roots, slowing it down just enough for him to stay ahead. In the water, the beast would have been a killing machine. On land, however, those fins looked more like a hindrance than an asset.
As Talax approached the opposite wall of the cavern, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with the stench of the serpent's breath, which made his stomach roil and churn. The serpent was closing in, hissing all the while, and Talax could feel its hot breath on his neck. He palmed his short sword in his right hand and his dagger in the other, the weapons feeling reassuringly heavy in his grip.
What he was about to do was crazy, but he had to test a theory. He stopped abruptly and waited as the snake unfurled its coils and stood, Talax watched in fascination, transfixed by its size and power. Looking down at him, the serpent hissed, spewing venom that landed on the rocks, plants, and even a small creature hiding behind a shrub with blue lilies. A few drops of the venom touched Talax's skin, and he felt a searing pain that almost made him scream out in agony.
Sizzling sounds filled the room as the venom landed on the rock, and Talax could see the smoke rising from the spots where the venom touched. The small creature cried out in distress and bolted to a small crack in the wall seeking cover. Talax wished he could follow it to safety, but he knew he had to face the serpent head-on.
Added to the list of things he had to deal with in his battle against the fearsome serpent was the poison that now coursed through his veins trickling down his health. Despite the pain from the venom, Talax realized that the snake's wicked fangs, as long as his forearm, were even more intimidating. He could only imagine the excruciating pain he would feel if those things pierced his body.
The serpent coiled itself, preparing to strike, and Talax braced himself for what was to come. Without much warning, Talax was jostled from his dark thoughts and dived to the side once again, the deadly fangs barely missing him. A loud crash followed the serpent's attack that had Talax looking over his shoulder, his heart racing with fear.
As Talax heard the dismayed exclaim from the woman, he knew he had to act fast. The snake was writhing in distress, its head buried beneath the rocks that had fallen after it had headbutted the wall. Talax had planned for this moment, and it had paid off.
He scurried on all fours towards the twitching snake, his sword held tightly in his hand. As he reached the serpent, he plunged his blade as deep as he could, feeling the cold steel bite into the creature's flesh. The serpent hissed like a boiling kettle, bucking wildly in response to the attack. Talax struggled to stay on, but he managed to plunge his dagger as a last-ditch effort, though with little success.
He continued the sawing motion, intending to cut the snake in half when a sudden blow to his head sent him flying. He landed in a heap on the ground, moaning in pain as he struggled to regain his bearings. For a while, all he could do was breathe through the pain, stars dotting his vision even though his eyes were closed. A feeling of vertigo had him almost throwing up, but he fought against it, knowing that death was only a breath away.
Despite the pain, Talax raised his head and tried to clear his vision. He saw the snake in a similar state to him, having managed to dislodge its head from the rocks. It was in the process of rearing up, trying to spot him. Talax knew that he had to act quickly, or the snake would recover and come at him with renewed ferocity.
He felt his head throbbing as he touched it and winced at the sticky feeling of blood on his fingertips. He struggled to stand up, groaning like an old man as he shuffled away from the snake. He needed distance, a moment to clear his head, but the serpent had other plans. In a sudden move, it lunged towards him, erasing the few meters that separated them in a blur of scales and fury.
Talax's heart raced as he stumbled back, his eyes wide with fear. The snake struck without a second thought, aiming straight for his throat. But it must have still been dazed from its earlier headbutt, for its gaping maw found nothing but air, snapping harmlessly next to his head. Talax seized the opportunity and attacked with a crazed scream, wielding his bland knife as his only means of defense since his other weapons were still lodged in the serpent's thick skin.
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The blade sank deep into the serpent's flesh, and Talax dragged it upwards, opening the scaly skin like a ripe fruit. A purplish blood spurted out, coating his hand in a slick, sticky mess. He thought he had won, but then he felt it, the sharp fangs piercing his body.
Pain exploded through Talax's body, causing him to spasm involuntarily. The venom coursed through his veins like a fiery inferno, melting his insides into a gooey soup. He knew he was dying, his body shutting down as the serpent wrapped itself tightly around him, trying to hasten his demise.
For a moment, he just stood there, motionless, the serpent's coils tightening around him like a vice, while its jaw was clumped tightly around his shoulder. His throat burned with the lack of oxygen as his body began to shut down. But then, something caught his attention, his weapons, still embedded in the serpent's flesh, were wobbling a few centimeters away.
Talax's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled against the crushing grip of the serpent. His mind raced, trying to find a way out of this deadly predicament. He knew he had to get his dagger, but the serpent's coils were too tight, trapping both of his hands against his body. The venom from the snake's bite had already begun to cloud his thoughts, making it difficult for him to concentrate.
Suddenly, the serpent thrashed its head in a violent movement that sent shockwaves through Talax's body. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as the pressure on his bones intensified, threatening to crush him. But then, to his surprise, he felt the coils around him loosen slightly, giving him a glimmer of hope.
With every ounce of strength he had left, Talax wriggled and squirmed, trying to free his left hand. His body convulsed in agony as he fought against the poison coursing through his veins. But finally, with a triumphant cry, he succeeded in breaking free.
However, the victory was short-lived. Talax's arm trembled uncontrollably as he tried to reach for his dagger. He watched in horror as his hand spasmed and contorted in unnatural ways, the venom taking its toll on his body.
Tears of frustration and pain streamed down his face as he realized that he was powerless to save himself. The serpent hissed in anticipation of its inevitable victory, sensing the weakness of its prey. Talax withdrew to himself wanting to escape the constant pain and the horrifying sounds of the murderous snake. He watched in calm acceptance the serene pool of mana that imbued him with soothing comfort and waited for his impending end.
As Talax watched the tranquil substance move inside his core, he couldn't help but reminisce about the time he had first attempted to manipulate the magical fuel. His mana had coursed through his body, strengthening his channels and imbuing his body with an almost imperceptible difference in strength. The changes had been minor and hadn’t really impacted his body. He had felt, however, a slight difference when mana had suffused a part of his body. His eyes rounded in realization and a new plan, desperate as it may be, started forming in his mind.
With renewed hope, he decided to take one final stand. Besides he wasn’t a coward who waited for his death when there was a chance to emerge victorious. With newfound determination, he left his core and braced himself against the pain. He focused his mind on a single goal, and with his heart beating in anticipation, he extracted a small amount of mana. The magical fuel surged through his channels and Talax coaxed it to move towards his paralyzed hand that lay lifeless on top of the snake’s scaled skin.
The mana surged through his body like a wildfire, leaving behind a scorching trail in its wake. The nerve endings in his hand reawakened and fought against the venom that had paralyzed him, leaving Talax writhing in agony. But he didn't give up. Instead, he pushed through the pain, his willpower fueling his determination to succeed.
With an agonizing slowness, his mana coursed through his hand. The burning sensation that had followed the mana’s path erupted in his hand, millimeter by millimeter, regaining control over his arm. He made a fist with his grip, and when he saw the dagger sticking enticingly just a few centimeters away, he grabbed it.
He pulled the dagger free, and with a guttural scream, he twisted his trapped body and plunged the blade deep into the serpent's skull. A satisfying crunch followed his attack, and the snake hissed in pain, releasing its hold on him. But Talax didn't stop there. He twisted the dagger with all the strength he had left until the sharp edge exited the snake’s mouth.
The serpent twitched for several seconds, and Talax waited with bated breath to see if his gamble had worked. With a last hissing sound, the colossal serpent collapsed dead to the ground. Talax collapsed beside it, exhausted but victorious.
Talax's laughter echoed throughout the cave, bouncing off the walls and filling the space with his crazed joy. He couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, his mind reeling from the battle that had almost cost him his life. He marveled at how absurd the whole situation was. What had started out as a simple rest for the night had turned into a life-and-death struggle with a monstrous water serpent.
For a few moments, he forgot all about the excruciating pain that had racked his body just moments ago. He relished in his triumph over the creature, basking in the sheer joy of being alive. As if in response to his victory, a surge of mana surged through his body, signaling that he had leveled up. But he brushed it aside, focusing instead on his immediate needs.
He reached for the small red potion he had found earlier, thankfully it had survived the battle, and drained it in a single gulp. He felt it flow through his body, healing his wounds and easing his pain. Though his body was still battered and bruised, he knew he had to stay awake and alert. His friends were still held captive by the half-woman's magic, and the creature that had summoned the serpent could still be lurking nearby.
As he looked around, his eyes fell upon the half-woman and the small statue of the child in her arms. She was weeping uncontrollably, her body wracked with sobs as she clutched the statue close to her chest. For a moment, Talax felt a pang of sympathy for her. But the moment quickly passed as he moved, and a fresh wave of pain shot through his body.
He grinned cruelly, enjoying the sight of the broken creature that had nearly killed him. But soon, he grew tired of her sorrowful cries and turned his attention to his friends. He saw that they were still trapped in the columns of water but seemed unharmed otherwise. With a nod, he let out a grimace and collapsed, using the dead snake as a makeshift pillow.
For what felt like an eternity, Talax lay on the ground, trying to recover from the snake's venomous bite. His body trembled with pain as he focused on circulating his mana to expel as much of the poison as he could. Gradually, he began to feel the effects of the health potion he had consumed, and his smaller wounds started to heal. However, the puncture wounds from the serpent's fangs continued to leak blood and cause him immense agony.
Despite the excruciating pain, Talax knew he had to save his friends and get out of the lair as soon as possible. With sheer determination, he summoned all his strength and pushed himself to stand up. The piercing pain that shot through his body was almost too much to bear, but he gritted his teeth and focused on the task at hand. He walked over the corpse of the dead serpent and slowly made his way towards the small lake where the creature still cried uncontrollably.
As he approached the edge of the pond, he could feel the immense power emanating from the woman who was half beast. He realized that she was far beyond his tier and had the ability to erase him from existence with a flick of her wrist. Despite the odds stacked against him, Talax hoped that the golden wreath, silver-tongued, he had been awarded would come in handy. He knew that a battle with her was out of the question. Even if he was at his best, he could only hope for a quick death.
But there was no time to dwell on his fears. Talax had a job to do. He hid his glee at the creature's suffering and assumed a contrite expression as he bowed his head.
"I am sorry."