Chapter 40
Chapter 40: Finally Getting Somewhere. (3)
Kwahng! Kwahng! Kwahng!
As the mercenaries clung to the body of the snake, relentlessly pounding it with their blunt weapons, the Blood Python whipped its tail around wildly.
Mercenaries hit by the tail flew away in an instant, but another mercenary squeezed into the empty space to continue the attack.
Kaaaaaaaa!
The Blood Python roared in furious rage.
On the head side, Ghislaine, Gillian, and Kaor were inflicting wounds to draw its attention, while mercenaries were attacking with blunt weapons on the tail and body.
It was hard to focus as sharp daggers flew in occasionally, targeting their eyes.
Like a swarm of flies buzzing around, anyone would get annoyed.
The Blood Python twisted its body even more frantically.
Kwahaaang!
With each tail slam against the ground, a mercenary lost their life.
However, the mercenaries gritted their teeth and continued their assault.
Everyone was risking their lives, determined to take down this monster at any cost.
“Gillian! Go assist the mercenaries by the tail!”
Ghislaine skillfully dodged the snake’s attacks while observing the situation with the mercenaries, giving orders.
As the wounds on the Blood Python increased, its tail-swinging speed began to slow down.
Gillian joined the mercenaries in attacking, and cracks began to form on its scales.
After a long battle with everyone prepared to die, they finally began to see some results.
Gggrrrek!
“It’s, it’s breaking!”
As one mercenary shouted, Gillian filled his axe with mana and cried out.
“Get back!”
Kwahaaang!
The axe embedded itself deep into the snake’s body, with more than half of the blade buried inside.
This was a wound much larger than before.
Blood started pouring out from the skin of the Blood Python.
Seeing this, the mercenaries felt hope blossom.
“Here! Here, stab it!”
The mercenaries began smashing the wounded areas and jabbing swords and spears into the wound.
Weapons that couldn’t penetrate the smaller wounds now slid in much easier.
It was due to the accumulation of shock, causing the muscles to soften inside.
Kaaaaaa!
The Blood Python let out a cry of pain and shook its body.
Mercenaries caught beneath or struck down had their bones broken and died.
Surely, the movements of the Blood Python were slower than at first, but the destructive power born from its size was still formidable.
‘This won’t do.’
Ghislaine constantly thought while dodging the Blood Python’s teeth.
Moreover, those who could inflict wounds had already started to fatigue from using their mana recklessly since the start of the battle.
In the end, it was a fight to see whether they would be wiped out first or if the Blood Python would fall first.
Kwahng! Kwahng!
“Uaaah!”
Even as he pondered, the screams of the mercenaries filled the air.
No matter how significant the blows they struck, if they kept going like this, the mercenaries would surely be wiped out first.
The longer this dragged out, the more disadvantageous it became for them.
At that moment, the Blood Python’s eyes glowed a furious red as it swung its tail forcefully.
Bwoooom!
Kwahaaang!
Several mercenaries were sent flying, and taking advantage of the chaos, the Blood Python quickly withdrew and created distance between them.
Suddenly, as the Blood Python began to put distance from the mercenaries, they couldn’t help but speak in hopeful tones.
“W-what? Is it running away?”
“Is it over just like that?”
“Let’s pull back for now! Get the injured to the back!”
The mercenaries also retreated, reorganizing their formation, murmuring among themselves.
If the Blood Python truly retreated like this, it would be the best outcome.
They pushed their weapons into the scales, which could only be pierced by powerful mana blades or high-circle magic.
Considering their levels, it was a significant achievement, but no one felt happy about it.
They all understood that if time passed in this condition, they would ultimately die.
While they fought remarkably well, they were aware that their limits had now been reached.
“Can’t we at least come to a draw?”
Gordon mumbled while gripping his trembling legs, but no one answered him.
Saaak.
As the Blood Python withdrew, it glared at the party, lazily swaying its tail.
The blood flowing from its broken and torn wounds stained its scales a deep red.
It was surprising that even the Ogre known as the King of the Forest would struggle to inflict this much damage against the Blood Python.
Taking advantage of the situation, Belinda asked Ghislaine again.
“Young Master, don’t you feel like fleeing now more than ever?”
“Not yet.”
“Right. I’ve never heard you say that. Sometimes, I wonder if you’re really crazy.”
“Is that so? I thought I was pretty obedient.”
Belinda made a face that said it was absurd to even suggest that.
Gillian looked around the mercenaries and softly whispered to Ghislaine.
“Lord, at this rate, our side will be wiped out first. This is the proper way to deal with this opponent, but we are far too outnumbered to continue.”
“True. But this is the only way we can fight with our current strength. Those who can use mana need to be on the lookout for opportunities.”
“We should aim for the eyes, I think.”
The Blood Python wasn’t a common monster, but it did inhabit areas outside of the Forest of Monsters.
Thus, it was well known that its eyes, which weren’t protected by its tough scales, were a weak point.
Of course, targeting the eyes is easier said than done.
One would need to dodge the Blood Python’s attacks to get close to the eyes, and even if they managed, it could cover itself with its eyelids in an instant.
Still, right now, attacking the eyes while it was confused was their only option.
“I guess we only have that option for now. Let Belinda look for the opportunity as before.”
At Ghislaine’s words, Belinda nodded with a serious expression.
Just as she opened her mouth to respond, the Blood Python began approaching the group slowly.
Perhaps due to its wounds, the Blood Python was cautiously surveying its surroundings when it suddenly accelerated.
Kaaaaa!
“It’s coming!”
“Just like before! Aim for the wounds and shove them in!”
“Let’s see who dies first!”
As the Blood Python closed in quickly, the mercenaries formed a tight line, focusing on the recently inflicted wounds.
However, as the Blood Python approached them, it started to hammer its head down on the mercenaries one by one like a hammer.
Kwahng!
“Uaaaah!”
Kwahng! Kwahng!
Whenever the mercenaries tried to approach, it swiftly pulled back and slammed its head down again.
With each blow, a mercenary’s body shattered and turned into a pool of blood.
Now, unlike before, it began to single out and devastate the mercenaries while keeping them in check.
“B-back off!”
The mercenaries screamed as they retreated in a panic.
Saaak!
The Blood Python narrowed its eyes and flicked its tongue.
To the group, it looked as if it was grinning.
Everyone fell into chaos.
Their previous method of attack, which they thought was the only way to deal with the Blood Python, was no longer effective.
They were at a loss for how to combat it now.
Saaak!
As the Blood Python writhed forward again, the mercenaries hesitated and started to back off.
At that moment, Ghislaine leaped forward and shouted.
“Mercenaries, wait in the back and join in when there’s an opportunity! Gillian, Kaor, and Belinda, face it as before!”
The mercenaries hastily retreated, leaving only the four to fight like at the start.
Though they desperately wanted to fight together, they had no choice since their skills didn’t allow it.
Kwahng! Kwahng!
The four began to evade the Blood Python’s attacks and inflict wounds just as they did at the beginning.
However, the Blood Python had become cautious, making it difficult to attack like before.
Even if they inflicted wounds, they were shallow and couldn’t deliver a proper blow.
Kwahng! Kwahng!
As time passed, the four gradually ran out of mana and became desperate just to avoid attacks.
Frustrated, Kaor shouted as he drew closer to the Blood Python’s head.
“Damn it! I’ll be the bait, so aim for the eyes!”
As Kaor entered its range, the Blood Python became fixated on him, aiming its head.
It ignored the wounds inflicted by the others.
Kwahng! Kwahng!
Overwhelmed by the immense pressure and speed, Kaor couldn’t even swing his sword.
He was solely focused on evading with all his strength.
But thanks to this, Belinda was able to seize a fleeting opportunity.
Kwahng!
At the moment the Blood Python’s head slammed down and Kaor barely dodged it—
“Die!”
Belinda’s dagger shot toward the Blood Python’s large eye with incredible speed.
She poured all her remaining mana into the dagger.
If she couldn’t inflict a significant wound here, they were all doomed.
But at that moment, Belinda locked eyes with the Blood Python.
The snake appeared to be mocking her.
“Don’t tell me…”
Thwang!
The dagger, filled with mana, struck the Blood Python’s eye and bounced off uselessly.
“That’s impossible!”
The Blood Python that lived in the Forest of Monsters was different from the one they knew.
The outer surface of its eye was made of a material even harder than its scales.
If even the eye—said to be its only weakness—was this solid, it was almost like it had no weaknesses at all.
How in the world would they capture that?
As everyone gasped in shock, an even more astonishing event occurred.
Kaor had already charged toward the spot the Blood Python was aiming for.
Whoosh!
The tail, which had remained still until now, swung toward Kaor.
Cunningly, it had been waiting and watching without using its tail until this moment.
“Don’t!”
The others rushed toward the Blood Python.
But it was also a trap.
Kaaaaa!
At that moment, the Blood Python’s head twisted grotesquely and slammed down at Ghislaine with astonishing speed.
The tail’s movement was just a preparation for turning its body.
Ghislaine, who was already approaching the Blood Python, had no way to dodge.
All he could do was ignite all three cores to endure the attack.
“Young Master!”
Suddenly appearing, Belinda shoved Ghislaine hard.
Kwahaaang!
“Belinda!”
Ghislaine cried out her name as he tumbled aside.
Kuwung!
Belinda, flung away at immense speed, crashed into a tree and fell to the ground.
Though she lay there bleeding profusely, she wasn’t dead.
She managed to twist her body during the impact to minimize the shock.
“Ugh, ugh… Run away… you idiot… Why don’t you listen… Quickly go back to the territory and reflect, and get thrown into prison… He’s never listened to me just once…”
The fallen Belinda mumbled while spitting out blood.
“Kaor! Save Belinda!”
Ghislaine shouted anxiously, and Kaor, who narrowly saved his life, quickly scooped up Belinda and moved back.
Saaak!
The Blood Python, satisfied, licked its tongue and surveyed the area.
Although it wasn’t its main target, it felt good to have neutralized the nuisance interfering with its dagger strikes.
However, Ghislaine had no intention of allowing a monster to toy with him.
He glared at the Blood Python and spoke to Gillian.
“Gillian, you go toward the body and expand those wounds. Wait for an opportunity to attack with the mercenaries.”
