Chapter 37 - The Monsters Of Flurisburg (2/2)

“Cle’de!” I shouted, trying not to let my panic show. “What’s the meaning of this?”

She shrugged and sat down by the side, where there were no snakes. “This is a test. The saldakive snake is the weakest monster in this area. See how many of them you can kill before they overwhelm you. A clean cut will do. They aren’t poisonous, so you won’t die.”

I wanted to tell her that that wasn’t the point, but before I could, a familiar red screen caught my eye.

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Species: Maldakive Snake

Combat Power: 229%

Other Information:

This monster type species of snake travels in packs of anywhere from ten to two hundred. At its peak, its length can span up to two and a half metres in length. Its key characteristics are: fast regenerative ability, ability to regrow their body if their head remains intact, ability to spit out poison, poisonous fangs, and an immensely strong impulse to kill, even if it kills them in the process. The maldakive snake is often mistaken for its non dangerous younger sibling, the saldakive snake.

Recommended Forms Of Attack:

Sword Attacks Ice Attacks Fire Attacks Explosions

Weaknesses:

Ice Fire

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Firstly, weren’t those information windows supposed to only show up for Gifted? Why was one showing up for monsters too? Secondly, hadn’t Cle’de called these saldakive snakes?

They didn’t let me find out.

The snake closest to me, by the side of my shoe, opened its mouth, ready to clamp around my ankle. Instinctively, I kicked it away. It went flying for a few metres before coming to a thud against a tree.

I needed to focus on defending myself.

The ‘recommended forms of attack’ were sword attacks and… explosions? Well, not like I had any e-potatoes to explode.

An old sword, but evenly weighted perfect for a double-handed swordsman. Although a little dull at the tip, its blade was sharp enough to prick my finger if I tried. As of now, it was my only weapon. I hadn’t even had time to test out my new skill ‘element infusion’ yet!

I exhaled and scanned my surroundings.

There were six on the trees, four in the bushes and another two behind me. Twelve in total. At least, that I could see.

“Mutation.” I muttered. I didn’t really want to show Cle’de my skill, but it looked like I didn’t have a choice.

[You have mutated.]

[Temporary skills have been unlocked. {Poison Resistance}.]

[Time left until {Mutation} concludes: 20:00.]

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Poison Resistance

Lvl: N/A

Category: Temporary

Type: Passive

Debuff: Speed -20%

You have gained natural resistance to all poisons. However, that comes at a price.

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A strange, prickling sensation crawled up my skin. It started off as just a feeling, but soon turned into an intolerable itch. I glanced down, shocked to see warts, scabs and rashes climbing up my arm. They were disgusting. Completely and utterly disgusting.

It looked like my luck finally ran out.

The warts oozed out yellow pus, causing me to grimace. The speed debuff did not help either. My limbs immediately felt heavier, like my old body.

Actually, I didn’t realise it at the time, but this was perfect.

You see, as a baron and a noble, I was required to learn sword fighting. I wasn’t very good at it, but still managed to pass the final exam. I’d actually kept practicing even after I became baron- up until a few years ago, at least. In this normal human body, which was fitter, faster and stronger than I’d ever been in my life, those skills would’ve gone to waste at this point. But now, with this debuff, my muscle memory would come in handy.

I took a deep breath and held the sword out in front of me in a ready stance I’d practiced all too many times before.

Just like the old times.

Just like the old times.

Swish.

The first snake flung itself out of the trees, jaws open, aiming for my head. In one clean sweep, I twisted my body to the side and sliced the snake’s body in half as it came by. As it wriggled on the floor beside me, I stabbed the tip of my sword in its head.

Three notifications appeared in the top right of my vision.

[You have slain {Maldakive Snake}.]

[You have received 2% XP]

[Sword Swings: 1/1000]

Before I could wonder why I hadn’t received a notification for XP, two more jumped at me. One from the bushes and another from the trees. To make matters worse, another one reared back its jaws, about to spit its poison at me.

I was poison resistant, but I would probably still be injured if I ingested it.

Cursing, I shielded my face with one arm and swung the sword wildly with the other, hoping to hit one of them away. I didn’t. As I felt the spray from the poison splash on my arm, a stinging pain shot through my calf and I felt my ankle collapse. I stabbed the sword in the ground to stabilize myself and batted away the last snake.

It was at this moment that I realised. I wasn’t going to survive.

I wanted to use void magic. But even if I could, I wouldn’t have.

‘You need to stop depending on that.’ I said to myself, struggling to stand on my feet.

“Hey… Are you ok?” Cle’de asked, showing the first sign of worry.

I grimaced and ducked to avoid another flying snake. “These are maldakive snakes!” I shouted back.

A cold look of shock passed through her face. Immediately, she bounded off the rock and dashed towards me. Her sword flashed and two snake heads dropped to the floor, split in two.

Just as I was about to collapse, she pulled my arm up and slung it around her neck to support me.

“Weren’t you supposed to be an SSS ranked threat?” She muttered angrily under her breath. “Also, what’s with all these warts?”

I sighed and stomped on a still wriggling snake’s head. “Isn’t this your fault?”

Before she could respond, a snake flung itself from behind, causing her to throw me to the floor to turn around in time. While she was doing this, another snake spat a glob of green liquid straight for her. Poison.

And she didn’t have poison resistance.

Without thinking, I jumped up with my non-injured foot and hugged her to shield her from the poison. Unfortunately, poison was not the only thing coming my way.

As I toppled on top of Cle’de, a dozen more of the monsters dropped from the trees, biting and slinking through the gaps in my limbs to constrict my body. With the last of my strength, I pushed backwards, off of Cle’de and collapsed onto the ground in a writhing mess.

It took Cle’de a few seconds to realize what I’d done. When she did, a look of horror came over her.

“Why would you-” She covered her mouth as one of the snakes chomped down on my eyelid and forced itself in, bursting the eyeball.

Why would I save her?

Like hell I knew.

But that wasn’t important now.

If the snakes damaged my body beyond repair, I would revert back to my original form. I couldn’t let that happen in front of her.

“F-fire…” I barely managed to whisper, due to being slightly suffocated.

“What?” She asked, stepping closer.

“K-kill… Fire…” I mumbled again, wanting to scream from the pain.

Thankfully, she seemed to understand.

“You can take it, right?” She asked, clutching her left arm with her right and spreading out her palm.

All I managed to do was blink profusely.

“You better not die.” Was all she said.

A small, glowing orange ball appeared from the centre of her palm. It grew quickly, seconds later transforming into a ball of flame as big as a horse.

“Discharge.” I heard her mutter, and the fireball shot towards me.

It was all over in an instant.

The intense heat surrounded my body and the snakes, burning everything near me to a crisp. I couldn’t even scream as I felt my skin and face melt off. If I were to describe the feeling, I’d have to say that it felt like my entire body was on fire.

Because it was.

Oh, god. Now was not the time to make jokes.

[Warning: Your human body has been damaged beyond repair. Would you like to end the skill?]

I wanted to end it. So, so, so badly. But, hanging onto my last shred of consciousness, I watched Cle’de’s concerned face above mine.

I ignored the warning.

I didn’t know what reason Red for forbidding me from exposing my identity, but it had better be a good one.

“Hey. Hey. Are you dead? Please don’t be dead. My parents will kill me if I get you killed. Aren’t you supposed to be SSS rank? Were all SSS ranks this weak? Surely not. Please wake up. I’m not worried about you or anything, I just don’t want to get in trouble.”

I wanted to laugh or smack this girl, but my body was in no state to do either. The one thing I needed to do now was get away from her.

“Home…” I wheezed. “Bring me back.”

“Sorry, I can’t tell whether or not it’s because I have bad hearing or you’re dying, but can you repeat that?”

Ok. One more word and I was really going to slap this bitch. Regardless of whether or not she was just a girl.

“Get me back… To my room.”

She hesitated, like she wanted to protest or even ask me what she could do to help. But in the end, all she did was bite her lip. “Alright.”