Episode 40: Finally Some Worthwhile Action. (3)
BANG! BANG! BANG!
As the mercenaries clung to the body of the Blood Python and kept swinging their clubs, the beast whipped its tail around wildly.
Those hit by the tail were sent flying, but new mercenaries squeezed into the gaps to continue the assault.
RAAAAAAAAA!
The Blood Python let out a furious roar.
Over by the head, Ghislaine, Gillian, and Kaor were drawing its attention while inflicting wounds, and near its tail, the mercenaries were swinging their clubs.
Sharp daggers flew intermittently, targeting their eyes, making it hard to stay focused.
When a swarm of flies keeps buzzing around, anyone would get irritated.
The Blood Python twisted its body even more frantically.
BANG!
With each slam of its tail to the ground, another mercenary lost their life.
Yet, the mercenaries gritted their teeth and kept attacking.
Determined to take down this monster, everyone was putting their lives on the line and giving it their all.
“Gillian! Go help the mercenaries at the tail!”
Ghislaine skillfully dodged the snake’s attacks while keeping an eye on the situation with the mercenaries and issuing commands.
As the injuries on the Blood Python increased, the speed of its tail swings began to slow down.
Gillian joined the mercenaries to attack, and cracks began to appear in its scales.
After a long period of fighting with the resolve of death, a little bit of progress finally showed.
CRACK!
“It’s, it’s breaking!”
One mercenary shouted, while Gillian filled his axe with mana and yelled,
“Get out of the way!”
BANG!
The axe sunk into the snake’s body, with more than half of the blade embedded.
A substantial wound unlike any before.
Blood began to pour out from the sliced skin of the Blood Python.
Seeing this, the mercenaries felt a glimmer of hope.
“Here! Here, jab it in!”
The mercenaries started pounding on the injured area, driving their swords and spears in.
Weapons that couldn’t enter the small wounds now slid in much easier.
The internal shock had loosened the muscles.
KAAAAAAH!
The Blood Python screamed in pain, thrashing its body.
Those who got caught or hit were crushed and broke bones, dying on the spot.
Although the Blood Python’s movements were slower than before, its destructive power stemming from its size remained unchanged.
The movements of the Blood Python had slowed compared to the beginning, but the destructive power from its size remained unchanged.
‘This won’t do.’
Ghislaine constantly thought while dodging the Blood Python’s fangs.
The few who could inflict wounds were quickly exhausting themselves by using mana without restraint since the early combat stages.
Ultimately, it was a battle of whether they would be the first to be wiped out or if the Blood Python would fall first.
Boom! Boom!
“UAAAAGH!”
As he pondered, the mercenaries’ screams filled the air.
No matter how significant the damage they inflicted, at this rate, the mercenaries would be the first to perish.
The longer the fight dragged on, the more unfavorable it became for them.
At that moment, the Blood Python’s eyes glowed a fierce red as it swung its tail violently.
Whoosh!
Boom!
A few mercenaries were knocked away, and taking advantage of the moment, the Blood Python quickly retreated.
Suddenly, as the Blood Python began to distance itself from the mercenaries, they spoke with hope in their voices.
“What, what’s going on? Is it really running away?”
“Is this how it ends?”
“Fall back for now! Move the injured to the back!”
The mercenaries also fell back, rearranging their formation and murmuring.
If the Blood Python withdrew like this, it would be the best outcome.
They had pierced its scales with weapons that could only inflict wounds if they were powerful mana blades or high-circle magic.
Considering the party’s level, it was a significant achievement, but no one felt joy.
They all knew that if time passed in this state, they would ultimately die.
While they fought remarkably well, their limits had been reached.
“C-can’t we just settle for a draw?”
Gordon muttered, gripping his trembling legs, but no one answered him.
Swoosh.
The Blood Python, having withdrawn, glared at them while swinging its tail lazily.
The blood flowing from the shattered and torn wounds stained its scales a deep red.
It was surprising that even the ogre, known as the king of the forest, had sustained this much damage from the Blood Python that could crush its body in an instant.
Seizing the moment, Belinda asked Ghislaine again.
“Young Master, don’t you feel the overpowering urge to run away now?”
“Not yet.”
“Right. You’ve never been one to back down, have you? Sometimes I really wonder if you’re insane.”
“Really? I thought I was pretty good at following orders.”
Belinda gave him a look of disbelief at his nonsense.
Gillian looked around at the mercenaries and quietly whispered to Ghislaine.
“Sir, if this continues, it seems we’ll be the first to be wiped out. While this method of engagement is conventional, our numbers are far too few to keep it up.”
“True. But with our current strength, this is all we have. We need to maintain the situation as it is while those who can use mana look for an opportunity.”
“We should aim for its eyes, I suppose.”
The Blood Python was a monster that, although not common, resided in areas other than the Forest of Monsters.
Thus, it was well-known that its eyes, unprotected by its sturdy scales, were its weakness.
Of course, aiming for its eyes was not an easy task.
Hitting the eye isn’t an easy task either.
You have to dodge the Blood Python’s attacks and get close to the eye, and even if you get close to attack, it can quickly cover its eyelid for protection.
Still, at this moment, there was no other option but to attack the eye amidst the chaos.
“It looks like we have no choice for now. Just like before, Belinda should look for an opportunity,”
Ghislaine said, and Belinda nodded with a determined expression.
Just as she opened her mouth to respond, the Blood Python began to slowly approach the group.
Maybe due to its injuries, the Blood Python, which was cautiously scanning its surroundings, suddenly picked up speed.
Kaaaarrr!
“It’s coming!”
“Just like before! Let’s aim for the injury and stab it!”
“Let’s see who dies first!”
As the Blood Python approached rapidly, the mercenaries formed ranks again and focused on the freshly inflicted wounds.
However, the Blood Python drew closer, hammering each mercenary down one by one with its head.
Bam!
“Uaaaargh!”
Bam! Bam!
Whenever the mercenaries tried to advance, it swiftly pulled back and slammed down again.
With each slam, one mercenary’s body was smashed, turning into a pool of blood.
Unlike before, it started picking them off one by one while keeping them at bay.
“B-back off!”
The mercenaries panicked and rushed back in fright.
Saaaak!
The Blood Python narrowed its eyes and flicked its tongue.
To the group, it looked almost like it was smiling.
Everyone fell into chaos.
What they had thought was the only method left to deal with the Blood Python was no longer effective.
They had no idea how to handle it.
Saaaak!
As the Blood Python wriggled forward again, the mercenaries hesitated and stepped back.
At that moment, Ghislaine jumped forward and shouted.
“Mercenaries, stay back and wait for your chance to join in! Gillian, Kaor, Belinda, face it as before!”
The mercenaries quickly stepped back, and it became a spectator sport, watching the four fight just like in their first battle.
They desperately wanted to join the fight, but due to their lack of skill, there was nothing they could do.
Bam! Bam!
The four started dodging the Blood Python’s attacks and landed some hits, just like the first time.
But the Blood Python’s movements had become much more cautious, making it harder to land hits as before.
Even when they managed to inflict wounds, they were just shallow, barely causing any damage.
Bam! Bam!
As time went on, the four grew more depleted of mana and focused desperately on evading.
Unable to bear it any longer, Kaor shouted and moved closer to the Blood Python’s head.
“Damn it! I’ll be the bait, so aim for the eye!”
Once Kaor entered the range, the Blood Python fixated on him with relentless determination.
It ignored the wounds inflicted by the other party members.
Bam! Bam!
Overwhelmed by the immense pressure and speed, Kaor couldn’t even swing his sword.
He was just frantically dodging with all his might.
But thanks to him, Belinda was able to seize a fleeting opportunity.
Bam!
The moment the Blood Python’s head was driven into the ground, Kaor barely dodged.
Ton’s head was buried in the ground, and at the moment Kaor narrowly escaped.
“Die!”
Belinda’s dagger surged towards the Blood Python’s massive eye at an incredible speed.
She poured all her remaining mana into the dagger.
If she couldn’t inflict a significant wound here, they would all be dead without a doubt.
But at that moment, Belinda locked eyes with the Blood Python.
The snake seemed to be mocking her.
“Don’t tell me…”
Bang!
The dagger filled with mana collided with the Blood Python’s eyeball and bounced off uselessly.
“Unbelievable!”
The Blood Python dwelling in the Forest of Monsters was unlike any they knew.
The surface of its eye was made of a material even harder than scales.
If even the supposedly weak point, the eye, was this sturdy, it meant there was no weakness at all.
How on earth were they supposed to catch that thing?
Just as everyone was aghast, something even more astonishing happened.
Kaor had already closed in on the spot targeted by the Blood Python.
Swish!
The tail, which had been still until now, swung towards Kaor.
Cunningly, it had been waiting for this moment, deliberately not using its tail until now.
“No!”
The others quickly rushed in to surround the Blood Python.
But even that was a bait.
Kaaahh!
In that moment, the Blood Python’s head twisted bizarrely and descended towards Ghislaine with incredible speed.
The movement of the tail was merely a preparation for turning its body.
Ghislaine, already nearing the Blood Python, had no way to dodge.
He had no choice but to detonate all three cores at once in an attempt to withstand the attack.
“Young Master!”
Suddenly, Belinda appeared and forcefully shoved Ghislaine aside.
Bang!
“Belinda!”
Ghislaine called her name, turning his head as he tumbled sideways.
Boom!
Belinda, propelled away at high speed, crashed into a tree and fell to the ground.
She collapsed, spitting out blood, but she wasn’t dead.
She twisted her body while colliding to minimize the impact.
“Ugh, ugh… Run away… you fool… why won’t you listen… hurry back to the territory, reflect, and go to prison… that guy never listens to me anyway…”
Belinda kept muttering as she spat blood.
“Kaor! Save Belinda!”
Ghislaine cried out urgently, and Kaor, having narrowly saved his life, picked up Belinda and retreated.
Swoosh!
The Blood Python looked around, licking its lips in satisfaction.
It wasn’t its original target, but it had neutralized its annoying prey wielding the dagger, so it felt good.
However, Ghislaine had no intention of being toyed with by a monster.
He glared at the Blood Python and said to Gillian.
“Gillian, you go for the body and keep the wound open. If there’s a chance, attack together with the mercenaries.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you’ll confront the head alone?”
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