The afternoon sun sank low on the horizon, staining the sky with streaks of crimson and gold. Raizo stood face-to-face with the massive viper, its golden eyes glimmering like twin suns, attempting to paralyze him with fear. But Raizo didn't flinch. His own eyes, filled with unshakable determination, reflected the beast's glare as he tightened his grip on Voidbringer.
The viper let out a sharp, venomous hiss, slithering toward him with terrifying speed. In response, Raizo's sword shimmered and morphed, transforming into a sturdy shield. Before the viper could close the gap, the shield emitted a translucent barrier that pulsed with energy.
Clang!
The viper bashed its massive head against the barrier, rattling the ground, then whipped its tail with a crushing force. Sparks flew as the tail crashed against the barrier, yet it held firm.
Raizo's eyes widened.
"Damn… this barrier is way more durable than I expected."
The viper coiled back, its scales glistening with malice, before launching a blast of venomous energy from its gaping maw. The projectile slammed into the barrier—once again, the shield absorbed the impact with a resonant hum, leaving Raizo unharmed.
Taking the offensive, Raizo shifted his weapon again, the shield condensing into a razor-sharp dagger. He clenched his teeth and whispered, "Let's test this… no chants this time."
"Lightning Dash!"
A surge of electricity burst around his body as Raizo vanished in a flash of light, reappearing beside the viper. The dagger carved through its scales with a sharp screech, sparks flying from the enchanted blade.
The viper roared in pain, twisting its enormous body and swinging its tail like a massive whip. Raizo's weapon elongated mid-swing, becoming a longsword. With a single fluid motion, he severed the viper's tail, ichor spraying across the battlefield.
"Wind Thruster!"
Voidbringer morphed into a spear, wind magic swirling violently around its tip. Raizo thrust forward with immense force, the spearhead slicing through air and scale alike, blasting the viper off the ground and sending it crashing against a rocky wall.
Raizo's chest heaved as he lowered his spear. "The power… after absorbing all those weapons, Voidbringer feels unstoppable."
The viper, bleeding and enraged, lunged weakly toward him. Raizo's weapon shifted again—this time into a staff.
"Fire Arrow!"
A flurry of flaming bolts erupted from the staff, streaking toward the beast. The arrows exploded upon impact, engulfing the viper's body in searing flames. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the creature writhed and roared, but still it refused to fall.
The ground beneath Raizo suddenly trembled. The viper slammed its head into the earth, sending jagged spikes of stone erupting toward him. Raizo leaped into the air, dodging each strike with nimble precision.
"So… you can use earth magic too?" Raizo smirked midair. "That's too bad for you."
His staff dissolved into a black bow, shadows swirling around the string. Raizo drew it back, whispering, "Bye-bye… Dark Arrow!"
A shadowy arrow materialized from the void itself. The moment he released it, the arrow tore through the air with deadly precision, piercing one of the viper's glowing eyes and exiting from the other side.
The beast let out one final, agonizing roar before collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash. Silence followed.
Raizo exhaled sharply, his body trembling from the adrenaline. He lowered his bow, which shimmered and shifted back into Voidbringer's original form—a sleek, obsidian-black sword. Sliding it back into his waist scabbard, he whispered:
"It's over."
[Gluttony Ability Activated.]
[Stats Updating…]
Atk: 1080
Def: 1060
Sta: 1100
Mana: 1200
Magic: Earth
Ability: Venomous Coil
Raizo's lips curved into a grin. "Good. I'm getting stronger."
As he turned to leave, a thought struck him like lightning. "Wait… I can use my Item Box now, can't I?" Without wasting a second, he sprinted back into the cave. Inside, he quickly stored every book, artifact, and valuable item into his newly learned Item Box before heading out again, ready to reunite with his party.
---
Meanwhile…
Fenra, Silvia, and Shekiah walked silently along the forest path, their faces clouded with sorrow. In Fenra's trembling hands lay the gem of the giant python—a trophy of their hard-won battle, yet one that felt hollow.
Fenra tilted her head toward the sky, voice cracking. "Raizo… I'm so sorry. If that snake hadn't glared at me, you'd still be here… with us."
Silvia reached out, gently touching Fenra's arm. "Fenra, don't blame yourself. You know this isn't your fault."
Shekiah nodded, her ears drooping slightly. "Yeah… all we can do now is keep going. For Raizo. We'll reach A-rank together—just like he wanted."
Fenra swallowed hard, her throat burning. "Yeah… for Raizo."
---
Raizo continued his trek through the undergrowth until something caught his eye—a colossal footprint pressed deep into the earth. He crouched beside it, his expression tense.
"Is this… the behemoth's footprint I saw earlier?" He exhaled a shaky breath. "Compared to this thing, I'm like an ant. I'd better stay away."
He diverted his path, weaving through the trees, until he spotted a cliff with an elevated ridge above. "There… maybe I can get a better view."
Channeling earth magic, Raizo created a makeshift staircase of stone, climbing swiftly to the top. Once there, he activated Lightning Dash and dashed forward, his boots skidding to a halt at a sight that made his blood run cold.
Below him, lying broken and still, was the massive corpse of the giant python—the very same beast their quest had targeted. Its scales were marred with bite marks, claw slashes, and even a vine with jagged thorns that pierced its hide.
Raizo's hand tightened on Voidbringer's hilt. "Who… who could've done this?"
He climbed down cautiously, stepping onto the serpent's body. His eyes lingered on a familiar deep slash across its side—his slash.
"Was this… the same python I fought?" He shook his head, puzzled. "Did Fenra and the others… finish it off after I fell?"
He clenched his jaw, determination surging through his chest.
"Wait for me, Fenra. Silvia. Shekiah. I'm coming back to you."
With that, Raizo activated Lightning Dash once more, racing down the path toward Asteria, his heart pounding like a war drum.