Chapter 21 : That was fun!

Pain is Two-Sided.

Sometimes it breaks the will of a living being, and other times it sharpens their consciousness.

The pain of having its tail cut off seemed to have returned consciousness to Python, who had been lost in delusion.
Its cloudy eyes focused.

This was unfortunate for Lena.

In the beginning, her goal had been to awaken Python, but in the current situation, where they were fighting to the death, she had only helped her opponent awaken.

The ill effects of this were immediately apparent.

Python’s scales rustled as they stood erect in reverse.
Then, as if reflecting sunlight in a mirror, it scattered light and emitted a mysterious iridescent glow.

“Some monsters even have a Phase 2, huh.”

No, was it because it was a monster?
She was a boss monster in this game.

[Iridescent Scales].

This was the skill that had elevated Python, a mere large serpent, to a ruler-class monster.
It was similar to how a hedgehog raises its quills to protect its body.
Of course, since it was covered in mana, it was incomparably harder and sharper than that.

The hard scales deflected attacks, and the sharp tips stabbed and killed any opponent who approached.
It was a shield that forbade approach and a trap that killed enemies.
It was a power almost perfectly suited against monsters.

No matter how bizarre the abilities of the monsters in the Great Forest were, their physical characteristics were prominent.
It was a very irrational power that forced you to take losses the closer you got.

[The ruler-class monster of the Great Forest, Python, has designated you as an enemy!]
[Combat with Python is dangerous!]
[It is recommended that you retreat temporarily and cooperate with an ally before challenging it!]

…But that only worked on those it would work on.

Lena waved her hand, brushing away the status window that was blocking her view.
With Lena’s gesture, dozens of scales were split and torn off with a cheerful sound: Kwadeudeuk.

It felt good in her hands.
The sensation of brushing past and breaking them, like snapping sugar cane, was perfect for relieving stress.
She even wanted to take a few with her.
They were shiny and pretty—perfect for interior decorating.

Before she could chain an attack to shatter its body, Python’s writhing torso lashed out at Lena like a whip.
Lena skidded back, carving a deep furrow in the ground.
The terrain of the Great Forest was devastated in a straight line as trees snapped and rocks shattered.

Lena, however, was unharmed.
The impact of Python’s attack was blocked by her dragon scales, and the rest didn’t even tickle her body, which had been tempered by the destiny of the wild (awakened).
Instead, it felt like the soles of her shoes were on fire.

Her feet felt hot, like she was stepping barefoot on asphalt heated by a heatwave.
Lena regretted it.
She should have just flown away.

She had held on because she didn’t know how far she would fly, but she had taken a needless loss.

“Annoying.”

She had thought those scales were just pretty to look at, but they were surprisingly effective.
The scales had broken with just a flick of her hand, but if she did that, she lacked the power to split the body itself.

Python’s counterattack had come just as Lena was about to create some distance.
In the end, she’d have to break all the scales on the cut part—but would Python, who had regained his senses, really let her do that?
Before that, wouldn’t he use some other strange trick?

As expected, that was the case.
Lena spotted a cluster of radiance covering the sky.

“It’s shooting scales?”
Lena admired the entirely new application.

Each and every one of those was a scale.
Python had realized that his iridescent scales were only good as a one-time shield, so he had changed his strategy.
But if he did that, would the scales regrow? Why had he made such a fuss about his tail not regrowing?

The moment she pondered those foolish questions was enough to determine life or death.
The scales fell endlessly, drawing parabolas like arrows shot by a huge army.
It was a wave covering an area, not just a point.

No matter how hard she tried to run, it was impossible to avoid them all.
She’d have to withstand them with her bare body—but while her arms would be fine, the rest of her would be a mess.

What a cowardly way to fight.
As everyone knew, cowardice was praise, whether in the internet world or in reality.
Any ordinary person would be helpless against him if they fought him.

And Lena wasn’t just any ordinary person.

The scales poured onto the ground: Toodoodoo.
The aftermath was closer to bombs falling than arrows piercing the earth.
Kwaang kwaang—the ground exploded.

Lena abruptly pulled her body out from the shrapnel.
She had soared into the sky.

Ordinarily, this would have been a foolish choice.
Humans can’t fly.
It was hard to even change directions, so it was a mistake that would restrict her next movements—especially with scales still pouring down.
It was like throwing herself into a storm.

[Instinct Trigger – Predator’s Senses amplifies the five senses!]

Lena’s eyesight took in each and every one of the falling scales.
The more she focused, the more time stretched out like taffy and crawled slowly.
It was like walking through a gap in time.
What felt like ten seconds to her was only one second for others.

Lena kicked off one of the scales that brushed past her calf.
The path she had to take to avoid the pouring scales was intuitively clear to her.

[Wild Martial Arts (Lv. Max) assists your movements!]

She twisted, flipped, bounced, and rotated her body—a series of movements that flowed like water.
In the blink of an eye, the white clouds were before her.
She was also at the same height as Python’s head, which was stiffly raised.

Its blood-red eyes trembled slightly.
It seemed he hadn’t expected an enemy to break through his attack like this.

Lena playfully curled the corners of her lips, teasing him.
You’ve lived too long to be this naive.
Even though you’re so small, you should have considered all the possibilities.

That was ridiculous.
Being small and being able to escape the bombardment with those bizarre movements were separate matters.

However, whatever the reason, it was still a mistake.
No matter how terrifying a wild beast was, it was prone to losing its life in vain if it was careless at night—especially in a real battle where they were trying to kill each other.
It wasn’t a board game; there was no way to undo a move. They could only bite at each other’s necks.

Lena kicked off the last scale and struck Python’s cheek.
The shockwave that exploded from her fingertips became a storm and swept through.
Python’s head bent 90 degrees.

She had failed to shatter its head with a single blow.
It was because the iridescent scales were protecting it.
She had thought he’d used all his scales, but it seemed he had a last resort to protect the area around his face.

Lena wasn’t disappointed.
Her goal was to change his direction anyway.

Puhwaaaak!

Python seemed to puff up his cheeks for a moment, then opened his mouth wide.
An unknown liquid sprayed from his gaping maw.
It was a liquid that poured down like a waterfall, as if he had gathered all the moisture in his body.

The liquid, shot out in a straight line, corroded everything it touched.
All that remained was a purple gas that looked dangerous and melted residue.

“Wow! It’s a breath!”

Lena knew what that was.
Breath—a finishing move used by dragons or similar monsters as a last resort.
It was described as having incredible power.

That was true.
It had carved a path through the Great Forest—so open and refreshing to see, yet utterly terrifying.
That was close.

It was the right choice to be cautious because of her bad feeling.
Who would have imagined he was preparing something like that?
If she had tried to end it right away, who knew what would have happened?

It wasn’t luck.
It was a near-divine ability to sense danger, close to reaching the heavens.

Shiaaaak!

Python didn’t lose momentum, even though his trump card had been rendered useless.
If he retreated, he would die.
That small human had the power to take his life.

He had overcome all sorts of hardships to reach the ruler-class position in the Great Forest.
Was he supposed to offer up his life to a mere human?

Python moved his body, as if preparing a final struggle.
It was useless to try to hit her with his body.
With those iridescent scales gone, it was only a matter of time before he’d be cut to pieces.

Then there was only one way left.
Python turned his bent head back.
Then, closing his mouth that had been open, he snapped it shut.

…!

Python rejoiced.
He had won! He had devoured her!

It had been a hollow ending that made all his suffering seem pointless, but winning was winning.
Python felt Lena’s presence sliding down his throat.
She was a monster, but would she be able to withstand his digestive juices?

The monsters of the Great Forest grew stronger by devouring other monsters.
Trials were nothing more than stepping stones for growth once they were overcome.
That was the truth Python had personally realized.

He had swallowed a monster of the same rank.
He could expect to not only recover the mana he had used but also grow beyond his current limits.

Then, a wave of unease swept through his mind.
It wasn’t the result of rational thought but closer to an instinctive premonition.
She was the human who had evaded the bombardment of iridescent scales and dodged his breath with uncanny senses.
Was it even possible that such a person would be unable to react when he devoured her?

If even that was a trap…!

Shiaaaaa!

His realization came a step too late.
Python felt a burning pain in his stomach.
It was a sharp, searing pain, like being sliced with a knife.
It was being torn to pieces.

The delicate membranes and organs, unprotected by scales, were being cut apart.
Python tried to vomit everything inside, but the opponent was faster.
His throat swelled up and down, left and right.

And then, a thin line was carved into it—seogeok.
His severed head fell to the ground.

Lena emerged from inside.
She was covered in sticky mucus but wore a happy expression.

“The waterslide was fun.”

It was a different experience.
It felt like she had returned to her childhood.
When else would she have the chance to slide through a long esophagus?

Lena patted Python’s head, expressing her gratitude.

[……You have defeated the ruler-class monster of the Great Forest, the Monster Serpent Python!]

As if to announce the end of the battle, the status window popped up with a cheerful fanfare.