17 >Chapter 16<

A long serpent-like body emerged from the water. The body was about 12 meters tall and it created a big splash as it came out of the water with great speed. Water fell onto the surroundings and the boys. Though, being wet was the last of their concerns.

The boys looked at the creature that was staring at them with hungry eyes. It has a long body, like that of a snake. The body was covered by green glistening scales that reflected the sunlight. It had the maw of a dinosaur with sharp pointy teeth. On its body were an uncountable number of light-green fins. A red crystal was shining in the middle of its forehead.

The pressure form the gaze of a beast like this wasn't as strong as the last time since the group has progressed since then and they could easily take more, but they still felt it. Worst thing was that the pressure would slow them down during the fight.

The boys quickly tried to run away under the crushing weight. But before they could even take a step a red beam of light passed by them and incinerated the surrounding ground, turning it into magma. The beam successfully circled them and created a half-circle around them blocking their only path of escape.

With their only escape route blocked, the boys turned around and locked their gaze with the serpents. A chill ran through their spine. Facing a beast like this, they couldn't help but tremble a bit. But, in the next moment, a flash of resolution passed through their eyes. They weren't giving up their lives just to become food.

(Remember guys, you first have to make a foundation with natural energy and only then can you add your own signature energy.) Tim reminded the boys.

The rest just nodded and spread out from each other.

The beast didn't wait for the group to finish their formation. It wasn't going to wait for them to kill it. I straightened its body that was basically standing in the water and spread out its fins. After that it flapped them and currents of air started to appear on them. Turning the random currents into blades of air, the serpent aimed them at the boys and sent them right at them.

The boys didn't wait in place to be sliced in half. They ducked as low as they could. The air blades were very fast. As they passed just an inch above the boy's heads, the boys couldn't withstand the strength of the current, so they were sent flying back a few meters.

They didn't get to lie on the ground for very long, as another set of air blades were sent towards them. The boys just rolled to the side as much as they could.

Successfully dodging two of its attack, the boys didn't wait and ran towards it. They didn't want to act as the snakes punching bags so they decided to go on the offense. They had enough of not being able to do anything.

Putting all their strength into their legs, they took off so suddenly that it caused minor cracks to appear in the ground.

Running towards the creature, Timothy tried to stop the serpent from moving around too much. Small string of energy ran out of his body and went into the water. The threads weaved and integrated into the current, trying to stop the flowing water and creating two small streams that would flow around the snake, basically getting it out of its natural habitat and onto its natural enemy, the dry land.

The creature sensed some foreign energy invading into the river. It immediately destroyed the invading threads with its own energy, removing them from the water.

Tim was naturally astonished. The other boys were astonished as well. He didn't think it was possible to destroy other's energy. But instead of feeling discouraged, the boys found another use of this energy.

The monster didn't think much of this and continued to send some wind slashes at the group of teenagers.

The closer they go got the harder it was to dodge the wind slashes, so the boys started to try out the new thing they just saw. Small strands of energy ran toward the blades of air that were forming and slowly disassembled them.

The creature noticed the boys doing this and started adding its own wind energy. Another set of wind blades appeared and the group sent out their energy to destroy the attack, but now, the strands they had sent out got shredded by wind.

Confusion appeared on their faces. What happened just now? Why was it not working anymore? The boys were asking these questions as they dodged another volley of wind blades.

Impatience started to appear on the face of the serpent. It had enough of playing around. New blood-colored air blades appeared and were quickly sent out, aiming for the boy's necks.

The boys didn't have time to be astonished by this change in behavior and attacks, as the new slashes moved at an incredible speed. The group didn't have time to dodge.

In panic, they moved most of the energy in their body and added their own signature energy to it, creating a wind blade, a wall of dirt, an arc of lighting, a ball of fire and a blade of water. Instinctively, they all aimed with their attacks and thrust them forward, opposite to the red air blades that were sent out.

The best offense is the best defense.

*Boom*

A loud boom was heard. A Collision of foreign energies fighting for supremacy sounded out. The boys didn't stand in place and wait for the results of the clash. They knew that they wouldn't win in that exchange, so instead, they tried to buy themselves some time.

The energies clashed like this for a few second before the boy's attack were completely overpowered by the attack of the water serpent… But those few seconds were enough for the boys to successfully dodge the attack.