Fierce Battle (2)

Author's thought

If you have any suggestions or if you are curious about something, do write in the comments. I will definitely consider it. And from now on the magic techniques and important words will be marked bold.

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Ethan's POV

The smoke spread rapidly, clouding the air with a deadly haze that seemed to leech the vitality from the surroundings. My every instinct screamed at me to move, to avoid being engulfed by the venomous fog. My mind raced as I considered my options. This beast wasn't just strong, it was intelligent, and it was playing to its strengths.

I glided back, my movements swift and fluid, and an idea instantly lit up in my head. Without hesitation, I pulled back the chains, their dark tendrils retracting smoothly into my grasp. Focusing my will, I channelled my magical power into the Umbra Shackles, surging energy into the knives at the ends of the chains. The weapons responded immediately, their faint glow intensifying into a bright green radiance.

As the infusion continued, intricate feather-like patterns previously invisible surfaced along the blades, their cryptic designs pulsing faintly with energy. With a sharp motion, I rotated the chains in a wide circle, building momentum. A strong gust of wind erupted from the spinning blades, gaining intensity until it coalesced into a small green tornado, composed of countless razor-sharp wind blades.

The whirlwind surrounded me protectively, its energy radiating outward in waves. The toxic fog churned violently under the force of the wind, dispersing rapidly. The poisonous mist dissipated before it could breach the perimeter of the wind barrier, leaving me safe within the eye of the storm.

I heaved an internal sigh of relief. The sheer danger of the snake's venom had pushed me into quick action, and in the heat of the moment, I'd almost forgotten an important detail that the crystal knives were wind-attributed magical equipment. Their latent abilities had turned the tide of this confrontation.

With the immediate danger neutralized, I extended my soul sense, scanning for any sign of the snake's movements. It had an innate camouflaging ability, blending seamlessly with the darkness around it. The quiet tension in the air thickened, and my nerves were on edge as I braced for its next move.

Suddenly, a faint ripple in the atmosphere warned me. Trusting my instincts, I leapt backward just as the snake's massive head struck down from above, aiming for the spot I'd occupied mere moments ago. The force of the missed attack reverberated through the cave, dislodging loose rocks and debris.

Without panicking, I seized the moment. As the snake's head recoiled from its failed ambush, I took advantage of its momentary vulnerability. My chains shot forward with a thought, the Umbra Shackles wrapping tightly around the lower half of the serpent's massive body. Black thorns sprouted from the shackles, anchoring themselves deep into the snake's scaled flesh, ensuring it couldn't escape.

With a fierce tug, I exerted my strength and swung the snake into the air. The sheer weight and resistance of its body tested my endurance, but I gritted my teeth and rotated the creature at high speed. The snake's bulk became a blur, its hiss turning into a strangled cry as it flailed in vain against the crushing grip of the chains.

I slammed the snake against the jagged rocks beside the black pond with a deafening crash. The force reverberated through the cavern, and dark purple blood splattered across the cave walls. But I didn't stop there and bashed it again and again, I hurled the snake's body against the unforgiving stone, each impact accompanied by a sickening crunch.

By the time I stopped, the once-ferocious creature was a bloodied mess, its body broken and lifeless, crushed beyond recognition. The silence that followed was deafening, the oppressive tension of the battle dissipating as quickly as it had begun.

My chest heaved as I caught my breath, the weight of my exhaustion settling in. But despite the toll the fight had taken, a surge of triumph coursed through me as this was the most dangerous battle I had fought till date in this world. I had emerged victorious, defeating a creature that was a whole stage stronger than me. As I stared at the lifeless snake, my gaze shifted to the black lotus bud atop its head, still pulsating faintly with dark energy. It was time to claim my prize. 

Despite knowing the snake was dead, I cautiously used my knives to sever its body into several pieces, ensuring it was no longer a threat. With meticulous care, I pried the black lotus bud from its head, taking extra caution not to damage it. As I held the lotus in my hand, I focused my attention on the serpent's corpse, channelling my intent toward the Eterna Nexus. A seven-coloured light flickered within my soul space, and a stream of text appeared in my soul space.

[Lotus Mirage Serpent - A Grade 1 dark and poison elemental magical beast, renowned for its deceptive and sinister nature. The entirety of its magical energy is concentrated within the lotus bud on its head. The pearl inside the lotus bud is highly sought after by dark mages, as the serpent possesses a unique ability to locate dense hotspots of dark elemental energy and absorb them into its bud, preparing for its potential advancement.] 

I was overjoyed as I carefully retrieved a wooden box from my spatial ring and securely placed the lotus bud inside it. After a moment's hesitation, I enveloped my hands in a sheath of darkness, forming protective gloves. With precision, I pried open the serpent's crushed jaw and extracted its venom sac. I meticulously placed it, along with the sac itself, into a sturdy bottle, knowing it might prove invaluable in future battles.

Satisfied, I scoured the cave thoroughly, ensuring there were no lurking threats or surprises. Convinced of its safety and noting the abundance of dense dark energy saturating the environment, I decided this would be the ideal place to undergo my long-awaited advancement to Elemental Sea Mage.