Chapter 5: The Serpent in the Shadows

That growl ran cold shivers down my back, and the hair on my back stood up. Whatever that had been, it hadn't sounded like either of those either. Another predator, another danger. The system warning didn't tell me anything constructive anyway. Anyhow, I had to be prepared for anything.

I crouched under the large rock on my hill, looking down towards the woods. Noises came from the bush, yet still, I could not see a thing. Survival Instinct whispered to me that the danger was closer. I breathed in hard, so ready for fight.

Then, I saw it: a very long, slithering shape going in the dark.

[Enemy Identified: Shadow Serpent]

Level: 6'

Status: High-level predator, venomous.

Weakness: Light sensitivity, vulnerable to speed-based attacks.

A snake. A massive, black-scaled serpent that moved with eerie silence. Its body coiled and uncoiled as it slid across the forest floor, its tongue flicking out to taste the air. It was bigger than I'd expected—easily twice my size, and its sleek, dark body blended into the shadows perfectly. The only thing that stood out was its eyes—two glowing slits of yellow, locked directly onto me.

It warned the system about the poison, and suddenly the heart started running fast. Just one simple bite, if I weren't careful, would be lethal. I couldn't let it come near, nor would fighting it from a distance be that effortless either. Snakes could jump and run fast as per their wish, and this one was surely after me.

[System Tip: Use high ground and avoid direct confrontations. The serpent is vulnerable in the open.]

My eyes scoured around for the next move. The boulders littering the hillside provided some sort of shelter; the snake's wiry body, though, would easily slip between the gaps. The best thing that I could do was to continue moving, keep my distance, and await the perfect opportunity for an attack.

The snake lifted its head an inch or so and then hissed at my indecision. Then it darted really fast in my direction. I could only sway out of the way, jumping to the side, as its fangs clashed together in the place where I had been standing.

I had to think fast.

[Quick Strike Activated]

I ran quickly towards the brambles, knowing well that the big snake wouldn't find that path easy. It followed me there, though-this time much slower as it tried getting through the thorny bushes. I could hear its scales softly against the plants, struggling to move. This was my chance.

I moved in a circle, keeping behind the screen of bushes, and waited for an opportunity. The snake was swift, yet it repeated the same tricks time after time-it relied upon swift strikes and upon surprise, and it could not maneuver as well as I could in tight places. I had to wear it out, compel it to make mistakes.

It struck again, much closer this time, its mouth shutting only an inch from my tail. I sprang backward, my speed again allowing me to evade its strike. Still, I knew I could not do this all day. I was tiring, and the one wrong move would be fatal.

I have done it on speed.

I went up the hill again, trying to get the snake to follow again. Its head reared, hissing, and coiled in for another leap. I was ready. In the same moment that it leaped at me, I moved around one of the big rocks. It crashed onto the rock; its body slapped against the hard surface, and the noise sounded almost deafening.

For a split second, it looked surprised and that was all the time that I needed.

I waited no longer, but ran with all the speed my young limbs could command, smiting with all my might at the exposed side of the serpent near its head; the blow fell upon a sensitive spot, and with a spasm it whipped round upon itself, yet still I clung; a second blow went home upon its neck.

[Critical Hit!]

Damage dealt: 75 HP.

Enemy status: Poisoned (minor)

I blinked. Poisoned? That wasn't supposed to happen. Then I realized-brambles. When the snake tried to chase me, it touched some of those thorny bushes, and some of those thorns must have had some sort of natural poison on them. The system didn't say a thing about it, but it was obvious that sometimes the surroundings would be able to help me.

It hissed once more, this time rather weakened. Its movements were slow, twisting and writhing and loosening without much power. I knew the venom was working, sucking the strength from it. Now I only had to wait it out.

But the war was far from over.

It made one final lunge at me, fangs in my face, and I moved sideways; it was quicker than I had estimated, though, and the fangs touched my shoulders and a sharp pain coursed through the body.

[Status: Minor Venom Infection]

Effect: Slight decrease in agility and strength over time. Cure within 1 hour to avoid serious damage.

My heartbeat quickened. I couldn't let the poison take over yet couldn't back away now. I had to end it.

I sprang onto its back, forgot the scalding agony raking my body, and launched the final Quick Strike. My teeth sank into its neck, and in a massive heave, the robust skin gave in; it was perfectly still, slumping onto the ground with a thunderous crash.

[Quest Progress: 2/3 Predators Defeated]

Experience gained: 250 XP.

Progress to next level: 450/400 XP.

[Level Up!]

Stat Increase: Strength +1, Agility +2, Endurance +1

New skill unlocked: Venom Resistance (Level 1)

I stepped back, panting as the system flashed the details of my level up before me. Now, my body felt a lot stronger and quicker, but my principal problem remained the poison. Thankfully, the system had given me Venom Resistance, which should eventually slow down the working of the snake's bite.

I turned now to the dead snake that lay still coiled at the bottom of the hill. I had taken care of two predators, one more remained. It was not yet time to celebrate because the poison inside my body would soon become a big problem if I didn't do something about it soon enough.

[System Tip: Seek out natural herbs to cure the venom. The antidote can be found in the forest nearby.]

I didn't have much time at all. Now, with this new skill nullifying the effects of the poison, I had a chance to find the cure. That, however, meant leaving my hill behind and going back into the forest, where the last predator was probably waiting for me.

I took a deep breath and tried to stay cool. I needed to speed up, but I should be extremely careful. This next predator would just not wait for me to get a little better. I needed to find those herbs and fix this poison, get myself ready for the last fight.

My body was still amok from the feel of the fight as I gained entrance into the forest-that weird mixture of excitement and fear. It was a brutal world, and I was toughening up, and for good.

Soon, it would be me leading over this place.