Against the Snake 1

As they walked deeper into the dungeon, the dim light revealed the twisted, eerie corners of the ancient stone walls. Suddenly, Ethan held up his hand and glanced at Furcio, whose face grew tense in response.

Ethan signaled him not to do anything rash as they proceeded cautiously.

Fortunately, the pearls embedded in the walls provided sufficient illumination for them to navigate the passageway. Ethan couldn't help but feel thankful for this stroke of luck.

Not long after, they finally reached a larger clearing, bathed in the soft light emitted by the pearls embedded in the wall. "Do not engage," Ethan uttered, already anticipating what lay a

However, before Furcio could respond, a sharp rustle emanated from the darkness nearby, followed by a low, echoing hiss.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat, and he froze in his tracks, wondering how events had escalated so rapidly.

Why was it so quick?

Ethan turned his gaze to Furcio, who now appeared ready to confront any potential threat, holding his dagger with a sharp, alert gaze.

Once more, Ethan signaled for restraint, but it seemed too late. Before he knew it, Furcio had vanished in front of him, and a loud crash erupted in the eerie silence of the cave.

The players' mission in this dungeon was to rescue a wounded snake that posed a threat to the colony of insects in the area.

The snake's presence here was a mystery, and their primary objective was to ensure its safety. Obviously, only Ethan knew this. He was given a mission to survive this place without using violence.

Yet, Furcio had immediately initiated an attack, driven by his innate survival instincts.

To be honest, Ethan could not blame Furcio as the man was another creature of the dungeon. He must have felt the snake nearby!

Ethan frowned when he saw the snake.

It was huge, larger than the one in the game. The snake was a formidable sight, adorned with jet-black scales that glistened ominously in the dim light of the cave. Its eyes were a fierce scarlet, gleaming with an unsettling intensity, giving the creature an aura of malevolence and primal power.

In the game, the players who dared fight the snake would always end up dead. Some of them thought there was a secret quest somewhere but no one was able to find it.

To be able to leave this place, the player should help the snake recover. This was the only way.

Ethan observed the deep gash on the snake's tail, which oozed dark, viscous liquid. The wound appeared severe, likely the reason the snake had sought refuge in the dungeon.

Ethan shifted his attention to Furcio, who had demonstrated remarkable prowess when they fought. Ethan already thought Furcio was strong inside that elevator but this?

This was different.

This fight unveiled his true abilities, leaving Ethan in awe. Having that Harmony Pact is really a good decision, ah!

From where he was standing, Ethan watched as the snake, with its black scales and fierce red eyes, moved with surprising agility for its size.

Furcio matched this agility as he darted in and out, wielding his short sword and dagger, exploiting the snake's wounded state. The cave echoed with the clash of metal against scales and the hissing of the enraged serpent.

Ethan could only watch from the sidelines, unable to directly intervene. "What are you doing!?" Furcio's voice echoed. "Help me!"

"I can't fight," Ethan said. This system is going to be the death of him one day, ah.

The mysterious system's constraints were truly irritating!

It prohibited him from fighting now, but it would not oppose violence once the mission concluded.

What a hypocrite!

Then, in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, Furcio made a calculated move, attempting to strike a decisive blow. But the snake lunged with unexpected strength, catching Furcio off guard. The impact sent Furcio flying, his body crashing against the cave walls with a sickening thud.

Ethan cringe.

"Stupid," Ethan muttered, frustrated by Furcio's unwillingness to retreat when facing a formidable enemy.

In Ethan's mind, a creature's first instinct was to flee when defeat was inevitable, and Furcio should have taken that route.

Wasn't this considered a natural instinct for creatures inside the dungeons?

Ethan understood that Furcio wasn't trying to protect him. After all, it wasn't a part of their pact. Furcio had the freedom to abandon him, and it wouldn't violate the Harmony Pact.

Yet, he stayed and even fought like a madman.

Stupid beast… Ethan frowned. Luckily, the snake did not seem too bothered by Ethan's presence. He concluded that the snake knew that Ethan was but a weak human, but Furcio was different. He was another creature from the dungeon! His presence alone was enough to threaten the snake!

Ethan watched Furcio's limp form, worry etched across his face. Furcio was a very useful piece of the puzzle! He could help Ethan in the future, ah. Ethan shook his head, pushing aside his inner grievances to deal with the immediate crisis.

He was not surprised when the wounded snake slowly turned towards him, its red eyes fixated on Ethan. Yet Ethan maintained his composure, refusing to display fear or weakness.

He understood that any sudden movement might provoke an attack. He had to handle the situation with care.

Without hesitation, Ethan contemplated using his ability - persuasion. Although he was uncertain whether it would work on a creature like this, he hoped it might influence the wounded snake to some extent.

[Limitations]

[Limited Influence: The scope and depth of persuasion are limited at this level. The wielder can only influence minor decisions or preferences, and the effect is temporary and fades over time.]

[Target Awareness: Skilled or perceptive individuals may sense a subtle influence or manipulation, especially if it contradicts their core beliefs or desires. This awareness can reduce the effectiveness of the persuasion.]

[Mental Resistance: Individuals with strong mental resilience or prior awareness of persuasion attempts may resist the effects, making them less susceptible to this skill.]

Ethan hoped that this snake possessed low mental resistance.

Of course, if he failed, he was prepared to flee, leaving Furcio behind.

"Hey," Ethan spoke softly. "I mean no harm." He maintained slow and deliberate movements as he raised both of his arms, demonstrating to the snake that he posed no threat.

To his surprise, the snake tilted its head, appearing confused. Had the persuasion worked? Ethan blinked, taken aback.

Really?

"I am here to help," Ethan continued. To his surprise, however, the snake suddenly lunged at him.

Almost immediately, Ethan turned and ran.