Chapter 33: Golden-scaled Python King (1/2)
The sky looked gloomy, and the forest was silent. A couple of colorful fireflies could be seen dancing in the bushes.
A Forest Python died by my hands, its blood staining the glowing Weeping Fire Blade. I couldn’t remember how many Forest Pythons I had killed, but I could see my experience had gone up by a lot. With that grind session I had reached Level 29.
“Phew…”
I exhaled and checked the contents of my bag. I had collected 45 Forest Python Sacs thus far, but I still had no idea what they were used for.
My original plan was to follow the forest trail leading into the Black Forest and lure out any Forest Python on my way so that I could take them out one by one. However, due to an error in judgement, after wandering aimlessly for 4 hours straight, I had no choice but to admit. I was lost!
The map proved helpless, since it didn’t detail any location I hadn’t explored. I only had a vague idea where Cold Wind Canyon lay.
I wasn’t alone, however. I had a “fierce” skeletal python that looked like it had been built from a dinosaur fossil. It was Level 25 and had high enough Defense to serve me as a tank. It was also the main reason for my survival in this unknown and dangerous environment. A demonic servant conjured with Summon Undead couldn’t be recovered, so its death wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.
Suddenly, a ring resounded in my ears—
Ding~!
System Notice: Player “Dominating Heaven Blade” is the first player in Floating Ice City to reach Level 30. Rewards obtained: 3000 EXP and 200 Reputation!
Wow, Dominating Heaven Blade is seriously killing it!
I let out a small gasp of surprise, but quickly got over it. If Lin Yixin and I hadn’t dueled each other and dropped a couple of levels, the achievement would never have fallen in his hands.
Beep!
I received a message from Lin Yixin. “There you go. See? Dominating Heaven Blade and the Domination Clan claimed the achievement because we lost god knows how many levels during that duel! They won everything, while we lost everything!”
Slightly dumbfounded, I replied, “I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one to blame here.”
Her reply came quickly. “A man should have the balls to take responsibility!”
I couldn’t help but smile at that and replied, “Fine, I’ll take responsibility for the two of us.”
She was probably fuming because it took her about half a minute before she made a reply. “But I haven’t eaten breakfast yet…”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It means I won’t have the energy to beat the shit out of you…”
“...”
Happy that she had scored one over me, Lin Yixin sent one last smiley face before going silent.
I didn’t manage to go far before I suddenly noticed that my environment was slightly different from before. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that most of the grass on the ground had wilted, and the leaves were completely black. It looked like… poison?
I looked up and gripped the Weeping Fire Blade tightly. I had a feeling that I had run into a powerful enemy!
Rustle!
The moonlight was dim, and the night’s wind shook the three branches violently. Before I knew it, a pair of blood red eyes were staring at me from a corner, causing my skin to crawl with goosebumps. If the earlier pythons were tiny snakes, then this one was a true python in every sense of the word. Its body was as big as a tree trunk and fifteen meters long. It had golden scales and a frighteningly huge head, and when it opened its mouth and spat its forked tongue at me, I could smell the blood stench all the way from where I was! Its merciless, beastly eyes stared at me like a predator eyeing its prey!
Golden-scaled Python King (E+ Rank Boss)
Attack: ???
Defense: ???
HP: ???
Skill: ???
I couldn’t see its stats at all, but I was certain that this boss was going to be a tough one. For all I know it might even be Level 40!
I groaned miserably in my head. When it rains, it pours. All I wanted to do was collect some Green Peppers, but I just had to run into what might be the forest protector itself in this entire forest. Should I say I was lucky, or unlucky?
I gripped the Weeping Fire Blade and glared back at the Golden-scaled Python King with equal ferocity. I’ll fight! I won’t cower in fear! That’s not how I play my game!
Behind me, the Cyanfire Cloak fluttered slightly to the wind. Its 22 Defense and +7 Stamina was one of the main reasons I hadn’t bolted off yet. With a total HP pool of 610, it wasn’t completely hopeless.
“Hiss hiss!”
The Golden-scaled Python King continued to flick its tongue in and out as it stared at me. Then, it coiled and shot straight for me like a cannonball, its mouth opened wide! It was incredibly frightening!
I sidestepped at the right time and was barely able to dodge the boss’s attack. At the same time, the Weeping Fire Blade burned with the light of Slayer Slash and plunged into its flesh!
Crack!
My attack hit the boss’s weak point perfectly, and a pleasing amount of damage entered my view—376!
That was good news. If I could break through its defense, then killing this boss was definitely possible.
However, the Golden-scaled Python King quickly turned toward me and spat a mouthful of poisonous venom. My body immediately felt numb as my HP started dropping drastically—
Beep!
Combat Log: You are taking poison damage. You are losing 5% HP every 10 seconds!
Thwack!
410!
Moreover, the monster swung its tail across my chest armor and dropped its durability to almost nothing in the blink of an eye. The boss’s damage was just too much to handle!