Chapter 126: Chapter126-Mira's Unique Ability

My breath caught as I watched them battle the massive creaturea gigantic, snake-like beast, larger than any monster I had ever encountered. Its body was cloaked in shimmering blue scales that reflected the fading light of the sunset. But what truly made my blood run cold were the eight heads towering over the battlefield, each as large as a boulder, with fangs that dripped a thick, dark fluid. 'What the hell?' Is that a hydra or something? I was shocked because hydras usually have 9 heads, but this one only had 8. So, what kind of creature was this? I could also see from here that it didn't have any tongueswhen two of its heads opened their mouths, they were packed with sharp, razor-like teeth. I instinctively activated my appraisal skill, desperate to know what kind of monster they were up against. __ **Arohan Hydra Serpent** - **Height**: About 20 feet tall - **Weight**: Around 2300 pounds - **Strengths**: Razor-sharp fangs, powerful tail, spits poison, sharp scales, Second Chance, Fear Induction... - **Weaknesses**: Vulnerable to fire, weak flesh and sharp blades. - **Critical Body Parts**: Eight heads, eyes, and neck. - **Rank**: Early Rare Rank Monster - **Odds of Success**: There's only a 3% chance of defeating this creature in a fight. - **System Note**: Host, it is highly recommended not to engage with this monster unless you're ready to face the possibility of death. __ I sighed in disappointment... Damn... That's a Rare Rank monster. I thought it was a Peak Gold Rank. If it had been, I would've used my dash skill and attacked right away. Defeating a Peak Gold Ranker isn't impossible for me at this point. Yeah, it would be challenging, but with my skills, I'd stand a chance. But this guy is Rare Rank... I've never faced a Rare Rank monster before, so I'm not as confident as I would be against a Gold Rank. But what about them? When I appraised Mira and the others, I saw they were all at Peak Gold Rank, just one level below that snake... Talk about bad luck. The snake was currently locking its gaze on them. I'm not sure what it's up to, but based on the strengths I just read, it's probably trying to intimidate them... Hmm. Looking back, when I faced that Elite Rank Razor Dragon, wasn't it doing the same thing? I remember being so scared I almost pissed my pants from the fear and pressure. Though I have to admit, the pressure from this snake isn't even a third of what I felt from that dragon. *** Mira gripped her sword tightly, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She glanced at Tiara and Lian, who were both equally focused. So, the fight's about to start? Okay, let's see who wins. I won't interfere unless I see a chance... And by chance, I mean if the snake gets tired out by the fight... Yeah... Basically, I want them to battle the snake until it's worn out and weak, so I can take it down at the end. Mira took a deep breath and spoke with a firm voice, "We need to take out its heads one as fast as possible. Stay close, and don't let it separate us." Lian nodded, his bowstring already drawn, a glowing arrow nocked and ready. Wait! That arrow? When I saw it, I was visibly confused. Isn't that a Blood Arrow? The red glow sure makes it look like one. If that's the case. How is that guy even using it? No, seriously, why would he even use it? Bloody Arrows are extremely powerful for Platinum rankers, but they're a dangerous choice for anyone Gold rank or lower on this planet. When I say powerful, I mean it. They're double-edged. Their specialty is delivering massive damage or even killing a monster in a single shot. Sounds amazing, right? But there's a downside. Every time you shoot one, you have to use your maximum strength. Yeah... your maximum strength. Why? Because Blood Arrows are primarily crafted from the teeth of Titans, an Elite Rank monster. That's why most Gold rankers and below can only manage to fire around 10 arrows at most. Just 10. And if the monster in front of you dodges or survives all of them, then you're done for. Anyway... Tiara, wielding twin daggers, darted ahead, positioning herself to the serpent's side. Nah, that's a bad move. Very bad move. The serpent made the first move. Its eight heads lunged forward like a coordinated barrage of spears. Mira jumped, raising her sword just in time to block one of the heads' snapping jaws. The impact jolted her arms, but she stayed steady, using the force to spin and slash at another head that came at her. Lian shot an arrow. It flew through the air, glowing with power, and hit one of the serpent's heads right in the eye. "Shreeek!" The serpent roared in pain and reared back, but it didn't back down. Instead, its tail whipped around with terrifying speed. Tiara, who was moving in to strike the serpent's side, saw the tail coming but couldn't react in time. The massive tail slammed into her, sending her crashing into a nearby boulder. Hmm... This is what I was talking about... A few days ago, when I was reading a monster encyclopedia, it warned in red that you should never attack a serpent's side if it has more than two heads unless you're Platinum rank or higher. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I see why... A sharp cry of pain escaped her lips as she slumped to the ground, trying to regain her breath. "Tiara!" Mira shouted, but she couldn't afford to look back. Another head struck at her, forcing her to duck and roll. She retaliated with a precise upward slash, but the serpent pulled back just in time to avoid a fatal blow. Liam was already in action, his bow humming as he fired another arrow, targeting the serpent's exposed neck. The arrow hit its mark, sinking deep into the creature's flesh. But the serpent didn't back off. Hissing, one of its heads turned toward Lian, fangs bared, and sprayed a stream of dark, thick poison. Liam tried to dodge, but the poison struck his leg, burning through his armor and searing his skin. "Shit!" He screamed in pain and fell to one knee, struggling to endure the pain. ... But... I don't get it. Why haven't they used their special abilities yet? I expected them to unleash their powers right away and try to inflict as much damage on the serpent as possible. But they're not even attempting that. So, what's their plan? Mira is barely staying on her feet, and Tiara and Lian seem seriously injured. But something doesn't add up. Mira Lapele isn't the kind of person who rushes into a fight without a solid plan. So, I'm convinced she has some strategy to take this thing down. ... During the battle, the serpent clearly had the advantage. It loomed over the battlefield, its massive body showing only a few small injuries. Even with its upper hand, I still believe the outcome was still unclear. Why? In a fight, the moment you think you've won is often when you're in the most vulnerable state. The serpent opened one of its many mouths and spat a stream of venom directly at Mira, ignoring her companions. Mira quickly leaped out of the way, landing on the other side of the field. But the serpent had anticipated this. As soon as she hit the ground, it unleashed another wave of poison, this time in a much larger quantity, aimed straight at her. Mira rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding most of the attack. However, she wasn't entirely unscathedher right leg was splashed with the poison, the burning liquid searing her skin... Wait a minute! Did she do that on purpose? I mean, she dodged the poison, but just as the acidic green liquid was about to hit the ground, she moved her leg and let it get burned on purpose. Is she some kind of masochist? Who in their right mind would willingly injure themselves, especially against a rare-rank monster? What is she trying to do? Now that I think about it, was I wrong to expect so much from her? Maybe... Let's wait and see what happens. ... The serpent suddenly halted its attack and fixed Mira with a menacing gaze. Why did it stop? Shouldn't it continue spitting poison to weaken its foe? There doesn't seem to be any reason for its pause. The noise of battle faded, leaving a tense silence in the field. The serpent's eight heads leaned in, all focused on Mira as if she were nothing more than an insignificant insect. Mocking? I see... Many monsters follow this trope, pausing in front of their prey as if victory is already assured, assuming their opponent is powerless. I expected more from a Rare Rank monster. Usually, intelligent creatures recognize that time is crucial in battle and that letting an opponent linger could be dangerous. They locked eyes for a moment, almost like they were having a silent conversation between hunter and prey. Even though Mira was injured, she stood strong. Her face remained calm, concealing any pain from her injured leg. Another concern: did she forget to bring any potions with her? If she has any, she should use them. And why are the others just sitting in the tree, enduring their injuries? Don't they have any potions left? If not, then it's understandable. "Lian, do it!" And then, breaking the silence, Mira's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, Hmm? Wh- As if her words had magic, Lian, who had been lying on the ground moments before, suddenly sprang to his feet. The injuries that had left him helpless were gone, as if they had never been there. His eyes were cold and focused as he reached into his monster storage bag and pulled out not just one, but at least fifteen swords. Each sword was a long saber. Lian threw the swords into the ground, where they stood upright in a perfect circle around him. In one smooth move, he notched a Blood Arrow to his bow, the weapon glowing in his hand... At the same time, Tiara, who had also looked like she might collapse, forced herself to stand. With a flick of her wrists, her twin daggers changed. The once silver blades turned jet-black, with a jagged, zig-zag pattern, giving off a dark aura. The serpent, sensing the change in the battle, pulled back slightly. I could only watch in shock, trying to understand what was happening. Hey, what's going on? Just two minutes ago, both of them were on the ground, looking badly hurt, and now they're up and active. Could it be that they were pretending? It's a possibility but it's likely seems true. Mira's eyes moved from the serpent to the fallen swords around Lian. In a calm, steady voice, she said one word: "Fly." For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the swords started to shake, and the runes on their blades glowed brighter and brighter. Hmm... Is she...? Gradually, the swords lifted off the ground, hovering around Lian. I knew itI just knew it... When the swords started to tremble, I suspected she might be using a special ability, like telekinesis. At the time, it was just a wild guess. But who would have thought that guess would actually turn out to be right? They floated like birds of prey, circling and waiting for a command. The serpent realized the danger too late. All eight heads lunged at Mira, and its huge body surged forward, desperately trying to stop what was about to happen. But Mira was ready. With a sharp cry, she commanded, "Now!" "Damn, she's really about to do it..." Judging by how things are going, it seems like the match has completely shifted, leaving only three possible outcomes. First, the snake dies, and Mira's team wins. Second, the snake wins, and Mira's team loses. Third, I kill the snake before Mira's team can make their final move.