Chapter 44: The Path of the Mage XVII

Chapter 44: 44: The Path of the Mage XVII --- The final shot cracked through the ravine like thunder, echoing off the stone walls. The bullet, infused with Fizz’s concentrated elemental energy, tore straight through the serpent’s skull between the eyes. For a split second, the entire world seemed to hold its breath. Then the beast convulsed, let out a dying hiss, and collapsed with a seismic crash that shook the ground. Dust and mist exploded upward as the massive body went still, coiled in a broken heap. Fizz floated above the corpse, panting, his tiny chest heaving. Then his cheerful grin returned. "Oh yeah. That is what I am talking about. Did you see that, John? Tell me you saw that. I just no-scoped a murder snake noodle from midair!" John walked out from behind the boulder, covered in dust and mud, breathing hard. "I saw it. I think the entire world saw it." Fizz struck a victorious pose on the serpent’s nose, revolver raised in triumph. "Behold, peasants! Lord Fizz the Serpent Slayer! Master of guns! Bringer of fiery justice!" Then he kicked the beast’s head lightly and shouted, "Take that, you slimy overgrown garden hose! Who is ugly now? Not me!" John couldn’t help it. He laughed a bit. A real, unguarded laugh that echoed in the ravine. Fizz puffed out his tiny chest. "That is right. Laugh. Celebrate me. And remember, this is all because I saved your forgetful human butt again." John shook his head, smiling despite the exhaustion. "You are impossible. Still holding on to one mistake." "Impossible and magnificent," Fizz corrected, spinning the revolver on one paw. "Also, I am keeping this gun forever. It is my new favorite toy. I will sleep with it. I will polish it. I will name it Susan." John raised a brow. "Susan?" Fizz shrugged. "I do not know. It feels like Susan, my crush. Strong, elegant, hot when fired, slightly unhinged. Perfect for me." He floated down to John’s shoulder, still radiating smug energy. "We did it, partner. The ugly beast is down, and we still look fabulous. Mostly me, but you helped as a decoy." "Who is Susan?" John asked. "Susan is... (About Fizz crush... Susan! That will be a story for later... or maybe a special request.)" John let out another laugh after listening about Susan in a flashback of Fizz memory, his relief finally sinking in. He glanced at the massive serpent corpse and shook his head. "Fizz... you are insane. That story was insane. You even..." Fizz yawned, curling up in his hood like nothing had happened. "Insanely heroic. Now carry my throne, master forgetful. I am tired from saving the world again." John sighed, but his smile stayed. Fizz’s crush story was very unique. The mist began to clear, revealing the ravine’s quiet floor and the faint blue glow of the final mana particle nestled in a stone cradle at the far end. The battle was over, and victory... loud, ridiculous, and hard-earned reward belongs to them. The ravine was silent now except for the occasional drip of water and the distant echo of falling pebbles. The massive body of the Ravine Fang Serpent lay still, its black scales dull in the fading light. Mist coiled low along the stones, as if afraid to rise any higher after Fizz’s display of power and gun wielding fury. John’s arms felt heavy, but the tension in his chest had finally begun to ease. For the first time since entering this cursed gorge, he could breathe without the weight of death hanging over him. Fizz says, "Ahhh. Victory smells like roasted snake and human sweat. Delightful. Also a little disgusting." John exhaled and walked toward the serpent. "Come down from there. We need to harvest materials and collect the mana particle." Fizz zipped into the air and floated to his shoulder, grinning. "Fine. But I am taking a victory lap later. Maybe a dance. Maybe a little spitfire performance. The situation demands it." John ignored him and got to work. His dagger bit into the serpent’s scales as he searched for weak points. Despite its size, the beast’s hide was like stone, and each slice required deliberate effort. He started with the long fangs. It was curved, and still dripping venom that hissed against the rock when it fell. "System," he whispered in his mind, "scan for valuable parts." [Ding. Scanning complete. Recommended collection: Nightscale Serpent Hide: Good material, high resistance to fire damage. Venom Fangs: Excellent for crafting poison-tipped weapons. Handle with care. E-Rank Mana Core: Required for forging tools or enhancing storage artifacts. Venom Sac: Extremely toxic, can be refined into alchemical items.] John nodded silently and cut carefully, removing the fangs and the faintly glowing core. He wrapped the venom sac in layers of thick leaves and stowed it in a separate compartment of his pack. Fizz hovered nearby, alternating between offering "helpful advice" and mocking commentary. "You know," Fizz said, "for a guy with black hole magic and a cosmic destiny, you are very... stabby. Just a lot of stabbing and scooping. No elegance." "Do you want to do it?" John muttered, not looking up. Fizz gagged dramatically. "Ew. No. I am a hero, not a butcher. My paws are for guns, fire, and occasional naps." By the time the materials were secured, the first hints of dawn began to touch the ravine walls, painting them with faint streaks of gray-blue light. The mist already thinned, and the air felt cleaner, almost lighter. And there it was. At the far end of the ravine, nestled in a cradle of cracked stone, pulsed the final mana particle. It was larger than the previous two, a perfect sphere of deep blue light swirling with darker streaks like a storm trapped inside glass. The hum of mana was palpable, thrumming in John’s bones. Fizz floated closer, his usual grin softening into a look of awe. "Well... hello, shiny rock. You are the prettiest marble I have ever seen in last few days. You are bigger than last two."