Chapter 41: Finally Useful!
“Alright. Let’s inflict more wounds on the body and tail.”
“That’s impossible. The eyes aren’t even a weak spot. What do you plan to do? We should just run away right now…”
As the two were talking, the Blood Python seized the opportunity and attacked Gillian.
KABOOM!
Gillian barely dodged, and Ghislaine shouted again.
“Quick! Grow the wounds first! If you stay alone, it’ll only target me!”
Gillian had no choice but to fall back.
At that moment, the Blood Python turned its glimmering eyes toward Ghislaine.
KAAAH!
The massive head of the Blood Python rushed toward Ghislaine.
Gillian, focused on attacking the body and tail, was ignored. The Python merely flicked its tail now and then for deterrence.
With a furious speed, the Python seemed intent on killing Ghislaine, who had been bugging it up close till now.
KABOOM! KABOOM!
Ghislaine dodged the Blood Python’s attack while keeping an eye out for a single opportunity.
Since the eyes weren’t a weak spot, it was impossible to defeat the Blood Python with their current strength.
If Ghislaine had reached the same realm as in his past life, he could’ve sliced through the scales and body instantly.
But right now, that was a distant dream.
In that case, he had to use whatever means were available.
Even if it meant risking his life.
“I really didn’t want to resort to this method unless absolutely necessary. But there’s no other way!”
KABOOM! KABOOM!
KAAAH!
Ghislaine focused solely on evasion, not attempting to attack at all.
Though he was limited by a lack of mana, his technique had reached a level beyond mastery.
After dozens of attacks, Ghislaine deftly dodged each time, pushing the Blood Python’s patience to its limits.
No matter how smart it was, at its core, it was just a monster.
“Come at me.”
Ghislaine taunted, narrowly dodging the Blood Python, as if he were playing a game.
KAAAH!
With its massive mouth wide open, the Blood Python charged at Ghislaine.
It was the instinctual movement typical of monsters.
In that instant, Ghislaine suddenly stopped moving.
He jumped.
It seemed like he had no intention of dodging at all, just staring at the gaping mouth with cautious eyes.
Kaor, who had been retreating, shouted in shock at Ghislaine’s actions.
“T-This is insane! You really are a lunatic!”
Belinda, who was wearily watching the battlefield through blurry eyes, let out a defeated voice.
“Please just run away…”
“Your Highness! No!”
The moment Gillian yelled in panic.
Ghislaine leaped right into the mouth of the approaching Blood Python.
*
Ghislaine frowned at the poison felt through his skin, but he also raised the corners of his mouth.
As he had expected, the inside of the Blood Python’s mouth was filled with soft flesh, unlike its tough outer skin.
‘This should be a good chance to attack.’
But he couldn’t relax just because the attack might work.
The poison seeping from the Blood Python’s fangs was slowly burning through Ghislaine’s clothes even now.
This poison was strong enough to take down even large monsters in a single blow.
That was why the Blood Python could reign over the other monsters in the notorious Forest of Monsters.
Though he could temporarily block the poison with mana, it was just a stopgap measure. He had to kill the beast and get out as quickly as possible.
As Ghislaine activated his second and third mana cores, mana began to surge from his entire body.
At that moment, the Blood Python tried to swallow him, moving its tongue and throat muscles.
“Ugh!”
As Ghislaine was being pulled into the throat, he focused his mana at the tip of his sword and plunged it into the roof of the Blood Python’s mouth.
Thwuuuk!
Kraaaah!
In sudden pain, the Blood Python raised its head and screamed.
As Ghislaine dove in and attacked the snake’s head to lure the Blood Python away, Gillian retreated momentarily as the creature twisted and thrashed its tail wildly.
It was a tricky situation since the python’s head was raised and its mouth was hidden.
But he couldn’t just watch idly.
Even if Ghislaine died, they had to kill the Blood Python to save their own lives.
Gillian crawled up the Blood Python’s body toward its head.
He thought this was the perfect moment, as the beast was in a frenzy.
“Hey! Spit out the prince!”
Boom! Boom!
Gillian relentlessly struck the Blood Python’s head with an axe full of mana.
The scales on the Blood Python’s head began to crack and bleed a bit.
With all its attention focused on Ghislaine, who was inside its mouth, the Blood Python couldn’t evade Gillian’s attacks.
Even with the firmness of the creature’s scales, it couldn’t withstand Gillian’s repeated strikes.
Kraaack!
The Blood Python tilted its head back and smashed its face to the ground.
It intended to slam Gillian into the ground along with it.
Boom!
The ground shook as the python’s head hit the earth, but Gillian barely escaped just before the impact.
And that became Ghislaine’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
With the position reversed, it became easier to put force into the sword embedded in the roof of the python’s mouth.
Ghislaine fixed his stance before the Blood Python could rise again and unleashed all his mana in an explosion.
Three cores began spinning at an incredible speed, releasing mana like a fountain.
And it erupted through the sword, bursting towards the Blood Python’s head.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
KAAAAAAAH!
The Blood Python let out a painful scream and reared its head.
But Ghislaine hung on from the roof of its mouth, pouring all his mana until the very end.
KAAAAH!
The Blood Python started to squirm like a salt-soaked eel, glowing all over.
Gillian quickly backed away with the mercenaries, staring at the Blood Python.
The Blood Python rolled on the ground, constantly throwing its body as if in agony.
KWAANG! KWAANG!
With each attack pouring from its mouth, poison began to surge from every tooth of the Blood Python.
An enormous amount of poison erupted, threatening to dissolve everything inside its mouth.
Ghislaine surrounded himself with mana to block the poison’s intrusion.
CHIIIIIING!
The poison came into contact with the mana, constantly smoking and igniting.
“Grrr!”
Now it was a battle of endurance between Ghislaine and the Blood Python: who could last longer?
KAAAAAH!
The Blood Python began mercilessly smashing its head against the ground.
It was trying to shake Ghislaine off its tongue.
KWAANG! KWAANG!
However, Ghislaine stuck the sword firmly into the soft roof of its mouth and remained steadfast, no matter how much it shook.
Rather, as if prepared to die right there, he squeezed every last drop of mana.
“Grrr!”
A thin trickle of blood began to seep from Ghislaine’s lips.
As all three cores began spinning, his still-growing body couldn’t endure it anymore.
CHIIIIIING!
Amidst the dark poison mist, a scarlet haze was constantly rising from Ghislaine.
KAAAAAH!
As the familiar crimson smoke billowed from the Blood Python’s mouth, the mercenaries tightened their expressions.
They could only wait with anxious hearts, hoping that their employer’s crazy stunt would succeed.
“Grrr!”
The three cores couldn’t withstand the explosive power any longer, and his muscles began to tear apart.
The Blood Python’s poisonous essence was gradually infiltrating his body.
His hands trembled, and a pain like being slashed by a thousand knives engulfed him.
His face turned purple, and his body began to grow numb.
Having unleashed mana several times stronger than usual, it was no wonder his body couldn’t handle it.
DUDUDUD!
After his muscles fell apart, it was the bones next.
The bones began to crack, unable to withstand the accelerated cores.
But even amidst the fading consciousness from the pain, Ghislaine didn’t stop.
He was determined to explode all his mana, even at the cost of his lifespan.
Soon, before he could even succumb to the poison, his body would completely shatter.
“AAAHHHHH!”
Ghislaine shouted as he concentrated his mind.
‘If I lose consciousness here, it’s over.’
There had been no easy life since he entrusted his body to the sword. Such a life would be a distant dream moving forward.
That kind of life would still be far away.
I could only do my best at this moment, always.
Kaaah!
Shortly after, the movements of the Blood Python became noticeably slower.
It no longer crashed into the ground but instead wobbled and shook its body.
Ghislaine instinctively felt it was time to escape.
If I stayed like this and lost consciousness, my body would either be devoured by the Blood Python’s mouth or melt away in poison.
As the swaying Blood Python lowered its head, Ghislaine released his grip on the sword and with his last strength, leaped out.
Thud!
Ghislaine bounced off the ground.
But he had no strength left to move and could not escape his position.
“Young master!”
Gillian rushed over to support the weakened Ghislaine.
Sssss!
“Kkak!”
Gillian’s hand, gripping Ghislaine, instantaneously burned.
It was because the poison from the Blood Python ignited with mana, releasing an overwhelming heat.
Focusing all his mana into his hand, Gillian barely managed to move Ghislaine backward.
Smoke continued to rise from Ghislaine’s body, now lying on the ground.
The mercenaries, unable to withstand the heat, quickly vacated the area.
Despite his condition, Ghislaine gazed at the Blood Python with flickering eyes.
Kaaaaaaaa…
The Blood Python glared at Ghislaine with eyes filled with tears of blood.
“Stop it!”
“Protect the master!”
“Don’t let it come closer!”
The mercenaries raised their weapons again, blocking the path between Ghislaine and the Blood Python.
Kaaaaaaaa…
Unlike before, the Blood Python’s movements were now very slow.
“Strike!”
Just as Gillian shouted, the mercenaries were about to charge forward with their weapons.
Boom!
The Blood Python, which had approached right in front of them, could not properly stabilize itself and fell.
“Is it… dead?”
“No, it’s still alive!”
“Let’s finish it now!”
Kaor also raised his sword and shouted.
“Since it’s spewing poison, avoid the head! Let’s tear its body apart!”
The Blood Python, lying on the ground, was panting with its tongue lolling.
It had truly tenacious life force, but now no one was afraid.
“Waaah!”
The mercenaries cheered and rushed forward, repeatedly stabbing their weapons into the Blood Python’s wounds.
The Blood Python merely twitched as it couldn’t even counterattack.
Watching this scene, Ghislaine let out a strained voice.
“Thank goodness… it’s finally over…”
The mercenaries attacked the Blood Python with all their strength.
Crack! Splat!
The Blood Python, which had been intermittently writhing, was ultimately torn apart, becoming a ragged mess.
Swoosh…
Blood gushed out, wounds split, and it had become unrecognizable.
The Blood Python’s eyes, which had been glaring at Ghislaine, began to slowly close.
The absolute ruler of this area, who had been unmatched in power.
“Kaaaa…”
In the end, it let out one last scream before breathing its last.
