"Kishaa...!!"
There, a giant snake stood.
Slithering with purple scales, its thick body moved like a massive tree trunk. Estimated length, around 20 meters. A true giant monster.
Every time it flicked its bifurcated tongue, sharp and long fangs glinted like steak knives. Being bitten by those fangs would undoubtedly mean death.
"Curiously, the sense of fear... is thin."
Since the first goblin battle, I hadn't felt fear in combat against magical creatures. Whether it's due to the app's influence on my mind or simply because I'm more courageous than I think, the reason is uncertain.
Whatever the reason, it's not a bad thing. The fact that I'm not panicking means I can fight normally. I can face the enemy confidently, without excessive tension.
"Kishaaa!!"
In response to the thunderous serpent, I readied my sword.
And—
"Now, let's finish this!!"
I dashed forward.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
"Gishaaa!!"
The snake's attacks far exceeded my imagination. Its massive body, flexing like a whip, would undoubtedly break bones upon impact. The knife-like fangs contained poison, ensuring instant death if bitten.
I desperately dodged the relentless attacks.
Due to the snake's large size, its movements were sluggish, making avoidance surprisingly easy for someone who had overcome deadly battles before. However, the wide attack range due to its massive body meant a momentary misjudgment could be fatal.
"Gishaaa!!"
"Yaaahhhh!!"
"Gishaaa!!"
"Taaaahhhh!!"
"Gishaaa!!"
"Doryaaahhhh!!"
Additionally, its scales were robust, making sword strikes less effective compared to the regular monsters encountered along the way. Judging by the gradually accumulating damage on the scales, it wasn't completely immune, but the difficulty in breaking through was evident.
Both its attack and defense were at a high level.
The only weakness was its slow movement, but that alone didn't guarantee victory. Continuously unleashing sword strikes would likely deplete my stamina before defeating it.
"If only... I had learned kendo! Damn, my hands are numb!"
While I had slain magical creatures with a sword before, I, who had never swung anything more than a wooden stick, couldn't execute proper sword techniques. No matter how much my physical abilities improved, without the skill, my sword strikes were imprecise and poorly executed. It seemed impossible to cut through the snake's tough scales.
But discarding the sword and facing it barehanded was just foolish. Although I had read a manga where the protagonist strangled a giant snake, doing that with my current strength might not be feasible. Moreover, I never learned wrestling, so I lacked confidence in executing an effective chokehold.
"I should have learned some martial arts instead of living a carefree life. When I get back, I'll join a nearby martial arts gym."
Begging for what I didn't have was pointless. I had to rely on the cards I held. I needed to think of a way to break this stalemate.
"Gishaaa!!"
Dodging the snake's ferocious attacks, I observed the surroundings. The room was about the size of four gymnasiums. Unfamiliar hieroglyphs and logograms, similar to those on the iron doors, were densely carved into the walls. Despite the absence of lighting fixtures on the ceiling, the entire room was inexplicably bright. Furniture and tools were nowhere to be found.
As for the snake's characteristics, it appeared to be a normal snake, albeit around 20 meters in length. The only noticeable difference was its alluring atmosphere, emanating from the purple scales that seemed to shimmer in the light. For those with particular fetishes, it would be irresistibly erotic.
"...Hmm, not much different from a regular snake?"
I recalled reading in a manga once that snakes use something called a "pit organ" to sense their surroundings. Similar to a radar sensitive to heat sources, it allows them to perceive the environment more clearly than through sight.
In other words, if I could destroy that pit organ, I might have a chance. However, it wasn't that simple. After all, I had no idea where the snake's pit organ was, and my knowledge about it was vague, almost forgotten from some manga I read long ago.
"No, maybe I should just destroy its eyeballs. For any living creature, the eyes are a weak point; even my science teacher said so."
I recalled the eccentric teacher's words from middle school. He had mentioned, "The eyes of vertebrates are directly connected to the brain, so piercing them deals significant damage. If you ever get attacked by a bear or something, aim for the eyes." While poking the eyes of a giant snake might not be feasible, throwing the sword might pierce through its eyeball. With my current strength, I should be able to throw the sword to the snake's head.
"...But there are two problems."
The first problem is that the snake's eyeballs are covered by scales. Since snakes lack eyelids, their eyeballs are covered by transparent scales. Even if I manage to throw the sword accurately, breaking through those scales is uncertain.
The second problem is that the snake is constantly moving. I've never been good at playing catch since childhood, and hitting a stationary target was already difficult for me. Hitting a moving target would be nearly impossible.
"...If I don't overcome the impossible, I'll die here. I have no choice but to make up my mind."
If I miss, there won't be a second chance. The snake won't overlook me when I'm defenseless. Yes, this chance is once in a lifetime.
A sigh. One. Two. Three. I made up my mind.
Wiping the sweat from my hands on my pants, I gripped the sword handle.
Soon, like a javelin thrower, I readied the sword.
And—
"Daraaaahhh!!"
With a roar I had never produced before, I threw the sword. At the speed of light, the sword flew and—
"Gyaaah—"
The sword pierced through—
—the snake's eyeball.
"Gyaa..."
Like a cut thread, the snake collapsed on the spot. Then, like the previous magical creatures, its body gradually turned into particles.
[Level Up]
A fanfare and mechanical voice echoed in my mind.
The bronze gate reminiscent of the "Gate to Hell" appeared after the snake's death. What these things signify—
"I... won!"
The tension released, and I fell to my knees.
Then, facing the sky, I struck a victory pose.