Slicing through the air, I dove toward the snake looming over Kaelith, its jaws wide open and ready to strike. Mid-fall, I repositioned my body, bracing for impact, my data blade clenched tightly in my hands.
I struck the snake dead-on, my blade sinking into its flesh, carving through scales and muscle as I plummeted downward. Letting go of the blade at the last moment, I rolled onto the sand, careful not to get grit in my eyes. Nearby, Kaelith had somehow managed to scramble out of the creature's reach.
Leaving my data blade to dissipate in the snake's reinforced scales, I quickly dodged its coiling body, narrowly avoiding its grasp. The snake let out a blood-curdling screech, thrashing violently in the sand, its massive form writhing in agony.
"Farthington! Where the hell are you going?! Get back here and help me out!" I shouted.
Farthington hesitated, glancing back before spinning on his heel and charging into the fray. He repositioned himself, readying his mana-infused blade for an attack. Kaelith, still carrying the unconscious woman over his shoulder, stayed clear of the fight.
"Farthington, keep it busy!" I called out, skidding to a halt a few meters away from the snake. "I'll go for its weak spot!"
"I better get a bonus for this!" he yelled back, his battle cry fierce as he swung his blade. The sword flashed in the sun, but instead of cutting through, it glanced off the snake's thick scales with a dull clunk. "Damn it…"
I circled the snake, scanning its massive form for any vulnerabilities. Its scales were like plated armor, nearly impenetrable—but there had to be a weak point.
The creature hissed, its massive body undulating as it twisted around to face me. The glint in its eyes sent a chill down my spine. With a swift lunge, the snake's jaws snapped in my direction, fangs gleaming. I barely managed to leap to the side, feeling the rush of air as its bite narrowly missed.
Spotting an opening, I lunged forward, summoning a new data blade with [Corporeal Data Creation]. The blade hummed as I slashed at a thinner section of the snake's underbelly. My strike landed, and the snake let out a deafening screech, rearing back in pain before whipping its tail toward me.
Instinctively, I raised my blade to block the attack. My feet dug into the sand as the snake's tail smashed into my sword, sending sand spraying around me like stinging projectiles. I felt the sharp burn of cuts forming on my arms and legs, some deep enough to bleed. Sparks flew as the tail slammed against my blade, but I held firm, redirecting its momentum.
Suddenly, the snake's massive head lunged at me, jaws wide. I threw myself to the side, rolling through the sand just in time to avoid being crushed beneath its fangs. As I came up on one knee, I summoned another data blade, its edges crackling with energy.
The snake, realizing it had missed, spun its body in a wide arc, its tail sweeping toward me with terrifying speed. This time, I didn't have enough time to block the brunt of the attack. The force of the tail slammed into my side, sending me flying several meters through the air. My back hit the sand hard, knocking the wind from my lungs. Gasping for breath, I struggled to rise, pain shooting through my ribs.
Farthington seized the moment. His blade began to glow red-hot as he summoned his mana, striking again. This time, his blade burned through the snake's scales, slicing deep into its side. The creature recoiled in pain, its thrashing movements becoming more frantic and unpredictable.
The snake hissed, retreating momentarily, coiling itself into a defensive posture. It was wounded now, blood pouring from gashes along its body, but it wasn't defeated yet.
Sensing the opportunity, I reinforced my blade, lengthening it into a katana-like form. Positioning myself beneath the snake's head, where its neck connected to its body, I summoned all my strength, digging my feet into the sand. With a powerful arc, I brought the blade down.
The sword cut deep, slicing through scales and flesh. The snake convulsed violently, its wails piercing the desert air. Blood spurted from the wound, staining the sand beneath us as the ground became slick.
Desperate, the snake made a final lunge at Farthington, its jaws snapping inches from him. By some miracle, he dodged again, unscathed.
But the snake wasn't done yet. In a final burst of energy, it thrashed its tail wildly, shaking the ground beneath us. Farthington and I struggled to stay upright, the vibrations threatening to knock us over.
We dug our feet and swords into the sand, managing to keep our balance as the snake's body finally collapsed, lifeless.
"My word! I never want to do that again!" exclaimed Farthington.
As the Airblade descended, its engines' hum growing louder, I took a moment to catch my breath, eyes locked on the snake's still form. Its last thrashes had kicked up a cloud of sand that shimmered in the harsh desert sun.
Farthington approached, wiping the sweat from his brow as he sheathed his blade. "Nice work," he said, surprisingly sincere. "You really saved our skins back there."
'Maybe he's not as bad as I thought,' I mused. But then Farthington ran a hand through his disheveled blonde hair and grinned. "I think I've earned a bonus today. Plus, after seeing me in action, you'll probably want to read my autobiography."
'Never mind,' I thought, suppressing a sigh. 'Same greedy narcissist.'
I ignored him, still catching my breath. "We need to get back to the Airblade and secure the Kyritite. And figure out what to do with her," I added, glancing at the unconscious woman on Kaelith's back.
Kaelith, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon, signaled that the Airblade was almost in position. "I'll load her up first," he said, adjusting his grip on the woman. " Then I'll help you secure the Kyritite and make sure we didn't miss anything."
Farthington and I quickly secured the crates of Kyritite, making sure they were fastened tightly. The Airblade's doors opened with a hiss.
Kaelith carefully loaded the woman onto the Airblade, strapping her into one of the seats. He then helped us with the remaining crates, his exhaustion visible but his movements efficient.
Once everything was secure, we climbed aboard. The doors sealed behind us with a click, and the engines roared to life. Neuro lifted us smoothly off the ground, the snake's corpse and the wreckage of the convoy shrinking into the distance.
"All set," I said, double-checking the restraints on the Kyritite and the woman. "Let's get out of here."
As the Airblade accelerated, I took a moment to assess the situation. The unconscious woman was a mystery, and the sword she clutched seemed to pulse faintly, hinting at secrets we had yet to uncover.
"We need to find out who she is and why she was in that truck," I said, turning to Kaelith and Farthington. "This might be more complicated than we thought."
Kaelith shrugged. "Sure... also, are we getting a bonus right?"
I stared out at the desert, pretending I hadn't heard him.
"Right?" Kaelith repeated, but I kept my eyes on the horizon.