Ceyhun, Elara, and Aric pressed forward through the dark waters of the Karna River, making their way toward the Cursed Lands. Suddenly, they felt a disturbance beneath them. Sinister vibrations from the riverbed rippled across the surface. Then, a chilling noise rose from the depths, and a colossal serpent, resembling a cobra, burst from the water, emerging with terrifying speed. The Karna River, stirred by the arrival of this wild beast, became an unsettling torrent. The serpent fixed its bloodthirsty eyes on the heroes.
Elara froze in fear as the serpent swiftly approached. Clutching her staff tightly, she murmured the ancient words of protective spells. But the monstrous creature was too close, giving her no time to complete her incantation.
Summoning all his courage, Ceyhun hurled himself at the serpent. He clung tightly to its massive body, plunging his sword into it repeatedly. Each strike tore deep, bloody gashes in the serpent's hide. Writhing in pain and fury, the serpent began to thrash wildly, its head whipping uncontrollably. Unable to maintain his grip on the creature's wet, slippery skin, Ceyhun was thrown into the cold waters of the Karna River. His sword was flung in another direction, and Ceyhun watched in despair as the heavy blade slowly sank toward the riverbed.
The serpent, enraged by its wounds, lunged at Ceyhun, but before it could strike, an arrow from Aric's bow pierced its left eye. The serpent's agonized roar echoed over the Karna River. Now even more savage, more furious, and more dangerous, the creature became a living nightmare.
As the serpent thrashed in pain and rage, it lashed out with its massive tail, shattering the ship's mast with a horrifying crash. The mast toppled, crushing one of the crew members beneath it. Another crew member, thrown into the water, swam desperately toward the shore, trying to escape the deadly scene.
The captain and helmsman struggled to keep the ship steady, preventing it from capsizing. Aric's arrows flew continuously at the serpent, but most simply bounced off its tough, scaly skin. The few arrows that remained lodged in the creature seemed to go unnoticed.
Determined, Ceyhun took a deep breath and dived underwater, searching for his sword. As he swam through the murky depths, he caught sight of a ghostly silhouette that resembled Elowen. This ethereal figure, almost transparent, gracefully extended its arms, offering Ceyhun his sword. For a brief moment, the sight of Elowen's visage eased the terror Ceyhun felt. But as soon as he grasped his sword, the apparition vanished. Regaining his senses, Ceyhun summoned all his strength and swam rapidly toward the surface, his lungs burning for air.
Meanwhile, the giant cobra aimed its deadly advance at the unfortunate crewman, who felt the icy breath of death on his neck. The serpent's enormous jaws opened wide, ready to devour its prey.
Elara's lips uttered the final words of her spell. The energy gathered around her, coalescing into a radiant whip that glowed with lethal intensity. With a swift motion, Elara lashed out, ensnaring the cobra by the neck with her magical whip. The serpent's massive body was suddenly paralyzed by the spell. Its single uninjured eye still glowed with menace, but its body could no longer resist Elara's will.
"You thought I had forgotten, didn't you, wretched serpent? The terror that paralyzed me, leaving me at the mercy of death?" Elara's voice rang out, echoing like a curse. "While I prepared my spell, I remembered that moment, and I finally created this enchantment: 'Serpentis Lash.' It was made for the likes of you. As long as my mind and will remain strong, you will be trapped here!"
The serpent, bound by Elara's spell, thrashed and writhed but could not break free. It was a battle between the primal instincts and savage power of the serpent and the will and intellect of Elara. Though Elara held the upper hand for the moment, she knew the spell could only restrain the creature for a short time.
In the meantime, the crewman, seizing the chance to escape, hurried through the reeds and rushes, putting distance between himself and the danger. Elara's spell had bought him the precious time he needed.
Breaking through the water's surface, Ceyhun gasped for air. As soon as he caught his breath, his eyes darted toward the serpent. The glowing whip of the Serpentis Lash had the massive creature ensnared by the neck, rendering it motionless. Elara's gaze was fixed on the serpent, her lips constantly moving to sustain the ancient spell. But Ceyhun sensed the spell's power waning. The serpent could break free at any moment.
Gripping his sword tightly, Ceyhun swam swiftly toward the serpent. The giant cobra, struggling against the magical whip, noticed him. It was gaining strength; its neck muscles tensed, and the spell was on the verge of breaking.
With a single-minded focus, Ceyhun struck. His sword pierced the serpent's tough scales, slicing into its belly. The creature's body convulsed in agony as a piercing scream echoed through the air. Together, Ceyhun and the serpent sank into the depths of the river. For a brief moment, a deadly silence fell over that section of the Karna River, where the water churned and frothed, turning a deep shade of red.
Aric, Elara, and the remaining crew watched from the shore, their eyes fixed on the scene. The first thing they saw was the massive body of the serpent, now lifeless, floating to the surface. Moments later, Ceyhun emerged, exhausted but alive.
As they looked at each other, the weight of their harrowing experience settled on them. They remembered their fallen comrades. Yet, despite everything, victory tasted sweet. Victory meant breathing.
Ceyhun swam toward the shore, driving his sword into the ground to pull himself up. Tired but triumphant, he gathered the group together. They had reached the shores of the Cursed Lands.