Oasis peered around the rock, assessing the chaotic scene.
Several of the mercenaries lay still, their bodies broken and lifeless, while those remaining fought with desperate determination.
Their swords and spears, however, barely scratched the scales of the colossal serpent.
One mercenary let out a guttural scream as the serpent lunged, sinking its fangs into his shoulder and lifting him off the ground before tossing him aside like a ragdoll.
Thud!
The man's body crashed into the rock Oasis was hiding behind, blood splattering across the surface, the sickening sound of breaking bones echoing in Oasis's ears.
The young warrior glanced at the massive beast, recognizing it instantly.
"That's a C-rank mystic beast, without a doubt," Oasis thought, his heart slightly pounding.
He noticed the mercenaries were attempting to protect a carriage, suggesting someone important was inside.
The horses that had been pulling the carriage lay dead, their blood pooling near the wheels.
The remaining mercenaries were no longer on the offensive.
Instead, they were trying to buy time, holding off the serpent in a desperate bid to defend the carriage.
"Are they trying to tire it out?" Oasis wondered, seeing their grim determination. "They've already lost so many…"
A thought crossed his mind.
"Perhaps if I help them, they might be of use later."
With that, Oasis moved out from his hiding spot, swiftly grabbing the spear from the lifeless hands of the man who had just hit the rock.
With a sharp whistle, Oasis caught the serpent's attention.
Hiss!
The serpent's eyes locked onto him, and so did the remaining mercenaries.
One of them, panic-stricken, shouted, "Kid, run away! Don't waste your life!"
Before the man could say more, the serpent lashed out with its tail, striking him hard and sending him crashing into the carriage.
Despite blocking the impact with his sword, the force was enough to leave the man injured.
Now, the serpent turned its full attention to Oasis, who stood ready with the spear.
"I've never held a spear before," Oasis thought, feeling the weight in his hands. "I'll just aim for its eyes."
He channeled his mana into the spear, imbuing it with wind energy.
Though the spear was ordinary, with a wooden handle and a simple iron blade, it crackled with power as Oasis readied himself.
Taking a deep breath, Oasis exhaled sharply, releasing the spear in one fluid motion. The spear whistled through the air, propelled by the wind mana.
The serpent, sensing the danger, angled its head just in time.
Phaaaa!
The spear shattered on impact, striking the top of its head instead of its eye as Oasis had intended.
Despite the spear breaking, the force of the blow caused the serpent to stumble, a faint injury marking its otherwise impenetrable scales.
"He landed a hit…" one of the mercenaries thought, his trembling hands causing the sword he was holding to slip from his grasp.
A terrified smile spread across his face as tears welled up in his eyes. "What did I get myself into?"
The serpent, now wary of Oasis, flicked its tongue, preparing for its next attack. It coiled its body, ready to strike again.
"Hey, uncle! Throw me that spear, fast!" Oasis called out to the mercenaries.
Without hesitation, one of the men hurled a spear towards Oasis with all the strength he could muster.
Whoosh!
The spear sailed through the air with deadly force.
The mercenary who threw it realized too late that he had thrown it with enough power to kill a beginner Tabula-Rasa realm cultivator.
"Oops…" he thought, fear gripping him as he watched the spear fly.
But Oasis was ready.
"Good!" he shouted, his eyes focused.
As the spear approached, he sidestepped slightly, letting it pass by him.
In a fluid motion, he caught the spear, spun on his heel, and hurled it back at the serpent with even greater force.
Stab!!!
The spear struck true, piercing the serpent's head with a sickening crunch.
The force was so great that the spear continued its path, slicing through the air grazing the ear of the mercenary who had thrown it toward Oasis before embedding itself into the carriage.
It landed dangerously close to the mercenary who had been struck by the serpent's tail, just missing his manhood by an inch.
"F****!" the man gasped, his face pale as he realized how close he had come to a far worse fate.
He felt the warmth spread through his pants as fear overtook him, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
The serpent, now mortally wounded, writhed on the ground.
Its massive body thrashed violently, sending rocks and dirt flying.
Each movement was weaker than the last, its tail slapping against the ground in a final, desperate attempt to cling to life.
The sound of its death throes echoed through the valley, a mixture of hisses and guttural moans as it slowly succumbed to its injuries.
Finally, the serpent lay still, its once fearsome presence now reduced to a lifeless heap.
Its scales, which had gleamed with an almost unnatural sheen, were now dull, marred by the blood that oozed from its fatal wound.
The mercenaries stared in disbelief, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
The bloody battle was over, but the horror of what they had just faced would linger in their minds for a long time.
Oasis, his breath steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him, looked down at the fallen beast.
"That was close," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Oasis, still catching his breath, approached the remaining four mercenaries.
They were seasoned warriors, evident from their weathered faces and battle-worn gear, yet their expressions showed a mix of exhaustion and relief.
Before Oasis could say a word, one of the mercenaries spoke up, his voice hoarse and barely audible.
"Thank you, young one, for saving our lives."
Oasis scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed by the gratitude. "Ah, it's nothing. It's thanks to you and the fallen ones for tiring it out."
The mercenary gave a faint smile, appreciating Oasis's humility. "The young one is polite. What can we call you?"
"Oasis of Lunaris," he replied with a smile, his name carrying a sense of pride and belonging.