As Sunan faced an attack, other members of the Forest Cabin were also ambushed.
Shadows rushed out of the opening, hissing eerily as they charged the group.
Having previously taken photosensitive potions, the wizards quickly identified their attackers using their dark vision.
They were confronted by massive pythons.
These pythons had transparent bodies, stretching over a hundred meters in length, becoming more distinct and real towards their heads. The scales, sharp as blades, covered their heads, and their mouths were filled with sword-like teeth, looking terrifyingly menacing.
Caught off guard with most of their attention focused on the winged creature, the group was bitten by the pythons.
However, they quickly responded, counterattacking.
Bang! Bang!
The fearsome python heads shattered in succession, the headless bodies recoiling.
Yet, instead of relief, the group was alarmed to find that where they had been bitten, small, translucent snake heads remained attached to their bodies, having pierced through their defenses to bite into their flesh.
Under the fluorescent light, the translucent snake heads slowly vanished, leaving the group with an unsettling feeling of something foreign now inside them.
"What is this?" Black Forest's face changed.
No one answered; everyone was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.
Sunan frowned, looking towards the entrance.
Two figures emerged slowly.
It was Saulo and Ira.
Saulo was holding a head.
He tossed it aside, letting it roll a few meters before stopping, revealing a face still wearing a mask.
It was Remains.
Rose's expression shifted.
She had wondered where Remains had fled to, not expecting him to have already fallen to Saulo.
"A divine being?"
Saulo's gaze swept over the group, finally resting on the winged creature, his previously indifferent tone now slightly altered.
"It seems my luck is good, with a bonus beyond just the Starlight Tower key."
His implication was clear: he considered the winged creature his.
Black Forest disapproved of Saulo's attitude, sneering, "Big words for someone whose Immortals are down to two members. Two against seven, do you think you stand a chance?"
The others also glared coldly at Saulo and Ira.
While Saulo was indeed powerful and infamous, they had seven on their side, including Sunan, giving them a clear advantage.
In fact, they were perplexed as to why Saulo and Ira hadn't fled but instead revealed themselves.
Sunan's eyes flickered, a sense of familiarity lingering from earlier.
"Chance?" Saulo's eyes flashed with cold light. "Of course, I have."
As his words fell, his robe suddenly flared open, and seven snake heads shot out, mouths agape, their forked tongues flicking rapidly as they darted towards the group.
As they charged, the snake heads ballooned, becoming the size of millstones as they neared.
The group launched spells at the snake heads.
Multicolored spells struck the snake heads... only to vanish without a trace, as if absorbed, while the snake heads seemed to grow stronger, their scales darkening and bodies becoming more solid.
Hiss!
The snake heads grew more ferocious!
"What's happening?!"
Night Owl and the others were shocked, disbelieving, and cast more spells.
To no avail, as these spells not only failed to harm the snake heads but seemed to strengthen them.
"Damn it! What kind of bloodline ability is this?" Black Forest cursed, face darkening.
Such a bizarre ability was not from a spell or magical item but likely a bloodline ability.
He had never seen such a strange bloodline ability.
Could it be some ancient bloodline?
Even Rose, who had briefly fought Saulo before, was now filled with fear.
Only now did she realize Saulo hadn't used his full power then, or she and Red Heart might not have escaped.
But why had Saulo let them go?
The group was driven to desperation by the snake heads, unable to fight back effectively.
Only Sunan remained calm, his eyes thoughtful.
He tested attacks with energy particles and the magic core, but the energy was absorbed by the snake heads.
However, not all attacks were absorbed.
External items like the Frost Necklace and high-level rune stones weren't absorbed by the snake heads.
Even when these items destroyed the snake heads, they quickly regrew, drawing energy from the other heads, which dimmed slightly.
Sunan realized that the energy for these snake heads was shared. Unless they exhausted Saulo's energy and mental strength, they couldn't destroy all the snake heads.
Just then, a scream rang out.
They turned to see Saulo behind Black Forest, his hand piercing through Black Forest's abdomen, blood-stained fingers emerging from the front.
"Damn woman!"
Black Forest roared, his skin splitting as countless brown thorns emerged, enveloping him.
Saulo retreated, falling back over ten meters.
Beside him, a figure materialized into Ira.
She had seized the chance to use an illusion to distract Black Forest, allowing Saulo to strike.
Sunan glanced at Ira. Alone, she was average, but with a partner, her abilities multiplied, making her an exceptional support.
With severe injuries, Black Forest's situation became dire, the snake heads relentlessly attacking him, leaving him overwhelmed.
His greatest fear, however, was Saulo and Ira, watching for moments to strike.
If they seized another opportunity, the consequences would be dire.
Black Forest called for help.
But the others were too busy with the snake heads.
Within a dozen breaths, Ira's illusion distracted Black Forest again, allowing Saulo to move in, and with a snake head striking from the other side, tore Black Forest apart!
In under ten minutes, despite having the numerical advantage, the first casualty emerged from the Forest Cabin side.
Seeing this, Night Owl and the others felt their hearts sink.
They hadn't expected Saulo to be so terrifyingly powerful.
Nearly fighting seven, he suppressed them completely, a strength unmatched on the Starlight Continent!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of explosions erupted suddenly.
With a flash of silver light, the seven snake heads shattered almost simultaneously.
"Fall back!"
Sunan ordered, retracting the magic core.
His already depleted mental energy had been further drained by that attack; he couldn't use the magic core anymore without exhausting himself.
Night Owl and the others hesitated but quickly gathered behind Sunan.
Though they didn't know Sunan's plan, his earlier display of strength had made him the group's anchor.
In this situation, they instinctively followed his lead.
"What, planning to surrender?"
Saulo asked expressionlessly, glancing at the slowly regenerating snake heads.
Sunan chuckled, "Carlos Python bloodline, correct?"
At this, Saulo's indifferent facade cracked, his pupils narrowing.
Night Owl and the others understood immediately—Carlos Python bloodline was Saulo's!
Knowing an opponent's bloodline ability often led to finding a counter.
Their spirits lifted at the thought.
The Traveler urgently asked, "Sunan, what abilities does the Carlos Python bloodline have?"
Sunan calmly explained, "The Carlos Python is an ancient beast that feeds on its prey's killing intent. It plants seeds of killing intent in its prey. Any creature harboring killing intent towards the Carlos Python constantly feeds it. Moreover, any self-originating attack can't harm it. Instead, the energy is absorbed, strengthening it."
Night Owl and the others gasped, shocked.
Such a bizarre and powerful bloodline?!
The translucent snake heads that vanished into them were the seeds of killing intent.
No wonder Saulo dared reveal himself despite their numbers.
The Carlos Python's bloodline ability was well-suited for facing many foes with few!
As long as the snake heads were active, more opponents meant more nourishment and strength for the Carlos Python!
Especially when opponents were unaware of its abilities, they inadvertently fed Saulo energy.
That was their mistake earlier.
Rose realized why Saulo had let them escape.
He intended to create this exact scenario.
"This is the first time I've met a wizard apprentice who recognized the Carlos Python bloodline."
Saulo gave Sunan a deep look.
"Your knowledge is richer than I thought."
"Stone Scorpion is dead, isn't he?"
Sunan admitted, "Yes, the Stone Singer's bloodline abilities are strong, but with prior knowledge, defeating it wasn't difficult."
Hearing this, Night Owl and the others were startled, looking at Sunan in disbelief.
The mysterious Stone Scorpion was also killed by Sunan?
And what was the Stone Singer bloodline?
Silence fell over them.
To ordinary people, wizard apprentices symbolized vast knowledge.
But standing beside Sunan, they felt an inexplicable shame, like underachievers.
Unfazed by their reactions, Sunan waved a hand without turning. "You should leave."
"This guy isn't someone numbers can defeat. I can handle him."
Night Owl and the others hesitated only briefly before retreating.
Even knowing the Carlos Python's abilities, they had no effective counter.
The best weapons against the snake heads were magical items.
But this was a weakness for many wizard apprentices, including them.
They had maybe one or two dim-level magical items at most, already spent earlier, leaving them defenseless against the snake heads, inadvertently feeding Saulo.
They had to admit, Saulo's Carlos Python bloodline heavily countered wizard apprentices.
No wonder so many third-level apprentices had fallen to him.
Saulo ignored their retreat, focusing solely on Sunan.
To him, Sunan was the most troublesome opponent!
Killing Sunan would make the rest of the Forest Cabin irrelevant.
"Can Sunan do it?" Rose worried.
The Staff whispered, "Don't forget Sunan has the adamantine golem."
The others paused, their eyes lighting up.
Of course!
Golems were external entities, incapable of emotions like killing intent, making them ideal against the Carlos Python's abilities.
And Sunan had an adamantine golem!
Golems were too large for a spatial ring, so they hadn't considered it initially.
The Staff's reminder brought it to mind—Sunan had a way to carry golems.
But they soon calmed.
In this level of battle, an adamantine golem wouldn't decide the outcome, merely aiding Sunan's chances.
Even without the Carlos bloodline, Saulo was among the top third-level apprentices.
The cavern fell silent.
Saulo's seven snake heads had regenerated, their forked tongues flicking, eyes coldly focused on Sunan.
Simultaneously, a figure appeared beside Sunan.
Night Owl and the others were stunned.
The figure wasn't the expected adamantine golem but a beautiful girl with snow-white skin.
"That's... a puppet?" The Traveler was bewildered.
The others were equally puzzled.
They sensed the girl's distinct soul aura, confirming she was a puppet.
But they'd never seen a puppet so human-like.
To enhance combat capabilities, puppets usually sacrificed appearance for function, barely resembling humans.
Only puppets made for aesthetics or specific uses, not combat or labor, were crafted to resemble humans closely.
Such puppets were called dolls, distinct from combat and labor puppets.
The girl looked like a doll.
But why bring out a doll now?
Night Owl and the others were baffled.
Opposite, Saulo scrutinized the girl puppet, eyes narrowing.
"Is this your trump card?"
"Doesn't it look like one?" Sunan smiled faintly, commanding the secret puppet, "Show him your power."
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!