Alypos moved steadily through the dense forest, his mind racing with reflections on the previous battle against the gorilla. He reviewed every detail, every movement, every missed opportunity. If he'd deflected that heavy blow at just the right angle, perhaps he could have inflicted even more damage, slipping the beast on ice or destabilizing it with water. But as he was now, he felt certain he could go toe-to-toe with it and emerge victorious. It wasn't blind confidence—it was knowledge born from experience. The only regret that lingered was not claiming the gorilla's core. That missing core would've been another step forward.
Two paths lay before him to reach the next rank. One was through Karmic Records, consuming cores to boost his power. However, only E-rank cores held any value to him now, and consuming them would initiate his evolution. The alternative was slower but safe: saturate his core with mana, much like others in this world. He'd seen inside his core—its liquid form, pure, condensed mana—now at about 80% capacity. For most, reaching 100% would trigger their ascension to the next rank. But a faint wall barred the way in his case, capping his progress at 95%. Ideas brewed on how he might breach it, yet all his theories teetered on the edge of fatal risk.
Alypos wasn't foolish. Ambitious, yes. Reckless? Certainly. But not enough to walk straight into the jaws of death—at least, not yet.
Suddenly, Nibbles stopped in his tracks, the squirrel's tiny paws gesturing urgently. His bushy tail twitched erratically as he pantomimed a slithering, sinuous motion—a snake. Nibbles didn't like snakes. One of those venomous creatures had nearly ended the little creature's life before Alypos had found and healed him.
Alypos narrowed his eyes and peered ahead, and there it was: a sight that stole the breath from his lungs. A massive serpent, at least 13 meters long, loomed ahead, its scales glistening with an eerie sheen. The beast possessed two distinct heads—one brown, the other blue—and it was toying with a swarm of twisted abominations. Each abomination, laced with venomous tongues, attacked the snake furiously, but their efforts were laughable. The serpent crushed them beneath its coils, lashed out with its tail, and devoured them with casual ferocity. It seemed utterly immune to their poisons, reducing their attacks to pitiful, futile gestures.
He murmured under his breath, "Well, it looks like we've found the overlord of this place."
Behind the massive snake, a slithering horde followed, ranging from one to four meters in length. Smaller serpents, each one sharing the same dual-colored hue as the larger snake, slinked through the forest with eerie coordination. Brown and blue scales shimmered in unison, and they seemed to obey the massive two-headed serpent with a reverence bordering on worship.
Intrigued, Alypos whispered, "Analyze."
The familiar flicker of his system sparked to life.
{Analyzing…Creatures detected nearby…178}
{Which one does the host want to analyze?}
Alypos considered this, then chose, "Pick the one with the most mana."
{Analyzing…Snake species detected…}
{Species: Xiangliu Titanoboa (F-/B+)}
{These creatures are venomous nine-headed snake monsters. This creature came about after one of the Xiangliu fell in love with the ancestor of the Titanoboa, thus their descendants settled in remote places. However, their bloodline was weakened.}
{"I saw those cursed snakes that time, those hideous nine heads, wreaking havoc with floods and destruction wherever they go. Those abominable Xiangliu… Just because their ancestor is one of the lower ministers of the water primogenitor." – Primogenitor Killer Gu Zhen }
{Skills: Water Manipulation (Stage 1/2), Earth Manipulation (Stage 1/2), Poison Manipulation (1/2), Polymorph, Eyes of Stone, Danger Sense}
{Rank: E+/B}
Alypos's eyes narrowed as he processed the details. The Xiangliu Titanoboa—a bloodline monstrosity from a creature tied to a water god. Its potential alone dwarfed most creatures he'd encountered. If even half of what he read was true, this serpent could one day grow into something catastrophic.
"Eyes of Stone," he murmured thoughtfully, noting the red gleam that briefly coated the snake's eyes, turning its unlucky opponents to stone. With each pulse of that red light, another of the abominations hardened, their bodies freezing mid-strike before crumbling to pieces.
He knew then that the Xiangliu Titanoboa had finished its game. The last abomination shattered into rubble under the serpent's gaze, leaving nothing but dust in its wake. The red glow dimmed in its eyes, returning to their cold, calculating darkness.
Alypos tightened his grip on his spear, every muscle on edge. "Time to leave—quietly," he whispered to Nibbles.
But as he moved to turn, the Titanoboa's gaze locked onto him. Both heads rose, their eyes gleaming with a curious, almost predatory interest. One head tilted, then the other, sizing him up from afar.
He'd been spotted.
"Of course," he muttered, his usual dry humor cracking through the tension. "Of all the luck."
The serpent advanced, its scales rippling as it moved. It wasn't charging—not yet. Instead, it slithered with a slow, deliberate grace, as though examining its next meal, calculating whether Alypos posed a threat or a diversion. The smaller snakes encircled it, creating a living barrier between their matriarch and potential danger.
Alypos backed away, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature. Even with his confidence, the difference in scale was overwhelming. This thing was at least a tier beyond him, and any fight here would be a disaster.
"Alright, Nibbles," he whispered, casting a glance at the squirrel. "Get ready to run."
Nibbles, who had already scampered up a tree, nodded with wide, terrified eyes, his body quivering.
The Titanoboa drew closer, and Alypos's mind raced through his options. The tree line was thick here, which could buy him time if he maneuvered carefully, but the serpent was a master of both water and earth. Escape wouldn't be easy.
Forcing his breathing to slow, he channeled his mana, preparing for an all-out sprint. His water manipulation skills would help him, but he needed to conserve energy for a final push if he were to survive. His core's capacity was strained at 80%, yet he would need every ounce of that mana.
The Titanoboa paused, one head tilting to study him. Its other head remained low to the ground, poised for a strike. Alypos knew he couldn't hold out forever. His only advantage was his speed—if he could keep his distance, maybe he could lose it.
Then, just as he prepared to bolt, the Titanoboa's gaze shifted, one head scanning the trees behind him. The snake's tongue flicked in and out, sensing something in the air, something that Alypos couldn't detect.
"Interesting," he murmured, watching the shift in the serpent's behavior. It was as if something else had caught its attention.
Suddenly, from the forest depths, a low, rumbling roar reverberated. The Titanoboa reared both heads, hissing in response. Whatever creature had made that sound had managed to pique its interest more than he had.
Seizing the distraction, Alypos slipped quietly into the shadows, moving as quickly as he dared without drawing attention. He signaled for Nibbles to follow, the two of them weaving through the underbrush as the massive serpent turned away. The rumbling roar grew louder, and Alypos glimpsed a hulking shadow moving toward the Titanoboa.
In a clash of titans, the two monstrous beasts collided, the roar of their battle echoing through the forest. Alypos used the chaos to his advantage, sprinting as fast as he could, his heart hammering as he put distance between himself and the clash of giants.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he paused to catch his breath. Nibbles landed beside him, panting from the exertion. Alypos allowed himself a moment's relief, a slight grin breaking through his cold expression.
"Well, we survived," he said, resting his spear on his shoulder. "I'd say that's more than enough excitement for one day."
But even as he spoke, the reality sank in. This forest held creatures far beyond his current power. If he wanted to achieve true freedom, he'd need to grow stronger—much stronger. For now, he was alive, but he understood that luck had only granted him a brief reprieve.