The battlefield quieted as the last of the invading beasts were subdued or fled.
I managed to defeat two more wolves, completing one of the Emergency Missions.
Smoke and the acrid stench of burnt earth hung in the air, mingling with the cries of injured students and beasts.
For a moment, I stood there, catching my breath, Kas slithering weakly up my arm to coil around my neck. He was exhausted but alive, his white scales streaked with dirt and soot.
[System Alert!]
[Kas has gained +1 Level! Current Level: 5]
Hp:102/102
Str: 5.1
Agi: 5.8
Int : 5.1
S P : 4(Bound to master)
Exp:0/1000
Length: 24 cm
Wide: 2 cm
Bloodline:White eyed-snake(97%), Chaos Snake(2,9%),...,(0,0⁰⁰⁰⁰¹)Chaos Dragon
Compatibility:99,83%
Abilities: Language understanding lvl 2, Venom Bite Lvl 4, Coiling Strike Lvl 3, Venom Spit Lvl 1
]
[New Skill Unlocked: Venom Spit (Lvl 1)]
I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. Kas had earned this, just as much as I had.
"George!" John ran up, his Horned Tiger padding beside him. The tiger's orange fur was singed in places, its body littered with claw marks, but it held itself tall, growling softly.
"You're insane," John panted. "You fought that Flame Bear head-on? Are you trying to die?"
"Guess it just wasn't my time," I said, shrugging.
John stared at me for a moment before shaking his head. "You're lucky that thing was already weakened by the other students. Otherwise.."
I cut him off. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have mattered. Kas and I would have still brought it down."
Before John could retort, a deep rumble echoed through the courtyard. The Steelhide Basilisk roared, its scales shimmering under the faint moonlight breaking through the smoky haze.
Muriel Ros and her Silverclaw Hawk were still locked in combat with the Adapted-level beast.
Her hawk darted through the air, its razor-sharp talons slashing at the basilisk's eyes. The basilisk retaliated with its Petrifying Gaze, forcing Muriel to shield her beast with a barrier of Soul Power.
"She's holding it back, but not for long," John muttered, his voice tinged with fear.
I watched Muriel fight, her precision and power leagues ahead of any student here. Yet, even she seemed to be struggling. The basilisk was a force of nature, every swipe of its tail leaving craters in the ground.
"She's giving us time," I realized aloud. "We need to make it count."
John frowned. "You're not seriously thinking.."
"No," I said quickly, cutting him off. "But we can still help."
I gestured toward the injured students scattered across the courtyard. Many of them were unconscious, their beasts either defeated or too injured to move. The teachers were spread thin, focusing on keeping the remaining beasts at bay.
"Help me get them to safety," I said.
John hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But if we die doing this, it's your fault."
Together, we moved through the chaos, dragging injured students to the safety of the school's inner buildings. My body ached with every step, my stamina nearly drained, but I pushed on.
[System Alert!]
[Objective 2: Assist in the evacuation of non-combatants (Complete)]
[+50 EXP]
"That's the last of them," John said, wiping sweat from his brow.
A sudden crash drew our attention back to the courtyard. The Steelhide Basilisk had slammed its tail into Muriel's hawk, sending the beast spiraling into the ground. Muriel gritted her teeth, her hands glowing with Soul Power as she rushed to her beast's side.
"She's in trouble," John said.
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. There was no way I could take on something like that—not now, not yet. But if we didn't do something, Muriel might not make it.
"George," Kas hissed weakly in my ear.
I looked down at him, his pale eyes filled with determination despite his injuries.
"No," I said firmly. "You've done enough. Rest."
But Kas shook his head, his body coiling tighter around my neck.
[System Alert!]
[Emergency Side Quest Generated: Aid the Head Tamer]
Objective: Help/defeat the boss monster.
Reward: +200 EXP, Bonus Emergency Points(+10).
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered.
John grabbed my arm. "George, don't. You'll just get yourself killed!"
"Maybe," I said, stepping forward. "But if I don't, we all might."
I activated Madness again, the familiar rush of power flooding my body.
[Stats Temporarily Doubled: Strength 7.2, Agility 7.6, Intelligence 8.2, Soul Power 8.0]
"Kas," I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. "We're doing this."
The basilisk turned its glowing green eyes toward me as I approached, its massive body coiling like a spring.
"Hey, overgrown lizard!" I shouted, throwing a nearby rock at its head. "Come and get me!"
The basilisk hissed, its gaze locking onto me.
This was it. One minute. Sixty seconds.
"Let's make it count," I muttered.
The basilisk lunged toward me, its scales glinting like steel under the faint light. Its movements were terrifyingly fast for something its size, each step shaking the ground beneath me.
"Kas, Venom Spit!" I yelled, pivoting into a defensive stance.
Kas uncoiled from my neck and launched forward, his mouth glowing faintly green. A stream of venom shot through the air, striking the basilisk in the face. The beast reared back with a hiss, momentarily blinded as the venom sizzled against its iron-like scales.
[Steelhide Basilisk: -5 HP (Poison Damage)]
[Poison Status Applied: Movement Speed Slightly Reduced]
"Good hit!" I muttered, my heart racing. "Keep it off balance!"
The basilisk didn't let up. With a roar, it lashed out with its tail. I barely managed to roll to the side, the force of the strike sending shockwaves through the ground.
[System Alert!]
[Time Remaining: 50 Seconds]
"Just stay alive, George," I muttered under my breath.
The basilisk opened its mouth, releasing a cloud of green mist. My chest tightened as the air filled with a toxic stench.
[Steelhide Basilisk uses Poison Breath.]
"Kas, retreat!" I shouted, covering my mouth and nose with my sleeve as I darted out of the cloud. The poison stung my eyes and throat, but I kept moving, refusing to let the beast corner me.
Kas darted behind me, his body coiling in preparation for another strike. "We can't keep this up much longer," I muttered, glancing at the timer.
[Time Remaining: 35 Seconds]
The basilisk's eyes gleamed with malicious intent as it activated Petrifying Gaze. My body froze for a fraction of a second, my limbs growing heavy as the beast's power washed over me.
[System Alert!]
[Resist Check: Intelligence vs. Petrifying Gaze]
[Success! Partial Effect Applied: Movement Speed Reduced by 30% for 10 seconds.]
"Kas, now!" I shouted, breaking free from the paralysis just enough to dodge another swipe of the basilisk's tail.
Kas lunged forward, sinking his fangs into the basilisk's neck before darting away.
[Steelhide Basilisk: -10 HP (Venom Bite), -2 HP (Poison Effect)]
The basilisk roared in fury, its movements growing more erratic as the venom worked through its system. I could see its legs wobbling slightly, the poison slowing it down just enough for me to stay out of reach.
"Just a little longer!" I yelled, ducking under another swipe. My muscles screamed in protest, exhaustion threatening to overtake me.
[Time Remaining: 15 Seconds]
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my leg. I looked down to see a shard of stone embedded in my calf—a fragment kicked up by one of the basilisk's attacks. I stumbled, barely managing to stay upright.
"George!" John's voice rang out from behind me, but I couldn't afford to turn. The basilisk was closing in, its massive jaws snapping inches from my face.
"Kas, Coiling Strike!" I commanded, ignoring the pain.
Kas wrapped around the basilisk's neck, squeezing with all his might. The beast thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge him.
[Steelhide Basilisk: -20 HP (Constriction)]
[Time Remaining: 5 Seconds]
The basilisk lunged one final time, its jaws aiming straight for me. I braced myself, knowing I couldn't dodge in time. But before it could strike, a blur of silver shot past me.
Muriel's Silverclaw Hawk dove in, its talons slashing across the basilisk's face with surgical precision. The beast roared in pain, rearing back as the hawk circled above, its wings glowing with Soul Power.
[System Alert!]
[Emergency Side Quest Complete!]
[+200 EXP]
[Bonus Emergency Points Awarded!+10]
I collapsed to my knees, my chest heaving as the system messages flashed before my eyes. Kas slithered back to me, his body trembling with exhaustion.
"You did it, Kas," I whispered, reaching up to let him coil around my arm. "We survived."
Muriel stood a few feet away, her hawk landing gracefully beside her. She didn't say anything at first, her sharp eyes scanning me with a mixture of disbelief and approval.
"Foolish," she said finally, her tone sharp. "But effective. You've earned my respect today, George."
I managed a weak smile, too tired to respond.
As the teachers began to rally and drive back the remaining beasts, the Steelhide Basilisk retreated, its body shimmering as it slithered into the forest. The invasion was over, but the scars it left behind would take time to heal.
For me, though, this was just the beginning. I had tasted what it meant to face true power—and I wasn't going to stop until I could stand against it without fear.