I was still riding the high of the skill acquisition when Wang Jian crouched next to me, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness around us. His presence was steady, a calm counterbalance to the chaos swirling in my head. The System's notifications echoed faintly in my mind, promising power and growth, but the oppressive atmosphere of the mine quickly reminded me that promises weren't enough. Down here, survival was everything.
"What did you get this time?" Wang Jian asked, his voice low but expectant.
I hesitated. Wang Jian and Ming Lian had proven themselves reliable so far, but the System was my ace, my lifeline. Revealing too much about what it could do felt dangerous—like playing with fire. Instead, I gave a noncommittal shrug and said, "Something that might help us move faster."
Ming Lian, leaning against the jagged wall a few paces away, snorted. His good arm gripped his pickaxe, while the sling supporting his injured arm swayed with each impatient shift of his weight. "You talk big for someone who barely knows how to swing a pickaxe, let alone survive down here."
His words stung more than I wanted to admit, but I wasn't about to let it show. Instead, I shot him a glare. "Stick around, and I'll prove you wrong."
He scoffed but didn't reply. Wang Jian gave me a faint nod, his quiet approval a small but steadying reassurance. The air around us grew heavier as we moved deeper into the mine, the flickering torchlight casting long, jagged shadows along the rough walls. Every sound—the faint creak of wooden supports, the distant drip of water, the occasional rumble of shifting stone—felt amplified in the oppressive silence.
A faint vibration rippled through the ground beneath my feet, pulling me from my thoughts. My pulse quickened as Earth Sense flared to life, painting a subtle but unmistakable picture in my mind. Something massive was moving closer, its slow, deliberate movements sending tremors through the stone.
"Wait," I whispered, raising a hand to signal the others. "Something's coming."
Wang Jian's body tensed as he scanned the darkness ahead. His grip on his pickaxe tightened, his sharp gaze narrowing as the vibrations intensified. Ming Lian shifted uneasily, his expression hardening as he readied himself for whatever was approaching.
Then we heard it—a low, menacing hiss that sent a chill down my spine. The air seemed to thicken as a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, its immense form slithering forward with an eerie, predatory grace.
A python. Its massive body gleamed like polished obsidian under the faint blue glow of spirit stones embedded in the walls. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto us, unblinking, as its muscular frame coiled in preparation to strike.
"Spread out," Wang Jian ordered, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.
Ming Lian moved to the left, his movements deliberate but cautious. Wang Jian shifted to the right, his pickaxe raised and ready. I stayed in the center, every muscle in my body tensed as I gripped my own pickaxe tightly. The python's enormous head swayed in the air, its unblinking eyes shifting between the three of us. Its slow, deliberate movements radiated a terrifying intelligence, as though it was sizing up its prey.
The beast struck without warning, its massive head lunging toward Wang Jian with lightning speed. He dodged just in time, his pickaxe slashing at the python's side in a quick counter. The blade scraped against its scales, leaving a shallow mark that only seemed to irritate the creature. It hissed in fury, its tail whipping around to knock Wang Jian off balance. He stumbled but managed to stay upright, his stance quickly regaining its composure.
Ming Lian took the opening, swinging his pickaxe with a force that belied his injury. The weapon connected with a sickening crunch, carving into the python's flank. The creature recoiled, its massive body thrashing violently as it let out a guttural hiss that echoed through the tunnel.
"Keep it busy!" I called out, positioning myself for a strike.
The System's interface flickered to life in my vision, highlighting weak points along the python's body. Its neck was the most vulnerable, but getting close enough to exploit it would be a gamble. The vibrations from Earth Sense painted a clearer picture of its movements, giving me a slight edge. Wang Jian feinted to the left, drawing the python's attention with a calculated strike that barely grazed its scales. The beast lunged at him again, leaving its flank exposed.
Ming Lian swung his pickaxe once more, landing another solid blow on the python's side. The creature's tail lashed out in response, its powerful muscles whipping through the air with terrifying force. Ming Lian managed to dodge, but the attack left him off balance, forcing him to retreat.
This was my moment.
I darted forward, using the information from Earth Sense to anticipate the python's movements. The vibrations told me it was coiling for another strike, but I was faster. With a burst of adrenaline, I closed the gap, raising my pickaxe high. The creature's massive head snapped toward me, its glowing eyes narrowing as it prepared to lunge. I ducked under its strike, driving my pickaxe into its neck with all my strength.
The blade sank deep, and the python thrashed violently, its body whipping back and forth in a desperate attempt to shake me off. Dust and loose stones rained down from the ceiling as the cavern trembled under the creature's weight. I held on, using every ounce of strength to keep my footing.
"Hit it again!" I shouted, my voice strained.
Wang Jian and Ming Lian didn't hesitate. Wang Jian's pickaxe came down hard on the python's exposed side, while Ming Lian delivered a calculated blow to its flank. The beast's movements grew more erratic, its hisses turning to guttural growls as it writhed in pain.
I gritted my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength as I delivered the final strike. My pickaxe drove deeper into its neck, the impact sending a shockwave through my arms. The python let out a final, guttural hiss before collapsing, its massive body falling limp in a cloud of dust and debris.
The cavern fell silent, save for the sound of our ragged breathing. Dust settled around us, the faint glow of spirit stones casting eerie reflections on the jagged walls. A faint blue halo appeared around the python's body, its glow signaling another opportunity.
Wang Jian stepped back, his expression a mix of exhaustion and approval. "Do your thing," he said, gesturing toward the glowing aura.
I didn't need to be told twice. My gaze locked onto the halo as the System's familiar interface materialized in my vision:
[You have defeated: Stone Tunnel Python]
[Available Skill to Harvest: Stone Skin (Passive, Rank E)]
Hardens your body like rock, reducing physical damage. Effect lasts as long as you are in contact with earth or stone.
The description sent a surge of anticipation through me. Hardening my body like stone? That could be a game-changer. I confirmed the selection, and a wave of energy rippled through me as the skill integrated into the System. My skin tingled, hardening slightly as a thin, rock-like texture spread across my arms. I flexed my fingers, marveling at the newfound resilience.
"Not bad, kid," Ming Lian muttered, his tone begrudging but genuine.
I glanced at him, then at Wang Jian, whose calm expression betrayed a hint of approval. "Thanks," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through me. But even as I spoke, my mind was already racing ahead. The python was dead, and I had gained another skill, but this wasn't the end. Not even close.
The three of us regrouped, exhaustion settling over us like a heavy blanket. The cavern's walls shimmered with the faint light of the spirit stones, their glow casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance in the corner of my vision. For the first time, I allowed myself to feel a sliver of hope. The System had given me tools to survive, and with every battle, I grew stronger.
"We need to keep moving," I said, breaking the silence.
Wang Jian raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
I nodded. "The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are. That python might've been the biggest threat so far, but it won't be the last."
Ming Lian scoffed but didn't argue. Wang Jian simply nodded, his pickaxe resting on his shoulder as he gestured for me to lead the way.
As we continued down the tunnel, the weight of the mine pressed against my thoughts. The System had given me power, but it wasn't enough—not yet. If we were going to escape this hellhole, we needed more. And I intended to find it.