Janet barely had time to steady her breath after forming the protective shield when the air around her grew heavy, suffocating. A sharp, hissing sound filled the room, sending chills down her spine. The serpent had found them.
Her third eye flared involuntarily, revealing the creature in its grotesque glory. Its massive form coiled in the astral space above her, glowing green eyes piercing through her defenses. It moved with fluid, predatory intent, splitting into two shadowy forms—one lunging toward Janet, the other toward Lina, whose faint spiritual image shimmered in Janet's mind.
The serpent's second form wrapped itself around Lina's astral figure, its translucent tail tightening like a noose. Lina's spirit writhed in its grip, her screams of terror reverberating through the connection. Janet froze for a fraction of a second, her heart pounding as panic clawed at her resolve.
The first serpent wasted no time. It struck directly at Janet, its fangs aiming for the center of her protective light sphere. The impact sent a tremor through her shield, cracks spidering across the glowing surface. Janet gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay grounded. "Not now. Not like this," she whispered, her voice trembling but firm.
The Battle Begins
Janet raised her hands, her mind racing through the monk's teachings. She began chanting a mantra under her breath, her voice growing louder with each repetition. The white light around her flared, pushing the serpent back momentarily. Its hiss turned into a guttural growl, and it struck again, this time with even more force.
"Lina!" Janet shouted through the connection. "Hold on! Don't give in!" But Lina's spirit appeared limp, her energy draining as the serpent's coils tightened.
Janet's body trembled, but she refused to falter. She focused her energy, summoning a beam of light from the core of her shield. It shot forward, striking the serpent's first form. The creature screeched, its shape distorting momentarily before solidifying again. The attack had weakened it, but not enough.
Mike, who had been meditating nearby to support her efforts, opened his eyes, sensing the chaos. "Janet, what's happening?"
"It's here!" she yelled. "It's going after Lina! I can't handle both—"
Mike didn't wait for her to finish. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy to support Janet's shield. A faint golden light emerged from his hands, merging with her white sphere. The cracks in her shield began to seal, and Janet felt a surge of strength.
The Serpent's Counterattack
But the serpent was relentless. Its second form jerked violently, pulling Lina's astral figure closer to its gaping maw. Janet could feel Lina's despair through the connection—a cold, sinking feeling that gnawed at her resolve.
The serpent's first form turned its attention back to Janet, its eyes glowing brighter. Suddenly, it lunged, breaking through the shield with a deafening crack. Janet stumbled backward as its shadowy tail wrapped around her ankle, pulling her astral self partially out of her physical body.
A searing pain shot through her as she felt her energy being drained. It was trying to take her soul. Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to continue chanting the mantra, louder and more defiant. The light around her flickered, then flared violently, burning the serpent's tail. It recoiled with a screech but didn't release its grip.
"You can't have me!" Janet shouted, pouring every ounce of willpower into her words. The light around her surged again, temporarily forcing the serpent back.
A Desperate Move
In the chaos, Janet made a split-second decision. She focused all her energy on Lina's protective sphere, forming a blazing chain of light that shot toward the serpent's second form. The chain wrapped around its shadowy body, pulling it away from Lina. For a moment, Lina's astral figure was free, but the effort left Janet vulnerable.
The serpent's first form seized the opportunity, wrapping itself around Janet completely. Its weight was crushing, its emerald eyes gleaming with victory as it hissed in triumph. Janet's breath came in ragged gasps as she felt her spirit being pulled further from her body.
"Janet, don't give up!" Mike's voice cut through the haze. He stepped closer, his hands glowing with golden light. "Focus on the light! You can beat this thing!"
Janet's mind raced as the serpent's grip tightened. She could feel her energy slipping away, her vision dimming. Summoning the last remnants of her strength, she chanted the mantra again, this time with unwavering conviction. Her body glowed brighter than ever, and the serpent hissed in pain, its form beginning to distort.
Just as she felt herself breaking free, the serpent released her and retreated slightly, its forms merging back into one. But instead of disappearing, it coiled in the shadows, its emerald eyes narrowing as it hissed, "This is far from over."
Janet collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. She turned to Mike, her voice barely a whisper. "It's still here… and it's getting stronger."
The serpent's lingering presence filled the room, a chilling reminder that this battle had only just begun. Somewhere in the distance, Lina screamed again.