The creature lunged, its obsidian scales glinting in the dappled jungle light. Mella reacted first, an iron spear materializing in her hand as she hurled it with precision.
The spear streaked through the air, but the snake twisted, the weapon grazing its side and embedding into the dirt.
"Damn it," Mella hissed, summoning another spear.
"Keep it distracted!" Andrew shouted, leaping to the side as the snake turned its blazing yellow eyes toward him. Gripping his sword tightly, he focused on the creature's movements.
The snake lunged again, but this time, Andrew slid under it, leaving a trail of shimmering, slippery liquid in his wake. The snake's momentum carried it forward, its massive body skidding uncontrollably across the slick surface.
Mella seized the opportunity. Her next spear struck true, piercing the snake's neck and eliciting a guttural screech. The creature reared back, coiling its massive form as blood dripped onto the jungle floor.
Andrew darted forward, his sword slashing at the snake's underbelly. The blade bit deep, but the snake's tail lashed out, catching him across the chest and sending him sprawling.
"Andrew!" Mella yelled, summoning another spear. It drove into the snake's side. The creature writhed, its movements slowing as its strength ebbed.
Andrew rolled to his feet, wincing. "I've got this!" he called, gripping his sword with both hands.
As the snake turned to strike, he darted forward again, coating the ground with more of the slippery liquid. The creature's attack faltered as it lost traction, its head slamming into a tree.
"Now, Mella!" he shouted.
Mella's eyes narrowed in focus as she formed two spears simultaneously, her brow furrowing with the effort. With a shout, she launched both weapons in quick succession.
The first pinned the snake's tail to the ground, and the second drove deep into its skull. The creature let out a final, bone-chilling screech before collapsing in a heap.
Andrew approached cautiously, his sword still at the ready. The snake's body twitched once, then fell still.
"Nice work," he said, glancing at the motionless corpse.
Andrew crouched next to the dying creature. He placed his hand on the snake's still-warm body.
[Ability Acquired: Venom Bite. Trait absorbed: Highly potent venom glands. The ability granted is based on the most advantageous survival trait of the absorbed creature.]
Andrew blinked as the notification faded. He flexed his fingers, feeling a faint tingling sensation in his jaw.
"Okay, let's go."
The jungle stretched endlessly before them, an imposing maze of twisting roots and tangled branches.
Andrew wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the towering trees. "We need a better view. I'm going to try getting up there."
Mella followed his gaze to one of the larger trees nearby, its trunk thick and gnarled, with branches stretching impossibly high. "That's smart."
He took a deep breath, then grabbed Mella by the arm. "Hang on."
"What—wait!" Mella barely had time to protest before the ground beneath them blurred, and they shot upward in a dizzying arc.
Andrew caught hold of a sturdy branch and swung himself and Mella onto it.
She landed with a grunt, clutching the tree for balance. "Come on!"
"Sorry," he said, not sounding very sorry. "We're not done yet."
He jumped again, leaping from branch to branch, each one higher than the last. The strain in his legs grew more intense with every bound, his muscles burning, but he pushed through.
Finally, they reached the tallest tree in the area. Its topmost branches swayed slightly in the wind, and Andrew gritted his teeth as he landed on a wide, stable branch. He set Mella down gently.
"Made it," he said, exhaling sharply.
Mella looked down, her face pale. "If we fall from here, we're done for."
"Don't think about it," Andrew said, positioning himself across from her. The view was breathtaking. The jungle canopy stretched like a sea of green, and in the distance, faint smoke rose above a clearing dotted with small huts.
"There," Mella said, pointing. "That has to be a settlement."
Andrew followed her gaze. "Looks like it."
"We should get there as fast as we can," she added. "Jump?"
He hesitated. "I'd use the jump again, but honestly... my legs are about done. I can probably manage two more jumps before I can't walk."
Mella frowned, concern flickering across her face. "Then don't push it. Let's climb down."
Andrew nodded. "Good call."
The descent was slow, with Andrew and Mella jumping carefully from branch to branch. Each jump jarred Andrew's legs, and by the time they reached the ground, he was limping slightly.
They began moving toward the settlement they had spotted, the jungle seeming to grow even denser as they pressed on.
"You think that's the Mao tribe?" Andrew asked.
"Maybe, maybe not," Mella said. "But if they ain't, they might know where the Mao tribe is."
He smiled faintly. "Fair point. But what if they don't trust us? We don't exactly look like the locals."
Mella shrugged. "They might not. But it's just as likely they'll help us. We don't have many options."
"True." Andrew fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever wondered how we're even able to understand people in these worlds? Like, different languages and everything?"
Mella glanced at him. "The System translates for us. Back on Earth. Most translators are System Chosens."
"Huh." Andrew's brow furrowed. "That's... actually kind of cool."
They pressed on, moving quickly but carefully. Jungle creatures occasionally crossed their path—small, insect-like creatures and the occasional reptile—but Andrew ignored them.
After what felt like hours, they paused to rest, leaning against the rough bark of the trees.
"I'm dying here," Mella groaned, her face flushed. "I need water."
Andrew pulled a bottle from his inventory, handing it to her. "Here. Leave some for me, though."
"Thanks," she said, gulping half of it in nearly one breath. She handed it back, and Andrew drained the rest.
Once they were refreshed, they resumed walking.
"Do you think we're stuck here until we finish the mission?" Mella asked after a while.
Andrew shook his head. "I don't know. The System doesn't exactly give us a lot of details."
"Well, let's hope we figure this out soon," she muttered, stepping over a large root.