The twins arrived at the spot where the lightning had struck, their hearts pounding as they scanned the murky swamp for any sign of Max. The mud was eerily still, and the air crackled faintly with residual energy from the bolt.
"Where is he?" Seria whispered, her green eyes darting around. "I don't see anything."
"Max!" Lira shouted, her voice carrying through the thick fog. "If you're out there, answer us!"
Suddenly, the mud erupted with a loud splash, sending water and muck flying in all directions. The twins instinctively jumped back, their weapons drawn. Out of the swirling chaos came Max, skidding across the mud before planting his feet firmly to stop himself. He was covered in filth but very much alive.
"Max!" Seria and Lira screamed in unison as they ran to him, relief flooding their faces.
Seria reached him first, her green eyes brimming with emotion. "Are you okay? What happened to you?"
"You scared the hell out of us!" Lira added, her usual smirk replaced by genuine concern.
Max laughed, brushing mud off his face as best as he could. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just got dragged around by something that really didn't want to let go." He smirked, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "But hey, that was a tough one. I like that."
The twins exchanged exasperated looks, though their relief was evident.
"You're unbelievable," Seria said, shaking her head but smiling.
"Next time, try not to get swallowed by the swamp," Lira quipped, her smirk slowly returning. "You're making this way more dramatic than it needs to be."
Before Max could reply, the mud behind them erupted again, this time with a loud hissing sound that sent chills down their spines. All three of them turned to see a massive serpent rising from the swamp, its dark, slick scales glistening in the dim light. Its yellow eyes glowed with a menacing intensity as it opened its jaws, revealing fangs dripping with venom.
"That," Max said with a grin, pointing at the creature, "must be a Bog Serpent."
"Of course it is," Lira muttered, her daggers already in her hands. "Because why not add a giant snake to the mix?"
Seria's grip tightened on her sword, her eyes narrowing. "Be careful, Max. This thing looks dangerous."
Max, however, took a step forward, his grin widening. "Hey, Scales! You're tough, aren't you? How about we skip the fight and be friends instead?"
The serpent hissed loudly, its massive body coiling as it prepared to strike. Max didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hand, calling out, "Let's go, Pax!"
In a flash of light, Pax and his pack materialized beside Max. The Alpha Wolf stood tall, growling low as his pack flanked him, their glowing eyes locked onto the serpent.
The twins stared in awe, their expressions a mix of amazement and disbelief.
"He's really calling Pax for this?" Lira said, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and admiration.
"It makes sense," Seria replied, her green eyes focused on the serpent. "If anyone can handle this, it's Max and Pax together."
Max glanced over his shoulder, his confident grin unwavering. "Don't worry. I've got this. Besides," he added, his voice lowering slightly, "I don't plan on doing this alone."
With Pax and his pack by his side, and the twins ready to back him up, Max turned his attention back to the massive serpent. The tension in the air was thick as the two sides prepared for what would undoubtedly be a battle to remember.
Max stood tall, his golden eyes locked on the massive Bog Serpent before him. Its hissing echoed through the marsh, the creature's body coiled and ready to strike. Max smiled, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation.
"Alright, calm down, Max," he muttered to himself. "How do I take this thing down without causing too much damage? Or better yet, how do I restrain it?" He glanced at the serpent's movements, noting its powerful tail and sharp fangs. "Maybe if I can keep its focus on me, Pax and the pack can pin it down."
With a confident grin, Max spoke aloud. "Let's do this, Pax. You and your pack are up."
Pax growled deeply, his glowing eyes never leaving the serpent. The rest of the pack mirrored their Alpha, growling in unison as they prepared for the fight.
Max materialized his sword, the blade shimmering faintly in the misty air. He pointed it toward the serpent and barked out instructions. "Pax, you and two others distract it from the front. The rest of you, flank it and go for the tail. I'll aim for its weak spots. Got it?"
Pax barked once, signaling his understanding, and the pack moved into formation. Max tightened his grip on his sword, a determined smile on his face. "Let's go!"
---
The battle erupted into chaos as Pax and his pack darted forward. The serpent lunged, snapping its jaws at the advancing wolves, but Pax leapt to the side, his agility keeping him just out of reach. Two other wolves flanked the serpent, nipping at its coiled body to draw its attention.
Max dashed forward, his sword gleaming as he struck at the serpent's exposed side. The blade cut through its thick scales, eliciting an ear-piercing hiss from the beast. "Stay focused!" Max shouted, dodging a strike from the serpent's tail.
Pax lunged at the serpent's neck, his powerful jaws clamping down just below its head. The serpent writhed, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake him off. The other wolves attacked its tail, their sharp teeth tearing at the slick scales.
Max moved in again, aiming for the serpent's underbelly. He struck with precision, causing the beast to rear up in pain. The serpent's tail whipped around, narrowly missing Max as he rolled to the side. "This thing's tougher than it looks," Max muttered, breathing heavily.
The serpent, now enraged, let out a deafening hiss and swung its tail in a wide arc. Two wolves were knocked back, yelping as they hit the muddy ground. Pax barked sharply, rallying his pack as they regrouped and continued their assault.
"Pax, keep at it!" Max yelled. He charged forward, his sword glowing faintly as he activated a skill. "Skill: Flame Slash!" The blade ignited with fiery energy as Max struck the serpent's side, the flames searing its scales and forcing it to recoil.
The serpent hissed in pain, its body twisting violently as it lashed out with both fangs and tail. One of its strikes grazed Max's shoulder, causing him to stumble but not fall. "Damn it," Max muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "This thing's not going down easy."
The twins watched from a distance, their weapons drawn but unable to intervene without disrupting Max's strategy.
"He's handling this better than I thought," Seria said, her green eyes darting between Max and the serpent.
"Yeah, but he's pushing himself too hard," Lira replied, her tone tinged with concern. "That serpent's not letting up, and neither is he."
Max, meanwhile, adjusted his strategy. "Pax, go for its head again! The rest of you, keep it distracted!" Pax growled in acknowledgment, leaping at the serpent's head while the other wolves circled its body. The serpent lunged at Pax, but the Alpha dodged, his pack biting at its tail to keep it off balance.
Max dashed in, aiming for the serpent's exposed side, but the creature's tail lashed out with incredible speed. Before Max could react, the tail struck him squarely in the chest, sending him flying through the air.
"Max!" Seria and Lira screamed in unison, their voices filled with panic.
Max hit the muddy ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. The serpent's tail came down again, and the force sent Max sliding across the mud before he disappeared beneath the murky surface.
"What just happened?" Lira shouted, her eyes wide with shock. "Where is he?"
Seria's grip on her sword tightened as she scanned the battlefield. "We have to find him," she said, her voice trembling. "He's still down there. He has to be."
The twins stood frozen for a moment, their eyes darting between the thrashing serpent and the spot where Max had vanished. The wolves continued their relentless assault, but without Max's guidance, the battle's outcome hung in the balance.
Lira paced frantically near the edge of the murky swamp, her daggers drawn and her eyes scanning the muddy surface for any sign of Max. "I can't just stand here! I have to find him!" she shouted, her voice trembling with both fear and determination.
Seria reached out, grabbing Lira's arm gently but firmly. "Wait," she said, her voice steady despite the panic in her green eyes. "We can't rush in blindly. If we're not careful, we'll end up just like him. We have to think this through."
"Think this through?" Lira snapped, turning to face her sister. "Max could be drowning or worse, and you want to stand here thinking?!"
Seria's gaze didn't waver. "And if we rush in and get caught too, who's going to save him then?"
Before Lira could respond, the mud erupted violently once again. Both sisters instinctively jumped back as thick, twisting vines shot out of the ground, snaking through the air before tangling tightly around the massive Bog Serpent. The beast hissed and thrashed, but the vines held firm, pinning it in place.
From the mud emerged Max, covered in grime but alive, with Tails perched proudly on his shoulder. His golden eyes burned with determination as he surveyed the scene.
"Let's go, Tusk!" Max shouted, his voice ringing out across the battlefield.
In a flash of light, Tusk materialized beside him, snorting loudly as he stomped his hooves in the mud. Max pointed toward the restrained serpent. "Tusk, full charge! Pax, work with him!"
Pax growled deeply, leading his pack into formation as Tusk charged forward. The ground trembled beneath Tusk's powerful steps as he slammed into the serpent's side, causing it to shriek in pain. Pax lunged at the serpent's head, snapping at its jaws to keep its attention divided while the rest of the pack attacked its vulnerable flanks.
The serpent's struggles grew weaker, its massive body collapsing onto the swampy ground under the combined assault. Max's sword vanished from his hand, and he took a deep breath, his resolve hardening.
"Skill: Savage Leap!" he yelled, launching himself high into the air. As he descended, he opened his hand, electricity crackling around him. "Skill: Thunder Clap!"
Max landed directly on the serpent's massive body, slamming his hand down onto its scales. A burst of electricity surged through the creature, causing it to writhe and hiss in agony. The light from the attack illuminated the marsh for a brief moment, casting eerie shadows across the trees.
As the serpent stilled, Max stood tall, his golden aura flaring around him. "Skill: Tamer's Aura!" he shouted, the energy exploding outward from his body. The overwhelming presence filled the air, forcing the serpent to freeze in place, its yellow eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.
Max raised his hand again, his voice steady and commanding. "Skill: Beast Whisperer." The connection formed instantly, allowing Max's thoughts to reach the serpent.
"Enough!" Max yelled, his voice echoing through the swamp. "No more fighting. No more pain. Let's end this now."
The serpent's glowing eyes locked onto Max's as it stopped moving entirely. Its massive body relaxed slightly, the tension draining from its form as it stared at him in silence.
Max lowered his hand, his voice softening. "Be good, my scaled friend. There's no need for fear or anger anymore. Let me help you find peace."
The serpent let out a low, rumbling hiss that sounded almost like a sigh. It lowered its massive head slightly, a gesture of submission and trust.
---
From the sidelines, Seria and Lira watched in awe, their weapons lowered as they tried to process what they were seeing.
"He did it," Lira whispered, her usual smirk replaced by genuine amazement. "He actually did it."
Seria nodded slowly, her green eyes fixed on Max. "Every time I think I've seen everything he can do, he surprises me again. The way he connects with these creatures… it's incredible."
"It's ridiculous," Lira muttered, though there was a faint smile on her face. "But that's Max for you."
---
Max stepped back from the serpent, his breathing heavy but his expression calm. He turned to the twins with a faint grin. "Looks like we made a new friend," he said, patting the serpent gently.
Seria sheathed her sword, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You really are something else, Max."
Lira crossed her arms, her smirk returning. "Just don't expect me to start calling it Scales or anything."
Max laughed, his golden eyes glinting with amusement as he looked back at the serpent. "Welcome to the team, my friend."