Chapter 85 - 75: Cyan-Eyed Dragon Snake
Chapter 85: Chapter 75: Cyan-Eyed Dragon Snake
Shan Xi Ao flapped his wings, hugging the top of the cavern. He navigated around the hanging stalactites, terrified of disturbing the Giant Snake in the underground river below.
The recent slaughter still filled him with fear. There was nothing for it; the enemy was simply too powerful. Shan Xi Ao recalled the Giant Snake thrashing in the river—with a body and strength like that, a single sweep of its tail could destroy every grass hut in his clan’s settlement.
After flying for a short while, Shan Xi Ao used the faint glow of the fluorescent mushrooms on the ceiling to spot a massive platform up ahead.
’Is that the Giant Snake’s lair?’ He cautiously clung to a stalactite, his eyes fixed on the Giant Snake as it raised its massive head from the water.
The bleat of a deer echoed through the cavern, greatly surprising Shan Xi Ao. He shifted his position, moving closer to the platform.
’Why is there a deer here?’ Shan Xi Ao wondered, looking at the Big-horned Deer lying on the platform. He’d seen deer while playing in the forest, but never a creature like this in a subterranean cavern.
Furthermore, the Big-horned Deer had an injured leg and couldn’t stand. It looked as if it had been placed here deliberately.
’Is someone raising this Giant Snake and using the Big-horned Deer to feed it?’ Shan Xi Ao grew even more tense. If the enemy was just the Giant Snake, his clan could still deal with it cautiously, finding ways to avoid detection. But if an intelligent lifeform was involved, he would have to rush back and tell his father how dangerous this place was.
The Giant Snake slowly slithered onto the platform, wisps of black energy rising from its body. Drawn to the deer, it flicked its forked tongue repeatedly as it slowly approached its prey.
The Big-horned Deer bleated pitifully, able only to drag itself along the ground in a desperate attempt to escape the Giant Snake.
Shan Xi Ao watched as the Giant Snake, its belly already bulging, closed in on the Big-horned Deer. It struck like lightning, and amidst the deer’s ceaseless cries of pain, quickly swallowed its prey.
The Giant Snake was so immense that its open mouth easily encompassed half of the deer’s body.
’I need to tell Father right away. It looks like the clan will have to move again.’ Shan Xi Ao felt a surge of frustration. His mother’s health was too poor for such an ordeal. He didn’t want to tell the clan what he had found, but he knew he had no choice. The consequences of silence would be unthinkable.
Seeing the Giant Snake lie still on the platform after its meal, he decided to remain on the stalactite a bit longer. ’I’ll watch a little more, see if its master appears.’
Soon, he saw a figure flicker past an opening in the cavern wall. ’Is the master coming out?’
Shan Xi Ao tensed, ready to flee the instant he was discovered.
Immediately after, the sound of footsteps echoed out, and to his astonishment, a group of people charged out of the opening.
There was a troop of goblins, a tall creature resembling a Giant, and a hunchbacked Mage in a black Magic Robe and a pointed Mage Hat.
’Looks like the Mage is the one who raised this Giant Snake,’ Shan Xi Ao muttered. He was already preparing to flee for his life. He was confident he could get away from the goblins, but if that Mage took action, his only fate would be death or capture.
Just as he was about to flap his wings and flee, the situation took an unexpected turn. The Giant hurled a massive boulder at the Giant Snake.
CRASH! The boulder struck the Giant Snake square on the head. The creature writhed, then reared its head high.
’Something’s not right.’ Shan Xi Ao’s eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold. ’That Giant is attacking the snake! He just threw a second boulder.’
Struck by two boulders in a row, the Giant Snake grew enraged. It coiled back, its body tensing, looking ready to strike at any second.
Just as Shan Xi Ao expected the Giant to hurl a third boulder, the entire group unexpectedly turned and fled. ’Is the fight over already?’
CRACKLE! A powerful electric hum filled the air as the Giant Snake spat a blindingly white, suffocating beam of light. As the snake swept its head, a torrent of crackling electricity scoured the ground in front of it, blasting up dust and stone fragments. The sharp sound of the current tearing through the air made Shan Xi Ao’s ears ring, and the acrid smell of ozone and burning rock wafted into his nostrils.
’So... so powerful,’ Shan Xi Ao thought, dumbfounded. ’Run, you goblins! Any slower and you’re going to be fried!’
After unleashing its Lightning Breath, the Giant Snake reared its head again. Realizing it hadn’t hit a single target, it grew even more furious and launched its body forward, charging straight at the Giant.
Only then did Shan Xi Ao notice that the Giant Snake had five pairs of short legs on its flanks. They were usually tucked against its body, but now, in its fury, it had unfurled them completely.
Then, he heard the Mage shout a command. A large, translucent blue dog abruptly materialized behind the Giant Snake and lunged forward to bite it.
...
"Rubus, watch out!" Shire shouted.
He ordered his minions to keep their distance from the enemy while simultaneously calling up its status panel.
Name: Cyan-Eyed Dragon Snake
Race: Magical Beast
Danger Level: 12 (Slightly Dangerous)
Personality: Ferocious, Greedy
Ability: Lightning Breath
"Everyone, be careful! Don’t get close! Watch out for its Lightning Breath!" he reminded his minions again.
Rubus sank its teeth into the nape of the Cyan-Eyed Dragon Snake’s neck. The beast thrashed wildly from the pain, rolling on the ground in an attempt to dislodge the Star Realm Dog. But Rubus had already leaped back, landing several meters away.
The Giant Snake, still emitting wisps of black energy, coiled up. Then, its upper body began to heave and convulse.
"It’s about to throw up its prey," Shire immediately shouted to the Giant. "Caocao, keep throwing!"