Chapter 67

Aether didn't possess any weapons capable of piercing the thick skin of the monstrous white snake head-on. Therefore, a sneak attack remained his sole viable option, much like how he had initially stabbed it. However, as the snake became more vigilant, Aether found himself with only one choice.

"BOOM!"

A sudden explosion reverberated in the distance, catching the snake's attention and causing it to tense with alertness. Sensing an opportunity, Aether swiftly hurled a wooden branch towards the same spot where he had previously struck the creature.

'Chuckk'

"HIIIISS!!"

The white serpent emitted a pained hiss as it swiftly turned to inspect its injured tail, revealing yet another sharp wooden fragment embedded within its flesh.

"Hisss"

Frustration and fury marred the snake's features as it attempted to locate the assailant responsible for its agony. However, before it could retaliate or defend itself,

"BOOM!!"

Another explosion erupted nearby, diverting the snake's focus once again to a new source of disturbance. Using this distraction,

"Chkkk"

"HIIIISS!!"

The snake let out another anguished cry as it discovered yet another wooden branch piercing its already wounded tail. The relentless onslaught of pain and surprise attacks left the formidable creature in a state of enraged vulnerability.

Aether couldn't help but smile at the seemingly predictable reactions of the idiotic snake.

"At the end of the day... an animal is still an animal," Aether muttered with an amused grin playing on his lips.

The plan was straightforward and simple: Exploit the snake's heightened sensitivity to sound by using his overpowered Magic to create distractions nearby. This tactic would allow Aether to divert the creature's attention long enough to execute his sneak attacks.

Although this method was somewhat time-consuming, the fact that the mission tab continued to blink indicated that he still had time to accomplish his objective.

As for 'Charm'... He wasn't an idiot to put his hard-earned Affection Points on something useless.... It seemed utterly pointless in this scenario.

He ain't no way to believe he could use his charm to survive... that's fucking unbelievable!!

With a confident smile, Aether conjured another flame and pointed it towards an empty area nearby and,

'Shhhh'

The flames shot forth, aimed at diverting the monster's attention. However, his confidence wavered when the snake's hiss took on an ominous tone....

"Hissss~"

"BOOM!"

Aether froze mid-action, his hand poised to throw the branch.... Instead of reacting to the distraction, the snake monster fixed a menacing gaze directly at Aether, causing a chill to run down his spine.

"H-Hello?" Aether stammered his expression a mix of surprise and awkwardness. In an instant, the snake swiftly slithered towards Aether's hiding spot among the branches of the tree.

Before Aether could react or retreat, the massive snake swung its colossal tail, smashing the tree to pieces.

"TRRCCKKKK!"

The tree splintered and collapsed, sending Aether tumbling to the ground.

Despite Aether's initial belief that these monsters were merely oversized animals, he soon realized this was only a partial truth.... A creature that had cunningly orchestrated a plan to use humans as bait for hunting an Orc was far from foolish.

And even if somehow someone fooled it.... there was no way it was going to get fooled by the same trick again and again!!

It was like this: When the white snake felt something amiss, it soon turned vigilant and focused on everything.... There was a blast but it didn't intend to hit it so sensing something awry, swiftly shifted its focus from the distracting blasts to the source of the disturbance.

Its keen black eyes caught sight of small flames erupting on the tree, leading the creature to pinpoint a human's presence that was fooling it with deadly accuracy.

"HISSS!!!"

The white snake fixed Aether with a furious glare. It had no interest in Aether as a potential meal; instead, it was determined to eliminate this bothersome human who had dared to fool it repeatedly.

It was got truly annoyed after being happy about evolution!!

"Come at me!" Aether shouted defiantly, clutching a broken branch as he prepared to face the enraged monster head-on.... He was ready to kill the Monster and yet,

"SLAP!!"

The snake's tail struck Aether with brutal force, leaving him unable to react, a stark indicator of his insignificance in the eyes of the monster and the level of difference between them!!

'Thud'

'Cough, Cough'

Colliding with the tree, Aether coughed up blood as he struggled to regain his footing. Despite the impact, his body strangely seemed to numb itself to the pain, as if the injuries were mere inconveniences.

His body was slowly but surely getting accustomed to the pain!!

"Heh..." Aether's lips curved into a sardonic smile, stained with blood, a testament to his unwavering determination even in the face of overwhelming odds. Gripping the shattered remnants of a branch tightly in his trembling hand, ran towards it.

He was aware of the recklessness of his decision, but with the snake now marking him as an enemy, he felt it was a matter of kill or be killed.

Observing the punny human's futile attempt, the snake smirked, its hiss was a prelude to a lethal action...

"ssssss"

Its poison.

Aether's eyes widened in alarm as he realized he had forgotten about that just like any snake this snake also posed a deadly poison.... he cursed himself for forgetting about that.

And seeing the yellow fluid almost near him, he immediately pointed his finger to the ground to initiate the blast, but then, a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

"No, I will die," he muttered, his voice laced with urgency and fear. Swiftly recalibrating his aim, he slightly changed the direction and side of the blast, hoping to avoid the imminent danger.

"BOOM!!"

The explosion rocked the immediate vicinity, propelling Aether forcefully sideways.

Aether had been certain that aiming the blast directly at the ground would send him hurtling skyward and then as everyone knows gravity would fuck him without mercy. Thus, he made a split-second decision to adjust the trajectory to the side, a choice that proved to be a narrow escape from certain death.

But still, In the chaotic whirlwind of heat and debris, his legs were engulfed in searing flames, and the impact shattered several bones, sending waves of excruciating pain through his body.

'Damn it' he muttered... This harrowing experience underscored his lack of control over his magic. If he had just used it on the monster who knows what might happen to the innocent girl inside its belly?

Nevertheless,

Aether crashed into the nearby trees with a resounding....

'Thud' the impact nearly snapping his backbone before he landed harshly on the unforgiving ground.

'Drip, Drip'

Blood trickled from Aether's mouth and nose, a telltale sign of internal injury.

Through his haze of pain and blurred vision, he watched as the massive snake slowly slithered closer, its predatory intent palpable in the air.

Summoning the last shreds of his strength, Aether lifted his trembling hand and pointed his fingers at the advancing creature.

'sshhh'

Small yellow flames flickered to life, dancing at his fingertips, a feeble display of his magical prowess that would still help him....

The snake, however, halted in its tracks, a testament to the fear instilled by Aether's previous powerful blasts, despite his current weakened state.

"...." Aether's gaze locked with the snake's, a mix of determination and desperation evident in his eyes. His fingers trembled as he attempted to reduce the intensity of the energy and yet he didn't know how to do it.... All he knew was flames that's all!!

The weight of the situation bore down on him heavily.

One single mistake... He might kill the innocent girl with his own two hands.

"Come on, Log!! Give me something!!" Aether's frustration bubbled to the surface.

'Blink, Blink...'

The log remained unyielding, displaying only the blinking mission tab, a stark reminder of the tasks at hand and the pressing danger that loomed.

"Arrrh...USELESS!!" Aether groaned in frustration, his hand dropping to his side in defeat.

Sensing his weakness, the snake resumed its advance towards him, its predatory instincts reignited.

"Increase... Charm"

!~Ding~!