Feinting left, then right, he lunged, his boots scraping the slick stone floor. The snake fell for it again, its head jerking the wrong way, and Jae slashed at its face, the Mana Blade grazing its scales.
The hit barely scratched the beast, but it enraged the snake, its hiss echoing like a grating roar, its fangs bared as it coiled tighter.
The snake struck, its jaw stretching impossibly wide, aiming to clamp down on Jae with those corrosive fangs. His heart lurched, and he activated Phantom Step, blurring to the side, the air whistling as the snake's jaws snapped shut inches from him.
He spun, thrusting his Mana Blade toward its head, aiming for the eyes, but the snake's tail whipped around from behind, slamming into his back with bone-rattling force.
Jae flew forward, crashing into the cave wall, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Pain exploded through his ribs, his vision swimming as he slid to the ground, his shoulder scraping the rough stone.
