Zayen was determined to take away the herbs here, and he was also going to hunt the magical beast!
Otherwise, if the magical beast ran away and let it remember his smell, it would inevitably cause endless trouble!
Zayen pressed his body tightly against the cave wall, blending into the shadows as he moved forward inch by inch.
As he passed the strange flowers and plants, the stench of blood grew heavier, thick enough to cling to his lungs.
The magical beast had to be just ahead.
Zayen slowed his breathing until it was almost imperceptible. Carefully, he leaned past the edge of a stone outcrop and peered forward with a single eye.
The moment the scene ahead came into view, his pupils shrank.
In the very center stood a three-meter-high platform, and on the platform was placed a red crystal coffin!
"No way... is this actually a tomb?"
"Who would bury someone here?"
"Uh, could it be the original owner of the cave...?"
Zayen secretly speculated for a moment and felt that this possibility was quite high.
Someone had clearly lived in the Endless Forest before, but it had been empty for many years. Perhaps it was indeed someone who didn't want to interact with the outside world, who had lived in seclusion in the Endless Forest, and, feeling his end was near, built this tomb for himself.
But what kind of person would rather die than leave this place?
Or does this place have a special characteristic that he hasn't noticed?
Carrying a belly full of confusion. Zayen was about to take a step forward when...
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
Suddenly, strange hissing sounds echoed from above the cave.
Shh! Shh! Shh!
The ground began to tremble, as if something massive was rushing down from the top of the cave.
Startled, Zayen quickly stepped back.
Whoosh!
A red light flashed, and a huge, ferocious beast dropped from above.
Zayen took a closer look and realized it was a seven-meter-long giant black python covered in dark scales.
He immediately activated the system identification function…
[System Identification]
[Name]: Bloodscale Abyss Python (Rare)
[Race]: High-Tier Magic Beast
[Level]: 3
[Attack]: 88
[Speed]: 62
[Defense]: 92
[Skills]: Blood Constrict, Abyssal Venom Fang, Dark Scale Guard, Abyss Flame
Huh!
It's a level three rare magic beast!
Zayen was both shocked and delighted. Encountering a rare magic beast was rare and brought great rewards.
Looking at the Bloodscale Abyss Python in front of him, Zayen couldn't help but wonder what kind of reward he would obtain if he killed it.
After all, the Crimson Eclipse had been acquired by slaying the rare Snowveil Spirit Rabbit. That alone made this battle worth anticipating.
With that thought, Zayen's eyes gleamed faintly with excitement. He was genuinely looking forward to what kind of treasure the Bloodscale Abyss Python might leave behind.
Just then, the Bloodscale Abyss Python made its move.
"Hiss—!"
It suddenly opened its massive jaws, spewing a stream of black flames straight toward Zayen.
Seeing the black flames rushing at him, Zayen's pupils shrank. He immediately activated [Divine Manifestation], a faint golden shield forming in front of him as he retreated a step.
The black flames slammed into the golden shield with a violent hiss.
Chi—! Chi—!
Instead of exploding, the flames clung to the golden shield surface like living tar, corroding the light itself. Dark smoke rose as the shield trembled, and cracks began spreading across its surface at a visible speed.
Zayen's expression changed.
"These flames… they're eating through divine energy?"
The faint golden barrier only lasted less than two breaths before it shattered into scattered motes of light. The residual black fire splashed onto the ground, melting stone as if it were wax and leaving behind deep, smoking pits.
Zayen quickly leaped back again, narrowly avoiding the spreading flames. The heat brushed past his face, and the stench of decay filled his nose.
At the center of the cave, the Bloodscale Abyss Python slowly raises its massive head and looks at Zayen with its crimson slit pupils.
"Hisssss…"
The Bloodscale Abyss Python hisses again and rushes toward Zayen at an incredible speed.
Although the massive jaws's body was massive, its speed was incredibly terrifying. In an instant it was right in front of Zayen with its massive jaws wide open, ready to swallow him whole.
With no time to react, Zayen could only quickly raise his bare hands and seize the Bloodscale Abyss Python's two massive fangs.
A terrifying force slammed into his arms.
Krak—!
The impact drove Zayen's feet deep into the stone floor, cracks spiderwebbing beneath him as his body was pushed backward inch by inch.
But the very next second, Zayen realized—something was terribly wrong.
The Bloodscale Abyss Python's fangs suddenly turned a dark, sickly green. In an instant, a violent poison surged outward.
Zayen's arms began to blacken at a visible speed, the flesh rapidly discoloring as an unbearable burning pain exploded through his nerves.
"Ahhh—!"
Zayen screamed. The pain was so intense that his mind went blank. Instinct took over, and he released the python's fangs immediately.
The moment he let go, the Bloodscale Abyss Python snapped its jaws shut at terrifying speed, aiming to swallow him whole.
Snap!
Zayen barely managed to drop downward at the last possible instant, the massive jaws slamming shut just inches above his head.
Boom!
Before his feet could even touch the ground, a black shadow swept through the air.
The Bloodscale Abyss Python's tail came crashing down like a steel whip, tearing through the air with explosive force.
[Divine Manifestation]
Zayen activated the skill again without hesitation. Golden light burst forth, forming a translucent barrier in front of him.
Crack—!
The impact landed.
The shield shattered almost instantly, fragments of golden light scattering like broken glass. The overwhelming force slammed directly into Zayen's body.
Bang!
Zayen was sent flying, smashing hard into the cave wall. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his vision blurred, his body sliding down the stone before collapsing to one knee.
It seemed like he suffered internal injuries, as he almost spit out fragments of his organs and appeared extremely miserable.
His arms were still burning black with poison, and his muscles were trembling uncontrollably.
"This thing…" Zayen gasped, forcing himself to stay conscious. "It's super strong and deadly."
Before he could catch his breath, a fierce gust of wind swept past him as the Bloodscale Abyss Python charged again. Its speed was terrifying—like an arrow released from a bowstring. In the blink of an eye, its massive body closed the distance, its blood-smeared jaws yawning wide, venomous fangs aimed straight at Zayen.
A nauseating stench rushed into his nose.
In that split second, Zayen's battle instinct exploded.
Ignoring the searing pain in his blackened arm, he forced his body to move. Instead of retreating, he rolled forward—straight toward the python.
Bang!