"…A-TIER.."
I muttered, my eyes locking on the soft hue of the giant snake's yellow eyes.
The snake's body was a slimy, golden-brownish color with scales that looked like razors. A face that was so narrowed by its nose that it created a perfectly rounded mouth, with sharp teeth that looked strong enough to munch through trees. Those yellow eyes created a soft, malicious glow inside them, with sharpened red pupils that were filled with bloodlust.
"Okay e-everyone, be quiet and don't—"
"HEY! WEREN'T YOU THAT WILD-VILE BEAST WHO CHOMPED OFF MY WING?!"
The snake tilted its head. Its tongue flickered outside of its mouth, rattling with growing irritation.
I forgot that Kairos was someone who still act so high-mighty that he wasn't afraid to challenge someone. It would backfire on him. Hard. Did you forget what happened the last you did that, fool?
"YOU LITTLE SHIT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HAD TO DO?!"
Kairos wiggled inside of my grip. His eyes widened, using his clawed middle finger to flip him off. I think I saw steam coming from his nostrils.
"OH, I WILL KILL YOU! ME AND MAHINA WILL!"
"ME?!"
I exclaimed, raising my eyebrow.
"SINCE WHEN DID I—"
"WATCH OUT!"
I bent down, quickly pulling out Phoenix from the bag and crouching into a ball, holding both Kairos and Phoenix close to my pounding chest. I didn't calculate how much time to wield my sword. The A-Tier's snake's speed was quick—almost as quick as a lightning bolt.
My eyes were shut tightly. A plan already started to run through my head on repeat;
'When I get eaten, I will throw both Phoenix and Kairos.'
I didn't open my eyes just yet. I didn't want to.
"Meow.."
My ears picked up a soft, weak meow. I lifted my head back up. I blinked down at Phoenix, her soft red hue was back, but it seemed a bit brighter than usual. My gaze shifted towards Kairos shocked face.
Around us, was a huge, orangey-red fire ball protecting us.
"Phoenix.." I muttered. My eyes couldn't remove myself from Phoenix.
The snake's sharp teeth couldn't even pierce through the fire ball due to how extreme the temperature was. But, inside, was completely at a normal temperature level. The outside of the fireball, I can hear the sound of crackling pops outside. This was real fire that we're trapped in.
And it's because of Phoenix.
"Roll the ball!" I yelled with urgency at the shocked Kairos.
Though Phoenix pulled a cool and sharp stance, her frail body was still not fully recovered. There was so much a baby Ailorous could take. Phoenix was a baby Ailorous, but too much of a baby that would pass out if she uses too much power.
She's using her power to help us escape.
With all my force, I pushed the fireball forward. It started to roll over slowly. Kairos had gotten the message. Hurriedly turning over, using his little-itty bitty body to use all of his might to push the ball forward.
I can hear Phoenix's soft meows: her red hue was flickering. I knew she was slowly giving up. I had to think of something;
'Come on, Mahina! Think about your past studies!'
…
"..wait,"
I handed Phoenix towards Kairos, who shot me a confused glance.
'The fireball has thin, enlightened flames around the smooth oval-shaped ball.'
I turned around, raising my arms above my head.
'If I circle my arms in a fast-motion, I'll be able to transfer the cold energy upward, causing the flames to elongate.'
Kairos stared at me with confusion. I can feel his gaze watching me move my arms around in a circular motion. I know what I was doing may seem strange: but all I care about is moving this dang ball so that Phoenix can rest!
Outside, the flames started to crackle louder. This was something called the "Convention Cycle." The fire, or the flames, creates a fuel-driven cycle where hot gas creates a suction effect—pulling in cooler surrounding air.
Cooler air is denser and contains more oxygen. The more I produce by circling around my arms at a extreme speed, the larger that flames will expand.
"Do t-the same thing I'm doing!" I yelled, beads of sweat dripping down my face.
Kairos groaned. He used his tiny little arm to do the same circling motion as the way I did. It wasn't enough but it was helpful.
'It's moving!'
I gasped in excitement. The flames were moving in the same direction that I was pushing to!
"Keep doing it!"
The flames engulfed into sharp spikes, flowing like strong waves in the ocean. The fireball now blazed through on the rocky ground, rolling at a fast capacity that it nearly left the snake confused.
Though we were running away from our goal, we were running towards Gia's territory. She'll handle this snake better than me. Again, this was an A-Tier. My sword won't be enough.
'The snake's speed is catching up.'
I glanced at the snake. The way its body would slither back and forth, hissing loudly that the vibrations shook the ball slightly. The snake's loud low-frequency growls was enough to make the ground tumble.
'Good riddance that's the only thing it's doing."
The fireball rolled into the grass; we were already outside of the Menin Gate. My gaze shifted to Phoenix, her red hue was no more.
I quickly wrapped my arm around Kairos and Phoenix, holding their body tightly as the fireball disappeared into huge flames. I hid them using my body as a shield.
I grunted, rolling down on the ground forcefully as gritty dirt and debris got caught in my scalp. The small rocks scraped off my clothes, sticky mud smeared all over my face.
"Huff… you guys o-okay?"
I asked, unwrapping my arm around them. No dirt appeared on their fur, so I knew that they were alright.
"Why is this wild beast q-quiet?!" Kairos asked, shaken by the events with his fearful eyes stuck on the passed-out Phoenix.
I chuckled lightly. But I knew that this situation wasn't over.
I stood up, dusting off the dust from my clothes and wiping off the dirt from my face. I wielded my sword, aiming forward at the snake who was swimming through the soil.
'If I can calculate correctly, Gia's coordinates are latitude latitude 50.6018 degrees North, longitude 5.5663 East. Right along the grassy field between France and Belgium.'
'Right now, I'm at the entrance of the Maine Gate in Belgium.'
I stared down at Kairos who was hugging Phoenix close to his furry chest, staring at the snake who was charging at an alarming pace.
'Sigh, I won't make it in time! So what else am I supposed to do?'
Why can't I think of anything else other than to just throw Kairos and Phoenix towards the snake in order to get the snake out of underneath the soil?
Oh my stars, just give me something!
!
The ground trembled as the snake erupted from the soil. Its sharp teeth were sweeping some sort of purple liquid, which I can assume that it was purple venom.
The snake's wide mouth charged at us, before Kairos could go running off to what the gods know what, I grabbed Kairos by his unharmed wing and hurled him off to the side, careful not to separate Phoenix away from his arms.
CLANG!
"M-Mahina!" Kairos yelped worriedly, his gaze not knowing where to land on.
My sword was in between the snake's mouth. I didn't wanna execute the first plan. Though in my personal opinion, it would've been a great idea to do that, but I didn't want them to get separated in the process while being in the air.
'I can't…hold it for much longer…'
The yellow-glowing eyes of the snakes were locked onto me. I was feeling intimidated just by staring at them. The snake's mouth wasn't helping either—its hot breath coated my sword in this green, droopy goe—making my face clenched up with disgust.
With the pressure of the snake forcefully trying to close its mouth, I can see that my sliver blade was shattering from the intense pressure its trying to hold. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold myself as much as I can.
'Gosh, new plan!'
I loosened up my grasp from my hilt, ducking and rolling myself towards Kairos. The snake shuts its mouth with a loud chomp and aggressively hurled its nose into the soil. Thankfully, I wasn't there to get eaten.
I swiped up Kairos, taking this chance to run away and locate Gia's territory. The snake was struggling to get its big head unstuck. This giant snake was big and scary, but it seemed like it wasn't smart enough to not bash its head inside of the sticky soil.
I only have exactly two minutes to plan.
I stopped in my tracks, hurriedly unzipping bag carefully placing Phoenix in their. I then turn to Kairos, who was visibly shaking.
"Listen, Kairos," I got his attention by slapping his face. I grabbed his little furry shoulders and stared straight at those pinkish eyes.
"You need to push through whatever pain you're feeling and fly."
Kairos gasped lightly. He was confused.
"The wing—you need to fly so you both can get to safety."
I know it sounds harsh, and I know that his wing appeared to be nowhere near recovering. But if Phoenix can active a fire ball with little experience and with such a frail body—
—then Kairos can suck up his pain and fly.
"You just need to believe."
Kairos can only stare at me. His eyes gazed down at the bag, noticing Phoenix's lifeless head peaking out. He then turned to the snake, its bloodlust eyes dangerously locked onto us.
'Please, Kairos.'
Kairos thought for two seconds, before shaking his head with guilt.
"I can't." His tiny voice said. "I don't think I can."
But, instead of expressing anger, I only flashed a soft smile.
"I was hoping you said that."
I shoved the bag inside of his hands. Kairos lets out a loud yelp when I grabbed his tiny little body with just one hand.
"Don't let go of Phoenix, you understand?!"
I threw my body back with my hand positioned towards the sky. As soon as the snake's shadow hovered above me, I gave all my strength and might to launch Kairos all the way up to the sky towards the direction of where Gia's territory was located.
"MAHINAAAAAAA!…."
I can hear Kairos's voice fade away. With a swift and precise motion, I ducked and hurled towards the side to dodge the snake's attempt to catch me once again.
Since I no longer had my sword, I need to find an alternative way of at least weakening this snake. I could use grass in order to choke it, but the thing is, I don't necessarily wanna kill it.
It's a wild thing to want. I must say that this snake had incredible stamina and strength. Killing it off just like that will be a waste.
I'll just blind it instead. I'll do the exact steps on how I did it with that beast from mission two—just without a sword.
The snake charged itself at me once again. I got a hold of its nose, throwing myself onto of its head, trying not to lose my balance in the process.
"Ow!" I winced. I lifted my hand up to see a razor, sharp slimy scale inside of my finger tip. An idea formed inside of my head: I can use its scales to blind it!
The snakes aggressive roars filled up the atmosphere, reacting with pain as I ripped off some of the razor-sharp scales off its skin. My grip on the snakes skin was agonizing to deal with—but in order to not lose my balance—I need to go through it.
The snake's neck bents itself, facing me with a vengeance hiss. The neck extended its head to reach him however it can only go so far past its upper body. I slide down its slimy body, the razor sharp scales piercing through my clothes, causing little wounds to open.
As soon I reached its tail, the snake lifted its tail up and launched me in the air. That's exactly what I wanted. I expanded my left hand clenching the razor scals in my right. My palm landed on its narrowed nose. With a swift move, I forcefully struck the razor scalps inside of its yellow left eye.
ARRRGHHHHH!!!!
The snake's head whipped forcefully, losing my grip off its nose and falling on my back. I sat up with a huff. I wiped my cheek once more, the small cuts causing blood to soak through my clothes.
-MISSION 3.1 COMPLETED-
'Huh?'
'YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE MISSION 3.1 BY SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATING AN A-TIER.-
"So this was intentional?" I thought out loud. I wasn't angry about it: impressed was the word.
"No wonder why it said 3.1." Just like how it happened with my second mission that wasn't purpose.
-YOUR REWARD: "TOASTED WHIP."-
-A C-TIER WEAPON KNOWN FOR GIVING 10% STRENGTH AND AGILITY.-
"Toasted Whip." That sounded so delicious. I whimpered. The name of it made my stomach growl with hunger. I noticed that a golden ball started to fade in, the noises of sparkling stars made my focus wander away from the squirming snake.
POP!
The "Toasted Whip" was long, golden sword with a curved blade and a hooked hilt. I managed to grab it in it time spinning it to test its effectiveness. It was easy to sway around. The hilt of it felt smooth and soft, but it still had a firm surface for me to grip.
"Alright, you snake beast,"
I say, going into a stance.
"I'm gonna have to cut your neck."