"I'm gonna have to cut off your neck."
'I'm not. I'm just saying that to heighten its adrenaline.'
I can tell that the snake was visibly losing its left eye vision. I counted how many times the snake slammed its head inside the soil in order to capture me. It was only getting the razor scalps deeper inside of its eyeballs.
Honestly, it made me feel bad for the big guy. It seemed to understand what I was saying, but wasn't fully getting the grasp of what I was planning to do.
The snake slithered at me once more, opening its mouth with its sharp teeth glistening. I swung my sword over my shoulder, pretending I was actually going to strike a hit. The snake hurled itself at me—I quickly hurried off the side—losing my balance as the ground shook.
'Urghhh…'
The snake groaned. It was slowly giving up due to the amount of times that it has pounded its head inside of the ground to get to me. I can see dark blood sweeping out of its nose. The snake's huge head lifted up, slowly turning its head towards me.
"Listen, I don't know if you can understand me, but please, I don't want to fight!" I yelled at it, which made it stop in its tracks.
"Who sent you here and why?" I asked, expecting to receive some sort of response.
This mission was intended. I mentioned before on my way to Belgium that there was a low possibility that creatures roam around. If there were any, then they would've been lower tiers and had a lower chance of survival.
But an A-Tier like this popping up out of all places? Was this snake sent out by those mentors Kairos mentioned?
'If so, then why?'
The snake's head was swaying back and forth. This was a sign that it was getting weaker but wasn't giving up. I need to find a way to end it without causing too much pain—
!
I quickly patted my pockets. I pulled out the item: ROSARY HAIL.
'I completely forgot I had this!'
I will use this instead of the Toasted Whip. If I have to input my opinion on both of the weapons: The Rosary Hail was the better option.
My eyes shifted to the head-swaying snake. Snakes do not have the same nervous system as humans, but I do know that you either strike for the head or neck. I wrapped the rosary beads around my wrist, gripping the hilt of the dagger and charged at the snake.
'I have to kill it.'
I didn't want to, but it was the only option for me to do.
The snake regained consciousness. Its red pupils shifted down at me, noticing that I was running towards it. The snake rattled with irritation. The end of the snake's tail slid across the grass in a attempt to crush me—though the speed was unbearable for me to catch up—I still had time to shove the dagger inside of the skin, using the hilt of it to lift me up on the tip of the tail.
The rosary beads were glistening a soft, white hue that caught my attention for a moment. I tried to keep my grip tight around the hilt as the snake's tail didn't come to a stop. The pressure of the wind was causing my eyes to water, almost making me lose my grip on the hilt that I desperately tried to hold. I pulled myself up with a groan. I lowered my face and closed my eyes shut to prevent dirt or dust coming into my eyes.
The snake's tail finally came to a halt. It lifted the end of its tail to see if I was under it, expecting me to like look a folded pancake. The snake growled in confusion when it realized that I wasn't underneath all of those razor sharp scales—but using the tip of the dagger to pierce a tear all the way down from the tail through its lower body.
Black blood splashes onto me. I think some got in my eye.
The snake's neck bends itself to lunge its head to get me. I made a marked point where the tear stopped. I swiftly pulled out the dagger from the point I marked, aiming the tip of it at the snake's nose.
'It's not realizing that I'm actively harming it.' I mentioned, shoving the dagger deep inside of the center of the snake's nose, making the snake come to an abrupt halt.
'Its reaction to me piercing the dagger inside of skin is confused.' The snake's head then rises up, lifting me off of its body with my feet landing flat on its narrowed lip. I held my grip on the hilt of the dagger that was drawing black blood from the narrowed part of its nose.
As soon as the snake's head was entirely aimed towards the sky, I forcibly pushed my feet upwards by the support of my knees. I let my legs dangle in the air for a moment. I used my open palm to land safely on the snake's head, swiftly placing both of my hands on the hilt of the dagger, using my strength to push myself to slide down its neck to get to the marked point.
The black blood was spraying, the liquid was coating my hands as small particles were coming onto my face. The snake's reaction was delayed by its attention focusing on the blood that was gushing out of its neck and its tail. I turned my body sideways soon as I reached to the marked point, using my feet to stop me from sliding down any further.
"I can hear them.." I muttered softly to myself. I can hear the soft, calming melody that was sweeping inside the cut. The snake was slowly giving up.
I removed the dagger from the skin. I leaped off the snake's body dashing to keep a safe distance from it. I didn't want to give any advantages for this snake.
The snake huffed with its head dangling. My eyebrows furrowed. I can't suppress my empathy for it. I felt wrong even doing this. However, I cannot let my emotions overcome and let this A-Tier live. If I do that, then I'll not be the only one to be in danger.
"Please," I muttered.
"Hurry up and charge at me so that I can end this."
The snake's head lunged at me once again, but it wasn't out of aggression or a desperate attempt to come at me again. It was a sloppy, uncoordinated charge that I had time to dodge quickly before getting squished. I ran to the side losing, my balance a bit when the snake's head pounded onto the ground. I fell on my knees, huffing as the soft hue from the beads faded.
HMPH—
Vomit shot out of my mouth aggressively, leaving my body to weaken. This was probably because of how much speed and energy I had to put in this time…
'Oh goodness, I really hate vomiting.' I thought, wiping the excessive drool from my mouth, smearing some of the black blood onto my chin.
The snake groaned. This time, it wasn't making any effort to get up and charge at me this time. Which was good. When I was done vomiting, I sat up staring down at the snake. My gaze shifted to the black blood sweeping out of its neck.
"I never expected such a small weapon to do so much damage.." I muttered, staring at the dagger with the beads softly clacking together.
WHIP!
Multiple green thorns wrapped around the thick snake. The snake only squirmed in response, rattling in exasperation.
'That must've been Gia.'
I turned my head, noticing Kairos getting tossed by a high-speeding leaf. He was then forcibly pushed off the leaf onto the ground. He must've ticked off Gia or something the moment I launched him on her territory.
"Sorry, Gia!" I yelled, hoping she heard me.
Kairos huffed. He held the bag closely, staring at Phoenix's face to make sure she wasn't injured in any way. His gaze was on the now defeated snake.
"You a-actually managed to get it?!" Kairos said, his mouth dropping in astonishment.
"Where's that music coming from?" He muttered, looking around.
I bent down in front of the now green-wrapped snake. Its yellow hue was no more; the eyes were now a lime-type of yellow. I found it fascinating that animals would glow if their abilities were activated. I'm guessing that this snake's ability was enhanced speed and strength.
"Aren't you gonna kill it?" Kairos asked. He wanted me to kill it. Not because it was trying to attack me, well maybe, but because it was the same snake that chomped off his wing that made a tear.
I can't help but shake my head, recalling his outburst the moment the snake spotted us.
"No," I stated.
"I'm not."
Kairos gasped in disbelief. He snapped his neck at me; his eyes widened with confusion.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" He yelled, pointing his clawed finger at me.
"THIS IS THE SAME BEAST WHO NOT ONLY CHOMPED OFF MY WING, BUT TRIED TO ATTACK US! IT'S TECHNICALLY A DOUBLE ATTACK ON ME TOO!"
Kairos stomped his feet, cursing at me but truthfully I wasn't listening.
I was more focused on the snake.
The snake's demeanor has changed drastically. When it came across us, the snake's eyes were filled with bloodlust and determination, like it was destined to get us. The snake was that dedicated to get me and my companions that it went this far in attempt to capture one of us…
…now, it just looks completely defeated. Its eyes were narrowed and glossy. The snake appeared to be on the verge of tears—as if it was ashamed of itself for failing its goal.
"..hey," I softly called out to it. It only huffed in response.
Kairos grunted. He gently tugged on my sleeve, making me turn my head slowly to look down at him.
"Why are you trying to talk to it?" He asked, groaning.
"Come on, kill it!" He demanded.
"Oh my stars, can you be quiet?" I snapped back, rolling my eyes.
"I'm not the one who will be killing it." I rephrased. "The rosary will."
Kairos looked at me as if I was dumb. He stared back at the snake, noticing that there was a line going to the neck to the lower part of the body. The grass was getting soaked from the snake's blood.
"What rosary?" He asked. "Is that where that music is coming from?
"You'll see…" I replied.
I stared at the snake, who was gazing at me with its breathing becoming shallow. Kairos was still not understanding the meaning of my actions, but it seemed like he was trusting me nevertheless.
My hand hovered over its nose. I wish I could've done this another way without killing it, but I had no choice. I hesitated but the snake wasn't showing any hostility. My palm gently pressed against its nose that was pouring blood slowly, causing it to let a huge sigh.
Snakes are highly intelligent creatures. They are capable of adaptive learning, recognizing routines, and solving problems. However, some snakes often heavily rely on instincts rather than intelligence.
This A-Tier was probably the "some" I was referring to. I mentioned how its intelligence wasn't that much of a skill. That's why I took my time killing it instead of directly trying to make a full blow to study its behavior and characteristics.
Kairos only stared with his non-existent eyebrows furrowed. He was puzzled by the sudden act of mercy. In his perspective, it seemed like I was trying to communicate with the snake. He lets out irritated huff in response and crossed his arms.
I removed my hand from the nose—my palm printed on the nose from the black blood coated on my hand. I was quiet for a few seconds.
"..its dying." I said.
Kairos lets out a little 'hm?' He turned his head to look at the snake.
My hand slowly gripped the dagger that was still in my hand, watching as the snake was slowly disintegrating into white particles. Kairos watched them as if they were lanterns flying right in front of his face with his mouth slightly agape.
"If you are confused, I wasn't saying 'no, we shouldn't kill it and let it live.'" I said already suspecting what Kairos was thinking.
"I meant I was letting the rosary do its job."
"…I'm still confused?" He asked, watching the snake slowly fade away into nothing.
"Heh, I wouldn't expect you to understand so quickly," I replied.
As the snake's lower half faded away, the melody I mentioned before was fading alongside the snake. Yet, I can still hear it flow through my ears.
'The rosary was related to giving the snake a painless death….'
'….i tested the knife after the emotional secession with Kairos. I was curious about it—since the messages, or now known as mentors, weren't giving me any information about the new item I achieved.'
'I lightly creased the blade against my palm, slowly and carefully piercing through the skin. However, I didn't feel any pain. The dragger felt like a feather that was tickling me. The more deeper I would go into my palm, the lighter it would feel.'
'That's when I realized: The rosary beads were declining the pain.'
'The rosary beads would cackle against each other with a soft melody playing. They weren't allowing me to feel pain, but instead to let me feel the rhythm of the music. I was merely testing this blade for its durability and strength. I wasn't expecting this.'
"This melody made me feel sleepy; almost as if it was dragging me down into this soft cloud that was floating in the air." I thought to myself, staring down at the rosary beads that were now softly glowing with a white hue.'
'I am aware that the rosary beads are heavily apart of the Catholic and Christian tradition (including other religions as well), and majority of the time the beads were connected the Holy Mother Mary… was this gentle nature of the Holy Mother Mary: granting a peaceful, painless death?"
I find it rather chilling that the rosary beads were able to grant such grace…chilling in a good way. That's why the snake was confused during our battle. It wasn't feeling any of the pain from the dragger at all because the rosary beads were restricting the pain, but instead was covering it with the soft melodies Kairos pointed out earlier.
The snake slowly opened its eyes to stare at me one last time. The snake's gaze slowly shifted towards Kairos, making him flinch but not turn away. Kairos nervously looked up at me, asking permission with his eyes to take it on from here.
I only flashed a soft smile.
Kairos nodded, sighing with his little feet taking a few steps forward to the snake.
"…I won't forgive you," Kairos firmly stated. I still caught that soft look in his eyes. I guess this emotional scenery was affecting him as well.
"…but I hope you live freely in the afterlife."
As those last words came from his mouth, a tear sweeps out of the snake's eyes, the final white ball alongside with the fading melody, disappeared into the grayish-dark skies.
…
Sniff
"Are you really crying?" Kairos asked, groaning as he looked up at me again.
"Sniff n-no!" My words were wobbly, wet tears flowing constantly down my eyes. Oh my stars, why did this dagger just have to go and make it sad? Just why?
"You weren't crying this much when I told you about my story." Kairos spat out.
'I was, you brat! You just weren't up during it to see!'
Although Kairos was a bit agitated, he hugged my leg, standing with me as I cried.