After Two Hours…
Two hours after leaving the rift, a body lay sprawled on the ground—covered in blood, injuries, fear… and a faint trace of self-mockery etched across his face.
His silver eyes trembled as he pulled out a low-grade potion and drank it.
After swallowing it, his condition improved slightly…
Then he lost consciousness.
It was the same person who had been standing in the sky just two hours ago…
Thinking he was invincible.
The honored guest—
Raven.
Raven Klainte.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two Hours Earlier
Raven's POV
After landing on the ground, I felt a surge of vitality and strength flow through my body.
A wide smile spread across my face as my eyes narrowed in satisfaction.
"Alright… I should calm down a bit."
I tried to steady my racing heart before transforming my ring into a dagger. I walked toward the worm's corpse and cut it open, searching for a mana core.
As expected… there was nothing.
"Just my luck," I muttered in disappointment before shifting my focus to my remaining reserves.
By the way, the energy used by my element wasn't mana. That meant my mana pool and elemental reserve were separate.
In other words, I had both a mana heart… and an elemental core.
"10%… and 20%."
Using Time Zone had consumed 10% of my mana.
That final attack alone had taken another 20%.
"Damn…" I rubbed my face in frustration at the high consumption, but quickly shook my head.
My abilities were powerful. This was the price.
"Time to go deeper."
With that thought, I began walking through the desert.
…Some Time Later
Slash.
With a sharp sound, I cut down a giant scorpion I had been fighting.
"Nothing here either…"
Annoyance was clear on my face as I failed to find a mana core once again.
Then—
Rumble.
The ground trembled violently, interrupting my thoughts.
"What is this?"
My guard shot up instantly as I activated my perception skill.
Boom!
Without warning, my instincts screamed at me to move—
And I obeyed.
I leapt backward.
Hissssss—
A terrifying hiss echoed as the sand split apart where I had just been standing.
Something massive emerged.
No…
It was fast. Too fast.
Its head was covered in green scales, its jaws wide open, dripping a thick, green liquid.
Its red eyes burned with greed and rage.
"What the—"
I couldn't finish my sentence.
The pressure hit me.
No… it wasn't gravity.
It was killing intent.
Overwhelming mana followed.
The air grew heavy. My lungs felt like they were being crushed from the inside.
"Ha…!"
I struggled to breathe as its body rose into the sky.
"A snake…"
A massive green serpent—its size rivaling a residential building.
But that wasn't what shook me the most.
"C-Rank…"
Yes.
It was far stronger than me.
Before I could process another thought—
Crash!
The serpent burst from the sand again.
"Huh—?!"
Something slammed into me, launching my body into the air.
"Am I… a snack?"
That was my only thought.
Perhaps my last.
Its massive jaws were only meters away from me.
"WHAT THE HELL—!!"
A panicked scream tore from my throat.
I had to do something—anything—or I was dead.
"Accelerate!"
I shouted with everything I had.
Two meters.
That was all that remained.
"The ring—!"
Reinforcing my body and activating my skills, I transformed the ring into a spear.
Just centimeters left.
I only had one move.
I thrust the spear forward—vertically.
And then—
It happened.
I was inside its mouth.
"No—!"
Pain exploded through my body as the pressure crushed me.
The spear trembled violently in my grip.
But it worked.
The serpent couldn't close its jaws.
ROOOAAAR—!!
A deafening roar echoed from deep within its body, shaking my skull. My ears rang violently as blood began to pour from them.
"AAAGH—!!"
Before I could even recover, something dripped onto my shoulder.
Then—
Burning.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
A scream ripped out of me.
Steam rose from my shoulder as venom from its fangs melted into my flesh.
My bones… my skin…
It felt like they were dissolving.
And that wasn't all.
The spear—the only thing keeping me alive—
Began to crack.
"...I'm going to die."
For the first time…
I truly felt death.
Back then, when I died from illness in my previous life…
I hadn't felt anything.
But this time—
This was real.
"3…"
My thoughts slowed as I felt the spear nearing its limit.
"Calm Mind."
The pain dulled slightly.
"2…"
I activated Acceleration again and planted my foot against one of its lower fangs.
More pain.
More venom.
But I endured.
"1…"
My vision burned red.
"0."
Right before the spear shattered—
I kicked off.
My body was thrown backward.
Crack.
The spear broke.
"My ring—!"
Now I was outside its mouth.
Its massive head loomed beside me.
I could see its eyes clearly.
Red.
Furious.
Looking at me like I was nothing more than an irritating prey.
For a brief moment…
Our gazes locked.
Then I fell.
Black fragments flew back toward my hand—but I barely noticed.
"Slow."
Right before hitting the ground, I activated my ability again.
Hiss—!
Sensing danger, I didn't stop.
I burned through the rest of my mana.
Reinforced my body.
"Accelerate!"
And I ran.
I ran with everything I had.
For a moment, I even wished I had four legs.
But the serpent wasn't stupid.
It gave me no chance.
The sand split open again—
But this time…
There was no escape.
Boom!
Something slammed into me.
Before I was sent flying, I saw it—
The serpent, head raised high, mouth open.
Blue light gathered within.
"Mana Bomb…"
A monster skill.
"AAAGH—!"
My body was blasted away.
Once.
Twice.
Three.
Crash.
"Heh… ha…"
My body hit the ground again and again before finally stopping.
My bones were shattered.
My organs damaged.
"I'm dead…"
I had almost no mana left.
Hiss—
"Ha…"
The serpent charged toward me at insane speed, tearing through the air.
Blue energy surrounded its open jaws.
Its red eyes gleamed with madness.
"Ah…"
I tried to lift my body.
I couldn't.
It was already in front of me.
And then—
It swallowed me.