Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 77 The Serpent’s Wrath

The forest grew denser as Nate followed Alice’s trail, his boots crunching softly against the undergrowth. The canopy above was so thick that only fragments of sunlight pierced through, creating faint patches of light on the ground. The air was damp, filled with the scent of moss and wet leaves, but Nate paid it no mind.

His hand instinctively went to his bag, pulling out a small piece of dried fruit. He chewed slowly, his eyes scanning the area. Every sound, every shadow, seemed amplified in the eerie stillness of the woods. The farther they walked, the quieter the forest became.

A strange sensation crawled up Nate’s spine, and the hairs on his arms stood on end. He froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing as a wave of unease washed over him. Something was wrong. It felt like eyes were watching him, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Nate quickened his pace and caught up to Alice, who was walking ahead of him without a care in the world. "Alice," he said, his voice low but urgent. "Wait."

Alice didn’t stop. She kept moving, her white hair swaying with each step. "We’re wasting daylight," she muttered, not even glancing back at him.

"Alice, stop," Nate said again, this time with a firmness that made her pause.

She turned around to face him, a frown on her face. "What is it now?" she asked, exasperated.

Nate’s expression, however, stopped her from saying anything else. His eyes were wide, and his hand was raised, gesturing for her to stay silent. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out, as if he was too afraid to speak. Slowly, he brought his finger to his lips, signaling for her to remain quiet and still.

Alice’s brows furrowed, but she obeyed, sensing the gravity of the situation. Her heart began to pound as she stood frozen, watching Nate’s every move.

"Don’t move," Nate whispered, his voice barely audible.

Alice tilted her head slightly, confusion flashing in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Nate’s gaze dropped to her feet, and his jaw tightened. "You’re standing on something," he said softly, his voice tinged with dread. "It’s alive."

Alice’s heart skipped a beat as she glanced down. The uneven ground beneath her wasn’t ground at all. The surface was rough, covered in what looked like scales, each the size of her hand. Her breath caught in her throat as realization dawned—she was standing on a massive creature.

Her eyes widened in horror. "What kind of beast could be this big?" she thought, her mind racing.

Nate’s voice cut through her panic. "Walk down. Slowly. Don’t make any sudden movements."

Alice nodded faintly, swallowing hard as she carefully shifted her weight. Her feet moved with excruciating slowness, each step deliberate and gentle. She descended the beast’s body, her knees trembling with each cautious movement.

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Just as she was about to step off what she now realized was the creature’s massive torso, the ground beneath her shifted. A low, rumbling sound filled the air, vibrating through her bones. The beast stirred, its movements sluggish but deliberate, as if becoming aware of the tiny intruder on its body.

Before Alice could react, a massive tail shot up from the undergrowth. It moved with incredible speed, striking her like a whip and sending her flying backward.

"Alice!" Nate shouted, his legs bending as he launched himself into the air.

He moved with practiced precision, his body twisting as he reached for her. His arms wrapped around her midair, pulling her close as he braced for impact. With a powerful landing, he hit the ground several meters away, his boots skidding slightly as he absorbed the momentum.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with concern as he set her down gently.

Alice groaned, rubbing her arm. "Yeah, I’m fine," she said, though her voice trembled slightly.

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Nate’s gaze shifted past her, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the creature before them.

The beast unfurled itself, rising from the forest floor like a shadow given form. Its body was impossibly long, its scales shimmering faintly in the dappled light. When it fully extended, it towered above them, its head nearly reaching the treetops. Its eyes, slitted and glowing with a pale yellow light, locked onto them with unsettling intelligence.

Alice’s jaw dropped as she stared at the creature in disbelief. "What... what is this?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The serpent-like beast hissed, its forked tongue flickering out as it observed them. Its body coiled slightly, the motion causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet.

Nate didn’t answer her question. His hand reached for the dagger at his side, his muscles tensed and ready to spring into action. "Stay back," he said, his voice steady.

Alice nodded, though her wide eyes never left the beast. She couldn’t comprehend what she was seeing. Creatures like this weren’t supposed to exist, not on the island, not anywhere. It was the stuff of myths and nightmares, a monster too massive and powerful to be real.

The serpent raised its head higher, its body undulating as it prepared to strike. Its presence was overwhelming, radiating power and primal ferocity. For a moment, Alice felt completely insignificant, a mere insect standing before a god.

Nate tightened his grip on his dagger, his mind racing. "Alice," he said, his voice low. "If this thing attacks, run. Until you’re safe"

"What about you"

"I will hold it off"

She opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes silenced her.

The beast hissed again, the sound echoing through the forest like thunder. It was a challenge, a warning—and Nate knew they had just stepped into a battle for their lives.

Alice moved backward, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Each step she took felt like an eternity as her silver eyes remained glued to the monstrous serpent. Its immense body loomed over her, its scales shimmering with an almost otherworldly light. Her legs shook, but she forced herself to keep moving, one step at a time, distancing herself from the impending clash.

Nate, however, stood firm. His expression was cold, calculated. Flames began to flicker around his body, growing more intense with each passing second. He raised his hands, his fingers curling into fists as fire erupted from his skin, engulfing him entirely. He was no longer just a man—he was a fiery inferno, glowing against the dim forest backdrop like a beacon of destruction.

He hovered slightly off the ground, flames licking at the air around him as his powers lifted him higher. The heat radiating from him was almost unbearable even from Alice’s distance, and the serpent seemed to feel it too. Its golden eyes narrowed, and it let out a guttural hiss that echoed through the trees.

Nate rose further, coming to the same height as the serpent’s head. His flames flared brighter, casting long shadows across the forest floor. "Let’s end this quickly," he muttered to himself, his tone grim. He couldn’t afford hesitation.

The serpent responded immediately, rearing its head back before lunging forward with astonishing speed. Its gaping mouth opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs as it struck. Nate darted to the side just in time, the beast’s head narrowly missing him.

As he moved, he counterattacked, releasing a torrent of fire from his hands. The flames roared as they collided with the serpent’s thick scales, enveloping its head in a blinding explosion of heat and light.

Alice shielded her eyes, the intense brightness forcing her to look away. But when she glanced back, her heart sank. The flames had died down, and the serpent was completely unharmed. Its scales glimmered as if mocking Nate’s efforts, showing not even a scorch mark.

Nate’s eyes narrowed. "Damn," he muttered under his breath. This wasn’t going to be easy.

The serpent struck again, this time spitting a jet of venom directly at him. The liquid gleamed as it shot through the air, sizzling ominously. Nate twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack. The venom splashed against a nearby tree, and the result was immediate—smoke rose as the bark melted away, leaving behind a charred, molten stump. Even the ground beneath it began to sizzle, creating a deep pit where the venom had landed.

"That venom… it’s corrosive," Nate realized, his mind racing. One wrong move, and it wouldn’t just kill him—it would dissolve him entirely.

The serpent didn’t give him time to think. It lashed out with its tail, the massive appendage sweeping through the air like a battering ram. Nate raised his arms, creating a wall of fire to shield himself, but the force of the impact sent him hurtling backward. He managed to regain his balance midair, his flames propelling him forward again as he launched another attack.

This time, he aimed for the serpent’s eyes. Twin streams of fire shot from his palms, streaking through the air with precision. The serpent reared back, its head twisting to avoid the assault. The flames grazed its face, but once again, its scales proved impenetrable.

Alice watched in horror, her hands clenched into fists. Nate was giving it everything he had, but the beast was relentless. Its sheer size and strength were overwhelming, and its scales were like armor, rendering Nate’s attacks ineffective.

The serpent lunged again, this time twisting its massive body in an attempt to coil around Nate. Its movements were deceptively fast for a creature of its size, and Nate barely managed to avoid being ensnared. He blasted a burst of fire downward, propelling himself higher as the serpent’s coils snapped shut beneath him.

The ground shook from the impact, and several trees toppled over as the serpent’s body crushed everything in its path.

Nate hovered in the air, his breathing heavy. Sweat dripped down his face, mixing with the soot that clung to his skin. He glanced at the serpent, his mind working frantically to come up with a strategy.

"If fire won’t burn through its scales," he thought, "then I’ll have to find a weak spot."

His eyes scanned the serpent’s massive form, searching for any vulnerabilities. Then he noticed something—its underbelly. Unlike the rest of its body, the scales on its underside were slightly lighter in color, almost translucent.

"That’s it," Nate murmured. He dove downward, flames trailing behind him like a comet as he aimed for the serpent’s belly.

The serpent hissed, its eyes following him as he moved. It reared back, preparing to strike, but Nate was faster. He unleashed a concentrated blast of fire directly at its underbelly, pouring all of his energy into the attack.

The flames hit their mark, and this time, the serpent reacted. It let out a deafening screech, its body writhing in pain as the fire scorched its vulnerable underside.

"Yes!" Nate thought, a flicker of hope igniting in his chest.

But the victory was short-lived. The serpent lashed out in fury, its tail whipping through the air with terrifying speed. Nate saw it coming, but he was too late to dodge.

The tail slammed into him with the force of a freight train, sending him flying through the forest like a ragdoll. He crashed through several trees before finally hitting the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

Alice screamed his name, her voice echoing through the forest as the serpent roared triumphantly.

Nate lay on the ground, his vision blurry and his body aching. He tried to move, but pain shot through him, keeping him pinned where he was. The last thing he saw before his vision went dark was the serpent towering over him, its golden eyes glowing with predatory intent.

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