BXBX NOVEL Chapter 169 168: Coal Serpents
A deep blue glow washed over each of us, and the blood, gore, and sweat that we had accumulated was washed away in a moment.
Everyone looked over their now clean bodies, armor, and weapons, before giving me a relieved smile.
We might be warriors, killers, people used to fighting, but all four of us were used to be clean, and there was little purpose to exploring and adventuring when we were drenched in blood and guts of the monsters we\'ve killed.
Besides, the mana cost was minimal, so I had no problem utilizing the spell multiple times an adventure to keep us fresh.
Anput and I were already dealing with the burnt, metallic tang of ash surrounding us, so if I could remove the smell of intestines and other internal organs, then that was worth it to me.
Nodding to me, Jahi turned around and led our group towards the areas that Leone had described as Coal Serpent Nests.
They were small mounds that were scattered around the Plains of Yama, and they led deep into the crust of the Volcano, where the Coal Serpents made their burrows.
These long, charcoal black scaled serpents would usually avoid confrontation of all kinds, with the only violent action of their being the hunting of the various other monsters that roamed the plains, namely the Goblins, but sometimes the Firefangs that occasionally made their way to these plains, like the one we saw on our first venture inside these Caverns.
Besides their rather non confrontational nature, they were rather strong and clever fighters, utilizing their armored bodies and natural fire magic to slowly chip away at their enemies while tanking the damage dealt to them.
So, as we approached the few mounds of upraised earth a few hundred feet away, Jahi was going over a rather basic plan...
"Since they\'re more of a tank monster, Anput and I will occupy their attention as best we can, while you two use precise spells to either cripple them or kill them; aim for the chinks in their scales, opened maws, eyes, wherever they have a soft spot, hit that with a strong spell to wound them. Got it?"
Leone and I nodded, making the Demoness grin.
"Lets hunt us some Coal Serpents!"
Besides her very obvious enthusiasm to fight something new, Anput was also beaming as we approached the Coal Serpents Nest, her tail swishing adorably as she hummed happily to herself.
Leone had told us that these monsters can drop rather rare smithing materials, and would be worth a lot of money.
The Jackalkin had changed her tune from when she first moved in with us; before, she seemed to care little about money, just like Jahi, but the two women had come around, but for different reasons.
Jahi\'s spending was always on us, her wives; she rarely went out of her way to but herself something, saying she had what she needed and would rather gift us things.
As for Anput, ever since we had seen the sprawling weapon market outside the entrance of Zhu\'Rong Caverns, she had expressed a desire to purchase many different kinds of blades; she had said she wanted to experiment with them all, as well as collect them, just for the sake of having them.
When Leone and I had asked her if she was interested in smithing, she had pursed her lips and given the question deep thought, before eventually nodding her head, saying she wanted to be able to forge herself, and us, perfect weapons suited for each of us.
Which, while it made me happy that she, just like Leone, had found a desire she wanted to chase in life, I wasn\'t looking forwards to her bill each month...
Both had expensive interests, and Jahi was no better, as her gifts tended to be lavish...
Sighing, I realized that our years at the Academy would be spent in these Caverns, slowly building up a large amount of funds so that we could continue the lifestyle we currently lived.
Though, that was also why Anput was so excited about these excursions; to her, these meant that she was contributing her part of the bill, and it was also a way to let loose.
So, as we stood a dozen feet away from the mounds, we all readied our weapons, preparing for a good fight, and hopefully some quick, easy coin.
Leone and I were standing a few feet behind Jahi and Anput, who were staring at the mound with wary eyes; we don\'t know the true strenght of the Coal Serpents, nor their numbers inside this den, so caution was needed.
The two started slowly and carefully approaching the den, their feet quietly gliding over the loose gravel ground that made up the plain.
Drawing closer and closer, the two women watched as a sleek, black head poked out from the mounds entrance, two slitted crimson eyes staring intently at them.
The Coal Serpents head was about three feet wide, and when it flicked out its forked tongue, I marveled at the length of the fleshy appendage, realizing quickly how large monsters could truly get.
Slithering out another foot of the den, the Coal Serpent hissed at the two women as a warning, and we could all hear another few hisses coming from inside the den.
Each scale shone in the red light of the Cavern, and I could tell where it had gotten it\'s name from; the scales were as large as a chunk of coal, and just as dark.
Seeing that the two women weren\'t retreating, the Coal Serpent hissed again, moving a little further out of the den, revealing its long body.
Anaconda\'s, one of my previous worlds largest snakes, reached around 30 feet as the longest ever recorded, but this...
Staring at it as it slithered further and further out, its scaled body coiling up to allow it to display its full length, I was grateful that I didn\'t have a phobia of snakes...
Lifting its head a dozen feet off the ground, it stared down at the two women, before its crimson eyes flitted over to Leone and I, making the Coal Serpent hiss again.
"That is..."
Leone nodded beside me, her eyes fixed on the monster before us.
"This is only average as well..."
Pursing my lips, I wondered just what kind of actual monsters lived in the Labyrinthian if the monstrosity of scales before us was only \'average\'...
Jahi and Anput took a few steps back, creating a little space between them and the giant serpent, before lowering their stances as they prepared to launch an attack.
As for Leone and I, we both prepared spells, Leone going for her spear while I readied a barrage of ice arrows, wanting to test my accuracy with multiple projectiles.
When the Coal Serpent noticed that the mortals before it weren\'t backing down and retreating, it let out a final hiss before lunging forwards, its giant head slamming into the ground beside Jahi, who rolled away.
Anput launched herself at the Serpents neck, her longsword scoring a shallow gash across the Serpents scales, making it hiss in pain.
Rearing back to its full height, the Serpent\'s maw glimmered scarlet, before it lunged back towards Jahi.
This time, when it impacted the gravelly ground, we all widened our eyes at the patch of melting stones, the normally blackish grey earth now a dull orange.
One hit from that meant death for any unprepared adventurer...
Thinking that, I canceled my arrows and instead draped Anput and Jahi in Wind and Water Cloaks, granting them enhanced speed and resistances, as well as a minor healing buff as well.
When that was added onto the women\'s own Mana Cloaks...
Well, unless they act idiotically, or are taken completely by surprise, they should survive most hits...
Unless the Coal Serpent is hiding some of its strenght.
Sinking its fangs back into the earth beside Jahi, the Serpent hissed in agony as her heavy blade sliced off a few of its black scales, revealing its dark red flesh.
Leone and I released a barrage of spells towards that wound, only to click our tongues in disappointment as the Serpent weaved to the side, avoiding the spells.
It turned its slitted eyes towards us, and we both jumped backwards as it lunged towards us next.
However, by doing so it left itself open to Jahi and Anput, who swiftly dashed towards its scaled body and started hacking away, tearing off scales and chunks of flesh with each rise and fall of their blades.
It tried to turn around and push them away, but as it twisted its head around it revealed the two wounds on its neck to Leone and I, and with it being so close...
Lifting a hand, I pelted the larger wound with a dozen sharpened icicles, while Leone hurled a long spear of near solid flame at the scratch Anput had given it, impaling its throat and burning its flesh.
The Serpent released raspy hisses at that, only to fall silent moments later as it succumbed to the various wounds and effects.
Like all other monsters, it started to turn to ash as it died, with some of its scales, fangs, and even a bone dropping to the earth with thuds.
However, before we could take in its death, more hisses came from the den, making all of us go on guard.