snake(chapter 161)

Chapter 161

Massive — its coiled body filling the chamber — the serpent's head loomed high, brushing against the crystal-studded ceiling. Its eyes glowed with a sickly, poisonous green. Fangs like swords dripped with venom that hissed when it hit the stone. The air grew heavy, suffused with ancient, terrible magic.The bounty hunter's eyes narrowed. "Okay," he muttered. "That wasn't on the bounty report. Damn it."

The basilisk struck. The massive head darted forward, faster than something that size had any right to move — but the bounty hunter was ready. His chain snapped outward, wrapping around one of the crystal formations — and with a hard yank, he launched himself aside just as those massive fangs crashed into the ground where he'd stood. Stone shattered on impact, sending shards flying in every direction.

The bounty hunter landed in a roll, coming up with his dagger in hand. The chain whipped out again — and this time, it coiled around the basilisk's neck. The bounty hunter yanked, the segmented blade following the motion — but the weapon barely scratched the massive scales. The basilisk laughed. "Pathetic," Grey's voice hissed through the serpent's throat.

The tail lashed out, sweeping the room with terrifying force — and the bounty hunter barely managed to leap over it. But the basilisk was relentless. It struck again — and again — each attack faster than the last. The bounty hunter twisted and dodged, his movements fluid and precise.Then the dagger flashed — and the chain wrapped around one of the basilisk's fangs. With a hard pull, the bounty hunter yanked — and the massive head jerked to the side, crashing into the stone wall. Before the beast could recover, the hunter was on it — running up the length of its body, his dagger slicing deep. Black blood spilled, but the wounds closed almost instantly. "Not enough," Grey hissed.

The basilisk coiled — and in one swift motion, the massive body twisted and threw the bounty hunter across the room. He hit the wall hard enough to crack stone, but landed on his feet, wiping blood from his mouth."Gotta say," the bounty hunter panted, "this is a hell of a workout." "You won't live long enough to enjoy it," Grey promised.The basilisk's eyes glowed — and the air itself grew heavy. The curse of the basilisk's gaze spread through the chamber, freezing the air like lead. But the bounty hunter's green eyes remained locked on the serpent — clear and fearless. "Not bad," the hunter murmured. "But I don't scare easy."The fight began anew — and neither combatant held anything back.

The basilisk struck again, its massive body moving with terrifying speed. The ground quaked beneath the force of its attacks, and the air itself seemed heavy with the weight of its presence. The bounty hunter dodged low as the serpent's tail swept across the cavern, sending stone and crystal shards flying like shrapnel. Using his chain, the hunter latched onto a stalactite and swung himself over the basilisk's next strike, the massive fangs missing him by inches. The hiss of venom splashing against stone filled the air, burning holes in the ground where it landed. But the hunter never stopped moving, his blade flashing as he landed on the serpent's back, dragging the weapon along its scales in a shower of sparks.

Grey's laughter echoed through the chamber, low and menacing. "Is that all you've got?" he hissed, his voice layered with the basilisk's unnatural resonance. With a violent twist, the serpent's body whipped upward, sending the bounty hunter soaring through the air. He twisted mid-flight, the chain shooting out to wrap around one of the glowing crystal formations. With a sharp tug, he swung toward the basilisk again, his dagger drawn back for a strike. But the serpent was ready. Its massive head lunged forward, and the hunter barely managed to kick off the crystal, flipping away just as those enormous jaws snapped shut where he had been a moment before.

The hunter hit the ground running, his eyes narrowed and calculating. "You talk a lot for a snake," he taunted, his voice calm despite the danger. With a flick of his wrist, the chain extended again, wrapping around one of the basilisk's horns. The segmented links tightened with a metallic hiss, and the hunter used the grip to vault himself toward the serpent's face. His dagger flashed in a precise arc, aiming for the creature's eye — but Grey was faster. The basilisk's head jerked aside at the last moment, and the hunter's blade grazed only scales. Before he could recover, the tail lashed out from behind, slamming into his side and sending him crashing into the cavern wall with bone-jarring force.

Dust and debris rained down as the bounty hunter pushed himself to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His green eyes never wavered. "Okay," he muttered, rolling his shoulder with a wince. "That one hurt." But there was no fear in his voice — only anticipation. The basilisk's eyes flashed with anger, and the ground began to tremble as its body coiled, preparing for another strike. The air grew thick with oppressive magic, the weight of the serpent's ancient power pressing down on the cavern. But the hunter only smiled. "Let's see how tough you really are," he said softly.

The fight resumed with renewed intensity. The basilisk's strikes came faster, each movement a blur of lethal speed and overwhelming strength. The hunter's chain danced through the air, a silver streak of motion as he used it to dodge and redirect, always staying just out of reach. His dagger found its mark again and again, cutting deep into the serpent's hide — but each wound sealed shut almost instantly, the basilisk's regeneration far outpacing the damage. Grey's laughter filled the cavern, a sound of cruel amusement and growing fury. But the hunter remained undeterred, his focus unshakable as he searched for an opening. And when the basilisk lunged again, its jaws wide and fangs bared, the hunter made his move.

The basilisk's jaws snapped shut with a thunderous crack, but the hunter was already gone. Using his chain, he swung upward, flipping over the serpent's head and landing on its back. Without hesitation, his dagger plunged deep between the scales, drawing a roar of pain from Grey. But the hunter wasn't done. He twisted the blade viciously, dragging it along the basilisk's spine, sending dark, hissing blood spraying across the cavern floor. The massive serpent thrashed, its entire body convulsing in rage, but the hunter held on, his chain wrapping around one of the great horns for leverage. "You're fast," he called over the roar, "but you bleed just like anything else!"

Grey's fury surged, and with a sudden burst of speed, the basilisk slammed its entire body against the cavern wall. The impact was deafening, stone crumbling under the force, and the hunter was forced to release his grip as he was nearly crushed. He hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet just as the basilisk struck again. This time, the hunter wasn't fast enough. The serpent's tail lashed out, slamming into his side and sending him skidding across the floor, the jagged rocks tearing at his clothes and skin. He came to a stop near one of the twisted experiment tables, coughing blood as he pushed himself upright. "Alright," he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "No more playing around."

The air grew colder, heavier, as the hunter's stance shifted. His green eyes locked onto the basilisk, his muscles coiled like a predator preparing to strike. When the serpent lunged, the hunter moved — faster than before, a blur of motion. The chain snapped out, wrapping around one of the creature's fangs, and with a powerful tug, the basilisk's head was wrenched sideways. Before Grey could recover, the hunter was already moving, his dagger flashing as it carved deep into the serpent's throat. The wound sealed almost instantly, but the hunter didn't stop. He struck again and again, his attacks relentless, the chain and dagger working in perfect harmony to keep the monstrous creature off balance.