Reckless Survivor
Kaden gasped as the snake's massive, mutilated body coiled tightly around him, its rotting scales pressing against his skin, oozing blood and pus. The stench was overwhelming, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest as the beast constricted with all the strength it had left. The air was forced from his lungs, and his vision blurred as the pressure mounted.
"Damn you!" Kaden growled through gritted teeth, his mind racing for a way out. He could feel the snake's head looming just above him, its jaws opening wide, venom dripping onto his shoulder.
This wasn't how it was going to end.
Kaden summoned the last dregs of his mana, his body trembling as he reached for whatever was left within his body.
He raised his hand, the faint glow of [Thorn Whip] flickering to life once more. The spell was barely holding together, just a small thorny vine covering his hand. Not caring about that he punched his hand out at the open maw wanting to swallow him whole.
The momenthis fist collided with the inside of the snake's maw, the effect was immediate and brutal. The thorns tore into the soft flesh lining the beast's mouth, ripping through tissue and muscle with savage precision.
Kaden did not stop there. He kept punching and punching and punching the same spot repeatedly. He thrashed the thing, letting out all the frustrations he was holding inside.
"I will not be weak ever again!" He shouted and continued punching the snake, despite its coils having loosened and its head severed from its torn and shredded body.
He punched even after he heard the many notifications. He only stopped punching after an entire minute when he was completely and utterly exhausted, unable to move even an inch of his body.
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by Kaden's ragged breaths. His fists, raw and trembling, dripped with the snake's foul blood. Every punch had been a release of something far deeper than anger—years of frustration, pain, and helplessness all poured into the mutilated beast before him.
The snake's head dangled limply from his hand, its severed form grotesque, the once-bright gleam of its remaining eye now dull and lifeless. It was a proof that he wasn't the same broken person he had been in the past.
Kaden staggered, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he dragged himself toward the shimmering edge of the protective barrier.
The moment he crossed into the barrier, Kaden collapsed to his knees, the snake's head slipping from his grasp and landing with a sickening thud beside him.
[Ding! You have killed a Deathvine Snake]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Level 17 > Level 18]
[Ding! You have gained +1 Mental Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Physical Strength, and 5 free attribute points]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Level 18 > Level 19]
[Ding! You have gained +1 Mental Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Physical Strength, and 5 free attribute points]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Level 19 > Level 20]
[Ding! You have gained +1 Mental Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Physical Strength, and 5 free attribute points]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Level 20 > Level 21]
[Ding! You have gained +1 Mental Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Physical Strength, and 5 free attribute points]
[Ding! You have learned a new Title Reckless Survivor]
Reckless Survivor [Can be upgraded]: You have defied overwhelming odds, fighting with nothing but grit and sheer will to emerge victorious. All damage is increased by 5% when facing stronger enemies
Kaden chuckled weakly, the sound hoarse and dry. "Reckless, huh?" He shook his head, a faint grin spreading across his face. "I will take it." He wondered if he had to keep fighting next rank beasts to upgrade it but that was a thought for later.
For now… he stared at the last notification.
[Ding! You are poisoned]
His body was already wrecked from the fight—exhausted, battered, and raw. Now, the telltale burn of venom began spreading through his veins, a slow, insidious fire that gnawed at his remaining strength.
"Of course," he muttered bitterly, his voice barely audible over his ragged breathing.
His gaze dropped to his arms, and he noticed faint discoloration creeping along the veins, dark streaks spreading from where the snake's venom had likely made contact when he had punched the living lights out of that thing's mouth from the inside.
Even in its death the damned snake was still hunting him. With a sigh he shook his head and tried [Healing Touch].
Warm energy spread through his body, soothing his battered muscles and easing the worst of the pain. But as the spell coursed through him, he quickly realized it wasn't enough. The venom's dark streaks continued their relentless march through his veins, burning like fire beneath his skin.
The healing magic dulled the symptoms but didn't stop the poison. [Healing Touch] wasn't designed to cleanse toxins, and Kaden's dwindling mana reserves wouldn't allow for prolonged use anyway.
"I figured as much." Kaden let out a sigh as he slowly pushed himself to stand up and walk. He grabbed the snake's head on the ground and started dragging himself back into the beginner's territory, back to the kobold camp.
Now that the snake was dead, he doubted if anything else was guarding that egg sac. As for the vultures vs the black panther vs some other animal, he did not bother with that big mess. He pulled a risky move and got something from it and he knew when to call it quits.
It was time to retreat and live to fight another day.