Chapter 11: Wrath of the Infernal Serpent (Part 2)

Jin-Seok stared at the massive serpent coiling around the bridge. Its body shimmered with fiery hues, each scale reflecting the molten sea below. Its fanged maw opened wide, revealing an endless abyss of flame and shadow. The Infernal Serpent hissed, its voice like the crackle of a roaring blaze, and the air grew heavier with heat.

For a brief moment, Jin-Seok's mind raced. He had barely survived the Pyroclasm Titan, and now he faced another powerful foe. But there was no time for hesitation. If he faltered, the serpent would devour him without mercy.

[System Notification: Sub-Boss Encounter Initiated – Infernal Serpent.]

Objective: Eliminate the Infernal Serpent to proceed.

Hint: Utilize the environment to exploit its weaknesses.

Jin-Seok tightened his grip on his sword. "The environment, huh? Let's see what I'm working with."

The Bridge of Flame

The bridge beneath Jin-Seok's feet was narrow and unstable, its obsidian surface riddled with cracks. Lava surged on either side, casting an eerie glow that distorted reality. The serpent coiled around the bridge, its massive body forming a barrier that cut off any chance of retreat.

As the serpent lunged, Jin-Seok rolled to the side, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. The impact of the strike caused the bridge to tremble violently, sending shards of obsidian into the molten sea below.

"Great," Jin-Seok muttered. "The bridge is falling apart. One wrong step, and I'm toast—literally."

The serpent's eyes glowed brighter, and a torrent of fire erupted from its maw. Jin-Seok sprinted along the edge of the bridge, the flames licking at his heels.

A Deadly Dance

The fight became a test of agility and endurance. The serpent attacked relentlessly, each strike causing the fragile bridge to crumble further. Jin-Seok ducked, rolled, and leaped, his every movement a calculated effort to avoid the creature's attacks while maintaining his footing.

"Think, Jin-Seok," he muttered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "There's got to be a way to beat this thing."

He noticed that the serpent's movements, while swift, were predictable. It followed a pattern—coiling, lunging, and retreating. More importantly, he saw that its scales near the head were slightly thinner, revealing a soft, glowing underlayer.

"That's the weak spot," Jin-Seok realized.

[System Notification: Weakness Detected – Infernal Serpent's Head.]

Strategy: Lure the serpent into overextending to expose its weak point.

Jin-Seok smirked, his confidence returning. "Got it. Time to turn the tide."

He planted his feet firmly on the bridge, raising his sword in a defensive stance. The serpent hissed, its molten eyes narrowing as it prepared to strike. Jin-Seok waited, his muscles tensed like a coiled spring.

As the serpent lunged, Jin-Seok sidestepped at the last possible moment. The creature's momentum carried it forward, its head smashing into the bridge. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the surface, but it also left the serpent momentarily stunned.

Jin-Seok didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, driving his sword into the exposed flesh beneath the serpent's scales.

The creature let out an ear-splitting roar, thrashing wildly in pain. Jin-Seok barely managed to hold on, his blade lodged deep in the serpent's flesh.

The Lava Surge

The serpent twisted violently, throwing Jin-Seok off its body. He landed hard on the bridge, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The serpent reared back, its body glowing brighter as it prepared to unleash another torrent of fire.

Jin-Seok scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. The bridge was collapsing rapidly, and the serpent showed no signs of slowing down.

"Time to take a gamble," Jin-Seok muttered, eyeing the unstable environment around him.

He sprinted toward one of the larger cracks in the bridge, using his sword to pry loose a massive chunk of obsidian. The serpent lunged again, its fiery maw inches from Jin-Seok's back.

At the last second, Jin-Seok turned and hurled the obsidian chunk with all his strength. The jagged rock struck the serpent squarely in the head, causing it to recoil in pain.

The creature thrashed, its massive body slamming into the bridge. The force of the impact caused a section of the structure to collapse, sending both Jin-Seok and the serpent plummeting toward the molten sea below.

A Desperate Gamble

As they fell, Jin-Seok activated his grappling hook—a reward he had earned on the seventh floor. The hook shot out, latching onto a remaining piece of the bridge. Jin-Seok swung upward, narrowly avoiding the lava as he climbed back to safety.

The serpent, however, was not so lucky. Its massive body plunged into the molten sea, the intense heat causing it to writhe and scream in agony.

Jin-Seok watched from above as the creature's form began to disintegrate, its glowing scales melting away.

[System Notification: Infernal Serpent Defeated.]

Rewards: +4 Agility, +3 Endurance, Unique Item Unlocked – Scorchscale Fragment.

Jin-Seok collapsed onto the remaining section of the bridge, his body trembling from exhaustion.

"That… was way too close," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The Gate of Runes

After catching his breath, Jin-Seok rose to his feet and continued toward the massive gate at the end of the bridge. Its surface was covered in glowing runes, each one pulsating with a rhythmic light.

As he approached, the runes began to shift, rearranging themselves into a pattern. A faint hum filled the air, and Jin-Seok felt a strange pressure in his chest.

[System Notification: Rune Gate Detected.]

Requirement: Solve the rune puzzle to proceed.

Jin-Seok sighed, his exhaustion evident. "A puzzle? After all that? Great. Just great."

He studied the runes carefully, noting their intricate patterns and symbols. Each rune seemed to represent an element—fire, water, earth, air, and more obscure forces like light and shadow.

"This isn't just about strength," Jin-Seok realized. "The Tower's testing my mind now, too."

He knelt before the gate, his fingers tracing the runes as he began to decipher their meaning.

To be continued in Chapter 12: The Secrets of the Rune Gate