[Arc I] Chapter 21 – Crazy little gecko has …
My mind was a mess. (“IT IS A MESS”) (“Yum, lizard”). First, I couldn’t move at all, then the lizards mind took control of me, didn’t realise it, and in confusion bit herself with her skill, critical bite, (but using my body)? Unfortunately her control was all out of whack, and so she didn’t use my body's venom.
Critical bite: 0 ->0.6/10 |
(“It’s not the time to look at the status!”) Shit!
The beast whipped its head, trying to throw the leech attached to its neck off. It worked, the snake hitting the ground violently, but its teeth tore off some of geckos flesh at the same time.
“SQUEEEEAAAKKKK!!!”
("Ouch! We are dead!")
Fear resistance: -6.3 -> -6.5/10 |
(“I don’t wanna die again!”)
Fear resistance: -6.3 -> -6.8/10 |
(“No time to be scared! Run!”)
Fear resistance: -6.3 -> -6.1/10 |
At the same time as most of me was limping in fear and pain, hoping for some kind of a miracle, a more sensible minority of me, just started running towards the nest. The cowards disappeared, together with their skills, new "main" mind now slightly more courageous.
Fear resistance: -6.1 |
(“Mother can win!!”) (“What about the siblings?”). The (relatively) giant furious lizard followed. And she was faster. She jumped at my neck, from what would normally be snakes blind spot. Fortunately, I could literally feel her murderous thoughts, as well as what she was about to do.
Not having time to think, my body did what It practiced doing hundreds of times - Drunken snout second art - Noodle in the water! (As in the secret teachings, I completed the move first, and called its name later)
The gecko, being a typical ambusher, mostly preying on lower tier animals of the jungle, was not used to her enemies trying to dodge her moves, and even less used to feints. The (until now undefeated) critical bite missed its target's head, and instead bit the ground next to it.
The instant their heads got close enough, it happened again. As if suckered, gecko was now inside Brent's mind - which was replaying the memories of snake-arts training in the Drunken Snout holy grounds - Jade Rock, the Sunkissed!
***
Again! What’s going on?! Her lizard mind was confused. She was sure it was the middle of the night, and suddenly it became noon! And yet she could still feel some of her night-dependent skills status bonuses? She felt weird, her body was weird, EVERYTHING IS WEIRD WHAT IS… WHERE IS?!..
She was surrounded. Next to her the despicable snakeling, doing some stupid moves, ignoring her.... but around them were all of its siblings…. And its mother. And all of them were looking this way.
She panicked, she could feel the fear assaulting her, fortunately she had the fear resistance to help….
Fear resistance: 4/10 (Due to ???? Fear resistance -6/10)
Fear resistance: 4/10 Due to ??? -6.1/10 |
???!! Now, she was in complete panic mode. Still, unlike some, she didn’t just wait for things to happen. She survived many life-and-death situations against stronger opponents until now with her instincts! She jumped on the mother snake, in a final act of defiance to the unreasonable series of events. For a moment she thought she succeeded. Yes, she might not be as big, but she also has a powerful venom! And knowledge of weak points, as she killed many snakes before now! If it fails, She just has to run away!
No unexpected dodging happened this time. Her teeth were ripping through snake flesh, and she started releasing the potent toxins, yes.. YES! She felt great! She felt invincible! Actually, isn’t she bigger now then she was a moment ago?! The snakelings now insignificant insects in size?!
…but if she is bigger now, why is her mouth opening wider and wider?
In what can only be described as the final blow to her calm, the snake she just bit also grew larger. Larger than her. Not only that, her scales were also getting stronger and regenerating, slowly pushing lizards teeth out.
Her mind was chaos. The impossibly large snake (whose presence was making her senses go haywire, as they couldn’t decide if it was or wasn’t there) looked at her.
She ran! Ran for her life! But even though she tried to use all her strength, dash skills, and will, it felt as if she wasn’t getting closer to the safety of the shrubs at all! Instead… they seemed to move further and further away?!
Huge snake appeared before her, seemingly effortlessly catching up, and started coiling around her… suffocating her.. Smashing her to death.. She tried her best to catch her breath but her mind was getting fuzzier and fuzzier
***
The wound around Gecko's neck was small, but it was done to a vital spot. Blood was leaving her body at a dangerous rate. To make matters worse, it was now writhing and gasping for air, its heart pumping extremely fast due to the stress. Hyperventilation and blood loss, confusion about the bizzare situation, all dangerous, but not necessarily lethal.
Looking at her, was a far less, but still, confused snake. While he didn’t fully understand the situation, he was somehow used to the craziness of the mind-related skills.
(“RUN! NOW! CHANCE!”)
Fear resistance: -6.1 -> -6.2/10 |
(“No, let’s sneak quietly! Loud noises can alert it!”)
Fear resistance: -6.1 -> -6.3/10 |
(“No.”)
Fear resistance: -6.1 -> -5.9/10 |
The decree of the head of the prideful Drunken Snout was clear, they could not lose their face. Why would he (undefeated under the heavens) run away from this foolish young gecko? It was time to teach this haughty lizard a lesson.
“First art - Shredding venom bite!”
Fear resistance: -5.9/10 |
***
(Jade Rock, the Sunkissed? What the hell?)
(“the lakey-snakey sunbathing-rock!”)
(“what about that rock I could never climb?”)
(“It’s the rock of pride and fall, it’s all philosophical, now hush!”)