Chapter 198: Dungeon Run VI
The Venom Sage Serpent didn’t give them time to recover. It continued waving its staff, creating one magical attack after another.
Some projectiles exploded on impact, while others split into smaller needles that spread across the clearing. Whenever the students tried to approach, the monster created poisonous barriers to keep them at a distance.
Unlike the previous two minibosses, this one was difficult to deal with through direct attacks.
Kaiser realized that if they continued fighting defensively, they would eventually run out of room to maneuver.
"We need to get close to it!" he called out. "Its magic will keep us under pressure as long as we let it attack from a distance!"
"Easy for you to say!" Alex replied, narrowly avoiding another poisonous projectile.
Even so, Alex understood Kaiser’s reasoning.
He summoned more jade vines and infused them with Blood Sap. Instead of attacking the serpent mage directly, he spread the vines across the ground, forcing the monster to keep moving to avoid being surrounded.
John and Henrick supported him by manipulating the shadows around the mage’s feet.
The Venom Sage Serpent raised its staff and released a powerful burst of poisonous energy, destroying several vines and breaking the shadow bindings.
But that brief distraction was enough for Pascot.
He emerged from the shadow of a nearby tree and launched a surprise attack against the monster’s back.
The serpent mage twisted around, barely managing to block the strike with its staff.
At that moment, Kaiser rushed forward.
He formed the Radiant Sword of Light in his hand and concentrated the Shatter aspect of his Rule along its edge.
The Venom Sage Serpent immediately created a green barrier in front of itself.
Kaiser struck the barrier.
CRACK!
Black energy spread across the green surface, creating a network of fractures.
The barrier resisted for a moment before shattering.
Kaiser continued forward, forcing the monster to retreat.
The Venom Sage Serpent hissed and released a wave of poisonous energy directly toward him.
Kaiser immediately stepped aside. The toxic wave passed close to his body and struck the ground behind him, leaving a patch of dead vegetation.
’Getting hit by that would be troublesome.’
He didn’t want to discover how effective the poison would be against him, so he maintained his distance whenever the monster released a concentrated attack.
Alex used the opening to close in from the opposite side.
His jade-green greatsword struck the serpent mage’s staff, forcing it downward. At the same time, Blood Sap strengthened the vines wrapping around the monster’s tail.
John and Henrick reinforced the bindings, while Pascot attacked from behind.
The Venom Sage Serpent struggled to escape, but the combined pressure prevented it from casting another large-scale spell.
Kaiser focused Shattered Soul on the staff.
CRACK!
The wooden weapon developed several fractures.
The serpent mage tried to pull it away, but Kaiser struck it again with the Radiant Sword of Light.
The staff broke in half.
The monster released a furious hiss and attempted to gather poisonous energy with its bare hands.
However, Alex’s greatsword had already reached its chest.
BOOM!
The impact sent the Venom Sage Serpent crashing to the ground. Kaiser immediately followed with another concentrated attack, breaking through its remaining defenses.
The monster struggled for a few seconds before finally becoming motionless.
[Miniboss Defeated!]
[Orb of Posionous Sage obatained]
[Skill Book Venom Barrier Obtained]
The poisonous energy surrounding the clearing gradually dissipated.
The five students stood still for a moment, making sure the monster had truly been defeated.
Alex exhaled deeply.
"That one was the most troublesome so far. Its poisonous magic made it difficult to approach, and we couldn’t afford to let any of those attacks hit us directly."
"Agreed," Henrick said. "The first two relied mainly on physical combat, but this one could attack us from a distance and control the battlefield."
Kaiser stored the Venom Sage Serpent’s corpse in his inventory.
He was particularly interested in this monster. A serpent capable of manipulating poisonous magic might provide useful materials, although he would have to examine the corpse later to determine what he could obtain from it.
For now, their priority was completing the dungeon.
They had already defeated three minibosses, each with a different fighting style. The experience had also given Kaiser more opportunities to practice Shattered Soul against different kinds of defenses.
He still had a long way to go before reaching five percent comprehension, but he was gradually learning how to apply the Rule more effectively.
"Let’s keep moving," Kaiser said. "If these were the minibosses guarding the outer areas, the main area will probably be even more dangerous."
The group continued deeper into the Myriad Serpent Abode.
After walking for another ten minutes, they began noticing changes in their surroundings. The trees grew larger, and the vegetation became denser. Several patches of poisonous plants covered the ground, while strange green flowers released faint clouds of toxic mist.
Kaiser carefully examined the area as they advanced.
"Be careful where you step. Some of these plants might be poisonous as well."
The others nodded and followed him more cautiously.
They encountered several more groups of serpents along the way, but none posed much of a threat. By coordinating their Rules, the five students quickly dealt with the monsters and continued forward.
Kaiser stored the corpses of the stronger serpents in his inventory, while the others left the ordinary monsters behind. They would distribute the dungeon rewards after completing their objective, so there was no need to waste time collecting every minor drop.
As they continued, Kaiser noticed that the number of serpents around them was gradually decreasing.
’We’re probably getting closer to the main area.’
His guess was soon proven correct.
After crossing a narrow path between two enormous trees, the group arrived at a large clearing surrounded by thick vegetation. A strange stone structure stood in the center, covered in green moss and numerous carvings resembling intertwined serpents.
Several stone pillars surrounded the structure, and poisonous mist drifted between them.
The moment the five students entered the clearing, a low rumbling sound echoed through the area.