Chapter 392: Unexpected
Chapter 392: Unexpected
The air around the floating island grew heavier as the two towering serpents, eerily similar to the one Lyerin and his group had defeated moments before, stared at the corpse of their fallen kin. A silence as sharp as a blade filled the space, broken only by the faint, unsettling hiss of the creatures tasting the air with their forked tongues. It was a silence that carried an unspoken tension, as though the world itself held its breath.
The larger of the two serpents tilted its massive head, its glowing eyes narrowing as it slithered closer to the body of the fallen beast. Its scales glistened with a faint metallic sheen, catching the faint light of the floating island’s luminescent flora. The smaller serpent, although not much smaller, reacted instantly, moving to block the larger one’s path. Its body coiled tightly, its tail curling around the remnants of the corpse as if to lay claim to it.
The larger serpent paused for a moment, its tongue flicking out rapidly, tasting the air and catching the scent of its rival’s challenge. A low, rumbling growl emanated from deep within its massive form, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of Lyerin’s group.
The girls huddled closer behind Lyerin, their breaths shallow, eyes wide as they observed the unfolding confrontation. “What… what are they doing?” whispered Lydia, her voice trembling.
“They’re fighting over the body,” Lyerin replied quietly, his tone flat yet filled with a knowing unease. “It’s a resource to them. Flesh, blood, and the mana core inside—it’s all vital to their survival.”
Sophia’s hand clenched around Fiona’s, her fingers trembling as she whispered, “Shouldn’t we do something?”
“No,” Lyerin said sharply, his gaze never leaving the creatures. “We’re not part of this fight. Not yet. Let them weaken each other first.”
As though on cue, the tension broke. The larger serpent lunged forward, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. The smaller serpent uncoiled in a flash, dodging the attack with a fluidity that defied its massive size. Its tail snapped like a whip, striking the larger serpent across the face with a sound that echoed like a thunderclap.
The larger beast recoiled, its head jerking back, but it recovered almost instantly, hissing furiously as it lunged again. This time, it struck with precision, its jaws clamping down on the smaller serpent’s midsection. The smaller beast let out a piercing screech, its body writhing violently as it attempted to free itself.