Picking Up Attributes From Today - Chapter 179
Chapter 179: The Behemoth On The Brink of Death, The Immortal Fairy
This was a polluted swamp!
Large patches of withered trees and vegetation laid in the muddy shallow waters. The bark had already fallen off the trees, causing the surfaces to be bald and smooth, and the polluted, yellowish lake waters gave off a terrible stench.
The whole swamp was barren, desolate, and quiet. There were no traces of life, and the whole place was silent.
Then, all of a sudden…
A huge shadow rushed from afar before ultimately coming to a stop in mid-air above the swamp. Thick, dense fur and powerful intertwining muscles covered its body—it was Sacas the Behemoth!
“Boss, this is the Scarlet Swamp Snakes’ territory,” Sacas said as it turned to Meng Lei. “The Scarlet Swamp Snake is an extremely powerful snake species that lives in a pack in the Lost Continent. Their numbers are fairly big.”
“How strong are they?”
“They vary in strength. Some are sixth-grade to seventh-grade, and some are eighth-grade to ninth-grade, while the Scarlet Swamp Snake Emperor itself is a Saint Domain Magical Beast.
“Generally speaking, the Scarlet Swamp Snakes are not any weaker than the Golden Corpse Bugs. Both are Magical Beast species that live in large packs.”
“Not bad.”
A satisfied Meng Lei waved him away. Then, he ordered, “Go on and get the Scarlet Swamp Snake Emperor out here.”
“Yes, Boss!”
Sacas casually picked up a withered branch and threw it into the swamp, causing the waters to splash about everywhere and the mud to spatter.
“…”
Two minutes later, a 20-meters-long water snake covered in reddish-brown spots weaved out of the swamp and slithered over to them in a crooked line.
“That’s the Scarlet Swamp Snake, Boss.”
As it watched the Scarlet Swamp Snake intently, Sacas explained, “This particular group of snakes is too greedy and has eaten all the living things inside the swamp.
“Therefore, Scarlet Swamp Snakes are constantly hungry. The moment there’s even the slightest bit of motion, they’ll be lured out of their den.
“Take a look over there!”
Meng Lei looked over on his cue to see Scarlet Swamp Snakes of varying sizes also popping out from other areas of the swamp. Additionally, their numbers were getting bigger and bigger. It was as though thousands upon thousands of snakes were spilling forth from their den.
“They’re a bunch of starving snakes, indeed.”
Meng Lei bent his fingers and made a stroking motion as if he were strumming a guitar. As he did so, wind blades also shot out one after another toward the Scarlet Swamp Snakes.
Splurt!
Splurt!
Splurt!
Amid constant jarring noises, the wind blades severed the Scarlet Swamp Snakes’ heads one by one, and they died one after another.
Blood spurted everywhere, and decapitated snakeheads were thrown out in all directions.
In a mere instant, the Scarlet Swamp Snakes that had crawled out of their den had all been killed. Freshly-spilled blood dyed the swamp red in dozens of spots, and the faint smell of blood slowly began to pervade the air.
Was everything over?
Of course not!
As though they’d caught the smell of blood, more and more Scarlet Swamp Snakes emerged from the swamp, like mushrooms sprouting after rain.
10, 50, 100…
In less than the amount of time it took to take a few breaths, the initially-quiet swamp had become incredibly lively. Scarlet Swamp Snakes that had been hiding in unknown places made their grand appearances and filled up every corner of the swamp.
At one glance, the whole place was a scarlet red.
As far as the eye could see, big snakes were everywhere.
“Tsk, tsk! There must be at least 8,000 of them, if not 10,000!” Meng Lei marveled at the sight. “Just as well! I can just take them all out, then!”
“Absolute Zero!”
Boom!
A white, chilly air current burst forth and shrouded the whole area within 10,000 meters. Amid crisp snaps and cracks, everything in the surroundings was fixed in place during this instant.
The scarlet swamp became a nation of frost, and all the Scarlet Swamp Snakes within 10,000 meters turned into vivid-looking ice sculptures.
“Ding! 1 Scarlet Swamp Snake killed. 13 million gold coins gained!”
“Ding! 1 Scarlet Swamp Snake killed. 3.97 million gold coins gained!”
Meng Lei rose into the air and flew further into the swamp’s depths while Sacas followed closely after him.
Just like that, the pair slew everything in their path as they advanced. Snake carcasses were littered all about, and innumerable ice sculptures were created everywhere they passed through.
When the pair reached the very center of the swamp, a deep pool appeared in front of them. As though an old well, the pool waters were a clean and clear dark green. Deep and bottomless, it was completely different from the unbearably polluted swampy waters around it.
A powerful Saint Domain Magical Beast aura emanated from the pool, leaving no doubt to the fact that an enormous, savage beast was lurking within.
“Sacas, get him out here!”
“Yes, sir!”
Sacas grabbed a huge piece of wood and threw it right into the pool. At the same time, he also started to hurl abuse loudly. “Albin, here’s a f*cking coffin for your ancestors! Hurry and get the hell out here…”
Splash!
There was no way of telling whether it was the huge piece of wood that’d alarmed the savage beast in the pool or Sacas’ verbal abuse that’d taken effect!
Splash!
Amid great splashes, an enormous snakehead jumped out of the pool and bit at Sacas—who was in mid-air—at lightning-quick speed! Its huge mouth opened wide, and a fishy, pungent stink rushed toward their faces.
“Hmph!”
Sacas was already prepared for this a long time ago. In the instant the snake dived toward it, its sharp claws closed together, and it grabbed viciously at it!
Unexpectedly, in the instant that it was about to make contact with the snake, its head whipped to the side in an S-shape and bypassed Sacas’ sharp claws to clamp its jaws down at its waist!
Splash!
The next moment, the snake’s massive body followed closely and wound around Sacas at high speed. It went one round, two, two and a half…
Roar!
As a raging Behemoth, how would Sacas possibly allow the huge snake to get its way? With a roar into the sky, six two-meters-long barbed claws grabbed viciously at the snake’s body!
Slash!
Slash!
The claws created deep fissures in the snake’s body with every grab Sacas made as though metal hooks. Blood sprayed everywhere and dyed the snake—as well as the pool waters underneath them—red.
Hiss!
Pain came over the huge snake. It opened its cavernous jaws and bit at Sacas’ neck. Two sharp venomous fangs gleamed with a cold, greenish glow under the sunlight as they bit viciously at Sacas.
Meng Lei couldn’t help but shake his head with a light laugh at the sight of that. Just how tough and solid was Sacas’ body? First-class spells might not even be able to break its defenses, so how would two venomous fangs possibly be able to wound it?
Splurt!
However, something unbelievable happened the next moment. The two venomous fangs actually managed to pierce through Sacas’ skin and sink viciously into its body with a splurt.
Large amounts of venom were injected into its body and began to spread rapidly. Sacas stiffened up, and the movements of its sharp, barbed claws that were brandishing about fervently also gradually began to slow down—evidently, it had been poisoned!
“What the f*ck!!!”
Meng Lei, who was awfully shocked, hastily got ready to go forward to render aid. Not only was Sacas his trusted subordinate and favored aide, but he was also loyal and devoted. He couldn’t just watch it die from the snake’s venom.
Whoosh!
Unexpectedly, a sudden turn of events occurred at this point.
A shrill whiz abruptly rang out, and a green arrow shot toward them at an unbelievable speed. In an instant, it’d pierced through the snake’s point of weakness!
At once, the snake’s eyes rolled up, and its massive body immediately froze up. From the look of it, it wasn’t going to survive.
At the same time, the green arrow continued its momentum and pierced through the snake’s head to shoot toward Sacas’ throat!
The green arrow’s might hadn’t diminished by much. Even Meng Lei couldn’t be sure whether or not it would pierce through Sacas’ throat.
He couldn’t take chances with it!
“Damn!”
Meng Lei hastily grabbed at the arrow. After he had raised the Gods-Slaying Rat bloodline assimilation rate to 2%, his speed had improved even further. In an instant, he had come right up to Sacas.
Unfortunately…
It was ultimately still a step too late.
Splurt!
The green arrow’s ability to penetrate had reached terrifying levels. It easily broke through Sacas’ superbly strong defenses and shot right into its throat.
“Ugh!”
Blood sprayed into the air. Sacas let out a mournful cry as blood began to spurt madly from its throat, instantly dyeing the thick fur at its chest red.
“Bastard!”
Meng Lei almost went berserk. However, he managed to barely hang on to his last vestige of rationality and stop himself from killing the person that had launched the sneak attack. Instead, he cast a wood-elemental first-class spell—Blessings of Life!
Buzz!
The Wood Elements within 10,000 meters of where he was converged fervently to form a 100-meters-wide funnel that covered Sacas within. Wood Elements containing abundant vitality began to rapidly heal the wound at Sacas’ throat.
Under Blessings of Life’s healing powers, the wound at Sacas’ throat began to visibly heal. The bleeding gradually stopped in just a few moments, and the wound had become close to closing.
“Eat this.”
Meng Lei also brought out a wood-elemental Saint Domain Magical Beast’s vitality core and stuffed it into Sacas’ mouth to continue healing its wound.
“Thank you… Boss!”
The successive blows had made Sacas, a strong and muscular Behemoth, rather weak, and its voice was no longer as fierce and ferocious as it had previously been.
“All I can do is heal your physical wound. I can’t remove the snake venom in you.” Meng Lei had a grave look on his face as he asked, “Are you able to tough it out?”
“Don’t worry, Boss!”
Sacas grinned a little and replied weakly, “It’s nothing but just the Scarlet Swamp Snake Emperor’s venom. It can’t kill me. We Behemoths are immune to most snakes’ venom. If you let me take a short break, I’ll be alive and kicking in a while!”
“Good to hear that.”
Meng Lei heaved a sigh of relief. His tightly-knitted brows also smoothened out. As he patted Sacas’ shoulder, he said comfortingly, “Have a good rest. Leave the rest to me!”
“Yes, Boss!”
Meng Lei turned round, the look in his eyes already replaced by a chilling harshness. As he gazed at the direction from which the green arrow had shot out 0f, murderous intent suffused his eyes as he said, “You sneaky bastard, get the hell out here!”
Boom!
The order, once given, was strictly enforced. As a furious roar rang out, endless black flames suddenly rained down from the sky and shrouded the forest in the other direction.
Boom, boom, boom!
As though the flames of Amaterasu[1], the black flames set everything in their path on fire and turned them into blazing flames that sprayed everywhere. In the twinkling of an eye, the forest had turned into a sea of black fire.
Whoosh!
A green feminine figure flew out of the sea of fire. The tips of her toes tapped lightly in the air, and she landed gracefully on the ground like a green butterfly. Her movements were light and nimble like an otherworldly celestial maiden’s.
Pointed ears, a tall, slender figure, a beautiful, exquisite face, soft, tender skin, and a pair of gentle, attractive, jet-black eyes that looked as though they could speak…
Added to those her emerald-green armor that covered only the essentials and left everything else exposed, she was innocent-looking yet sensual at the same time and brimmed with endless allure.
When faced with such an enchanting woman, any man would be moved. Meng Lei was also a little stunned by her beauty, but what he felt, even more, was fury—fierce, blazing fury!
“Were you the one that ambushed my prey and attacked my mount? How bold of you!”
“All the Magical Beasts on this continent are my prey. Those two Saint Domain Magical Beasts are naturally no exception.”
The beautiful woman’s lips moved as she replied. Her voice was clear and melodious as if a trickling stream that moistened the bottom of one’s heart. She said, “You can leave now. They are mine.”
Meng Lei broke into laughter at her words. His sinister laughter resounded in the air above the swamp.
“And if I don’t?”
[1] The sun goddess in Japanese myths
