Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 152: The Seductive Serpent's Trump Card

There, emerging from the water, was the Guardian - The Seductive Serpent. Its massive serpentine body glistened with water, scales shimmering in the faint glow of the artifact.

Its eyes, glowing with an otherworldly light, locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The Guardian's humanoid head, crowned with an array of menacing horns, was twisted into a malevolent grin.

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent standoff. I could feel the weight of its gaze, as if it were peering into the very depths of my soul, searching for any hint of fear or weakness. But I couldn't afford to show any.

Not in front of this monster...

The creature hissed, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the very air around us. It was a challenge, a declaration of its intent to devour me whole if given the chance. I responded by raising my sword, the blade catching the faint light and casting a sharp, determined glint.

"Alright," I muttered to myself, trying to steady my nerves. Although I wanted to fight it with the others....

"Let's do this."

The Guardian lunged, its movements lightning fast despite its massive size. I barely had time to react, diving to the side to avoid its snapping jaws. The ground where I had been standing exploded in a shower of dirt and rock, a testament to the creature's raw power.

I rolled to my feet, bringing my sword up in a defensive stance. The Guardian turned to face me, its eyes narrowing in focus. I had to keep moving, stay one step ahead of its attacks. But I also needed to find a way to strike back.

The creature lunged again, and this time I was ready. I dodged to the left, swinging my sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the Guardian's scales, but instead of cutting through, it merely glanced off, leaving only a shallow scratch. The creature hissed in annoyance, its tail whipping around in a blur.

I barely managed to duck in time, the force of the tail's swing passing just inches above my head.

"Okay, that didn't work," I thought, frustration gnawing at the edges of my mind.

There was another reason why I didn't want to fight it alone. Because I was an affinityless. And this bast*d was weak against elemental attacks.

Since my regular attacks weren't going to do much damage, it was going to require a different approach. I needed to find a weak spot, something that would allow me to bypass its tough scales. Well, there was one weak spot I know but it's nearly impossible to strike at the place unless I'm willing to get injured.

Not giving me time to think, the Seductive Serpent lunged again, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from my face. I could feel its hot breath, a reminder of how close I was to being devoured. I needed to think fast and come up with a plan that didn't rely solely on brute strength.

The Seductive Serpent's weak spot was just below its neck, where the scales were thinner and more vulnerable. But reaching that spot would mean putting myself directly in its path, risking severe injury or worse.

My mind raced, trying to formulate a strategy. The Guardian was relentless, and its attacks were becoming more aggressive. I had to create an opening, a moment where I could strike without getting myself killed.

Taking a deep breath, I tightened my grip on my sword and steadied my stance.

"Think, Adrian, think," I muttered to myself, my eyes darting around the cavern for anything that could give me an advantage. And then, I saw it, the reflection of a figure in the water.

'Hehe, it seems this will be easier than I thought.'

My mood instantly recovered and a good plan appeared in my mind.

"I will be the bait," I said out loud and lunged at the Seductive Serpent at my full speed.

The Seductive Serpent hissed, its massive body undulating with a frightening grace as it lunged towards me once more. This time, I didn't dodge. Instead, I ran straight at it, my heart pounding in my chest. The Guardian's eyes widened, perhaps surprised by my audacity.

As I closed the distance between us, I could feel the heat of its breath and the cold, dark aura it exuded. Just as its jaws were about to close around me, I dove to the side, slashing at its neck with all my might. The blade struck true, but only managed to leave a superficial wound. The Guardian roared in fury, its tail whipping around with terrifying speed.

I rolled to my feet, already moving before it could counterattack. I needed to keep its attention on me, to draw it away from the figure I had seen reflected in the water. My plan hinged on one thing: timing.

The Serpent lunged again, and I dodged, feeling the rush of air as its jaws snapped shut inches from my face. I darted to the left, then to the right, constantly moving to keep it off balance. Each time I struck at its neck, hoping to weaken its defenses.

I glanced quickly at the water's reflection, hoping the figure I had seen was who I thought it was. There, emerging from the shadows, was Aurelius, his eyes locked on the Guardian. He moved with purpose, his blade gleaming with elemental energy. Relief flooded through me, but I couldn't afford to lose focus now.

'Phantom Step.'

'Swoosh-!'

In an instant, I appeared above the Seductive Serpent's head and swung my sword hard at its neck. At the same time, Aurelius, moving with precision and speed, thrust his blade charged with fire elemental energy towards the Serpent's weak spot.

The creature roared, caught off guard by the simultaneous attacks. My sword cut into the thinner scales of its neck, while Aurelius's blade struck true, piercing the vulnerable spot just below its neck. The combined force of our attacks caused the Serpent to thrash violently, its body convulsing in pain.

"Now, Adrian!" Aurelius shouted, his voice carrying the urgency of the moment.

'Phantom Step.'

I didn't hesitate. Using the momentum of my attack, I swung my sword again, this time aiming for the deeper wound Aurelius had created. The blade sunk in, meeting less resistance as it sliced through the Serpent's flesh. The creature's roar echoed through the cavern, a sound of pure agony and rage.

However, it also meant it used its trump card - The Roar of Seduction.