The Nethrite Dagger gleamed in Shwet's hand, its dark blade reflecting the eerie glow of the cavern. His heart pounded in his chest, but his grip was steady. His target—one of the lesser serpents—was completely engrossed in its battle against a greater Taratect, oblivious to the danger creeping up on it.
Shwet launched forward—[Dash] activated!—his body turning into a blur as he closed the distance in an instant. His dagger arced through the air, its keen edge slicing through the serpent's vulnerable eye and piercing deep into its skull.
The snake thrashed violently, its agonized screech cutting through the battlefield, but its struggles ended in mere moments as its lifeless body crumpled onto the stone.
The sudden interference of a human threw both the Taratects and the serpents into momentary confusion. The monstrous creatures had been waging a brutal war against each other, only to have an outsider jump into their battle—someone who wasn't part of their conflict yet would undoubtedly change its course.
But Shwet had already made his decision.
"I have no choice but to fight. And I have to side with the Taratects."
They were monsters, yes. They were his enemies. He had hunted them down before during his Chain Quest. But here, in the midst of a war where his survival hinged on choosing the lesser evil, he had no choice but to align with them—at least temporarily.
"If the Taratects lose, I lose too. As much as I hate it, I have to follow this damn truce that the Assassin proposed. Maybe—just maybe—if they win, they'll let me go. That is, if they don't hold a grudge for the ones I slaughtered before..."
His body moved before his mind could catch up—[Stealth] activated!—his figure fading into the shadows.
The serpents had no idea what was coming.
A second later, he materialized mid-air, his dagger poised for the kill.
His blade plunged into the head of another lesser serpent, severing its brainstem. The monster convulsed for a split second before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Another serpent caught sight of him and lunged forward, fangs dripping with venom.
Shwet gritted his teeth. "[Weapon Art - 10 Slashes]!"
His dagger moved like a blur, carving through the snake's flesh in a flurry of rapid cuts. Blood sprayed as the creature was diced into pieces.
The Taratects, realizing that the human was fighting on their side, let out a chittering war cry. The Titan Taratect, standing tall like a monstrous god, unleashed a resounding screech that reverberated through the cavern.
The tide of battle shifted.
The Lesser Serpents' numbers dwindled rapidly, unable to hold their ground against the unified assault of Taratects and Shwet. However, the Greater Serpents were still the bigger problem.
Four Titan Taratects were continuously clashing against them, their bladed limbs slashing, their silk constricting, but they were outnumbered.
The Greater Serpents, unlike their lesser counterparts, were far stronger, larger, and more resilient.
They weren't falling easily. He knew he would have to engage with them eventually, but he had no confidence in his battle poweress. He couldn't see himself even getting close the Great Nethrite Serpents.
He retreated to the backlines, near the eggs and non-combatants. His fingers moved swiftly, opening his Stat Window.
[Stat Window]
Level: 20
HP: 1050/1050
Stamina: 699/760
Strength: 139 → 149 (+10)
Agility: 138 → 148 (+10)
Perception: 96
Intellect: 139
Dexterity: 88
Vitality: 110
Endurance: 127
Luck: 22
Pain Resistance - Lv 10
Poison Resistance - Lv 9
He assigned his 20 available stat points, prioritizing Strength and Agility—the two things he needed the most right now.
It still didn't feel like enough.
But he had no choice.
Shwet took a deep breath. His target—a Greater Serpent—was battling a Titan Taratect nearby.
He rushed in—[Dash] activated!
His dagger swung in a deadly arc toward the serpent's side.
CLANK!
His blade bounced off its scales, barely leaving a scratch.
His eyes widened in shock.
"What the hell?! Not even a fucking dent?!"
The serpent barely reacted, its thick hide making his attack feel like a mere nuisance.
Gritting his teeth, he jumped back and prepared to strike again.
"[Weapon Art - 10 Slashes]!"
His dagger flashed, slashing at the same spot repeatedly, trying to wear down the serpent's defenses.
But—nothing.
"Shit! No effect! Its scales are beyond this weapon's capabilities!"
The serpent rolled it's eyes, giving a dismissive glance to the puny creature, then-
He felt a rush of air behind him.
Danger!
The Great Serpent's tail was coming!
Shwet turned just in time to see the massive appendage whipping toward him, moving so fast that it blurred in his vision.
His instincts screamed.
He tried to activate [Phantom Stride]—
"I won't make it in time!"
The tail blurred towards him—too fast, too powerful! No time to react, not even a blink.
"Shit!"
The tail crashed into the ground.
BOOOOM!!!
The sheer force of the impact shattered the earth, sending cracks splintering across the battlefield.
A massive cloud of dust and debris erupted into the air, obscuring the scene.