Cromus would like to say he heard the voice and reacted. He would like to say he replied with a witty comeback when it insulted him, but he didn’t. Instead, he saw those piercing orange eyes staring at him from the dark. An overwhelming pressure settled over him, freezing his body, his sword’s hilt gripped so tight his knuckles ached. His mind screamed at him to move, but all he could do was watch in helpless terror as an icon of a human figure was gripped in a massive fist sat just out of his vision.

  YOU HAVE BEEN PARALYZED!!!

  “What trouble have you brought to my cave, weak jaw?” The creature asked as it moved closer where Cromus could see it clearly. Its head was that of a snake, its color dark brown, its neck was paler brown. It stood a couple inches taller than Cromus, wearing studded leather armor and a buckler on its left arm, as it held a longsword in its right hand.

  It tilted its head, flicking its tongue in and out as if savoring the moment. "There are few things more satisfying than having someone under your complete control. Don’t you agree?"

  Cromus felt the pressure grow, his muscles screaming to move, but the paralysis held firm. "Oh, I’m sure," he grunted.

  "Oh, it was rhetorical," the creature replied with a hiss of amusement, the sound sickeningly languid. "You won’t be moving."

  The air around Cromus felt thick, oppressive, as if the creature’s presence was infecting the very atmosphere. Its eyes glinted, full of dark satisfaction. "Now the question becomes... are you more useful alive, or would you be better as experience points?"

  The creature paced around him, circling, its boots scraping lightly against the cave’s cold stone floor. Cromus could feel its gaze on him, like a knife’s edge against his skin. His heart raced, a primal fear clawing at his chest, as his breath became shallow, struggling against the unseen force that gripped him.

  The creature’s voice came from behind him now, its words slithering in his ears. "You would taste good." It paused, stepping back into his line of sight, its reptilian eyes narrowing as it assessed him.

  "Hmm... You've been handling those frogs well, haven’t you? It’s clear you have levels. That makes you valuable. Killing you could be... better than I thought, but perhaps you’d fetch a fine price at market."

  As it spoke to itself, its long fingers traced the edge of its chin thoughtfully, as if weighing a decision. But Cromus barely heard it, his focus elsewhere. Something moved in the dark—just a flicker at first, like a shadow in the corner of his vision. The creature's attention seemed elsewhere as it contemplated its own words, but Cromus noticed the subtle shift. He blinked, his heart hammering, and there it was again: a faint movement, creeping closer. Something small, quick, and reptilian, with gleaming eyes that reflected the faint light of the cave.

  His throat tightened.

  Before he could react, the snake creature suddenly jolted, a sharp hiss of surprise escaping its lips. It kicked its leg violently, flinging something away from its body. Cromus felt the impact just as something—large and heavy—slammed into his chest, knocking the wind from him and ticking his health by a single point. He staggered back, managing to catch his balance.

  Instinctively, his free hand shot out to grasp whatever had hit him, his fingers closing around something warm and scaly. He looked down, eyes wide with disbelief.

  A lizard-like creature, nearly as large as his torso, stared up at him with wide, crocodilian eyes. It had a broad, square jaw, its snout filled with sharp, jagged teeth that glinted in the low light. The creature’s skin was smooth, not rough like the scales of a dragon, but soft and almost slick. Its body was short and stocky, its six legs thick with muscle and ending in three sharp claws. Its tail was long, nearly as long as its body, two large curved horns just behind its eyes, three rows of little spikes lined from behind its horns down its back till they merged to one onto its tail. Dark green skin was marked with black stripes running down its legs and back.

  The thing’s face was... almost comical, its tongue hanging out in a ridiculous, slobbering grin, as if it were a disoriented bulldog. Despite the terrifying teeth, there was something almost endearing in the creature’s foolish grin—until it bared its teeth again and growled. It was more of a raspy cough than a growl, but it was enough to make the air in the cave vibrate with effort.

  Cromus couldn’t help but thank the little guy because of it, he was alive and the paralysis on him vanished. “He doesn’t seem to like you that much.” Cromus said grinning, pulling up his weapon.

  “Stupid asalisk! If it wasn’t worth so much, I would kill it here and now with you.” The snake man said.

  “Hey now, after what it just did I am not going to allow you to sell it at all and I definitely am not going to let you kill me.” Cromus replied smartly.

  He dashed at Cromus, the asilisk jumped out of his arm, just as he was in range he swung his sword down at Cromus’s head.

  Cromus slammed his new sword into the attack, metal clinging echoing around them, both swords bouncing backwards.

  Cromus being the first to recover pulled his sword up swinging for the snake man's stomach but clashing with its buckler. Pushing forward and out, shoving Cromus sword up right a heavy boot slamming into his check. Making Cromus stumble backwards.

  As he recovered the snake man was already slashing at Cromus again. Cromus went for an awkward roll which cost him, sharp pain ran up his leg, as Cromus was slashed. Watching his health drop twenty points. Coming back up to his feet the snake man was hiss laughing.

  The snake-man’s mocking voice slithered through the air. “What was that, weak jaw? I thought you had some real fighting skills.”

  Cromus gritted his teeth, the pain from his leg a searing reminder of his mistake. He pushed it down, forcing his focus forward as his blood started to boil.

  “No more words,” Cromus muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

  “That’s more like it.” Without another moment’s hesitation, the snake-man lunged forward, swinging its sword in a vicious arc. The battle had just begun in earnest.

  Cromus’s sword clashed against the snake-man’s strikes, each blow ringing out with a fierce clang, the sound of metal meeting metal. The creature’s relentless attacks came fast—too fast—but Cromus gritted his teeth, his pulse steady as he wove between them.

  A brown glow swiftly covered Cromus’s left arm, the muscular front leg of a bearded vulture-bear though smaller in size. As the snake-man advanced again, Cromus swept his left arm forward in a wide arc, catching the creature off guard. The clawed limb slashed across the snake-man’s chest, rending its armor and drawing a spray of blood.

  The snake-man reeled back with a hiss, a look of disbelief crossing its face. But there was no hesitation in Cromus. He moved in, eyes narrowed, blood pounding in his ears. Every motion was deliberate, calculating—he wasn’t just fighting for survival anymore, he was taking control of the battle.

  “You are a spell caster? it's obvious you actually have a class but one with spells? No wonder you made such quick work of the Croakers. Well I'll just have too—”

  Before it could finish, the sharp thwip of arrows slicing through the air interrupted the snake-man. Two arrows slammed into its left shoulder, one after another, the impact forcing the snake man to stagger.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Cromus turned just in time to see Sais, calm and focused, standing just behind him. A third arrow was already notched, aimed with deadly precision, and ready to fire. Over Sais’s shoulder, Henry hovered, the owl’s keen eyes scanning for any opening.

  Sais’s voice rang out, sharp and confident. “You’ll have to what, snake-face?”

  The snake-man’s smile twisted, sharp and predatory. "Two of you? Must be my lucky day. It's rare to find class users out here... Your energy is going to be fantastic."

  Before Cromus or Sais could react, the creature’s arm shot out in a fluid, practiced motion. The air snapped with tension, and with a sharp crack, something shattered near their feet. Glass scattered in all directions, and thick blue smoke began to rise, curling up from the broken surface.

  Within moments, the smoke thickened, swirling rapidly around them. The air became heavy, cloying with the stench of something acrid and unnatural. Cromus coughed violently as the smoke burned at his throat. His vision blurred as the dense fog swallowed him whole, but his instincts kicked in.

  ‘Move!’

  He rolled to the side, struggling to clear his lungs, his eyes stinging from the smoke. When he finally managed to get to his feet, the world around him felt... off. He glanced at his mana bar, but the soothing blue light that usually filled it had darkened. It was now a dull, cement gray, with jagged cracks running through it like a broken foundation.

  A chill ran down Cromus’s spine as he saw something else—on the bottom right of his HUD, a new figure appeared. It was a vague silhouette wearing a wizard's hat, with a prohibition symbol slapped across it in bright red.

  "What the hell?" Cromus muttered under his breath, taking a cautious step back. His mind raced to make sense of the new development, but the weight of the situation pressed in on him.

  Movement caught Cromus’s attention, and before he could react, the creature’s massive tail swung with terrifying force, slamming into him and pinning him against the stone wall. The air was knocked from his lungs. The snake-man coiled its body, keeping the weight of its tail crushing down on him. Its hood flared wide, and its mouth opened, revealing long, venomous fangs that glistened in the dim light, poised to strike.

  It lunged.

  But in that split second, a sharp whistle cut through the air. An arrow zipped past, narrowly missing the snake-man’s head. The creature recoiled, instinctively jerking back to avoid the threat. Sais, already pulling his second arrow from the quiver, fired it with practiced precision. The second shot whizzed through the air, forcing the snake-man to shift just enough, giving Cromus a brief opening.

  Cromus didn’t hesitate. Using the tail still pinning him, he wrapped both arms around it, using his legs to anchor himself against the wall. With a grunt, he twisted his body, leveraging the weight and momentum of the tail. The snake-man’s balance faltered as it tried to readjust, but Cromus was already moving. With a powerful push, he yanked the tail downward, throwing the creature off balance.

  With a motion that defied human logic but was all too natural for a serpent, the creature arched its back, twisting its head to peer through its own legs. In one fluid motion, it pulled its tail free from Cromus’s grasp. The tip of its tail whipped around, striking Cromus square in the chin, forcing his head to snap back and his eyes to flick toward the dark cave ceiling.

  When he righted himself he noticed the creature slithering towards Sais. “Oh no you don’t!” Cromus dashed towards it, stepping hard on its tail. It’s head twisted back to Cromus as he dove onto its back.

  Cromus’s shoulder collided with the creature’s open mouth, and he felt its fangs sink deep into his back, right around his left shoulder blade. A searing burn spread through his body, the venom coursing rapidly through his veins.

  YOU HAVE BEEN POISONED!!

  Cromus stifled a yell as he pummeled the creature’s neck, the burning sensation spreading through his body with each blow. Hit after hit, the pain intensified, crawling down his left arm and spreading to his lower back. As the fire coursed through him, the areas it touched began to go numb, but he gripped tighter with his left arm. The creature withdrew its fangs and started to roll, and Cromus fought to maintain control, twisting with it.

  As they tumbled, Sais kept his arrow trained on the chaotic mess of limbs. Finally, the snake-man ended up on top of Cromus, planting its feet firmly. With a swift twist, it pulled Cromus off the ground, lifting him high before throwing him behind, deeper into the shadows.

  Breathing heavily, the snake man straightened, its gaze locking onto Sais. "There," it said with a grin. "Now this will be much easier." It took a step toward Sais, its smile widening as it slithered past his shot. "Oh, you poor elf. You should put that bow down. Now that I can focus entirely on you, you'll never land another shot."

  "I just have to stall you until Cromus catches up," Sais replied, stepping back while nocking another arrow.

  The snake man let out a mocking hiss of a laugh. "He won’t be coming back. I put enough venom in him to kill five orcs. By now, he’s probably rotting. It’s just you and me."

  Sais opened his mouth to respond, but his ear twitched at the unmistakable clank of hurried footsteps approaching from behind. "Well, I guess we’d better make this quick, then," he muttered, releasing his arrow.

  The shaft flew true, but the snake man twisted at the last moment. The arrow grazed its scaled shoulder, and its glowing, serpentine eyes locked onto Sais with a predatory glare. A guttural hiss escaped its lips as it sprang forward, blade in hand. Just then, the source of the clanking emerged from the shadows: the clockwork defender, its shield raised, slammed into the snake man’s shoulder, knocking it away from Sais and standing protectively between the beast and its master.

  "About time you showed up," Sais called to it. "Now, full assault."

  The clockwork defender charged forward, ready to deliver another shield bash. But this time, the snake man was prepared. It sidestepped the attack and spun, its tail striking the defender's side with a force that sent it crashing into the wall to its left, off balance.

  The snake man’s sword arced toward his chest. Sais twisted just in time, the blade slicing across his left arm. Pain flared, sharp and hot, leaving a crimson streak on his tunic. Its fanged maw lunged, snapping dangerously close to his neck. He stumbled backward, his breathing ragged.

  On instinct, Sais swung his free hand, knuckles cracking against the snake man’s scaled jaw. The impact jarred his hand, the tough scales giving only slightly under the blow. It wasn’t enough to hurt the beast, but it redirected its head, buying him a single, precious moment to retreat. His boots scraped against the rocky floor as he scrambled back, but the snake man was relentless. It surged forward, closing the gap in an instant.

  Steel flashed in the dim cave light. Strikes rained down on Sais, each one faster than the last. He deflected the blows with frantic movements, his arms burning with effort. Cuts began to accumulate—his shoulders, his arms, his neck. Each slice sent a jolt of agony through his body, the sting sharp and immediate. His health bar ticked downward, each tiny loss a chilling reminder of how close he was to death.

  Through it all, the snake man smiled. Its forked tongue flickered, as if tasting his fear. Sais’s breaths came in gasps now, his vision blurring at the edges. He gritted his teeth, his mind racing for a plan.

  The snake man reared back for a telegraphed swing. Sais caught the motion out of the corner of his eye. He raised his bow, angling it to intercept. The sword struck with a force that jarred his entire body, the blade sinking halfway into the wooden weapon. The impact knocked him back a step, and now he had to grip the bow with both hands to keep the sword at bay.

  The bow groaned under the pressure, its wooden frame bending in a direction it was never meant to go. Sais’s arms trembled as he pushed back, sweat slicking his palms. The snake man leaned in closer, its breath hot and fetid. Just as his grip began to falter, a sudden metallic clang echoed through the cave.

  The snake man hissed in pain, its head snapping toward the source of the sound. The clockwork defender, gears whirring and its blank, metallic face expressionless, stood behind it, a blade embedded deep in the snake man’s back. The distraction was brief but enough. Sais released the bow and dove to the side, the snake man’s sword driving it and the mangled bow to the ground.

  Snarling, the snake man reached back and yanked the clockwork defender’s sword free with a vicious motion, the metallic screech echoing through the cavern. With a hiss of frustration, it drove the blade into the defender’s chest, sparks flying as it pierced the mechanism. The defender shuddered and slumped, its whirring slowing to silence as it collapsed in a heap of metal and gears.

  Drawing an arrow from his quiver, Sais lunged forward, slamming it into the snake man’s side. The point struck its leather armor and glanced off, the force insufficient to pierce through. The snake man snarled and twisted, its left hand darting out like a striking viper. It seized a fistful of Sais’s long hair, yanking him forward with brutal force.

  Sais barely had time to react before a knee slammed into his face. Stars exploded in his vision as pain blossomed, sharp and overwhelming. Blood filled his mouth, the metallic taste of iron mingling with his ragged breaths. Another blow followed, this time a palm striking his chest and sending him sprawling backward. Before he could regain his footing, the snake man advanced.

  With unnatural speed, it clamped a clawed hand over Sais’s face. The world spun as he was hurled through the air, the wind whipping past him. His back struck the jagged cave wall with a sickening crunch. Pain shot through him, stealing his breath. He cried out, only for the sound to be cut short as the snake man slammed him into the wall again, and then a third time.

  The final impact left him limp, his vision swimming in darkness. He crumpled to the ground, the cold, unforgiving stone beneath him. The last thing he heard before unconsciousness claimed him was the faint sound of mechanical whirring sputtering to silence behind him.