Chapter 597: One of the islands became the stage for battles
The island trembled.
The sound was like the continuous growl of a beast buried in the very heart of the earth, each vibration reverberating through the sand, roots, and rocks. The surrounding sea exploded in furious waves, and the surface of the central lagoon seethed as if a god had decided to emerge.
And then it appeared.
The serpent.
Gigantic, its dark blue scales glistening like wet blades, its thick body snaked through the forest and crossed rivers and rocks as if they were nothing. Each time it rose, the shadow of its head covered dozens of meters, its narrow yellow eyes glowing with primal hatred. It was more than an animal: it was a wingless dragon, an aquatic leviathan that engulfed the entire island as if it were nothing more than a toy.
“This damn thing is enormous!” screamed Rogue, the beast-woman with firm muscles and provocative curves. Her golden hair whipped through the air as she ran with feline speed, dodging the snaps of the snake’s tail. Sweat dripped down her tanned skin, making it even more gleaming. Her claws sparkled with savage energy as they dug into the creature’s scales, but the serpent’s skin was as hard as iron.
“It won’t break!” Rogue roared, his blue eyes blazing with frustration.
“You’re not breaking it properly!” Kali replied, her voice deep and authoritative. The demonic warrior, her bronzed-gold skin gleaming in the shifting light, raised the massive axe that seemed like an extension of her own body. Her golden hair flowed, contrasting with the black horns that emerged from her skull like crowns. As she struck, the blade ignited with crimson demonic energy, piercing through the air and striking the serpent’s side with devastating impact.
The result? Only sparks.
The scale cracked superficially, but the snake roared as if it had only been scratched.
Kali snorted, sweat dripping down her ample breasts, barely contained by the black metal armor she wore. Her body was sculpted, shaped like a war goddess, and even here, fighting a colossal monster, her posture exuded sensuality and ferocity in equal measure.
“Damn worm! Open up or I’ll split your teeth!”
On the other side of the creature, Xyn advanced. Her short, gray hair was matted with sweat, but her blue eyes burned with the intensity of a dark phoenix. Her firm, warrior-like body moved with lethal precision. With each leap, black flames exploded beneath her feet, propelling her higher. Her longsword, covered in dark flames, came down on the serpent’s head.
The impact opened a fissure, but it was like trying to split a mountain. The beast merely whirled its gigantic body, creating a shockwave that hurled Xyn into the trees. She tore through trunks like paper, rolling to a halt with a groan of pain.
“Xyn!” Rogue shouted, narrowly dodging the tail that swept through the forest.
But Xyn was already on her feet, coughing blood, her eyes burning with rage. “I’m not done yet!”
Meanwhile, not far from the chaotic battle, Frieren sat on a flat rock.
The long white dress fell perfectly around the archmage’s slim, elegant body. Her straight white hair fell to her waist, and her blue eyes observed the scene with the calm of someone watching a tedious spectacle. Her bare feet were crossed, and in her hands she held a small, glowing crystal that slowly spun between her fingers.
She didn’t seem the least bit concerned about the serpent that was about to destroy the entire island.
“FRIEREN!” Kali roared, dodging another of the serpent’s strikes. Her voice reverberated like thunder, filled with fury. “ARE YOU GOING TO JUST SIT THERE WHILE WE KILL EACH OTHER?!”
Frieren slowly looked up, a cold smile forming on her lips.
“Of course I am.” Her voice was calm, almost sweet. “You’re having so much fun.”
Kali almost dropped her axe just to strangle the archmage. “We’re dying, you wretch!”
Rogue leaped onto the serpent’s back, digging her claws into the weak spots between its scales, but was thrown off with a sudden movement. “Frieren! If you don’t help, we won’t be able to hold this thing!”
The archmage sighed, as if explaining something to impatient children.
“You noticed, didn’t you?” he said, turning the crystal between his fingers. “With every blow, with every spell, your strength is drained. It’s not because of your weakness, it’s because of the runes.”
“Runes?” Xyn grunted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
Frieren jerked her chin at the surrounding trees. Engraved on trunks, stones, and even the ground, ancient arcane symbols glowed almost imperceptibly. Like scars from the earth itself.
“Breaking this ridiculous thing, you can see the entire place is carved with sealing runes.” She held up the crystal, which glowed brightly as it captured the energy. “There are so many that the island itself is interfering with you. The more you fight, the more you wear yourself out.”
Kali roared, dodging the serpent’s jaws by a hair’s breadth. The creature’s rotten breath burned like acid. “THEN DO SOMETHING!”
Frieren smiled, sweet as a patient teacher.
“I’m already doing it. Hold the little worm there, I’m working on this.”
Kali’s head raced, but there was no time to argue. The serpent struck again, and the trio of warriors had to react.
Rogue launched herself into a feline sprint, her muscles working like springs. She tore through the monster’s side, climbing its scales as if scaling a wall. With a roar, she sank her claws into the serpent’s right eye.
The beast bellowed in fury, but didn’t stop.
Kali seized the opening and leaped, her axe spinning in demonic flames. She brought it down on the monster’s lower jaw, cracking a few teeth, but the impact sent waves of energy knocking her back.
“This isn’t over!” she hissed.
Xyn, in turn, let her entire body be engulfed in black flames. The phoenix’s aura surged, and for an instant the entire forest grew darker, as if night itself had risen. She charged straight for the serpent’s throat, screaming,
“BURN!”
The blade penetrated a few inches. Barely, but enough to elicit another deafening roar.
Meanwhile, Frieren didn’t lift a finger against the snake. Her eyes were half-closed, and the crystal glowed brighter. Distant runes began to slowly fade, as if extinguishing candles in succession.
But to the trio, this was invisible.
For them, there was only the brutal fight against a creature that seemed impossible to kill.
After a while, Frieren finally opened her eyes again. “Almost there.”
Kali spat blood on the ground, furious. “IF YOU DON’T FIX IT NOW, I’LL PUT THIS AX IN YOUR—”
And then it happened.
The runes extinguished all at once.
The sensation was instantaneous.
The energy surged back like a wave, coursing through the three warriors’ bodies. Rogue gasped, her claws flashing like newly forged steel blades. Kali felt the axe vibrate with pure demonic power, its aura expanding like a volcano about to erupt. Xyn raised the sword, and the black flame now burned so brightly it seemed capable of devouring the sky itself.
Frieren smiled. “There. No holds barred. Now, show this little worm who’s boss.”