Chapter 550: Chapter 279: Serpent Eyes, Husk, “Me
“Skill Level +1”
As the translucent characters flashed before his eyes, the ochre-red glow that had already been accumulating on the gray sword’s body since his hand grasped the hilt suddenly brightened.
The Beheading Longsword thrust directly into the long snake’s throat was instantly engulfed by a burst of force field energy that exploded like fireworks.
Ignoring physical defense.
From inside to outside, bones, muscles, scales, skin… the body that could easily withstand a fully-powered strike from a Professional Level fighter, under the impact of this ochre-red force field energy burst, had no resistance whatsoever.
It was like a time bomb placed deep in its throat; the powerful shock shattered the vertebrae into pulverized dust, with pus and fragmented flesh exploding around.
Boom—
The corpse that was impaled by the longsword and stood at the spot stiffened once more, reverting in the blink of an eye to the headless mangled form it had been seconds earlier.
At the same time, Xia Nan’s right hand sustained pressure on the wooden sword, and with a twist of his wrist, the snake heads that were tightly biting his arms were cut off, twitching and writhing as they fell to the ground.
Bearing the intense pain in his shoulder, he learned from his previous mistake: even though the four long snakes protruding from the corpse’s body had been severed, he did not withdraw the sword.
“Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!”
The black wooden sword, surrounded by crimson flames, swung continuously through the air, accompanied by the sound of sharp edges tearing flesh and flames scorching it. The dry corpse’s already more mutilated slender body post-transformation quickly turned into a heap of indistinguishable charred body parts.
The transformation into a “second phase” by the monster seemingly left Xia Nan with lingering fears, and this process lasted several minutes.
Only when every piece of flesh on the ground was pierced and burned did the flame flow on the Green Pine sword’s surface gradually dissipate, leaving just a faint warmth in the surrounding mist.
Only then did he stop and catch his breath.
“If there’s still a third phase… no, that shouldn’t be.”
His gaze swept across the wooden sword back in its normal state in his hand, and Xia Nan stepped back two paces, thinking this way.
On his right shoulder, the green natural energy of “Spring Vein Purification” flowed continuously, quickly healing the wound amidst waves of pain.
His decision had been very successful. The Fourth Ring Healing Spell from the Spring Breath Tear necklace, which can only be used once every seven days, doesn’t restore strength instantly; its healing is a continuous process.
So even though the two snake bites on his shoulder initially dealt serious damage enough to impede normal arm movement, as soon as the snake heads were severed by the Flame Sword and turned to char, “Spring Vein Purification” kept working.
The deadly toxin, which should have spread throughout the body with blood flow, was transformed into a rising mist by natural energy, forced out of the body, as granulation around the torn and pierced flesh wriggled and fused.
In just a few seconds, the once gruesome, bloody wound on Xia Nan’s right shoulder vanished, replaced by smooth, undamaged skin with only the surface clothing torn but no other abnormalities.
Not even considered a minor injury, apart from a slightly exhausted mind, his body was almost back in peak condition.
For Xia Nan, the recent encounter with the Snake Scale Corpse was undoubtedly the most intense battle he’s had in recent times.
Only one card, the Destiny Coin, remained unused from his reserves, with everything else already deployed.
Facing the enemy’s exaggerated physical stature and peculiar abilities, he nearly used everything he currently possessed, combining specialty, battle skill, equipment, and personal experience and intuition to the fullest extent, ultimately achieving victory.
And the price paid…
Excluding some charging times for battle skills and equipment, and a Kerosene Bomb used for testing.
It was the Good equipment “Plate Chain Composite Armor,” crafted from Maran Pattern Steel at the Rock Hammer Blacksmith Shop, and…
Quietly sheathing the Green Pine wooden sword, Xia Nan looked at the Beheading Longsword held in his left hand.
With mixed feelings of regret, contemplation, and sighs, his face showed an extremely complex expression.
Though it inherently has an outstanding “50% Durability Bonus,” in the end, it’s just an ordinary White grade weapon.
It was this old comrade from when Xia Nan first crossed over, accompanying him through hundreds of days and nights, the origin of his adventurer title, a more reliable companion than any teammate.
Made its final contribution in a critical, life-threatening battle of equal measure.
With its ordinary white frame, it braved enough corrosive green venom that could fuse steel, piercing into the long snake’s throat, earning a slim chance of survival.
Now, the enemy has been completely vanquished.
But the originally smooth and resilient iron-gray surface of the Beheading Longsword was left with numerous large and small corroded pits.
In high-level, high-frequency, high-pace combat, any small flaw can be infinitely amplified, especially in a main weapon requiring extended use.
The Beheading Longsword seems to have reached the moment to leave the team.
At this moment, Xia Nan’s mood was worse than on that night in his previous life when he was separated from his first love.
Inhale, exhale… inhale, exhale…
He just stood there for a long time, not recovering.
His fingertips lightly brushed the sword’s surface, carefully feeling the warm and cool depth reaching beneath his skin.
With a deep expression.
He cautiously and solemnly returned the Beheading Longsword to the sword sheath on his back.
As his most reliable comrade, Xia Nan would never leave it behind just because it temporarily lost the ability to continue fighting.