Chapter 445 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [33] Red Viper King

Chapter 445 [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [33] Red Viper King

"So, you are the Viper King?" Alvara spoke coldly, her golden eyes narrowing as they locked onto the massive creature before her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It had taken her considerable time and effort to locate the beast. The Viper King was not easy to find, hidden deep within the dangerous 10th Zone. Alvara had begun by slaying the first simple Red Vipers she encountered—its crimson scales slick with blood—then using her innate connection to nature, she ordered her plants to trace the scent of the viper's blood through the dense undergrowth. The further she walked into the Zone, the more intense the scent became, until it led her to this concealed pit, deep underground.

The entrance had been cunningly disguised, blending into the surrounding grassy landscape. A careless wanderer would have easily been fooled, stepping right into the trap. It was a place designed to deceive and kill. Even with her Life-Screen that could shield her from fatal strikes—Alvara knew that this place was still fraught with danger. One wrong step, and it could be the end.

Harvey had warned her about the dangers of the 10th Zone. That was why he had forbidden anyone from venturing this far just in case. The students were never meant to pass beyond the 8th Zone, and for good reason. Harvey had stationed staff nearby, ready to intervene should anything go wrong. But now, none of them were awake to help... and perhaps, none of them were alive at all after Behemoth's intrusion.

Alvara stood in the dim, expansive pit. Beside her, the unconscious figure of Amael floated in mid-air, held aloft by thick vines that curled around his body. He hung limply, poisoned, his breath shallow and labored. Her gaze returned to the creature in front of her. The Red Viper King.

A four-meter-tall serpent, its body covered in blood-red scales that shimmered like molten metal under the dim light of the underground cavern. Its eyes, large and reptilian, gleamed with a predatory hunger, the same deep shade of red as its scales. Around its thick body, dozens of smaller serpents slithered and writhed, seemingly born from its own flesh—living, pulsating tendrils that grew from the monstrous viper.

The Viper King hissed, a low, bone-chilling sound that reverberated through the cavern. It slithered closer, its massive body wriggling, though its gaze never left Alvara. To the beast, she was prey—fresh, vulnerable, and within striking distance. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and it sensed something more. Behind her was another human, already dying, his life slowly being drained away by the venom of the Viper King's children. The faint scent of poison clung to Amael, and the creature's lips curled into what could only be described as a grotesque approximation of a smile. This would be easy.

But Alvara remained unfazed. Her expression did not change, her golden eyes devoid of fear. She observed the Viper King with cold detachment, sizing it up. It was no ordinary creature, that much was clear. This was a Hybrid Beast and judging by its size and the mana it exuded, its rank was likely somewhere between 7☆ and 8☆ so it was Chaos Beast.

The smallest of the Red Vipers hissed in unison, their slithering bodies twisting and writhing along the walls and ceiling around Alvara. Even those behind her, still hidden in the shadows, began to emerge, drawn by the scent of fresh meat. Much like their father, the Viper King, they were eager to sink their fangs into her flesh.

The creeping sounds of the snakes filled the air, echoing off the stone walls of the pit, but Alvara barely acknowledged them. Her focus remained upon the enormous creature before her.

"I'll give you a chance, disgusting beast," Alvara spat, her voice dripping with contempt that could have rattled even the gentlest of creatures. Her golden eyes glimmered with disdain, piercing through the Viper King with a look that would drive any lesser being into submission. She lifted her hand and pointed a slender finger directly at the monstrous snake.

"Lower your filthy head," she ordered, "and perhaps I will grant you a swift death."

The Red Viper King moved with terrifying speed, its enormous body slicing through the air as it lunged toward Alvara, its crimson scales shimmering with lethal intent. Despite its size, the beast moved almost like lightning, closing the distance with frightening precision.

But Alvara was no ordinary prey. With a graceful leap, she dodged the initial attack, her form flying through the air. The Viper King, however, wasn't finished. It raised its massive head and, with a furious hiss, spat another stream of venom directly toward her. The dark liquid hissed as it cut through the air, too fast for her to evade while airborne.

Instinctively, Alvara threw her hand toward her yellow plant, her fingers crackling with energy. The Sarracenia Flava responded instantly, one of its thick, sinewy vines shooting up from the ground and coiling tightly around her waist. The vine yanked her downward just before the venom could reach her, cushioning her descent and ensuring she landed safely.

"Dionaea!" Alvara summoned as her feet touched the ground.

A massive mana circle flared into existence beneath her, glowing with vibrant energy. From the circle, another colossal carnivorous plant materialized—a monstrous creation, its maw lined with jagged, thorny teeth that dripped with sap. Inside its gaping mouth, a sphere of condensed green Prana began to form, growing larger by the second.

"Let's see how your cursed scales handle this," she spat, her golden eyes glinting.

-BOOOOM!

The sphere released a devastating ray of pure Prana, slicing through the air like a beam of concentrated power. The ray tore through the smaller vipers in the vicinity, turning them into smoldering shreds of flesh, before slamming directly into the Viper King with a deafening explosion. The sheer force of the attack sent the beast hurtling backward, its massive body crashing into the stone wall.

As the dust and debris settled, Alvara's eyes locked onto the Viper King. A massive, gaping wound marred its once-impenetrable scales, a smoking crater etched deep into its side. Yet, despite the damage, the beast continued to writhe and hiss in agony. Its hatred for her burned brighter than ever.

The Viper King's entire body began to glow an ominous red, pulsating with mana. Alvara's eyes narrowed as she sensed the mana around the creature shifting, concentrating rapidly toward its throat. Whatever it was preparing, it was dangerous.

Not wasting a second, Alvara raised her hand, summoning another layered mana circle. This time, she formed a Triple Layered Mana Shield in front of her, each layer gleaming with mana and Ruah. She could feel the pressure building as the Viper King's attack neared completion.

But even with her preparation, it wasn't fast enough.

-BOOOOM!