Chapter 165-3

Chapter 165-3

[Part 3/4]

(Pitiful bird, aren't you? Do you not think so, monkey mimic?)

The snake, who had been observing our humiliation and disgrace, turned to me and inquired. The words from the source of all this were nothing short of arrogant and patronizing.

"You damn snake, treating this as entertainment...!!"

(It's quite amusing. If you have achievements, I'd gladly accept them. Unlike that half-baked bird, it seems you have some backbone, don't you?)

With haughty arrogance, the snake accepts my hostility, maintaining its god-like superiority.

"I've always wondered... Do you know about me? Who told you?"

(How uncouth. You are speaking to me now. Bringing up others is not appropriate. You should be more careful in the future.)

"What's next...!!?"

With Kaede in my arms, I brandish the Tant. It's a desperate gamble. The snake looks down on it and sneers openly.

(...Hmm. It seems you're planning something? Then show me quickly. Oh, I haven't seen your true face under that skin yet, have I? Or is it that? Well, hurry up.)

"You damn...!!"

The female Tengu I hold curses vehemently at the snake's words. She glares at it with sharp eyes, but that's all she can do. She has no more strength left in her body. Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

(I have no use for you. Disappear... What's wrong, monkey mimic? Aren't you going to do something?)

"Hah. Who said... I'd just blindly follow orders? Do you even have proof that you're real? I'm not going to deal with another discarded shell!"

At my retort, the snake sneered again. Its mouth twisted unnaturally, wrinkling, drying up, withering away.

...Far behind, the snake lurking beneath the surface of the water reveals itself.

A golden light overflowing from its mouth.

"Oh, just as I suspected?"

(Perfect. If you're not going to hold back, I'll cut through that trump card right now...!!)

The response to my provocation and accusations was light. It was a beam of destruction on the same scale as the one that pierced the mountain earlier, or even surpassing it. The heat beam of destruction approaching head-on...!!

"Kaede...!!"

I called out the name of the Tengu next to me. I held her protectively. My field of vision was filled with light, consumed by it. And then, and then, and then....

It was on par with a spiritual explosion.

Concentrating and condensing the divine energy within its abdomen, the snake channels it into a powerful torrent of force, using its own colossal body as the barrel to accelerate and launch it. This simple yet immensely destructive technique surpasses complex curses and abilities, delivering destruction on a grand scale. In ancient times, this technique was feared for its irrational power, as it was unleashed from the eight jaws, forming a barrage that could easily slay even gods. Indeed, it was this divine feat that defeated the Forest Dragon in ages past.

...Now, its neck is only an eighth of its former size, and the divine energy itself, along with the organs that compress it, are similarly diminished. It may now possess only a fraction of the firepower it once did.

With a tremendous roar, the great snake spewed forth. Like a muddy stream, it expelled everything. Everything it had contained in its belly. Everything.

With a fierce scent of alcohol...

* * *

The plan was based on sacrifice.

Killing the great snake from the outside was almost impossible. Due to its authority, attack methods were limited. Due to its massive body, inflicting a fatal wound was extremely difficult.

So, I sought a solution from predecessors. From two legends, I constructed a strategy to conquer the snake.

One is the legend of slaying the snake, not the creature itself but the famous eight-branched snake, the Yamata no Orochi. It dates back before the founding of Fus-kuni and involves intoxicating the snake with alcohol.

Another one is the legend of Issun-bshi, which is based on a story of a giant killer.

The two legends were compared because they had similar characteristics and required similar elements to create a similar situation.

What was needed in the end was resolve, not mine, but the resolve of my partner in this battle. It was almost like a wish for suicide. Even if she survived, she would definitely lose something important. The day before starting this journey, I confirmed this. I confirmed it and got a willing agreement.

It was a story that had been told before. A battle together. From the beginning, the possibility of survival was very low. Considering that, the necessary sacrifice was much cheaper. Above all...

"Are you going to teach that darn snake a lesson? Then, isn't losing one side a cheap price to pay?"

With a gleeful and sadistic smile, the Tengu's words revealed the deep-seated grudge against the snake.

"The problem is... gulp. !!? Whether this can hold... uh, that's the question, you know!?"

In the darkness, tossed around in a muddy stream, I shouted for breath. The smell of alcohol and the stench of life. I was swallowed by a mixture of lots of alcohol, hot water, and stomach fluids as I flowed along. Slamming my whole body against the fleshy walls, I was pushed along.

"Kaede, cough, are you okay!?"

"I'm not okay at all, obviously! cough!"

Even Tengu, already in critical condition, shouted. But shouting didn't help. My whole body was slammed against the same fleshy walls. Drowning, being carried away.

"Huff, huff... I can't breathe! Damn it!"

Drowning. Drowning. Drowning. My body couldn't move freely. Of course not. Inaba-hime's power was null at the moment. Her power wouldn't activate unless it she sees it.

Water in my lungs. Crap! Losing consciousness in this place... What a stupid way to die!

"Monkey, open your mouth!"

"Ah, Gghhh...!"

Kaede's face was right in front of my eyes and nose. My instant confusion turned into shock right away.

Our lips meet roughly. My tongue is pushed aside. But I know instantly her intention.

It's mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. No, it's more like oxygen circulation. Circulatory breathing. There's no time for me to say it. Indeed, there's no other choice. I quickly send my breath into the other person's mouth. A warm breath sent back. I inhale it with all my might, taking in oxygen, then exhale it towards her mouth.