The headless snake raises up, and a huge balloon starts to move from the orifice on the shell, from which the muscular neck sticks out.
I watch this with both amazement and disgust.
Backing away, I calculate where it could land if it will, to avoid it.
Is this thing charging for a shot? I wonder, while the ball moves through the neck steadily, like a clog in a clogged pipe.
*Gurgling* followed by disgusting sounds of mucus.
First, the mucus starts to spurt, then is followed by the orange juices.
Disgusting as it is, I wait patiently for what it will reveal.
Standing in a straddle to avoid losing my balance when it''s time to head out, I support myself with the sledgehammer. I am aware that fluid like that must’ve produced some sort of smell, but when I was inside, it was almost odorless.
Now, it smells like a ton of rotting corpses all at once and I almost barf.
*Blurp*
The sound could be me from the stench, but it’s the headless snake.
Spilling juices hit the ground, and a few droplets even hit me, I quickly cover my face.
Whatever these are, I’m not risking getting melted alive—or whatever else could happen. Rotten perfume is also not on the list of things I would like to have on my shirt.
A ball of meat and flesh is ejected from the neck, followed by a river of mucus and blood.
“Oh god!” I gulp and almost vomit.
Again.
The river of fluids fills the area and is heading towards Harald’s hummer.
“No! No. No. No. You stay there!” I start running towards the car.
If this shit hits the hummer from the side, soaking into the doors and all over the upholstery, we will never get rid of the smell.
Based on how he likes that car, Harald would kill me.
While planning how to get near it fast and turn it back on its wheels, something catches my eye in a second.
Something flashy is floating on top of the mucus river.
The forbidden river pours all over and starts to soak into the crevices and the disturbed soil. Lucky for me it almost completely avoids the car.
<hr>
*Rumbling* ended by the *Thud*
After the stream of vomit finishes and the ball of flesh is casually resting there on the ground, the neck smashes down and falls to the side.
I assume this to be the final twitch.
Now it''s my turn to flip the car and continue the attack, but before that, my eyes lock on the shiny target. A green emerald-shaped thing is floating on the top layer of the fluid.
Its color is more turquoise, unlike a single thing around here. Maybe it is a pebble? I wonder for a second.
The behemoth snail-snake twitches again, to my favor.
Its massive snail leg creates room underneath, where the rest of vomit fluid finds its way, saving my sneakers and feet from wading through a shallow layer of muck.
“Phew.”Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
One thing can be crossed off my to-do list now.
I can simply wait it out and finish the abomination when it''s all soaked in but the shiny emerald gets me in a hurry.
The emerald is not floating peacefully on top but speeding with the stream. Theoretically, I could do a few large steps quickly and reach for it, but the idea of my sneakers getting soaked with this is not allowing me to do it.
I look around for anything I could stick over my sneakers for protection, but this environment has zero plastic pollution. I can’t simply take some rotting plastic bag and do the trick.
The emerald green shard is speeding up and heading towards the crevice beneath the gigantic shell.
“Ah well, fuck that.”
I crouch, roll up my pants as high as possible, and charge for the jump.
Releasing a random small amount of Focus power to my hams and ass, I execute quite a fine jump.
*Fwoosh*
Flying through the air, I’m glad I calculated the jump correctly, I should land exactly where the shard will be.
*Squelch*
I land feet-deep into the substance.
For a quick check and assurance, I pull up my foot and check for any burn damage. It does not seem to be volatile like the acid that dissolves flesh in mere seconds, I keep my eye on the beautiful jewel the entire time.
“Here, here! Come to me!” I say almost like Gollum.
But I’m not even surprised why. The moment I landed and opened my eyes wider, I saw what a treasure this is.
A beautiful emerald pendant hemmed with black metal, with a ripped leather string hanging from the circular opening on top. It shines beautifully as the sun reflects off its surface.
My hand grabs it eagerly, yet carefully. Only two of my fingers get a drip.
Eager to try it on, I tackle the need and hide it in my inventory.
Looking around, I consider the best approach now—to charge my jump again and get back on the dry surface, up on the shell to continue attacking the boss, or wait until the liquid flows by me.
As I don’t move, I believe it won’t get in between my toes too thoroughly.
But by waiting it out, the chance of Harald and Astrid arriving increases, and maybe Mike too.
The boss is rightfully mine anyway—and the experience. I excuse my already-chosen decision.
The river of odiousness will finally settle and pass by in a few dozen seconds, by my humble estimation.
I know what I want the most now. Like a magpie charmed by a vivid treasure, I’m tying the knot on the leather string attached to the pendant.
My eyes are wide open as I believe that this might be an enchanted item, from the belly of the beast.
*Amulet fits perfectly around my neck*
I feel the energy burst from the bottom of my feet rising to the top of my dome, my hair is blown upwards, like a stream of compressed air released from beneath my feet.
I feel the stiffness all around my body.
Enormous itching.
Both of my hands are in claw positions, scratching myself all over—mostly my arms, shoulders, and forearms.
Exactly where most of my damage was taken from releasing and using my power.
I scratch them over and over in a chaotic manner, but it’s not irritating my skin.
Instead, it’s scraping off the mud and dirt that dried on me.
As the dirt is scraped off, the skin underneath is revealed to me. It’s not devastated despite it being overstretched a few moments ago.
A lot of scar tissue, but no more nasty-looking stretch marks that seemed ready to rip open at any moment.
Checking my status, a Grinch-like smirk slowly spreads across my face.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 36.6613%; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.466%">Markus Rain</td>
<td style="width: 33.466%">foreigner</td>
<td style="width: 33.1645%">level 64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.466%">Strength</td>
<td style="width: 33.466%">60</td>
<td style="width: 33.1645%">Focus [Bonus Skill]</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.466%">Agility</td>
<td style="width: 33.466%">3</td>
<td style="width: 33.1645%">no skill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.466%">Willpower</td>
<td style="width: 33.466%">4</td>
<td style="width: 33.1645%">no skill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 33.466%">Endurance</td>
<td style="width: 33.466%">20</td>
<td style="width: 33.1645%">no skill</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The level is unchanged, but my endurance is up by a whopping ten. Nothing can undo my day today!
Is this twice the OG endurance or simply +10?
Gotta find out soon!
I think to myself with bared teeth, but the law of unintended consequences steps into action.
My sight is caught by an unpleasant surprise.
The flesh ball that creature vomited is staring at me. Staring at me with both eyes wide open. One is a tiny monkey eye, and the other is a normal one.
It’s Mike.
Despite the fact that he’s dead and this is simply a corpse, this stare will stay with me for some time. Why can’t I enjoy a nice moment for once?
I sigh and start moving toward the next heart.
<hr>
I don’t know who is more thirsty—myself or my hammer.
Somehow I feel like I’m starting to create a bond with my hammer. Since the handle was changed to something that was alive, I find myself wondering what the hammer might be thinking.
This is not so far from the discussions—well, more likely it would be a monologue.
Raising my arms up, pumping my power, I observe my skin.
Power is released manually, and I control the flow with my mind and body. I can use definitely more than before! Which means the endurance buff works and the hammerhead is even heavier!
The following process is more or less straightforward:
Smashing the shell to the ground and shooting with the glock.
*Smash*
*Bang*
One done, five more to go.
<hr>
I repeat this process four more times, and it’s finally quiet down there.
Only the last heart awaits.
<hr>
"Boy!"
"What the fuck!"