Chapter 1453 – Frog (snake) in the Well

You want to get into a spell-war with me, snake? Then prepare to be crushed! Literally!

As well as figuratively!

I keep snapping new shields into existence just as fast as they get eaten away, all the while building and weaving the dense mana necessary for the well. Naturally, the snake is just as capable of sensing mana as I am. Since it already detected my first bomb, it can tell that something big is coming its way. It too begins to weave, drawing out even more mana from within its massive body, but although it seems to have evolved along the path of a mage, the difference between us soon becomes apparent.

You can’t whip together a spell as quickly as I can, you slippery serpent! Prepare to eat the force of an empowered gravity well!

All the energy contained within the Altar rushes out in a great tide as the spell snaps into place. Able to manipulate the incredible force of the well with my will alone, I pour every ounce of power within it to crush the snake against the ground.

Stone cracks, pillars crumple and the snake screeches in pain as it is smashed into the ground, its head pressed against the tunnel floor by the force.

Gweheheheh! How do you like it, snake? You can’t steal this technique!

Sensing its vulnerability and surprise, I choose to go aggressive and leap down towards the foe. It’s risky to get this close to a powerful enemy, but I have more cards up my carapace I can play if things go south.

As I fall, I turn and unleash the full fury of my business conglomerate. The spray of potent acid covers the flattened snake and begins to eat away at it. I haven’t been using my acid much in the fifth because the creatures here practically swim in the stuff for fun. Most of them are covered in slime that protects them from it, or have flesh that is resistant.

Despite all the investments I’ve poured into my acid producing capabilities, this is the worst possible stratum to use them in.

As expected, the slime covering the snake begins to bubble and steam the moment my acid touches it, counteracting the burn before it even has a chance to start propagating itself.

Damn this stratum! On top of everything else, they refuse to partake of the finest goods I can produce! It’s rude! Rude, I say!

Pressed down by the power of the well, the snake continues to weave its mana as I plummet down to engage in close combat. Writhing and hissing in fury, it’s doing its best to try and move, but at best, it’s only able to slither a little bit. The time is right to apply the mandibles!

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My jaws flex as I draw closer to the beast, but I’m wary of whatever spell it’s cooking up, so I remain cautious even as I go in for the strike. The well is continuing to exert its power, causing the rock beneath the snake to shift and crack as it continues to be crushed.

I land with tremendous force that my legs absorb, leaving me trembling for a moment as I regain my balance. This snake really is big. It must be a hundred metres long if it’s an inch, perhaps even more. Its body must be several metres thick at its thinnest to boot. This is a chonky boi, is what I’m saying. Despite its prowess with spells, there must be a formidable amount of muscle within that frame, there has to be.

Right now, with the well in place, the creature is at my mercy, so I dash forward, jaws wide and ready.