ALL NOVEL Chapter 107: Scaled Horror
The discussion over the validity of the beast was cut short as it whipped around, slamming both of its tails down towards the humans. Finn slid back, watching as the sewage splashed and the stone foundation of the tunnel was cracked beneath the studded whips.
Not even a second after it slammed its tails, the double-headed beast spun back around, rushing the intruders down. It snapped its jaws wildly without rhyme or reason, thrashing in the enclosed space.
The reptilian monstrosity was built like a powerlifter, possessing a body packed with muscle and scales that made cutting it a difficult endeavor. Finn and Charlotte found out at the same time as their blades bounced right off of its body–CLANG.
As his dagger was rejected, he found the beast still rushing right at him and the spellblade foremost, bringing him to duck down momentarily. It was blind in its wrath, not noticing his low movement–
["Orcish Boost"] [4:59]
He found himself naturally inclined to perform a movement he had never done, pivoting off his right foot and turning his hips with an intense momentum. Within perfect range of the rampaging, man-beast he launched his foot right against its abdomen with a roundhouse kick.
The impact of the executed move alongside his bolstered strength made the blow sound off like a gunshot, causing the shallow sewage to ripple before the beast was thrown back.
"Ah–" Finn reacted in surprise at his own attack.
"Woah, nice moves, mate!" Jasper complimented.
He watched the rampaging, double-headed reptile have to flip around to catch itself on its feet as drool left its mouths as having the air forced out of its lungs with that kick. Even after having performed the movement, Finn found himself in a front stance, though it felt natural.
'This must be the Taekwondo skill I gained…it's passive? I've never practiced it a day in my life, but it feels natural–it's weird,' he thought, feeling light and free in his stance.
All of that was put aside for the moment as the scaled inhabitant of the cesspit stomped towards him with rage fueling its crimson eyes. Again, Charlotte went for a strike against its side, though her sword simply bounced off, being promptly ignored by the man-beast as it pursued the assassin.
Jasper tried to intercept it, stepping in front of the reptile's path while raising his shield, though the hulking alligator stomped through the sewage without being slowed down, simply pushing the knight out of the way.
"Gah! It's after you, mate! I think you pissed it off!" Jasper called out as his back hit the tunnel wall.
Finn sprinted down the tunnel, hearing the narrow walls rumbling as the water splashed behind him, "Yeah, I can tell!" He shouted back.
He found himself quickly meeting a dead-end in the way he ran, having to spin himself around as he ended up isolating himself in that moment with just the alligator while his comrades caught up.
Just as he turned, the double-headed beast was right there, snapping its jaws at him. He ducked down as one set of teeth missed his head, having to roll to the left as the other head almost bit an ear off.
'It's aggressive—this thing isn't just trying to eat, it's really pissed off,' He realized.
It swung its claws at him in a rabid fashion, forcing him to bob-and-weave as he watched the razor-sharp nails pass by mere inches. Being stuck up close and personal, he noticed the spot he kicked it was left with cracked scales and bruising.
Finding that spot, he ducked beneath a swipe at his head, pushing off his right foot–
["Spring Foot"] [0:59]
The rabbit-obtained ability made him launch forward with incredible momentum, leading him to naturally lift his knee as he struck the cracked abdomen of the alligator. Once more, the martial arts proved capable of flinging the beast back as it spat out.
"Woah!--" Jasper let out, having to move to the side while trying to catch up as the monstrosity slid right past him.
Finn shouted to his comrades that were within the enraged beast's range, "Its stomach! Focus on its stomach–it's hurt there!"
The advice was aided by the bard, who conjured her magical microphone to her lips, "—Exploit the wounded soul, strike and strike harder!"
["Kiss of Critical Power"]
From the singsong lyrics coming off the mic, a glistening aura of silver fashioned itself around each of them.
[Critical Strike: +200%]
'A crit boost? I see—every hit on that abdomen will count,' he discovered, rushing in.
Jasper led the assault, dashing forward with his shield forward as the alligator tried lunging with its jaws.
["Flash Joust"]
The strike of the flat metal hit the abdomen of the beast, bringing it to reel in pain as it staggered.
Charlotte brought an flicker of lightning across her blade before slashing it at the shattered scales—
["Electric Infusion"]
A crackle of lightning struck the beast's stomach, bringing both of its mouths to spit out blood. Each hit the beast received to its bruised gut was felt twofold, producing an effect akin to launching a "critical hit" in a game.
Just as it stumbled, Finn found his opening as the path was clear—
["Blink Slash"] [2:59]
He appeared right in front of him, driving his dagger right its gut before pulling his blade back out swiftly. The humanoid reptile attempted to recover, wildly swiping its arms at the assassin.
Finn slid back on the shallow sewage, ducking down before flipping back just as he heard a familiar "click."
From his left side, a flash of fire was followed by a heavy spark.
Magnus slid back a solid meter from the aftershock of letting the weapon release, "—Hff!"
A cannonball was launched right at the exposed abdomen of the reptile, striking with such critical force that it drove a hole right through its back. It swayed for a moment as its double tails slumped with a splash into the murky waters before it finally collapsed.
["Albino Double-Headed Alligator defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x1000 obtained."]
[Experience Points: +15500] [16005/60000]
[Ability assimilated from [Albino Double-Headed Alligator]: "Skin Hardening" 1 / 5]
"Haah…I'm not a fan of those things," Jasper remarked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
"Yeah, I hope that's not a common denizen of these sewers," Finn said in agreement, lightly tapping the unmoving body of the alligator with his boot.