The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

“That’s impossible. Even its eyes aren’t a weak point. What are you planning? It’d be better to flee right now….”

As the two were talking, the Blood Python seized the opportunity to attack Gillian.

Boom!

Gillian barely dodged the attack, and Ghislain shouted again.

“Hurry! Wound it more! If I’m alone, it’ll focus solely on me!”

Reluctantly, Gillian retreated to the back.

As soon as he did, the Blood Python turned its glowing eyes toward Ghislain, twisting its head.

Hissssss!

The Blood Python’s massive head shot toward Ghislain.

It didn’t even care about Gillian attacking its body and tail. It only occasionally flicked its tail to fend him off.

Now, moving faster than ever, the Blood Python lunged at Ghislain, intent on killing the one who had been pestering it.

Boom! Boom!

Ghislain dodged its attacks, waiting for a single opening.

Even attacking its weak eyes hadn’t worked; defeating the Blood Python seemed impossible at their current strength.

If Ghislain had reached the same level as in his past life, he could have sliced through its scales and body in an instant.

But for now, that level was far out of reach.

So, he had to use the methods available to him, even if it meant risking his life.

‘I really didn’t want to use this method… But there’s no other way!’

Boom! Boom!

Hissssss!

Ghislain focused solely on dodging, not even attempting to counterattack.

His mana was low, limiting his speed, but his skill had reached an extreme level, surpassing even that of a master.

Despite being attacked dozens of times, Ghislain repeatedly dodged with perfect precision, pushing the Blood Python’s patience to its limit.

No matter how intelligent it was, in the end, its instincts were those of a monster.

‘Come on.’

Ghislain narrowly evaded each attack, deliberately provoking the Blood Python.

Hissssss!

The Blood Python lunged at him, mouth wide open.

It was an instinctive, primal movement typical of monsters.

At that moment, Ghislain suddenly stopped moving.

He had no intention of dodging, simply watching its open mouth carefully.

From behind, Kaor, seeing Ghislain’s actions, shouted in shock.

“This… This madman! He really is insane!”

Belinda, who had been struggling to observe the battlefield with her fading vision, let out a helpless voice.

“Please… just run away….”

“Young Lord! You can’t!”

Gillian shouted in panic just as it happened.

Ghislain jumped straight into the Blood Python’s gaping mouth.

* * *

Ghislain felt the toxic fumes against his skin and grimaced, but a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.

As he had expected, the inside of the Blood Python’s mouth was filled with soft flesh, unlike its tough outer scales.

‘This should work.’

However, there was no room for relief just because the attack landed.

The poison leaking from the Blood Python’s fangs was steadily burning away Ghislain’s clothes even now.

This venom was potent enough to kill even giant monsters instantly. That was why the Blood Python could reign supreme over the other creatures in the notorious Forest of Beasts.

Ghislain could block the poison with mana for a brief moment, but it was only a temporary solution. He had to kill the beast quickly and get out.

Mana surged from his entire body as he activated his second and third mana cores.

At that moment, the Blood Python tried to swallow him, using its tongue and throat muscles.

“Ugh!”

As Ghislain was being sucked deeper into its throat, he concentrated his mana at the tip of his sword and drove it into the roof of the Blood Python’s mouth.

Thud!

Hissssss!

In sudden agony, the Blood Python reared its head and let out an ear-splitting scream.

As soon as Ghislain jumped in and attacked the snake’s head, Gillian, who had been luring the Blood Python with his own strikes, backed away as the beast twisted and thrashed, wildly flinging its tail.

It was a challenging situation since the raised head made it impossible to see inside its mouth.

But they couldn’t just stand there and watch.

Even if Ghislain died, they had to kill the Blood Python to have any chance of survival.

Thinking this was his opportunity, Gillian climbed onto the Blood Python’s body, working his way up toward its head.

With the creature flailing in pain, it was his best chance.

“You bastard! Spit out the Young Lord!”

Boom! Boom!

Gillian relentlessly slammed his mana-infused axe into the Blood Python’s head.

Its scales began to crack and splinter, leaving wounds on the beast.

The Blood Python, entirely focused on Ghislain inside its mouth, couldn’t avoid Gillian’s attack.

Once Gillian had positioned himself and landed several blows, even the tough scales couldn’t withstand the force.

Hissss!

The Blood Python flung its head backward and slammed it toward the ground, intending to crush Gillian, who was attached to it.

Thud!

The impact was so strong that the ground seemed to cave in, but Gillian escaped just before the collision.

This provided Ghislain with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As the snake flipped, it made it easier for him to drive his sword deeper into the roof of its mouth.

Before the Blood Python could recover, Ghislain locked himself into position and unleashed all his mana in one explosive burst.

The three cores whirled at incredible speed, pouring mana through his sword.

The mana erupted from the blade, exploding inside the Blood Python’s head.

Boom boom boom boom!

Hissssssss!

The Blood Python screamed again, its head snapping up in agony.

But Ghislain, hanging on to the roof of its mouth, continued to pour every ounce of mana he had into the beast.

Hissssss!

The Blood Python began thrashing wildly like an eel doused in salt, writhing and flailing its entire body in a frenzy.

Gillian and the mercenaries quickly retreated, watching the beast closely.

The Blood Python, seemingly in excruciating pain, repeatedly hurled itself onto the ground, rolling back and forth.

Boom! Boom!

As the relentless attacks from inside continued, venom began to spew from every one of its fangs.

The massive amount of poison threatened to dissolve everything inside its mouth.

Ghislain enveloped his body in mana, forming a barrier to prevent the venom from seeping in.

Ssssss!

The venom sizzled and evaporated as it made contact with the mana shield, producing a constant cloud of steam.

“Grrrgh!”

Now, it was a battle of endurance between Ghislain and the Blood Python—whoever could hold out longer.

Hissssss!

In a desperate attempt to dislodge Ghislain, the Blood Python began violently slamming its head into the ground.

Boom! Boom!

But Ghislain, with his sword firmly lodged into the soft roof of the beast’s mouth, didn’t budge no matter how much it shook.

Instead, as if resigned to die in this very spot, he squeezed out every last drop of his mana.

“Grrrrgh!”

A thin line of blood began to trickle from Ghislain’s lips.

With all three of his mana cores spinning at full capacity, his body, still not fully matured, struggled to keep up.

Sssssss!

Amid the thick, black poison clouds, dark red energy continuously surged from Ghislain’s sword.

Hissssss!

Seeing the familiar dark red smoke rising from the Blood Python’s mouth, the mercenaries’ faces tensed in fear.

All they could do now was anxiously wait, praying that the insane stunt their employer was pulling would succeed.

“Grrrgh!”

Unable to withstand the explosive power of all three cores, Ghislain’s muscles began to tear apart.

Little by little, the Blood Python’s venom was seeping into his body.

His hands trembled, and a pain as if being slashed by countless blades overtook him.

His face turned a sickly purple, and his body slowly started to go numb.

Having unleashed mana several times stronger than usual, there was no way his body could remain intact.

Crack!

After the muscles tore, it was the bones’ turn.

Unable to endure the strain of the over-accelerated mana cores, cracks began to form in his bones.

Yet even through the mind-numbing agony, Ghislain didn’t stop.

He continued to explode all his mana, even if it meant burning through his very lifespan.

If this continued much longer, his body would be utterly destroyed before the venom could even kill him.

“Arrrrrgh!”

Ghislain let out a roar, forcing himself to stay conscious.

‘If I lose consciousness here, it’s over.’

From the moment he took up the sword, he had never known an easy life. And he knew it would be no different in the future.

He only ever did his best, every moment, in the here and now.

Hissssss!

Finally, the Blood Python’s movements noticeably slowed.

It no longer slammed into the ground but merely staggered, swaying from side to side.

Ghislain knew the time had come for him to escape.

If he lost consciousness now, his body would either be swallowed down the Blood Python’s throat or dissolved by its venom.

As soon as the staggering Blood Python lowered its head, Ghislain let go of his sword and used the last of his strength to fling himself out of its mouth.

Thud!

Ghislain tumbled onto the ground, but he was too weak to move any further.

“Young Lord!”

Gillian ran toward Ghislain to help him up.

Sizzle!

“Argh!”

The moment Gillian touched him, his hand was scorched. The venom from the Blood Python was burning with intense heat, fueled by Ghislain’s mana.

Gillian had to channel all his mana into his hands just to move Ghislain away from the immediate danger.

As Ghislain lay on the ground, smoke continued to rise from his body.

The heat radiating from him was so intense that even the mercenaries nearby had to step back.

Even in his current state, Ghislain’s flickering eyes stayed fixed on the Blood Python.

Hissssss…

The Blood Python, with tears of blood flowing from its eyes, glared at Ghislain with venom-filled fury.

“Block it!”

“Protect our employer!”

“Don’t let it get near!”

The mercenaries raised their weapons again, positioning themselves between Ghislain and the Blood Python.

Hissssss…

Unlike before, the Blood Python’s movements were sluggish.

“Strike!”

At Gillian’s command, the mercenaries prepared to charge.

Thud!

Before they could act, the Blood Python collapsed right in front of them, unable to keep itself upright.

“Is… is it dead?”

“No, it’s still alive!”

“Let’s finish it off now!”

Kaor, raising his sword once more, shouted.

“It’s still spewing venom! Avoid the head and cut the body apart!”

The Blood Python lay on the ground, flicking its tongue and gasping for air.

It was still incredibly resilient, but no one seemed afraid anymore.

“Charge!”

With a war cry, the mercenaries rushed forward, relentlessly stabbing their weapons into the creature’s wounded body.

The Blood Python could only writhe feebly, incapable of mounting any kind of counterattack.

Watching this, Ghislain spoke in a weak voice.

“Thank goodness… it’s finally over…”

The mercenaries attacked the Blood Python with all their might.

Slash! Rip!

The beast’s body, which had occasionally twitched, was now nothing more than a torn, shredded mess.

Hisssss…

Blood sprayed from its gashes, and the wounds deepened and festered, leaving the creature in an unrecognizable state.

The Blood Python’s eyes, which had been glaring at Ghislain, slowly began to close.

The unrivaled ruler of this region feared for its immense strength, was at last defeated.

Hissss…

With a final, pitiful hiss, it took its last breath and died.