BXBX NOVEL Chapter 187 Blind Predator
As I ventured further into the island, the eerie atmosphere enveloped me like a shroud. The shifting dance of shadows seemed to intensify, making every step feel like a cautious dance between light and darkness.
The ground beneath my feet was a mixture of muddy soil and strange ashes as if the island had recently witnessed a fiery disaster.
Lifting my eyes from the strange ground, I gazed toward the village.
Buildings stood in varying states of disrepair, some partially collapsed and others barely clinging to their original structure. The architecture was a blend of quaint charm and foreboding decay, the village's former vibrancy was now reduced to an unsettling silence.
It was almost unbelievable that just a few months ago this place had been teeming with life and laughter.
"All because of a Dungeon..."
I observed the crumbled remnants of what once was a bustling marketplace, imagining the vibrant colors and lively chatter that once filled the air.
Slowly, I was approaching the first buildings of the village.
However, just as I was about to take a step forward, a gust of wind whipped through the deserted streets, causing the abandoned shutters to creak and groan.
It was a scene straight out of a horror movie, where every creak and rustle held the promise of something lurking in the shadows.
Well, in this case, there was definitely something lurking in the shadows...
More Shadows.
I could feel their obsidian eyes gazing at me from the darkness, their presence palpable and sinister.
It felt as if they would leap at me at any moment, devouring me whole.
"..."
Observing their ethereal forms and the menacing way they twisted and shifted, I grinned.
"Wait until I get the Mana Art..."
I muttered under my breath, placing my feet on the dusty cobblestone path.
Tap...
The sound of my footsteps echoed through the empty streets, creating an eerie symphony with the creaking shutters and whispering winds.
Slowly, I took another step forward and soon, another one.
The echo of my footsteps seemed to cede to the haunting silence that engulfed the village.
The flock of Shadows was also following behind me, their invasive presence growing stronger with each passing second.
I didn't want to fight these creatures but if they were to threaten me, I would not hesitate to unleash my power and protect myself.
Hiss...
Suddenly, a serpentine hiss cut through the stillness, sending a shiver down my spine.
Tilting my head to the side, I saw another Shadow Anaconda coiling itself around the decaying pillars of an old church.
This creature was twice the size of the one I fought previously and its obsidian scales seemed to absorb all light around it.
I could tell that this monster held strength similar to the Shadow Kraken that I had encountered yesterday.
"..."
Observing its menacing form I noticed a peculiar detail in its face, specifically its eyes.
The irises of the Shadow Anaconda's eyes were blank and hollow, some would even call it silver pools of darkness.
It was blind.
Perceiving it from a distance, I momentarily froze in my tracks, simply analyzing the situation before me.
I was no dumbass.
Even if the Shadow was blind, it didn't diminish the danger it posed in any way.
I could even argue that this made it even more dangerous and treacherous since most would underestimate its capabilities due to its lack of sight.
However, since it had lost its sight, the Shadow's other senses had heightened to compensate.
To grow to such monstrous proportions without the aid of sight, the Shadow Anaconda must have devoured a lot of beings and I mean A LOT.
Probably more than a few hundred, if I had to guess.
The fact that it was blind meant that it also fought quite a lot to survive and dominate in the area and lost its sight in one of the battles.
It was a monster that had survived and thrived in the darkness, adapting to its surroundings and mastering its other senses.
"..."
I slowly lowered myself down, crouching to the ground, as I assessed my options for handling the situation.
I didn't need to waste any unnecessary energy on battling the blind Shadow Anaconda.
All I needed was to find this Shadow Dungeon and enter it.
Fighting every single Shadow I found along the way would be a futile and exhausting endeavor.
Stupid as well, hence I decided to take a different approach.
Whoosh...
Picking up a pebble from the ground, I carefully tossed it towards the blind Shadow Anaconda, hoping to divert its attention and create a window of opportunity for me to slip past unnoticed.
Thud...
The sound of the pebble landing on the ground echoed through the area, making the air tense with anticipation.
Hiss...
In response to the disturbance, the blind Shadow Anaconda's head jerked in the direction of the sound, its forked tongue flicking out to taste the air.
Its massive body began to shift, the muscles tensing as it prepared to strike at any potential threat.
The massive snake slowly uncoiled itself from its resting position, its body elongating as it slithered toward the source of the sound.
As the blind Shadow Anaconda approached the spot where the pebble had landed, I carefully maneuvered myself in the opposite direction, ensuring that I remained out of its immediate path.
"..."
The moment of tension hung in the air as I held my breath, trying to mask any sound or movement that would give away my presence.
The snake was approaching my location and I quickly held my breath, watching as it slithered past me.
Hiss...
I could see its forked tongue flicking out inquisitively, searching for any sign of the disturbance that had caught its attention.
My body involuntarily tensed as its massive form slithered just a few inches away from me, its scales brushing against my leg.
"..."
At that moment, I felt the world closing in around me, the weight of the snake's presence threatening to envelop me in darkness.
However, the very next second when the contact was broken as the blind Shadow Anaconda continued on its path, I let out a sigh of relief.
'It's time to leave the scene...'
Slowly rising to my feet, I silently slipped away from the area, careful to maintain stealth and avoid drawing any further attention from the Shadows.
Thud...
However, suddenly, at the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of movement on the roof above.
Crack...
A sudden crack echoed through the air as I turned my head to see a piece of loose tile falling towards me.
The moment seemed to freeze as the tile hurtled towards me, my mind racing to find a solution to avoid being struck.
Thud...
Instinctively, I leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the falling tile as it crashed onto the ground beside me.
For a moment I sighed in relief, grateful to have escaped one danger only to be faced with another.
However, the very next second I paled, all color draining from my face.
Hiss...
The hiss cut through the air again, more menacing this time. I turned to see the massive snake coiling and shifting, its direction changing as it homed in on me.
Without a moment's hesitation, I dashed away, my footsteps echoing loudly in the now-empty streets. My mind raced to find a path, any path, that would lead me away from this relentless predator.
As I sprinted, I glanced behind me to see the blind Shadow Anaconda in pursuit. Its scales seemed to absorb whatever light remained, making it look like a living void as it slithered through the village.
Boom...
The village's eerie silence was shattered by the thundering sound of destruction. With a deafening crash, the blind Shadow Anaconda crashed through one of the decaying buildings, its massive form obliterating the structure.
Debris and rubble flew in all directions, filling the air with a chaotic storm of destruction.
I veered to the side, narrowly avoiding a spray of shattered wood and stone. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the danger I was in. The ground beneath me was no longer stable; the massive serpent's movements had caused the ground to tremble, and cracks began to spiderweb through the cobblestone paths.
I needed to lose this creature, but every step I took seemed to echo like a drumbeat, guiding the anaconda toward me. I made a quick decision and dashed into one of the partially collapsed buildings, hoping that the wreckage would provide enough cover to confuse the blind predator.
The air was thick with dust and debris as I navigated the dark interior. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the walls, creating shafts of light that illuminated the swirling particles in the air. I moved carefully, my senses alert for any sign of movement.
Crash...
The sound was deafening as the blind Shadow Anaconda crashed through another building nearby. The force of its impact sent shockwaves through the ground, making the building I was in groan and shudder.
I held my breath, my back pressed against a wall as I watched through a cracked window. The massive serpent's form slithered past, its blind eyes flicking side to side as it tried to locate me.
It hissed and coiled, its scales scraping against the debris-strewn ground.
This was my chance. With the creature momentarily distracted, I slipped out of the building, my feet carrying me as silently as possible across the uneven terrain. I could hear the blind Shadow Anaconda's hissing growing more distant, and I dared to hope that I might have finally managed to evade it.
But then, an ominous rumbling filled the air, growing louder and more intense with each passing second. I risked a glance behind me and my heart sank as I saw the massive serpent bursting out of the building it had crashed into. Its rampage was unchecked now, its movements wild and destructive.
I sprinted harder, my lungs burning as I pushed myself to my limits. I weaved through the crumbling village, my surroundings a chaotic blur as I desperately sought a way out. The ground shook beneath me, and I risked another look back to see the blind Shadow Anaconda crashing through buildings, destroying their foundations with each powerful strike.
The once-quiet village was now a scene of devastation, with debris flying through the air and dust clouding the sky. The blind serpent's pursuit was relentless, and I knew that I had to find a solution – and quickly.
"What a shitty fucking snake!"