That might not be the same serpent. Though it’s using venom as well.

  The serpent slapped one of the seals trying to grab onto its tail and bit down on another that tried to reach its neck. The seal dodged down and the fangs missed.

  Henry wondered if the seal coat would have stopped them.

  The serpent wasn’t much longer than the one he’d seen before, but it was definitely larger in circumference. Its spines were sharper. Its scales had a vibrant jade-like sheen to them. The serpent opened a fanged maw and spat out a green ray which dyed the water it shot through a baleful green that slowly spread out like smoke.

  The two seals swam out of the affected water, unharmed. The coating Skill was pretty effective against the serpent.

  Henry eyed the spines of the green reptile–was it even a reptile? It definitely looked like one.

  I wonder if those spines are venomous as well.

  Henry eyed the creature and how well the seal were holding up against it.

  If the seals are not dying in droves, I’ve got a good shot. It’d be a guaranteed Evolutionary Point considering the difference in levels.

  The serpent screeched at the dozen seals surrounding it. Henry looked at his interface, and at his class, then back at the monster.

  It’s a dangerous creature. And what if it’s intelligent? Would I kill it for its tokens if it were?

  Henry watched the fight rage on from his flat gravely seat. It was time to spend some tokens.

  Telekinesis’ targeting upgrade is possible, but I don’t think that would make much of a difference here. And I feel like trying to stop the serpent would give me an aneurysm. Next, upgrading Hoard Vitals is not guaranteed to matter, considering the charges have been created, but it’s worth testing. For the rest, I could get a bunch of stats. I could get plenty.

  Right now, once he converted all the cores he had, he’d be at 98 E-tokens, give or take. That should be enough to get every E-token available or at least, most of them.

  They could also go in levels… I bet I’d get a bunch of stats with that option as well.

  That might be the most efficient choice, but as he had decided previously, the huge level difference would pay off when he got to his next evolution. The level difference would net him at least one extra achievement. On the other hand, the class levels weren’t going anywhere. Hell, he’d get them and more by consuming the serpent’s core. That thing would most certainly have extra stats on top of the levels.

  Well, Constitution hasn’t failed me yet. More points invested there won’t hurt.

  Henry exhaled, hoping to calm the sense of trepidation that jolted through his nerves. The fight ahead continued to rage, but he wasn’t in a rush. He would go after whoever survived. It was ruthless and opportunistic, but he wasn’t going to turn his nose up at a free buffet.

  Henry started by getting the efficiency upgrade to Hoard Vitals. His body buzzed, and while it did, he turned his attention to his stats, specifically, by getting every last point he had available in Constitution, Strength, and Spirit. Then he finished up with two points each in Dexterity and Perception.

  Henry confirmed the purchase. Then he realized his mistake; the lights might give him away. He thought about it for a moment, then mentally shrugged. It was too late anyway.

  Plus I’m about to throw my hat in the ring. It shouldn’t matter if they think someone else is around.

  A few seals turned toward the coalescing lights, and Henry noticed the serpent glancing his way as well, but all they could see was a large boulder that seemed to be attracting lights for some reason. After a couple of seconds they turned back on each other.

  Henry watched as he waited for the changes to fully take effect. Then, because he knew how dangerous what he was attempting was, Henry decided to invest one of his Evolutionary points in Toxin Resistance. The option had been made available in his trait upgrades, and considering what he was facing, it seemed prudent.

  Can’t be safe enough. Especially with something a rank above my own. Now let’s the stats…

  Strength: 17

  Constitution: 23

  Spirit: 19

  Perception: 16

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  Dexterity: 13

  Minute went by, and the seals grew less interested in the fight. A few were hovering further and further away, and with every seal that died or got seriously injured, their hesitation to attack became apparent. The ones who got hit by the ray attacks had convulsed, their defense overloaded, while those touched by the toxic runoff had lost their luster and were forced to wait further away until their skill recovered.

  The battle was about to end, and the serpent was winning. It was in control, balefully glaring down at the seals as if they were merely gnats that dared stand in its presence.

  It’s strong. But it can’t have unlimited mana. I doubt that’s even possible.

  Henry eyed it. He wanted the skill levels he’d get from such a battle. He wanted its core because he knew it would be a launchpad, rocketing his abilities higher and pushing him closer toward his goal of eventually finding civilization. Henry loved oceans, but he also liked to have a warm meal and sleep in a comfortable bed at the end of the day.

  He wanted the achievement of besting such a monster–and this time, the term applied. It was a monster out of maritime legends.

  Still. Even though Henry wanted the levels, there was one details he wanted to make sure of. A hiccup he needed to confirm. What if the creature was intelligent? What if it was merely defending itself? The two times he had met this serpent–if it was the same specimen–it had been mostly responding to hostilities.

  The seals were fully feral. They attacked first and even earlier, when Henry had tried to speak when they’d been swarming him, it didn’t do anything. But he’d give the serpent a chance. If it was intelligent enough to communicate or understand him, he’d leave it be. If it was hostile and tried to go for him, then he would fight.

  That comforted him. He might look like a monster, but he didn’t have to be one.

  And if it goes bad… I skedaddle, Henry told himself, trying to speak over the voice telling him that running might not be an option.

  He knew he could win. Or at least he’d have a real good shot, but he would be injured. And he’d need to recover.

  Its poison–or venom–was terrifying, but with Toxin Resistance in E-Rank and with so much invested in Constitution, Henry thought he could take a few doses of what it could dish. Though he should try to end it as fast as possible, and to do that, he decided its throat was the spot to target.

  Its back had too many spines and there was no way those things weren’t dangerous, while its underbelly was mostly smooth. He might get pricked through the arms while attached to it, but that should allow him to stay away from its mouth and its death rays.

  Some new calls began to spread between the seals, with most of them backing away. It looked like they called a retreat.

  Henry waited for them to swim away–which barely took a minute–then dropped his disguise.

  The serpent’s eye immediately swivelled to him.

  Henry swam forward then upward until he was facing the serpent, not allowing the monster to look down at him. When he got within 30 yards, the serpent’s mouth opened up and a hiss filled the surrounding waters.

  Henry stared back at the serpent, and suppressed the little tremors of his arms. Thankfully, his voice was clear and even when he used Telepathic Message“[Do you understand me?]”

  The yellow slitted eyes narrowed. The lips pulled back further, revealing his mouth full of needle-like fangs that were most certainly similar to a snake’s. It didn't seem to understand him and out of his barely used trait, Henry got a clear and direct message out of Telepathic sense. A mix of feelings that could not be misinterpreted.

  Greed and hunger.

  Henry didn’t waste any more mana trying to communicate and got ready.

  A sickly green light shone in the back of a purple-pink throat. Henry disappeared into a cloud of ink and dove down, simultaneously sending an Ink Clone upward and to the right.

  The serpent tracked the clone and shot its green ray, pulverizing the clone to nothing. It stared for a second before it caught the movement. By then, Henry was almost upon it, a sheen of defensive magic around his skin. He shot up toward the serpent’s neck, only for a column of sinew and scale to slap him back down to the seabed.

  Henry slammed against the rocks hard, but not as hard as the impact of the tail had been. His world was upside down for a moment, but as brutal as the hit had been, the damage hadn’t been too bad but it definitely stunned him for a second, even through the protective effect of Slick Coat.

  Henry disappeared into another cloud of ink and sent a clone forward. The serpent screeched at it and almost shot its green ray before it realized it wasn’t the real target. At the last moment its head swivelled.

  The serpent spat out its attack and Henry scrambled to get out of the way. He barely had time to hide in a cloud of ink and swim away in hope it would miss. The water was lit green near where he’d been, and the green magic shone through the ink like thunder through clouds.

  Henry thought he was safe when he felt a burning sensation in his gills. The Slick Coat had lasted no longer than a soap bubble.

  Shit. The runoff from the ray.

  Henry circled around the serpent, eyes peeled, and assessed the damage. He could feel the poison in his system. It made him feel uncomfortably warm. Some of his muscles began to twitch, but it was mild. He felt a bit nauseous for a moment, but the sensation was already receding, fought off by his trait and high Constitution.

  Neurotoxin? Maybe….

  Henry and the serpent eyed each other. Henry prepared his skills. The serpent coiled and pulled his head back. The familiar green light began to collect.

  Both were readied for the second salvo.

  Henry exhaled. The ray might not be a death sentence, but he couldn’t afford a direct hit. And he would have to be careful. He’d only taken a whiff of poison, but he could still feel it in his system. Mostly neutralized, but that wouldn’t be the case if he got a larger dose.

  Henry circled closer. The serpent aimed.

  Then all hell broke loose.

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