The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 40 –You’re Finally Becoming Useful. (3)

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the mercenaries clung to the Blood Python’s body, relentlessly striking it with blunt weapons, the serpent thrashed its tail wildly in all directions.

The mercenaries who were struck by its tail were sent flying in an instant, but others quickly filled the gaps and continued the attack.

Kaaaaaaah!

The Blood Python let out a furious, rage-filled scream.

At its head, Ghislain, Gillian, and Kaor were inflicting wounds and drawing its attention while mercenaries clung to its tail and body, swinging their blunt weapons.

Sharp daggers occasionally sliced through the air, aiming for its eyes, preventing the creature from fully concentrating.

Anyone would become enraged if a swarm of flies continuously buzzed around them.

The Blood Python thrashed even more violently, twisting its massive body.

Kwoooom!

Each time its tail slammed into the ground, another mercenary lost their life.

However, the mercenaries gritted their teeth and pressed on with their attacks.

Everyone was risking their lives, doing their utmost to take down this monster somehow.

“Gillian! Go to the tail and help the mercenaries!”

Even while deftly dodging the serpent’s attacks, Ghislain kept an eye on the situation and issued orders.

As the wounds on the Blood Python’s body increased, the speed of its tail-whipping gradually slowed.

When Gillian joined the mercenaries in their assault, cracks began to appear on the scales.

After relentlessly attacking, ready to face death, they finally saw some results.

Crack!

“It’s breaking!”

As one of the mercenaries shouted, Gillian yelled while channeling mana into his axe.

“Stand back!”

Boom!

The axe embedded itself deep into the serpent’s body, with the blade sinking in more than halfway.

It was a wound far larger than any they had inflicted so far.

Blood began to gush from the Blood Python’s skin.

Seeing this, the mercenaries were filled with hope.

“Here! Stab it here!”

They frantically hammered at the wound, driving in swords and spears.

Weapons that hadn’t been able to penetrate the smaller wounds now went in much more easily.

The accumulated internal damage had weakened the creature’s muscles.

Kaaaaaahk!

The Blood Python screeched in agony, thrashing its body.

In the chaos, the mercenaries crushed beneath it or struck by its thrashing tail had their bones broken or were killed.

Although the Blood Python’s movements had slowed compared to the beginning, the sheer destructive power of its massive size remained unchanged.

‘This won’t do.’

As Ghislain dodged the serpent’s fangs, he continued to think.

Those capable of inflicting real wounds had exhausted their mana from the very start of the battle, rapidly growing fatigued.

Ultimately, it was a race to see whether they would be wiped out from exhaustion first or the Blood Python would fall.

Boom! Boom!

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“Aaaargh!”

While he was lost in thought, the mercenaries’ screams filled the surroundings.

No matter how much damage they dealt, at this rate, the mercenaries would be eradicated first.

The longer the fight dragged on, the more unfavorable it became for them.

Just then, the Blood Python’s eyes glowed a fiery red as it swung its tail in a wide arc.

Whoosh!

Boom!

Several mercenaries were sent flying, and in that brief opening, the Blood Python swiftly withdrew, retreating to the rear.

As it began to distance itself from the mercenaries, hopeful words escaped from their mouths.

“What… what’s happening? Could it be… it’s running away?”

“Is it over?”

“Fall back for now! Pull the wounded to the rear!”

The mercenaries also retreated, regrouping as they murmured among themselves.

It would be the best possible outcome if the Blood Python truly withdrew.

They had managed to break through its scales, which were said to be impervious to anything but a powerful mana blade or high-circle magic, and they had successfully driven their weapons into it.

Given the party’s capabilities, this was an impressive achievement, yet no one rejoiced.

This was because they all understood that, at this rate, they would eventually perish.

Despite their incredible fighting thus far, they had reached the limits of what they could do.

“C-could we call it a draw?”

Gordon mumbled while clutching his trembling legs, but no one answered him.

Swish.

The Blood Python, having withdrawn, glared at the group, its tail swaying gently.

Its scales, torn and shattered, were stained red with blood oozing from its wounds.

Even the ogres, hailed as the kings of the forest would be crushed instantly if constricted by the Blood Python, making the damage they inflicted all the more astonishing.

Taking advantage of the pause, Belinda turned to Ghislain again.

“Young Lord, don’t you feel like running away now?”

“Not yet.”

“I thought so. You never listen when someone suggests something sensible. Sometimes, I wonder if you’re really out of your mind.”

“Really? I thought I was quite reasonable.”

At his absurd response, Belinda looked at him with a bewildered expression.

Gillian, surveying the mercenaries, quietly whispered to Ghislain.

“Young Lord, at this rate, we will be wiped out first. While our current strategy is sound, we don’t have the numbers to continue.”

“You’re right. But given our current forces, this is the only way we can fight. We must maintain the situation as best we can and wait for those who can use mana to seize an opportunity.”

“I believe we should aim for its eyes.”

Though rare, the blood Python was a monster known to inhabit regions other than the Forest of Beasts.

As such, it was well-known that its eyes, unprotected by its tough scales, were its weak point.

Of course, targeting the eyes was no easy task.

One had to avoid the Blood Python’s attacks while getting close enough to strike, and even then, it could quickly shield its eyes with its eyelids.

Still, amid this chaos, attacking its eyes seemed like their only option.

“For now, that seems to be our only option. Belinda, keep waiting for the right moment, just like before.”

At Ghislain’s words, Belinda nodded with a firm expression.

She was about to say something when the Blood Python slowly began advancing toward the group.

It seemed to be cautiously scanning its surroundings, likely due to its injuries, but without warning, it surged forward with speed.

Kaaaaaah!

“It’s coming!”

“Just like before! Aim for the wounds and stab it!”

“Let’s see who dies first!”

As the Blood Python rapidly closed in, the mercenaries reformed their ranks and prepared to target their previous wounds.

However, once it drew near, the Blood Python began smashing each mercenary one by one as if striking with a hammer.

Boom!

“Aaargh!”

Boom! Boom!

Whenever the mercenaries tried to get close, the serpent quickly withdrew and slammed its head down again.

With every strike, a mercenary’s body was crushed, turning into a spray of blood.

Unlike before, the Blood Python was now taking them out individually, systematically neutralizing their efforts.

“F-fall back!”

Panicking, the mercenaries scrambled to retreat.

Hisssss!

The Blood Python narrowed its eyes and flicked its tongue.

To the group, it seemed as though the creature was mocking them with a smile.

Everyone fell into confusion.

The tactic they had believed to be their only hope against the Blood Python was now proving ineffective.

They had no idea how to face it anymore.

Hisssss!

As the Blood Python wriggled toward them again, the mercenaries hesitated, backing away slowly.

At that moment, Ghislain leaped forward and shouted.

“Mercenaries, stand by from the rear! Jump in whenever you see an opening! Gillian, Kaor, and Belinda fight it like before!”

The mercenaries quickly retreated, leaving the four to fight the monster just as they had in the initial battle.

They all desperately wanted to join the fight but lacked the skills to do so effectively.

Boom! Boom!

The four of them began dodging the Blood Python’s attacks, attempting to inflict more wounds than they had earlier.

However, the Blood Python’s movements had grown more cautious, making landing any significant hits difficult.

Even when they managed to strike, the injuries were shallow, barely causing any damage.

Boom! Boom!

As time passed, the four began to run low on mana and grow exhausted, forcing them to focus solely on dodging.

Unable to bear it any longer, Kaor shouted loudly and rushed toward the Blood Python’s head.

“Damn it! I’ll be the bait; aim for its eyes!”

As soon as Kaor entered its range, the Blood Python relentlessly targeted him with its head, ignoring the others who were inflicting wounds on its body.

Boom! Boom!

Overwhelmed by the sheer pressure and speed, Kaor couldn’t even swing his sword. All he could do was desperately dodge with every ounce of strength he had.

However, thanks to his actions, Belinda seized a fleeting opportunity.

Boom!

The Blood Python’s head slammed into the ground, and in that instant, Kaor barely managed to avoid it.

“Die!”

Belinda’s dagger surged toward the Blood Python’s large eye at an incredible speed.

She poured all her remaining mana into the dagger.

They would all be doomed if she failed to inflict a meaningful wound here.

But at that moment, Belinda locked eyes with the Blood Python.

The snake seemed to be mocking her.

“No way…”

Tang!

The mana-infused dagger struck the Blood Python’s eye, only to be pitifully deflected.

“This can’t be happening!”

The Blood Python living in the Forest of Beasts was unlike the ones they knew.

Its eyeball’s surface was made of a material even harder than its scales.

If the eye, known as the Blood Python’s only weak point, was this tough, it was essentially invincible.

How were they supposed to kill this thing?

As everyone reeled in shock, something even more astonishing happened.

Kaor was already in the spot where the Blood Python had been aiming.

Whoosh!

The tail, which hadn’t moved until now, swung violently toward Kaor.

Cunningly, the Blood Python had been waiting for this moment, refraining from using its tail to strike until now.

“No!”

The others quickly rushed toward the Blood Python.

But even that was a trap.

Hisss!

At that instant, the Blood Python’s head twisted unnaturally and lunged at Ghislain with blinding speed.

The movement of its tail had only been a preparation for this deadly strike.

Ghislain, already closing in on the Blood Python, had no way to avoid it.

He had no choice but to detonate all three of his cores simultaneously in a desperate attempt to endure the attack.

“Young Lord!”

Suddenly, Belinda appeared and shoved Ghislain forcefully out of harm’s way.

Boom!

“Belinda!”

Ghislain, who had tumbled to the side, shouted her name as he looked back.

Thud!

Belinda flung at tremendous speed, crashed into a tree, and collapsed to the ground.

She lay there, coughing up blood, but she wasn’t dead.

Even as she was hurled through the air, she twisted her body to minimize the impact.

“Ugh… Idiot… I told you to run… Why don’t you ever listen… Hurry back to the estate, reflect on your actions, and lock yourself in a cell… You never listen, that idiot…”

Belinda muttered weakly as she continued to cough up blood.

“Kaor! Save Belinda!”

At Ghislain’s urgent shout, Kaor, barely having survived, quickly grabbed Belinda and retreated.

Hisss!

The Blood Python flicked its tongue in satisfaction as it scanned the surroundings.

Although it hadn’t achieved its primary goal, it had successfully neutralized the annoying prey that had been swinging daggers at it, so it was pleased.

But Ghislain had no intention of being treated like a mere plaything by a monster.

Glaring at the Blood Python, he turned to Gillian.

“Gillian, go for its body and finish widening the wound. If the opportunity arises, attack with the mercenaries.”

“What are you saying? Don’t tell me… you plan to face its head alone?”