The snake reached the wolf's corpse and in an instant, attacked the dead body. Its long fangs, like two silver daggers, tore through the wolf's skin. This scene was terrifying for Ryan who was watching from the side.
It didn't take more than a few seconds. He took a step back, turned away from the snake, and started to retreat while the snake was busy with the wolf's body. This monster seemed far beyond his reach.
He took a few slow steps. But how long could he keep running?! How long could he escape?! The snake was almost on his level; if he fled, what could he do against stronger, unknown creatures ahead?!
He stopped, looked at the massive creature, the wolf's body now lost among the coils of the snake's tail. He swallowed hard and, with a shaky step, moved forward. He had to get stronger, had to overcome the hardships and survive.
Here, survival had no shortcuts, it wasn't dependent on money that could be obtained through various means. Survival was about life, an unwritten law that said: Kill or be killed. And this wasn't fair; one moment of distraction could turn you into prey for others' progress.
Ryan quietly moved towards the snake. He needed to ambush it and get stronger quickly. His family was out there somewhere, in an unknown situation, waiting for a glimmer of hope, and Ryan wanted to be that hope, no matter what.
The silver dagger gleamed in his hand. The air had darkened, with silence occasionally broken by the howls of wolves and the sounds of animals, like music winding through the forest, making the moonlight even more beautiful.
*Crack*
A branch snapped under his foot, alerting his opponent to his presence. In the darkness, crescent-shaped black eyes focused on Ryan, eyes that, if he had seen before facing the wolf, would have been enough to end his life.
In the previous encounter, he hadn't learned any special skills, but he had experienced facing a foe and death, at least laying the groundwork for fighting, for effort and the hope of survival, something needed to break through despair and any hardship.
The huge creature didn't wait; it slithered on the ground and with long leaps, attacked Ryan. Despite its large size, it was fast. Soon, with its fangs bared, it was snarling at him face-to-face.
The triangular head of the snake moved towards Ryan's shoulder. He seemed like an ant trying to fight an anteater, but he wasn't hopeless. With a quick move, he dodged to the side, and the snake reacted, attacking his legs again.
*Scccreeeech*
The sound of Ryan's dagger hitting the snake's long fangs created a haunting, ear-piercing noise. He managed a small cut on the snake's fang, but it wasn't very effective. The fangs were delicate but looked larger and tougher than usual.
This confrontation went on several times. Ryan was faster than the snake, but it was bigger; a sort of balance was struck. Ryan rolled to the side; he barely had time to breathe as the snake's fangs moved swiftly. The dagger, with a streak of blue light, swung to deflect the attacks.
As the fight dragged on, Ryan got more tired. He lacked the energy to attack, only defending passively, which would ultimately lead to defeat. The best defense is always an attack, something he couldn't manage.
He had to take a risk, or defeat was certain. With the dagger, he aimed for the space between the snake's fangs with a vertical slash. This time, instead of deflecting the attack, he engaged with his body.
The dagger cut between the fangs, and the snake's fang tip grazed Ryan's leg, not penetrating because Ryan was faster, and by sheer luck, it resulted in just a scratch.
The snake hissed in pain and coiled around itself. Ryan took advantage of this moment, throwing his dagger towards the snake's head. The creature was in pain, slowing its reactions, which gave the dagger time to pierce its head.
*Squelch*
The blade sank into the snake's head, and blood spurted onto the ground. Ryan fell to the ground alongside the massive creature's corpse.
He coughed several times, breathing heavily, his chest heaving visibly.
A pleasant sound rang out, announcing the victor of the battle, and with it, an ugly smile spread across Ryan's face.
*You have killed a Level K Cobra!*
*1 Life Point gained!*