The three lone wolves howled fiercely, then charged—not at the Snake Baron, but at the nearest bandits.
One panicked bandit thrust his sword at them, but all three wolves dodged nimbly.
Two bit his legs, dragging him to the ground. The third lunged at his throat, tearing it open.
FWOOSH—!
The bandit's throat was ripped out. Blood spurted like a fountain. He lay on the ground in a spreading pool, twitched a few times, then fell silent.
The three wolves finished off one bandit and targeted the next.
They attacked together, coordinating like a hunting pack, and tore another bandit to death.
"Damn wolves!"
A bandit charged at them with a halberd, trying to kill the three wolves. But then he heard hoofbeats beside him.
He turned and saw a horse rearing up high.
Torrent mercilessly stamped his hooves, driving the bandit back until he crashed into a stone wall.
His neck snapped. He couldn't survive.
Torrent reared again and, with startling speed, gored two more bandits with his horns, tossing them high into the air before they crashed heavily to the ground.
For a time, Torrent and the lone wolves rampaged through the bandit ranks, utterly unstoppable!
With howls and whinnies, the horse and three wolves incredibly killed dozens of bandits.
The Snake Baron watched silently, offering no help to his subordinates. Instead, he regarded Nidhogg with an even more serious expression.
If he can command these strange beasts and has already killed an Apostle, his abilities must be considerable.
No time to worry about these expendable underlings now.
The Snake Baron didn't move. He watched carefully.
Then, Nidhogg suddenly moved. He burst forward like a thunderbolt, cloak streaming behind him, charging with astonishing speed!
The Snake Baron's eyes narrowed slightly. But he wasn't afraid. He raised his axe and swung diagonally at the onrushing Nidhogg!
Nidhogg raised his Lordsworn's Greatsword. CLANG! He blocked the diagonal axe strike and was knocked back.
Stronger than I expected.
The Snake Baron muttered to himself and swung his axe again, even harder. In an instant, another blow came. Again, Nidhogg's greatsword blocked it.
Nidhogg immediately countered, thrusting at the Snake Baron's throat. But the Snake Baron dodged aside.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged several rounds.
Sword-light and axe-shadows flashed. Sparks flew so fast that onlookers could barely follow the weapons' movements. Only fleeting afterimages remained!
The Snake Baron grew increasingly agitated. The power he had exchanged for with the Beherit and the demon-subduing ritual shouldn't be stalemated by this mere human!
CRASH—!
At that moment, Nidhogg seized an opening. He exploited a flaw in the Snake Baron's defense, burst through, and slammed into his breastplate like a battering ram. The Snake Baron was hurled backward!
In midair, the Snake Baron drove his axe into the ground, carving a deep trench that finally halted his flight.
After a brief pause, an enraged roar echoed from beneath his cobra helmet.
CRACK—!
His helmet and armor shattered like brittle tofu, falling away. A stronger, heavier body burst from its confines and swelled!
A monster several meters tall stood proudly—the head of a cobra, but with humanoid arms and legs.
A human head was grotesquely embedded beneath the cobra head, its long tongue lolling out.
"Is this what you wanted to see?! Is this what you wanted to see?! Then I'll give you an eyeful!"
The Snake Baron grabbed his axe, now a toy in his massive claws, and hurled it at Nidhogg like a throwing knife!
The air screamed as the axe spun like a wheel, astonishingly fast. In an instant, it was upon Nidhogg!
Nidhogg was momentarily surprised. He thrust his greatsword forward, deflecting the spinning axe, skillfully redirecting its force, then caught it and slammed it to the ground.
FWOOSH—!
The Snake Baron seized the moment and charged, his claws extended like twin spears!
Nidhogg immediately pivoted on his left foot, swung his right leg around, tightened his core, and swung his greatsword in a clockwise arc—a spinning whirlwind strike!
SCHLICK—!
The greatsword savagely severed both of the Snake Baron's claws!
The claws flew away. Blood sprayed from the stumps!
But the enraged Snake Baron howled in pain and didn't stop his attack. Instead, he spun and lashed out with his long tail, striking Nidhogg's ribs!
CRASH—!
Caught off guard, Nidhogg was hurled by the tail-whip like an arrow, crashing into a stable. Horses stampeded in panic!
The simple stable collapsed with a crack, burying him!
"Hahaha—!"
The Snake Baron laughed, ignoring the blood from his severed hands. He lunged forward like a venomous snake striking prey.
His tail swept aside the debris, revealing Nidhogg lying in a pool of blood.
"Die!"
The Snake Baron raised his tail, coiled it, and aimed at Nidhogg's head!
FWOOSH—!
At that moment, Nidhogg, who had been feigning helplessness, suddenly exploded into action!
He launched himself from the ground like a spring, dodging the tail strike and rolling toward the Snake Baron's side.
Face covered in blood, he rose instantly, gripped his greatsword, and swung at the Snake Baron's scaled hide!
The Snake Baron barely had time to react. Then, suddenly, his cobra head shot forward, its fangs instantly sinking into Nidhogg's arm. Blood sprayed, abruptly halting Nidhogg's swing!
At the same time, his tail withdrew and coiled again, sweeping toward Nidhogg's back!
"HRAAAH—!"
Nidhogg roared, leaped into the air, and landed precisely on the incoming tail, pinning it. He then leaped again, this time onto the top of the Snake Baron's head, simultaneously tearing his arm free from the fangs.
He landed lightly behind the Snake Baron and immediately spun like a whirlwind, his greatsword sweeping upward!
Stamp (Upward Cut)!
The cyclone tore through the scales on the Snake Baron's back and carved a deep, bloody gash into the back of his head!
The unexpected blow lifted the Snake Baron off his feet. He pitched forward and slammed into the ground.
Nidhogg spat out a mouthful of blood. He didn't stop. He charged again.
FWOOSH—!
The Snake Baron, struggling to rise, sensed movement behind him. Without looking back, he lashed out with his tail!
Nidhogg was ready. He raised his greatsword high and brought it down with tremendous force, severing the tail clean in two. A bloody arc hung in the air!
"GRAAAH—!"
The Snake Baron, his hands and tail severed, rose to his feet. His eyes blazed crimson. In desperation, he lunged at Nidhogg, fangs aiming for his head!
Nidhogg dodged the fangs, then, without hesitation, drove his greatsword straight into the Snake Baron's chest and abdomen, hurling him backward and off balance!
The Snake Baron staggered back, nearly falling!
Nidhogg pressed the advantage, pursuing. His greatsword was like a spear, thrusting at the slender neck beneath the cobra head!
"DIE!"
Nidhogg roared, pouring all his strength into the blow. The greatsword cleaved through, and a sharp, bloody arc shot skyward as the Snake Baron's head was split in two!
FWOOSH—!
He wrenched his greatsword free and planted it in the ground. He stared at the monster before him, panting heavily.
The Snake Baron stood frozen like a statue for a moment. Then, with a thunderous crash, he toppled backward and lay still.
「Quest」 Eliminate Low-Rank Apostles and Low-Rank Invaders in the Kingdom of Midland (3/?)
「Sub-quest」 Defeat the Snake Apostle (Completed)
「Reward」 Level Up: LV 62 → LV 63. Acquired Weapon: "Snake Baron's Battle Axe" (Skill: Sweep)
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