The Player's System

Shredded Skin

Sashi was glad that the team members had finally gathered. This last struggle was crucial for all of them. They were extremely anxious yet just as thrilled. Adrenaline pumped through their body. The hidden boss was probably dreadful. They had acquired sufficient experience which told them that the smooth path led them toward the last colony.

It was an indication that despite playing the portal for the very first time, they were now able to solve most riddles. Their litigations and mass killings worked well until now.

"What path did you see earlier?" Junan asked impatiently.

He was looking up and down the ground hole in the fear that the ogres might jump down soon. They were now impatient and frustrated. They would not stop till they reached them and stopped them from gaining access to the shredded skin.

This also confirmed his suspicion about the colony. The team head was a hundred per cent sure that the Python was lurking in this colony. The crucial obstacle leading to the Python was now clear. As the players were finishing off their tasks, the abilities of the Python were getting restricted.

If earlier it must have surrounded them as soon as they entered the colony. After they killed three powerful creations and the stronger Cobra, the Python lost its power over the complete colony.

The poisonous effects were already cleaned up by the players. It simply constrained the actions of the Python. The Python was hiding in the last part of the colony. For now, it could only order the creatures and the ogres.

This was last the fort. Most of its attention was fixated on the ticking time. If the ogres could drag it and the team members were somehow unable to reach the last part within the time limit then the district shall remain under the Python forever.

It would be a black day for all the creatures of the district. They had been anticipating that the team would set them free from the slavery of the Python.

"I saw a path behind the broken wall then all of a sudden another wall appeared. I don't know how it happened. How did the ground change its location all of sudden?" Clark explained. His eyes were twitching with anxiousness.

Junan and others looked at the said location and nodded. They were going to see what was on the other side of the wall. The ogres with stronger potentials changed the appearance of the underground location. It was still there however behind the wall.

Fortunately, the ogres decided to relocate the walls in the middle and even more luckily Clark possessed a drilling machine. They looked at him to do the business according to his profession.

"You can use the drilling machine and see how the wall is going to break." Junan beckoned.

He was in the middle of a tough situation. Others might be happy because it was the last colony however the team head was taking the burden for many reasons. A single mistake could ruin the entirety of their struggle.

Clark walked ahead and drilled the wall. The weapon was taking time due to a longer cool down. However, after three attempts the wall crumbled down.

The first thing that they saw was the black shredded skin. It was placed on the ground while three ogres were standing in front. They were frantically trying to protect the skin of the Python however the team members were in no mood to let it go.

"Since we are here to burn it why battle with the ogres. Burn them together. We will retreat backwards to avoid the impact. Come on Albert, get ready." Junan saw the ogres and changed his mind.

Earlier he was ready to invest some time for the sake of this skin but now with the help of Jake, they could finish early. Junan gestured for Jake to fry them up. He nodded happily and threw the grenade. Only a single grenade was enough since they were underground. As soon as Jake threw the grenade the skin caught on fire immediately.

The underground path started shaking. The Python was shivering because the recently shredded skin was being scorched away. They felt the tremors and got frightened. Half of the team members thought that perhaps Python was coming to them in hurry.

The rumbling died down a little later. There was no more shredded skin but instead a small dagger shining at the same location. Junan looked at Orin. Perhaps it was the gesture of the first clue that they were unable to decode.

"I hope it could help in killing the boss," Clark spoke as if in a daze. His worries were limited to Python and the ways to kill it.

"I will pick it." Junan shook his head and walked ahead to pick the dagger.

He held it in his hands visualizing the Python in front of him. The dagger was not small or long like a sword however it was slightly bigger than the standard dagger size.

There was a round empty place on the hilt. They noticed it yet no one pointed something important because they did not remember it.

"Look! the stone that we got from the Cobra must fit here." Jake pointed, excitedly.

Junan looked surprised but then he nodded. He was indeed overwhelmed by the imagination of the Python and did not notice the space.

He picked the stone and placed it in the space. It fits in it perfectly, as if made for it.

"Now I have some courage to stand in front of the Python." Junan waved dagger in the air and announced gladly.

It was the first time after they had entered the district that his face was glowing. Team members were happy to see that the team head was full of energy and dedication for this level that they couldn't help but smile.

Jake took a deep breath. He was not sure how he will get a chance to kill the Python but for the sake of a broken arm, he was going to snatch this chance.