The serpent's eyes gleamed with ferocity. This type of serpentine beast was among the most vicious of magical creatures, and the one before them was undoubtedly a prime example.
The oppressive aura of a Level 10 magical beast made even Kael tense up. Behind him, Ella and Finn were in even worse shape—they could barely steady themselves, their hearts filled with shock and dread. A Level 10 beast? Damn it, how could there be a magical creature inside this mine?
Kael's heart pounded wildly. The serpent's body was a deep violet, and it bore a pair of wings—it was a rare Winged Serpent, a true Level 10 beast!
If this was indeed a Level 10 creature, Kael would be lucky to escape with his life, let alone fight it.
The little kitten was also terrified. "Waaah! Don't eat me! I-I'll give you gold coins!" she wailed, looking utterly pitiful. Her combat prowess was negligible—she wouldn't even survive a single strike from the serpent.
Kael's mind raced. A serpent like this appearing in the cave… A Level 10 Winged Serpent… It must be guarding something valuable.
Though this valley contained mineral veins deep within, a Winged Serpent wouldn't care about mere ore. That meant there had to be another treasure hidden deeper in the cave—this serpent was likely its guardian!
But right now, Kael couldn't afford to think about that. The overwhelming pressure of a Level 10 beast was right in front of him.
Damn it! His only thought now was how to escape—fast.
"Kael! This Winged Serpent is Level 10, but it's in the middle of shedding its skin—it can't fight at full strength!" The kitten suddenly perked up, her eyes brightening as she waved her tiny paws.
Kael's gaze sharpened. The serpent is molting? This was perfect. If that was the case, he might actually have a chance to kill it!
As if understanding the kitten's words, the serpent's crimson eyes—glowing like blood-red lanterns—flared with fury. In a flash, it lunged at Kael like lightning, jaws gaping wide!
Its fangs gleamed razor-sharp. Kael had no doubt that if it got close, the beast would swallow him whole in an instant.
Miniature World!
Kael swiftly dodged the Winged Serpent's strike using Levitation Magic, then expanded his Miniature World, enveloping everyone—including the serpent—within it. The scenery shifted abruptly, startling both Finn and Ella.
"This is a Miniature World—a power only Level 10 mages can wield!" Ella muttered in disbelief. Wasn't it said that only those who reached Level 10 could 'split heaven and earth' to create their own domain? So how could Kael possess this ability before even reaching that level…?
Finn was equally shaken, but having followed Kael for so long, he had grown somewhat accustomed to his leader's absurd feats. Thus, he remained relatively calm.
With the emergence of the Miniature World, Kael's power surged dramatically, while the Winged Serpent found itself constrained. Within this domain, Kael held an overwhelming advantage.
The serpent let out furious hisses, sensing the danger. Among all the humans present, Kael was the one it feared most.
A menacing aura radiated from Kael, making the serpent flick its forked tongue nervously. Yet, driven by instinct, it lunged at him again!
Kael retreated swiftly, but the Winged Serpent moved like lightning, its scales rustling violently as it closed the distance in an instant!
Ella and Finn broke into a cold sweat as the serpent pursued Kael relentlessly. A single misstep now would mean certain death—swallowed whole by those gaping jaws.
Suddenly, Kael twisted and pointed his staff, unleashing Lightning Magic! Bolts as thick as a man's torso crackled across the battlefield, linking together in a deafening, explosive web. The thunderous force sent stones and dust swirling into the air before crashing down upon the serpent in a devastating barrage!
The Winged Serpent instinctively recoiled at the sight of the lightning, but the pain only enraged it further. Its eyes blazed with fury as it charged forward again, undeterred!
Kael's heart tightened. He had anticipated this.
The lightning strikes scorched the serpent's body, leaving patches of charred flesh and shattered scales in their wake. A foul, burnt stench filled the air as the beast let out a shrill cry. Yet, instead of retreating, it grew even more ferocious—its bloodlust intensifying as it lunged at Kael once more, jaws wide enough to swallow him whole!
Kael's figure flickered once more. Within the Miniature World, his power was amplified to its fullest, while the Winged Serpent suffered under numerous restrictions. Were it not for the beast's formidable strength, Kael would have slain it long ago.
What troubled Kael most was the serpent's near-impenetrable scales. Even his Lightning Magic could only wound it—never deliver a fatal blow.
Fortunately, Level 10 magical beasts, compared to their Level 9 counterparts, primarily excelled in raw power rather than mastering terrifying abilities like the Miniature World.
A Level 10 beast is still a Level 10 beast. Even inting state, it was no easy prey. Had a group of Level 9 mages faced it, not even a dozen might have managed to injure the serpent—its scales were simply too resilient.
"To kill a snake, strike its vital spot." Kael's mind raced as he nimbly evaded the serpent's assaults. Enraged by its injuries, the beast grew even more frenzied, its massive tail thrashing wildly within the Miniature World. Thankfully, Kael's domain held firm—had it been weaker, the backlash alone could have crippled him.
Kael narrowed his eyes, patiently awaiting an opening.
Ella and the others watched from a distance, awestruck. Kael's ability to confront a Level 10 beast as a Level 9 mage was seared into their minds—especially Ella's. She had never imagined such a feat was possible.
The Winged Serpent attacked relentlessly, yet Kael dodged each strike with ease, its movements further hampered by the Miniature World's constraints.
Gradually, the serpent's stamina waned. Its frenetic assaults drained its energy, leaving it panting and sluggish.
But Kael remained vigilant. Against a foe this monstrous, one careless move meant death. His goal now was to wait for the perfect moment—a single, decisive strike.
The serpent bared its venomous fangs, but this time, it didn't lunge to bite. Instead, its body coiled and—wham!—it whipped its tail toward Kael with devastating force!
The tail strike was far more lethal than its bite. In a flash, the air itself seemed to distort under the impact, the sheer pressure alone making Kael's brow furrow.
"Lightning Shield!"
Kael had already cast a defensive barrier around himself, but the Winged Serpent's tail strike shattered it effortlessly. The sheer force sent him flying over a dozen meters through the air.
If not for the protection of his Darkmoon Divine Armor, the impact alone might have left him severely wounded.
Even so, Kael wasn't unscathed—a thin trickle of blood escaped the corner of his lips.
But this was the opportunity he needed!
After its devastating tail sweep, the serpent momentarily stilled, clearly drained from the exertion.
"Thunderflame Eyes!"
Seizing the moment, Kael activated his Thunderflame Eyes!
Now at the peak of Level 9, the power of this ability had grown exponentially more terrifying. Best of all, it required no incantation—just instant, lethal release.
And right now, the motionless Winged Serpent was the perfect target.
Frostfire and violet lightning erupted, detonating directly around the serpent's vital points. The mutated magic's devastation was horrifying—within moments, half of the beast's body was engulfed in searing flames. The serpent writhed in agony, its shrieks piercing the air.
Compared to its earlier iterations, the Thunderflame Eyes had become hundreds of times deadlier, evolving into one of Kael's ultimate trump cards. This eerie, chantless magic now trapped the Winged Serpent in a dual hell of consuming frostfire and annihilating lightning.
Iceflames burned everything to ashes.
Violet thunder scoured the land.
At first, the serpent thrashed wildly, its massive body convulsing. But soon, it collapsed to the ground, rolling in a futile attempt to extinguish the torment.
The force of its struggles was catastrophic. Within Kael's Miniature World, magically conjured flora, mountains, and rivers were obliterated—the domain itself trembled as if on the verge of collapse.
Yet the Winged Serpent's resistance didn't last. Its movements grew sluggish, its strength waning… until finally, it lay still.