Chapter 201: Dungeon Run IX

The five students launched their final coordinated attack.

John’s shadows spread across the clearing, forming dozens of sharp blades that attacked the Myriad Poison Serpent King from different directions. Henrick raised several shadow barriers, forcing the serpent to change its movements whenever it tried to strike back.

At the same time, Pascot appeared behind the monster and attacked the weakened scales along its flank.

The serpent twisted its body and released a wave of poisonous energy, but Alex was already prepared.

"Blood Sap!"

Jade vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around the serpent’s lower jaw. Alex infused them with his Rule, strengthening them enough to pull the monster’s head to one side and disrupt its attack.

"Now, Kaiser!"

Kaiser rushed forward with the Radiant Sword of Light in his hand.

He focused the Shatter aspect of Shattered Soul on the damaged scales along the serpent’s neck. Black energy gathered around the golden blade as he concentrated his power into a single point.

"Shatter!"

CRACK!

The weakened poisonous armor broke apart.

Kaiser followed with another strike, widening the opening before jumping backward to avoid the serpent’s snapping jaws.

The Myriad Poison Serpent King released a furious roar. Its enormous body thrashed across the clearing, destroying the remaining stone pillars as it struggled to free itself from the students’ attacks.

However, the five students continued working together.

John’s shadow blades repeatedly struck the serpent’s exposed flesh, while Henrick redirected its attacks away from his teammates. Pascot took advantage of every opening to land another strike, and Alex continued using his vines to interfere with the monster’s movements.

The serpent’s poisonous armor began flickering more frequently.

Without being able to gather and maintain its poisonous energy properly, it was gradually losing the advantage that had made it so difficult to fight.

Kaiser noticed the change.

’Its defenses are weakening. We need to finish this before it can recover.’

He immediately charged forward again.

This time, he did not stop at the damaged section of the neck. He directed the Shatter aspect toward the boundary between the serpent’s remaining armor and its exposed flesh, causing the fractures to spread through the surrounding scales.

CRACK! CRACK!

Several large scales broke apart and fell to the ground.

The serpent violently swung its head toward Kaiser.

But Alex pulled its jaw downward with his vines, while John and Henrick restrained its tail with their combined shadows.

Pascot appeared beside the exposed wound and struck it with a shadow blade.

The serpent’s body convulsed.

Its poisonous armor finally collapsed around its neck, leaving a large section of vulnerable flesh exposed.

"Everyone, keep it there!" Kaiser shouted.

He raised the Radiant Sword of Light and concentrated Shattered Soul along its edge.

The black energy surrounding the golden blade became denser as Kaiser focused all his control on the exposed wound.

He swung.

The blade struck the serpent’s neck, and the Shatter aspect penetrated the damaged area.

The Myriad Poison Serpent King released a deafening roar.

Its enormous body crashed against the ground, sending dust and poisonous mist into the air.

However, it was not dead yet.

The monster suddenly gathered the remaining poisonous energy around its body and unleashed a violent shockwave.

The force destroyed John’s restraints and scattered Henrick’s barriers. Alex was forced to release his vines and retreat, while Pascot disappeared into the shadows to avoid being caught in the blast.

Kaiser was also pushed backward.

He landed on the ground, his feet sliding several meters before he regained his balance.

When the dust settled, the Myriad Poison Serpent King slowly raised its head.

Its movements had become noticeably slower, and the poisonous armor that had once covered its entire body had almost completely disappeared.

A large portion of its neck was exposed, and its breathing had become rough.

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

’It should be close to half its health now.’

The serpent stared at the five students with its remaining strength. Its multiple yellow eyes glowed fiercely as it began gathering poisonous energy around its head.

But something was different this time.

The poisonous energy did not spread evenly across its body. Instead, it rapidly gathered around its head and neck, forming a dense green sphere.

Kaiser immediately realized that the monster was preparing something more dangerous than its previous attacks.

"Everyone, get back!"

The students immediately retreated.

The serpent opened its mouth, and the green sphere was swallowed into its throat.

A moment later, an enormous wave of poisonous energy erupted from its body.

The entire clearing trembled.

The poisonous mist that had covered the ground was drawn toward the serpent, and the remaining green energy around its scales began flowing into its body.

For a brief moment, the monster’s enormous frame became surrounded by a blinding green light.

Then the light disappeared.

A notification appeared before Kaiser’s eyes.

[The Myriad Poison Serpent King has entered its final phase!]

Kaiser looked at the notification before turning his attention back to the monster.

The serpent’s body began to change.

Its dark green scales turned black, while glowing green patterns spread across its enormous frame. The multiple pairs of yellow eyes along its head gradually merged into two larger, brighter eyes.

Its head became longer, and the poisonous energy surrounding its body transformed into a dense black-green aura.

Several sharp horns emerged from its skull, while its scales grew thicker and more tightly connected. Its enormous body coiled around the ruined clearing, and the surrounding poisonous mist was drawn toward it as if the monster were devouring everything in its vicinity.

A terrifying pressure spread throughout the dungeon.

Alex stared at the transforming monster.

"What the hell is happening?"

Kaiser did not answer immediately. He was carefully observing the changes, trying to understand what the boss had done.

The transformation continued for several seconds before the monster finally raised its head.

Its body had become even larger, and its movements carried a strange, oppressive weight. The poisonous energy surrounding it no longer resembled ordinary poison. It had become a concentrated force that distorted the air around its scales.

Another notification appeared.

[Boss Monster Transformation Complete!]

[Name: Sky Devouring Serpent]

[Rank: 4]

[Level: 500]

[Type: Serpent Monster]

[Description: A serpent that has entered its final phase by devouring the poisonous energy accumulated throughout the Myriad Serpent Abode. Its physical strength, speed, and defensive capabilities have increased significantly. Its poisonous energy has undergone a transformation, allowing it to consume and corrupt the surrounding energy.]

Kaiser finished reading the notification and his expression became serious.

’So the Myriad Poison Serpent King wasn’t simply gathering poison to strengthen its armor. It was accumulating energy for this transformation.’

He had expected the boss to become weaker after losing most of its poisonous armor.

Instead, it had entered an entirely new phase.

John swallowed nervously as he looked at the enormous serpent.

"Didn’t the notification say it was the ruler of this dungeon? Why has its name changed?"

"Because it has transformed," Kaiser replied. "And judging by the energy around its body, it’s much more dangerous than before."

Henrick watched the black-green aura spreading from the monster.

"Can we still use our Rules against it?"

"We have no choice but to try."

Kaiser tightened his grip on the Radiant Sword of Light.

Although the transformation had greatly increased the serpent’s power, it had also changed the way its poisonous energy behaved. Kaiser needed to understand those changes before they could develop another strategy.

The Sky Devouring Serpent slowly lowered its head.

Its two glowing eyes focused on the five students.

Then it opened its mouth.

Instead of releasing poisonous liquid or a wave of toxic mist, it created a powerful suction force.

The surrounding air began rushing toward its mouth.

Broken stones, shattered pillars, and the remaining vegetation were dragged across the ground. Even the poisonous mist was pulled into its throat, disappearing as if the monster were swallowing the entire clearing.

Kaiser immediately felt the force pulling at his body.

"Grab onto something!"

Alex thrust his greatsword into the ground and summoned his jade vines to anchor himself. John and Henrick spread their shadows across the ground, using them to hold their positions, while Pascot concealed himself behind a broken stone pillar.

Kaiser drove his sword into the ground and resisted the pull.

The Sky Devouring Serpent continued inhaling.

A large piece of a broken pillar was ripped from the ground and dragged toward its mouth. The moment it entered the black-green aura surrounding its head, the stone rapidly disintegrated.

Kaiser’s eyes narrowed.

’It’s not just absorbing poison anymore. It can consume other forms of energy and break down physical objects with that power.’

The suction force suddenly intensified.

Alex’s vines began tearing out of the ground, and John struggled to maintain his shadows.

Kaiser quickly shouted, "Don’t fight the pull directly! Move sideways and use your Rules to anchor yourselves!"

The students immediately adjusted their approach.

Alex spread his vines toward several remaining stone foundations, while John formed thick shadow tendrils around the base of a broken pillar. Henrick created angled shadow barriers that reduced the force pulling them toward the serpent.

Their combined efforts finally allowed them to move away from its direct line of attack.

The Sky Devouring Serpent closed its mouth.

The suction stopped.

For a moment, the clearing fell silent.

Then the enormous serpent moved.

Its body shot forward with startling speed, and its head slammed toward the place where the students had gathered.

"Scatter!"

The five students separated just before the attack landed.

BOOM!

The serpent’s head struck the ground, creating a massive crater. Its black-green aura spread across the surrounding stones, causing them to crumble and disappear.

Kaiser landed behind a broken pillar and looked toward the monster.

’Its speed has increased too. We can’t rely on the same strategy as before.’

The Sky Devouring Serpent raised its head and stared at them.

Its new form had transformed the battle completely.

The five students had finally learned how to overcome the Myriad Poison Serpent King’s poisonous armor, only for the monster to reveal a more dangerous ability.

Now, they had to figure out how to fight a serpent capable of devouring the energy and matter around it.

And judging by the pressure radiating from its body, this final phase was going to be far more difficult than the first.