Chapter Three: The Two-Headed Serpent

Ignoring the searing pain burning across his back, Mu Rongxun hurriedly steadied himself, raising his sword defensively before him. Though he had never learned the art of swordsmanship, simply having a blade in hand at such a moment lent him a measure of courage.

Yet, when confronted by what it considered a feeble inferior species, the Serpent with the Alien Head did not care in the least, charging at him regardless.

Mu Rongxun steeled his resolve. On the glove of his left hand, the sole embedded gemstone began to emit a faint, misty glow.

In that instant, he felt a surge of powerful energy coursing through his body—the strength he had just absorbed from Qi Tian, the flesh-eating ghoul.

A ghoul’s might was considerable. If Qi Tian’s attention hadn’t been fixed upon Chen Lian at the time, and if Mu Rongxun hadn’t launched a stealthy attack while concealed, the outcome would never have been so easily settled.

The Serpent with the Alien Head lunged at him, maw gaping wide in a blood-red arc, ready to bite.

With a cold snort, Mu Rongxun’s left fist, swift as lightning, crashed into the woman’s head that crowned the serpent’s neck. In the next instant, the massive python tail swung around and struck him, sending him flying.

Since being chosen by the Paradise, his body had been vastly strengthened compared to before. Even so, the impact felt as though he’d been rammed by a speeding train, and every inch of him threatened to come apart.

He was flung from the alley, slammed hard against a lamppost, and his back suffered yet another injury.

Before he could even try to get up, a tail snaked from the darkness of the alley, coiling around his waist and yanking him back inside.

The serpent’s tail constricted mercilessly, and no matter how he struggled, Mu Rongxun could not break free. The short sword in his hand couldn’t even scratch the surface of its scales.

The woman’s head did not lunge to devour him right away.

Instead, it rose high, gazing down at him with its monstrous eyes, the forked tongue flickering ceaselessly—a hunter savoring its prey.

A chill crept down Mu Rongxun’s spine under that bizarre, predatory gaze.

Yet, since the creature did not strike immediately, he had a precious moment to review the information he’d glimpsed earlier.

[Serpent with the Alien Head: A grotesque being with a human head and a snake’s body, typically bearing the features of a woman—the original appearance of the host before possession.]

[Traits: The Serpent with the Alien Head is fond of feeding. Once sated, it usually stores the surplus for later.]

[Reproduction: The Serpent lays its eggs inside its food, leaving the host to nurture the young. Upon hatching, the offspring immediately possess the host.]

There was more intelligence regarding this ghastly creature, but that third note alone was enough to send a fresh wave of horror through Mu Rongxun.

It implanted its eggs into others, using their flesh and blood to rear its young!

The woman’s head slowly descended, tongue flickering, emitting a suspicious hiss. Mu Rongxun thought he glimpsed an egg-like object within the mouth as it opened. He began to struggle desperately. The short sword in his right hand was useless, but he still had his left!

Though the ghoul’s strength could not be fully unleashed at this moment, it didn’t mean he was out of options.

The gemstone’s glow faded as it drew the ghoul’s power back in; he quickly swapped in the ability he’d just seized from the Mist Wraith he’d killed on the street.

It felt wasteful to use such a power so soon, but in this moment, he could not afford to hesitate.

The gemstone’s stored ability could be used repeatedly, but any other powers were only temporarily held in the empty slot—single-use, consumable.

Previously, the ghoul’s power had replaced his original invisibility. Now, the newly acquired ability had to take its place.

Sensing something amiss with its prey, the serpent’s body entwined even more tightly, determined not to let him escape. But Mu Rongxun’s form began to dissolve into mist, slipping free from its grip.

The duck that had flown to its very beak was gone. The serpent shrieked in fury, the woman’s head lunging at him—only now Mu Rongxun’s body was insubstantial, a phantom. The monster passed straight through him.

Missing its mark, the serpent twisted around, coiling up defensively, its golden eyes fixed on him with deadly intent.

Mu Rongxun flexed his limbs, particularly the places that had been constricted. Had he still been in his former body, that one squeeze would have been fatal.

Of course, even now, things were far from good.

The mist form would only last a short while; soon, his body began to reconstitute itself.

Wasting no time, Mu Rongxun activated the ghoul’s strength again. Whether it would help or not, he needed every advantage.

Seizing the opportunity, the Serpent with the Alien Head struck like a python, jaws yawning wide, lunging to swallow him whole.

Faced with a monster as thick as a barrel, Mu Rongxun switched the sword to his left hand—his stronger arm—though he’d always favored the right simply out of habit.

With a nimble twist, he dodged the serpent’s snapping head. Before its tail could whip around, he slashed at its body. The clang of metal rang out, and thick, black, foul-smelling fluid oozed from the wound.

The serpent hissed in rage, the woman’s head whipping back to coil around him.

Having suffered once, Mu Rongxun was on guard and gave it no chance. Gripping his short sword, he fought the creature in the narrow alley.

Here, Mu Rongxun actually held an advantage. His short sword was unimpeded, while the serpent’s massive bulk made it difficult to maneuver in the confined space.

He seized every opportunity to strike.

Although the woman’s face suggested she’d once been beautiful, Mu Rongxun felt not an ounce of pity. He only wanted to survive.

To be thrust into this strange world was shocking enough—having to face monsters like this and not losing his sanity was already a feat.

The serpent’s head twisted around, and its agile tail swung in from the other side.

Yet this time, Mu Rongxun was quicker. He caught hold of the tail!

The serpent hissed furiously, a shrill, threatening sound.

Mu Rongxun was in no mood to humor it. He swung the tail hard, lashing it back at the creature, not stopping at one or two strikes, but again and again.

Only when he’d lost count of the blows did Mu Rongxun, utterly exhausted, toss the tail aside and collapse to the ground.

By now, he had no strength left. The ghoul’s power faded as its time expired, but his wild thrashing had reduced the serpent’s woman’s head to a pulp. Otherwise, in his current state, he would never have survived this monster.