The rock exploded into pieces.
The Black War Ape's fist had struck with such violence that the man-sized stone burst like dry clay, hurling fragments in all directions.
The demonic serpent hissed in fury, momentarily releasing its prey. It uncoiled from the ape's torso, its body as thick as the trunk of an old oak, and launched itself into the attack. In midair, its silhouette writhed, fangs bared, eyes locked onto the ape's neck.
But the Black War Ape dodged.
It roared. A dry bellow, full of rage.
The bite hit the body. The fangs sank into its shoulder, piercing flesh and muscle like spears. Blood gushed in torrents, splattering the ground and leaves. But the ape showed no pain. Not a single groan.
With both hands, it grabbed the serpent's body near the neck and lifted it above its head. Its muscles swelled as if ready to burst. Its veins throbbed with demonic energy.
And then
SLAM!
It smashed it against the trunk of an old tree. The bark shattered into splinters, the trunk cracked, and split in two with a dry sound.
The serpent screeched, a sharp, vibrating sound that chilled the blood. Its scales fractured under the force of the blow, but it did not let go. Its tail coiled tightly around the ape's left leg.
They both fell, rolling.
BOOM!
Soil, roots, and leaves flew through the air. The impact shook the ground. A nearby tree fell with a painful creak, dragging branches and vines in its fall.
The fight was savage, without technique, without control, only raw strength against raw strength. Bites, strikes, strangling, kicks. The Black War Ape rolled with the serpent over him, each turn accompanied by the clatter of clashing bones and rising dirt.
The ape caught the serpent's lower jaw with one hand. With the other, it began striking its side, once, twice, three times. Each hit sounded like a war drum. The scales held, but not completely: cracks appeared, dark blood mixed with the mud.
The serpent responded by sinking its fangs into the ape's thigh.
The Black War Ape roared again, this time with fury. It gathered strength with both arms and hurled the beast into the air, spinning it like a whip.
CRASH!
The serpent flew through a bush and slammed against a rock formation, partially shattering it.
Silence.
Only for a second.
Because the serpent rose again, bleeding, parts of its body scaleless, but alive.
The ape beat its chest with both fists, challenging it.
The ape's blows had been brutal, as if a wrecking machine had run over it. Pieces of scales littered the ground. Some had come off in whole chunks; others, shattered by the force of the impacts. Its flesh was exposed, dented, bruised, bleeding.
Even its horn, once intact and sharp, now showed fine cracks that vibrated with every movement.
The Black War Ape advanced.
It had deep bites on its thigh and shoulder. It bled from multiple cuts, but did not stop. Its presence was terrifying. Each step made the ground tremble.
The serpent tried to retreat. Its movements were slow, erratic.
And then the ape stopped.
It was only an instant. But it hesitated.
Its breathing changed. It stopped being a rhythmic roar and became erratic. Heavy, hoarse gasps. Air entered its lungs as if it burned.
It blinked. Twice.
Its pupils, once focused, began to dilate uncontrollably.
It took another step... and its leg failed. The left knee trembled before buckling with a crack. The ape fell to its knees, hands digging into the ground to keep from collapsing.
A spasm ran down its back. Then another, more violent. Its breathing became a pant. Faint black foam bubbled from the corner of its lips.
The venom had finally taken effect. It now coursed through its system like liquid fire. It clouded its vision, numbed its muscles, altered its heartbeat.
The ape tried to roar again, but only a hollow, empty grunt came out.
Its arms trembled one last time... and stopped moving.
The serpent watched it. Slowly, with its battered body, it slithered toward it with patience.
It rose slightly, just enough to let its fangs drop right into the neck.
CHAK!
The ape's body gave a small spasm. Its eyes, once full of rage and murderous instinct, went dark. Lifeless.
When the serpent pulled its fangs from the dead ape's neck, it raised its head to the sky and opened its jaws to roar in victory.
But at that moment, a human voice broke the silence.
"Fire!" roared Captain Gao.
The first shot cut through the air like thunder.
Gunfire rumbled through the forest like a synchronized volley.
The Vesper squad, hidden among the bushes, opened fire without hesitation. They knew this was their only chance.
Ten Mauser rifles on their shoulders, pulling triggers at the same time.
The recoil shook their shoulders, but their steady hands were already working the bolts to load another round, another, without rest.
TINK! TING! TANG!
But to their surprise, the bullets bounced off the scales.
TINK! TING! TANG!
As if they were shooting at tempered steel.
Captain Gao clenched his jaw. His eyes tracked every impact. What he feared most... was becoming real.
"It's not doing anything... Not even penetrating!" he cursed through his teeth.
The serpent slowly turned its massive head toward the line of bushes.
Its eyes, cold, without any emotion, locked onto them like blades.
And then, it roared.
A sonic explosion rumbled through the forest.
The bushes trembled, leaves and dirt flew as if struck by a shockwave.
The air grew thick, filled with a nauseating stench that forced several Vespers to hold their breath.
The serpent was furious.
A handful of insects had dared to interrupt its victory.
Its cold eyes focused on the line of bushes.
A second later, its body tensed. It was about to launch at them.
But then, amid the thunder of gunfire... something changed.
CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
A wild, sharp shriek filled the air like a blade.
The serpent shuddered. Its body trembled, then writhed violently, striking the ground and kicking up dust and branches.
Captain Gao saw it clearly.
Among the bloodied grooves, beneath the scales torn off by the ape, there were sunken, unprotected areas.
"There! Concentrated fire on the unscaled zones! NOW!"
The squad reacted instantly.
The Mauser rifles rose. Ten sights aiming at exposed flesh.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The bullets struck, one after another.
One hit the neck, another sank into its side.
Another pierced the edge of its left eye.
The serpent shrieked again.
Its body coiled reflexively, as if trying to protect itself, but it was too late.
"GRENADES, NOW!" shouted Gao.
Four metal objects flew through the air and landed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions burst near its body.
The creature convulsed.
One last tremor ran through its entire body.
Then, it collapsed against the ground with a dry thud. Its tongue hung limp, its eyes dull, lifeless.
Silence.
Only the steam rising from its hot wounds... and the smoke of the grenades dissipating among the trees.
Note: the hairless monkeys won 🤣