“Not far from here, you’ll find the cave where the Golden Fang guards his Kane Collection,” the fierce one said.“How many Kane Collections does he guard?” Jackson asked.“Actually, he only guards one Kane Collection. But because of his greed—and that of his friends—he often preys on other guardians and stores their Kane Collections within himself,” the village chief explained.“I see… no wonder the one from last night was inside him.”“Alright, we’ll remember that. Well then, the three of us will be on our way.” Smith bid farewell.“Yes.” The village chief smiled warmly at them, his eyes lingering with a mixture of respect and hope.Jackson, Joanna, and Smith walked away, leaving behind those who watched their departure. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows along the dense forest path.“See you again! I hope we meet again!” Poo shouted loudly, waving enthusiastically. Joanna waved back with a soft smile.“Be careful on the road!” Lulu called out, her voice carrying through the

“What is behind—KYAAA—”BRUKKK!!Before Joanne could even see the creature behind her, it struck violently, sending her flying along with Jackson and Smith. The impact slammed them across the floor, dust and debris scattering in all directions. Joanne groaned, clutching her throbbing head, while Smith scrambled to locate the creature that had vanished into the shadows. Jackson lay a few meters away, his Spider Crystal ejected and resting uselessly on the floor.“What… what kind of creature was that?” Joanne whispered, eyes wide with both fear and confusion.“It’s gone… at least for now,” Smith replied, scanning the area cautiously, every muscle tensed. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and even the faint glow from Joanne’s crystal barely penetrated the darkness.BRUKKK!!Jackson’s eyes widened as the floor beneath him trembled. “Guys…” he muttered, panic creeping into his voice. Both Joanne and Smith turned just in time to see him flung further by the impact. The ground beneath him seemed

Joanne gasped, her throat tightening as she took in the sight before her. What lay ahead was far more grotesque than anything she had imagined.“Smith… don’t tell me that’s the Black Giant Snake mentioned in the mission, right…?” Joanne swallowed hard, her mouth dry.Smith, standing calmly beside her, stared at the coiled black serpent. It rested motionless, its massive body curling like a living fortress. Neither moved. Disgust and awe intertwined on Joanne’s face.“It seems it really is,” Smith replied, his voice steady.The snake’s scales shimmered darkly in the dim light, almost blacker than the surrounding shadows. Atop its head, a glowing red crystal pulsed faintly. Its pupils, inky and deep, seemed to pierce through the darkness, observing with silent menace.“Why isn’t it moving?” Joanne whispered, inching slightly closer. She couldn’t see any sign of aggression, no attempt to strike or swallow them.Smith remained composed, his gaze never leaving the giant serpent.“It’s asle

Jackson’s gaze swept across the lair, settling on the mass of snakes surrounding him. They all seemed terrified, shrinking into every crack and crevice while nervously flicking their forked tongues. Each subtle movement betrayed anxiety, yet they remained silent witnesses to the chaos unfolding around them.“So, this is their reaction? If they get splashed with this potion… could they actually die?” Jackson murmured to himself, curiosity mingling with grim satisfaction.“Good. That means now I can help Joanne and Smith.” Determination hardened in his chest, and he bolted down the dark corridor, moving cautiously to avoid the snakes’ sudden strikes. The dim light reflected off their glistening scales, casting eerie shadows on the walls.---“Let him go!!!” Joanne’s voice rang sharp and relentless. Her pistol barked repeatedly, each shot lighting up the black scales of the massive snake coiled around Smith. She was desperate; every breath came sharp and ragged, each trigger pull a plea

“I’ll kill you!”Joanne charged forward, firing her laser pistol again and again at the monstrous serpent. The creature hissed furiously, uncoiling itself from Smith—whose body had completely turned to stone.“I’ll kill you first! You’ll make a fine addition to my collection!” the serpent snarled as it lunged toward her, moving with terrifying speed.Joanne rolled instinctively to the side, crashing hard onto the wooden floor. She scrambled back to her feet and fired several more shots at the creature.The serpent’s massive tail lashed out, striking her hand and sending the pistol flying across the room.“Damn it!” she cursed, sprinting toward her weapon. But the serpent was faster—it slithered straight toward her.Joanne leapt aside just in time, barely avoiding the strike, but lost her balance and hit the ground face-first.“Ugh…” She could see her pistol—just a few meters away.She began to crawl toward it desperately, but the serpent’s tail whipped around her ankle and yanked her