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Chapter 247 Yellow mamba :- The venomous critters

"Don\'t worry, he\'s under the influence of the snake\'s venom. It induces hallucinations. He\'ll regain consciousness in a few minutes," Arya reassured Keith, observing Kevin\'s unconscious state with a gentle smile.

Nearby lay the headless corpse of the snake, and as Kevin\'s wounds began to heal on their own, a faint purple hue tinged the injuries, gradually diminishing before their eyes.

As everyone observed Kevin\'s unconscious state with concern, he was lost in profound hallucinations. After experiencing the last set of illusions, he slipped into another, completely forgetting the previous ones.

"Whoa, look at this!" Kevin exclaimed, his excitement palpable. Before him lay a veritable jackpot—a sprawling monster lair. Shadowcrest Lupines, numbering at least a dozen, roamed around, some in slumber, others prowling the vicinity. Each one dwarfed the creature he had previously faced. Yet, in the heart of this domain, on a small island within a serene pond, stood the most colossal Shadowcrest Lupine he had ever laid eyes upon. Its immense stature easily doubled that of any monster he had encountered before.

The team surveyed the situation, facing the daunting presence of the Shadowcrest Lupines. Kevin, fueled by adrenaline, suggested, "Let\'s take them one at a time."

However, Keyara, the leader, took charge, disregarding Kevin\'s idea. "Okay, team," she commanded, gathering everyone\'s attention. "We need a strategic approach here. That behemoth over there is our priority. Ken, Robert, focus on the larger ones. Viana, Stuart, keep an eye on the sleeping Lupines and stay vigilant. Yelena, Benny, Arya, guard the flanks. Zaria, Kevin, Keith, stand by for support."

The team readied themselves, each member poised and prepared for the planned assault on the Lupine lair, following Keyara\'s calculated strategy to handle the formidable foes ahead.

With a nod, the group sprang into action. The clash began, the air vibrating with the sounds of battle. Ken and Robert engaged with precision, their well-honed skills delivering calculated strikes against the larger Lupines. Stuart and Viana, vigilant, swiftly dealt with the stirring sleepers, preventing any untoward surprises.

"Cover me, I\'m going in!" Yelena called out, dashing towards a Lupine attacking from the side.

"Nice move, Yelena!" Stuart cheered, deflecting an incoming strike with his blade.

Viana, not relying on physical combat, employed a different approach. She conjured a fireball the size of a football, swiftly condensing it into a small marble-sized sphere. With precise aim, she directed it towards the head of the slumbering creature, causing it to perish without ever awakening.

"Watch out for its claws!" Robert shouted, parrying a Lupine\'s swipe as Ken lunged forward, landing a precise blow.

"Got it!" Ken replied, swiftly maneuvering to flank the larger Lupine.

Yelena, Viana, and Arya moved in sync, defending against flanking Lupines. Zaria, Kevin, and Keith maintained their positions, awaiting any imminent threats, ready to leap into action. Meanwhile, Keyara darted between adversaries, dodging attacks and delivering well-placed blows, his maneuvers showcasing his training\'s efficacy.

Despite their strategic approach, the Lupines fought ferociously, their size and strength posing a challenge. The team worked in seamless coordination, their efforts combining to withstand the Lupines\' onslaught. Kevin, taking risks and displaying newfound skills, fought with unwavering determination.

In the midst of the intense battle, each member found themselves engaged in one-on-one struggles against the formidable Shadowcrest Lupines. Despite their collective efforts, the Lupines seemed relentless, proving difficult to subdue.

Kevin and Keith fought side by side, their synchronicity evident as they parried the Lupines\' attacks. As they deftly maneuvered around their adversaries, Kevin quipped, "Isn\'t it exhilarating, this one-on-one thrill?"

Keith, with a quick and unexpected shift, evaded an attack, swiftly repositioning herself near one of the Lupines. With a precise strike, she gashed its side, eliciting a stream of blood. Her face lit up with exhilaration as she exclaimed, "Absolutely! It\'s an adrenaline rush!"

As Keyara, Ken, and Robert confronted the largest Shadowcrest Lupin, their strategy shifted. Keyara, with her precision and agility, coordinated their attacks, while Ken and Robert utilized their strength and strategy.

Keyara shouted over the melee, "Ken, try to divert its attention. Robert, aim for its hind legs!"

Ken swiftly drew the monster\'s focus, darting around to keep its attention on him. Meanwhile, Robert circled to get a better angle for an attack.

"I\'ve got it," Robert called out, readying his weapon. "Just keep it steady!"

The Lupin, towering over them, struck with relentless force, its dark fur bristling as it lunged. Keyara swiftly dodged, leading the Lupin into the path of Ken\'s calculated strikes. His blows were aimed at its exposed sides, but the Lupin\'s resilience proved challenging.

Robert, with a keen eye for the Lupin\'s movements, positioned himself to distract the creature, drawing its attention away from his comrades. His precise strikes aimed for vulnerable points, attempting to weaken the Lupin\'s defenses.

Ken yelled out a warning, "Incoming attack from the left flank!"

Keyara\'s swift movements and strategic agility were essential, enabling her to create openings for her companions. She focused on directing the Lupin\'s attention toward her, allowing Ken and Robert crucial moments to attack its weakened spots.

The Lupin\'s ferocity was matched only by the determination of Keyara and her team. Their synchronized efforts and well-coordinated strikes aimed to bring down the formidable creature. Yet, the battle raged on, the Lupin proving to be a formidable adversary, resilient against their combined assault.

Finally, after an arduous battle, the monsters lay defeated. Kevin, his arm bloodied, retrieved his knife from the neck of the Lupin he took down. He made his way to where Keyara and the others had vanquished the boss monster and inquired, "So, what was it guarding?"

Keyara, wiping her sword clean against the Lupin\'s fur, shook her head. "I\'m not sure. Let\'s find out." She turned toward the small island in the center of the pond, where an array of flowers and herbs flourished.

The entire party gathered around the island, curiosity piqued. Kevin joined them, his eyes lighting up. "There are so many different herbs here."

With an excited smile, he reached out to pluck a small yellow-striped berry that looked delicious. "This looks good," he remarked, his hand hovering over the berry.

As he was about to pluck it, the berry underwent a startling transformation. Its shape elongated, and two slits began to form on the fruit.

As two more slits formed, elongating and deepening the fruit\'s structure, Kevin\'s hand hesitated, sensing something amiss. Despite the changes, his hand continued toward the yellow-striped berry. Suddenly, upon touching what was once a berry, it transformed into the head of a snake. Its black tongue slithered from its gaping maw, lunging toward him, shocking him to the core as he screamed in terror as he saw the big to devour his head. "ahhh."

He found himself engulfed in darkness, desperately trying to break free. Suddenly, his surroundings shifted. Moonlight illuminated the jungle, and Keith stood before him, a storm of anger in her eyes. His scream echoed until her hand connected with his cheek, sending a sharp sting through him.

Confusion enveloped him. "What happened? Where am I?" he uttered, scanning the unfamiliar scene around him.

Beside him lay the body of a yellow-striped snake, its head severed. Other party members moved about, gathering herbs and supplies. Benny, wearing an amused expression, leaned closer and inquired, "So, how was it?"

"what? how was it?" it made him more confused as he asked again he was just going to pick the herbs after killing monsters.

"The illusion, how was it?" Benny casually asked as he gathered some dark red grass.

"What illusion?" Kevin\'s confusion deepened.

"The one you were just in. Were you slaying monsters or having a blast? I\'ve heard the venom from this yellow mamba poison makes for quite an experience," Benny remarked, strolling over to them.

Meanwhile, Keith inspected Kevin\'s hands for any injuries, and Benny handed him a water bottle. "Drink this up," he suggested.

Kevin took a hold of the bottle and downed its contents; he felt an unexplainable thirst. He remained clueless about what had just transpired—he was battling a herd of Shadowcrest Lupins, then abruptly found himself back a couple of days before, confronting a snake monster.

Observing Kevin\'s bewilderment, Keith decided to shed some light on the situation. "That snake, the yellow mamba you dispatched, has an incredibly potent illusion-inducing poison. Your skin absorbed it during the fight, and you were caught in the illusion for a few minutes. That\'s all there was to it."

Kevin blinked, trying to piece together the fragments of his scattered thoughts. "So, all that... the monsters, the battles... it was just in my head?"

Keith nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. Your mind was playing tricks on you, courtesy of that snake\'s venom. It\'s some powerful stuff."

Kevin\'s brows furrowed as he tried to grasp the peculiar experience. "It felt so real though. I mean, I could feel the wind, the ground... it was surreal."

He mulled over the recent events, questioning the authenticity of everyone\'s behavior, including his own. It felt odd—like a play where the actors were deviating from their roles, himself included. He found himself embodying an overly enthusiastic fighter, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

Keith offered a sympathetic smile. "That\'s the thing about these illusions. They mess with your senses, make everything seem vivid and tangible."

"It\'s wild," Kevin muttered, still processing the jarring encounter. "I need to watch out for those venomous critters."