Chapter 1207: Battle of Titans
Adam had long since activated his stealth artifacts and escaped the swamp, which was about to become a brutal battlefield. Hidden in the crown of a tree, he observed everything unfold in great anticipation and nervousness.
"Please, please, please!" He muttered under his breath. "Please get rid of this vile snake for me!"
He knew he would not be able to deal with the snake and the horde all by himself. And so, he had to borrow help from someone else. And that ’someone else’ just so happened to be this giant toad that was slumbering in the depths of the pond.
The beasts residing in Mabi were extremely territorial creatures. Adam knew that the giant toad would be furious to see the snake encroaching upon its territory.
Given that the Staff of Calamity was embedded in the pond the toad resided in, it was certain that the snake would do whatever it took to acquire it. Similarly, the frog would also do whatever it took to drive the serpent out of its home.
Adam hoped that the two would kill each other. At the very least, he wanted the snake dead so he could finally relax a little. The ravings of the Faceless Mask were bad enough, he didn’t need an angry Mana Core-level beast constantly pursuing him for his duration on this island.
And so, with bated breath, he watched the great battle that was about to unfold soon enough.
On the one side, the one-eyed serpent commanded its army of beasts and surged towards the swamp lands. On the other side, the giant toad emerged from the pond, its titanic body no smaller than the serpent’s. It let out a sundering croak and called forth its army.
And then, one by one, frogs of all shapes and colors emerged from the swamp, ranging from the Mana Foundation Rank all the way to the Mana Vortex Rank. They were all obedient to the call of the giant toad. But more importantly, they were enraged that an outsider had dared to invade their territory.
Within a few minutes, the swamp became a chaotic battlefield as the frog army faced off against the serpent’s horde.
Thousands of frogs, ranging from large to enormous, spread across the ponds and marshes, their numbers amplified by the terrain they knew perfectly. They leapt from mudbanks, dived into the murky waters, and used every natural obstacle to their advantage.
Meanwhile, the serpent’s army surged forward. It was a mix of beasts of every kind, including but not limited to wolves, bears, reptiles, armoured insects, and other monstrous creatures.
They crashed into the swamp, but the unfamiliar terrain slowed them down significantly. Despite the difficulty in movement, they charged forward nevertheless, their expressions full of mad frenzy.
Much to Adam’s surprise, the frogs struck with coordination. They acted no differently than an army of human warriors. What was even more startling was that each of them had a weapon in hand, mostly clubs, maces, and makeshift spears.
Giant frogs jumped forward, their jaws snapping and limbs smashing, while the smaller ones harassed at the edges, pushing the invaders into traps or sticky marshes.
Water splashed and mud flew as the two sides collided, but the home ground advantage ensured that the frogs were in total control, forcing the serpent’s beasts to fight defensively despite their variety and strength.
Moreover, the beast horde was also significantly outnumbered. A large chunk of them had either perished or become food for the one-eyed snake in the two months that they relentlessly pursued Adam.
Seeing that its horde was gradually losing, the serpent finally decided to strike. In the far edges of the marsh, hidden in a tree, Adam watched with rapt attention, desperately hoping that the snake suffered a cruel defeat. Better yet, he hoped the bastard would outright die.
At last, the battle of titans had truly begun.
The colossal one-eyed serpent and the giant toad collided in the center of the swamp with earth-shattering force. Water and mud exploded outward as the frog lunged, its massive limbs slamming into the serpent’s lithe body.
The serpent retaliated, whipping its body and tail with incredible speed, smashing trees and churning up the swamp in a violent fashion. Each strike sent shockwaves through the water, splintering the logs and tossing debris into the air.
The toad croaked loudly, opening its maw to bite, while the serpent struck with fangs and crushing coils, each attack matched by a counter from the other. The battle raged for hours, with neither side backing down. The frog wanted to drive the invader away, while the serpent wanted to retrieve the giant black pillar.
Birds scattered from the surrounding trees, and smaller swamp creatures fled as waves of water, mud, and mana shockwaves radiated outwards. Countless frogs and beasts died as collateral, but neither of the titans stopped.
The fight was bloody and relentless, both creatures using strength, size, and magical abilities. Yet, neither side yielded, turning the swamp into a chaotic battlefield and a horrifying graveyard.
After the twelve-hour mark had passed, the flow of the battle finally shifted.
The colossal serpent coiled tightly around the muddy swamp, its bloodthirsty eye fixed on the massive toad. Suddenly, with a deceptive strike, it rushed at the toad, landing a brutal strike that seemed to end the battle.
The frog staggered from the strike. It was heavily wounded and profusely bleeding. Its movements gradually slowed down against the serpent’s relentless assault. But even in its final moments, the toad fought back.
Summoning all its remaining strength, it struck the serpent with a devastating attack, its jaws clamping on the snake’s neck with crushing force. The blow rocked the serpent’s massive body, leaving it wounded and teetering on the edge of death.
Both titans lay battered, the swamp around them littered with the remnants of their armies. But in the end, the light in the toad’s eyes dimmed, and it breathed its last. As for the serpent... though it was grievously wounded, it still managed to survive.
With great difficulty, it turned towards the large pond that had once been the home of its slain enemy. With an expectant eye, it hoped to see the magical item that it had so desperately sought.
But the Staff of Calamity was gone. Its pupil shrank as its eye gleamed with rage, hatred, and helplessness. It was in an extremely critical condition and knew it could no longer chase the human.
Then, all of a sudden, a giant shadow loomed over the one-eyed snake. It weakly raised its serpentine head, only to see a towering black pillar descend upon its broken body like a strike of judgment.
Its eye flashed with terror, and it quickly tried to flee. But before it could even move an inch, judgment had arrived.
And it was delivered by a laughing madman.
BOOM!!!