The outer areas of the forest were already in ruins. Broken trees, asunder area, and shockwave rolled like thunderclaps across the valley. Baldoc skidded to a halt, his feet carving deep trenches on the earth as the colossal serpent coiled and hissed its white scales glinting like polished bone under the moonlight.
"Enough warm-up," Baldoc muttered, his voice low but steady.
From beneath his tattered robes, his hand reached for the weapon on his back. The moment steel kissed air, the forest seemed to freeze.
Shiiing!
A radiant gleam burst forth, so blinding that the night itself seemed to retreat. The shabby old man's guise cracked instantly as he drew the Shining White Sword—a blade forged of pure light, flawless and terrifying, humming with divine resonance.
The serpent recoiled at the sight, its slit pupils narrowing, its body rippling with unease. But the sorrow of losing his mate and child didn't make it any better. With a strong hiss, it attacked, venom spraying like rain.
