At the eastern outskirts of Houston, where lush forests and sprawling fields stretched as far as the eye could see, three figures moved with blistering, inhuman speed. Hutton, Bob, and Boma raced across the uneven terrain, their breaths heavy but measured. Behind them, the colossal two-headed snake thundered after them, its massive body flattening trees and uprooting the ground in its relentless pursuit.
Each time it seemed to gain on them, its twin heads lunged forward, attempting to ensnare or crush its prey. But the trio evaded its every move with a seamless combination of agility, strategy, and pure determination.
The serpent’s left head spewed a stream of venom, its toxic spray scorching the ground as it hissed menacingly. Boma shouted a warning, and the three of them leapt in different directions, narrowly avoiding the corrosive liquid.
"Watch the venom!" Boma growled as he landed lightly on his feet, casting a quick glance behind him.
"Easier said than done!" Bob shouted, his voice strained. "This thing doesn’t know when to quit!"
Hutton, who was slightly ahead, narrowed his eyes as his sharp gaze scanned the horizon. His heart pounded in his chest, not from exertion but from the weight of what lay ahead. They needed to find the right location—and fast.
"Boma," Hutton called, his voice steady despite the chaos. "How much farther can you keep this up?"
"As long as it takes," Boma replied tersely. But even he couldn’t deny the subtle strain in his voice. The relentless chase was taxing, even for someone at his level.
Minutes stretched like hours as the group darted between trees and over boulders, the earth shaking with every step of the colossal serpent behind them. Just as the tension began to feel unbearable, Hutton’s sharp eyes caught sight of something in the distance—a dark opening at the base of a rocky cliff.
"There!" he shouted, pointing ahead. "The cave—it’s perfect!"
Bob squinted, spotting the jagged entrance Hutton had pointed out. Relief and anxiety warred within him. "You sure about this?"
"It’s our best shot," Hutton said firmly, already adjusting his trajectory toward the cave.
Boma glanced at the cave, his mind racing. The narrow entrance and confined space would give them a tactical advantage against the massive serpent, but the risk was immense. If they miscalculated, they’d be trapped with no escape.
"No time to hesitate!" Boma barked as the serpent let out an ear-splitting roar that sent birds scattering from the trees.
The trio picked up their pace, pushing their bodies to the limit. The ground trembled violently as the two-headed snake unleashed another attack—a sweep of its massive tail that tore through the trees like a scythe.
"Keep moving!" Hutton shouted as debris rained down around them.
The cave grew closer with each stride, its dark maw promising either salvation or doom. The trio exchanged a brief, wordless glance—there was no turning back now.
The relentless pursuit continued as Hutton, Bob, and Boma eventually raced into the darkened cave, their breaths ragged but focused. The primordial two-headed snake crashed in after them, its massive body scraping against the narrow walls of the entrance. The entire cave trembled from the beast’s sheer size and force, loose rocks falling from the ceiling as it twisted its way in.
"Keep going deeper!" Boma shouted, his tone sharp and commanding as he reached into his pouch.
Hutton and Bob didn’t hesitate, pushing forward as they relied on their heightened senses to navigate the dark, uneven terrain. Behind them, the snake’s twin heads snapped and hissed, its glowing, venomous eyes piercing through the shadows.
As they descended deeper into the cave, Boma began placing talismans along the walls, each one adorned with glowing, otherworldly inscriptions. The symbols pulsed faintly as they adhered to the rocky surface, and a subtle hum of energy resonated in the air with each placement.
"What are those?" Bob asked between heavy breaths, his eyes flicking to the strange talismans as they ran.
"Seals," Boma replied curtly, not breaking stride. "They’ll limit its movements once we spring the trap."
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Hutton glanced back, noting how precisely Boma was spacing the talismans along the cave walls. "Will it hold?"
"It has to," Boma said grimly, slapping another talisman onto the wall. "If it doesn’t, we’re done for."
The two-headed snake roared again, the sound amplified by the confined space of the cave. Its tail lashed wildly, smashing into the walls and sending chunks of rock flying. Bob deflected a large piece with his forearm, gritting his teeth as he kept pace with the others.
"Move faster!" Boma barked, placing another talisman before quickening his pace.
The air grew colder the deeper they went, the darkness almost suffocating. The cave seemed to narrow further, forcing the snake to slow slightly as it twisted and coiled to fit through the tight space.
Finally, Boma slapped the last talisman onto the wall, its glow much brighter than the others. He skidded to a halt, his hands forming rapid, intricate seals in the air. "That’s it—this is the point."
Hutton and Bob stopped, turning to face the beast as it barreled toward them, its enormous heads snapping and snarling. The talismans began to glow brighter, their energy forming faint, interconnected lines along the walls.
"What now?" Hutton asked, his voice calm but urgent.
"Now," Boma said, his hands still moving in a blur, "we cage the beast."
The two-headed snake roared in fury as it surged deeper into the cave, its massive bodies writhing and smashing against the narrow walls. Boma’s eyes narrowed, his hands moving swiftly in complex gestures as he activated the seals he had meticulously placed earlier.
The moment the snake crossed into the designated spot, the talismans ignited, their inscriptions glowing with a fierce, golden light. The energy from the seals erupted outward like chains, wrapping around the snake’s heads and body. The primordial beast screeched in rage as the restraints tightened, forcing it to coil and writhe in a futile attempt to break free.
"It’s working!" Bob shouted, clenching his fists tightly as the ground shook from the snake’s struggle.
"Not for long!" Boma snapped, sweat beading on his brow as he poured more energy into the seals. "This thing is far stronger than I anticipated!"
Roar!!!
As if on cue, the two-headed snake roared louder, its sheer power overwhelming the restraints. One by one, the glowing talismans began to shatter, their light flickering out as the beast forced its way free.
"Brace yourselves!" Boma yelled, leaping back as the snake lunged forward, shattering the last of the restraints.
But the brief moment of restraint had been enough. Hutton, Bob, and Boma moved in unison, their attacks coordinated and precise.
Hutton was the first to strike, summoning a powerful technique as he launched a crescent-shaped slash of energy toward one of the snake’s heads. The strike forced the head to rear back, leaving an opening for Bob, who darted in with blistering speed. His fists, wrapped in crackling energy, slammed into the snake’s torso with thunderous force, sending tremors through its massive body.
Boma followed up, his hands forming another intricate seal before he unleashed a devastating wave of energy that surged through the cave. The energy struck the walls and ceiling, causing the cavern to collapse in a controlled manner. Massive rocks rained down, pinning the snake’s lower body and tail under the debris.
Hisss!!!!
The snake screeched in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to free itself, but the combined efforts of the three cultivators proved overwhelming. Hutton and Bob continued their assault, targeting the snake’s heads while Boma maintained the structural collapse, sealing the beast within the cave’s confines.
"Now!" Boma shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.
With one final, coordinated strike, Hutton, Bob, and Boma unleashed their most powerful techniques simultaneously. The combined force struck the two-headed snake with a deafening impact, driving it deeper into the rubble and rendering it motionless.
The cave grew eerily silent, save for the faint sound of falling debris. Hutton and Bob panted heavily, their bodies covered in dust and sweat. Boma, though equally exhausted, managed a faint smirk as he surveyed their handiwork.
"It’s done," Hutton muttered, his gaze fixed on the now-buried primordial beast.
Boma nodded, though his expression turned serious. "For now. But we need to leave—there’s no telling if this thing will stay down forever."
Without wasting another second, the three cultivators turned and made their way out of the cave, their footsteps echoing through the silent, debris-filled corridor.
Not long after, the cave lay silent after Hutton, Bob and Boma disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind the collapsed rubble and the still struggling two headed snake. The beast’s roars echoed faintly through the chambers, it’s immense body writhing in vain beneath the weight of the debris.
But then, subtle ripple courses through the air, a distortion that seemed to bend reality itself. Out of the shadows, a hazy figure materialized, it’s form flickering as if it were caught between dimensions. The air around it grew dense, charged with an unnatural, oppressive energy.
The figure’s gaze fell on the trapped snake, it’s eyes glowing faintly through the haze. It stood motionless for a moment, as if studying the creature with a quiet disdain. The primordial beast, sensing the presence, paused in it’s struggles, it’s two heads snapping toward the figure. For a brief moment, fear flickered in the eyes of the beast that had seemed invincible moments before.
The figure raised a single hand, it’s palm outstretched toward the snake. Without warning, a terrifying pulse of energy surged through the chamber. In a heartbeat, the two-headed snake–the primordial beast that had pushed even Boma to his limits–exploded into a grotesque eruption shook the cave violently, but the hazy figure stood unmoving, untouched by the chaos.
As the remnants of the snake dissipated into the air, the figure lowered his hands, it’s gaze suddenly shifted toward the path Hutton, Bob and Boma had taken. A deep, echoing voice emerged from the figure, calm yet laced with an ominous finality.
"Seems like I will need to get it myself."
Without another sound, the figure dissolved into the shadows, leaving behind the eerie stillness of the shattered cave.