Seeing Lydia run off into the distance, Arvell focused his attention on the Python.
He'd already spent a somewhat sizeable amount of time giving Lydia her 'pep' talk.
If he stalled for any longer, Titus might be in trouble.
At least that's what he thought…
Surprisingly, reality, on the other hand, had something else entirely in store for him.
'Is he… riding it?'
Titus appeared to be sitting on top of the beast's head as he repeatedly pummeled it with his right hand.
The Python shook from the impacts, but it didn't look like it was taking much damage.
In fact, it was treating Titus as more of an annoying flea than anything else.
Even so…
For a 13-year-old kid who hasn't even been admitted to an academy to hold off a 2nd rank beast…
That was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
'It doesn't look like he can stay up there for too long.'
Arvell surveyed their surroundings, looking for anything he could use to fight the beast.
He couldn't reveal his swords since none of the students came with actual weapons.
It would raise far too many questions, considering he managed to not only sneak them onto academy grounds but also into an academy proctored exam.
While he was confident in his raw strength, he was in a conundrum without access to most of his aether supply.
'There has to be something I can use….'
*BOOM*
A loud explosion rang out from some nearby trees to Arvell's right-hand side.
Namely a portion of the inflamed forest.
'Why did the fire… explode? What's going on?'
*BOOM*
Another loud booming noise rang out, but it was on Arvell's left-hand side this time.
'What is going o-'
Arvell ducked on reflex, dodging a spew of acid that flew right over his head.
*BOOM*
Some of the trees behind Arvell exploded in a plume of fire.
Arvell turned his head just in time to see some of the flaming trees crash to the ground.
*BAM*
He stared at the scene with his mouth agape.
'What the f*ck?'
Arvell shifted his gaze back onto the snake.
Being unable to remove Titus from its head, it resorted to trying to shake him off while spewing balls of green acid.
The instant the green acid hit the flaming portions of the forest, they exploded into a shower of fire.
'No wonder this thing didn't kill Lydia when she was unconscious in the burning forest! Its acid is combustable!'
Arvell's lips curled up at this revelation.
'I can work with this!'
***
"Bad snake"
Titus continued to pummel the Rasian Python's head with relentless fervour.
He knew the instant he let up, the snake would go back to trying to kill Lydia, who was the weakest link in their group.
Arvell had asked him to stall it for a bit, at least until the teachers came.
He intended to follow through on that.
After he managed to draw the beast's attention, the Python lunged at him, fully intent on swallowing him whole.
Using this opportunity, Titus jumped into the air, landing directly on the beast's head.
An action which served to agitate it.
Titus held desperately onto the Python with his left hand while keeping it focused on him by hitting it with his right.
He wasn't sure how long he could hold on, but the longer he did, the higher their chances of making it out alive were.
"Stop moving."
Titus smacked the beast right in the eye.
"HISSSSS!"
In a fit of pain-induced fury, the Python gave up reason and began thrashing around in a frenzy while spewing acid haphazardly.
Titus felt his grip slowly slipping and resorted to using both hands to hold onto it.
Sadly even this wasn't enough.
The Rasian Python lurched forward before snapping backwards, sending Titus flying straight into a tree.
*BANG*
The portion of the tree where Titus hit caved in, causing the tree trunk to mould into a somewhat concave-looking imprint.
Lucky for him, Titus didn't hit one of the flaming trees but one of the few untouched by the rapidly spreading fire.
"BWACK"
Titus coughed out a mouthful of blood as he staggeringly pulled himself back up to his feet.
While the attack caused Titus some internal damage, his body was still, for the most part, still functional.
Just that wouldn't be able to knock him out.
"Over here, you overgrown worm!"
The sounds of screaming alerted the beast causing it to turn around and face the silver-haired boy from earlier.
The one who somehow managed not to get eaten.
The beast soon realized that the human was holding something in his hand.
It was a stick, but that wasn't all.
Said stick was on fire!
The Python looked at Arvell with one good eye, observing him.
It wanted nothing more than to kill that human, but if the fire in his hand kept it at bay.
It knew it would explode whenever it spits acid at that 'orange wavy thing'; it learned from prior experiences.
The Python had been badly injured in the past after messing around with that substance, which caused it to develop a form of phobia.
It had to somehow take the fire out of the boy's hand.
If the reason why the snake was weak to fire was that fire would cause its acid to explode, wasn't the opposite also true?
The snake lurched its head back and sent a ball of acid flying straight at Arvell, namely at the flaming stick in his hand.
'Trying to blow up my stick, to take me down with it? Quite the smart snake we have here,' Arvell thought, 'It's not wrong that I'll be in danger as long as I'm holding onto the branch.'
Arvell knew the dangers of their plan, but it was something he had to do.
They had to hold this beast off until the staff could get here.
He wasn't sure they could outrun it, but if they showed their backs, the snake would most certainly attack them from behind.
His eyes narrowed while his lips curved into his signature maniacal smile.
A smile that didn't suit his usual pretty-boy look.
He looked at the snake, dead in its one remaining eye.
"Let's dance."
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