All three of them took a brief power nap to rest from all the exhaustion from over the days. Although it definitely did not rid them of all of their exhaustion, it temporarily put it off and allowed them to fight at their maximum combat power.
Three men, two first rank Sword Masters and a poison master, set off on the mountain range to track down their enemies and kill them.
They ran fast, just as fast as before. Skymender was able to sense their tracks through the tunnel that the snake had left.
He followed them, and they seemed to be heading towards an exceptionally large mountain in the distance. It wasn't the biggest of them all, but it was among the biggest.
They traveled for ten minutes before Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao stopped and pointed above.
"They are up there." He said.
Although Skymender could not see them, he received a brief explanation.
To put it simply, they were standing on a ledge of the mountain, staring down at them.
Though there was a nigh imperceptible trace of arrogance on their faces, they were also clearly filled with uncertainty and a bit of worry.
The Serpent Master held his flute up to his mouth and solemnly began to play. A harmonious melody filled their ears. It was not like the usual sounds he made. This was not communication, but a song. It was fast paced and battle-like, giving off a feeling of impending doom.
Suddenly, the ground shook.
Skymender's vision expanded tenfold due to the intense vibrations. It was as if the world was shaking. He was now able to see the Serpent Master and the other two, as well as something horrifying within the mountain.
It was as he had feared.
As the shaking grew and grew, the three people on the ledge began to lift up. The ledge itself began to move higher.
Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao and Sword Master Gargantuan were filled with dread as two eyes, far bigger than a house, stared directly at them.
"The Mountain Serpent." Skymender said.
He had read of this legendary snake in a book at the Great Library of the Imperial Scholar camp. It was said to be a legend, only half confirmed by the Sword Grandmaster of the Ancient Empire.
But now, there was not a shred of doubt to be seen anywhere.
A giant snake, covered in the mountain it lived under, stared directly at them. They were the only living things for miles, as if normal animals did not dare to come near here. The only exception were those on the head of the giant snake, but it seemed to not sense them at all.
The snake did not take action immediately. It looked at all of them, slowly turning its head to examine each one.
After around a minute of deafening silence, the only noise being that of the constant shaking caused by the snake, it opened its mouth.
A roar that shook everything, causing the ground to shake and crack as Skymender and the other first rank Sword Masters were sent flying back merely from the wind it caused.
Its roar was prehistoric, sounding as if it was an ancient mythological existence being enraged.
Skymender steadied himself just in time to sense the giant head snapping at Sword Master Gargantuan.
He was about to shout out in warning, but it seemed unnecessary. Sword Master Gargantuan jumped high in the air, the snake's mouth missing by inches. Instead, he latched on to its nose and stabbed it using its own momentum from attacking.
This caused the sword to slide past its deep scales and fully stab into it. Since Sword Master Gargantuan carried such a large greatsword, it clearly felt this. Although it was like being stabbed by the point of a toothpick, such a thing still hurt.
The snake smashed its head down, attempting to crush Sword Master Gargantuan.
Sword Master Gargantuan jumped off just in time and got far enough away to where he was only blown back by the wind, not seriously injured.
Were this anyone else, Skymender or Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao, they most likely would have died. It was only due to Sword Master Gargantuan's unbelievable strength that he was able to survive without any serious injury.
In an instant, they all made a decision. They had to kill this snake. Otherwise, it was unknown whether or not it would leave them alone even if they ran away.
The three important figures on top of the snake's head, who were clinging on for dear life, saw this, but were not worried. There was no way for them to survive this fight. It was a mythical being. Only a Sword Grandmaster had any hope of killing it.
All three charged at the snake from below. The snake, clearly more enraged than before,smashed its head down on them and swept it to the side.
Skymender held onto the snake, though he felt his bones creaking from the impact. He was not a Sword Master, and only even survived the hit because of the enhancement vial.
However, he did not give up.
The other two also climbed onto the snake and began to run on it.
They were heading towards the three people on top, which was also most likely where its brain was. If they wanted to kill it, this would be the best way.
Suddenly, the snake began to move. Before, although it had moved its head, its body had remained within the mountain. However, at this moment, it began to slither out and move around. Pieces of mountains, much like islands, stuck to portions of its back. This was much like the area on the head that the three figures were holding onto.
Although they tried to run on it, its fast speed gave them a fair share of difficulty.
They were shaken off. Sword Master Yi Shuzanhao landed in the trees. Sword Master Gargantuan landed in a lake.
Skymender landed on a different portion of the snake's body, one not covered by earth but by scales.
Suddenly, the snake wrapped around, snapping towards him at a speed nearly impossible to react to.
In one swift motion, Skymender was swallowed whole.