Chapter 50: Teamwork

Chapter 50: Teamwork

The tail hit like a battering ram, and though the shield absorbed most of the impact, the sheer force sent Gobbo flying backward through the underbrush, crashing into a thicket with a pained grunt.

Dribb moved fast, planting himself in the python’s path just in time, shield up to block any follow-up strike. Then he let loose of a howl using [Roar of Intimidation]

The snake halted, momentarily shaken.

And that was the moment Zonk and Thok needed.

From opposite sides, they struck—blades stabbing at the creature’s flanks. Thok’s dagger pierced between scales while Zonk’s spear gouged a shallow wound near its underbelly.

Their strikes didn’t pierce all the way through, but they did enough damage to make the python shriek and lash out wildly.

It thrashed in every direction, striking out in a frenzy—but the goblins with sharper instincts, especially those with [Danger Sense], managed to duck, roll, or dive out of the way just in time.

"Good!" I shouted from a distance.

"Gobbo, Dribb—rotate defense! Zonk, Thok—keep hitting and pulling back, in and out!"

"Narg, aim for the head with fireball. Only the head!"

If steel couldn’t pierce the skull, then fire would have to.

The goblins snapped into action like a proper unit.

They moved cleaner now—sharper, faster, more coordinated. Their eyes weren’t filled with panic anymore. They weren’t scrambling like before.

They worked together. Swapping roles. Flanking. Supporting each other’s moves.

Blades slashed. Spears jabbed. Fireballs scorched scale and smoke.

They were relentless, hacking and harassing the python from every angle.

And I couldn’t help but watch in awe.

This wasn’t the same bumbling crew of green idiots I had stumbled across two days ago.

No.

This was a warband.

They were a team now, and they worked seamlessly, each one covering the others’ backs without hesitation.

The python lashed out again, this time targeting Zonk with a lightning-fast strike.

But Zonk was ready.

He dropped low, letting the fangs whip over his head, then slid under the lunging mass and slashed upward at its exposed belly.

This time, his blade dug deeper—deep enough to draw blood. The python let out a sharp, guttural hiss of pain.

Before it could recover, Dribb stepped in, smashing his shield square into the snake’s snout. The impact jarred its head to the side just long enough for Gobbo to swing down with a heavy, vertical slash aimed at its thick neck.

But the python reacted violently, spewing a fresh stream of acid from its mouth.

The burning liquid splattered toward them.

Dribb managed to raise his shield in time, catching most of the corrosive spray.

It sizzled loudly, eating into the metal and wood like it was nothing. By the time the acid stopped dripping, the shield looked more like a warped scrap of melted slag than a proper piece of gear.

It had held—barely—but it was done for. One more hit like that and it would fall apart completely.

Narg launched another fireball—this one smaller, but far more concentrated.

The glowing orb streaked through the air and smashed into the side of the python’s face with a loud whoomp, igniting a patch of its thick scales. The flames clung to the creature, eating through the outer layer and burning a hole into the flesh beneath.

The python let out a deep, guttural roar—more like a pained bellow than a hiss—and thrashed violently in response. It slammed into a nearby tree with such force that bark exploded off the trunk in jagged chunks.

Now it was furious.

It spun in place, tail whipping out in every direction like a flailing wrecking ball.

Zonk dropped to the ground just in time, the tail sweeping inches over his head.

Gobbo wasn’t so lucky.

The tail caught him with a glancing blow across the chest, sending him flying. He spun midair, armor scraping against bark and branches, before landing hard on his back near the base of another tree with a loud thud.

He groaned, but he was still conscious. Barely. Which forced me to move.

The python lunged toward Gobbo, its mouth stretching open far wider than seemed natural—jaws unhinged, fangs glistening with acid.

With a flick of my wrist, I triggered the warp, switching places with him just as the python struck again. The moment I reappeared, only inches from those gaping jaws, I triggered another short-range warp to the side, barely avoiding getting swallowed whole.

The python crashed headfirst into the tree where Gobbo had been, splintering the bark with a thunderous crack.

The moment my feet hit the ground, I shouted:

"Now, Thok!"

And from a branch above, Thok dropped like a stone, dagger gripped in both hands, eyes locked on his target.

SHUNK!

He drove the blade straight into the python’s eye, and it sank deep.

SKREEEEEEEE!

The python let out a horrifying, high-pitched hiss as it convulsed in pain.

The beast shrieked—more airblast than sound—and thrashed wildly, its tail snapping like a whip as it writhed in blinding pain.

Thok held on, clutching the embedded dagger with both hands, riding the violent thrashing as the beast whipped and twisted in blind agony.

"Help, Totem!" Thok shouted, his voice ragged over the chaos.

The python, in a desperate attempt to dislodge him, slammed its entire body sideways into a massive boulder, and Thok was thrown clear, crashing hard into the dirt with a thud.

Seeing that he didn’t move. I didn’t wait.

With a snap of my fingers, I triggered the swap just as the python coiled to finish him off, bringing myself into his place.

The python struck again, jaws wide and fast, just inches from snapping shut around me.

But I warped—vanishing in a blink—and reappeared in the air, atop its body.

But I wasn’t fast enough.

"Eishh!" I hissed through clenched teeth as a searing pain exploded in my shoulder.

A glance told me everything—some of the python’s acid had splashed onto me during the warp. It hadn’t been much, but enough to bite into skin like molten metal.

Goddammit, it hurt.

As I descended, I pulled a rusty dagger from my inventory and drove it into an open wound along the beast’s side, burying the blade deep.

I hadn’t gone for a killing blow—this wasn’t my fight to finish. If I wanted it dead, I would’ve used Gravefang and gone straight for the skull. But my goblins had earned this. I wasn’t about to rob them of the reward.

The creature’s scales were tough, but I was confident my strength could force the blade through.

The python shrieked, its massive body snapping upright in a wild lurch, thrashing violently to shake me off.

I didn’t stick around.

I warped mid-motion, vanishing just before it went berserk.

And right then, Dribb burst...