The Black Iron Glory
Dancing With Pyton

Chapter 35

Dancing with Python

In a somewhat panicked state, Claude dropped the torch in his hand to the ground and pulled a short match with his right hand and hit the trigger. Only a few sounds were heard. He only realized that he had not turned on the slow match yet. This short barrel is completely useless! Claude felt sweat build up on his forehead.

His bloody and gaping mouth disappeared suddenly. Should have been startled by the fire on the torch. The light of the flame helped Claude see a huge black python crawling in front of him. It was completely covered in mud and it towered high, creeping its red, forked tongue from time to time and gazing intently at Claude coldly with both of its emerald-colored eyes.

Fuck. . . I know that the treasure hunt will never go well, Claude thought soon. He felt both of his legs shivering unbearably. Me . . I hate snakes the most. . . Although I had snake meat with Boss when we were hanging out with girls it was great and Boss even claimed that they had aphrodisiacal properties. . . But . . but this is python! It wasn't the little snake they threw into the pot to cook!

Tranquil . . I must remain calm. . . Don't let my mind wander. Claude forced himself to calm down. He still has a chance. A short barrel match is his biggest bet out of the situation. Even though he only had one chance to fire it, the small distance of three meters should have been strong enough for the rifle. As long as he could shoot the python head, he would be able to kill it in one hit. Also, the python was not as big as he had thought before. He certainly has nothing to fear.

He was breathing hard as the sweat on his forehead dripped down. However, he could not be bothered to care about it. He glued his eyes tightly to the python in front of him as he moved his right hand carefully and slowly towards his gun and left it towards the torch. He'll light a slow match.

Now, Claude could see the black python clearly. The cross section of his body was as wide as a bowl and stretched for about three meters and had two fangs as sharp as razor blades. Although he was not aware of whether it was venomous, Claude relaxed at the thought that it might not be a giant python. If it was like the anaconda snake he saw in the movies in his past life that was over eight meters tall, he might give up on all hope. But knowing the size of the python in front of him gave him the courage to fight back. Victory is still undecided.

The slow match gradually approached the torch. Finally, hissing can be heard as embers of the fire can be seen at the end of the slow match. In his excitement, he turned his attention from python to slow match.

At that moment, the shadow jumped for him.

The black python leaped out of the mud and shot towards him like an arrow.

Knowing that it was no good when the black python caught the small window when he distracted him, Claude could not think of any other ideas and hurriedly swung his torch to block. What he did not expect was that the shadow that came for him did not dodge and hit the torch.

Claude only felt a loud bang in his hand as his torch struck. A pungent aroma struck his nostrils as a slippery, cold, and disgusting object wrapped around his waist and moved onto his shoulders. A great force pressed his elbows and waist tightly. Claude could no longer stand up and he fell backwards into the mud.

Just enough time for the three blinks of an eye had passed since the python started its attack. Claude could only feel grateful for the fact that his two hands were still not tied by the snake. His right hand was still holding the gun. Even though his left hand dropped the torch, it was still free to move. However, there was no way he could hold onto the body of the python considering the mud that was on it allowed him to slip away easily.

He kept the hunting knife on his back and he tried to draw it with his left hand, only to find that the python had wrapped it so tightly around his elbow and waist that he could not draw it. At that moment, the python raised its head and opened its mouth wide before biting its face.

Claude hurriedly blocked with a gun in his right hand. The snake bit the barrel right then and there. Fortunately, the rifle itself was relatively long – about 60 centimeters in length – and the snake only swallowed half of the gun. The force of his bite also caused his two fangs to sink deep into the gun's wooden body and remain stuck there for the time being.

Delighted, he tries to pull the trigger, only to find that the slow match had been extinguished some time earlier during the tussle.

The filth! Why does bad luck keep coming one after another ?! claude internally. The black python threw itself all over to try to remove its fangs from the gun, but Claude held tightly to the gun to keep it from releasing. As he struggled, the body of the black python grasped Claude even tighter. He found it harder to breathe with every passing moment.

The filth! Why does bad luck keep coming one after another ?! claude internally. The black python threw itself all over to try to remove its fangs from the gun, but Claude held tightly to the gun to keep it from releasing. As he struggled, the body of the black python grasped Claude even tighter. He found it harder to breathe with every passing moment.

Suddenly, he found two torches that he had stabbed into the bushes not far away. His eyes shone as he kicked his feet in the mud. He did not know what he was stepping on, but it was enough for him to push himself towards the torch, the snake and the weapon with him.

Feeling with his left hand, he finally managed to grab the torch. The Python is still struggling to free its fangs from the body of the gun and Claude is on the verge of no longer being able to hold the weapon.

It did not occur to him in the slightest to use a torch to repel reptiles. He was just trying his best to press the torch on the gun that was shaking nonstop. Hissing! The slow match was lit once again and it was really close to the flash pot. Claude gritted his teeth and bet his survival with his trigger. . .

Slow burning matches are pushed to the flash pan. Bang out! The tape almost shook the gun from his hand. The living python froze suddenly after a shot. Just a moment passed, but it felt like an eternity to Claude.

The black python suddenly raised its head once more. Claude could no longer maintain his grip on the gun and let it slip, only to see the pythons swaying vigorously and uncontrollably. The body that coiled so tightly to him slowly loosened and slumped to the ground. In the end, the python fell onto the mud-head first and rolled it briefly until it stopped altogether.

Claude heaved a sigh of relief and sat down after a while. He pulled the python body away from him and propped himself up in the bushes as he stood up. He was injured everywhere; he did not know if it was due to the tight coiling of the python or the total exhaustion that washed him away after a difficult fight. However, he found himself rather lucky to have never been bitten even once. All his equipment was still there and none of his limbs were seriously injured.

Using the extra illumination, he found a extinguished torch somewhere in the muddy ground. After rekindling them, he used them to light up the other three piles of branches.

The four flames lit up brightly and provided enough light for him to be able to see his surroundings well. He could even clearly see the walls of the basement. It was huge, about 400 square meters. Apart from the messy ground where he struggled, the rest of the basement was filled with mud.

The four flames lit up brightly and provided enough light for him to be able to see his surroundings well. He could even clearly see the walls of the basement. It was huge, about 400 square meters. Apart from the messy ground where he struggled, the rest of the basement was filled with mud.

Claude had two reasons to burn that pile. First, he could see more clearly with the extra light and would not be caught off guard by another beast like before. Second, he knew that fire threatened animals like pythons and other beasts that lived in darkness. Having a few torches with him also made him feel safer.

After dealing with one large python, Claude really did not want to face the other. The short barrel matches were still attached to the python's mouth. If there was a friend, then Claude would definitely die no matter how hard he cried or pleaded.

He pulled the hunting knife from his back and carefully approached the unmoving python. Although he had shot it in his mouth, he could not confirm that the python was dead. In his past life, he had read about someone who saw the head of a snake being decapitated just slaughtered by a chef and kicked him. He did not expect that his head could still move and bite his leg. By the time he was sent to the hospital, the poison was already broken and he had already survived.

The failures of the past are lessons from the future. He thought it best to be careful when dealing with this type of snake.

He carefully approached the head of the python and noticed every movement it displayed.

The black python was simply put in the mud without moving a single bit.

Holding the hunting knife in his head, Claude pressed it hard and pushed the blade into his eyes and head. The black python's body twitched violently several times like it was struck by lightning before it stopped completely.

Fearing that the creature had not died completely, he measured the head with a knife a few more times and only took it out when he was sure. After that, he cut the snake's mouth and pulled the snake's fangs.

He noted that his fangs had been embedded deep inside the buttstock of a gun made from aspen. No wonder the python could not escape no matter how hard he tried, making Claude kill him with one shot.

Only after he replaced the slow matches for backup and refilled the gun did he calm down. He kept a hunting knife, held a torch, and walked through the mud back to the back of the stone steps. He no longer cared about hygiene and squatting. Placing the gun somewhere he could reach in an instant, he carefully lifted the chest of the gemstone.

He noted that his fangs had been embedded deep inside the buttstock of a gun made from aspen. No wonder the python could not escape no matter how hard he tried, making Claude kill him with one shot.

Only after he replaced the slow matches for backup and refilled the gun did he calm down. He kept a hunting knife, held a torch, and walked through the mud back to the back of the stone steps. He no longer cared about hygiene and squatting. Placing the gun somewhere he could reach in an instant, he carefully lifted the chest of the gemstone.

He then shone and made sure no one was left behind before dropping the torch onto the muddy ground. He took the jade chest and the gun with him to the rope ladder, sheathed the gun, and started climbing.

After exiting the underground door, Claude slumped to the ground now so he finally felt safe again. He placed the jade chest lightly in front of him, wiping the mud from his body before trying to open the lid.

The crate is not a simple lid on the box that appears. Instead, it was a sliding cap, no different from the package for a wine bottle in his past life. There are two protrusions beside the chest. The chest cap is made of the same material as the chest itself. Although it is light and thin, it is really tough and durable. It is surprising why such a thin piece of stone does not break because of sheer fragility. Then again, it was a crate made for use by magi, so Claude didn't really ponder on it.

The contents of the crate were exactly as Landes stated. There were two diaries and one notebook as well as a bag of deer skin money containing a sack of gold coins. There's nothing else. Landes wasn't lying. He was a poor man among the Magi.

Claude closed his chest and took a deep breath. He has managed to achieve what he wants. Although it was a rather close call, the end result was fine. He was also not in danger of losing his life. What remained was how he had to deal with the next one.

He did not want to let his three friends know about Magus Landes. However, there was nothing to hide his deadly fight with the pythons in the basement, especially when he was covered in such mud.

I need to think of a good reason. . . Although Boa, Eyke and Wero are 16 years old like me, they are much sharper than other students my age. Maybe it was because of the way their capable father raised them.

Even though their grades weren't so good in school, it was because they weren't interested in learning. That doesn't mean they're not smart. That was the reason the three of them were so familiar with Claude. They look down on their other classmates and consider them shallow and superficial.

Shit. . . Fighting that snake would probably be easier than finding a reasonable excuse. . .