I chased right after the cobra as fast as I could. But damn was he quick! I kept at his tail for thirty seconds, a minute, two minutes, ten. Bottom line, the longer I chased him, the more difficult it was to keep up. Especially when I turned a corner just in time to see him dart round place was becoming more and more like a maze than a library! At this rate it's going to end up being time for the bloody Winter festival before I can catch him!
"What's the matter? Can't keep up? So much for being a kung fu warrior! Kung fu phony's more like it"!
Not to mention his irritating insults which he kept tossing at me whenever he could was really starting to irk me! I swear I'm about to lose it if I have to keep this up! I'm a kung fu master for pete's sake! How am I being so easily humiliated by this guy!?
Time for plan B.
For a brief moment more I kept up the chase, purposely falling behind as I did, until he chose to turn yet another corner. The second he did so I put my new idea into effect and stopped chasing before climbing up the shelf to my right, all the way to the top. It took a matter of seconds, but considering how much easier to spot the cobra, who at this point had realised I was no longer behind him, I had no trouble closing in on him. I hopped from shelf to shelf until I was right above him. It brought me pleasure to catch a glimpse of his confused face before allowing myself to dive on down on top of him! Something he did not realise until it was too late.
Using my weight and momentum, I landed on him and used his own body as a springboard to throw myself up into the air a second time by a few feet, giving me enough time to back flip and gave the guy a taste of my tail as it smacked hard into his face with enough force to fling him back and into the shelf behind him, forcing him to drop the scroll.
As it rolled, I tried to make a dash for it.
"Well, that wasn't too bad". I thought to myself. "Maybe I can get back to the others before"-
*THWACK*
I was a few feet from retrieving the scroll before something slammed into my side. Hard. Knocking me to the ground. Not enough to seriously hurt me, but enough to throw me off balance for a short few seconds. I looked to see what had hit me. It turned out that the something had been none other than a large brown book, now lying motionless on the cold floor. When I turned to look up, another one smacked into my face.
*THWACK*
I stumbled for a moment, and quickly recovered in time to see a third one heading my way. This time, instead of allowing the thing to smash into my face, I grabbed the damn object and threw it at the only source it could have been coming from. The Cobra himself, who I managed to nail in the gut with my own projectile, causing him to accidentally drop the next book he was going to throw.
Next thing I knew, the worlds first ever book fight commenced. You know how when you're a kid you have food fights or water fights? Yeah, imagine how ridiculous and stupid a book fight sounds, let alone being in one. Despite the seriousness behind it all, I could imagine that someone watching this would find the whole thing humorous. Either one of us would be throwing books at each other, blocking them, or actually try using our own fighting styles against one another. Whenever I tried making another run for the scroll, I'd get a faceful of book for it. And whenever my determined foe did the same, I would quite happily clonk him on the side of the head, hoping it hurt him.
Eventually, as you can guess, the place became a mess very quickly. There would barely be an inch of floor every now and then, but everywhere else? Books, books and more freaking books! I swear when this is all over I am never reading another book again! Ever!
As another book was thrown at me, I slid under it and charged right at the cobra, who grabbed another book and was about to throw it over his head.
"I have had just about enough of this bastard"!
I bounced off from the closest shelf, formed a fist-like shape with my tail, and smashed it into his stomach with as much force as I could have given, just before he could hurl the book at me.
I got my desired effect as the ruthless attack sent the snake flying back! Stopping only when he crashed into the wooden bookshelf behind. I just watched as he fell to the floor, holding his stomach while the bookshelf he had flown into back first now had a large new crack. Oh, and just to add insult to injury, that book he was holding? When I hit the cobra it flew up from his grasp, and had only just now allowed gravity to take ahold, landing right on his head. All he could do now was lie there, unable to gather the energy to continue to fight.
After making sure he wasn't going to get up, I slithered over to the last location I remembered seeing the scroll, found it under one of the many books littering the ground, and took it while I could.
For a brief moment, I really thought that I had succeeded. I really had. The second I had the scroll, another two snakes dropped from above, in front and behind me. Had they been up above us the entire time?
The one in front attempted to spear me with his tail. I was able to grab it and swung him into his lunging friend from behind. Chances are, I would have been able to beat them. The only thing that stopped me was the cobra. I really do not know how or where he got the sudden energy, but while I was distracted he lunged at me from behind. Damn coward pulled me back with his tail round my neck, nearly strangling me in the process! The other two I had just knocked down quickly recovered and followed suite, trying to restrain me. One round my tail and the other round my torso! Even with my training, attempting to pry off three snakes was pointless. Especially since they've got my tail and spine locked into a straight position, stretching me out painfully.
After a few pointless struggles, the cobra knew I was defenceless and removed himself and came face to face with me. Despite his wheezing from my last blow I delivered, he still managed to keep up with his smartass attitude.
"Not bad, not bad. Had me worried there for a second, thinking I lost you back there. Gods above know we can't have that now, can we"?
What did he just say?
"What is that supposed to mean"? I hissed out. "Who are you"?
"That's not important". He scoffed. "What is important is you".
"ME? What do you need me for"?!
"Well, not you specifically".
This isn't making any sense! This guy and his henchmen have attacked us twice now, clearly wanting something! And now that I'm trying to get the answer from him, he says he needs something from me? What the hell does he think I'm carrying?
Wait.
...
Oh no. No no no, please tell me this isn't going where I think it is!
"You're here for the Mèngyǎn"?
"Smart one you are".
Damn it, enough with the attitude already, I'm getting really sick of it!
"Why? What in God's name do you want something like that for"?!
Instead of answering, he turned his attention to two other armored snakes who I had not noticed appear, and chose to order them around instead.
"Head deeper into the library and reinforce Alpha group. We need to buy as much time as we can to transport the target away from here and into a more suitable location".
"Yes sir"!
He then turned his attention to the ones holding me in place.
"You two hold him here while I inform the captain of the good news".
So. This guy is someone else's lackey? I'd take joy in that if not for what I had just heard, or rather lack of answers!
All I could do now was watch him slither from me, back to probably the entrance. Now it was just me being held by two armored snakes. All I could do now was listen to them bicker amongst themselves.
"I thought this guy was supposed to be tough"? Spoke the one holding my spine.
"Not tough enough to take on us it seems". Replied the one that had my tail.
"Yeah. Wait until the others hear we caught this chump".
"What about our commanding officer? Isn't he the one who fought him face to face"?
"Eh... I guess he sort of helped by distracting him. But we're the ones who restrained him".
"So basically, we just let our commander do all the work while we waited for the right moment to strike? And even then all we did was wrap him up. Sounds kinda... lame, don't you think"?
"Well... yeah, if you put it that way. But what if we were to... you know... twist the truth? Tell the guys we aided the lieutenant in his time of need"?
Good heavens, am I really listening to this conversation?
"I guess... but what if the lieutenant says different"?
"Hey hey hey, we're the ones with the freaking target okay? I think some sort of credit is due our way".
...
...
"What, you mean like promotions"?
"Yeah man, totally! We're going to be heroes for bringing this python in"!
"You really think so"...?
"Of course! Do you know how important he is to the captain? This is a big step for our careers"!
"But... what if he escapes"?
"Uh, how is he going to escape idiot? If he so much as struggles we can pull him apart and snap his spine".
"Won't disabling the target dampen our chances of promotions"?
"Well... we'll just say he fell and landed on a pointy rock"?
...
...
"Fell on a rock? Really"?
"What"?
"He's a snake like us numbskull! How the hell is he going to fall? Especially when we're meant to be restraining him while standing perfectly still, waiting until the captain shows up? And upon that, look around! Do you see any pointy rocks!? We're in a library, not a cave"!
"Uhh... I'm still working through the kinks on that plan"...?
"... You know what, just... think it over, okay? Without talking. To me".
"Alright alright, jeez. Don't need to be a jerk about it"...
"Whatever asshole".
"Uh uh uh... that's soon to be Corporal asshole to you".
...
...
...
Oh, they finally decided to shut up? Thank God above! Okay, back to me now. So how do I get out of this? They've got me restrained tight, and I can't expect to wait for backup from Viper and the others, so I'm on my own. Hmm...
Wait. What about...? Screw it, I don't have a lot of options. And it's the only plan I have.
I didn't hesitate to do what I did next. I opened my mouth, and bit down on the closest bit of skin, or rather scales, I could see. The scream that followed could probably be heard throughout the whole library.
"What!? What happened"!? Snapped the other one, oblivious to what had just happened.
"He bit me! He freaking bit my stomach! Who does that"!?
Focused more on his pain than he was me, I slipped out from his grasp and headbutted the one still holding onto my tail. With the helmet I probably hurt myself more than I did him, but it surprised him, allowing me to pull my tail from he fool. I quickly attacked and left the pair lying crumpled up in a heap, barely awake, and moved on.
"So... what was that you said about us becoming heroes again..."?
"Oh shut it, will you..."?!
I hurried to where I could remember leaving Viper and the Soothsayer. Hopefully they're still okay, but best I hurry and make sure.
In a couple of minutes, I found the group, safely unharmed. The opposition was not so lucky. Especially one snake with several bumps across its head, courtisy of one Soothsayer and her staff. I rejoined them. From what I could tell, the reinforcments were also among the pile of unconcious snakes.
"Guys! Are you okay"?
"Mike? Thank goodness, you're okay". Viper smiled. "Do you still have the scroll"?
"Got it right here". I spoke proudly, showing the scroll in my tail. "Come on, we need to get out of here while we can".
The group nodded and we followed the path out of the library, keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble.
"I think we're almost there. Just another dozen feet and we should be able to reach the surface again, right"?
The Soothsayer nodded to my question.
"Good. Now let's get going before"-
"I'm afraid you are not going anywhere, Master python". Came a deep, booming voice from behind.
I turned round, and my eyes almost bulged out from their sockets. Standing right behind us was a new snake. A huge one! Colossal! Like, seriously big! Double my size at least! And at his side, his foul cobra minion, holding a blade near Bobs throat.
"Surrender or your friend shall pay the price". The giant ordered.
Not really having a choice, I gave in and lowered my stance, all before recieving a sharp pain to the back of my head. Last thing I could remember was Viper catching me before I hit the ground, saying something I could not hear.
...
Sorry for the wait guys. It'll soon be time for me to return to university once again and I'm busy with discussing payments with the housing company, so it's all kind of chaos at the moment. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll work on the next one when I can. Cheerio!