The Annihilator: Killer Of Gods

The next stop is one of the most dangerous parts of the snake island: Venom Swamp, named for its treacherous marshy terrain. Karsha and his shadow guards have been there briefly before, sticking to the outskirts of the Inner Area.

They've only scratched the surface, but Karsha knows it'll be a whole different game when facing the overlords deep within. Despite his affinity for water and earth, navigating the swamp is a whole new challenge.

On top of that, his understanding of these elements is still basic, so his control isn't perfect. He'll need to be quick and precise in his attacks to survive. His domain gives him an edge, but will it be enough?

Probably not. But Karsha's ready for this. He invested in a hoverboard from the system since he can't fly yet—saving that skill for when he reaches Saint or Grandmaster swordsman status.

But realistically, achieving those levels seems far off for him. For now, he must maintain his cultivation at the Grandmaster stage and only break through after defeating the guardians of Snake Island's Inner Area and the Guardian of the gateway to the domain of the fallen leviathans.

It's a distant goal, but with the hoverboard, he can move swiftly. His experience with locomotive hoverboards back on Earth made adapting to the flying one relatively easy, even though he's limited to hovering just 2 meters above ground. That's enough to navigate the poisonous waters of Venom Swamp.

"So, you can communicate telepathically," Ayarr asked Karsha after they left the borders of ScaleCrusher, the fallen Overlord's domain.

"Not exactly. I can only communicate with you five. It seems tied to our bond," Karsha replied. Then he asked, "Do you have the same ability?"

"No, like you, I seem to communicate with you and the others through telepathy now," Ayarr answered, her voice tinged with sadness. Karsha, ever the general, knew he had to address any internal issues before the battles ahead.

"Is everything alright, Ayarr?" he asked.

"I'm okay," she replied, but Karsha sensed something amiss, she wasn't speaking the truth. But before he could inquire further, Alida spoke up.

"She's just upset about her brother," Alida explained.

"Brother?" Karsha raised an eyebrow. He had no idea Ayarr had a brother, or much about the shadow guards for that matter. "Yes, she had a brother who could communicate telepathically," Alida confirmed.

"Where is he now?" Karsha asked innocently. The shadow guards' expressions darkened at his question.

"He... he disappeared about 45 years ago when humans attacked us, drawing the Overlords to our sanctuary. He was the Shadow Guard assassin back then," Dhaka answered solemnly. Karsha sensed their sadness and decided not to push further, but he wasn't finished speaking.

"If he vanished and didn't die, then he's out there somewhere. I believe he'll find his way back to you all someday," Karsha said reassuringly. Knowing he didn't die in battle, Karsha, with his sharp mind, concluded that Ayarr's brother must still be alive.

Where he might be now was a mystery to both Karsha and the Shadow Guards. Yet, Karsha was certain that as long as he was alive, he'd eventually return to his people. That much he was sure of.

The shadow guards nod and Karsha retrieves the book and accepts the next task.

[ Task accepted ]

[ You have accepted the task to kill the Acidcoil, the Corrosive serpent, The Acid Venom Lord]

[The Acidcoil is one of the deadliest members of the Lost Prince Cohort. It is a very powerful snake that likes to play in muddy waters and use its corrosive nature it to infect the air and water.

A single drop of its corrosive venom is all it will take to eat your entire skin and devour your blood. Getting too close to it is the quickest way to die.

It has a very large body and excretes potent venom that can eat through even metals, but as long as you don't get too close to it, you will be safe.]

[Name: Acidcoil]

[Rank: Tier 7 Terror Mutant]

[Title: Corr0sive Venom Lord]

[Strength: 11,000]

[Defense: 12,200]

[Stamina: 11,000]

[Health: 19,000]

[Attack Power: 11,200 ~ 15,400]

Skills:

[Acid Spray]: Acidcoil can spray a stream of corrosive acid from its mouth, melting through armor and flesh with ease.

[Corrosive Spines]: The spines on Acidcoil's back can be launched like projectiles, embedding in targets and releasing a potent acid that eats away at their insides.

[Toxic Mist]: The serpent can release a dense, poisonous mist from its mouth that spreads across the swamp, causing severe burns and respiratory failure in all living beings caught within.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[Swamp Merge]: Acidcoil can dissolve into the acidic waters of the swamp, becoming one with the environment, allowing it to reappear anywhere within the swamp's boundaries.

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Weaknesses:

[Neck Glands]: The glands that produce Acidcoil's corrosive secretions are located just behind its jaw. Destroying these glands with a targeted strike can significantly weaken the serpent.

[Soft Belly]: Despite its armored scales, Acidcoil's underbelly is relatively soft. A deep, forceful cut here can cause fatal damage.

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Reward: [ Mask of Malevolence ]

[Bonus: Kill it within a day for a hidden reward ]

"Guess it's a good thing I've got literal thick skin now," Karsha mused to himself as he reviewed the skills of the second Overlord he was about to face. While this one was slightly weaker in physical strength and speed compared to ScaleCrusher, its abilities were far from weak.

Everything about this snake was corrosive. Karsha knew he'd need to tread carefully to make it out alive. Not only did the snake have corrosive scales, but its venom was also highly corrosive. In alchemy, that venom would be perfect for combating infections' antibodies.

Karsha would be fighting it in an enclosed space—his domain. While this gave him advantages, it also came with downsides. The confined area meant he'd have to finish the fight quickly before the domain filled with corrosive gas.

Luckily, his body tempering meant he didn't have to worry too much about his skin and blood, though he couldn't linger in the domain too long to avoid poisoning. Since it had only been a day since he absorbed ScaleCrusher's venom, his resistance to poison hadn't significantly increased yet.

He's still absorbing the venom. It had been just 9 hours since he started the quest, barely 12 hours in total, and Karsha was already onto his second task. Initially planning to spend two days on each Overlord with 20 days left, his journey across the island convinced him there was more to explore. Now, he aimed to complete the tasks quickly and fully explore the island.

As they approached the borders of Venom Swamp, Karsha turned to his guards and spoke, "As usual, once the fight starts with me and the Overlord, fall back and stay aboard the flying treasure, just in case the locals here aren't friendly."

They nodded in agreement, aware they'd encounter more snake monsters than on the previous island. Nevertheless, they were eager to face the challenge, especially Kilian and Alida, who had received upgrades.

Kilian wielded a colossal spike shield of legendary grade, while Alida sported a Phoenix bow and the Emperor grade Avatar of the fallen Overlord Scalecrusher, known for its defense and devastating attacks. The two of them are now filled with vigor and eagerness. Stronger than before, Karsha could see they were more than ready to follow his lead.

Upon entering the Swamp, they were hit by a pungent wave of poison in the air. Karsha took immediate note and planned to wrap up the battle swiftly.

The shadow guards sprang into action, carving a path deeper into the swamp for Karsha. Using his domain, he pushed through the skirmish and closed in on the Overlord.

Venom Swamp sprawled before them, a daunting expanse of murky waters and dense mangroves. The air hung heavy with humidity and the acrid stench of poison. The dark, opaque waters concealed untold dangers beneath.

Twisted trees with gnarled roots loomed over the swamp, draped in long, hanging moss. Ground-level mist obscured sight, casting an eerie, otherworldly ambiance. Acidic pools bubbled ominously, while the unstable ground hinted at constant peril with every step.

Karsha maneuvered deeper on his hoverboard, pushing forward for about 10 minutes until he abruptly halted, eyes widening at what lay ahead. It nearly knocked him off his board.

The Acidcoil, a colossal beast stretching over 70 meters long appeared within sight. Its slimy, mottled-green scales gleamed with corrosive secretions, interspersed with toxic spines oozing caustic fluid that could melt flesh and bone on contact.

Its sickly yellow eyes glowed malevolently in the perpetual darkness of the swamp. Massive jaws lined with jagged, acidic teeth dripped with corrosive saliva. The air around it crackled with acrid vapor, and its slithering movement left a trail of dissolved vegetation.

Karsha couldn't help but gulp. "Looks like you've been expecting me. Lucky me, I guess..." he quipped, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.