Chương 98: The Breeding Ball

Where did Zelier get that much strength from? The completely one-sided result had not only left Grey dumbfounded. Even Marcus, Vaelis, and Gark, who had been watching from the side, became interested.

"Never would've guessed it, Zelier... You're actually that strong?" Gark's deep voice rumbled.

"No, no... that doesn't count! Again!" Grey rolled his wrist, his expression serious as he challenged Zelier once more. Being defeated by a mage in an arm-wrestling match was simply too embarrassing. The glory of warriors must be protected by me!

"Sure. Let me see what you look like when you go all out." Zelier gladly accepted. This time, Grey held nothing back. The moment the match began, he mobilized every ounce of strength in his body. The muscles on his forearm bulged as he tried to crush Zelier's hand straight down. But Zelier refused to yield. With a low growl, both of them exerted their full strength at the same time. The table beneath them creaked and groaned under the overwhelming force.

This time, Zelier couldn't casually overpower Grey like before. The two entered a fierce stalemate. Grey's face turned bright red. Even the veins on his forehead bulged. Zelier wasn't having an easy time either. He gritted his teeth, struggling against Grey's strength.

"What are they doing...?" Behind the counter, Ella curiously rose onto her tiptoes and peeked over. After seeing what was happening, her expression became strange.

"They're all grown adults... How are they acting like children?"

"Alright, alright. Stop." Marcus stepped forward to intervene.

"Save your strength. Don't end up breaking your arms." His strength was clearly greater than both Zelier's and Grey's. With one hand on each of their wrists, he easily separated the two.

"Ha... ha..." Grey rubbed his sore wrist, grimacing.

"Zelier, where did you get that kind of strength?"

"Did you forget? I used to work the fields." Zelier was breathing heavily as well. Alright... It seemed his physical attributes were now barely comparable to a Low-Tier Warrior. For now, that was still enough. Marcus ended the little contest and redirected everyone's attention back to the commission board. Their eyes swept past the lower-ranked missions and moved directly toward the highest difficulty section at the top. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Soon, one commission caught their attention. 【Subjugation Request: Black Scale Python Deep Within the Swamp】 Recently, the Black Scale Python inhabiting the depths of the swamp has entered its breeding season. Large numbers of ordinary Water Pythons have been attracted by its pheromones, gathering in the area and causing a severe infestation. Several hunters have already gone missing in this region, posing a major threat to nearby villages.

Commission Rank: Low-Tier (★★★) Objective: Eliminate the Black Scale Python, then exterminate as many ordinary Water Pythons as possible. Reward: Slaying the Black Scale Python grants a bounty of 10 Gold Coins. Additionally, each ordinary Water Python killed will earn a reward of 10 Silver Coins. Guild Notes: During breeding season, a Black Scale Python can usually attract dozens of ordinary Water Pythons. Their numbers can become overwhelming. Proceed with extreme caution.

"Isn't this ranking wrong?" Grey looked confused.

"A Difficult-rated Black Scale Python, plus a bunch of Water Pythons that aren't even monsters..."

"How does this only count as a three-star Low-Tier commission?"

"It's ranked correctly." Marcus explained.

"Among all Difficult-rated monsters, the Black Scale Python is one of the most troublesome creatures to deal with."

"So... are we taking this one?"

"Sure." No one had any objections. After confirming the commission, everyone split up to prepare.... West of the Ashwood Forest. After following a mountain trail for some distance, Marcus's party finally reached the vast swamp wetlands where their mission target was located. The air here was hot and humid. The stench of stagnant mud filled the surroundings. The ground beneath their feet was soft and waterlogged, making it dangerously easy to sink.

Fortunately, before setting out, everyone had followed Marcus's suggestion and changed into waterproof boots reaching up to their knees. Otherwise, they would have been forced to march through the swamp with their feet soaking in filthy mud.

"I seriously don't understand..." Vaelis stepped into a murky puddle bubbling with foul gases and frowned in disgust.

"Why would those snakes choose a place like this to breed?"

"Because this environment is perfect for them." Grey carefully picked his way across firmer patches of ground.

"Wet. Hidden. Plenty of food."

"Food?" Zelier looked around. All he could see were rotten trees and black sludge.

"What food is there besides mud?"

"Look over there." Grey moved closer and pointed toward a muddy pool in the distance.

"The ground beneath it is all soft, quicksand-like sludge."

"Whether it's a human, a deer, or even a bear... once you step into that stuff, you're not getting out."

"The harder you struggle, the faster you sink."

"The forest is full of unlucky creatures that meet their end like that."

"But giant pythons can move through this terrain without trouble."

"So for them, this place is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet." After hearing Grey's explanation, Zelier immediately pulled his foot back and kept a safe distance from any suspicious-looking pools. The group continued deeper into the swamp. Each step was either shallow or deep. After entering the inner regions, mist gradually began appearing around them. The choking stench also grew stronger.

"Look at this..." Vaelis suddenly spoke. He pointed toward the countless overlapping tracks carved into the mud. The moisture inside the soil had not yet dried. These marks were clearly recent.

"They're nearby..." Marcus scanned their surroundings.

"Everyone, stay alert!" After carefully pushing aside a curtain of hanging vines... The sight before them became something none of them would ever forget. A vast open swamp stretched before them. At the center of a water pool... A massive sphere was writhing and twisting. Only after looking closely could they realize what it actually was. A breeding ball formed by at least thirty or forty male Water Pythons. Its diameter exceeded five meters.

The male snakes twisted together like countless tangled ropes, crushing against one another. Their slick scales rolled and scraped through the water, producing constant rustling sounds. Mixed among them were the excited, heavy breaths of the Water Pythons. The combined noises created an overwhelming sense of physical disgust. Various thick fluids seeped from the gaps between the snakes, releasing a powerful, foul, and uniquely nauseating odor.

"My... gods..." Even Gark, whose nature was usually fearless and wild, was stunned by the sight. The Black Scale Python had one particularly strange trait. Every single one of them was female. And their method of reproduction was exceptionally violent and cruel. During a specific period, Black Scale Pythons would release pheromones through nearby water sources, signaling their desire to mate. These pheromones spread extremely well through water.

Every male Water Python within several kilometers would be drawn toward them and instinctively gather for mating. However, the Black Scale Python would not mate with only one or several males. Instead, it forced every Water Python to compete. During the breeding period, which could last more than ten days, a single Black Scale Python could attract dozens of Water Pythons. In extreme cases, the number could even exceed a hundred.

All of them would coil around the Black Scale Python's body, constantly squeezing and fighting to drive away their rivals. The pile would grow larger and larger until it became a massive breeding ball. The purpose of this brutal behavior was to select the strongest Water Python. Only the strongest would earn the right to mate with the Black Scale Python. During this process, weaker Water Pythons were often crushed to death.

After this twisted breeding ritual was completed, the offspring born from the Black Scale Python would not necessarily inherit its monster bloodline. Only a portion would become Black Scale Python hatchlings. The rest would be ordinary Water Pythons.