The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 244: The Overpowered Monster

Blood trickled down Mikhailis’s temple, pooling at the edge of his cracked glasses before dripping onto the cavern floor. He wiped it away with a trembling hand, his breathing heavy, uneven. His fingers tightened around the halberd, its dark energy pulsing faintly, a reminder of the borrowed strength he wielded. Before him, the Crystalgloom Serpent coiled in the mist, its crystalline body shimmering ominously in the dim light.

How the hell do you kill something that refuses to die?

He grimaced, shifting his weight to steady himself. The serpent’s glowing eyes bore into him, unrelenting and full of malice. It wasn’t just a monster—it was a predator, patient and calculating. Each time he struck, it seemed to adapt, its movements sharper, more deliberate. Every shallow breath Mikhailis took echoed in the cavern, drowned out only by the occasional hiss of the beast.

"Thanks, Rodion," he muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Very encouraging."

A bitter smile tugged at his lips. He flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of the halberd, the power coursing through its darkened blade. A quick glance over his glasses show the feed that revealed Cerys, still resting near the faintly flickering fire. She hadn’t stirred, her breathing steady but shallow. Her pale complexion struck him harder than any blow the serpent had delivered.

If I fall here, she’s next, he thought grimly.

And that’s not an option.@@@@

Mikhailis’s grip tightened. He’d fought battles before, been in situations that pushed him to the edge, but this felt different. The stakes were higher. Not just his life, but hers. Well, his fights were in the previous world, not in a fantasy setting like this one. And the sheer power of the Crystalgloom Serpent loomed over him like an insurmountable wall.

"You keep saying that, but it doesn’t feel like it," he retorted, his voice strained. His sharp gaze remained locked on the serpent as it shifted, its tail curling dangerously close to the ground. The faint glow of its mana core pulsed beneath its crystalline armor, tantalizing yet unreachable.

He exhaled, steadying his breathing. The Frog Variant’s boots, fused to his legs, thrummed softly, their power an extension of his own movements, as if his thoughts were directly guiding his body. With a deep breath, he surged forward, the halberd slicing through the air like a dark crescent, closing the distance between himself and the beast with breathtaking speed. Each step felt like a calculated explosion, light yet powerful, the boots amplifying his agility to superhuman levels. He zigzagged unpredictably, each movement precise, his body weaving through the chaos of the battlefield like a wisp of smoke. The serpent’s glowing eyes tracked him, but its strikes, swift and brutal, found only empty air.

He lunged low, using the momentum of his enhanced steps to feint right, then spun sharply left, narrowly avoiding a crystalline projectile that shattered the ground where he had just been. Dust and shards erupted in a deafening blast, but Mikhailis had already moved. With the halberd poised, he launched himself upward in an arc that defied gravity, his boots propelling him with a power that felt almost intoxicating. Twisting mid-air, he aimed the halberd for a vulnerable fissure along the serpent’s crystalline armor. The blade struck true, sending a spray of crystal shards flying in all directions, each one catching the dim light like tiny, deadly stars.

Landing in a crouch, his boots absorbed the impact with a fluid grace, allowing him to transition seamlessly into another strike. He surged forward again, his steps a blur, delivering a series of rapid, calculated blows to the same fissure. Each hit resonated with a crack that echoed through the cavern, chipping away at the serpent’s defenses. Despite the precision of his attacks, the beast’s movements were relentless, its massive tail sweeping toward him with a speed that belied its size. Mikhailis pivoted sharply, his enhanced boots propelling him backward just in time to avoid the tail’s devastating arc, which obliterated a nearby column of stone into a cascade of rubble.

The halberd pulsed in his hands as if sharing his frustration. Mikhailis pushed forward again, this time ducking beneath a sudden lunge of the serpent’s jaws. He twisted, delivering an upward slash along its underbelly. The strike connected, carving another jagged crack into its crystalline armor. The serpent let out a hiss, its movements growing more erratic and violent. Each breath Mikhailis took felt heavier, but he refused to relent, his boots carrying him into yet another daring maneuver as he sought the smallest edge against his colossal foe.

The halberd’s blade met the serpent’s side with a resounding crack. Crystal shards exploded outward, scattering like deadly confetti. Mikhailis pivoted, using the momentum to strike again, this time aiming for the fissures he’d created earlier. Each blow was precise, deliberate, chipping away at the creature’s armor.

"Did I get him,"

"Rodion, any bright ideas?"

Mikhailis scoffed, his grip on the halberd tightening.

"Yeah, because running away sounds like a great plan when there’s nowhere to go."

The serpent reared back, its crystalline body glowing brighter. The light emanating from its core intensified, casting eerie shadows across the cavern walls. Rodion’s voice cut through the rising tension.

"Damn. Is that thing- Ugh!"

BOOM———!!!

Before he could react, the serpent’s tail struck with terrifying speed, catching him off guard. The impact sent him hurtling through the air, slamming into the cavern wall with bone-rattling force. Pain exploded across his back as he crumpled to the ground, his vision swimming.

Mikhailis, you idiot. You let it get the better of you.

He groaned, pushing himself to his hands and knees. Dust and debris rained down around him, the cavern shaking from the serpent’s movements. Through the haze of pain, he heard Rodion’s voice, sharp and commanding.

Mikhailis chuckled weakly, the sound tinged with bitterness. "Quite the laugh, isn’t it? To die like this."

But then, something caught his eye. The serpent’s glowing core pulsed brighter, its radiance spreading through its crystalline body. The light was almost blinding, an ethereal glow that filled the cavern with an otherworldly brilliance. Mikhailis’s eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

It’s evolving.

The thought sent a chill down his spine. The serpent—already powerful beyond measure—was changing, growing stronger. The crystalline armor shifted, reforming into smoother, sharper structures. Its size increased, its coils stretching impossibly long. New appendages sprouted from its body, spiked tendrils that swayed menacingly in the glowing mist.

Mikhailis’s jaw tightened as he forced himself to his feet. His body protested with every movement, pain lancing through his ribs. He leaned heavily on the halberd, his sharp eyes fixed on the newly evolved serpent. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, its predatory gaze unyielding.

"I guess I have the worst luck," he muttered, his voice low and grim.

As he adjusted his grip on the halberd, he felt something unfamiliar in his hand. His fingers brushed against smooth, thin paper—several sheets, glowing faintly with runic energy. He blinked, his mind struggling to process their sudden appearance.

Rodion’s voice cut through his haze, urgent and commanding.