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Novel Catalog
Chapter_163
Emmett and the others remained silent, simply watching Yvette, who stood at the forefront of their group. Her calm demeanor only intensified the unsettling atmosphere around them.
Bruce raised an eyebrow and, with a curious tone, asked, “Ms. Zeller, have you ever been on a rainforest expedition? You seem so familiar with this place.”
Yvette pursed her lips and glanced up at him. Her expression was unreadable as she replied in a low voice, “I saw it in a documentary.”
At that, Frankie, who had just taken a sip of water, suddenly spewed it out in surprise, and some of it landed squarely on Bruce’s face. A couple of droplets trickled down his temple. Bruce wiped the water off his face, then looked up at Frankie, offering him a gentle smile. But to Frankie, that smile was more terrifying than comforting. He knew all too well that provoking Bruce—who was both a neat freak and notoriously stingy—could have consequences, and he could only hope he survived whatever would come next.
An hour passed unnoticed as they rested. With Yvette leading once more, the group set off again.
Frankie couldn’t shake the thought of Yvette’s odd remark about the documentary. He pondered over which documentary it could have been, mentally noting to look into it once they returned.
This time, Yvette slowed her pace, no longer rushing forward with the same urgency she had shown earlier. As they passed through a patch of vibrant, colorful flowers, Frankie’s attention was caught. His eyes became dazed, and for a moment, he reached out to touch one of the blooms.
But just as his fingers neared the petals, a silver needle whizzed through the air from Yvette’s direction, striking the center of the flower. The petals scattered, revealing a small, brightly patterned snake. Its fangs dripped with a poisonous liquid, and it quickly lunged at Frankie.
Though Chris, Bruce, and Emmett reacted immediately, it was too late to intervene. Before they could even reach Frankie, Yvette’s second and third silver needles hit their mark. They struck the snake’s head and its critical spot with deadly precision. The snake’s head and body separated instantly, falling lifeless to the ground.
Frankie, terrified, dropped to the ground, his heart pounding. He had always been afraid of reptiles, especially snakes—those cold-blooded, slithering creatures. Seeing one lunge at him with its mouth wide open had rattled him to the core. He stumbled to the side and vomited several times, trying to shake off the terrifying sight.
Once he regained some composure, he scampered over to Yvette, a nervous grin spreading across his face. “I declare you my idol from today on! No, wait… idol is too simple a word. From now on, I’ll call you ‘Ms. Zeller’ out of respect!” he exclaimed, his voice full of awe.
Yvette, rarely caught off guard, gave a slight smirk. Her eyes lifted in mild amusement, carrying a trace of indifference mixed with something almost playful. She glanced briefly at Chris and the others, who seemed unfazed by Frankie’s antics.
Bruce and the others, however, weren’t as carefree as Frankie. Only moments earlier, Frankie had narrowly avoided death. If Yvette hadn’t acted so swiftly, he’d likely be a corpse by now. Emmett had watched the entire sequence unfold and had to admit that it was truly impressive. Yvette’s silver needles had been launched simultaneously, each one hitting its mark with perfect timing and precision. It was a skill that showcased her remarkable control and reaction time.
Yvette’s gaze lingered on the lifeless snake for a moment before she turned to the group. Her tone shifted, becoming more serious. “We’re almost there,” she said.
The others exchanged puzzled glances. “Where exactly are we going?” Emmett asked, unsure of her meaning.
Yvette’s bright brown eyes glinted with cold intensity as she looked into the distance. “In less than half an hour, we’ll encounter the giant python, the ruler of this rainforest,” she explained. “It’s far larger than any python discovered so far—several tens of feet longer, in fact. It’s been living here for an unknown period of time. The appearance of these smaller snakes is a sign that we’re close. From here on, we must remain on high alert.”
Yvette’s words carried weight, and her tone left no room for doubt. She continued, “Emmett, take out the sulfur extract we prepared earlier. Sprinkle it on yourself—this will temporarily keep the smaller snakes away.”
With that, Yvette reached into her black backpack and pulled out a small porcelain vial. She poured four small beads into her hand, which resembled candy, and handed them to Emmett. He distributed them among the group.
Her eyes, cold and unyielding, watched them as they each swallowed the beads. “This will protect you from the toxic atmosphere for two hours,” Yvette said. “Earlier, Frankie was misled by the scent in the air, but the medicine will help. However, staying alert and focused is the key to avoiding traps.”
The gravity of her words made the group’s hearts tighten. They exchanged uneasy glances. How massive is this python? they all wondered.
But their questions would have to wait. Yvette wasted no time. As the others swallowed their pills, she turned and resumed walking, her presence unwavering. The group followed suit, holding back their curiosity.
They had walked for another ten minutes when Yvette suddenly stopped, crouching down to gather a handful of dirt. She sifted it gently between her fingers and brought it to her nose, inhaling deeply. Her eyes sharpened immediately, her body stiffening with alertness.
“We’ve reached its lair,” she said, her voice low but intense. The atmosphere became thick with tension. Yvette stood up, facing the wind, radiating an aura of deadly focus. “It’s here.”
As soon as she spoke, the rustling sound from the surrounding bushes grew louder, closer. The air grew heavier, and the group’s nerves were on edge. A chill ran down their spines.
Emmett, Chris, Bruce, and Frankie all pulled out their heavy machine guns from their backpacks, ready for whatever would emerge from the underbrush.
Frankie, trying to sound confident, whistled as he held his gun. “Ah, the age of firearms is great. No matter how big the snake is, I’ll definitely blow its head off with one shot.”
However, the others remained silent, their expressions grim. They all knew that while their guns might be enough to take down a regular snake, this was no ordinary creature.
Yvette’s gaze remained fixed ahead. Her expression was indifferent, even after hearing Frankie’s bravado. Her eyes were cold and calculating, still assessing the situation.
Then, suddenly, her demeanor shifted, becoming more serious than ever. “Get ready,” she said in a commanding tone. “The snake’s venom is extremely toxic. If you’re bitten, even the gods couldn’t save you.”
The rustling grew louder and closer. Finally, they saw it.
The giant python, the creature Yvette had warned them about, slithered out from the bushes, its massive body looming over them. Its mouth was wide open, revealing two enormous fangs dripping with venom. Its eyes glowed an eerie green, piercing through the group. The snake’s jet-black scales shimmered in the sunlight, marked with deep crimson patterns. Its coiled body was a terrifying sight, stretching at least a hundred feet long.
Frankie looked down at the gun in his hand, then back at the towering creature in front of him. Could I take back what I just said? he thought in horror. Is this really a python? It looks more like a prehistoric beast that has come back to life.
Emmett, Chris, and Bruce, although somewhat prepared, were still taken aback by the sheer size and presence of the giant snake. It was a beast of another world, and they realized in that moment that one wrong move could turn them into its next meal. The python’s gaze shifted toward them, its eyes locking on Yvette, who stood at the front. It might have sensed something familiar about her presence.
The battle for survival was about to begin.
