In an instant, everyone who had just calmed down leaped to their feet in terror.
Through the dim light, they could see snakes-yellow, green, rainbow-colored, red, and many more-crawling across the ground. The variety of colors and shapes made the scene downright chilling.
The group, who had just rushed in, now rushed out in a frenzy, even dragging the almost exhausted researchers with them. They stumbled out into the rain, letting the torrential downpour soak them completely. Their faces were so pale, they looked like ghosts. After what they’d just gone through with the whirlpool and storm at sea, even the idea of being in a pit of snakes didn’t seem to scare them anymore.
“Burn them,” Ryan ordered, his face darkening.
Ryan quickly scooped Echo up into his arms and stood on a rock. Since he was the boss, he had stayed on the outer edge when they first entered, in line with his usual leadership style. He hadn’t yet noticed any snake clusters around him.
At Ryan’s command, the Dark family members snapped into action. They were always prepared, with weapons at the ready. In an instant, they set the dry grass alight. Within moments, the flames roared to life.
Ryan led the group back, retreating as the bright flames illuminated the area.
The fire burned fiercely beneath the rocks, and the surrounding area was now fully visible.
As Ryan held Echo tightly, she turned her head slightly and saw the chaos ahead. Her face twisted in disgust as she took in the sight: the snakes-white, black, colorful, bamboo snakes, coral snakes, cobras-were all writhing in the fire’s glow. They struggled desperately, trapped in the flames, and the scene was both sickening and terrifying.
The Dark family members moved with impressive speed and agility. They grabbed the researchers brought by Michael and hurried them out, quickly setting fire to the surrounding area.
The dry grass, the rocky ground, and the firelit stone walls became littered with dead snakes, falling from the fire like rain. The once-silent snakes now crackled and hissed in the fire, their bodies flailing wildly, creating an even more chaotic and frightening scene.
“Boss,” Hawk said, glancing around the area before taking a step closer to Ryan. His voice was low, but it was clear he was asking something without directly saying it, a mix of inquiry and seeking confirmation.
Ryan furrowed his brow slightly. The sky was pitch black, with only the firelight ahead offering any visibility. The storm was still raging. Moving forward was risky, but retreat wasn’t an option either. Ryan squinted through the flickering flames and scanned the surroundings.
The rain poured down heavily, drenching everyone in the open. Though they were soaked through, they were standing on rocky ground, which was relatively clean, and the animals were likely hiding from the storm. It seemed the best place to be was right where they stood-out in the open, despite being drenched.
“Stay here and stay alert,” Ryan ordered coldly.
Hawk and the others nodded silently, and the Dark family members, using the firelight to survey their surroundings, remained tense. The area was quiet, but after everything they’d just witnessed, no one dared to move recklessly. They formed a tight formation, back to back, on alert in the rain.
This place was dangerous. Even the cracks between the rocks were filled with snakes. There didn’t seem to be anywhere truly safe, and the nearby forest was definitely a risk. After the chaos they’d just gone through, everyone silently agreed with Ryan’s orders. Maybe the rain-soaked open ground was the safest place after all.
Ryan stood in the rain, holding Echo, letting the heavy downpour soak them both. The wind had been somewhat blocked by the trees, but the rain felt like it was stinging their skin.
Ryan frowned slightly, then carefully set Echo down. With quick hands, he unbuttoned his jacket, pulled her close, and wrapped her against his bare chest to shield her from the rain. His soaked clothes weren’t much protection, but it was better than nothing.
Echo didn’t say anything. She simply clung to him tightly, burying her head in his chest. The warmth of his skin, his strong heartbeat, was comforting in the silence of the night, and the rhythm of it stirred something deep inside her.
Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness. “Oh, cold… cold… ah…” One of the researchers who’d been bitten by the snake earlier collapsed to the ground, his face turning from pale to bright red as though blood had frozen in his veins. He kept shouting about being cold, his lips turning dark, then black, in a matter of seconds.
The firelight, which had been a faint glow against the storm, now blazed stronger with the wind, casting eerie shadows on everyone. The researcher’s transformation was obvious to all.
The silence was deafening as the researchers nearby stood frozen, watching in shock. The snake venom was ruthless. They could see his lips blackening, his legs swelling rapidly as his pants clung tighter to his skin. His voice, once weak, suddenly shrieked in agony, a blood-curdling cry that echoed in the night. Then, as if unable to control himself, he reached down to grab at his leg, tearing at the wound, blood and flesh visible as his hands dug into the injury.
With a sharp bang, the man’s movements immediately stopped. His head slumped to one side, lifeless. A Dark family member, standing nearby, expressionless, tucked his gun away without even so much as a blink.
No one said a word, and no one opposed it. Without an antidote, no one had expected this would happen, let alone get to this point.
Snake venom, something that in modern times wouldn’t normally be a big deal, had now become a deadly threat. No one had the means to treat it, and at that point, there was no point in trying-death was inevitable. A single bullet put him out of his misery.
Everyone understood that it was the right decision at that moment, but the researchers Michael had brought with him couldn’t stop shaking, more terrified than ever. Death, perhaps, was closer to them now than ever before.
Echo heard the gunshot too. Her body trembled slightly, but like everyone else, she said nothing. She just held onto Ryan’s waist tightly.
The night was still, chaotic, and terrifying-yet it had only just begun.
The rain poured down, the storm still raging. The fire that had been burning brightly earlier now faded as the straw it had consumed burned out. The world was swallowed by darkness, the wind howling violently.
Everyone’s nerves were on edge, their hearts in their throats. With no more light, all they could do was stay extra cautious.
The night dragged on-what seemed like a moment felt like an entire year for Echo and the others.
As the sky began to lighten, the storm passed just as quickly as it had come. By morning, the land seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, the world brightening up again. But for those who hadn’t slept a wink, it felt like exhaustion was settling deep into their bones.
The sun broke through, the summer heat quickly erasing any signs of the storm. The drenched group, now dry and refreshed, was left with the salty scent of the sea still lingering in the air.
Ryan scanned the cautious group, his voice steady as he gave orders. “Hawk, take your team and search for any remaining dangers in the area. Cobra, find water. Bill, come with me.” He then grabbed Echo’s hand and started back the way they came.
The priority now was to make contact with the outside world and check if the ship was still at the same location, or if they could even leave-it was the most pressing concern.
As they passed through the forest, the air still carried the scent of rain, mixed with a foul, rotten smell seeping from the damp earth.
Ryan frowned slightly. If his instincts were right, this forest was where the snakes had gathered last night, likely drawn to the safest place by the storm. They’d almost been caught in a deadly situation.
Echo, following Ryan, also saw the skin still hanging from the branches, showing who the original owners of this place were. She raised an eyebrow.
Ryan’s instincts and intuition were almost animal-like, driven by the most primal and ancient instincts of a predator. His sensitivity was sharp, like a beast’s, so it made sense his intuition would align with the snakes’ patterns. That sharpness was extraordinary for a human, but here, it was as if he was about to fight wild animals.
Still, it was a relief to see there were no signs of the snakes in the forest anymore-at least that was a good sign.