The Mark Of Rebirth

Cutting through the air, I shot down toward the snake looming over Farthington with its jaws opened wide, ready to pounce. Repositioning my body midair to land feet first on top of the snake, I braced for impact, my blade made of data clutched tightly in my hands.

I struck the snake dead-on, the impact from my landing forcing its head viciously into the ground, sand scattering all around from the collision, and wind pressure from my landing.

Nearby, Farthington had miraculously managed to scramble away in time after he noticed my form rapidly approaching the ground as he was fending off the snake. Seeing the sand in the air clear, he saw that I was on top of the snake, my hand tightly grasping a blade made of a mysterious material, driven into the cranium of the fierce creature.

Leaving the data blade in the snake’s reinforced scales, I quickly leaped off its back, avoiding its attempt to grasp me with its coiling body. The snake roared in fury, its massive form thrashing violently in the sand as it tried to shake off the pain and locate its new threat.

Farthington took the opportunity to reposition himself, readying his mana-infused blade for another strike. Kaelith, with the unconscious woman still slung over his shoulder, stayed clear of the fighting.

"Farthington, keep it busy!" I shouted, sliding as my feet dug into the sand as I came to a stop a few meters away from the snake. "I’ll go for its weak spot!"

"Got it! I better get a bonus for this!" Farthington shouted, charging forward with a fierce battle cry. His blade flashed in the desert sun as he struck at the snake’s thick scales, creating deep, glowing cuts that sizzled with energy.

I circled around the creature, my eyes scanning its massive form for any sign of vulnerability. The snake’s scales were tough and impenetrable, but I knew there had to be a weak point somewhere.

Finding an opening, I lunged forward whilst creating a brand new data blade using [Corporeal Data Creation], my data blade cutting through the air with a high-pitched hum. I aimed for a section of the snake’s underbelly, where the scales were slightly thinner. My blade pierced through, eliciting a deafening screech from the snake as it reared back in agony and immediately swung its tail at me.

Putting my data blade up in a guarded stance as an immediate reaction to the snake’s rapid tail swipe, my feet dug into the desert floor, and sand shot past me like small projectiles. The sand rubbed against my skin and stung when it hit the part of my hand that was bleeding from the landing I made earlier. Sparks flew as the snake’s body clashed with the blade of my sword while I redirected its momentum to decrease the force my body felt.

Farthington seized the moment, driving his mana-infused blade into the snake’s side, further weakening it. The creature’s movements became more frantic, its attacks more erratic as it struggled to fend off both of us.

Seizing the opportunity created by its confusion, I lengthened and reinforced my blade as much as I could with my current limitations, causing it to become somewhat similar to a katana. Maneuvering myself to the underside where the snake’s head connected to its body, I put all my strength into my arms and dug my feet into the ground to stop myself from moving too much. I quickly brought the data sword over my head in a powerful arc.

The blade sliced through the snake’s scales and flesh, tearing into the creature with a high-pitched hum. The snake convulsed, its massive body thrashing violently as it screeched in agony. Blood spurted from the wound, the ground beneath us becoming slick and treacherous.

The snake, sensing its imminent defeat, made a final, desperate lunge, its jaws snapping inches away from Farthington, who once again somehow managed to get out of the way at the very last moment, relatively unscathed.

Just as it seemed the creature had nothing left, it summoned one last burst of energy, thrashing its tail wildly and causing the ground to quake. Farthington and I struggled to maintain our footing. I could feel the vibrations travel up my legs, threatening to throw me off balance.

"Keep pushing!" I shouted over the deafening roars and the sound of clashing metal.

Farthington nodded, his face set in determination. He slashed at the snake’s side, creating more wounds that sizzled with mana-infused energy. The snake’s movements became increasingly erratic, its massive body writhing in pain.

With every strike, my muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Each swing of my blade was more powerful than the last, fueled by the urgency of the situation. The snake’s blood soaked the sand, turning it into a slippery, treacherous battlefield.

Farthington darted in and out of the snake’s reach, his blade a blur as he delivered precise, crippling blows. The snake’s strength was waning, its movements slowing as the blood loss took its toll.

Summoning all my remaining strength, I aimed for the connection point between the snake’s head and body. My blade sliced through, severing tendons and muscles in a devastating slash. The snake let out one final, ear-piercing screech before collapsing to the ground.

The ground trembled as the massive creature fell, sending a cloud of sand billowing into the air. I staggered back, panting, my body aching from the exertion. The once-menacing snake now lay lifeless, its blood pooling around us.

As the Airblade descended, its engines' hum growing louder, I took a moment to catch my breath, my eyes fixed on the lifeless form of the snake. The creature's final thrashes had sent sand swirling around us, creating a hazy cloud that shimmered in the harsh desert sun.

Farthington approached, wiping sweat from his brow and sheathing his mana-infused blade. "Nice work," he said, his tone surprisingly genuine. "You really saved our skins back there."

‘Hmmm, maybe he wasn’t as bad of a person as I judged him for…’ I thought.

Farthington ran his fingers through his blonde hair, which was messy from the fighting. “I feel as though I have majorly contributed today and deserve a larger amount of bonus pay. Also, since you’ve now seen one of my exploits, I bet that you’ll finally want my autobiography.”

‘Never mind, he’s the same arrogant narcissist I’ve always known.’

I simply pretended not to hear anything and started talking, still catching my breath. "We need to get back to the Airblade and secure the Kyritite. And figure out what to do with her," I added, glancing at the unconscious woman Kaelith had carried out of the truck.

Kaelith, who had been keeping a vigilant watch on our surroundings, signaled that the Airblade was almost in position. "I'll load her up first," he said, adjusting his grip on the woman. "You two secure the Kyritite and make sure we didn't miss anything."

Farthington and I moved quickly, gathering the crates of Kyritite and ensuring they were securely fastened. The Airblade's doors opened with a hiss, and Neuro's voice crackled through our earpieces. "Ready for extraction. Let's make this quick; we're running on borrowed time."

Kaelith carefully placed the woman inside the Airblade, strapping her into one of the passenger seats. He then moved to help us with the remaining crates, his movements quick and efficient despite the exhaustion evident on his face.

Once everything was loaded, we climbed aboard the Airblade. The doors closed behind us with a reassuring click, and the engines roared to life. Neuro's expert piloting lifted us smoothly off the desert floor, the snake's body and the wrecked convoy vehicles shrinking into the distance below.

"Everyone secure?" Neuro asked, its robotic voice calm and steady.

"All set," I replied, double-checking the restraints on the Kyritite and the woman. "Let's get out of here."

The Airblade accelerated, leaving the chaos of the desert behind. Inside the cockpit, I took a moment to assess our situation. The woman, still unconscious, was an enigma we would need to unravel. The sword she clutched seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie glow for a split second, hinting at secrets of its own.

Turning to Farthington and Kaelith, I said, "We need to find out who she is and why she was in that truck. This could be more complicated than we thought."

Kaelith nodded, his expression serious. "We'll figure it out. For now, let's focus on getting back to base. Also, we’re getting a bonus right?"

“...” I stayed quiet, my eyes finding themselves suddenly drawn to the desert landscape.

Kaelith repeated, “Right?”

My gaze remained fixed on the horizon, avoiding Kaelith's expectant look.