CHAPTER 58: MASTERING THE SERPENT’S FANG

Kaelan stood in the infirmary, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the bruised and battered hulk lying unconscious on the bed. The man resembled a gorilla more than a human, his swollen face still twitching with pain as a faint green glow from the wood-element healer mended his injuries.

Kaelan’s brows were knotted in frustration, impatience burning beneath his composed exterior. As the healing light dimmed, the robed healer straightened up.

"I’ll return in a few hours. He just needs rest," the healer said gently, then exited, the door clicking shut behind him.

The moment the door closed, Kaelan’s mask shattered.

"You brainless ape!" he snarled, his voice laced with fury. "Even with a sneak attack, you couldn’t take down a damn commoner?"

He kicked the side of the bed with a loud thud, making the frame shake. The man on the bed, Varek, groaned faintly in response, his lips barely parting.

Kaelan glared at him, disgusted. "I should’ve known better than to rely on this oaf."

He turned, muttering under his breath, "If I want results, I’ll have to do it myself."

SLAM!

The door shook in its frame as Kaelan stormed out.

Alex rested on his bed in his new dorm room and muttered,

"Let’s go find the library and get a movement technique."

Woof.

Hati shook his head.

Alex stood up with a groan.

"Come on, you lazy ass. We’ll sleep here at night—it’s not going to run away."

Hati stepped down from the bed with a sad face.

Alex sighed.

"Why is this guy getting lazier by the day?" he thought.

After an hour of wandering through the Academy—and a few wrong turns—Alex finally found the library, thanks to Hati.

As they approached, he muttered under his breath,

"Sometimes lazy guys have their uses."

Inside, a peculiar sight greeted him:

A man, no more than three feet tall, sat behind the counter. His long hair was tied up neatly, but his white beard reached down to his feet.

Alex approached respectfully.

"Hello sir, could you please tell me where I can find spear movement techniques?"

The old man smiled and stroked his beard.

"You’re a polite one. Will you accept a suggestion from this old man?"

"Sure," Alex replied with a warm smile.

"Wait here."

Without another word, the man floated up toward the upper levels of the library.

Moments later, he returned, holding a thin, worn-out book. Its plain black cover bore three faded words:

Serpent’s Fang.

He handed it to Alex.

"Take it. This one’s good—precise and deadly."

Alex accepted the book and asked,

"How many credits to borrow it?"

The old man waved a hand dismissively.

"Don’t worry about it. Just come back and tell me if you master it."

Alex bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

The old man blushed from the unexpected respect and muttered as Alex walked away,

"Good kid... I hope he survives here."

Back in his dorm room, Alex opened the book.

Serpent’s Fang – Core Concept

A sudden diagonal advance into the opponent’s blind spot, followed by a devastating, full-body powered thrust targeting a vital point—executed before the enemy even realizes the distance has been closed. At the moment of contact, the user releases elemental energy through the spear, like a serpent injecting venom, devastating the opponent from within.

Technique Breakdown (4 Steps):

[Shadow Entry] Pivot lead foot at a 45° angle to break the opponent’s line of attack.Slide the rear foot diagonally forward, aiming for the flank or rear.Keep the spear low, parallel to the ground, and close to the body.

"The serpent slithers low in silence—its fangs hidden until it’s too late to retreat."

[Veil of Wind] Orient hips and shoulders toward a vital point (ribs, throat, side).A subtle feint (shoulder twitch, spear dip) baits the enemy.Retract slightly like a serpent pulling back before a strike.

"He steps forward, only to vanish like mist, leaving behind doubt and dread."

[Piercing Thrust]Rear leg stomps forward to ground the body.Deliver a spiraling thrust using legs, hips, core, and shoulders.At impact, inject elemental energy (fire, lightning, poison) through the spear.

"When the fangs bite, they do not stop at the flesh—the venom spreads."

Ghost Step]Spin or retreat slightly to evade counters.Based on the opponent’s state, follow with a sweep, hook, or another thrust.

"The serpent does not linger—its job done, it coils once more in silence."

Alex stared at the page, wide-eyed.

"This spear technique is amazing!" he said aloud, unable to hide his excitement"

Alex opened his eyes as the morning sun’s rays filtered through the window, warming his face. With a groan, he sat up and stretched, glancing toward the corner of the bed where Hati was still curled up, fast asleep.

After freshening up in the washroom, he returned to find Hati now awake, blinking slowly at him.

Alex blinked in surprise. "Why are you up so early?"

"Woof," Hati barked in reply.

Alex stroked his chin, thinking. "Are you hungry?"

"Woof! Woof!" Hati barked again, shaking his head.

Alex chuckled. "Hahaha, okay, okay. Come with me if you want to go for a walk. It’s Sunday, so we’re free today—just like yesterday."

With Hati following behind, tail wagging, Alex made his way to his usual training spot—a hidden section near the academy wall, formed naturally from the mountain and concealed by dense trees. A large boulder stood nearby, marked with scars from repeated training.

Alex took his stance, gripping his staff. He had memorized every written instruction from the Serpent’s Fang technique.

He exhaled slowly and began.

Shadow Entry.

Step. Slide. Pivot. Spear low.

But his movements were still awkward. His balance was off. He stumbled, feet scraping roughly across the dirt.

"Again," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Woof."

Hati watched nearby, tail lazily flicking. Alex shot him a glare.

"You could at least pretend to be impressed."

Hati yawned in response.

Frustration burned in Alex’s veins. The Veil of Wind

step demanded elegance, control, deception—but his shoulder feints were clumsy, too loud, too predictable.

He closed his eyes, remembering the image that had haunted him since he began learning this technique: a serpent—coiling, graceful, and deadly.

"It’s not just about moving... It’s about making them think you won’t."

Taking a breath, he adjusted his stance. This time, he dipped the spear subtly, letting his body melt into a retreating motion, like vanishing from an enemy’s perception.

The wind rustled through the trees.

Hati tilted his head.

"Better, huh?" Alex smirked, wiping his forehead.

Just then, Hati’s stomach growled loudly.

Alex froze mid-practice, then let out a huff. "Ah—sorry, Hati. I got too into it. Let’s go eat, then we’ll continue."

Hati barked happily and trotted alongside him.

After washing up, Alex arrived at the cafeteria—only to see a crowd jamming the entrance. He scrunched his face in irritation and went directly to the counter, skipping the chaos.

"One sandwich with fresh juice. And... a steak for my companion," he ordered.

The food arrived quickly, and he scanned the room for an empty table—until he spotted Rina waving at him.

He immediately looked the other way, pretending not to notice, but Hati betrayed him—trotting straight toward her with an eager bark.

Alex muttered under his breath, "When will this guy learn?"

Sighing, he walked over and found Selene sitting there as well, quietly eating a bowl of sliced fruits.

He gave a polite nod to Selene, handed Hati his steak—while throwing a glare at the clueless canine—and sat down silently, starting to eat without a word.

Rina leaned forward, her voice impatient and full of curiosity. "Where were you yesterday?"

Selene looked up too, eyes quietly focused on him, waiting for an answer.

Alex smiled faintly. "I was busy. Got my dorm room and then went to the library."

Rina gasped, almost shouting, "You found the library by yourself?"

Selene ignored Rina’s dramatic tone and spoke gently, a sincere smile on her lips. "Congratulations on getting the dorm room. It might not look like much now, but you can upgrade it later with credits."

Alex nodded in thanks and focused on finishing his sandwich when a sudden commotion rippled through the cafeteria.

He turned his head and saw Riven enter—with a stunning girl at his side, her hand wrapped around his. They headed straight for the private seating area, drawing everyone’s attention.

Boys and girls alike watched with envy, their eyes following the pair with unconcealed jealousy.

Alex simply shrugged and continued eating.

Later...

Riven sat alone in his luxurious room in the B-rank dorm, surrounded by elegant furnishings and silence—except for the voice that only he could hear.

He stared ahead, speaking into the empty air, his voice low and tense.

"Why does it matter to you if I get emotionally involved with someone?"

His teeth clenched in frustration.

[System]: Host should remember what happened before arriving in this world.

Riven’s fists tightened. He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the polished floor.

"I think you’re overstepping. My personal life is mine to control. If I fail, then so be it."

His voice rose, passionate and defiant.

"But I’ll try. I’ll find someone willing to stand beside me as I rise—even if I have to defy fate itself."

The System went silent.

It did not respond to Riven’s declaration.