Metamorphosis: The Story of a Butterfly

Caelum’s limbs felt like lead, his entire body drenched in pain as the venom coursed through his veins. His Poison Resistance was kicking in, but it wasn’t fast enough. The snake’s venom was vicious, and even though he could feel his body gradually adapting, every breath he took felt heavier than the last. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of terror and sheer exhaustion.

Poison Resistance Lv: 9

Why now? Why this again? His thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and frustration, flashing back to the first time he had faced this snake. But this time, things were worse. The snake had grown since that first encounter, its scales thicker, its body longer, and its movements even more terrifyingly precise. And this time, he wasn’t alone—Aurelia was here, fighting for both their lives.

But Caelum wasn’t sure how much longer either of them could hold out.

His vision swam as he forced himself to look up. Aurelia was darting around the snake, trying to find any opening, any weakness in its armor. Her Sting had grown sharper, her skills honed from their many fights, but the snake’s scales were practically impenetrable. Each time she struck, the serpent barely reacted, its cold, predatory eyes remaining locked on Caelum. It seemed to view Aurelia’s attacks as nothing more than an annoyance, a distraction from its true prey.

I have to do something. I have to fight.

Caelum tried to summon his Fire Magic, feeling the familiar heat spark within him. But as he reached out to it, his mind faltered. His limbs felt heavy, too sluggish from the venom that still gripped his body. He managed to throw a small fireball toward the snake, but it fizzled against the serpent’s thick hide, barely leaving a mark.

Not enough... it’s not enough!

His Fire Magic had reached Level 8, but even at this level, it wasn’t enough to pierce the snake’s scales. Caelum’s heart sank as he realized just how outmatched they were. The snake was faster, stronger, and more dangerous than anything they’d faced before.

Aurelia, despite the odds, wasn’t giving up. She lunged toward the snake’s underbelly, aiming for the softer flesh there, where her sting had a chance of piercing. She darted forward, her body a blur of movement, and this time, she managed to draw blood. A small, thin line of crimson oozed from the serpent’s side, but it wasn’t enough to slow the creature down. It hissed in fury, its massive head whipping around to glare at her.

For a split second, Caelum felt a surge of hope. She did it! She hurt it! But that hope was quickly dashed as the snake retaliated.

With lightning speed, the snake’s tail lashed out, crashing into Aurelia with the force of a hammer. She was thrown through the air, her small body hitting the ground with a painful thud. Caelum’s heart dropped as he watched her struggle to get back up, her movements slower, more labored than before.

No... not her. Not now!

Panic surged through him as he tried to push himself to his feet, but his body refused to cooperate. The venom was still coursing through him, draining his strength with each passing second. He tried to summon more fire, more magic, but his concentration wavered, and the flames sputtered out before they could take form.

This isn’t supposed to happen... He thought, a sickening realization creeping in. We’re losing.

The snake didn’t give Aurelia a moment to recover. It lunged at her again, its fangs glistening with venom as it struck. Aurelia barely managed to dodge the initial attack, but the snake’s tail followed through, sweeping her off her legs and slamming her into a nearby tree.

Caelum could only watch in horror as she collapsed at the base of the tree, her small body limp and broken. For a moment, she didn’t move. Caelum’s heart pounded in his chest, a cold dread creeping over him. Is she...?

But before he could complete the thought, Aurelia stirred. Slowly, painfully, she dragged herself back to her feet, her movements shaky and uneven. Her strength was fading fast, but she wasn’t done yet. She refused to give up, even as the snake bore down on her.

Why... why won’t it stop?

Caelum’s breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to pull himself together. The world around him felt distant, like he was watching the fight from somewhere far away. His body was numb, the poison still ravaging his system, but his mind was sharper than ever. He knew, deep down, that they couldn’t keep this up. The snake was too powerful, too relentless.

Aurelia, sensing Caelum’s growing fear through their telepathic link, sent a pulse of determination his way. Keep fighting. Don’t stop.

But Caelum wasn’t sure how much longer he could. His limbs were trembling, his vision blurring at the edges. Every time he tried to move, his body rebelled, the venom making even the smallest actions feel like monumental tasks.

Move! Do something! His mind screamed, but his body was frozen.

Aurelia, meanwhile, was doing everything she could to keep the snake’s attention on her. She darted forward again, her sting finding its mark, but the snake barely flinched. Its scales were too thick, too tough, and the venom in Aurelia’s sting was nothing compared to the lethal poison the snake carried.

With a furious hiss, the snake struck again. Its fangs sank deep into Aurelia’s side, injecting venom directly into her body. Caelum’s heart froze as he watched her collapse to the ground, her body convulsing from the sudden surge of poison.

No... not her...

Aurelia’s movements slowed, her telepathic link with Caelum flickering as the venom took hold. She tried to move, to crawl back into the fight, but her legs refused to obey. Her once-strong presence in his mind was dimming, fading as her strength left her.

The snake, sensing victory, began to coil around her small form, its massive body wrapping tighter and tighter with each passing second. Aurelia struggled, but her movements were weak, her strength sapped by the venom coursing through her veins.

No, please no... Caelum thought, the panic rising in his chest. His heart pounded in his ears, the world around him spinning as the venom continued to drain his energy. His limbs were heavy, his mind clouded by fear and exhaustion.

I can’t let this happen...

But his body wouldn’t respond. Every muscle was frozen in place, the venom locking him in a state of paralysis as he watched the nightmare unfold before him. The snake’s coils tightened around Aurelia, and she let out a weak cry of pain, her telepathic link with Caelum growing fainter with each passing moment.

The predator’s jaws opened wide, its fangs gleaming as it prepared to deliver the killing blow.

Move, Caelum! MOVE!

But he couldn’t. He was frozen, helpless, his body betraying him at the worst possible moment. The fear, the exhaustion, the venom—it all combined to leave him powerless. He had faced predators before, fought for his life countless times, but this... this was different. This felt final.

Aurelia’s struggles grew weaker, her body going limp as the snake squeezed tighter. Caelum could feel her slipping away, her presence in his mind fading like a dying ember. The snake’s jaws loomed over her, its cold eyes gleaming with victory.

I can’t lose her...

But he was frozen, powerless to stop what was about to happen.

The predator had won. And all Caelum could do was watch.

Name: Caelum

Species: Mystic Larva

Level: 14/25

Rank: E

HP: 7/40

MP: 30/65

Stamina: 15/40

Name: Aurelia

Species: Guardian Bee Larva

Level: 7/20

Rank: E

HP: 4/60

MP: 12/35

Stamina: 5/50