Chapter 616 - Climax 29...

They both looked at the long dark corridor which was exactly similar to the previous one. The floor was marbled, shining extremely as if very well maintained, un-used or brand new.

"Everything looks fine... I guess." Xio Lee turned to look at Stefen who nodded his head in a yes. "Except for some slight vibration, I do not catch anything. I do not think, there is any man or any sort of poison." Stefen who had closed his eyes just to ensure, had now opened his eyes.

They walked inside the long corridor, which literally had no trace of furniture or any other object which are usually placed in corridors.

"Don't you think this is a strange corridor? Not a single object is decorated in here, where as even the outer hall was full of ornamental antiques. As if.... this corridor is used to give free space to somebody. It is not even well lit like the previous one. I cannot even see which way it turns." Xio Lee frowned as they both walked further inside the corridor, his voice producing an echo. Suddenly they noticed that it was a dead end, probably another trap set up for them.

Stefen thought of Xio Lee's words carefully and then once again closed his eyes. "The vibration, it is not a vibration! It is coming closer. Oh shit!!! It is the hissing sound of a snake."Stefen opened his eyes and he held Xio Lee's arm. "It is coming for us. Run!!"

They both started running back towards the hall and then suddenly a gigantic black snake appeared from a wide hole which was situated in the extreme left corner of the corridor, speedily crawling towards them producing a hissing sound. The snake was much rapid then the two men and had easily caught up to them. The two men had reached the stairs and Xio Lee pushed Stefen down making him fall down the stairs. While, he himself turned around, with a knife in his hand.

It was probably the most gigantic snake which Xio Lee had ever seen in his life, in spite of living in a jungle for so many years. It had red colored large eyes and a large purprle colored fang, hanging out of his black colored mouth. The snake was extremely huge and was pitch black in color, ot even entirely visible in the dark corridor.

Stefen quickly stood up on the ground and turned to see Xio Lee trying to hit the snakes' fang with his knife but the snake was just too rapid. Xio Lee was already running away from snake's face towards its large body and he quickly pierced the knife through its hard body. "Stef! Shoot its face. Quick."

As the snake hissed it was dropping a purple colored fluid all over the corridor from its fang. The snake quickly turned to look at Xio Lee who was once again aiming to pierce the knife on its body. The snake quickly brought its face closer to Xio Lee but Xio jumped to the other side of the corridor just nearly touching its fang a bit on his arm, having failed to pierce the knife on its body the second time. He was now running towards Stefen and Stefen quickly shot the snake's face multiple times. The snake hissed even louder and Xio Lee once again pierced the knife with much force on its tail cutting it into two. Suddenly its body and injured face started to produce a purprle colored fluid on the floor near Xio Lee's feet and all across the walls, as it wriggled and hissed in pain. Stefen once again shot the snake multiple times and looked at XIO lee. "Master run! This is poison. Save your eyes."

Xio Lee quikly jumped down the stairs, standing on his feet as the snake wriggled in pain and more and more purple venom was released from its body like blood. In a few more seconds the entire floor was covered with the purple fluid and a dead large snake was lying on the floor.

They both heaved a sigh of relief and Xio Lee gasped for air.

"Are you ok master? Did it hurt you anywhere?" Stefen asked looking at Xio Lee's sweaty face.

"No. Saved by just one second. He just managed to rip my fabric." Xio Lee nodded his head and they both looked at the venom filled corridor.

"Dead end it is. This gives us only one option."Stefen pursed his lips feeling a bit scared.

"Hmmm... the left staircase, leading to the dark forces." Xio Lee too pursed his lips, thinking what they might face next. They walked back towards the hall and then towards the staircase leading to the left wing, and they both sighed looking at each other.

"So why do you think, you could not perceive the snake's voice before?" Xio Lee asked looking at Stefen trying to find more answers and to guess what could be their next step.

"I am not sure master. I think the snake was not active before and had been made to attack us, probably after knowing of our arrival. Also, the snake was not originally this close to us. It probably is too fast and quickly covered the distance. This could quiet mean that they both already know that we are here and there are going to be several obstacles thrown by them." Stefen was thinking hard as they climbed up the stairs.

"Then wait a second." Xio Lee halted for a bit thinking about something. "If we can avoid the path they have expected us to follow, then maybe we can directly enter the main part of the building. Currently we are going according to their plan as per the traps set up by them so we should change our route, I believe." Xio Lee halted thinking carfully.

"So what do you suggest? Stefen looked at Xio Lee hearing him out seriously.

"Maybe we can try going through the hole from where the snake appeared. Surely it is big enough to fit us, if the snake this big can crawl through it. Maybe it leads us directly inside the main building. They  both can never guess that we took a brave stance to enter through the snake's hole. What do you think?" Xio Lee looked at Stefen thinking very hard.

"Ok master. As you say. As it is I cannot think of any better option. If we go according to their plan we will soon end up dead." Stefen nodded his head in an approval and they once again took the earlier stairs, leading to the dead snake, lying in a pool of venom.