----
Xavier wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and
said with difficulty, "I’m fine." The blow almost killed him.
Danielle, who was standing on the other side, rushed
towards the giant serpent with her dagger and stabbed it
directly into the snake’s head.
The giant serpent let out a roar, and its huge body
struggled violently. Danielle was almost thrown to the side.
She immediately took out her pistol and fired several shots
at the serpent’s head.
Its blood sttered all over Danielle, and the giant serpent
crashed to the ground with a thud.
"Dad, Mom, Xavier, are you alright?" Danielle hurriedly
asked with concern.
Howard replied, "We’re fine. We barely made any progress
before this big snake attacked us. It’s only going to get
more dangerous the deeper we venture."
Howard looked around vigntly. Without Danielle around,
they would have been swallowed by that snake just now.
----
Danielle suggested, "Dad, Mom,
Xavier, why t I send you out first
and you waittfor me at the entrance I
of the cave?" She didn’t know what
terrible things awaited them next;
but sKe supposed danger lurkéd all
ind here for this ce tobe
nailed the forbidden area by the
vigers of ckpool Vige.
----
Xavier said earnestly, "Danielle, the
three of us aten’t skilled fighters. If
we go with.you, we might slow you~
down. But’we can’t let you face S
dangenalone in order to find ?
Matfttew. I can at least be yaur meat
shield at a critical moment
Vivian chimed in, "That’s right, Danielle. Mom and Dad
won’t let you explore such a dangerous ce alone. Let’s
all be careful."
----
Seeing that her parents and Xavier had made up their
minds, Danielle didn’t say anything more. She would just
have to protect them carefully.
She said, "Okay."
They advanced cautiously in the cave. The further they
went, the colder it got. asionally, they could hear the
sound of dripping water.
Danielle held out her hand, signaling them to stop.
Howard asked, "What’s wrong, Danielle?"
----
"Something feels off here. Stay close to me," Danielle said.
She held the shlight in her left hand and the dagger in
her right, her beautiful eyes full of vignce.
Xavier was walking at the back, clutching his chest and
slowly following them. Just then, he felt someone pat him
on the back.
Fear surged through him. He was thest one in line.
There was no way any of his family members could have
patted him on the back. Xavier kept convincing himself that
he was just imagining things.
He moved another two steps forward before he felt
le, he
could no longer convince himself he was imagining things.
someone patting him on the back again. Thi:
Xavier shouted, "Oh lord! There’s someone. Someone’s
patting me on the back. Help me."
----
Xavier rushed to the front while screaming, his face pale
with fright.
“What’s wrong, Xavier?" Danielle quickly shone her
shlight behind her.
“Danielle, someone just patted me on the back." Xavier
was on the verge of crying due to fear.
Danielle looked around vigntly, but found nothing.
However, Xavier had no reason to lie. With the torchlight in
her hand, Danielle approached Xavier and said, "It’s okay.
Calm down."
Vivian was also startled by Xavier’s shouts. She thought,
‘Only four of us came in. Who could have patted Xavier on
the back?"
“Xavier, you walk in the middle. I’ll take the back," Howard
said, ncing at his son’s pale face. He was clearly
worried Xavier might lose his nerve.
----
“Forget it, DadN’ll handle the rear,"
Xavier said voice wavering. His
legs wereshaking so bad he thought
they might give out, but he wasn’
aboutto let his dad take the risk.
Swaflowing hard, he forced himself
torfove back.
“Xavier,” Danielle cut in, "if anything happens, use the
powder I gave you. Just toss it, grab onto Dad’s shirt, and
seriously, don’t wander off."
Her eyes darted between them, wishing she could shield
them both at once.