The air smelled of wet rock and something metallic, likely the lingering trace of the guardian snake's venom.
Its motionless body lay a few meters away, its white scales barely visible in the dim light.
Charles, sitting on the rocky ground, kept doing push-ups.
His arms moved up and down in a steady rhythm, generating small blue sparks that faintly illuminated the cave.
Each movement made his breathing heavier, but he didn't stop.
He needed to recharge his energy.
Nora sat nearby, her arms wrapped around her knees.
The pain in her back, where the snake's corrosive saliva had burned her skin, was unrelenting.
She didn't complain, but her pale face and occasional grimaces made it clear she was suffering.
She watched Charles with a mix of curiosity and exhaustion, trying to figure out what he was doing.
The system's interface flickered in Charles's vision, displaying a message in blue letters:
[Energy reserves: 12%. Sufficient for basic abilities.]
