The beast coiled, its body dozens of meters long and thick as an ancient tree trunk, before striking again with blinding speed.
Clara leapt high, flipping mid-air to evade the strike, her feet landing on the serpent's head. With a yell, she channeled her Qi into a hammering blow, cracking several scales and drawing black blood.
Enraged, the snake lashed its tail, catching her mid-leap and sending her hurtling into a boulder. Dust and debris exploded outward, but she emerged unscathed, her golden Qi shimmering fiercely.
The serpent attempted to crush her with its massive coils, wrapping around her in a death grip. She gritted her teeth, veins bulging as she pushed back with raw strength. With a roar, she broke free, shattering its coils with a burst of Qi.
Summoning all her might, she leapt onto its back, gripping its head. Her fists rained down, each strike a thunderclap. The snake thrashed, but she held firm. With a final, explosive punch, she shattered its skull.
