The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 45: Would you like more tasks?

Isabella’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest.

Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t even think too loudly.

Her fingers clutched the bark of the tree, knuckles turning white. Her body was rigid, every muscle locked in place as if one wrong move would send her straight to hell.

The python was massive.

Thick, coiled muscles stretched across the branches of the opposite tree like a living nightmare.

Its deep crimson scales shimmered under the sunlight, and as it shifted slightly, she caught glimpses of the dark, intricate patterns snaking along its body.

Its head rested lazily on a thick branch, mouth slightly parted to reveal gleaming fangs that could probably swallow her whole in one bite.

Nope. Absolutely not.

She needed to get down. Now.

Slowly—so painfully slow—she moved her foot to find the nearest foothold. Every tiny scrape against the bark made her want to scream, but she swallowed the panic clawing up her throat.

One step down.

The snake didn’t move.

Another step.

Still no reaction.

She kept going, bit by bit, sweat dripping down her back. The moment her feet finally touched the ground, she wasted zero time.

Isabella snatched her basket, spun on her heel, and bolted.

She didn’t just run—she SPRINTED.

Her legs burned, her lungs screamed for air, but she didn’t dare slow down.

Tree branches whipped past her, scratching at her arms and legs as she weaved through the dense forest. The ground was uneven, filled with roots and rocks, but her adrenaline-fueled instincts kept her from tripping.

Her basket bounced wildly in her grip, fruits thudding against each other as she held onto it for dear life.

She didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

Not until the trees finally thinned, and she saw the familiar shimmer of water in the distance.

The river.

The one she bathed in every day.

With the last of her strength, she burst through the final stretch, nearly collapsing onto the rocky riverbank.

She dropped her basket, hands on her knees as she gasped for breath.

Her entire body felt like it had been wrung dry. Her legs were jelly, her arms shaky, and she was soaked in sweat.

But she was alive.

She threw a glare at the sky, cursing everything that had led her to this moment.

Ding! Fitness and Training Skill Unlocked. +10 Points.

Isabella’s head snapped up.

"BUBU!!!"

Her furious scream echoed through the trees, sending a flock of birds scattering.

But she had no idea.

Back in the trees she had escaped from, pink reptilian eyes cracked open.

The massive red python shifted slightly, its injured body aching from the disturbance.

Its gaze lingered on the small, delicate figure in the distance, watching her beautiful form retreat.

And for the first time in a long while—

It felt curious.

"BUBU!!!"

Isabella’s furious scream echoed through the trees, startling a flock of birds into the sky. She was panting, hands on her knees, drenched in sweat, and absolutely pissed.

Fitness and training skill unlocked? FOR WHAT?!

She had just barely escaped with her life, and this stupid system was acting like she had voluntarily signed up for an extreme workout session.

"Explain to me," she wheezed, glaring at the empty air, "HOW almost getting eaten by a giant red python is considered FITNESS TRAINING?! Am I training to be a snake snack?!"

{Ding! Fitness and Training Skill: +10 points.} It repeated.

"Don’t ’ding’ me! I’m talking to you!"

Isabella threw her hands up, pacing angrily. "I don’t even get bonus points for survival instinct? That was a life-or-death situation! My escape was flawless—cinematic even! You should’ve given me at least—what?—fifty points?!"

Silence.

She scoffed. "Oh, now you’re ignoring me? Seriously, Bubu, I—"

{Would you like more tasks?}

Isabella froze.

Her mouth snapped shut so fast she nearly bit her tongue.

Oh no. No, no, no, no. She knew what that meant.

She could practically feel Bubu grinning like a little evil gremlin, ready to ruin her life.

Her lips twitched into a nervous smile. "Haha...no, no! No need for that! I was just...um...expressing my gratitude!"

She straightened, quickly picking up her basket.

"I mean, how wonderful that I’m improving my fitness! I totally needed that! Who doesn’t want to get stronger, right? Thank you, Bubu. You’re the best."

Silence again.

Isabella waited a second longer, eyes twitching.

Satisfied that the task demon wasn’t about to unleash hell, she exhaled through her nose and marched toward her hut.

But inside? She was still fuming.

Stupid system.

Stupid snake.

Stupid stone age where everything is either trying to kill you or ruin your day!

She stomped through the village, her mood as dark as a thundercloud, still grumbling inside her head.

’Would you like more tasks?’

LIKE I HAVE A CHOICE?!

She huffed, shifting the weight of her basket on her hip. She was tired. She was sweaty. And now she was stuck carrying a ridiculous amount of fruit back home because some sadistic system thought tree climbing was a fun little side quest.

Her expression soured.

She bet the stupid snake was still lounging in that tree, laughing at her struggles.

She kicked a rock in frustration.

If that python ever showed its face again...

She was cursing it too.

(I don’t think she could though? Do you?)

Finally, Isabella made it to her hut, legs wobbly, heart still racing, and arms aching from carrying the ridiculously heavy basket of fruit.

But even as she set it down with a loud thump, she still refused to go wash them in the river.

Absolutely not.

What if that giant, man-eating, nightmare-inducing python had sensed her scent and slithered after her? What if she was bent over, peacefully washing fruit, and it just...appeared behind her like—

Surprise, dinner!

Nope. Not happening.

Even though the trees where she got the fruit were super far from the river, she wasn’t taking chances.

And then, a worse thought hit her.

What if the snake tracked her all the way back to the village?

What if it slithered through the huts, hunting for her, but instead of finding her, it ate someone else?

Oh no. What if it ate everyone?!

She pressed a hand to her forehead, horrified by her own imagination.

Okay, okay, calm down, Isabella. That’s insane. You’re being paranoid. Totally paranoid.

The snake was asleep, she was sure of it.

If it had really been awake, it would have eaten her right then and there, right?

...Right?

She gulped.

And just for extra safety, she dragged her fruit basket inside and yanked down the thick animal hide covering the entrance, pressing her back against it like it was some kind of magical snake-repelling barrier.

Was it actually secure? Absolutely not. If that massive python wanted in, it would probably just slither right through the gaps or barrel through the whole hut like a rolling boulder.

But did it make her feel better? Yes. Yes, it did.

She let out a shaky breath, staring at her fruit basket like it held all the answers to her impending doom.

"I am never climbing a tree again," she muttered.