Emmett and the others remained silent, watching Yvette. Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Zeller," he asked, "have you ever been on a rainforest expedition? Why do you seem so familiar with this place?"

Yvette pursed her lips, looking up expressionlessly. "I saw it in a documentary," she replied in a low voice.

Frankie, mid-sip of water, sprayed Bruce's face. Two drops trickled down his temple. Bruce wiped the water away, offering Frankie a gentle, terrifying smile. Frankie knew that even escaping the jungle might not save him from death; he'd provoked a man who was both a clean freak and stingy.

An hour passed unnoticed. The group set out again, Yvette leading. Frankie wondered what documentary Yvette had watched, deciding to investigate later.

This time, Yvette slowed her pace. As they passed through a patch of flowers, Frankie was momentarily captivated, his eyes dazed. He reached out to touch a colorful bloom. A silver needle shot from Yvette's direction, striking the flower's center.

The petals scattered, revealing a small, brightly patterned snake; its fangs dripped with clear, poisonous liquid. The snake lunged at Frankie. Though Chris, Bruce, and Emmett reacted swiftly, it was too late. Yvette's second and third needles struck the snake's head and a critical spot, severing it instantly.

Terrified—he’d feared reptiles since childhood—Frankie fell to the ground. The sight of the lunging snake had deeply impacted him. He vomited several times before regaining his composure. Then, grinning, he scampered to Yvette. "I declare you my idol! No... idol is too shallow. From now on, I'll call you Ms. Zeller out of respect!"

Yvette, rarely at a loss for words, offered a slight smirk, her upturned eyes hinting at indifference and audacious playfulness. She glanced at Chris and the others, who remained unfazed. They knew Frankie's whimsical nature well.

Unlike Frankie's carefree demeanor, Emmett and the others were shaken. Moments ago, Frankie had nearly died. Had Yvette been a moment later, he'd likely be dead. Emmett had seen everything: Yvette's simultaneous release of three needles demonstrated incredible precision and control. He admitted it was truly amazing.

Yvette stared at the dead viper. Her tone turning serious, she said, "We're almost there." Puzzled, the others asked, "Where exactly are we going?"

Her brown eyes bright, Yvette looked into the distance, a chill on her delicate face. "In less than half an hour," she said, "we should encounter a giant python, the ruler of this rainforest. It's several tens of feet longer than any discovered so far and has resided here for an unknown period. These small snakes signal our proximity. From now on, remain vigilant. Emmett, use the sulfur extract; it should temporarily repel small snakes."

Yvette produced a small porcelain vial from her backpack, pouring out four small, candy-like beads. She distributed them among the group. Coldness filled her eyes; an air of ruthlessness surrounded her.

"Eat it," she ordered, her tone undeniable. "This will protect you from the toxic atmosphere for two hours. Frankie was misled by the scent. The medicine is part of it, but staying strong and focused is crucial to avoid traps."

Their hearts tightened. How massive was this python? How did Yvette know about it? Where did she obtain this unknown poison?

Yvette allowed no questions. After they swallowed the pills, she led the way, and they followed closely.

After ten minutes, Yvette stopped, crouched, and sniffed a handful of dirt. The smell—decaying animal bodies and blood—revealed the giant snake's lair. Her eyes sharpened, she faced the wind, exuding deadly intent.

"It's here," she said. Rustling filled the bushes, growing closer, sending chills down their spines.

Emmett, Chris, Bruce, and Frankie drew their heavy machine guns. Frankie, whistling confidently, said, "Ah, the age of firearms! No matter how big the snake is, I'll blow its head off!" The others remained silent, thinking their firepower should suffice, though a larger snake might require more effort.

Yvette's expression remained indifferent, her eyes cold. Her demeanor turned serious. "Get ready," she said. "It's coming. Its venom is extremely toxic. A bite is fatal; not even the gods could save you."

The rustling intensified. Minutes later, they saw the giant python. They stared blankly at the enormous creature hovering above them, its large mouth open, forked tongue flickering, massive fangs dripping venom, and keen eyes glowing an eerie green. Its jet-black scales, embellished with deep crimson patterns, shimmered in the sunlight. Its massive body, coiled in a large circle, appeared at least a hundred feet long.

Frankie looked at his gun, then at the creature. 'Could I take back what I said?' he thought in shock. 'Is this really a python? It looks like a prehistoric creature!'

Emmett, Chris, and Bruce, though somewhat prepared, were still astonished. 'This is the giant python?' they thought. One wrong move, and they'd be dinner; barely enough to fill its teeth. The python focused on the intruders—on Yvette, who stood at the front. It seemed to sense a familiar smell.