Dragonbite viper

The dragonbite viper is an extremely deadly species of venomous snake that dwells in the Kingdom of Sand and the Poison Jungle. It is the only serpent that is able to kill a dragon with a single bite. They are long, with varying colors and patterns and deadly fangs described to look like shards of ice.

History

The Dragonet Prophecy

The Brightest Night

Dragonbite vipers were first mentioned in the Scorpion Den, where it was said one had been spotted near an orphanage with someone lighting a fire in panic, although it was a false story by Addax to distract Thorn (except it is likely he started the fire to make her busy for a while). Qibli explained to Sunny what it was shortly before she agreed to be taken to Burn and whisked off to Burn's stronghold.

The viper was first seen when Burn opened the box Blister sent to her when the three SandWing sisters met outside of Burn's stronghold. She recognized the hissing and grabbed the snake easily, not letting it bite her, and planned to use it to kill Blister. However, Blister had sent a second snake as well, which sprang out and bit Burn's ankle, killing her. Burn managed to crush the second viper as she died. The first dragonbite viper then tried to attack Sunny, Starflight, and the others, but Clay pushed Sunny and the rest of the dragonets out of the way and was bitten instead; however, he was saved by Peril, who burned out the venom before it could spread to his heart. Peril then killed the serpent by stepping on and burning it. Clay now limps due to the hole Peril had to gouge in his leg destroying a large portion of bloodstream there to save his life.

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The Jade Mountain Prophecy

Darkness of Dragons

Dragonbite vipers were mentioned when Anemone said she would wear a necklace of dragonbite vipers to be free of Darkstalker's spells.

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The Lost Continent Prophecy

The Poison Jungle

On the way to the Den of Vipers on a journey with Sundew, Willow, Mandrake, Nettle, and Bumblebee to get to the Eye of the jungle, Cricket wondered if the snakes at Den of Vipers were dragonbite vipers, and mentioned that they didn't get many snakes in the Hives, even in the greenhouses, but some snakes were sold as pets (presumably not of the dragonbite variety, due to the obvious danger of having them there). They then came across a massive swarm of them in the Den of Vipers, however, they were inactive due to being controlled by the breath of evil. They became active and surrounded them near Hawthorn's place, and when one attacked Nettle, Hawthorn stopped them due to his mind control of the vipers through the breath of evil.

A dragonbite viper formally appeared in Chapter Twenty, when Hawthorn threatened to kill Willow with one that he put around her neck if Sundew ran away from him. However, Sundew managed to convince some sundew plants to seize the viper off of Willow's neck and eat it, as well as hold Hawthorn in place.

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Winglets

Deserter

Dragonbite vipers were mentioned when Six-Claws reflected on how he signed up for every patrol, including helping to firebomb suspected dragonbite viper lairs.

Abilities

Dragonbite vipers are one of the most feared animals in Pyrrhia because, as their name implies, they are the only known snake that could kill a dragon with one extremely venomous bite.

A dragonbite viper's bite turns black and is at first the pattern of a starburst, and can be seen spreading through the victim's body. When it comes in contact with dragon flesh, the dragon is seized with spasms, convulsions, and terrible agony. The dragon is left in terrible pain until the venom reaches their heart, which will ultimately end in death for the dragon.

Trivia

• Dragonbite vipers are rare according to Starflight, likely due to the fact that they're hunted down by dragons across the continent.
• The venom can be burned out of a dragon's body, and, provided that the wound is far away from the heart, the dragon's odds of surviving seem decent, aside from the possible incineration part. An example of this was when Clay was bitten on the leg and Peril used her firescales to save him.
• Dragonbite vipers can be affected by the breath of evil, as shown in The Poison Jungle.
• Dragonbite vipers are the only known snakes that can kill a dragon in a single bite (in Pantala and Pyrrhia).

Gallery

• Possibly a Dragonbite viper on the cover of The Poison Jungle, by Joy Ang
  Possibly a Dragonbite viper on the cover of The Poison Jungle, by Joy Ang