Confront the Calamity!

Akiol watched as the Fourth Stars prepared the trap. Formations and Skills he's never seen before were being used carefully.

Everyone had an air of seriousness about them. Not a single person was fooling around. As Akiol watched he couldn't help but get a deadly feeling. Each one of the traps being use would no doubt kill him.

If it weren't for the fact that the Fourth Stars bode no ill will towards him, he probably wouldn't have been able to move.

The western half of the continent became a wasteland. Hardly any wildlife remained, the Calamity had truly set it to a deadzone. Nothing but chaotic mana was present.

"The development of this is going to be strange."

"Yeah, I'm surprised you can tell that.", the Orc from before spoke.

"It might be beneficial to some, but it's still horrifying."

"The amount of mutations that will take place. I suspect this will be the land of monsters, strong ones at that."

"A place to grow strong, or die trying."

"I suppose the next generation will prosper."

"If we succeed."

The Orc smirked, "Then our only choice is not to fail."

"I'll have to agree with you on that."

~~~

The developers crowded around. They were responsible of the East Continent, naturally they panicked once they noticed the Calamity awoke.

As they struggled to find a good way to fix the issue, someone spotted Akiol's actions.

They watched Akiol as he managed to convince the nobility. The plan seemed feasible enough to where even the developers thought of it to be possible.

Now that the plan was going to begin, no one was willing to miss it.

"There's no way they're going to solve it like this."

"No it's possible, but I don't know if he can pull it off."

"Silence! It's starting!"

~~~

Boom-

The ground rumbled, everyone's heartbeat thumped simultaneously. Akiol frowned, "It's not supposed to be here yet!"

"Damn! What do we do?"

"Stick to the plan, we need to restrict its movements!"

Akiol began to retreat in the opposite direction, a handful of warriors following. Those responsible for the trap accelerated the process and followed as well.

"You're quite slow!"

Akiol had to agree, his speed seemed to be child's play to the Fourth Stars. Not that he didn't expect that. He pointed ahead, "The broken ruins over there should be a good enough distance. Once the Hydra steps into the trap you guys get to work. I need to prepare."

"If you abandon us there will be hell to pay!"

"I won't."

They slipped inside the ruins, everyone watching the giant Hydra approach them steadily. Each step the Hydra took caused their hearts to thump involuntarily.

The Fourth Stars watched nervously, such power is hardly seen at their level. To think that they were going against such a beast too!

Akiol had a bad feeling, something wasn't right at all. Although the plan was rushed, he felt like he was forgetting something. Or perhaps missed a key detail.

His eyes widened, "It noticed us already?!"

"Why hasn't it attacked then?!"

"The timer started a while ago, it just didn't see us so we were never attacked."

A Sorcerer gave the Hydra a fierce glare, "So we just run now?"

"If you want to leave I cannot stop you."

Another interjected, "That's not what we are asking! You are the one who made this plan. Do we still have a chance?!"

"If we act fast."

"Then get to talking!"

"We need to lure it into the trap, somehow bait it. It seems to be avoiding it."

The Orc disagreed, "We're incapable of moving it. The intel reports that the Hydra stays in one place when it begins fighting."

Akiol ran through some mental calculations, "How confident are you in holding down its heads?"

There wasn't a confident answer. The Sorcerer shrugged, "I'm not sure we can bind it completely without ample preparation."

"Then can you distract it?"

They exchanged gazes, none willing to risk their lives. The Orc sneered, "How much time do you need?"

"Fifteen seconds, but I need to be in front of it."

"Hmph! If I can't distract a single head for more than fifteen seconds then I can't call myself a warrior!"

The knowledge raised moral. Confidence began to surface again. A Defender of sorts thumped their chest, "My defenses will not be shattered by this beast! I can buy you those fifteen seconds!"

Akiol nodded, "Great! Let's start now!"

Raising his hand he touched Stars' pommel. The mana around him buzzed for a moment as he was empowered by the Berserk Skill.

Within the five seconds it took to activate, the Fourth Stars rushed out to combat the Calamity.

The Hydra's heads all opened their jaws and began charging the crimson energy. Only spurred to act the Fourth Stars did not retreat.

A phantom chain shot forward and wrapped around the head of the Hydra. It tightened and began to close its jaw. The Orc was in the ground, pulling the chain with all his might.

An Archer charged a powerful shot, as it soared through the air it pierced the throat of one of the heads, blasting the neck apart. This interrupted the charge for just a moment!

Enough time had passed and three of the five attacks were fully charged. A Berserker launched themselves upwards and spun insanely fast. With their two-handed mace in hand, they crushed the jaw of one head. The force caused that head to lift upwards, and the beam shot into the sky.

A Defender raised their shield and the image of a fortress appeared around them. They shouted, "Let's see if my defenses can defend against a Calamity!"

The beam made contact with the shield and began pushing the Defender back. Struggling to keep their ground they were sliding back.

The fifth beam was narrowly dodged, but hit the ground and caused a massive hole.

All this occurred in just a few seconds! Akiol's Berserk Skill was now active and he shot forward, "Alright! Hold them down now!"

The Sorcerer raised their arms once they finished their chant. Swinging downwards magical stakes imbedded themselves into the Hydra.

The Calamity tore its body apart to free itself. Wounds recovered at a frightening pace. In mere moments it looked like it wasn't even harmed!

The Berserker descended from the sky smashing into the back of the Hydra. Its knees buckled from the force, buying another second.

Pulling back five powerful glowing arrows the Archer fired them all at once. It was like five lightning strikes shot forth. They all exploded the base of the Hydra's necks.

With the beam interrupted the Defender was free to act. Slamming their shield down they shouted, "Descend! [Holy Cross]!"

A golden cross formed above the Hydra and stabbed into it. The five heads roared in agony, but its wounds already recovered.

Akiol stood at the base of the Hydra. The wavy knife in hand, oddly it showed a sinister sheen when in the presence of the Hydra.

Silver Aura shot out of his body. The fifteen seconds he asked for was to prepare for two specific things. First was the execution of a technique. The second was for what came after.

His Aura skyrocketed as he funneled all he had. Holding the curvy knife in a particular stance he whispered, "Stay strong Mira!"

He swung upwards, a massive force following with. Aura shot upwards and slashed through the Hydra's body.

{Cataclysm Technique: Eruption}!

The Fourth Stars were momentarily stunned! For the Hydra was nearly split into half?!