Hydra

"Man, this place is a lot more annoying than I remember..." Lucian sighed, frustrated by the long stone maze of the 100th floor.

"Hmm," Yue hummed in agreement into Lucian's neck while she drank his blood, her small, naked form still tightly entangled around his.

Another great deal of time had passed since they had left the barren land from before. The floor itself was filled with parasitic monsters that Lucian easily dispatched. With the queen bee of the monsters on the floor unable to put up a fight, she served as good practice for Lucian to hone his magic.

"You know, you're going to get addicted to me if you keep drinking from me like this," Lucian said amusedly, his gaze taking in a new path ahead.

A soft plopping sound rang out as Yue withdrew her lips from Lucian's neck and spoke, "But you taste so good," she said, licking her lips of the leftover blood.

A small, amused smile formed on Lucian's visage as he replied, "Yeah, so you have said."

Yue also showed a faint smile at his words before Lucian spoke up again, "Oh, looks like we can finally leave this place," he said, his tone one of relief as he took in the view of another pair of large blue and gold doors.

"Do you know what's behind there, Lucian?" Yue asked, her tone one of curiosity as she peeked over Lucian's shoulder at the doors.

"Sure do," Lucian replied, obviously not willing to disclose what it was.

Yue let out a cute snort at Lucian's response as she spoke, "Why do you do that?" She asked, annoyed at his crypticness.

"Because it's fun," he answered, amused, as he arrived before the giant golden doors and casually pushed them open.

"Pretty nice," Lucian murmured appreciatively as he took in the sights before him.

A long hall lay out before them, the floor made of white marble lined with gold, and the sides of the room were adorned with pillars of beautiful glowing purple crystals, appearing to be a more refined version of the ones used in Yue's prison.

Yue marveled at the sight for a moment before asking, "What is this?"

"The final boss's room," Lucian replied, jumping off the archway that overlooked the room and landing on the white marble below with only a small thud resonating.

Moving his hands to his sides, Lucian gently patted Yue's bare waist as he spoke, "Why don't you get down, princess? Your skin is starting to stick to me."

Yue pursed her lips at Lucian's words but relented to his request, sliding off his back and down to the marble floor before catching up to his side.

"Don't pout, princess. I've been carrying you almost the entire way. You'd think someone who's been locked away for so long would be eager to stretch their legs instead of lazing around, sucking my blood," Lucian teased, the implications in his words clear.

Yue looked up at Lucian, her expression stoic, but her gaze piercing.

A small, amused smile graced Lucian's face as he spoke, "There, there, princess." His free hand wandered up to her head, stroking her soft golden locks.

Yue's piercing gaze softened as she turned her attention back to the front. Just in time too, as a large amount of mana burst out from the ground before them, causing a giant, complex red magic circle to form.

Yue and Lucian stood rooted in place as the massive wind pressure of the mana washed over them, their respective long hair swaying wildly.

Lucian showed a hint of a smile as he looked up at the giant serpentine monster that had formed from the magic circle, its multiple colorful heads hissing.

HISSS!

The red head of the hydra hissed, accompanied by a giant ball of fire heading quickly toward the duo.

"You know what, you take care of the white one," Lucian said, moving his free hand from Yue and in front of him. He made a flicking motion, sending a small ball of his own corrosive energy at the oncoming flames.

The effect was immediate. The shockwave from his flick dispersed the flames, and his small ball of dark red energy melted a hole in the creature's red head, causing it to fall limp and leak yellow blood.

"Why?" Yue questioned, unsurprised by Lucian's display of power given all that she had witnessed while being with him so far.

Lucian shrugged as he spoke, "Just curious how strong you're getting after juicing so much off of me."

Yue turned her gaze from the healing redhead of the hydra to Lucian's amused expression. While she didn't understand the term 'juicing,' she knew he was likely teasing her.

"Okay," she replied, acknowledging the futility of denying it. Not that she wanted to anyway, as she began to float from the ground using her magic.

"Just be careful of the black one; it can get inside your head," Lucian said, casually raising his hand and forming a finger gun. He shot out a small orb of energy at the approaching blue head.

BOOM!

A loud crash resounded as a giant ball of electric blue energy collided with the white head of the serpentine monster. A smaller crash followed as the green head that Lucian had targeted fell limp to the marble floor.

"Not bad," Lucian muttered, taking in the sight of the ashes that remained from the white head and even some from the gold head, which had tried to protect the white one.

Yue felt a slight surge of pride as she descended from the sky, pleased with her work.

"Well, I guess it's time to end this," Lucian murmured, outstretching his hand toward the remaining heads of the hydra as a giant ball of dark red energy began to form.

"Maybe you will actually be a challenge when you come back," Lucian muttered, making a flicking motion with his wrist just as the black head began to rush towards him.

There was no sound, just the eerie sight of the dark energy swiftly devouring everything in its path. The approaching head vanished, with the giant towering body of the five-headed hydra soon following suit as it disappeared. Even some of the marble floor of the dungeon did not escape its all-devouring path. It slowly ate away at everything in its wake before dissipating into nothingness, right before the gates to the exit of the room.

Yue's soft footsteps rang out on the marble floor as she approached Lucian, her gaze following his to where the creature used to be.

"What?" she asked, confused about why he was still staring there as if he was expecting something.

Lucian sighed, turning his gaze away from the destruction where the hydra used to be and looking at Yue. "Nothing. I just thought I would get to have more fun, is all," he said, letting out a sigh as he began walking towards the exit.

"Come on, Princess. Clothes and a bath await us," Lucian said, his tone a mixture of amusement and excitement.

Yue showed a slight smile as she too began to follow him, nodding as she replied, "Yes."