Chapter 3 : 99th Floor.

A week had crawled by, each day a monotonous slog through ravaged landscapes and monster-infested ruins. Finally, they stood before the massive gate marking the 99th floor. The ancient runes etched above it, depicting the number 99 as a snarling beast, seemed to mock their dwindling hope.

"Ready?" Selena said in a cold steady voice.

Scar simply grunted in response. With a shared look that passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of their precarious situation, Scar pushed open the gate with a groan of rusty hinges.

The world beyond was a desolate wasteland, a testament to the catastrophe that had ravaged the Earth. The air hung heavy with the acrid stench of smoke, and a malevolent fog clung to the ground, obscuring the path ahead.

Selena, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward, her boots crunching on the scorched earth. Her gaze, sharp and focused, scanned the desolate landscape, searching for any sign of life – or more importantly, the monstrosity they had come to face.

"Oi," Scar's gruff voice broke the silence. He gestured towards a mound of blackened rubble in the distance. "What's that?"

Selena followed his line of sight. Nestled amidst the fallen embers, a colossal creature stirred. Its serpentine body coiled in a menacing pose, but unlike the monstrous snake they had fought on the previous floor, this one sported three distinct heads, each resembling a fearsome dragon.

"A Hydra," Selena whispered, the word laced with a hint of awe and dread. "A three-headed serpent from the myths."

As if sensing their presence, the Hydra stirred. Its three monstrous heads snapped open, revealing eyes that glowed with an infernal light. Flames danced within its gaping maws, painting the desolate landscape with an eerie flickering glow.

"Dodge!" Scar bellowed, his voice laced with urgency. The warning came a split second too late. The Hydra lunged, its colossal form erupting in a torrent of flame. Instinct kicked in – Selena and Scar leaped in opposite directions, the searing heat singeing the edges of their armor as they narrowly avoided incineration.

But the assault was far from over. The Hydra, a symphony of destruction, unleashed two more firestorms, converging on their positions. They rolled, tumbled, and barely dodged the onslaught, their hearts hammering against their ribs.

"Three attacks at once!" Scar roared, his voice ragged as he scrambled to his feet. "This thing could wipe out an entire city!"

Selena, her face grim, nodded in agreement. Three coordinated attacks, each capable of leveling a building, were a terrifying display of power. Their carefully crafted strategies from the previous floors seemed laughably inadequate in the face of this monstrosity.

They launched themselves into the fray, desperation fueling their blows. But their blades clanged harmlessly against the Hydra's seemingly impenetrable scales. Its energy seemed boundless, each ferocious attack rebuffed with terrifying ease.

Hours blurred into a desperate struggle. Exhaustion gnawed at their minds and bodies, yet they pressed on, fueled by a sliver of hope and a healthy dose of fear. Just as despair threatened to consume them, Scar, ever the warrior, locked eyes with Selena.

"Listen up," he rasped, his voice rough. Despite their animosity, a flicker of respect flickered in his eyes. "I'll get its attention. You attack from behind. Focus on the leftmost head when it unleashes that fire attack. Its scales weaken momentarily then.

"Selena, surprised by the unexpected teamwork, simply nodded, her lips forming a curt "Okay." This wasn't a time for pride or past squabbles. Survival hinged on this fragile cooperation.

Scar, downing a healing potion and a fortifying elixir in one swift motion, charged towards the Hydra with a roar that echoed across the desolate landscape. The beast, lured by the challenge, turned its fiery gaze upon him.

"Now!" Scar bellowed, just before the Hydra unleashed its signature three-pronged fire attack. Selena, seizing the fleeting opportunity, launched herself forward with a burst of superhuman speed. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she plunged her twin daggers deep into the exposed scales of the Hydra's leftmost head.

A deafening screech split the air as the severed head dissolved into a cloud of ash. The remaining two heads thrashed in fury, their fiery breath painting the air with a deadly ballet of destruction.