Chapter 37: The Swamp of Death Part 7

[The ash tree fairy warns you of an approaching danger.]

Almost simultaneously with the fairy's warning, a tremendous roar erupted.

-Shhhwaaaaaaaaa!!!!

The black mud of the swamp surged up like a tsunami.

"Everyone, take cover! It's the Hydra!"

The dark red scales that appeared through the swamp flashed even under the shadows, showing off their majesty. A faint venom was emanating from beneath each scale attached to its body.

The true ruler of the swamp of death had revealed itself.

-Hisssssss!!!

I didn't make the foolish mistake of looking up.

Since I knew a "venom rain" would soon pour down.

I quickly flipped my cloak over and used [Protection of the Forest] towards El and the young mercenary who were right behind me.

-Creak, creak.

-Crack!

Surprisingly quickly, grass and trees grew in a dome shape, surrounding an area of about 2 meters in radius.

"Master!"

El, who had belatedly grasped the situation, shouted through the tree trunks and vines, but I did not release the skill.

-Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Stay put. It's not your time to step in yet."

It was clear that El would become the <Silver Lion Reinhardt>, but at the moment, she was just a child.

Facing an opponent of the Hydra's caliber, she would only be a hindrance.

I could hear El shouting something from inside the completed sanctuary, but I couldn't make it out clearly because it was blocked by tree branches and vines.

-Sssssssss!

-Pop!

-Pop!

-Pop!

I shot arrows at regular intervals. From the arrows embedded in the ground, morning stars began to grow, and the fully bloomed flowers started emitting moonlight. Pillars of moonlight rose around us like a barrier before they started to burn away all that was unholy.

-Hissssssss!!!!!

Every time the Hydra's body brushed against the pillars of moonlight, its scales burned away, yet it did not retreat and was only struggling.

Although [Moon Light], which borrows the moonlight of Goddess Nemeya, is a powerful skill, I was merely 'borrowing' the goddess's power which was insufficient against the Hydra.

It was merely a temporary measure to hold on.

When I caught a glimpse of the Hydra through the pillars of moonlight, I swallowed hard.

There's only one head…

A Hydra is traditionally known to have nine heads.

With each of the nine heads capable of spewing deadly venom, defeating a Hydra was nearly impossible.

The calamity one head could cause was daunting enough, let alone nine.

Yet, the Hydra before me had only one head.

Around it were numerous wounds. The heads were likely torn away in some horrific event.

-Grrr, grrrrrrrrr…

It became clear why the Hydra hadn't devastated entire nations but stayed within the swamp.

What exactly happened?

The followers of Rasghal would not have summoned just one head of the Hydra.

Given that they used dragon bones as a sacrifice, the summoning must have been successful…

Could someone have defeated the fully summoned Hydra?

Leaving only one head behind?

Before I could ponder further, the Hydra slammed its massive tail down. Another wave, like a tsunami, surged through the swamp, engulfing the surroundings. Screams erupted from all around.

-Shaaaaaaa!!!!

In the center of the swamp of death, only parasites and monsters existed. Ordinary life forms died before they could reach the center.

This meant that the Hydra had likely been starving for a long time.

Then it should be in a near-death state…

Before I could speculate further, the Hydra's sharp and massive tail whipped over my head like the wind.

"Ah…"

Thanks to [Feather Walk] being activated, I narrowly avoided the Hydra's tail.

-Grrrrrrr…

From the single remaining head of the Hydra, a murky growl, thick with phlegm, emanated alongside a sinister stream of venom. It was clear that that venom was what turned this lake into a deadly swamp.

"Sh*t…"

Although I had been warned of monsters before taking on this request, no one had mentioned a Hydra.

Of course, had I known, I wouldn't have set foot here.

I gripped my bow tightly and glanced back. Even with the Hydra before us, Jamil's face was calm.

"What should we do, Theo?"

"What do you mean what should we do?!"

"You always have the answers."

Correction: It wasn't that he was calm; he was simply thoughtless.

I suppressed my rising anger and drew an arrow. It was made from a particularly thick silverwood branch, densely inscribed with spells and already overflowing with purification power.

"Decapitation is not an option."

At my words, Jamil's grip on his axe slackened in resignation.

"Of course. We're up against a Hydra."

While not as formidable as a dragon, this superior monster boasted scales nearly as thick and a body just as robust.

Perhaps the future Arturo, who would grow to become the Mercenary King, could have faced the Hydra alone but for the current Jamil, it was a very difficult task.

"Scales."

"Scales?"

"Rip them off. Just one is enough."

"And then?"

"I'll make sure to hit it."

A single arrow, brimming with purification power, could inflict significant damage on the Hydra, no matter how powerful it might be.

We would have to wait for the right moment to strike and collectively bring the beast down.

With the blessing of the ash tree fairy, there might be a chance.

The small light that had been circling around me, presumably the ash tree fairy, seemed to radiate considerable purification power.

Thus, this was our only option.

"I can tear off as many scales as you want!"

"I'd be grateful if you managed to get even one and stop with the bravado."

-Kiiiiiiiiiiii!!!

The howl of the Hydra that destroyed one of the moonlight pillars echoed far and wide.

Drooling black venom, the Hydra greedily eyed the humans behind the moonlit column.

"....."

Silence prevailed amidst an overwhelming terror.

Had I not been known as the [Nemesis of Evil], I might have been paralyzed with fear by now.

In fact, several mercenaries and wizards were so shocked that they couldn't move.

"Run on three."

"Okay."

"One, two…"

"Three!"

After Jamil leaped high, I mounted Ayla's back and dashed toward the wizards with all my might.

Dodging the exploding spells left and right was a difficult task. Yet Ayla sprinted swiftly without a moment's hesitation.

Without her, I might have been dead long ago.

"Sir Theodore!"

Jacob spotted me and shouted loudly.

"Don't mind me, keep firing!"

After belting out a loud cry, I used the [Song of the Forest] to make weeds grow on the ground that was still untouched by poison. Ayla quickly caught on to my intent and deftly leaped only on the spots where the weeds had sprouted. It was a fantastic collaboration between the [Song of the Forest] and the shadow wolf. The growth of the weeds made it clear for Ayla where to step, and we safely reached the ash tree.

"....!"

The moment I grasped the branches of the ash tree, I felt its life force and purification energy envelop my body.

"Thank you."

I offered a brief word of gratitude, then began to climb the ash tree. As I climbed up to the highest branch, I could see at a glance the chaos unfolding in the swamp of death.

To shoot better, you have to go farther.

-Phwweeeeet!

I let out a long whistle. Recognizing the signal, Jamil started to dart out from behind the moonlight pillars, using the Hydra's body as a springboard. Perhaps due to the sheer volume of attacks, the Hydra failed to notice Jamil's approach.

"Huuuu…."

I drew an arrow and the ash tree fairy began to circle it while sprinkling a cluster of tiny lights. I could feel the overflowing purifying power as the magic spell engraved on the silver arrow glowed softly.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"

Despite the distance between us, Jamil's booming voice reached my ears clearly. I exhaled slowly, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the distant target.

"...."

Caution and patience.

These were virtues I possessed long before I took the name Theodore, back when I was known as Kang Tae-oh.

I had often been called foolish for it, but I harbored no regrets.

Especially now, as I reaped the benefits of those virtues.

-Kiiiiiiit!!!!!

Jamil's axe blade burrowed between the Hydra's scales, and with another thunderous roar, a scale as large as a dwarf was torn off.

"Theo!!!!!!!!"

…. I'm already watching you.

I released the arrow towards the thrashing Hydra.

-Swiiiiiiish! 

The arrow sped towards the Hydra with terrifying speed and a dazzling trail of light.

-Thud!

It was a direct hit.

***

-Thud!

It was not just the sound of the arrow striking the Hydra's body.

"Kuhuk…"

Theodore shuddered at the sensation of a sharp cold metal embedded in his side. The well-sharpened dagger did not come out easily and twisted halfway, causing a larger wound.

Hot blood surged from his side. Theodore quickly used [Nature's Healing] and [Wound Healing]. However, the wound was healing slower than usual.

Something had clearly been done to the dagger.

If it were a simple wound, the healing would not have been so slow. At the very least, the bleeding should have stopped immediately, but blood continued to flow from the unhealed wound.

"Ha, haha… I did it, I did it!"

"Kuk…"

"It was this easy! It was this easy!"

Theodore turned to look at the person who had stabbed him. The other party looked bizzard to the point where it was hard to tell if he was a human or a monster, but there was something familiar about them. It was as if he had seen him before…

Could it be…

Despite losing a significant amount of blood, Theodore's mind raced with thoughts.

The bastard who was attacking us all along…

The growling and barking of Ayla could be heard from beneath the ash tree, but the assailant seemed unperturbed by such things.

"Good, he's not dead, so I can just take him to Him as he is."

The assailant, or rather Pavel, pulled out some sturdy vines he had prepared in advance and began to tie up Theodore. While the wizards and mercenaries were preoccupied with taking down the Hydra, after they escaped the swamp they would surely believe the druid had perished at the hands of the monsters.

"Hurry, hurry…"

Dark hands wrapped the vines urgently. The prospect of regaining his former position by offering the druid to "Him" fueled Pavel's haste even more.

– Beep beep beep…

That's when it happened.

A faint chirping emanated from within Theodore's clothes.