Chapter 74 - Fighting the Hydra (2)

I barely had time to think about the situation because as soon as the hydra had finished healing itself, three of its eight heads started to show signs of attack. One was glowing with a green color, while the other was glowing with a brown color, but I couldn't differentiate the last head, its color was a blue almost white, but it couldn't be a light attack nor a water attack since from what I could tell, each head controls an element. If so, there is only one element missing.

(Wind)

I thought as I looked at the hydra, and just as I thought, one of the heads that I thought was responsible for the wind element unleashed a strong whirlwind at one of my clones, defeating it. As soon as one of the clones was killed, the hydra stepped on the ground with force, making a stake made from the ground impale my other clone. 

The clone that was behind the hydra was crushed with the force of the hydra's tail, leaving me alone again. Once all my clones were killed, the last head began to launch its attack.

"Roooooaaaarrrr"

With a huge roar, the temple began to shake, and before I knew it, several sharp bridge roots were coming towards me. Seeing this, I began to use my skills to dodge the attacks, but the more I dodged, the more stuck I became. There would come a time when I would have nowhere else to dodge.

(If it's just plants, I should be able to burn)

I thought as I pointed my arm at a root coming towards me.

"Flame"

As soon as I said this, a torrent of flame went towards the root that was coming towards me. As soon as the fire came in contact with the root, it began to burn rapidly. Seeing that fire would be useful, I began to burn all the roots that were surrounding me while continuing to dodge.

(This will have no end)

Even though every now and then I would get hit by some root, my regeneration would soon kick in and heal me. The girls were also attacking the hydra every which way, but whenever we did a relatively large amount of damage, it would heal itself. Glasy was also helping with her ice attacks as she continued to dive and emerge from my shadow.

(Damn, this is getting on my nerves already)

I thought as I continued to burn the roots.

"Glacial mist"

As soon as I said this, a mist started emanating from my body, freezing all the roots in the process. The mist also managed to get to the hydra and soon started freezing it as well. But even then, it still managed to easily shake off the ice. Overall, our situation was not good at all, and I couldn't see a way to defeat this thing.

(It's too big and tough... there's really nothing I can do?)

I thought as I tried to search my memory for something that might be useful to me now. And as I thought about this, I suddenly remembered something: when I killed the Kraken, I not only gained its abilities but also its form. This means that now I can also transform into the Kraken.

(Saemi, Ana, Fujiwara, Aoi-sensei, please distract the hydra for me, I have a plan.) 

I said telepathically to the girls.

(Understood) 

They all said. After that, several coordinated attacks started to be launched against the hydra. Even Glassy was helping. This made the hydra lose its focus on me. This would not last long, but this was exactly the time I needed. 

While the hydra was distracted, I used cloning once again, splitting myself into four. After that, my clones and I pointed our arms at the ceiling of the temple.

"Ultrasonic waves" 

Using this ability, the ceiling began to be hit and soon began to crack.

(I need more power) 

I thought as I increased the power of my skill even more. Little by little, the ceiling started to crack. In that time, the hydra noticed that the girls were just a distraction and soon turned her gaze to me again. But unfortunately for her, it was too late.

"Dark manipulation" 

I used my skill as soon as the ceiling broke. Black wings grew behind my back, and soon I shot towards the ceiling. In the meantime, the hydra tried to attack me again but was held back by my clones. This gave me enough time to reach the hole, and soon I was outside the temple.

"Mimicry" 

As soon as I said that, I was swallowed by a black mist. Different from the other times, my body started to grow and grow. It seemed there was no end to my size. I was feeling several arms, and somehow, I could control each one of them. It was a strange and at the same time, a new feeling. At that moment, I felt that if I was inside the water, I wouldn't be defeated by anything.

***

As soon as Makoto jumped outside through the opening in the ceiling, the girls were hiding from the hydra that kept trying to hit them with its attacks. As Makoto's telepathy was still activated, they could communicate.

(Did he run away?) 

Said a voice in Saemi's mind. She knew that voice.

(He wouldn't do something like that, he's not that kind of person) 

Saemi said, almost screaming. Saemi didn't know what Makoto planned to do, but of one thing she was sure: Makoto always kept his promises. He would surely defeat this thing. While thinking about this, Saemi and the others started to hear a noise coming from the hole where Makoto had come out. 

It was a deep and hoarse noise. Suddenly, the noise ceased, and tentacles came down from the hole and started to coil around the hydra. The last sight Saemi had of the hydra was of it being carried out to sea by the tentacles.