Chapter 35: Echidna Tears

The remains of the headless Hydra lie on the ground. Zaine instructs Albus to gather the scales of the hydra.

{You received (Hydra Scales)}

{You received (Hydra Scales)}

{You received (Hydra Scales)}

...

..

Zaine stuffed the scales into his magic bag and carried on the journey.

They went to the next floor, where the swampy biome continued. They made sure to watch their steps and keep a lookout for anything beyond the waters.

Slowly, the showing lands started getting less and less, leaving only water, restricting their movement and making it harder to progress quickly.

Because of this, Zaine and his group get up to one of the Ents, sitting on the branches, letting it carry them to avoid getting wet.

{Duration until digestion: 6 hours}

Zaine looked at his status. He still had 6 hours before he fully digested the Echidna Tears.

He hadn't told Amy or Albus that he consumed the Echidna Tears, so he wanted to hurry home if anything happened.

Seeing that Albus looked excited, he decided to continue his journey for a bit longer.

They breeze through floor 21, defeating several mermen that appear along the way.

With the help of the map at Zaine's disposal, he tracked the fastest way for them to climb up the tower.

The swampy biome continues towards floor 25, where a massive door is found at the end of the floor. Another boss fight is beyond them.

{Duration until digestion: 2 hours}

Zaine had to make a quick decision, whether to go through and fight or leave the place while preparing to take the effects of consuming the Echidna Tears.

{Would you like to enter (Serpent King's den)?}

'The Serpent King? I think that's for a level 70 group...' Zaine tried remembering the boss from HHL.

Zaine stops Amy and Albus once more and tells them the boss that they're about to fight and a simple plan to defeat it.

{Would you like to enter (Serpent King's den)?}

"Yes!"

{The air around you feels cold}

{The water's are descending}

Zaine and his group enter the den, and the swamp water starts sinking, revealing a once-submerged temple. Mold and rust can be seen all around the structure.

A hiss can be heard from inside the temple. Zaine and the others are ready.

Groups of water serpents came out of the temple, followed by the Serpent King. The difference in sizes is clearly shown with the Serpents only having a height of around 2 meters, while the Serpent King quadruples the size.

Zaine summons a Minotaur to battle the Serpent King and several giants to engage the underlings.

The battle is going well. Despite its size difference, the Minotaur has more power than the Serpent King.

Albus carefully takes her chances whenever the Serpent King is occupied by the Minotaur, allowing her to deal some stealth strikes to it.

{Duration until digestion: 1 hour}

The battle lasted for a while. The scale of the Serpent King makes it hard for Albus to deal any damage.

Zaine realizes the remaining period and acts quickly. The Serpent King can't deal much damage, but its scales are one of the toughest in HHL.

Zaine summons more minions to help and take it down.

All the regular Serpents have been dealt with, and the remaining giants have made their way to help damage the Serpent King.

'I know I should have learned other magic while in town. Maybe piercing magic could help.' Zaine mumbles while he continues summoning more monsters.

Amy helps give damage buffs to the summoned monsters while Albus goes into her aggressive mode, transforming her hands into a dragon.

Currently, the one dealing the most damage is Albus and the Minotaur.

{Time until digestion: 30 Minutes}

The Serpent King's body is filled with cuts and bruises, with its stamina getting less and its movement getting slower by the minute.

{Time until digestion: 20 Minutes}

Its movement gets even slower, its head lowered by the lack of stamina.

{Time until digestion: 10 Minutes}

The Serpent King's movement was restricted, not allowing it to move an inch.

{Time until digestion: 5 Minutes}

Albus manages to deal a severe blow after piercing its body with her beam of light, draining all of her mana.

{Time until digestion: 2 Minutes}

{Time until digestion: 1 Minute}

The Serpent King falls to the ground, signaling the end of the battle.

{Time until digestion: 30 Seconds}

Zaine summons an Ent and tells Amy and Albus whatever happens, don't worry.

{Time until digestion: 10 Seconds}

{Killed a Serpent King}

{You Receive 1 Serpent King Soul}

{You can summon Serpent King}

{Time until digestion: 3 Seconds}

{Time until digestion: 2 Seconds}

{You have obtained....}

{Time until digestion: 1 Second}

{Digesting (Echidna Tears)}

{Going into Hibernation Mode}

....

..

{+500 Mana}

{Congratulations for being the first to digest (Echidna's Tears)}

{Received an additional 200 skill points}

After consuming it, Zaine drifted to sleep. His consciousness remains while it feels like he is floating around in space.

"The player base is going down. What will you do now?" The sound of a man could be heard inside Zaine's head

"The world is going to be changed entirely!" Another sound of a different man can be heard, excited.

"Wait, the whole world?! That's not how the plan should be!" He shouted, seemingly not accepting the fact.

"Finally, HHL is going to be a reality! Hahahaha!" A menacing laugh can be heard.

'It sounded like they were talking about something.'

'What was it?'

'Hmm, HHL?!'

{You have heard something forbidden}

{Disposing of the soul: Zaine}

{Failed}

{Returning the soul: Zaine}

{Return rate: 5%}

{Returning}

{Failed}

{Two attempts left}

{Retrying}

{Failed}

{One attempt left}

{Sacrifice Typhon Scale?}

{Yes / No}

'No'

{Retrying}

{Success}

{Returning soul: Zaine}