Rex panted heavily, his body feeling as if it had been drained to the very last drop. He watched the Hydra, eyes locked onto the aftermath of his attack. The beast was writhing in agony, one of its nine heads blown to fragments, but even so, it was very much alive. Its remaining heads hissed and growled, their fierce eyes burning with a new, bloodthirsty rage.
The ground trembled as the Hydra thrashed wildly, its massive tail whipping around and crashing into nearby buildings, sending debris flying.
Rex took a shaky step back, catching his breath. For a moment, he allowed himself a flicker of hope. Maybe this could work. Maybe we actually have a shot.
But then, he saw it, the Hydra's severed neck began to twitch, a faint, sickening glow radiating from the wound. Slowly, almost tauntingly, the mangled flesh began to regrow, knitting itself back together in a grotesque display.
Within seconds, a new head emerged, fully intact, its scales gleaming even brighter than before. And worse, another head was forming right beside it.
Rex's heart sank. "Are you serious?" he muttered, dread gnawing at his core. "This thing just... regrows?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Cronus's voice echoed in his mind, grim and steady. "The Hydra's power lies in its resilience, Harbinger. Each head severed shall be replaced by two, each stronger than the last. Only fire—unyielding flame can truly seal its wounds."
Rex gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Aether alone wasn't enough; if anything, his attacks were only making the Hydra more dangerous. And with his energy reserves running on fumes, he'd need a new plan fast.
As if on cue, Jefferson jumped up, his feet bouncing off the ground like a spring ball. He charged at the re-growing head of the Hydra and launched an Aether-infused punch. His fist blazed with the energy as his punch scattered the regrowing again. "Damn it! Just when the hell would this dude come?" He cursed as he blasted the head away.
GROOOOOWWL
Suddenly, A soft buzzing sound emanated from one of the Hydra's throats. Lightning crackled from one of the Hydra's heads, building into a deadly charge before erupting in a massive shockwave aimed directly at the soldiers. The force surged outward, streaks of electric energy fanning across the battlefield like a net of destruction. The soldiers barely had time to react, stumbling back in alarm.
Jefferson acted fast, raising his hands to summon a large barrier of Aether that enveloped the soldiers, shimmering with a bright, ethereal glow. The barrier absorbed the initial shock of the lightning, crackling and pulsing with energy as it held strong.
Yet even with Jefferson's swift action, the Hydra wasn't idle, its lost head was already regenerating, two new heads emerging in place of the one it had lost, each gleaming with fierce vitality.
Rex, still catching his breath, clenched his fists in frustration. "Shit! Two heads for one? Really?" The Hydra's resilience was nothing short of monstrous. Each time they gained ground, the beast grew stronger, feeding off their efforts to defeat it.
As the last sparks of the lightning shockwave faded, Jefferson's barrier lowered, his gaze shifting back to the Hydra's multiplied heads. "This thing's like an endless nightmare," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "We'll need more than just power, we need a way to keep it down."
Rex scowled, scanning the Hydra as he wracked his brain for a strategy. "Hey, Jeff! What about the friend you mentioned previously? Would he be of any help?!" He yelled out.
Your next chapter is on empire
"Tch!" Jefferson gritted his teeth. Truly, if his master was here, this would be easy. Besides, his master had one told him that this beast was something he hated really well. Only he knew the way to defeat this monster but the problem was... He couldn't handle technology really well so he had no idea if his message had gotten to him.
Role: The blade that embodies the constant threat of danger hanging over those who wield great power.
Ability: A floating giant ethereal version of the sword appears above the battlefield, looming over the opponent, signifying imminent danger. Once the opponent is weakened or shows signs of hesitation, the floating sword strikes down automatically, dealing massive damage or sealing away their powers temporarily.(Costs 20 Aether to activate)
Limitation: The hanging blade only strikes once per battle, and it will vanish if the opponent shows no fear or hesitation.
"Damn! I forgot about the 20 Aether I need to activate it!" Rex cursed
"I'll just give you a free one for your first use" Cronus sighed
{System alert: Aether 30/65}
Strength increased by 20
Endurance decreased by 30
Rex couldn't help but give a wide smile "Thanks so much Crony, I'll buy you some pizza later okay....oh, you can't eat it! I'll eat on your behalf then!"
Rex's grin widened as he gripped the Sword of Damocles, his pulse racing with an electric energy that mirrored the blade's power. Before him, the Hydra's multitude of heads swayed and snarled, their hungry eyes narrowing as they caught sight of the new weapon in his hands. The sword pulsed with raw, unrestrained might, and Rex could feel every fiber of his being supercharged by its overwhelming strength. He wouldn't waste a single second.
"Alright, you overgrown lizard," Rex shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos. "Let's see if you're ready to deal with this!"
Without hesitation, Rex launched himself toward the Hydra, his body a blur as he closed the gap.
"What's with that kid?!" Jefferson yelled as he attempted to stop Rex but after seeing the sword in his hands, he stopped for a moment "What the?! When did he....?"
Rex raised the Sword of Damocles high above his head, the ethereal blade echoing his movements as a massive, ghostly version loomed in the air above, casting a menacing shadow over the Hydra. The creature hesitated for the briefest moment, its primal instinct sensing the ominous presence of the ethereal blade above. It was all Rex needed.
He swung downward, the Sword of Damocles carving through the air like a lightning bolt, and its massive ethereal counterpart followed suit. The giant blade struck first, crashing down onto the Hydra with a bone-rattling impact that shook the earth.
As the Hydra staggered, Rex drove his blade deep into one of the creature's newly regenerated heads, the enchanted metal biting through its scaly hide as if it were paper.
The Hydra let out a scream, and Rex felt the sword pulsing, flooding his limbs with even more power. He yanked the blade free, then leaped back, watching as dark flames burned through the Hydra's wound, searing the flesh where the head had been and preventing it from regrowing. For the first time, the Hydra was truly wounded, its regenerating flesh now stunted by the flames left behind by the sword's strike.
"black flames? Where did that come from?" Rex was perplexed but was given no time as the hydra lunged one of it's heads at him
"You like that?" Rex growled, wiping sweat from his brow and preparing himself. "I've got plenty more where that came from!"