Chapter 194
The gates groan open, their deep, metallic sound reverberating through the water like a warning bell. Every eye in the arena is fixed on the dark shadows that stir beyond the threshold. The moment stretches out endlessly, each second a beat of tension that tightens like a coil in my chest. Then they emerge.
The hydra is the first to step into the light, and it steals the breath from my lungs. It towers above the arena floor, a grotesque monstrosity of writhing, serpentine heads and a body thick with armored scales. Its bioluminescent eyes glow eerily, illuminating the dark water with an unnatural, menacing light.
Each head moves independently, its movements sharp and calculating. Fangs as long as spears glint as the creature snarls, the sound low and guttural, vibrating through the arena. For the first time, I see hesitation in the fighters below.
The smaller creatures follow—mutated sea beasts that would be monstrous in any other context but are now overshadowed by the hydra. Their sleek bodies dart through the water with deadly speed, their jagged fins and spiny tails cutting through the current like blades.
Even the crowd falters, their cheers fading into uneasy murmurs as they take in the sheer size and ferocity of this new threat. Then someone shouts, and the spell breaks. The crowd explodes into noise, a cacophony of cheers, gasps, and frenzied excitement.
The hydra’s shadow stretches across the arena floor, a dark stain that seems to swallow the other creatures in its reach. I can see the fighters shifting, adjusting their grips on their weapons, their movements uncertain. My heart hammers as I find Wake and Khale, their figures standing side by side near the center of the arena.
They’re calm, focused, their bodies poised and ready. They exchange a brief glance, and I wonder what unspoken plan passes between them. Kota and Kelis, by contrast, are already in motion, their arrogance evident even now. Kota raises his trident with a dramatic flourish, eliciting cheers from the crowd, while Kelis cracks his knuckles, his grin wide and confident.
The hydra strikes first.
One of its heads lashes out with terrifying speed, its fangs sinking into the arm of an unfortunate fighter. The man screams, but the sound is cut short as the hydra tosses him aside like a rag doll. Another fighter severs one of the hydra’s heads with a powerful swing of his blade, but his victory is short-lived.
Two new heads sprout from the wound almost instantly, their snarls louder and more enraged. Panic ripples through the fighters, their formation breaking apart as the hydra’s regenerative abilities become horrifyingly clear.
The smaller creatures seize the opportunity, darting into the chaos to target distracted warriors. Their speed and ferocity make them nearly impossible to track, and I watch in horror as one fighter is overwhelmed by a pack of razor-finned beasts. His blood blooms in the water, and the crowd roars.
Wake and Khale move with precision, their synchronicity honed from countless battles together. They focus on the smaller creatures, clearing them out methodically while keeping a wary distance from the hydra. Wake’s spear flashes as he strikes down a mutated eel-like beast, his movements fluid and efficient.
Khale’s tail snaps like a whip, slicing through another creature with deadly accuracy. They don’t speak, but their movements are perfectly coordinated, each one anticipating the other’s needs. I grip the edge of my seat, willing them to stay ahead of the chaos.
Kota and Kelis, predictably, take a reckless approach. Kota charges toward the hydra, his trident raised high, shouting taunts that seem designed more for the audience than the monster itself. He feints and dodges, his movements exaggerated for show, but I can’t deny his skill.
He lands a solid blow on one of the hydra’s heads, but the creature barely seems to notice. Kelis, not to be outdone, grabs one of the hydra’s smaller heads with his bare hands. His muscles bulge as he wrestles with the thrashing creature, his grin widening as the crowd cheers.
But he underestimates the hydra’s speed. One of the larger heads whips around, striking Kelis with enough force to send him crashing into the arena wall.
The crowd gasps, the sound a collective intake of breath. Blood swirls around Kelis as he lies dazed, his body limp. One of the hydra’s heads turns toward him, its bioluminescent eyes narrowing as its fangs glint. The creature lunges, its massive jaws opening wide, and the arena seems to hold its breath.
Time slows as I watch the hydra’s head close the distance. Kelis doesn’t move, his body still crumpled against the wall. Then, in a blur of motion, Khale dives into the fray. He moves faster than I thought possible, his tail propelling him forward with desperate speed.
His spear strikes true, driving into the hydra’s head just before it reaches Kelis. The creature recoils, hissing in pain, but not before its venomous fangs graze Khale’s shoulder.
Blood clouds the water as Khale stumbles, his hand going to the wound. I see the pain in his eyes even from here, his movements slowing as the venom takes hold. The hydra rears back, its heads thrashing as it roars, more enraged than ever.
The noise of its fury shakes the water, rattling even the bravest of fighters. The crowd erupts into noise once again, their cheers and shouts blending into a deafening roar. But all I can focus on is Khale, his figure wavering as he struggles to stay upright.
The remaining warriors hesitate, their confidence shaken. The hydra, sensing the shift, grows bolder. Its heads lash out with renewed fury, and the smaller creatures press their advantage, swarming the fighters with relentless aggression.
Another fighter is dragged under by a pack of razor-finned monsters, his scream muffled by the chaos. I glance at Wake, my heart in my throat. His jaw is tight, his grip on his spear firm, but even he looks uncertain for the first time.
Kota stirs, his trident flashing as he takes another reckless charge at the hydra, shouting something I can’t hear over the din. His strikes barely scratch the surface of the monster’s thick scales, and another head snaps toward him, missing by inches.
Yet he grins as if he’s in control, his confidence unfounded and infuriating. Kelis, regaining some of his composure, pushes himself off the wall, his movements sluggish but determined. He locks eyes with Khale, who is still bleeding but standing his ground. The tension between them is heavy even from my distant vantage point.
The hydra loomins larger than ever, its shadow swallowing the arena. Blood clouds the water, the bodies of fallen fighters and monsters alike littering the arena floor. The tide of the battle has turned.
For the first time, I fear that the beasts will win.
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