67 The Hydra (1/2)
Many legends have been associated with the origins of the Hydra. Some say it was the offspring of greater beings below the gods that were cursed and became a monster. Some say it was a snake that evolved into a dragon after passing through a thousand years of labor and struggle. Some say that it was a snake that ate itself to be reborn into a dragon. Some even said that it was a Lamia that evolved closer to a dragon.
However, Clay knew better than those legends. He knew the origin of this monster through UltiCos investigation and observation analysis. This creature was the result of a little snake which wandered into an ancient Dragon's nest basking in the dragon's magical energy for millennia on end and finally evolving into a creature that resembled the dragon in its magical energy capacity and physique.
The Dragon that it had leeched off was a Dragon called, Typhon. An Ancient Dragon that had been banished from its own world by the gods there.
The Hydra was a hermaphrodite capable of giving birth on its own and so, it gave life to its kind via that process. However, Hydras only gave birth to eggs once every hundred years because of the magic energy consumption it takes to give birth. A fully-grown Hydra had the rank of Triple A however, a special case where the Hydra fully grows into an adult gives it a mutation. This mutation's effect varies to enhanced strength, defense or even vitality. However, the most troublesome effect was a deviation in its genes where the original make-up of the body changes and it takes on a more Dragon-like characteristic. This was the problem of being of the same energy wavelength as Typhon, because Typhon was an Ancient Dragon of Chaotic origins. His very magic energy contains himself. And in cases where a huge amount of magic energy is gathered, there is a high possibility of a Hydra coming into being with a greater Ancient Dragon gene than anything else.
***
Caltec, Jon, Mor and Isaac moved closer and closer to the lair of the Hydra. All throughout the journey towards it, they were praying that Mor could be wrong and he just read his Search Result wrongly. However, despair had a way of playing with hope in people. When they arrived at the lair, they saw that this Hydra was simply sleeping and had not even woken up. It was such a good opportunity to injure it heavily before if could defend itself and kill it.
\”H-Hey! It's still sleeping. Should we make our move already?\” Caltec was excitedly telling the gang.
\”N-No! If it wakes up and rampages here, we'll die for sure sooner than later. Let's plan our attack first. We don't even know if it's the only one, here right?\” Jon pitched in. Mor turned his head towards Jon as if he was hurt and he argued, \”I'm sure it's the only one here okay?! At least the only one with energy signature as big as it is!\” Hmph. Mor harrumphed and pouted his lips.
In answer to his question, crickets started to sound.
They all had no idea! There have been records of Hydra being spotted and destroying kingdoms and villages, but there have been no records of them being fought and killed. At least none that lived to tell the tale. Which goes to say how dangerous the creature they are planning to subjugate was.
\”Dammit! If Lord Clay was here, this would be piece of cake and we'd only be watching on the sidelines as he battles.\” Jon voiced out in complain or even more, a prayer. However, Isaac doused that prayer of his in saying, \”Who was it that sent us here knowing what was here? It was Lord Clay! He wants to train us or at least to show something for our training. If we kept on depending on him, then what if he went away? Would we be able to handle the world and any opposition without him?\” He said. This speech silenced the gang. Although his speech was made in the most silent voice he could make, the message was clear. They had to show results.
\”I know that we all understand. Our Lord cannot be held to this realm alone. If one day, he chooses to unite the Human Realm and even other realms under him, then that should only be a start. The world would come under him and if we can't even defend his territory then we'll be useless as retainers. An embarrassment to his name!\” Isaac added.
\”So, we plan. We execute and we show results worthy of our Lord!\”
It was a good speech. Isaac was a noble after all. Stirring up the masses was a skill. He even led a part of a nation in his youth. However, this speech of him, plunged them further into that nightmare they are about to step into.
***
The Hydra had a body the size of a Brontosaurus with claws instead of hooves, snake heads numbering 6, scales protecting its heavy muscles that rival that of the hardest steel, fangs that can punch holes through reinforced concrete multiplied by 6 heads. Overall, facing this monster was very brave and stupid at the same time. Just from the description of how devastating this monster is to those kingdoms it destroyed, to how it cannot be hurt by blade nor magic.
This Hydra the gang were facing now was sleeping soundly. As if it has done something like hunting, or mating, or even giving birth. Normally, a boss monster would wait for their prey like good boys, to devour them with relish. However, the Hydra was sleeping. If the gang had any experience in fighting or even just observing the ecology of any Hydra, then they would have known that they only rest after those three things above. Meaning, some unfortunate souls might have come inside the dungeon without them knowing and giving it food, or it had mated, which was unlikely given the time it had appeared and more impossibly if it had given birth with the same reason as mating. So most probably, it ate some food after playing a little with it.