Sigil and Hawk were frozen for a moment, but they simultaneously jumped into action. Whoever struck first generally had the advantage. Hawk threw a flash crystal above the hydra’s head and shot it down with his gun. As a blinding light filled the room, Sigil took that opportunity to jump atop one of the hydra’s heads and plunge his blade into its large eyes. It was an impressive surprise attack using impeccable teamwork.
Both men had played their part perfectly...but they failed to finish off this monster due to a difference in raw power. Even with a blade lodged in its eye, the hydra didn’t so much as jolt with pain as it glared up at Sigil. It flung its neck around at incredible speed, like a beast trying to get rid of an annoying gnat. Sigil was blown back, only to be caught by Dan.
“You okay?” Dan asked.
“Nope...” Sigil grunted. “Dude... Your body’s so tough... I felt like I got smacked into a boulder...”
“Hey, now’s not the time. You’re making me blush.”
“That wasn’t a compliment...”
Sigil caught his breath, and Kay and Hawk were visibly relieved to see their leader well enough to make jokes.
“Hawk,” Kay said. “Got any flash crystals left?”
Hawk quietly shook his head. “Naw, that was my last one.”
“Seriously?”
“Very serious.”
Kay gave a wry smile. “This monster wasn’t around when we entered this damn place!”
The black hydra was surely blinded by the flash, but it was completely unfazed, unlike the other monsters of this floor. Its forked tongue flicked in and out as it glared menacingly at the Scarlet Wind. The creatures boasted regenerative capabilities that put the other monsters of this floor to shame. The monsters the Scarlet Wind had faced until now were undeniably strong, but this hydra was clearly on a level of its own.
They inched back, overwhelmed by the hydra’s sheer presence. It slowly slithered forward with glee, cornering its prey and enjoying the hunt like a sadistic beast. When Sigil turned behind him, he spotted a large gathering of shadows in the distance at the end of the corridor, with the twin-headed tiger he’d fought earlier taking the lead. The Scarlet Wind were trapped and had nowhere to go.
“Caught between a rock and a... What was it again?” Sigil asked.
“A hard place,” Hawk answered. “We’re sandwiched between tigers and a snake, though.”
Though they managed to exchange some light banter, their expressions betrayed their true feelings—each of them was as white as a sheet, their faces riddled with unadulterated terror. Kay weakly stuck his spear into the ground, and Dan only stood there in a daze. They were seconds away from death, and despair was all that filled their minds.
Their only sliver of hope, the flash crystals, were gone and used up, and though they had other items, none were effective against these monsters anyway. Sigil didn’t have his sword with him, and Hawk’s gun was almost out of bullets.
“I guess this is it,” someone mumbled.
No one knew who said it, but no one could refute it either. Resignation was reflected in their eyes as they turned their gazes to the ground, surrendering themselves to their fates.
“Dark Carpet,” a voice boomed, seemingly out of nowhere.
The floor, walls, and ceiling of the corridor was instantly dyed with black. The already dark corridor turned dimmer still, as pure void surrounded the group of men. The eager footsteps of the monsters that approached from the depths of the corridor sank into the dark floor, dulling the noise.
“Air Cutter!” another voice echoed.
A sharp sliver of wind shredded a monster.
“I did it! Bull’s-eye!” the voice crowed. “Did you see that, Mr. Lofus?!”
“Don’t start bragging just because you managed to land the most basic of spells,” a sharp voice snapped back.
The Scarlet Wind was confused to hear a triumphant cheer followed by weary admonishing.
“Get them,” the weary voice said coldly.
A moment later, a school of fish with heads sharp as swords emerged from the walls and floor of the corridor. As they swam forth, they shredded the horde of monsters to ribbons before consuming them. In a flash, the shadow monsters were devoured alive and turned into mist. No one in the Scarlet Wind could keep up with what had just happened. From the dark void to the sudden school of fish and the monsters that were swallowed, the men could only stand there in a daze, unable to wrap their minds around it.
“Siggy!” an excited voice cried.
A small girl jumped into his chest. There was no doubt in Sigil’s mind—this was Lilka in the flesh, not a mere illusion.
“Lilka?” he murmured with disbelief.
“Siggy! Hawk! Kay! Dan!” Lilka cried. “Oh, I’m so glad that you’re all still alive!”
She smiled with tears in her eyes, and the men whose faces were full of despair mere moments ago now smiled and approached the girl with relief.
“Lilka!” Kay said happily as he tousled her hair. “You made us worry, ya little rascal!”
“You look well,” Dan added quietly with a smile.
“Wait, you guys are more hurt than I am!” she shouted.
She looked surprised and began making a fuss. Hawk pushed his sunglasses up as he was a short distance away from the other four.
“Lilka, I’m glad you’re safe, but it’s too soon to celebrate,” he said. “We’ve still got to fight that hydra.”
Everyone fell silent as Lilka voiced her surprise at the monster’s sheer size. The black hydra made no attempt to slither away from the exit and merely stood there proudly, glaring at the Scarlet Wind. It was intent on not letting a single soul escape.
Hawk turned back to the corridor where the horde of monsters once stood. “Besides, Lilka, what the hell happened? What were those fish? And this dark floor?”
Lilka smiled and turned behind her. “I was saved by that boy over there. His name’s Mr. Lofus.”
Everyone turned to gaze at the shadow in the depths walking toward them. While the group narrowed their eyes with suspicion, only Hawk felt cold sweat run down his back. This shadow, though about the same height as Lilka, held a completely different aura. The young boy was dressed in a black coat and outfit along with dark hair—the color that matched the corridor. Only his single jade eye added a pop of color within this void, sparkling in the darkness like an emerald. Hawk instinctively understood that this boy was bad news.
It wasn’t difficult to guess that this boy was responsible for the dark corridor and the school of fish that had dispersed the horde of immortal shadow monsters. Hawk kept his guard up, especially since the boy’s own familiars seemed to be of the same ilk of those they’d defeated. Yet, this boy seemed to be in complete control of the monsters—was he the dungeon master of sorts, in charge of this ancient ruin? If so, then his youthful appearance was just a facade, an avatar to hide his true identity. Nasty thoughts began swirling within Hawk’s mind.
“What the— It’s just a kid,” Sigil said, completely letting his guard down to approach the boy. “Why are you here? Did ya get lost?”
Hawk’s eyes grew wide as he hastily shouted, “You i—”
No normal child would just wander within this dangerous ruin and stumble upon these monsters while acting so calm. That much was crystal clear, and Hawk tried to admonish his own leader for such a thoughtless remark, but Hawk stopped himself. When Sigil casually tried to approach the boy in black, Lofus, the boy in question, glared at him with apparent annoyance.
“Uh...” Sigil said.
He was overwhelmed by Lofus’s aura as Lilka hastily rammed her elbow into Sigil’s side.
“Gah?!” the Scarlet Wind leader grunted.
“Don’t call him a kid! You’re being rude to Mr. Lofus!” Lilka scolded.
As Sigil writhed on the ground in pain, Lofus turned to Lilka.
“You’re one to talk. You’ve been rather insolent yourself, remember,” he spat.
He walked on, ignoring the other members of the Scarlet Wind, as he gazed at the massive hydra guarding the exit.
“A gatekeeper to ensure that no one can escape,” he remarked. “Whoever made this tumulus has poor taste—I simply cannot understand it.”
He languidly approached the hydra, acting as if this whole ordeal was just some mundane annoyance.
“Hey! Watch out!” Sigil shouted.
“You idiot! Do you wanna die here?!” Kay yelled.
Lofus ignored them completely and continued to walk ahead.
“This thing’s in my way,” he muttered. “Sink him.”
In response, a massive tentacle, larger than the hydra itself, emerged from the darkness and wrapped itself around the serpent, trying to drag it down below. The tentacles exhibited extraordinary power and vitality as they coiled around the hydra’s body and refused to release the monster from its grasp. The hydra, of course, fought back and tried to wriggle its way out, but another tentacle emerged, forcibly submerging the hydra’s massive body into the shadows below. Everything happened so quickly.