Within the ruptured hole of the Hydra's colossal body,
organs squirmed and pulsed within, dripping viscous, black ichor.
A young man was lying above those squirming organs in the hole, his body drenched in foul, gelatinous liquid.
He opened his eyes.
"Grrrrrr…"
A low, guttural growl escaped his throat as agony surged through his arms.
Bone pierced through mangled flesh, jutting out grotesquely.
SPLASH!
His head fell back.
High above the ocean, where moments ago peace had reigned,
a green, ethereal shadow tore through the sky.
A colossal Hydra emerged—its seven snake-like heads crowned with emerald flame,
four draconic limbs clawing at the heavens, and a spiked tail swinging like a morning star.
ROAR!!
The unified roar of seven throats shattered the calm.
Poisonous rain fell from its fangs.
Boom!
Crack!
The sea split beneath it.
Waves rose like mountains.
The calm had become the eye of a divine storm.
Then—
A presence descended.
An ancient being, coiled in majesty and time itself, towered above even the Hydra.
Its long serpentine body shimmered with purple scales, a blood-red belly, and eyes like abysses of devouring stars.
Purple-red colored feathered wings spread from its back, covering the sky.
Four claws curled like razors of judgment.
It looked upon the Hydra…
As if gazing at an insect.
ROARRRRR!!
The sea split once more, forming tidal canyons.
Boooom!
Craaack!
The Hydra whimpered, all seven of its heads shrinking back,
trembling, trying to burrow into the ocean floor like a worm.
But there was no escape.
The ancient being lunged.
Its jaw opened like the gates of annihilation—
Crunch!
In a single bite, the mighty Hydra was no more.
Silence.
The ancient being dissipated like smoke.
The fractured sea of the mindscape, after the storm of battle, healed and became peaceful—
as if nothing had ever happened.
Alex lay unconscious in the body of the Hydra.
He was unaware of the battle happening inside his mindscape.
He had already exhausted all the wood elemental power before he attacked the Hydra.
His wounds weren't able to heal.
He was bleeding from all over his body.
After the Hydra died, the Elves didn't celebrate—they mourned for their brethren.
But none of them dared to go near the body of the Hydra.
The Mother Tree's corruption slowly faded.
She began absorbing the pure elemental essence from the Hydra.
She was able to do it because there was no resistance now.
After absorbing everything, the Mother Tree reinvigorated,
and the decaying plants began to transform into vibrant, green life.
The Hydra's corpse became a husk.
Hati approached it and sat near Alex's unconscious body inside it.
Little by little, the decaying village of elves turned into a vibrant green sanctuary once again.
The remaining elves moved back to their sanctuary,
and a bustling village formed again.
Life returned, and the children of elves began playing once more.
Nobody from the Elves came near the corpse of the Hydra.
A barrier formed of tall trees encircled it—
trees grown so close that not even air could pass through them.
Inside the barrier, in the dried husk of the Hydra,
a young man was lying on the ground.
Near him, a wolf cub was sleeping,
waiting for its owner to wake up.
Alex had been unconscious for one month now.
In Alex's mindscape,
in a vast sea of clear water, a little patch of land stood.
On it, a wisp of Alex floated.
I'm still here.
I don't know how much time has passed.
I can't get out.
This sea has no end.
I was able to find this little island.
I have come here in the past… but I was able to leave quite early before.
I don't know what's going on now.
Is this a dream where I can't escape?
Meanwhile, in the mountains surrounded by forest, a devastated camp stood, with blood and bodies littered everywhere.
The remaining 200+ students were trying to clean the camp. It had been almost four months since they arrived, but after the attack of Ray Phantom, their hope for survival rested on only one person—Riven Veylor.
Riven Veylor was sitting in his comfortable camp, being served fruits by several girls from the camp.
Many beautiful girls wanted to get near him, hungry for even a little attention from him.
Meika Noctshade, sitting in her camp and gripping her daggers tightly, gnashing her teeth, muttered under her breath,
"That pompous bastard… how can I reveal his true nature? Nobody is believing me. Why would they? Their chance of survival following Riven Veylor is much higher. But to me, he'll always remain a snake."
Selene Frostreign was having her own dilemma.
That bastard became the hero of the students, and I became the coward because I ran away.
She clenched her fist so tightly that it turned pale.
Rina Roarhart, with a worried face and concern in her eyes, sat in her camp room.
Will Alex be able to survive in the forest? I hope he survives...
In another camp room, a hunk-like person with a pale face and bandaged arm was lying down.
Near him stood Kaelan Ignis, who said,
"You should have run away, you know."
Varek Drakthorn replied with his stone-grinding-like voice,
"I am not a coward."
Kaelan sighed and didn't say anything. He just sat there, his face filled with annoyance.
Then—
Suddenly, a purple light covered the entire camp—
And in an instant, everyone vanished.