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Prowling through the swampy meadow, my smooth fur silently brushes against the yellowed grass that densely covers these wetlands. The thrill of stalking a prey, instead of making my heart race, keeps it calm while the mind stays razor focused on the surroundings. Despite the falling rain, triangular ears twitch and swivel around, tracing all muffled sounds.
Rustling of the reeds ahead, silent sloshing of water - and then finally, the squelching mud.
While feeling slight vibrations in the air with my whiskers and the tiny tremors traveling through the ground on sensitive paws, I take in the smell of damp soil, the many plants, water —and that of the trail left by our current target.
Slow, measured steps.
Constant drizzle and thickening fog are making it all much harder, but that's just part of the fun - a challenge.
—Distant *splash startles a strange bird that we've been tracking; it takes off, flying towards the sea, and out of reach. *Tsk! -A miss this time. We watch it go as tension leaves the small feline body, with a stretch and small shake I sit down, taking a good look around after poking my head above the line of grass.
You can't catch them all, sometimes they slip away.
-Mhmm, this mist has been bothering me for a while; at first it seemed like a perfectly normal condition, as with the change of weather it became considerably colder... But then soon we could clearly sense faint traces of mana inside that just kept increasing with each passing hour - making it thicken and persist, despite the rain and a slight breeze that started blowing after our caravan finally reached the coast. I have no idea whether that's a natural magical phenomena that happens around here, or if it was caused by something else.
The marshlands are rich in magic; I've witnessed a lot of strange things during the past two days while traveling with these people, and even more back when I stayed with the Hag... But the mana infused mist is now also making the wildlife around here nervous, more skittish; pointing to this not necessarily being a usual occurrence.
I didn't notice that before, since earlier in the day we were using Presence to scare away some of the more curious monsters that came close despite the elemental. Training on how to use it and getting accustomed to this new feature; I believed that to be the reason for their behavior - but that doesn't seem to be the case.
-Mhmm, except that one lizard that blindly ran into us, nothing has bothered the caravan. The reptile was clearly panicked and running away from something, so we've been staying vigilant and lurking around for awhile; but after nothing showed up, we went back to playing with the local fauna - giving in to the instincts of this form.
—Speaking of. Even with no Abilities under the new Trait, it is still an extremely useful ability by itself. When released, it works almost like an opposite of stealth; a beacon screaming into the world, about where and what we are. Another nice thing about Presence is that it makes magic easier, seemingly augmenting our demonic abilities and giving more control over mana when in range - not by much, but it's noticeable. Interestingly it can also be focused...
...
Suddenly everything went quiet. There is fear in the air, spreading like a wave over the sea of grass.
What could— A shiver runs down my back, fur is raising up.
A distant frantic rustle and another *Splash! make turn toward the north - right before a new presence entered the range of my Mana Sense ability.
Something big is coming. And it is going straight toward the carts still left parked on the old road.
—For fucks sake, these people have the shittyest of luck.
We move in to intercept while transforming back; since our golem was made to walk in front of the group at the head of the caravan, to deal with the mud problem, it won't make it in time and it's now up to us. Fuck!
Guess we will see who really is the top predator around here— with a sneer I notice the monster hidden by the mists falter for a moment as we focus our Presence on it; a strange pressure coming from the beast - marking it as the likely ruler of the area, weakens considerably, giving me more confidence. Now I know what it was that we have felt; back there in the ancient tomb, from the recent frost giant encounter, and all those years ago... Powerful beings all have a certain aura around them.
This is what allowed that giant skeleton to shrug off most of the fire magic thrown at it; that's what made me panic back then when the coffins started opening, and after the Empyrean Centipede showed up. And that's also what made that first day in hell so traumatizing— being in the presence of truly strong, it shakes your will.
Now it seems we have also made a first step on that path, and it is time to test it.
Mana that we've been constantly gathering during this trip rushes forward, and actually *slams into the serpentine body in and *exlosion! of mud, water and torn plant matter; the dense mists part, fully exposing its form. Snake like heads coil back, reeling from the sudden assault— but we are not done yet.
With the grip of Presence augmenting our demonic abilities I make it all gather back, condense, and give this mana a purpose, a direction— magic is born, as that's all it really is; and it brings forth a change.
According to our will, all movement stops - and the unnatural coldness radiates from the point of magic's origin... They used to say - back in the before; that there is no such thing as 'coldness' only the absence of heat. But just because you don't know about it, doesn't mean it's not real. Universe is a vast place - insanely so. And when mana is involved, all concepts can be very much Real.
The whole thing is over twenty meters long, from the tip of its tail, to the end of of short reptilian muzzles - but it's not an issue; we can cover an even wider area than this. Ice crystals bloom and spread over the olive green, scale covered hide of the–
> Adolescent Marsh Hydra*(9):
>
> -Hydra hatchling (6)
>
> -Young Marsh Hydra* (10)
-A new feature of the Identify Skill; after the recent raise of Attributes, those started to show up whenever I examined something - more details, more information about levels if I wish to see them... I still need to figure out what it actually shows us.
Just because my Class went back to being level one after the evolution, didn't mean our previously earned levels were gone; no, that wouldn't have made much sense, our Attributes and Skill were still there after all. It was not a glitch or an error caused by the forced 'special' class as I've feared— I just didn't know any better.
Identify is just bad; or I don't know how to use it.
It makes so much more sense how a 'level 1' demon could so easily dispose of level 15 skeletons... There is so much to learn about the system; yet based on what was revealed, when asking few discrete questions to the mortals in the caravan, it seems getting any information about its workings could be much harder than I though . Our best, but also most risky option, would be The Guild. - But I don't trust them now, so maybe looking for scholars studying the matter would be our goal.
Time will tell—
*Roar! *hisss— *
*Shaaa!
Three snake-like heads cry out, as the ice chains and roots the slim creature in place— but...
It *cracks, and starts breaking off when the long thing twists and struggles in its grasp. Big chunks fall onto the frozen ground and we can't keep up creating and conjuring more of it. Frozen mud, that trapped the hydra's only two legs, shatters as the clawed limbs get pulled out and the monster turns around; coiling—
!
My mana is barely able to get past those scales; unable to penetrate them to freeze the hydra itself. The thing is highly resistant to magic, and all we can do is try to restrain it. -It could be a problem.
A delicate and intricately decorated wand shows up from inside our ring. The Wand of Conjuration, yet another gift from the wish granting Genie. It is more attuned to Earth element but-
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— Following its abrupt twirl some sort of ability activates, the over ten meters long, whip-like tail of the monster traces a wide arc through the air - trailing a glittering ice dust in its wake, the lightning fast move created a strong gust that drags broken off frozen shards along— and the hydra brings it down.
We lunge to the side and roll, as the long appendage *Slams! into the water logged soil, right where atop we stood just a moment ago. It whips up fountains of water and a deluge of mud.
Unfortunately we were already rather close to the road, and there were the caravan's wagons behind us. The tip of its tail managed to reach the second-to-last cart in line; the glancing blow enough to basically split the wooden frame in half, sending splinters and goods flying. The following shards of sharp ice and frozen mud pellet the adjacent ones.
People were fast to run the moment we clashed, escaping towards the beach; one of the mercenaries returning back, presumably to drag the carts away, was able to duck behind cover— but the horse pulling the vehicle behind the now ruined one, had no such luck. It got shredded by the jagged shards and filled with wooden shrapnel.
There is chaos; horses and oxen are panicking, people are screaming - others are trying to wrangle them both.
—Also; the bandits that we captured were tied behind and following the last wagon... Instead of pulling at their bindings, the morons should have looked for cover.
Getting up from the grass, I notice one of them get his face smashed in by a lump of frozen dirt. Another one is gutted by a particularly long icicle.
The remaining three are desperately trying to free themselves from the ropes, while only now taking shelter behind the wooden frame – dragging the fallen ones through mud on the road as they were all tied together.
The horse pulling the destroyed wagon was also injured, and ran off - tugging its remains from the road and into the swamp on the other side, where someone - I think it's Marcus, caught the scared animal and cut it off from the broken drawbar shaft.
-Well... Fuck!
Good thing that in our deal we only promised to protect the people of the caravan, not their belongings— I'm still not happy about this; I can already tell that Elen will likely claim that this was the cart they promised us. Ugh! -She is totally going to do it
-No time to worry about it! I can feel the hydra readying another skill.
It's angry yellow eyes focus on us with murderous intent, but an instant-cast fireball from my horns, zooms out screaming through the air and strikes true - *detonating! right on the middle head that was about to unleash something nasty, eliciting another angry hiss from the monster.
Shock wave washed over the surroundings; bending the tall grasses to the ground and sending pulverized ice into the air.
The explosion of flames blinded and disoriented all three heads the beast - even making it stumble back a heavy step, interrupting whatever was about to happen. Yet when it comes to damaging the thing, what we accomplished was only leaving scorch marks on the now discolored scales, and a trickle of blood coming out of the middle head's nostrils.
Spells have little effect on this beast, but the effects of the detonation seemed to cause it harm.
-Damn... If magic is not an option, we might have to try something else; can't afford to experiment in the current situation.
I hate this! —Not having time to prepare...
The wand goes away. A black curved blade appears instead from inside of our storage ring, and we expertly grab it midair; the raised Dexterity stat showing its worth as I brandish the weapon. -Maybe we will have to consider some more 'close-and-personal' options, when picking the next skill... Having more versatility may prove to be a necessity if this world can just throw at you an overgrown, three headed, two armed snake that seems almost immune to magic; even if I hoped to focus on being a mage.
Fine whatever— why the hell not!
I really don't like this.
Barbed vines emerge from all over our body, lashing at the air -chaotic energies flow inside the thorns, making them grow, ready to rip and tear. With a glare at the annoying bastard we crouch down— Empower flares up, and I can actually sense a change in our Presence; it grows sharp as I ready the dark blade.
-I will fucking cut you down!
Yet when the dust settled, and after throwing a short violent tantrum— the hydra regained it bearings; Its eyes now glare at us balefully... but instead of attacking us again, the damned snake turns and starts slithering fast toward the coast. Those relatively short, clawed legs gauging out the ground as they propel it forward through the mud with surprising speed.
While it moves away, all six of its yellow eyes are still focused at me, glaring as if I were to blame.
-Oh, no you fucking don't!
...Honestly? I don't think it ever wanted to attack our caravan - could feel its fear. We were simply in the way. This thing was also running away; escaping from somewhere deeper in the marsh. And this just happened. —Yeah, life can be unkind.
I don't care right now, we are not letting such a prize run away from us.
Yeah, you stupid lizard- snake? -Whatever. You better look at where you are going...
Just as it tore its gaze away from me, turning its long necks to the Coast Highway, and the many panicked people and animals there; A surprisingly silent giant made of stone, delivered a wide uppercut swing to its left head - which was actually strong enough to lift the whole front of the monster off the ground, and made it roll back while twisting in the air.
Hydra's snake-like body carried a lot of momentum though, and its midsection kept going, colliding with the elemental that took a step back from the collision, but then grappled at the thing with its other arm.
We were already sprinting after it while this was happening. -Won't miss this chance. With a fast Blink we reappear —already mid-swing, right next to the neck under the right head, just as it was readying to lash out at the new arrival...
"Sever—!"
—I was actually eyeing this strange Skill for a long time.
*Reee! *Roar!
Two deafening cries of pain and anger, make the air shake.
In the deluge of blood that followed the decapitation, our thin roots were already reaching out toward the gushing wound - grasping for the prize, feeding on the amazing vitality contained within. Meanwhile the thorn covered vines and branches went to wrap themselves around the madly trashing creature, currently trying to escape out of the earthen constructs tight embrace. I can barely hold on to the rampaging hydra's back.
But soon the many serrated thorns found purchase on the smooth scales, their sharp edges digging in and slipping between the gaps; and we find out that those are not as strong as initially assumed. Multiple were simply torn off by Rose while she grinds against them with our vines - making space for more roots to get under its skin. Chaotic energies appear to be especially effective against the hydra's defences. Its two arms are currently raking deep grooves across the stone body that's holding it down - sending gravel flying. More of the vines and branches that were strengthened by Empower, move in an attempt to constrain them.
Even while missing a head, the hydra is putting up a hard fight; this monster's vitality is tremendous, our roots barely making a dent as they drain it - but the creature is growing desperate.
A skill activates and an oily substance covers its hide; another one, and a cloud of sickly green smoke covers our grappling trio - released by left head's breath attack at point blank, obscuring us from view... Some kind of poison both of them. Unfortunately, it is dealing with a golem and a demon; neither of which actually needs to breath or even cares all that much about poison - although there seem to be a corrosive aspect to them as well which stings a bit.
The slippery aspect of whatever it secreted from its skin is a much bigger issue though making it harder to hold it down.
I was almost expecting the missing head to start and regenerate - a vial of alchemical fire at the ready, but that didn't happen; either because of Rose's chaotic power, or the many roots that entered the wound to drink the rich blood coming out from the severed neck in a crimson fountain. Its wounds seem to try and knit themselves together but our vampiric ability hinders the process.
It would have been so much easier, if the cooldown on this new Skill wasn't so punishing. From what I can tell we might be able to perform it maybe once a day— barely. *Sigh, that's just how it is... The unhelpful descriptions are still a thing, and do not provide the most important information.
*Roar!
Using its long lashing tail, our victim managed to topple down the golem after its unsuccessfully attempted to snap one of the remaining necks. We all ended up on the ground in a tangled mess - some vines and roots got ripped, but more just keep coming - their growth fueled by the creatures own vitality.
Feeling yet another skill coming - this time likely from the middle head, I change our position on the narrow back; just as it was about to activate, I shank it in the ribs with the scimitar. Many scales were damaged in the scuffle but the hide underneath is still though - not enough to stop this fine blade though.
*Gaaauuu! A cry of pain comes out, instead of whatever nasty surprise it had for us. The left head retaliates but then soon learns not to try and bite on our branches, as all it got for its trouble is a mangled maw full of thorns. —It won't be long now.
I feel a pair of roots reach the creature's heart - the source of its crazy vitality, making the hydra buckle violently in agony; and there's still many more of them that were able to dig inside the tough flesh as well... The next moment will be critical; Empower goes away, and I have to hold on for a few painful moments, as Magic returns to us.
Our meal started fighting back with renewed vigor when it felt its bindings lighten. More vines get torn, a branch snaps. -I hate this! —But the rewards should be worth it.
-Times up!
This close up, we were able to figure out that it was actually the scales that were responsible for the hydra's extreme magic resistance. But with Rose now under its skin... The fight is over. Mana rushes along the roots and vines as Overpower activates; Magic floods the beast and— *crack! We loose our grip. One of the golem's arms broke off. The thorny chains slide across the oily substance covering the scales.
With a violent twist, and a powerful flex of steel like muscles, the roots are dislodged from the many wounds. A powerful ability triggered in our target, just as we were about to finish it.
— Magic rushes out of the hydra, and we are washed away by an explosion of water that raised from the marsh.
My magic also activates, but it's to late.
Cold— and then a moment of silence.
The sudden, disorienting stillness, almost makes me lose my grip on the frozen sheath of ice we are now clinging to, I would have likely fallen, were it not for the many vines coiled around the fantastical ice sculpture. All around, tiny ice crystals twinkle like diamond dust - suspended in the still, frigid air. Frozen shards of crimson, glittering like rubies, fall down to the trampled ground.
A giant flower of ice is blooming now by the road. But the hydra, that was just moments ago spraying fountains of blood is missing from its center.
*Crash! Another cart gets destroyed as the monster vaults itself over the road and disappears on the other side; the splashing of water and the sounds of trampled vegetation soon fade. —It ran away.
Fuck!
*Snap! A column of frozen water breaks; the elemental tried to use it to prop itself from the ground with it's remaining arm, damn it took a beating here. My magic going off outside of our targets body didn't help its state either.
With my Magic Attribute back, a gust of wind soon disperses remnants of the poison cloud from the vicinity; with it gone, we can take in the sight of destruction and damage caused by the fight.
Well, this is a mess...
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