As we looked at the hydra with a variety of feelings, I quickly noticed that it was going to do something. One of the heads began to make a strange movement, and a yellow light began to rise from its stomach to its mouth. I had seen that attack pattern before, so it wasn't hard to imagine what it was going to do.

"Watch out, it's going to launch an area attack!"

I shouted with all my might as I looked at the girls. As soon as I said this, a yellow light started to shine behind me. As soon as I turned to the hydra, its mouth was releasing small strands of electricity. As soon as it opened its mouth, a wave of lightning started coming towards us.

"Dark manipulation"

I said. As soon as I said that, a huge black shield formed in front of me and the girls. When the hydra's lightning attack crashed into my shield, a yellow light started aiming at its center. Within seconds, the lightning went through my shield and kept coming towards us. Luckily, we had already come out from behind the shield. Glasy had also come out from my shadow and helped by taking Ana and Saemi with her.

As soon as the lightning went through my shield, it crashed against the temple wall, causing a small tremor. Even after the attack was over, a small yellow cloud containing small rays of electricity still remained in the air.

"What the hell was that?"

Saemi asked while looking at the hydra. We were all behind a pilaster where the hydra probably couldn't see us. This place was full of them, so we had plenty of places to hide. But the real problem would be defeating this thing.

"This may just be a theory of mine, but I think each head controls an element"

I said as I looked at the hydra, which seemed to be looking for us. Hearing my words, the girls' faces turned in disbelief, not believing what I was saying. Seeing this, I put my hands together around the girls, giving them all a hug.

"Look, you don't need to be afraid. I promise I will find a way to defeat that thing. I just need you to help me by throwing all the magic you have at that thing. Trust me"

I said with a soft smile on my face. Hearing my words, the girls' faces were visibly surprised before a slight blush took over each of their cheeks. After they looked at each other for a few seconds, they all looked at me and nodded.

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"Glasy, you stay in my shadow until I ask for your help again"

I said, receiving a nod from Glasy. After that, each one of the girls stood on a pillar, waiting for me to start the attack. As soon as I saw that all of them were already positioned, I left where I was and started to run towards the hydra. As soon as it noticed me, two heads started to prepare an attack. While one of the heads had its throat glowing red, the other had its throat glowing blue.

Within seconds, fire and water started coming towards me. Just before the attacks hit me, I used my dark step ability to step into the shadows. I could probably get close enough to attack it, but as soon as I looked at the hydra, one of the heads was glowing a dark color. Seeing that, I had a bad feeling. As soon as the hydra stepped on the ground, I felt something pulling on my foot. When I looked down, I saw black tentacles tangling around my leg.

(Shit)

Materializing a sword, I slashed the tentacles and quickly started to return to the surface as more tentacles were coming after me. As soon as I jumped out, the tentacles stopped following me.

(Can this thing also control darkness?)

I thought in disbelief as I looked at the hydra. Suddenly, a red circle formed below the hydra's feet, and seconds later, a huge pillar of fire engulfed the hydra. I could see it wriggling in pain, but even that didn't seem to be enough to defeat it.

Fujiwara was using my ability to manipulate shadows to try to pierce the hydra's scales, but she didn't seem to be having much success at it. Ana was continuously freezing the hydra's feet, making it difficult for her to move, while Saemi was launching bullet after bullet of air.

"Cloning"

As soon as I said that, three black mists came out of my body, and soon two clones of me were in front of me. For some reason, I knew instinctively that the clones already knew what I wanted to do without needing any orders.

It didn't seem like the clones could speak either. After that, my clones and I started running around the hydra until each of us took a side of the hydra—one in front, one behind, and one on each side. After that, we all pointed our hands at the hydra and launched our abilities.

"Shadow manipulation, Water ray, Steel wire, Ultrasonic waves"

A series of skills were launched against the hydra. While it was stunned by the ultrasonic waves, steel wires cut the hydra, giant black stakes pierced the hydra's body, while a powerful water ray was launched on the hydra's body.

After all this wave of attacks, I was already visibly tired. Using all these powers at the same time was taking almost all my stamina, but thanks to this, the hydra was almost dead. Its whole body was injured, and it could barely stand up.

But that was short-lived. Another hydra head started to glow, it was a white, almost silver color. But unlike the other time, it didn't look like the hydra was going to launch this attack on me. While I was thinking about it, suddenly the hydra's body started to glow, slowly the hydra's wounds started to heal. While this was happening, I looked at this scene with wide eyes. Not even in my wildest dreams was I expecting that this thing could also heal itself.

(You've got to be kidding)

I thought as I looked at the hydra that was staring at me with anger in its eyes.