“Open the gates!”

Tiny rubbles and dust tumbled down the walls when the caravan stopped before the border. The ginormous stone walls parted a small narrow opening providing enough space for the caravan to pass. Through the hallway, bloodstains and decomposing flattened bodies remained pressed flat on the walls. The gate acted as funnel and a trap for other Scalemen seeking asylum in Pamalyra only to unfortunately meet their demise.

Once they made it through, a line of the mountains covered the entirety of their view. Vegetation was scarce from the base of the mountains to its snowy peaks but was everywhere else below the line. Flocks of wyverns flew around the top as lances of fire would occasionally catch the newcomers’ attention being the first time they witness aerial creatures fighting in midair.

“I thought it would be all rocks. There’s a lot of plants.” Lily nervously observed the environment. “They’re very green and look very healthy.”

“The ashes from volcanoes act as great fertilizers. It’s no surprising how the place is thriving.”

“If there are volcanoes that should also mean there are hot springs here, right? I’d like to take a dip.”

“We’re not here to play. Besides, only a handful of hot springs are safe to use unless you’re a Scalemen. We don’t want to boil ourselves alive.”

“You know a lot. Have you went to Stusis before?”

“It’s my first time here just like you. I happened to read a lot from the archive back at my village. I’m glad that knowledge is somewhat helpful.”

The path started to snake and developed a slope down as the caravan entered between the canyon. If Kihet were to guess the height of the walls looming over them, it would roughly be above Halsgrof’s great wall surrounding its city. Since it was formed naturally, Kihet’s party couldn’t keep their gazes off the walls and remained vigilant to watch for monsters prowling in the area.

“Aten, keep to the sides.”

Aten gently whipped the reins and steered the cart closer to the walls.

Because the mountains had limited his vision, Kihet didn’t notice anything strange right away. That was until his cart had exited the passageway.

A pillar of smog rose into the sky and gathered above the valley. It came from Stusis volcano hidden behind mountains. A weathered Azure Tower was spotted floating aloof over the plains roughly a hundred kilometers off the road. Another was deeper into the land. It wasn’t just one tower, but numerous pieces of it seen scattered over Stusis.

Was this something the Headsman warned him about?

“Something seems to be suspending it in the air. Do you see those?” Lily pointed.

“It’s a bit hard to see.”

Kihet squinted his eyes, focusing hard to where her finger directed. His ears suddenly picked up the hum of magic and spotted some sort of portals on top and bottom of the Azure Tower leading to a dark space.

A crumbling noise echoed across the field. Wondering where it came from, they redirected their faces towards the closest piece of the tower as a large fracture ran across its surface. A part of the cut-out fragment crumbled off and fell. As the debris free fell, it broke into tiny pieces bit by bit and turned to dust before they crashed. The portal trapping it in between pressed against each other and reopened, revealing a brand portion of the tower only to watch the cycle repeat.

“It was destroyed?”

“I don’t know if I feel relieved or worried seeing that.”

“The Acolyte back at Vivrus said something is threatening the Towers and if we ignore it, it’ll come to bite us.”

Aten supported Kihet’s word by nodding, keeping his compound eyes to the front.

“Quite the spectacle, nyisn’t that right, Grumpy one? What shall we do now that we’ve gotten through the border?”

“We’ll try to slip away once we know where we want to go. I want to see if I can get as much information out of the Dragonkins about the final assault.”

There were also many tall hills and mountains everywhere. It was hard to find a reliable landmark.

Travelling for hours, the sun had set early because of tall mountains. In no time, the land fell dark and without light, continuing on would draw monsters. They would find a cave where the previous groups had stayed through the night.

In total, the Dragonkins amassed twelve parties of mercenaries and adventurers to fight under their banner. Some were more well equipped than others, but all of them wore mismatched armor from whatever their money could afford.

“Didn’t it make its nest there recently?”

“That path’s no good. We’ll suffer loses if we encounter it. It would be ideal for Eldest Brother if we are able to keep casualties to a minimum.”

“Then we’ll have to circle around and have people scout ahead. It’s a good thing we accounted for possible delays before the fated day the resistance are to be crushed.”

Kihet moved his party close to the group of Dragonkins muttering about in their corner. They had a map spread over the floor to which Kihet asked Lily to steal glances from a distance and update theirs while he eavesdropped their conversation.

“What if we went towards the overpass?”

“I wouldn’t dare disturb Tower Monsters occupying the area. The last thing we need is to lead them back. It was thanks to them lurking there, the resistance was forced to retreat to their last stronghold. The Oracle and his band will eradicate them after we cleanse Stusis of those vermin.”

“Then I suppose we must tread carefully.”

At this point Lily successfully copied everything she saw on the Dragonkin’s map onto theirs. Based on the map he obtained all the way back from Xu, it was outdated as old tunnels were sealed off by large boulders while new pathways were dug through canyons for easier travel.

After Kihet eavesdropped what he could from the Dragonkins, he and Lily made their way back to Tama and Aten to not risk being caught overstaying.

“Welcome back, grumpy one.” Tama greeted while Aten eagerly waited for a response. “Heard anything special?”

Kihet pointed on various points on his updated map. “There are Tower Monsters roaming in these places. The Dragonkins used to them as chokepoints to push the resistance to where they are now.”

“Wouldn’t be a problem for you, right? You could blast your way nyout of them.”

“That would be dangerous.” Lily objected. “It’d alert the tower we’re here and it might send even more creatures out to kill everything.”

[Stay. Bide time.]

“That seems to be the safest option for now. I want to know everything that’s going on in Stusis before we make a move.”

Everyone casted their vote to stay with the caravan for now and that was the end of that discussion.

The next morning, thunderclouds rolled above them. Lightning branched down from the clouds and thunder roared throughout the land, shaking the earth. With possible heavy rain incoming, the caravan moved quickly back onto stone paved road before anything to avoid getting stuck in mud pits.

Each time thunder shook the air, Aten’s antennas curled up. Although expressionless from his insect face, the antennas curling was something Kihet hadn’t seen often.

“You alright?” Kihet leaned to the front, helping Aten watch the road.

[Natural behavior. Temperature change. Sensitive, but fine.]

“You can sense it?”

[Storm imminent.]

“A storm? Let’s hope we can find shelter before that. Let me know if you want to switch.”

[Will.]

From behind, Lily tugged the back of his clothing. “Kihet, how do you pronounce these words?”

“Sijit gela, ho schla. It loosely translates to ‘Get ready. We’re going’.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Hmm… I still can’t find a pattern for how they structure their sentences.”

“Baby steps.”

As the gust grew increasingly stronger, some of the tunnels perpendicular to it began howling. One of the paths was too dangerous to enter. The gap between mountains funnelled gale force winds blowing towards them to prevent entry.

One mercenary scout tried to force itself through the wind barrier only to be thrown back out at the entrance.

“Useless. Winds of Stusis like breath of Dragon. None can best.” The leader scoffed at the scout tumbling before him and turn toward his brethren. “It seems we have no choice but to try the west route.”

“With any luck, we might not encounter the multi headed serpent.” A winged Dragonkin suggested.

And knowing theirs, Kihet knew there was a high chance they would. For a travelling group over fifty individuals, their numbers would certainly draw attention.

As for what monster the Dragonkin described, Kihet knew the serpent was none other than a Hydra. He never saw one in person, but it was a towering monstrosity of a multiheaded snake and its neck converged to one elongated body. Its poison was lethal as it could instantly kill almost everything with a small dose as stated in Lemi’s book of medical knowledge. He also read the lower half was said to be nigh impenetrable covered in tempered scales, but multiple upper portions were known to be soft enough for blades to sever their necks.

“Lily, take out any torches we have and help Aten wrap oil cloths on his spears.”

“What is it for?”

“We might need them.”

“It’s for a fight then. En! Got it!”

Everyone treaded carefully as they made their way through the Hydra’s territory. The deeper into the mountains, the darker it was and with dark clouds looming over them, no natural light reached here. The road was littered with long curly streaks, indicating a Hydra had indeed slithered past here. Based off the width of the trail, the creature was very large as it was wider than the largest Lycanthrope among them stepping into it and stretching its arms wide open. Thankfully the tracks were old as the trail left behind was set about a week ago.

Other than the sound if wind, the wheels grinding against the earth and occasionally tumbling pebbles, no one dared made a sound.

Kihet kept the carriage on the path as Lily and Aten were on sentry duty while Tama lazily laid in the back as always. It was then the Leader of the Dragonkin group raised a hand and stopped the caravan once again, noticing a large figure curled up under the shade of a cliff.

A flash from the lightning revealed it was the Hydra. Sitting ten meters tall, each of the five necks were hunched in a different way with some reeling in preparation to strike. Its nostrils were fixated not at them, but at something beside it as it remained immobile.

“Does it know we’re here?” Lily asked. “There’s too little light for me to see.”

“Nyie can see its shape. Werecats have pretty good night vision.” Tama shifted to the front of the cart. “Let’s see. Nyit looks artificial.”

“Artificial? You mean it’s not moving at all, like a statue?”

“This is the first time Nyie see a Hydra. I don’t know if it’s just how it hunts or something.”

After Tama sat back in the cart, the Dragonkin leader marched towards them, specifically Aten.

“Do you understand Scylanis?”

“I do.” Kihet curtly answered.

“Excellent. Then you may relay my words.” The Leader cleared his throat. “Given the situation, we cannot move forward. Might it be possible to volunteer your insectoid comrade to investigate the Hydra? The creature is strangely unmoving which is concerning.”

“You’re just going to watch him get possibly killed?”

“I have taken notice of his impressive speed during the recruitment. With his wings, he is our best candidate for this matter.”

“Right…”

“I wish to return to the encampment with as little casualties as possible. I have an item your friend could use to give us a better view of the Hydra and stun it.”

From his pouch, the Leader handed Aten a crystal Kihet was familiar with. Its transparent yellowish tint was what let Kihet identified it as crystallized flash bug resin, the same item he used for his flash bombs. It’s a volatile substance that simply by hitting or burning it could create a bright flash of light. If it was grounded into powder, the light could last longer but since the Dragonkin handed them a chunk, Kihet guessed they didn’t know that.

But if the Dragonkin had one, it meant he could replenish his supply of his flash bombs later.

Aten looked at the Dragonkin and back at Kihet confusingly as he held the crystal firmly.

“Will we have to fight it?”

“The flash of light should buy us time to move everyone past it. It depends how cooperative the others are.”

Kihet frowned. “Aten, he wants you to throw it below the Hydra over there. It’ll create a bright flash of light so turn away as soon as you throw it.”

“Wait a minute, a Hydra?!” Lily loudly whispered. “You’re telling me that thing over there is a Hydra?! Is that why I have these torches and oiled weapons ready?”

“Stop making a fuss. Aten, can you do it without getting caught?”

Aten nodded as his glassy wings suddenly blurred and created a small gust around him. He shot up into the sky, flying along the dark side of the cliff towards the still Hydra.

Everyone waited for the Dragonfly’s signal.

Moments later, a bright flash sparked underneath the Hydra revealing its shape. It was only a glimpse, but seeing it not react as it was exposed to a powerful burst of light made the caravan halt in their tracks. The prized scales which were said to be indestructible were stone. The form of the Hydra was a statue. It was last posed with each of the heads about to snap at something.

Chatter began to spread throughout the group.

“You shouldn’t scare me like that. It’s just a statue.” Lily put down her bow. “Right?”

“It’s something else.” Kihet answered, turning to the Leader. “What do you think?”

“It’s petrified. By a basilisk perhaps?” The Leader mumbled. “No. The power to encase such a beast of force by a small fry is impossible. I apologize, but for all the years I’ve survived in Stusis, I lack the knowledge to identify the culprit.”

“We already made a ruckus.”

“That I agree. We shall move before anything else shows up. Keep your eyes peeled and your wits about, Devil folk.” The Leader marched to the front and gave the signal to continue the journey.

Continuing on, they rode underneath the necks of the multi headed serpent. With a line of light sources indicating the length of the caravan, it was bright enough to light the lower half of the statue.

“Tomoe, Nyi’ll be right back.”

“Oh, okay?”

Lily watched as Tama hopped off the cart and with a lantern in hand, trotted away from the road. She stopped and picked up objects scattered on the ground and brought them back to the group.

“Nyie found these.”

“Feathers? It’s as big as Harikentero’s feathers but it’s pitch black.” Lily examined it. “The barbs aren’t as soft as I thought, like it’s made of stiffer materials almost like quills.”

“Hang on. They look like its recently shed and it’s not petrified.” Kihet added.

“You’re right! Tama, where did you find these?”

“Over there.”

Kihet gazed at the spot Tama pointed and traced his sight towards the Hydra. It was indeed the location where the serpent was facing.

Looking up, he saw glimmers reflecting off the lights from the caravan. Jet black pinions fluttered down as he heard a low pitching noise. A curse. A purplish magic circle materialized above one of the heads of the Hydra.

He could use the Oracle’s flames, but there’s no guarantee it’d dispel curses and it’d compromise his identity.

“Hang on to something!” He tugged the reins as hard as he could towards one side, startling the horse and command it to start galloping away.

“Eek!”

“Nya?!”

“Don’t look back and close the blinds!”

A flash of purplish light suddenly exploded and shined at the middle of the caravan. The flames from torches and lanterns within that radius were snuffed out. The others outside the range of the curse were unable to determine their fates in this darkness.

Kihet’s cart managed to slip away before the curse hit them. After the flash of purple light, he noticed the leather cover that was closed to shelter them from the wind were turned to stone.

“Did Nyit turn leather to stone?!” Tama shrieked.

“No way!”

“Lily, light up the arrows. Shoot it everywhere so we can see it. Aten, get ready to jump it.”

Flaming arrows could only provide so much light. Talons sprung out of the dark above, tearing a group of mercenaries. Then a tail flung two carriages into the air, and something long lunged out from the shadows. Next thing the Beastmen knew, one of their members went missing.

“Where is it? I can’t find it!” Lily shouted.

“It’s jumping back into the dark each time it attacks.”

“Nyaha! Just the thing! I can take care of that!” Tama pulled out an equipment resembling an oversized crossbow, but not as large as a ballista or scorpio. “We ignite it and… away it goes!”

The Werecat shot a package high into the air as the fuse travelled into it. Seconds later, a parachute came out of the projectile as a brilliant yellow flame lingered in the air for everyone to see their four legged ambusher.

It had the head of a snake, but its body resembled a griffon cladded in jet black feathers. There was a spot of pitch black mist flowing out of its back. Its neck had extra skin dangling from it, to which a bulge on its neck slowly travelled down towards the stomach.

“Vile beast, be slain!”

The Leader swooped down from the air and took a wide swing with his glaive, severing the bottom of the creature’s neck. As soon as the snake part of the abomination dropped to the ground, a beastmen crawled out of the severed neck and stumbled back to its group quivering in fear.

“Don’t look away, it’s still standing!” Kihet shouted.

The Leader raised his glaive and caught the monster’s talons slashing down at him. His team of Dragonkins quickly removed the hold off him and all unleashed a combined fiery breath at it only to find it headless but still moving.

“Impossible! It’s still alive?!”

The wound where it was decapitated bubbled. In an instant, another head burst out of the body and this time, it was reinforced with hardened scales where the Leader cut it. Before the creature could get a strike at the Dragonkin, it received a heavy impact on its side from flaming javelins now lodged into its ribs.

A flurry of arrows struck its eye and triceps, driving it away back as it beat its wings. The whirlwind knocked down other arrows loosened by archers and forced everyone back as it took to the air. There was a glint in the dark sky as it suddenly twisted its body downwards, talons stretched out. Its sharp nails carved into stone and shredded everything in the way of its body slam.

“Spread out! Don’t get too close!” The Leader bellowed. “Weaken it with ranged attacks then once its tired, go in for the kill!”

“CHAAAAAA HIIIIIISSSSSSS! Suuuu…”

“A breath attack! Scatter!”

Kihet wasn’t going to let it use its breath attack as he noticed the extra skin on the monster’s neck expanded. He hurled the Nagamaki that was already drawn with all his strength through the gust and punctured the ballooned muscle. Poisonous smog leaked from it as Aten descended from above and anchored the creature back on the ground.

After setting the carriage in a safe location, Kihet drew his sword and raced to the frontlines.

“It’s down! Get it!”

While mercenaries wailed at the monster, with each cut, scales formed over the wounds until weapons were no longer effective. The feathers of the entire right side of the creature had shed and replaced by denser quills.

The creature unleashed an ear piercing screech as it twisted its body and rolled itself upright. Before adventurers and mercenaries could close it again, the creature pivoted and spun, brushing the bunch away using its whip like tail.

“SKRAAAWK-! Gak hak!”

Out from nowhere, it vomited skeletal remains of its previous meals slathered in mucus and viscera. The snake like jaws drooled heavily as a large bulge ran up its neck and finally, a large eyeball emerged from its mouth. It was larger than Kihet and had a faint magic symbol in its iris gradually glowing purplish bright. The low pitch once again rang into his ears.

He was currently running towards it with no cover nearby and he wasn’t about to get close to it anytime soon. The magic encased in the Tower Monster’s large eyeball was about to burst.

Kihet was about to test the Oracle’s powers against curses when suddenly, a meteorite wreathed in flames dropped on the monster’s spine and impacted into the earth. For its grand entrance, a hulking figure emerged from within the smoke and unleashed a feral roar echoing across the valley.

It was covered in crimson scales.