A long, long time ago the Hydra volcano was active. Molten rock poured into the ocean on the regular, and no matter how much of it hardened upon contact with the water, there was still more to come, more to break the hardened surface and make the ocean boil.

It was inside this place that mutant hydras spawned before spilling into the surroundings and wreaking havoc on the ocean’s population.

To counteract this problem, the ocean-folk conducted regular raids during early spring, their season of reproduction. Warrior camps were placed around the volcano, which quickly grew into tiny settlements.

These groups of hunters, paid by the crown, kept quite a bit of distance from the boiling rock at first. However, after the echidnas rose to power, this was no longer necessary.

Saul’s schemes reduced the hydra population overnight, from thousands of creatures the size of a great white shark to a single individual the size of a whale.

This last remaining monster had blocked the mana's path with its body, cutting out the flow and reducing the temperature around the volcano significantly.

For hundreds of years the hydra survived, trapped inside the volcano, without food, without water, without any visitors except for the occasional scouts sent to check if it was breathing.

Instead of helping it, these mermen sealed the creature further behind thick stone walls and large metal doors. Almost no one ever opened these doors, until now.

"Die, hero!" the hydra bellowed.

A fireball the size of a meteor came flying towards Finn and his friends. They got out of the way and the meteor struck the double doors, melting them shut.

"I thought we were starting to get along." Natalie frowned.

"You bring me the spawn of Mathew and then seek my sympathy!? Die, all of you!"

Meteors started falling like raindrops, though fortunately, there was plenty of space to outrun them. The cave behind the double doors was massive, the size of a small town; yet it was all barren, minus the giant, multi-headed creature stuck in the middle.

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Only the upper half of the beet-red hydra's body could be seen rising out of the soil, along with its three colossal necks, 300 feet long, each of them.

The three lizard-like heads at the end shot a flurry of flaming meteors towards Finn, and it seemed like there was no end to the assault. Soon, there were no more burning rocks flying towards Natalie and Caroline, as all three heads had made him their target.

"What did I do!?"

"Who's Mathew?" Natalie asked. "Second master, why are you attacking my friend?"

The hydra completely ignored her. It shot wave after wave of meteors at Finn, and when this didn't work, it switched flame breaths.

Like oversized flamethrowers from hell, they kept up with Finn's speed and threatened to obliterate his body and soul.

'Fake, puny, hero, you're nowhere near as strong as your father.'

'My father's a farmer.'

'I meant the other one!'

'The other one's been dead for 30 years.'

'Liar!'

Sick of running, Finn eventually retaliated. He flew straight towards the monster's body, right between the heads that were trying to kill him.

"Finn, no!" Natalie shouted.

'I know, don't cut the heads because more will spawn.'

The man filled his fist with energy and punched the monster's main body as hard as he could.

The result was just a deep scratch, considering how big the hydra actually was, but it did make the creature wail in pain, so Finn was somewhat satisfied.

Unfortunately, before he could reorganize himself or throw a second punch, flesh poured out of the bear-sized wound he had caused. Within seconds, a fourth head came out showing Finn its teeth as if to mock him.

'But I thought…'

"RUN!!"

While Finn made his exit, all four heads shot flames in his general direction. They did not care that the other heads and the main body were caught in the crossfire.

The heat was so intense that two of the heads melted and broke apart along with a huge chunk of the hidra-s torso.

"Finn, Caroline, get behind me!" said Natalie. "You're too weak to help, you'll only make it worse."

"Excuse me?"

Finn did as instructed while clenching one of his horns.

"Didn't you say you couldn't beat it alone?"

"Yes." Natalie burst into flames. "But I have to do it anyway."