The hydra roared and then lunged towards Maya and Sophia. Its many heads snapping and snarling at once.

The two dashed to opposite sides, narrowly avoiding the hydra's charge. The creature's massive body sweeps past them, sending ripples through the water.

Immediately after, Maya drew her dagger and made a deep cut across her palm. The blood from the wound ignites into flames as she transformed into her Blaze Knight Form.

Meanwhile, Sophia, with determined focus, begins to chant softly under her breath. Her sword starts to glow with a radiant light, the energy of her [Smite] coating the blade. She then charged.

The hydra snapped one of its heads towards Sophia in an attempt to bite her. Its jaws gaped wide open, ready to clamp down on the Paladin.

However, Sophia managed to dodge the hydra's attack. At the same time, she brought her radiant sword down on the creature's neck. The blade slices through, causing a deep wound on the hydra's head. The beast recoiled in pain, unleashing an agonized roar that echoed through the chamber.

Just as the Paladin stopped briefly to catch her breath. Two more of the hydra's heads lunged at her from different angles.

Then, Maya unleashed a barrage of flaming swords towards the hydra. Each blade strikes connected with the two attacking heads. The impact caused the heads to flail wildly and miss Sophia by mere inches. The flames from Maya's attack singed and scorched the hydra's scales, filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh.

Meanwhile, Sophia rolled skillfully under the flailing heads of the hydra. She emerged on the other side and put some distance between herself and the enraged creature.

The hydra unleashes a thunderous roar.

Maya and Sophia instantly noticed a new danger as countless bubbles started emerging from the water beneath them. Pillars of water erupt from the surface in various parts of the chamber. Emerging from these pillars were countless fish-men, each armed with crude, yet dangerous-looking weapons.

Maya reacted swiftly to the new adversaries. She manifested a fiery sword in her hand. Then, she began engaging the nearest fish-men, cutting them down with her flaming blade. Sophia tightened her grip on her own sword as she began fighting off her share of hostile fish-men.

The hydra changed its focus and began charging towards Maya with a renewed ferocity. Its multiple heads weave through the air, eyes fixed on her with predatory intent.

The Shapestealer tried her best to defeat her immediate foes. But this focus left her momentarily less aware of the approaching danger from the hydra.

Seizing the moment, the monster lunged forward, one of its massive heads swooping in with startling speed. Its jaws clamped down on Maya and trapped her within its grip. The hydra then shook its head violently, flailing Maya around like a ragdoll.

Despite the perilous situation, the Shapestealer remained composed. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a flaming sword mid-air. The blade materializes, glowing intensely with searing flames.

With a mental command, Maya sent the flaming sword flying directly at the neck of the hydra's head that was biting her.

The impact of the flaming sword caused the hydra's other heads to screech in agony. The head holding Maya instinctively loosened its grip. It violently threw the Shapestealer away, sending her tumbling through the air before she crashed into the water.

The hydra, wounded but far from defeated, let out another roar.

This one seemed to warp the very air around the chamber. Suddenly, decrepit buildings start to manifest from thin air, their forms flickering into existence as if pulled from another place. It didn't take long for the buildings to begin to dot the landscape of the chamber.

A dilapidated wooden hut materialized out of nowhere, plummeting from above. With moments to spare, Maya rolled away, feeling the rush of air and debris as the hut crashed into the ground where she had just been.

Not too far away was Sophia, engaged in her own battle with the fish-men. One of them threw a wheelbarrow filled to the brim with rolls of rotten cheese towards her. Too distracted by fighting, the wheelbarrow crashed into the Paladin, knocking her off balance and trapping her beneath its cargo.

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Maya was darting through the newly manifested buildings. The environment now was eerily similar to the fishing village she had previously been in.

As she maneuvered through the maze of buildings, Maya's sharp eyes caught sight of Sophia. The Paladin was still trapped under the wheelbarrow and its rotten contents, and was surrounded by a group of fish-men. Their weapons were raised, almost ready to strike.

In response, Maya shouted, "Over here!" Drawing the attention of the fish-men.

The fish-men turned towards her. They brandished their pitchforks and rusted rakes and advanced towards her. Though their movements were swift, they were also uncoordinated, driven by sheer primal instinct.

Maya gripped her flaming sword with both hands and prepared to counter. She engaged the fish-men, cutting through them with ease. One by one, the fish-men fell.

Until finally, she faced a particularly large fish-man wielding a jagged harpoon. She cleaved him in half, his toppling form sizzling as it hit the water.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Maya turned her attention back to Sophia. She approached the wheelbarrow and shattered it with her sword: freeing the Paladin.

Sophia stood up, still catching her breath from the recent struggle. She then turned to Maya with a look of gratitude. "Thanks for that," she said, brushing off remnants of rotten cheese. "Where's the hydra?"

Suddenly, Maya noticed loud roars behind one of the buildings: debris was being hurled into the air, and the distinct roar of one of the hydra's heads reverberated through the area. She pointed towards the disturbance. "There, it's angry."

Seems mindless, at least," Sophia said. "Any idea on how to take it down?"

Maya's gaze drifted across the area, searching for something they could use to their advantage. Her eyes locked onto a large metal anchor, half-submerged in the water. "Can you throw that?"

Sophia followed Maya's gaze and spotted the anchor. Assessing its size and weight, she nodded confidently. "Probably. Why?"

"I've got a plan."

***

The hydra tore through the newly conjured village with reckless abandon. Its multiple heads smashed into buildings, sending debris flying. Despite this, the fish-men nearby stood strangely passive. They seemed almost oblivious to the danger, offering no resistance or attempt to flee even as the hydra tears their surroundings and themselves from limb to limb.

One of the hydra's heads crashed through a dilapidated hut. Inside, a fish-man stood motionless, showing no reaction even as the massive jaws closed around it. The hydra's head retracted from the hut, effortlessly lifting and devouring the fish-man in a matter of seconds.

Suddenly, a massive anchor crashed into the side of the rampaging hydra. The anchor hit the beast with such power that it staggered, losing its footing. The momentum of the throw sent the hydra crashing into a row of buildings, which collapsed under its massive weight. Dust and debris rose into the air as the creature tumbled, momentarily stunned.

Maya dashed towards the fallen hydra, her footsteps splashing through the shallow waters that covered the ground. As the Shapestealer reached the hydra, she activated [Overheat]. Her body began to radiate an intense heat as the flames that made up her body grew in intensity.

With a loud boom, Maya exploded in a cascade of flame. The explosion engulfed the hydra in a sea of fire. The heat was so intense that it warped the air and scorched the surrounding buildings, turning them to ash.

When the flames finally subsided, the hydra was motionless, its body charred and smoking.

In the next moment, Maya reverted back to her human form and knelt on the ground. She was panting heavily from exhaustion. Sweat dripped down her forehead, mixing with the soot and ash that covered her.

Sophia quickly rushed to her side. Her armor clinked softly as she moved swiftly through the debris and charred remnants of the village. She extended her hand to help Maya up.

The Shapestealer took Sophia's outstretched hand. With a combined effort, she pulled herself up, leaning on the Paladin for support.

Together, they took a moment to examine the aftermath of the battle. Their eyes fell upon the hydra's body, now barely recognizable amidst the ruin. Most of it was charred beyond recognition: reduced to a blackened carcass.

A few of the hydra's heads were still visible, their necks stretched out awkwardly. For a moment, they gasped for air. But gradually, their movements became slower, and slower, until finally, they too became still.

As Maya and Sophia caught their breath and surveyed the damage, a sudden change in the air drew their attention. A swirling vortex of light began to manifest right at the site of the hydra's corpse. It started as a small, shimmering point, but rapidly expanded, its edges swirling with a bright white glow.

[Congratulations, you may now access the next floor]

"That was a hell of a fight." Sophia said.

"I'm just glad it's over." Maya replied.

The Paladin turned to the Shapestealer and laughed. "Ready to keep going?"

"Give…me a few minutes."