They reappeared in a violent burst of light.
The ground beneath them was shattered, cracked stone littered everywhere. The cavern walls gleamed with pure green crystal, glowing faintly in the darkness. Ahead of them stretched a massive lake, unnaturally wide, its surface eerily still.
Jorah clicked his tongue.
"Damn it… damn it all. We've been teleported deep into the dungeon."
Merilda stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"This isn't just a lower floor," Jorah said grimly. "It's one of the deepest zones. I've read about places like this. Areas meant for S-rank adventurers."
He clenched his fist. "We're all A-rank. This shouldn't even be possible."
Silence settled over the group.
Lucivar spoke calmly. "Panicking won't help. Tell me. What monster rules a place like this?"
Jorah swallowed. "If there's a lake this large, there are only a few possibilities."
He pointed toward the water.
"A hydra. A colossal serpent. Or…" He hesitated. "A Serpent Sea Tortoise."
Lucivar tilted his head. "What is that?"
"A monster with the heads of a hydra," Jorah said slowly, "and a body protected by an enormous shell, stronger than any shield. It's a walking fortress."
Before anyone could respond, the lake churned violently.
Water surged outward as something massive moved beneath the surface, pushed aside by sheer force.
"Everyone, on guard!" Volric shouted.
They drew their weapons instantly, eyes locked on the trembling water.
The surface began to rise.
Whatever lurked beneath was closing in fast.
The water erupted violently.
A massive shape surged upward, and every mouth in the party fell open except Lucivar's. He simply stared.
A four‑headed hydra towered before them.
"This… this is bad," Jorah muttered under his breath. "I expected two heads. Not four. This is a worst‑case scenario."
"Everyone… give that devil your best," Volric said tensely.
No one responded.
Lucivar didn't move. Didn't flinch. Didn't betray fear. He only observed.
"What the hell… a serpent," he murmured.
A deep, echoing voice resonated across the lake.
"Hmm… a devil. Ha ha ha."
Only Lucivar could hear it.
"What?" he asked calmly. "You can speak?"
"We can speak to our kind," the voice replied. "And you… you are one of us. A devil."
Lucivar's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? That's interesting. Spare us for now. These humans are yours for the moment. Or would you rather I take you alone?" the hydra hissed.
Lucivar let out a small, quiet laugh.
"Hahaha… you're amusing. But you're low‑ranking. You don't even have a single horn. Weak. And yet you think you can touch me and my companions?"
The hydra's four sets of eyes narrowed.
"You are still part of our meal," it hissed. "And your commander with you. All of you are mine."
"Move!" Lucivar shouted, his voice calm but sharp.
The party sprinted forward.
One massive neck lashed toward the shore, its colossal mouth snapping shut inches from Jorah's head.
Jorah jumped sideways, barely avoiding it, and slammed his sword against the thick, scaled neck.
"Damn it… these scales! I can't pierce them!" he shouted as he leapt back.
The hydra turned, scanning them with all four heads.
"Ah… five in total," it hissed, its thoughts echoing inside their minds. "Interesting. This will be fun."
Lucivar's crimson eyes glowed faintly as he assessed the beast. Calm. Focused. Ready.
One of the hydra's heads bent low, then lunged straight at him.
Lucivar raised his sword.
The massive jaws came down.
Instead of retreating, Lucivar stepped forward, closing the distance without hesitation. His blade flashed upward as he slammed it beneath the hydra's jaw, striking from below and parrying the head upward with brutal precision.
The force sent the head snapping back.
It crashed into the dungeon's stone pillars, shaking the entire chamber.
Another head surged forward immediately, striking toward Volric and Volrian.
"Hey! Stay by my side!" Volric shouted as Merilda moved behind him, staff raised, already chanting.
The hydra struck.
Volric blocked the attack head‑on, boots grinding against the stone as he held his ground. Volrian moved in from the side, crossing blades with the second head and deflecting it.
The impact sent him flying.
"Volrian!" Merilda cried.
He slammed hard into the dungeon wall, the breath knocked from his lungs.
The hydra laughed.
Its massive mouth opened wide as it drew back, preparing to devour him whole.
That was when Lucivar moved.
In a blur, he sprinted forward, grabbed Volrian by the collar, and yanked him away just as the hydra's jaws slammed shut.
The wall exploded instead, stone fragments scattering across the chamber.
"You bastard," the hydra's voice echoed inside Lucivar's mind. "You're the one. I'll take care of you first."
Lucivar didn't respond right away.
"Oh really?" he muttered.
"I don't have skills. I don't have abilities. Everything is sealed."
He raised two fingers and pressed them gently against his eyes.
"But there's still one thing I can use."
His crimson eyes began to glow, brighter and deeper, razor sharp.
"Time to see your weak point."