"Wait…"
Ethan suddenly paused.
"Why don't I use my skill?"
"Even if I know my fire won't work…"
He glanced at the axe.
"Since my axe couldn't get through its scales, the fire I create probably won't either."
"But still…"
Ethan stretched his hand forward.
"Fire Magic."
The notification appeared.
[Fire Magic activated.]
Flames erupted from his hand.
The fire quickly grew larger and larger until Ethan pushed it directly toward the Hydra's face.
BOOM!
The flames struck the Hydra.
Smoke filled the air.
Ethan waited.
As the smoke slowly disappeared, he saw the Hydra still standing there.
It hadn't moved.
It was still staring at him.
There wasn't even a scratch on it.
Ethan's face dropped.
"Seriously?"
He slowly lifted himself above the ground.
[Flight activated.]
Ethan raised his axe as he flew upward.
The Hydra's head, which had been lowered slightly toward the ground, slowly moved upward as well.
Its head rose higher and higher until it reached the same height as Ethan.
Ethan paused in midair.
The Hydra stared directly at him.
"Hmm…"
He moved forward.
"I'm not sure."
"But there's one thing I know."
Ethan looked at the Hydra's head.
"The forehead…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"That could be its weak point."
"Let me see."
"If that's its weak point and I can strike it…"
"If I'm able to shatter its skull, that will be the end."
"Because I'm sure I won't lose…"
He paused.
"Or maybe I'm not sure."
"God…"
Ethan tightened his grip on the axe.
"I wonder if God Touch will even work on a monster like this."
"In this world, there are A-rank and S-rank monsters."
"Even if two monsters have the same rank, they're not necessarily in the same category."
Ethan flew through the air.
The Hydra suddenly attacked.
Ethan moved upward, dodging its attack.
Then he flew sideways.
The Hydra snapped at him.
Ethan narrowly avoided its jaws.
He quickly moved forward.
"I've got you!"
He raised his axe and struck the side of the Hydra's head.
CLANG!
The Hydra immediately turned around.
Ethan tried to fly away.
But the Hydra was faster.
It bit down on the axe.
CRACK!
Its jaws clamped tightly around the weapon.
"Damn it!"
The Hydra held onto the axe and began pulling.
Ethan struggled to keep his grip.
The Hydra slowly lifted its head.
Then it turned to the side.
Ethan didn't realize what it was doing.
He was too focused on getting the axe back.
He knew the axe was his only chance of damaging the Hydra's scales.
Before he realized it—
The Hydra began moving downward.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Wait!"
SPLASH!
He was dragged straight into the lake.
Ethan immediately held his breath.
The Hydra continued biting the axe as it moved deeper into the water.
"What the hell?"
Ethan looked around.
"Ethan didn't even notice what it was doing…"
"Damn it!"
"What do I do?"
Everything around him was dark.
Outside the lake, the entire dungeon was shining brightly.
But inside the water…
It was almost completely dark.
Ethan tried to pull the axe away.
Then—
The Hydra suddenly released it.
Ethan was left holding the axe as the Hydra moved deeper into the lake.
It turned around and moved toward him.
Ethan quickly activated Flight.
He began flying through the water.
The ability made him incredibly fast.
He moved upward as quickly as he could.
But to his surprise, the Hydra kept up with him.
"What the hell?"
Ethan pushed himself harder.
Even at full speed, the Hydra was moving at almost the exact same pace.
"It's just as fast as me underwater!"
Ethan continued flying upward.
His lungs were burning.
He was losing his breath.
He needed air.
"Come on…"
He stretched his body upward.
But before he could reach the surface, the Hydra moved its head.
BOOM!
Its head slammed into Ethan.
Ethan spun through the water.
"Damn it!"
He was still holding the axe tightly.
"I'm out of breath…"
"I need air!"
He looked up.
The Hydra was coming toward him.
Its enormous mouth opened.
It was trying to swallow him whole.
Ethan's eyes slowly began closing.
The massive jaws approached him.
"No…"
His vision blurred.
"Not yet."
"I've come this far."
Ethan suddenly forced himself to move.
He grabbed the axe with both hands.
As the Hydra's mouth came toward him—
Ethan swung.
BOOM!
He slammed the axe against the Hydra's jaws with all his strength, forcing its mouth to the side.
The Hydra's head was pushed away.
Ethan immediately flew upward.
VOOM!
He burst out of the water.
He gasped desperately for air.
"Haa…"
"Haa…"
"That was a close one."
"I thought I was screwed."
Ethan took several deep breaths.
"For now…"
He looked back at the lake.
"I didn't think…"
He tightened his grip on the axe.
"Ah…"
"How am I supposed to make my ability work on it?"
"I still haven't even had a single chance to touch it."