The Hydra dragged Ethan deeper into the water.
Ethan desperately held his breath.
Blood filled the water around him.
His own blood.
The Hydra suddenly released another stream of toxic venom into the water.
The black venom spread rapidly, surrounding Ethan from every direction.
"What…?"
Ethan's eyes widened.
The venom began entering his body.
Then—
CRUNCH!
The Hydra's jaws tightened around Ethan's right arm.
It pulled violently.
Ethan's eyes widened in horror.
His entire right arm was ripped away.
The arm.
The axe.
Everything was gone.
Blood immediately poured from the severed limb, spreading through the water.
Ethan stared at the empty space where his arm had been.
"What the hell…?"
The black venom continued spreading across his body.
"It feels like it's entering my skin…"
Ethan raised his remaining left hand toward his face.
His fingers touched his eye.
The venom had already reached it.
Blackness spread across his vision.
"Damn it!"
"Such pain…"
"My right arm…"
"It's completely gone."
The Hydra paused underwater.
It stared at Ethan.
Then—
It launched forward.
Ethan reacted instantly.
He activated Flight and moved upward, barely dodging the attack.
"What the hell is going on?"
"This is really bad!"
He desperately flew through the water.
"According to what I know…"
"If I don't do something quickly, I'm going to die in less than ten minutes!"
Ethan forced himself upward.
His body moved faster as he used Flight underwater.
He finally reached the surface.
He burst out of the water.
"HAAAH!"
He desperately inhaled.
But before he could recover—
BOOM!
The Hydra emerged from the water and slammed its enormous head into him.
Ethan was knocked straight back underwater.
He spun violently through the water.
"Ghh!"
"Such pain…"
"This is bad."
Ethan could feel his body becoming slower.
His movements were getting weaker.
Blood streamed from his eyes and nose.
The Hydra charged again.
Ethan tried to dodge.
But the Hydra caught one of his legs in its jaws.
Ethan opened his mouth and tried to scream.
Nothing came out.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't even make a sound.
"That's it…"
"Just one final strike…"
"My leg…"
"My heart…"
Ethan's thoughts became sluggish.
"It feels like my heart is going to stop any second."
"If that happens…"
"I'm dead."
"And it's all because of the venom."
"The blood healing isn't working either."
"This is really bad…"
The Hydra attacked again.
It bit down on Ethan's other leg.
CRUNCH!
Then it swung him through the water.
Ethan's vision faded further.
"This is it…"
"I'm losing consciousness…"
"No…"
"I'm losing…"
Both of Ethan's eyes were completely covered by the venom.
He became blind.
"Ah…"
"It's all dark."
Then something strange happened.
Ethan saw himself.
He was standing somewhere else.
He saw a younger version of himself.
His childhood.
His parents.
His brother.
His life.
Everything began replaying before his eyes.
From the moment he was young until he grew older.
His entire life flashed before him.
"So…"
"I'm really about to die."
"I'm seeing my entire life flash before my eyes."
Ethan slowly closed his eyes.
"But I don't want to."
"I don't!"
He screamed.
His voice couldn't escape the water.
He desperately swung his body.
The Hydra bit down on his second leg.
More blood filled the water.
Ethan didn't scream.
He couldn't.
But inside his mind—
"I don't care."
"I can see what is happening."
"This is bad."
"But as long as there is life, there is hope."
"I'm not dying now."
"Not now…"
"Not when my life is finally about to change."
"Not now!"
Ethan followed the sound of the Hydra moving through the water.
He couldn't see it.
But he didn't care.
He activated Flight.
Then he flew straight toward it.
"I can't see…"
"But I don't care!"
The Hydra opened its enormous mouth.
Ethan flew directly toward it.
His blood continued filling the water.
He had only one arm left.
As he approached the Hydra's open jaws—
[God Touch activated.]
Ethan stretched out his remaining hand.
He flew directly into the Hydra's mouth.
Just before its jaws could close—
His hand touched the Hydra's body.
[Hydra ability absorbed.]
Ethan immediately pushed himself backward.
The Hydra's jaws snapped shut behind him.
He spun through the water.
Then—
[User is now immune to venom.]
Another notification appeared.
[User has gained Berserk Instinct.]
Another notification appeared.
[User has gained Extreme Regeneration.]
And then—
Another notification appeared.
[User has acquired: Hydra — Full Strength.]
The notification remained in front of Ethan.
[All Hydra Strength has been acquired.]
Then another notification appeared.
[Level Up.]
[User has reached Level 6.]
Instantly—
Ethan's body began changing.
His right arm, which had been completely ripped off, began regenerating.
Muscle.
Bone.
Skin.
Everything returned in an instant.
His legs regenerated as well.
The wounds across his entire body disappeared.
Even the venom that had covered his body vanished.
Ethan's vision slowly returned.
The darkness disappeared.
He could see again.
Ethan opened his eyes.
He looked at his regenerated hands.
Then at his legs.
He moved his fingers.
Everything was back.
Ethan slowly smiled.
"I can see…"
He looked toward the Hydra.
His smile widened.
"I'm still alive."