The hydra’s three heads rose higher as its three sets of eyes locked onto me.
"This thing is definitely not gonna hold back. I need to end this now!"
[[Warning. Detected buildup of catastrophic mana. Estimated damage output—total annihilation of area within 300 meters.]]
"Holy crap, that’s a lot of distance! Just how unlucky can I get?"
All around me, the frogs and turtles began to back away in fear—even the snakes—unsure if hiding underground would save them from the impending blast. At this point, I could feel their fear, and their loyalty. And I knew if I ran, they’d stay and die trying to protect me.
"Not happening..." I told myself, lowering into a stance. "If we’re going down, we’re going down fighting."
With [Magic Control], I was prepared to do whatever I could to protect everyone by any means possible.
"Alright... I’ll have to gamble my life! You can control poison right? Well, I can too!"
This wasn’t the first time I was staring death in the face—so I was prepared—and besides, I had an idea.
My aura suddenly flared around me like emerald fire as my own poison affinity fed into the storm the hydra was creating—but instead of fighting against it, I tried to sync with it.
"Rooooooaaaarrrr!" It was just about done combining its dual affinities to take us out, but to its surprise, its poison affinity was disrupted.
"I got it!" With my emerald green aura swirling around my body, I connected with the poisonous cloud in front of me through sheer willpower and the use of my Special Skill, Poison Manipulation.
"L-Lord!?" Everyone widened their eyes in surprise, rightfully so.
Fighting Croak’mar was worth it.
With me controlling the poisonous cloud, I suddenly developed a new skill.
[[Epic Skill achieved—Affinity Nullification.]]
[Woaaah, what? Seriously?]
Well, it’s not like I should be surprised by this, considering skills can be achieved by repetitive actions, or the Spiritus Mundi.
With the hydra’s poisonous energy starting to lose its grip, I noticed its heads rearing back, as if it was hissing in confusion.
"Oh, what’s wrong? Didn’t expect your poison trick to get hijacked, huh?" I taunted the Boss-Class beast, even grinning. "Newsflash, pal, you’re not the only one who can control poison! It’s one of my first affinities!"
The swirling green cloud I’d taken control of started to slowly fade away by the power of Affinity Nullification, until it dispersed completely.
"I can’t believe that worked!"
[[Notice. The newly acquired Epic Skill—Affinity Nullification—allows the user to suppress or dispel enemy skills and environmental effects linked to the same affinity type.]]
"W-Wait, so basically, I can shut off his poison skills?"
[[Affirmative. However, doing so consumed a lot of your MP. You’re now approaching Mana Burnout.]]
"Damn it!" I took a look at my Status Hub in my field of vision and could see what it was talking about, and sadly, it was right. My mana was about to plummet to zero.
[[Unnamed Cat
HP (Health): 660
MP (Magic): 520 → 120
SP (Stamina): 940]]
"Haaah, man, who would’ve thought using a nullification skill would waste so much mana? This is ridiculous... but nevertheless, it lost one of its affinities!" A big smile crossed my feline face, if I could even smile that was.
The hydra’s middle head, clearly furious, roared at us before trying to charge another attack—this time using its other affinities; corrosion and acid.
"Oh no you don’t!" I shouted, thrusting my paw forward. "Everyone, now’s our chance!" I yelled. "Move in before it starts a new attack!"
The frogs immediately jumped forward with their poison-bombs flying through the air, and the turtles charged with reckless abandon, spinning like armored wheels.
The snakes surfaced once more, slithering through the murky puddles.
Everyone released an all-out attack at once while the hydra was confused, and preparing a newer attack.
"Hell yeah!" I shouted, watching it screech in pain as dozens, upon dozens of impacts exploded against its scales.
There were at least hundreds of dragonflies, over twenty frogs, a dozen turtles, and fifty snakes. Even though they could only do 1 damage each, imagine how overwhelmed it would be!
[29 Damage!]
[29 Damage!]
[Critical Hit! 58 Damage!]
[29 Damage!]
[29 Damage!]
[29 Damage!]
[Critical Hit! 58 Damage!]
[Critical Hit! 58 Damage!]
And so it continued.
With an all-out assault, its health dropped considerably, reaching all the way below 100.
[[Hydra Serpent Guardian’s HP: 887 → 80.]]
"Yeah, that’s right! Now we’re making progress!" But I wasn’t done yet.
I dashed across the mud with my mana pool nearly drained, but I had just enough for a few more attacks.
"Phantom Claw!"
I leapt straight at one of its throats, but to my surprise, it jabbed one of its tails at me, though it wasn’t enough.
[[Special Skill Activated—Lucky Dodge.]]
I suddenly dodged its tail by inches before slashing my claws across the air, sending an arc of purple light in the shape of cat claws.
"Eat this, you overgrown lizard!"
[[Critical Hit!]]
[[Hydra Serpent Guardian’s HP: 80 → 34]]
Huh, that worked, I couldn’t believe it. My attacks did more damage than the other swamp creatures, but then again, I’m at a higher level, so its defenses could be broken through if I kept at it!
"Phantom Claw! Phantom Claw!"
[[Unnamed Cat
HP (Health): 660
MP (Magic): 120 → 110 → 100
SP (Stamina): 940]]
My claws left a trace of violet energy slicing through the air as each arc struck against its scales. Phantom Claw only wasted 10 mana points.
The hydra thrashed in pain as its heads began screeching—watching as green blood sprayed across the swamp like rain.
[[Critical Hit!]]
[[46 Damage!]]
Each attack was tearing through what was left of my mana, and my vision was starting to blur, but I wasn’t about to stop now.
"This... is for my army!" I yelled, twirling in midair. "My final attack!"
I could feel it, the last droplet of mana inside me; the last drop of energy I could muster. It ignited like a spark ready to burn out.
"Phantom Claw!"
I slashed downward, but this time the arc wasn’t purple, it was a blazing emerald green.
With Poison Manipulation, I mixed my poison affinity into the attack, coating the spectral claws as it carved clean through the hydra’s middle neck.
The impact was freaking explosive!
Once it collided, it caused a massive poisonous explosion that blew mud and water in all directions as the hydra’s body convulsed violently with the middle head severed.
Landing on my feet, and jumping away, I witnessed it collapsing into the swamp with a loud BOOM!
The remaining two heads screamed in fury and agony—jolting wildly before collapsing one after the other.
[[Hydra Serpent Guardian’s HP: 34 → 0]]
"Haah... haah..." I panted as the light faded from my claws. "I-I did it... no... we did it! Together!"
All the swamp creatures came to my aid.
"Lord!" The frogs, snakes, turtles, and dragonflies called out to me.
"Are you well?" Asked the brave turtle.
"Ahahaha... I’m fine... yeah." I nodded my head.
[[Experience gained. Absorbing Soul to Level Up!]]
All of a sudden, the Hydra’s soul shot into the air before coming down at me like a falling star, slamming right into my body.
I wasn’t used to this feeling, and to be frank, I hated it.
Absorbing its soul, I could feel its power flowing through me which caused me to level up and gain new stuff.
[[Absorbing Boss Soul Energy...]]
[[Processing Experience...]]
[[Level Up!]]
[[Level Up!]]
[[Level Up!]]
[[Level Up!]]
[[Level Up!]]
[[Epic Skill Level Up!]]
[[Intrinsic Skill Level Up!]]
[[Special Skill Level Up!]]
[[Current Level: 5 → 10]]
[[Gained new Resistances: Corrosion & Acid]]
[[Obtained Title: Beast Slayer]]
[[Name: Unnamed
Titles: Otherworlder, King of the Swamp, Beast Slayer
Race: Beast—Black Cat
LVL: 10/10 (EVOLUTION ACHIEVABLE)
Strength: 46 → 96
Speed: 50 → 100
Agility: 54 → 104
HP (Health): 660 → 1,260
MP (Magic): 560 → 1,060
SP (Stamina): 940 → 1,590
Intrinsic Skills: Purr-suasion (LV: 2), Night Vision (LV: 2), Silent Steps (LV: 2), Keen Senses (LV: 2 → 3)
Special Skills: Ninefold Rebirth (LV: 1), Lucky Dodge (LV: 1 → 2), Bad Omen (LV: 1 → 2)
Epic Skills: Phantom Claw (LV: 2 → 3), Affinity Nullification (LV: 1)
Resistances: Disease (LV: 1), Curse (LV: 1), Luck (LV: 1), Poison (LV: 3 → 4), Corrosion (LV: 1), Acid (LV: 1)]]
"Huh?" In my field of vision, my status hub said something about an evolution being achievable. "What’s this?"
[[Notice. There are 100 levels in total—every ten levels one will acquire an evolution.]]
[Wait, seriously? Does that mean I’ll get stronger?]
[[Answer. Yes.]]
[Alright then, enough said! Let’s conduct my evolution!]
[[Affirmative. Conducting Evolution Process. . .]]
Whoa, just like that? Surely there had to be a catch, right? Or maybe it’s just my reward for making it so far in just a few days.
If I’m seriously gonna get an evolution for every ten levels, then I wonder how strong I’d be in the future.
[[Notice. Evolution Process will take 2 weeks. Shutting down bodily functions and entering hibernation.]]
[Eh... ehhhhh?!! T-Two whole weeks?! Wait a minute, deny, deny! Don’t let me sleep that long!]
"L-Lord, are you sure you’re fine, you’re looking a bit dazed." Asked one of the frogs.
He was right, my bodily functions were shutting down, and I was all wobbly.
"G-Guys... I’m gonna be sleeping for a while... make sure to protect my brothers and sisters... and... Anurael..."
I couldn’t stay up any longer—my body was giving out. And before I knew it, everything went black.