548. Corrupted Hydra

“Why are we even doing this?”

Betrugil groaned. Haec and Taburas both glanced his way. The [Succubus] snorted as she crossed her arms.

“If you don’t want to follow us, you can leave. We don’t need you with us.”

“You two are idiots. You do realize that if we do this, we’re going to die, right?”

“That’s all you ever say, Betrugil.”

“This time, I’m serious. Come on, Aemula. You agree with me, don’t you? This is stupid.”

The [Abraxas] looked towards the [Fiend]. But Aemula just pursed her lips. Slowly, she raised her head, eyeing both Haec and Taburas.

“I-I… think I’m going with them.”

“Seriously? Even though they’re defecting from the Demon King? The Deathsquad Hunters will find you.”

“I know.”

Aemula sighed and took a step forward.

“But I’d be dead a thousand time over anyway if not for the both of them. So I’ll stick with them.”

She smiled at Taburas. The [Succubus] shifted uncomfortably, before nodding.

“As long as you pull your own weight…”

“Thank you, Aemula.”

Haec nodded back at the [Fiend]. Betrugil just rolled his eyes.

“You three are morons. Suicidal morons.”

He watched them go for a moment. He really didn’t need to follow them if he didn’t want to. But as they walked down the crevice, he heard a crackle overhead. He remembered what it was like when he had been free not too long ago— before he had been captured.

“But I guess I’m a moron too.”

And Betrugil shrugged, following them anyway despite all his protests.

[-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝ Hydra - Lvl. -̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝]

“Huh.”

I stared at the Corrupted Hydra. It stood there before me, its towering figure disfigured and distorted. Large chunks of its body were gone, replaced with a colorful blur. It was almost like I could make out these odd little symbols flaking off the broken parts of its body. But when I squinted and focused on it, I saw nothing.

I could barely comprehend what I was seeing. The Corrupted Hydra was fully engulfed by the corruption. It had five heads, but one of its necks was missing, replaced by a tendril of discolored shards that shimmered softly. A pair of tattered wings unfurled behind its back as I stared at the dead Demon’s eyes. And I saw nothing within.

It was the first time I had ever seen a fully-corrupted creature. The [Ancient Centinel] I fought in the Bloodied Gulf had underwent a transformation that corrupted it, but this was not the same thing. And the Wyvern I battled in the Helbir Plains had only been partially corrupted.

This was different. The Corrupted Hydra was not wreathed in the corruption— it was the corruption. Just like the difference between the Cursed Boulder and the Corrupted Netherstone. Except, this was a Demon. But not just any Demon…

I remembered the notification that resounded in my head as soon as I reached the second layer. It was twisted and warped— I didn’t quite understand what it was saying at first. But I could infer that this place I had entered was a Lair. A Lair just like the one that had belonged to the [Basilisk].

And if I had to guess… this meant that the [Hydra] had been a protector of the Netherworld, just like the [Basilisk]. Which meant that I was face-to-face with a corrupted Primordial Demon.

I blinked. And the Corrupted Hydra roared.

The screech that left its five mouths came out like the chittering of birds. It almost sounded like the buzzing of a thousand flies swarming around my ears. I reeled for a moment, and the Corrupted Hydra opened its five mouths. I watched as a spell circle formed, before rapidly twisting into a veil of corruption.

My [Angelic Premonition] blared in my head. It told me what was coming, and perhaps it even saved me. I leapt to the side as a breath of corruption shot out in the shape of a cone. The attack struck the ground where I had stood, and I blinked a few times.

“Huh.”

I needed to get out of here. This was far too dangerous for me. This Corrupted Hydra had to be at least as strong as the Corrupted Hellspace— maybe even stronger. I didn’t know. And I didn’t know why it was even still around.

Where did Belphegor go? Why hadn’t he dealt with this Corrupted Hydra? I didn’t get it. I just spun around, ready to make a break for it. Then I paused. I saw the corridor leading back where I came from change before me.

I stared with wide eyes, watching as the brick floor began to collapse into a hole of non-existence. The ground that had been struck by the corrupted breath vanished, and the broken bits of flying rubble converged, forming an amalgamation of distortion. There was a flash of light as a lifeless being was breathed into existence, blocking the corridor back.

[-̸͙̍̀͠-̴̛̠͊̀͝-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝ Netherstone - Lvl. -̸͙̍̀͠-̴̛̠͊̀͝-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝ ]

“Seriously?”

It took me a moment to process what I was seeing. The Corrupted Netherstone stood between me and the only way out of the second layer. And then I heard the screeching behind me once again. I glanced back as the Corrupted Hydra reeled. It didn’t lash out at me, but it prepared another corrupted breath.

And I made a break for it. I ran straight for the Corrupted Netherstone— I aimed for the hallway, spreading my wings wide. But the Corrupted Netherstone lashed out at me. It whipped a tendril my way, and I barely blocked the attack with my Divine Nebular Scythe.

I tried to circle around the Corrupted Netherstone, but the corrupted breath shot out. The Corrupted Hydra screech as its attack nearly hit me once again. The explosion was small, but it was so powerful and concentrated in its area, it would have probably ripped off an arm if I even grazed by it on accident. I leapt back as the ground once again vanished, and more Corrupted Netherstones began to form.

I backed away and cursed.

“Where do you guys keep coming from?”

I watched as my only exit was fully blocked by a swarm of enemies. And behind me, the Corrupted Hydra screeched. I was surrounded. The Corrupted Netherstones grew closer as the dead Primordial Demon prepared another blast.

But that was when I realized something. The Corrupted Hydra never moved. It remained standing at the exact same spot even as it tried to attack me. And beyond it lay a large tunnel leading further into the second layer.

So I made my decision. I snapped my fingers, summoning four clones all at once. They immediately scattered, drawing the attention of the Corrupted Netherstones and the Corrupted Hydra. One of my clones was instantly vaporized by a blast of corruption as I spread my six [Angel’s Wings] wide and flew around the edge of the room.

The Corrupted Hydra turned one of its five heads towards me. Its corrupted head— connected by the thread of corruption. And when its mouth opened, its head shot forward.

My eyes flickered as I saw the detached head flying straight towards me. It was fast. I barely swerved out of the way in time— only for the flying head to home in on me. I stared in shock as the Corrupted Hydra’s flying head continued to give chase even as I flew down the tunnel.

A pair of Corrupted Netherstones followed as my clones exploded in the background. And trailing after me at my tail, the Corrupted Hydra’s head was hot in pursuit. I looked back one last time, watching as the looming figure of the Corrupted Hydra faded in the distance, before focusing on my pursuers.

I needed to lose them somehow. I raised a hand, conjuring a spark of black flames. I raised it high into the sky, before it exploded. I watched as the hail of black flames rain sideways and fell straight at the Corrupted Netherstones.

The pair of Corrupted Netherstones slowed, but the flying head of the Corrupted Hydra easily navigated through the onslaught of attacks. I gritted my teeth. I had to stop it somehow. I focused my gaze on it before unleashing another Skill.

[Sacred Hellfire].

All at once, the flying head of the Corrupted Hydra burst into flames. It screeched in pain as it began to twist mid-air. I grinned, casting my gaze back forward as I rapidly approached the exit of this long tunnel. A notification resounded in my head and I nodded to myself.

Now Leaving [L-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝ir: The H-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝-̵̪̱̼͑-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝a D-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝ma-̶̰͎͙̉̆͝n]

“Time to explore the rest of the second layer…”

I did wonder how I was going to leave without fighting the Corrupted Hydra. Maybe I could find Belphegor and he could help me out— if I could even find him.

And as I flew on, I eventually exited into… a vast city. An underground city. One that had been long captured by the corruption.