Its head convulsed violently before going limp, collapsing into the lake with a deafening splash.
Silence.
For a split second.
"Wait. Jorah did it," Lucivar muttered, eyes wide.
"He actually broke the scales, even if it wasn't the main head."
The party stared, stunned.
"One down," Lucivar said quietly. "That changes everything."
Then.
The water split.
The main head, the largest, thickest, most terrifying of them all, rose slowly, its presence alone crushing the air.
Its eyes locked onto Jorah.
The world seemed to slow.
Jorah barely had time to breathe.
Before he could move.
The hydra vanished.
No roar. No warning.
Just impact.
Its massive jaws closed around Jorah's body in a single, brutal bite.
"JORAH!"
Everyone screamed at once.
Time snapped back into motion.
Blood splashed across the water as the hydra lifted its head, Jorah caught between its fangs.
And for the first time since the fight began.
The battlefield froze in horror.
Jorah screamed in agony.
The hydra clamped down harder, its jaws tightening around him as blood burst from his wounds, spilling into the lake and staining the crystal water red.
Then.
With a violent motion, the hydra hurled Jorah upward.
Its massive mouth opened wide beneath him, waiting.
Ready to devour him whole.
"JORAH!"
Lucivar moved.
No hesitation. No fear.
He surged forward with everything he had, feet exploding off the ground as he launched himself into the air.
For a split second, time slowed.
Jorah was falling.
The hydra's jaws were closing.
Lucivar twisted midair and slammed his foot into the hydra's massive head, kicking it sideways with brutal force.
The head crashed into the lake, water erupting skyward.
In the same breath, another hydra head snapped toward Lucivar.
Lucivar caught Jorah in midair, hoisting him over his shoulder.
And punched the incoming head bare-handed.
The impact echoed like thunder.
He twisted his body, drove his dagger into a gap between the scales, and used it as an anchor, preventing himself from being dragged into the water as the hydra thrashed violently.
The head shook, roaring.
Lucivar planted his foot on its skull, pushed off.
And landed hard on solid ground.
He gently laid Jorah down.
Blood pooled beneath him.
Jorah coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Don't move," Merilda shouted as she rushed forward. "I'll heal you now!"
Green light flared from her staff as it wrapped around Jorah's wounds, flesh knitting back together inch by inch.
Jorah gasped, breathing ragged.
"Thank you."
Lucivar straightened, eyes never leaving the hydra.
"Focus," he said coldly to the others. "What's in front of us isn't done yet."
Vorian and Volric nodded in unison.
Another hydra head surged forward, jaws wide.
Volric stepped in first.
He planted his feet and raised his sword, gripping it with both hands.
"Defender Skill."
A dull shockwave burst outward as his stance locked in place. His body became immovable, solid, grounded, unshakable.
The hydra's jaws crashed down.
BOOM.
Volric didn't budge an inch.
The impact echoed through the chamber, crystal walls trembling as his blade held firm against the monster's bite.
"Now!" Volric shouted.
Vorian exploded forward.
"Unlimited Slash!"
He blurred into motion, rushing past Volric's shoulder as his sword flashed again and again, countless strikes raining down on the hydra's neck and face.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
Sparks flew, scales cracking but not breaking completely.
"Tch. Still too tough," Vorian muttered, leaping back.
Behind them, Jorah lay on the ground, still recovering, out of the fight for now. But he had already done his part.
One head was down.
Lucivar's crimson eyes narrowed as he assessed the battlefield.
"Two heads remain active," he said calmly. "The main one, the strongest, is still holding back."
The largest hydra head remained motionless near the lake, eyes fixed on them, waiting.
"If we take down the remaining two," Lucivar continued, voice steady, "then everything comes down to that main head."
The hydra let out a low, rumbling growl, water rippling beneath it.
One hydra head pulled back.
Then.
It lunged forward again, faster than before.
Lucivar's eyes snapped to Volric.
"Volric, defend. Same as before."
He turned to Vorian.
"You and I strike together. No holding back."
"Roger that," Vorian replied.