The dungeon doors groaned open. Vorian and Volric slowly staggered to their feet.
"We did we survive?" Vorian asked, still catching his breath.
"Looks like it," Volric replied, surveying the carnage.
Merilda sank to the ground, tears streaming freely.
Jorah, still slumped on the floor, slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Lucivar and muttered, awed, "He, he's truly powerful."
Lucivar stood in front of the Hydra, his crimson eyes still glowing faintly from the battle. The main head lay crushed on the ground, while the other three heads were already lifeless.
"I did it," he muttered. Then, shaking his head, "No, we did it."
He slowly sank to the ground, leaning against the main Hydra head, staring at his bloodied palms. A weak smile appeared on his face.
Vorian and Volric approached cautiously. "You did it," Vorian said, gripping Lucivar's arm to help him up. Volric mirrored the gesture on the other side.
"Yes, I did it. We did it," Lucivar said, finally standing straight. Jorah, still exhausted but upright, nodded. The party exchanged quiet, tired smiles.
They began moving toward the dungeon exit, each step heavy with exhaustion. But suddenly, they froze.
"Wait, we're weak. We can't just walk out," Jorah said, voice hoarse.
"And the Hydra, we can't leave it here," Volric added. "If anyone finds it, it could fetch millions in gold."
"So what's the plan?" Lucivar asked.
"We use the teleportation device," Jorah said firmly. "It won't fit in the guild proper, but we can send it to the back courtyard—the Adventure Guild's training yard. Out of the main area."
Volric nodded. "You're right. No choice."
"Merilda, bring it out," Jorah commanded.
Merilda stepped forward, placing the teleportation device carefully on the ground. She took a deep breath. "Stay calm. Everyone, hold on."
Lucivar placed his hands firmly on the main Hydra head. Vorian and Volric pressed theirs on the other massive heads. The Hydra's body shivered under their touch.
Merilda activated the device.
"Vwoooom KSSHHH!" A blinding flash erupted from the device, the sound of roaring energy filling the dungeon. The Hydra's massive body trembled. "KRRRRAAASH!" The ground quaked as the Hydra's four heads slammed down onto the floor in unison before vanishing. Dust and shards of crystal flew everywhere.
In an instant, everything around them disappeared.
When the light faded, the party and the Hydra reappeared in the back courtyard of the Adventure Guild.
"THUUUUD!!" The Hydra's colossal body slammed into the stone yard with deafening force, cracking the ground beneath it. "CRRRRAAACK!!" One of its heads crushed an empty training building, sending debris flying. The echoes of destruction rang through the yard. Dust, rubble, and the faint stench of blood hung in the air.
They all smiled at each other, breathing heavily.
"Ah, we did it," Vorian muttered.
"We actually survived," Merilda whispered, her voice trembling.
Lucivar didn't say anything, he only stared at the four-headed Hydra, its massive bodies sprawled across the dungeon yard, its heads lying lifeless. The sheer size of the creature made the ground tremble.
Then
"THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!"
Heavy, rapid footsteps. Four armored knights ran toward them, their boots pounding against the shattered stone. Behind them, more guards, the receptionist, and finally, the Guild Master.
The moment the Guild Master saw the Hydra, his eyes went wide.
"What the hell is THIS?!" he shouted, his voice bouncing off the walls.
The knights froze mid-step. Even the receptionist gasped audibly.
Jorah weakly stepped forward, breathing heavily.
"We had no choice, we were teleported to a deep dungeon floor," he said.
The Guild Master's eyes narrowed.
"I can see that," he replied, striding closer, staring at the colossal four-headed Hydra. "But tell me something, how did you defeat a monster that even S-rank adventurers party would struggle with?"