Lord of Caldera - Chapter 184

Chapter 184: Chapter 184

It had been five days since he set out toward the Hydra’s lair, during which many monsters had crossed his path. Frost trolls, four-legged beasts, even massive predatory birds—all of them had fallen with a single stroke of his blade.

“They’re down before I can even try anything.”

He couldn’t help but sigh. The overwhelming power he wielded was entertaining at first, but after repeated instances, it became monotonous.

I can’t exactly practice on thin air.

Swordsmanship was a carefully constructed sequence of movements and reactions—if the opponent’s strength was overwhelming, strike with Form One; if they retaliate, block with Form Two, and so on. It was meant to be mastered through experience. Sylas had been deliberately seeking out monsters for this very reason.

At this rate, the Hydra may end up being my first real trial for the Flame Sword.

He wasn’t afraid. However, a slight unease lingered in his mind. This was no mere intuition but rather the superhuman sense all ancient bloodlines possessed, warning him.

This is dangerous.

“Calm down,” Sylas whispered to himself, suppressing the stir of dragon blood within him. He was prepared to flee if things went awry—no plan was worth his life, after all.

So stay calm. If it comes to it, I’ll run.

Yet despite his reassurances, the sense of danger persisted, right up to the day he arrived at the Hydra’s lair.

A week later, he finally reached the vicinity of his target. Sylas cursed as he surveyed the rough landscape. The map’s inaccuracies had left him wandering in circles for nearly three days. Anyone less used to travel and camping would have been exhausted by now.

But at least I’m here, he thought with relief, observing the distinctive terrain around him. As he took another step forward, an earsplitting roar tore through the air.

“What…?”

The ground trembled beneath him as he looked in the direction of the sound. There, in the distance, was an enormous creature with sprawling wings and a body emitting flames. The shape was unmistakable—a dragon.

A Flame Dragon?

Though he had never seen one in person, Sylas immediately recognized it. Among dragons, few were as fearsome as the Flame Dragon, capable of aerial attacks and devastating fire breaths. This was the very dragon Ragnar had set out to hunt.

But why is it here?

According to the map, this was supposed to be the Hydra’s lair. Just as Sylas was puzzling over the scene, something long and sinuous emerged from beneath the Flame Dragon. They resembled tentacles at first glance, but Sylas’s sharpened vision soon revealed their true nature.

Dragon heads.

Not just one but multiple heads, all serpentine and writhing. Only one dragon matched such a description—the Hydra, a venomous dragon feared by all.

Why is it fighting the Flame Dragon?

What was more surprising, the Hydra didn’t appear to be at a disadvantage. In fact, the Flame Dragon was actively avoiding the Hydra’s strikes, dodging as though to avoid a fatal blow.

But why? he wondered, The Flame Dragon should have the upper hand.

Then, he realized the answer.

“What in the world… that thing is huge!”

The Hydra wasn’t gaining the upper hand through venom but by sheer size. Its monstrous physique allowed it to overpower the Flame Dragon, a feat even Sylas hadn’t anticipated.

As the Hydra shifted to a higher ground, its massive size became fully visible. Its head alone was twice as large as the Flame Dragon’s, and each head moved with deadly purpose.

One bite from that thing, and it’s over.

The Flame Dragon’s desperate attempts to escape were almost pitiful to watch. Even when it tried to fly away, the Hydra pursued relentlessly. Cornered, the Flame Dragon unleashed its last resort.

A torrent of fire erupted from its mouth.

Breath attack!

A dragon’s breath could melt even the strongest weaponry and armor. The Hydra, lacking protective scales, would likely suffer significant damage despite its size.

But as the flames engulfed it, the Hydra let out a triumphant screech, seemingly unfazed. The fire that should have harmed it had no effect. Instead, one of the Hydra’s heads lunged forward and snatched the Flame Dragon mid-flight.

The Flame Dragon’s screeches grew desperate as it struggled, but it was futile. With all its heads converging, the Hydra dragged the dragon down, tearing it apart in a series of sickening crunches.

“…”

For the first time since his return, Sylas swallowed nervously, finally understanding the urgency of his instincts’ warning.

There’s no way I can win.

It wasn’t just the Hydra’s size. This one seemed to have evolved in bizarre ways—it was immune to fire, and instead of the typical seven heads, it had nine. This was a mutant, a deadly aberration of its kind, evolved for brutal strength. Battling a typical dragon was one thing, but facing a creature like this?

That would be suicide.

Sylas was nothing if not realistic. His confidence had been grounded in his belief in his own abilities, but this… this creature was beyond his reach.

“Damn it, I have no choice.”

Even if it meant sacrificing his chance at the Northern throne, retreat was his only option. No plan was worth risking his life against such an overwhelming opponent. Just then, the Hydra turned its heads, locking onto him.

Hissss…

Is it… looking at me?

From this distance, he could hardly believe it could see him. Even if it had noticed him, it would take time to reach him from here, time he could use to escape. Just as he was about to turn and run—

Flash.

Sylas froze, instinctively catching his breath.

Sylas gasped as his vision flashed, and in the blink of an eye, the Hydra was right before him, looming mere inches away.

“A natural magic ability?” he muttered.

Only a rare few creatures possessed such abilities, wielding them with mastery that often rivaled trained mages. Some forms of innate magic were harmless, but the Hydra’s was the most dangerous.

“Teleportation? What a nightmare…”

He barely had time to finish his complaint before the Hydra’s nine heads lunged at him from all directions. Gritting his teeth, Sylas drew his enchanted sword.

Crash, crash, crash!