Endzone: Simulated Apocalypse

Chapter 131 – Asmodeus, Nine-Headed Basilisk

"A Hydra… as in the one from Greek myths?" Ragnar asked, and Cyanide gave a nod.

"It would be safe to assume the two share similarities, just judging from appearance," he said. "However, by the looks of it…"

The nine-headed hydra gave a roar of anger, showcasing all nine of its heads. Each had a different appearance—although they all stemmed out from the same bluish hue body, each gradiently changed into a different color. One was burning orange, one was dark blue like the ocean, one was light blue and lined with icicles, one was purple and sparking with lightning. The nine heads each covered a natural element—fire, water, rock, lightning, ice, grass, wind, death, and life.

"… This one's going to be a lot more troublesome than the one written of in myths," Cyanide finished, narrowing his eyes.

Ragnar snorted. "Tch, goddammit…"

The hydra, tired of their conversation, began its attack. The deep blue head slammed into the water, causing a powerful geyser to erupt where Ragnar and Cyanide had just been standing.

The two immediately dashed away from one another, avoiding the attack, and began their counter-offense. Ragnar jumped up into the air and slammed down with his greatsword at the hydra's body, but it did no damage whatsoever. The nine hydra heads collectively stared down at Ragnar like he was nothing more than a pest, an insect who could barely even tickle it.

"… You're kidding, right?"

No, they weren't. The head of the Death element, emitting deadly black gas, swiveled down and attempted to knock Ragnar away. If it wasn't for him blocking it with the flat of his sword, he probably would've taken a great deal of damage right there.

"Don't attack relentlessly," Cyanide said, sliding across to the side of the massive beast. "Aim for the heads—but it's got to be the right one."

"Yeah, yeah, if you get the wrong one two more will spawn in its place—I know the myth," Ragnar grunted, glaring at the massive beast. "But the problem is, which one is the right one?!"

"…" Cyanide didn't have an answer to that either, so he fell silent as he analyzed the beast. Naturally, however, the hydra wasn't going to just sit there and let itself be observed. Collectively, the nine heads attacked—breathing fire and generating geysers, shooting freeze rays and creating a lightning storm. A cyclone of rocks surrounded the arena, and just like that, their escape route was cut off.

To make matters worse, vines shot out of the ground and attempted to grab Cyanide and Ragnar. Naturally, the two weren't going to just sit there and let themselves get hit. Ragnar used [Searing Edge] to charge his blade up with flames, then swiped at the vines to burn them away. Cyanide, however, wasn't as lucky. He didn't have fire, so he needed to run to the trees surrounding the area to escape the vines.

But just as he thought he'd gotten away-

"…!"

He felt a wooden tentacle coil around his ankle, and pull him back.

"Ngh…" He grunted as his back was slammed into the tree, and four more arms grew out of the tree before binding him in place like cuffs.

"Dammit, assassin, I don't have time to worry about you!" Ragnar roared, cutting down vine after vine and tanking damage after damage. One slip-up, and it was over. He couldn't afford to help Cyanide right now—the assassin pinned to the tree was on his own.

"Tch…" Cyanide pulled on the vines as hard as he could, but it wasn't budging. Without a weapon to cut through the wood, there was nothing to be done.

… Or was there?

The lightning head stared at Cyanide, bolts zapping around it. Then, opening its mouth, it prepared a massive purple beam of electricity. If that thing hit, Cyanide's HP would be goner—the hydra was about 15 levels higher than him.

"Do something, you fuckhead!" Ragnar yelled, still busy fighting his own troubles. "You can't fuckin' die, you hear me?! We haven't had our damn rematch yet! HEY! YOU ASSHAT!"

But alas, Ragnar's roars of rage were drowned out by the sound of a destructive laser beam shooting out of the electro-head's gaping mouth, and striking directly where Cyanide was pinned against the tree.

BOOM!

The calm after the storm settled in, and silence filled the arena. Both the beast and Ragnar were quiet as smoke rose from where the tree once stood, but that wouldn't last long.

A dark look on Ragnar's face, he gripped his greatsword tightly as he slowly turned to face the nine-headed basilisk. He spoke no words. The anger he felt in his heart right now was far too great to be put into words. He didn't need to speak, either. The deadly gaze in his brown eyes said it all.

Even the creature was slightly stunned by the immense change in aura from Ragnar as the man walked towards the massive beast that towered over him. He knew not what fear was. In that moment, he only had one thought in his mind:

This creature killed his companion—but more than that, his nemesis. The same person who wasn't supposed to lose to anyone except himself. And because of that, in order to prove he was better than Cyanide, he would need to take this beast down.

He wasn't angry because Cyanide died. His nemesis was finally gone—that should be a good thing. No—Ragnar was angry because it wasn't him who dealt the killing blow. And that… was unforgivable, for a fighter.

Unable to contain his rage any longer, Ragnar unleashed a horrible bellow.

"I'LL… FUCKING… KILL YOU!"

With this bloodthirsty war cry, he leaped into the air, greatsword flaming, and turned into a being of raw fire. This was his Pyromaniac form—and no amount of damage was going to stop him from going berserk.

But just as he was about to land on top of the hydra, Fury's Edge burning with flames…

… From the smoke, came two single words.

"… So noisy."

Immediately, both Ragnar and the beast turned in the direction of where a tree once stood, and saw none other than Cyanide, emerging hurt but alive. From his back, two electric-charged purple wings sprouted, filled with energy. This was the [Thunderflight] Soul Art—and it shone even brighter than usual.

Why?

Because it had absorbed the lightning hydra head's attack, of course. Cyanide used the electric properties of his lightning wings to absorb the Hydra's laser beam, then used that power to break free from the bindings of the vines.

And now that he was free… it was time for some payback.