The Hydra (2)
Heracles had come to reign as a king in Marathon. "Hero, we have prepared the finest wine and the most exquisite courtesans for you." It wasn't that he had truly become a king, but he was certainly playing the part.
"Hmm, are you sure these are the best? I don't like their faces."
"I-I apologize. These are the best courtesans we could possibly find..."
"The blonde woman in the white dress from last time was decent. Where is she?"
"E-excuse me? That woman is a princess."
"Bring her. Tell her to come and pour me a drink."
"B-but..."
"Damn it, you're ruining my drink. If I'm in a bad mood, I don't have the strength to fight."
"......I shall bring her to you."
The chamberlain retreated. Before long, the princess, dressed in the attire of a courtesan, entered with hesitant steps. Heracles laughed boisterously as he drank the wine she poured. When he snatched her by the waist, her face was filled with clear distress. Wasn't this the very reason one became a great hero? His party members were also enjoying themselves, each with a courtesan by their side. Heracles' party had arrived in Marathon in just two days.
"If you want to live, abandon all the ships!"
"Send the carrier pigeons! Tell the merchant ships not to dock!"
"Evacuate! It's only a matter of time before that thing lands!"
"Oh, help me, someone!"
The coastline of Marathon had become a complete mess.
"A familiar sight, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Bizarre creatures, destroyed cities, fleeing citizens. I'm sick of it."
Meleager and Iolaus offered their observations. Meleager, the Prince of Calydon and son of Ares, was an Alpha-rank warrior. His strength was such that he was more than a match for Heracles. Iolaus possessed the skill and traits to drive a chariot that were among the best on the continent. He was responsible for the party's mobility, which was why this journey hadn't taken long.
"Is that the Hydra? This should be fun."
Nine long necks. A jet-black body as large as several buildings. It was a figure befitting a disaster-class monster. Heracles lunged forward in a single breath and swung his greatsword, which was as tall as he was.
Slash!
He severed one head in an instant.
"As expected of Heracles."
"He makes a disaster-class monster look like a newborn baby."
Heracles' morale soared instantly.
"Oh, the hero has arrived!"
"They've sent reinforcements from Athens!"
"We're saved!"
However, his confidence did not last long.
Whoosh!
A fountain of green blood erupted from the Hydra's severed neck, and a new neck and head sprouted out. In fact, two of them. Now, there were ten heads.
"It possesses the trait of regeneration."
"A tricky one, Heracles."
"It doesn't matter how many times a wretch like that revives."
Heracles mindlessly continued to swing his greatsword. But every time he did, the heads only continued to multiply.
"This won't do. Hylas, how can we stop the regeneration?"
"Hmm, let's see. Let's consider the compatibility of mana. Since the regeneration and healing traits belong to Aphrodite's mana, wouldn't we be able to win if we used Apollo's mana trait?"
"Heat, then. Iolaus, bring a torch."
"Yes."
Whoosh!
Heracles cut the neck, and the chariot driver seared the stump with a torch. The regeneration speed slowed down.
"Good, I can subdue it with this method."
"As expected of Heracles."
Just then—hiss! The blood sprayed like a fountain, grazing the back of Heracles' hand. A sharp, stinging pain washed over him.
"Damn it!"
Heracles, overcome with irritation, kicked the Hydra away. Taking advantage of the opening, the Hydra retreated into the sea. The monster, having been attacked, chose a standoff rather than a direct confrontation.
"It has become a stalemate."
"Heracles, I was bitten during the battle and sustained an injury."
"Annoying snake bastard. To think it had poison. Well, we know how to beat it now, so let's get treated."
He was a man who moved entirely according to his mood.
"Look, we were injured during the battle. These are honorable wounds sustained while fighting for this city. You'll take responsibility and treat us, right?"
And so, Heracles' party settled into Marathon. From Marathon's perspective, they had to cater to Heracles' every whim. If they offended him and he quit the subjugation, the city would be wiped out by the returning Hydra.
"Ah, this is the life!"
Heracles, pleasantly intoxicated, had been playing and drinking for two days already. He spent his time happily with his party members, throwing the king's statues to hit pigeons. This wasn't the first time he had behaved this way. Cities facing disaster-class crises had to rely on heroes, so they would give up their very livers and gallbladders to please them. Since the divine bloodlines inherited by each city were slightly different, the taste of the beauties they took was also different, which was the fun of adventuring. Indeed, the women of Aphrodite's bloodline were the best. If he ever got an invitation to Olympus, he would definitely have a round with the goddess Aphrodite.
It was while Heracles was nodding off in a drunken stupor, lost in such thoughts, that it happened.
"Hero, the Hydra has appeared again!"
"Tsk, how annoying."
A pathetic creature was interrupting his good time. Was this goodbye to the beauties of Marathon, too? Heracles stood up, greatsword in hand, and headed outside.
Whoosh!
However, the weather had changed drastically from a few days ago. A storm raged from the pitch-black sky. He could see the Hydra landing amidst the rain and wind, devouring ships and buildings. It was like a nightmare.
"Iolaus, prepare the torches."
"T-that is..."
The chariot driver was flustered.
"What is it?"
"The wind and rain are too strong; the fire won't catch!"
It was a disaster. Fighting the Hydra without fire would only result in more heads. They would be consuming themselves. "Damn it!" But they couldn't run away in such a disgraceful manner, so Heracles' party resumed the battle against the Hydra. This time, they decided to forgo cutting the necks and instead go for a slugfest to drain its stamina.
Whoosh!
However, the monster's superior regeneration wasn't limited to its heads. No matter how much they hit and beat it, it didn't tire. Conversely, their own stamina was dropping due to the storm. Their body heat was being stolen.
"Huff, huff."
The party members were growing exhausted, and their injuries were mounting.
"Damn it all!"
Heracles, unable to contain his anger, severed the Hydra's neck.
Kreeee!
More heads sprouted. Should he have finished it when the weather was good? It was too late for regrets.
"There's no end to it. Let's head back for now."
Heracles ultimately chose to retreat. Seeing him turn back, the people of Marathon murmured.
"Hero, where are you going now?!"
"The monster is still there! Please, subdue it!"
"We treated you so well for the sake of the monster's subjugation!"
"Shut up, you wretches! This is the hero of Sigma. Can you not show some respect!"
Hylas scolded the citizens, but the backlash only grew fiercer. Amidst the pouring storm, the Hydra finally dragged its massive bulk onto land.
"My god. It's heading for the marketplace."
"If that collapses, our city is finished!"
Just as the citizens were in a panic—
Whoosh.
Crack!
Something black pierced through the storm and tore off the Hydra's neck.
"W-what was that?!"
"Did an arrow fly from somewhere?"
The citizens stared at the Hydra with wide eyes. Heracles also watched the scene.
"A person, it's a person!"
"A hero has appeared!"
Golden sparks raced across the ground. At the same time, the Hydra's advancing body stiffened.
"Sisyphus, I've pinned it!"
The massive body was suddenly wrapped in ropes and bound tight.
"Good."
A man leaped into the air. The black-haired Spartan put strength into his folded legs.
Creak...
Half-Moon Kick
He kicked out with gusto.
Boom!
The trajectory of the arc was sharper than any sword. Well, it wasn't exactly clean, but—
KABOOM!!
He blew the Hydra's neck off its main body.
"Ohhh!"
"What immense power!"
"But the Hydra's neck regenerates. Just attacking it like that is meaningless."
"I wonder how that hero will handle it?"
The citizens' eyes were fixed on the scene.
Sizzle!
"Hmm."
Kreeee!
The black-haired warrior who had leaped into the air. Sisyphus also confirmed the regeneration with his own eyes.
"Brother, it regenerates its head. We could stop the regeneration by searing it with fire, but it's impossible in this weather. What should we do?"
Sisyphus replied to Perseus.
"Look closely. The regenerated head isn't as big as the previous one."
"Indeed, you're right."
"It's a natural principle. Without nutrients, no matter how much you heal a wound, you'll suffer muscle loss."
Kaboom!
Sisyphus blew off another of the Hydra's necks and said,
"In other words, it means we just have to keep blowing them off until it can't regenerate anymore."
"Aha, I see."
"Hup."
Green foam bubbled up from the severed stump. Sisyphus didn't miss that moment and stretched both elbows straight back. It was a posture like a Seated Row. He retracted his shoulder blades as much as possible.
"Let's see how far you can regenerate."
Bang-Bang-Bang
In an instant, Sisyphus's fists multiplied into hundreds.
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!!
The citizens who saw the scene dropped their jaws.
"T-the fists are in the hundreds...!"
"No, thousands!"
"Is he a god with a thousand hands?!"
"Look closely, it's punching, just punching!"
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!
Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!!
"He's punching faster than the Hydra can regenerate!"
"Was that even possible?!"
"Who on earth is that hero?!"
Whether they chattered or not, Sisyphus continued to unleash his consecutive punches.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo."
Kreeee!
Kree!
Kree...
Every time it regenerated, the Hydra's head grew smaller and smaller. About five seconds had passed. The number of punches Sisyphus had thrown was approximately 10,000. As a result, the Hydra's head...
Kree...
...had split into thousands of bean sprouts. It was at a level that posed no threat whatsoever.
"This should be enough."
"It seems its regenerative power has run out. We can subdue it now!"
Whoosh!
Perseus also threw a spear of light, cleanly severing the remaining necks. From eight to seven, from seven to six.
"Ohhh! The monster is falling!"
"A true hero has arrived!"
"Our city is saved!"
The cheers of the citizens grew louder and louder. And conversely—
"...Damn it."
Heracles' brow furrowed.