Chapter 5

### Chapter 5: Hydra

*Pfft!*

“Sssss!”

“Caaak!”

A pit of snakes.

It appeared with the emergence of the Green Snakes.

A kind of structure that formed around a central 'egg.'

It was a structure that resembled both a maze and an ant nest.

It was easy to get lost here if one wasn't careful.

‘But there's no need to worry.’

Shihyeon's lips curled into a smile.

‘The best way to find the egg in the snake pit.’

It was to head straight to where the strongest Green Snakes were.

Astrape transformed into a whip this time.

A whip, when swung, had the widest range of any weapon.

Considering the destructive power Astrape possessed, it was the best tool for digging through the tunnels.

*Flash!*

Shihyeon didn't just capture the Green Snakes.

While capturing them, he used the whip to strike various parts of the tunnels.

As a result, the snake pit was inadvertently expanded.

*Whoosh.*

Behind him, Kibisis was absorbing the corpses and items of the Green Snakes.

Occasionally, the Green Snakes would try to bite Kibisis when they saw this.

But the little guy cleverly floated in the air, dodging them left and right.

*Zzzt.*

After a few hours of this, good news arrived.

Perhaps because he had used it so much and killed so many enemies, Astrape's proficiency skyrocketed, already reaching the D-rank.

……

▶ Equip Effect

▶ D-rank Special Effect

The electric shock effect of Astrape doubles.

Astrape can split.

Astrape's D-rank special effect was formidable.

‘No wonder it's one of Zeus's three great lightning bolts.’

Of course, the item grade for ordinary players is E.

Once it reaches D-rank, the price skyrockets, and the effects are on a different level.

Astrape was no exception.

The mana it boosted from 100,000 to 200,000.

It also increased physical and magical resistance by 10 each.

‘Now, I won't be hurt by most attacks.’

With a 100% increase in movement speed, Shihyeon's agility was much faster than before.

The electric shock effect was also doubled!

But the most important thing was that Astrape could now 'split.'

*Zzzt!*

When an item received a new effect, it was natural to use it immediately.

As Shihyeon infused mana, Astrape split into two.

A sword in his right hand, a spear in his left.

These were the two weapons Shihyeon used the most.

*Flash!*

Shihyeon threw the spear-shaped Astrape at the Green Snakes.

Then he swung the sword-shaped Astrape wildly.

‘Good.’

*Clack!*

“Let's go.”

Shihyeon eventually arrived at a cavern filled with far more Green Snakes than before.

In the middle of the collapsed Olympic Park.

Deep below the collapsed area, the 'egg' mentioned in the main quest was there.

“Sssss! Human!”

“Saaaak! Back off! This is a sacred place!”

The ones guarding it weren't just small Green Snakes.

There were dozens of snakes, each larger than anacondas.

And even those snakes were dwarfed by nine enormous snakes cradling the egg.

‘Not nine snakes.’

Upon closer inspection,

They had one body and nine heads.

“Hydra.”

Hydra.

A giant snake with nine heads.

It was the apex among snake-like monsters.

Especially, those heads would split into two when cut.

The golden head in the center couldn't be cut at all.

“Sacred place?”

*Zzzt...*

“Do you have anything to say after destroying the stadium?”

“Sssss! Arrogant human!”

“Saaaak! You will be punished.”

At Hydra's signal, the Green Snakes swarmed toward Shihyeon.

*Flash!*

Sword and shield.

Shihyeon, equipped with the most balanced combination, advanced forward.

*Whoosh!*

A green wave of Green Snakes surged at Shihyeon.

Amidst the wave, giant creatures opened their mouths and lunged.

“Now.”

Kibisis.

This bag, which contained all the magic of Hera, the most powerful magician in Olympus, wasn't just for storing items.

It also had the ability to 'withdraw' infinite materials from an infinite space.

And what Shihyeon withdrew here was 'water.'

*Whoosh!*

He had frequently submerged Kibisis in Lake Seokchon or the Han River and opened the entrance.

So, the amount inside was more than expected.

*Pfft!*

Shihyeon, leaping from the ground, swung the sword-shaped Astrape.

*Flash!*

Astrape left a golden trail as it sliced through the middle of the Green Snake wave.

“Saaaak!”

“Sssss!”

A gap appeared in the wave of snakes.

Shihyeon didn't miss it.

*Pfft!*

He dropped his sword to create a foothold, stepped on it, and leaped up.

Then he stepped on the heads of the giant Green Snakes.

Raising his shield to protect himself, Shihyeon charged at Hydra.

“Saaaak! Stop him!”

Hydra panicked and gave the order, but it was too late.

The dropped Astrape returned to his hand.

In Shihyeon's hand, a giant golden greatsword formed.

“The egg.”

*Snicker.*

“Let's see how long you can protect it.”

*Flash!*

*Zzzt!*

All the Green Snakes that the sword touched were sliced and burned.

Among them were two of Hydra's heads.

“Saaaaaaaak!”

Hydra's seven heads roared in unison.

Shihyeon had experienced countless debuffs.

A 1-point reduction in all stats had no impact on the battle.

*Crack.*

Just as two new heads were about to form from the severed heads of Hydra,

Astrape split into three.

*Crack!*

Two of them hit the severed heads of Hydra directly.

*Zzzt... Hiss!*

Due to the heat Astrape carried, Hydra's heads were completely charred.

As a result, Hydra couldn't regenerate its heads.

“Ingaan!”

“Yes, I'm human.”

*Crack.*

Shihyeon's Astrape sliced Hydra's head again, and another Astrape burned the spot.

The water pouring out of Kibisis occasionally made the current stronger and more powerful.

“Saaaak! What are you doing! Help me!”

“I'll come now.”

A golden light flickered in Shihyeon's eyes.

“The egg will break.”

The Green Snakes froze upon understanding Shihyeon's words.

Of course, Hydra's commands were important.

But more important was the 'egg' they were protecting.

Protecting the egg.

It was something beyond instinct.

“Sssss!”

“Saaaak!”

Shihyeon's threat worked.

The intelligent Green Snakes knew that Hydra was losing to Shihyeon.

They also knew that this human could destroy the egg if he wanted to.

So, they couldn't approach recklessly.

“Saaaak! Stupid ones!”

“Why can't you come!”

Hydra, being beaten by Shihyeon, was in a dire state.

Already, three of its heads were entangled due to its movements.

Four heads had been cut and charred.

Now, only two heads were free.

*Flash!*

“Saaaak!”

One of those heads was also cut and charred by Astrape.

‘I, I can't believe it.’

The head of immortality, which oversaw the remaining eight heads.

The golden head, which could be considered Hydra's main body, couldn't regain its composure.

This human was strong.

Strong enough to break through countless Green Snakes and reach the center of the snake pit.

Moreover, he was cunning.

He knew that the Green Snakes prioritized protecting the egg and used this to create a one-on-one situation with him.

There was one question, though.

‘Why doesn't he break the egg immediately? Could it be... he wants to kill me first?’

By the time this thought crossed his mind,

*Flash!*

A giant scythe-shaped Astrape cut through the three entangled heads simultaneously.

It split into three and completely charred the heads.

All eight heads were now dead.

‘I, I can't die like this.’

The golden head opened its mouth.

Its scales were an impenetrable material.

Even if other Green Snakes couldn't attack, there was still a chance.

“You.”

Thinking this, as the golden head charged at Shihyeon,

Shihyeon smirked.

“You know, right?”

“Saaaak! Die, arrogant human!”

“The weakness of your 'snake' monsters is the scales under their chins.”

Shihyeon's words were true.

The scales under the chins of snake monsters.

They were softer than the other scales.

“Saaaak!”

“I know it as an honor. I didn't specifically target it until now.”

“I'm doing it just for you.”

A giant golden hammer formed in Shihyeon's hand.

*Flash!*

He used the hammer to strike Hydra's golden head.

“Saaaaaaak!”

Hydra's golden head, unable to react, exposed its weakness.

*Slice.*

In an instant, Shihyeon's sword-shaped Astrape sliced through Hydra's chin.

With one strike.

The golden head, boasting immortality, was cut by Shihyeon's single attack and trembled.

*Thud.*

It then fell to the ground with a loud thud, powerless.

“Phew...”

Defeating countless Green Snakes and their leader, Hydra, was no small feat.

‘But thanks to this, I've gained a lot of experience.’

Despite feeling like he was about to suffocate, Shihyeon's lips curled into a smile.

The satisfaction of achieving his goal.

And the thought of the rewards that would pour in made him smile.

……

After defeating Hydra, the reward message echoed.

“Sssss!”

“Saaaak!”

The Green Snakes, seeing this, were at a loss.

They didn't attack Shihyeon because he could threaten the egg.

But they also believed Hydra wouldn't lose.

The infinitely regenerating heads and the indestructible golden head.

With those, they thought Hydra could defeat any enemy.

But a single human had killed Hydra.

Of course, the human was exhausted and had minor injuries, but that was all.

The real problem was that there were no Green Snakes left to protect the egg.

“Snake heads.”

Shihyeon's lips curled into a smile.

He then reached out to the purple egg Hydra had been cradling.

“Move. Before I destroy it all.”