Page 74 of Between Soul and Vessel
“Von!” Ryker exclaimed, relief spreading over his face.
“Keep moving,” I growled as I passed him.
I’d never faced a hydra before, but I knew enough about them to know there weren’t many ways to kill them. The best way to do it was to cut off each head. The problem with that? The heads were immortal and able to replicate, so if I sliced one off, two more would grow.
Luckily, I had an idea. Not a fucking clue if it would work, but it was worth a shot.
My quadriceps fired up as I leapt from the ground, wings bursting from my back, snapping outward in one swift movement. With a mighty flap, I shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Two dozen monstrous eyes turned on me, tracking my movement as I flew straight for them.
“That’s right, beasty, I’m what you want!” I shouted as the heads reared back, readying to strike.
The first one released, launching at me, its snapping teeth stretched wide. Twisting to my left, I dodged it with ease. I darted this way and that, moving through the heads, looking for an opportune moment to test my theory.
Finding it, I tucked my wings in as I launched toward two entangled necks, which resembled the number eight. Passing through the top hole, fire engulfed my blade. In a blur of onyx steel and flame, I swung it, slicing through scales, tissue, and bones. The scent of cooked meat, like a pig roasting over a spit, permeated the damp, briny air. Thehead fell onto the ground in one, loudthunk.
A cacophony of bloodcurdling roars erupted from the beast, their heads swiveling back toward me.
Wings flaring out, I flew higher, out of its reach.
Turning around, breath locked in my chest, I watched to see if another head grew from the swaying stub or if my flame had cauterized it fast enough.
When none did, I grinned. My idea had worked.
One down. Eleven to go.
Shooting back toward the hydra, I focused on my next target.
Death Weaver found purchase, and another head fell to the ground below.
And then another.
And another.
I chopped and hacked and cut, every chance I got, until I was bathed in the ichor of the hydra.
My powerful wings cut the air, blasting me forward as I flew toward a recoiled head, readying to strike. It shot toward me, but before my blade could find its mark, pain lacerated my outstretched left arm. A mouth full of razor-sharp teeth clamped down on it, piercing through muscle and sinew and—
Snap.
My humerus broke under the beast’s mighty bite. It jerked its head to the side and tore my arm off. I roared in agony.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Chewing, the beast’s mouth opened and closed,revealing my arm—or rather, the mushed-up version of it. On the hydra’s forked tongue, I spotted a bit of silver. My black phantom heart dropped instantly.
Damn it!Ireallyliked that ring.
The other heads noticed and began to fight with the one that had taken my arm, completely forgetting about me in the process.
I landed on the ground, my lungs heaving as I looked at what was left of my shredded arm. Scraggly bits of flesh, cloth, and jagged bone were all that remained.
“Fuck,” I groaned painfully.
“Need a hand?” Folkoln taunted as he walked up beside me, the flat of his blade resting against his shoulder.
My eyes sharpened on the jackass. “You’re a prick.”
He chuckled, lowering his sword to his side. Tendrils of smoke curled around it, and within seconds, it lit with a black flame. His wings flared out, and he surged from the rocky ground. Wind blasted against me.
