NOVEL NEXT Chapter 123: EIGHT-HEADED HYDRA
Raito smiled. Quick warm-up.
But then
A violent surge tore across the river. Something enormous moved beneath the surface, pushing the entire current aside as it advanced with incredible speed.
[Notification]: Massive entity approaching
[Notification]: Threat detected — EIGHT-HEADED HYDRA — Level 28 (Elite)
[System Warning]: High-risk opponent
Raito tapped the air lightly.
[Notification]: Weapon equipped — Inferno Demon Claw
A dark-red blade materialized in his grip, glowing faintly like heated steel.
Perfect, Raito thought. Time to hunt.
He sprinted forward. The baby Hydras raised their heads but were too slow.
One slash, two heads dropped.
Another slash, another Hydra fell.
The water stained red as Raito carved through them effortlessly.
[Notification]: Baby Hydra defeated
[Notification]: +5,000 XP gained
[Notification]: Loot acquired — 12 Monster Cores
Then the river exploded upward.
Eight massive heads rose from the depths, each one snarling as water cascaded down its scaled body. Its size dwarfed every Hydra Raito had ever faced.
[Notification]: Dungeon Boss Engaged — Eight-Headed Hydra
[Notification]: HP: 100%. Armor: High. Elemental resistance: Moderate
[System Hint]: Exploit openings when heads attack. Avoid frontal constriction attempts
Raito tightened his grip on the Inferno Demon Claw as heat surged up his arm.
[Notification]: Combat Mode Activated
Raito grinned.
"This is going to be fun."
Raito didn't run.
The moment his foot was about to touch the water
"System, activate Flight."
[Notification]: Flight Activated. User can now fly.
Raito rose smoothly off the ground and shot forward, dagger in hand. The Eight-Headed Hydra was massive, but Raito didn't hesitate. He slashed downward
but the Hydra dodged.
It moved so fast that even Raito's eyes widened.
What the hell? A Hydra dodging my strike?
It sensed danger. It sensed him.
Raito's smile sharpened.
I could use Blood Manipulation and kill all of them in an instant, they all have blood. But I won't. I'll take this one head-on.
The Hydra dove into the water, fleeing with monstrous speed.
SPLASH
"No you don't," Raito said as he shot downward.
He dove into the toxic river without hesitation.
The water burned with poison, but Raito didn't even flinch.
Poison, toxic water
Good thing I'm immune to poison.
He swam through the darkness, senses sharp. The Hydra surged deeper, faster, its enormous body slicing through the current like a serpent.
Raito caught up easily.
He grabbed a single thick scale, gripping the Hydra's body with raw strength.
The Hydra tried to tear away
but Raito held it in place.
Then
BOOOOOM
He wrenched the entire monster upward, tossing the 400,000-kilogram Hydra out of the water as if it weighed nothing.
The Hydra launched into the air, its eight heads flailing as its body flew high above the river.
Before it even began to fall
Raito vanished.
And then
SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK
In an instant, he sliced through every single head, carving the monster apart mid-air. Blood burst like a red storm, falling across the dungeon sky.
Raito stretched his hand out.
[Notification]: Telekinesis Activated
Every severed head, each bigger than his entire body, froze in place mid-air.
"Damn, this thing is huge," Raito muttered.
"Just one head is bigger than me."
He clenched his fist slightly.
The Hydra's massive core floated out of the body, along with all eight of the lesser cores.
[Notification]: Hydra Core × 8 obtained
[Notification]: Hydra Main Core obtained
[Notification]: Items stored in Inventory
Raito exhaled and released Telekinesis.
Now came the annoying part.
"Where is the door to the next floor?"
He looked around, but the chamber was silent.
[Notification]: User has reached Average Level 27
Another notification popped up.
[Notification]: Greed has consumed a portion of Hydra Scale. Greed is ready to forge a craft of User's choosing
Another one
[Notification]: Poison Resistance increased by 100%. User is now fully immune to all known toxins
Raito dismissed the system window.
"Fine, but where's the damn door? I already cleared this floor."
Then
Something at the bottom of the river began to glow.
"What the hell?"
Raito dove back into the water, swimming downward.
A shimmering light illuminated a hidden stone archway beneath the riverbed.
"That must be it."
He grabbed the handle and pulled it open.
A bright tunnel of light appeared behind it.
Raito swam through and emerged into the next floor of the dungeon.
Raito swam upward, breaking through the surface of the glowing water.
The next chamber lit up with soft golden light.
Dozens of golden slimes hovered on the walls and ceiling, each one glowing like a small sun. They didn't move. They didn't attack. They simply existed to illuminate the floor.
Raito tilted his head.
"Golden slimes, huh? Do I need to kill these?"
He raised his dagger
but before the blade even came close
[Notification]: Warning. User cannot attack Golden Slimes. Dungeon Guardian is watching. If User attempts to kill them, User will be forcibly teleported to the next floor
Raito froze.
"Tch. That damn bastard is watching me."
The Guardian of this dungeon, the one controlling the SSS-rank vessel
Raito clicked his tongue.
"I swear, when I finish clearing this place, I hope the dungeon doesn't vanish. I want to fight that thing properly. That would actually be fun."
He lowered his dagger and walked forward, looking at the endless stretches of glowing golden slimes.
"Well, let's see what's next. I need a monster with a little more spice. Something fun."
He smirked as he stepped deeper into the illuminated cavern.
"The Hydra was way too easy. I didn't even struggle. I didn't use any skill, just pure brute strength to slice it apart."
His smile widened.
"I've really gotten strong."
Raito continued walking, the golden light reflecting
The felt hunger unlike any he had felt before clawed at him. It wasn't a physical hunger, it was an oppressive, palpable force that pressed down on his chest, bending him to his knees. His vision tunneled as he struggled to breathe.
"What the hell?" Raito muttered. "Something this powerful? It's here, and I'm sure there's no S-rank monster stronger than me. This has to be beyond S-rank. This must be the final boss of the dungeon."