Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

Chapter 1197: Just don't die on me

--Valley of Broken Mountains---

Hellion had hoped to break off its head, with strikes to the base of the skull, but he quickly realized that the only thing about to break was his fist. Meanwhile, he was flung around wildly, being slammed against a mountain cliff, by the dragon who tried to get him off.

Finally, he lost his hold when the skeleton hit him against the cliff at a weird angle. His leg slipped and the maw of the dragon opened wild, releasing the breath on the field of crippled mountains. Rocks turned to liquid in the blink of an eye and Hellion instinctively did the only move that got him away from the growing bog of liquid rock.

The colossus of Rhodes grabbed the other horn of the dragon, changed his posture, and mounted the beast's neck., right behind the head. His knees clamping onto the the spin, barely evaded the breath of fire, flowing along a non-exiting throat.

If they weren't fighting a life-or-death battle, they would have looked like a small dragon and its rider. As he was clamping onto the dragon for dear life, the dragon suddenly jumped up in the air. The skeleton wings burning with purple fire spread out, covering the sky, as the beast took to the air, the colossus still on its back.

High up in the air, Hellion was able to see the dome of sparks and the city under it like a snow globe What was the dragon trying to do now? He was stumped for a moment before he realized that he was probably supposed to stop it... but if he started acting now, he would fall...

---Outside Delta---

The 30-meter-long body of a snake crashed against the mountain slope, almost crushing some of the Faer. Heads had lost a head! Despite the shocking turn, Rayki didn't stop his play just like the black bat didn't stop swinging.

As if the hydra giant was in a bad spot before, things had become completely one-sided since the Legendary Hydra gained the purple aura. if it wasn't for the group of Faer that joined their fight, the golem may have lost more than just one head at this point.

Suddenly, the hydra halted for a moment. From beyond the mountain, they all could hear the flapping of massive wings. he couldn't help his jaw dropping, when he saw the massive skeleton dragon rising to the sky, with the colossus helplessly clinging to the beast's neck.

The hydra had stopped moving because its original goal of coming here had changed. Rayki, Heads, and the others did their best to stop it from interfering with Hellion, but now the dragon simply ignored the supermassive golem and flew back to the city, on wings made of purple fire.

Rayki heard a loud crash and the sound of metal ripping apart, as the legend ripped off another of the giant's heads. The fight quickly resumed, just that the Hydra's destination had changed to Delta at the top of the slope.

The ease it took off another head with, made it clear, that this fight had completely changed. At this rate, there was no way to stop it from entering the district. Just what would happen then?

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As the bard was about to lose hope, the severed head suddenly started moving again. Like individual snakes, they began acting detached from the main body and attacked the Hydra. As if to say, that this was not over yet, these severed pythons began winding around and constricting the Hydra's heads and body.

There was no telling whether that strategy had a chance to work but heads showed that it was far from losing the will to fight. Who was Rayki, to lose hope then? he quickly started changing gears, supporting Heads and the Faer in stopping the Hydra from reaching the city.

...

Various curses were rampaging in its body, hindering its natural regeneration to fix the damage. The green oaf had gotten it good. For the second time in its short time of existence, it was seriously close to death uncertain whether it could make it.

Its first time was the encounter with Ceres. The lightning elemental had really brought it close to death back then, but the situations were fundamentally different. Ceres had thoroughly destroyed blotches over and over, deliberately allowing it to heal. Right now it couldn't even use its magic or skills to heal itself.

Blotches could only lie there and try to endure the curses. The chance of survival was slim. At least the dumb oaf had gotten what it deserved. Ceres had returned and completely destroyed the shaman. Blotches had at least noticed that much.

Suddenly, a shadow fell on its face. It could not really open its eyes to see, but it could feel the hot sting of the sun being blocked. The next thing it felt was a cool, refreshing liquid splashing on its body. The terrible pain and rampage of the curses slightly calmed.

Was it a potion? Was someone trying to help the questing beast?

~ It's all I could find blotches. Hold on, I will get more. Just don't die on me while I'm getting help.~ the storm elemental spoke to it telepathically.

The questing beast's heart jumped in shock and surprise. Who was that? That wasn't the parrot of doom it knew! The voice sounded almost warm, caring even! Ceres was going to get help? It was hard to believe, but even if it didn't, it didn't intend to just die here. The intent was clearly submitted through the telepathic connection.

“Good, keep that fire burning. I will send help.”

With that, Blotches felt the shadow move away. At the edge of its consciousness, it could hear the metallic wing flap, as the storm elemental left.

...

Ceres wasn't choosy when it came to the people he could get to help blotches. The closest group were Heads and the Faer. The lightning eagle had already seen them from the skies earlier. The golem had just risen to the sky, to see that the situation had considerably worsened.

The dragon skeleton was back in the sky. Heads had lost several heads, that were desperately clinking to the hydra in an attempt to stop its advance. The only ones still managing their situation were Puffles and Tatzel.

One was proficient in holy power, the other a magic genius. They were able to compete with the legendary lich, despite the buffs he received from the purple power. For a moment, Ceres thought of attacking the skeleton dragon.

Kalzemir was definitely the greatest danger right now. The beast ignored the weight of the golden colossus and aimed for the dome made up of Iego and the shield that protected Delta. However, the eagle judged Blotches' situation as more urgent. Heads and the riffraff beside him weren't able to stand up to the hydra anyway.

Ceres decided to steal their mob and waited for his chance. When the Hydra somewhat got out of the entanglement with the serpent-headed giant, it was instantly struck by a lightning bolt, which catapulted it off the giant golem.

“Ceres?!” Rayki exclaimed at the sudden intervention, spotting the eagle in the air above them. Heads also quickly scrambled to its feet. The hydra giant was missing two of its heads, which were still clinging to the hydra's body.

“Pull them back, Heads. I will take the hydra, I need you guys to go and help Blotches,” Ceres commanded the junior to retrieve its autonomous heads and leave the situation to the parrot of doom. The remaining head nodded in unison, as the two severed ones detached from the hydra, who was already standing back up.

“Ceres, you have to be careful. A hydra is already a tricky opponent, but this one is undead on top of that. We have not found a way to permanently harm or even kill it. We should work together and -” Rayki warned the elemental and tried to suggest something, but Ceres interrupted him.

“All I need from you is to go down the mountains and save blotches. Whether I can kill this thing or not, is not important.” Even if the hydra was immortal, Ceres would soon make it wish that it wasn't. He had some pent-up emotions to work out.

“Alright, then will will hurry and help the questing beast,” Rayki quickly gave in. There was no use arguing with Ceres. Heads had also retrieved its missing parts and followed the Faer down the mountain. It was best to get away when the storm elemental was this serious.

Immortality was a curse, and Ceres would help the Hydra to realize this.