CHAPTER 81: PEAK OF RANK 1

Water pressure, radiant bursts, and coiling shadows hammered into the Hydra at once, ripping open its burning hide and dragging its body low.

Rhys struck immediately—

Hybrid Technique – Steamburst Edge!

Fire and water surged together in his slash, erupting into a scalding vapor blade that cut across the Hydra’s throat, searing flesh as it burned.

The monster reeled, its lone head thrashing wildly, crimson fire sputtering under the relentless barrage.

Bounce’s deep cry rang out, shaking the swamp. "Pyuuuuu!"

Divine Skill – Moonlit Sanctuary!

A vast dome of pale lunar radiance spread outward, wrapping the battlefield. Rhys and Puddle’s strength surged while the Hydra’s corruption faltered under the sanctified light.

The Scholar Sword glowed even brighter, resonating with the moon’s blessing. Rhys darted forward, his silver arcs carving deeper, sparks and ichor bursting with every strike.

"Together!" he shouted.

Puddle’s halos shone brilliantly—

Light Shield + Gleaming Halo! Waves of healing and defense pulsed outward, mending wounds and bathing them in resilience.

Bounce thundered into the Hydra’s flank, his unstoppable charge cracking bone and sending the beast staggering.

Rhys seized the moment—

Swift Cut → Arc Surge Slash!

A lightning-fast strike of condensed mana cleaved clean through the Hydra’s final neck.

The creature shrieked, its last roar bursting in a fountain of crimson fire before collapsing into the swamp with a shuddering crash.

The swamp went eerily quiet, the ripples of the Hydra’s collapse fading into still water. Steam hissed from its carcass, the crimson fire within finally guttering out.

System windows flared before Rhys’s eyes.

[ Boss Defeated – Crimson Abyss Hydra ]

[ EXP Gained — Level Up → 175 ]

[ Achievement Unlocked: Slayer of Rot-Tyrants ]

[ Title Acquired: Hydra’s Bane — +5% Damage vs Multi-Headed Beasts ]

[ Drops Acquired ]

Crimson Hydra Fang (Epic Weapon Material) — Can be forged into blades or spears infused with corrosive flame.

Scales of the Abyss (Epic Armor Material) — Provides strong resistance to poison, acid, and rot.

Ancient Core of Rotfire (Legendary Catalyst) — A rare core containing fused corruption and fire. Can power advanced magic or be merged with a weapon.

Tome of Abyssal Flame (Epic Beast Art) — Teaches [Corruption Art – Abyssfire Breath].

[ Special Reward – Phase Two Clear ]

Boss Relic: Hydra’s Crown of Ash (Unique) — A headdress formed from the ashes of the slain Hydra’s regrown heads. Grants the wearer:

+15% Elemental Resistance

+10% Mana Recovery in corrupted zones

Skill: [Crown’s Dominion] — Temporarily suppresses regeneration of nearby enemies.

The swamp itself seemed to breathe easier, the sickly light fading. The black vines shriveled, and the stagnant waters stilled to glass.

Rhys lowered the Verdant Scholar Sword, exhaling slowly.

"Not bad... worth the trouble."

Puddle bobbed, flashing with sparks of water, fire, and light, kuyuu! echoing with pride.

Bounce thumped his shell against the earth, a deep pyuu!, as if sealing their victory.

The red-stone trail beyond the Mire flickered to life again, brighter than before—beckoning challengers deeper into the Boss Forest.

Rhys smirked, tightening his grip on his sword.

"Alright then. Next den."

The path of red stones pulsed brighter as they moved deeper. The forest shifted around them—trees twisted darker, roots curling like claws.

The silence didn’t last.

[ Ambush — Corrupted Beasts Incoming! ]

From the shadows, a pack of twisted creatures lunged—wolves with bone jutting from their hides, and crows with glowing red eyes.

Rhys didn’t break stride.

"Just clean-up."

His blade flashed.

Swift Cut → Arc Surge Slash!

A sweeping arc of mana cleaved through three wolves at once, their bodies dissolving into black mist.

"Kuyuuuu!"

Puddle unleashed Water Jet, blasting crows from the air, then followed with Light Bullets that streaked across the clearing like glowing arrows.

Bounce stomped forward, shell glowing faintly. His Shell Bash cracked through a bone-wolf mid-leap, splattering it against a tree trunk.

The swarm pressed harder—acid-dripping spiders now crawling from the branches.

"Persistent pests." Rhys spun his blade.

Whirlwind Slash!

The spiraling strike ripped through the spiders, scattering their legs across the mire.

The last stragglers screeched—only to be erased in Puddle’s Shadow Tendrils, which dragged them into the swamp with a hiss.

[ Wave Cleared – Minor EXP Gained. ]

The red-stone path shimmered again, the air vibrating more strongly than before.

Then the ground ahead split.

A massive figure crawled out from a fissure—a hulking centipede, its carapace plated in obsidian, glowing with veins of sickly green. Each step oozed venom that ate holes into the stone.

[ Boss Spawned: Venomcarver Myrrex ]

— A corrupted guardian insect that feeds on poison and rot. Its many legs carve trenches through earth, and its venom corrodes even magic.

The centipede’s many mandibles clicked as it let out a screeching hiss. From its maw dripped acid so potent it smoked against the ground.

Rhys’s eyes narrowed.

"Alright. Round two."

The beast surged forward, its body weaving like a living spear.

Bounce braced instantly, his shell glowing silver.

Skill – Moonlight Aegis!

A shimmering shield intercepted the first strike, sparks and venom flying as the giant centipede slammed into it.

Puddle reacted, spinning midair.

Ancient Fire Magic – Flame Nova!

The fiery burst scorched across the monster’s front, blackening its armored plates—but green cracks spread, the Hydra’s corruption still clinging to its body.

Rhys darted to the side, Verdant Scholar Sword glowing blue.

Magic Sword Technique – Water Blade!

The cutting slash tore into Myrrex’s legs, ichor spraying as the centipede screamed.

But its tail swung like a massive scythe, coated in acid. Rhys barely rolled aside as the ground behind him melted into sludge.

He grimaced. "That venom’s bad news."

The boss reared up, mandibles dripping, preparing a massive acid spray.

Bounce and Puddle stood ready, light and fire flaring at their sides.

Rhys grinned, sword sparking to life.

"Let’s carve this bug down."

The centipede reared up, its mandibles snapping, the air filling with the stench of acid and rot.

[ Boss: Venomcarver Myrrex — HP ??? ]

Its many legs dug into the stone path, the ground cracking as green venom seeped through, spreading corruption.

Boss Skill – Acid Rainfall!

Myrrex hissed, and a cloud of sizzling droplets sprayed into the air. The rain hissed against armor and stone alike, burning holes wherever it landed.

"Move!" Rhys shouted.

He sprinted forward, weaving between burning patches of earth. Bounce’s shell glowed silver as he expanded Moonlight Aegis, the divine barrier shielding them from the worst of the acid storm.

Puddle spun, channeling dual affinities—

Wind + Water Magic – Cleansing Current!

A spiraling jet of water and air blasted upward, scattering the acid rain and clearing a safe space.

Rhys burst through that opening.

Swift Cut → Vertical Slash!

The silver arcs slashed across Myrrex’s side, cutting deep grooves into its armor.

The centipede shrieked, green blood spraying as it retaliated.

Boss Skill – Venom Spikes!

Its carapace cracked open, launching jagged spines of hardened poison in every direction.

"Bounce!"

The turtle tucked in, spinning into Lunar Impact! His shell ricocheted through the air, smashing the venom spikes apart before they could pierce Rhys or Puddle.

"Kuyuuuuu!"

Puddle’s body pulsed, flaring with tri-colored halos.

Ancient Dark Magic – Abyssal Grasp!

Shadowy tendrils coiled from beneath, seizing several of Myrrex’s legs and locking them down.

Rhys seized the moment.

Hybrid Technique – Steamburst Edge!

His blade burst with scalding vapor as he cleaved across the boss’s underbelly, steam erupting from the gash.

The monster convulsed, then twisted violently, breaking free of the shadows. Its tail slammed down like a hammer.

Rhys barely leapt aside as the strike created a crater that bubbled with acid.

"Persistent..." Rhys muttered, sweat on his brow.

Myrrex reared back once more, venom boiling in its maw.

Boss Skill – Corrosive Torrent!

A beam of searing green fluid blasted across the battlefield, carving a trench through the swamp.

"Not this time." Rhys slammed his palm forward.

Magic – Mana Shield!

The barrier flared, sparks flying as the torrent hammered against it. Bounce stomped down, silver crescents pulsing through the shield, reinforcing it until the acid stream broke apart.

"Kuyuuu!" Puddle seized the chance—

Ancient Light Magic – Gleaming Halo!

Radiant petals shone across the battlefield, healing Rhys’s burns and restoring Bounce’s cracked shell.

The dome of light reflected in Rhys’s eyes. He grinned.

"Time to finish this."

He surged forward, sword blazing with flame and mana.

Whirlwind Slash → Arc Surge Slash!

A spiraling, lightning-fast cut cleaved through Myrrex’s front armor, exposing glowing green flesh beneath.

Bounce leapt high, shell glowing silver—

Divine Skill – Moonfall Crash!

He slammed into the monster’s back, cracking its carapace with a thunderous impact.

Puddle’s body blazed with dual elements.

Ancient Fire + Wind Magic – Inferno Gale!

A storm of fire and wind swept down, burning away the regenerating armor and searing the exposed wounds.

The centipede shrieked, thrashing wildly—acid boiling, carapace splitting further.

[ Boss Enrage — Venom Overload ]

Its body glowed a sickly green, venom flooding its veins, dripping in rivers that melted stone with every step. Its speed doubled, mandibles snapping like guillotines.

Rhys braced himself, tightening his grip on the Verdant Scholar Sword.

"Alright, big guy. Let’s dance."

The boss lunged, all its weight crashing forward, jaws wide to consume him whole—

Rhys dashed straight in, his blade shining like a comet. Puddle and Bounce surged at his sides, fire, shadow, and moonlight weaving with steel.

The clash shook the forest, venom and divine light exploding into a storm.