70. The End of the Magical Beast and the Conflict
In a dark cave, multiple pairs of glowing eyes flicker.
—The lion got owned, huh? Shiiick.
Shiiick, shiiick.
The snake heads flicker their tongues, creating a creepy hissing sound. The body of the colossal snakes, adorned with many heads, resembles that of a dragon with forelegs.
Behold the infamous hydra of the Lerna Oasis. This beast poisons the sweet waters enjoyed by all its residents, tormenting them with malice. A wicked serpent, or perhaps an evil dragon.
Beside it, another enormous shadow emerges.
—The little one among us is usually the weakest… I mean, not really, but still a fool, huh, buhihih! All that talk about creating a land of equality, and look where we are now, ha, chiick!
A grotesque beast, short and pig-like, reveals its stubby snout and sharp tusks as it bursts into laughter. Though it looks like a giant pig, its body is covered in scales and feather-like armor of steel.
—Hah, why did you gather us here, huh?
—Yeah, shiiick, we’re all busy! You’re not trying to rearrange our ranking again, are you? Shiiick!
The sharp eyes of the snake and the pig fixate on a solitary beast sitting quietly—an odd creature with three heads.
The heads are reminiscent of jackals. Its steel-feathered scales could even be called calm, scale-like armor.
Among the black scales, white scales form a conspicuous pattern like spots, making this beast the master of an underground labyrinth, Cerberus.
The middle head of Cerberus opened its mouth and barked.
—A lion being taken down is quite the sight. That Jupiter must be gearing up to go toe-to-toe with us.
—What’s there to worry about? Just like before, we’ll drive them off, kuhihih!
—How did the mighty Spotty One end up with its tail between its legs? Made friends with a gryphon and got soft, huh? Is that it? Shiiick. Have you become a gryphon’s pup? Huh?
—Mind your tongue, Hydra.
—Let’s keep it quiet, shiiick. How about we rearrange the ranks while we’re at it, big bro?
—Sure! Chiick, is it my turn to be the big bro this time? Hehe.
The cave, the underground palace of Spotty One, buzzed with tension, as if the monsters were about to tear each other apart at any moment.
These creatures are forbidden mutations born of dragons and gryphons, notorious for sowing fear in the desert.
There are theories aplenty about why these direct descendants of dragons and gryphons look so monstrous.
The most plausible theory suggests that both dragons and gryphons tend to mix and breed indiscriminately, leading to such results.
Typically, the offspring of gryphons are gryphons, and those of dragons are dragons.
Gryphons and dragons have evolved so that they can only breed within their kind.
When two such beasts produce offspring, their potent magical powers cancel each other out, resulting in a rare manifestation of traits passed down through generations, as their ancestors have been mating for ages.
Perhaps the tension between gryphons and dragons arises from an instinct to prevent such horrifying offspring from being born.
Later, Spotty One turned to the lion.
—Wow, you were right, we’re all here!
—Yes, big bro. I told you so. If I hadn’t brought you here, you’d have been fumbling around separately. Wouldn’t that have been a hassle?
—You did well.
—Heh, hehehe…
Meanwhile, distant cries echoed from somewhere.
The hybrid siblings turned to the cave entrance, feeling the tension shift.
—Who goes there? Shiiick! Only we know about this place!
—An invader has come, big bro! What’s happening to the control of the Ancient Nest? Kyuuhh!
Hydra and the pig raised their feathered scales toward the growing shadow at the entrance.
The shadow grew larger, radiating overwhelming magical power, causing the brethren to stop their bickering and tense up.
—What wretched being has trespassed here? Shiiick!
Slowly, the intruder revealed itself in the corner of the cave.
—It’s me, you little pests.
—Small…? A white beast…? Chiick.
The mountain pig emitted a hollow laugh at the sight of the intruding creature. Had they been tense over something so small and adorable?
—Sniff, sniff, you smell delicious, you! Chiick! Like a newborn creature…
—You know it, pup. Hey, come here. Are these your siblings?
The white beast turned around a corner and muttered something, leading to the imposing shadow of their youngest sibling, the lion Nemea, squeezing its way in.
—I heard you got owned; what’s going on, little one? Shiiick!
—Big brothers, and sisters, I… I’m sorry. Please surrender quickly!
—What do you have to apologize for? Chiick. Surrender what?
As the pig questioned, the lion trembled all over, not responding. This was a creature that didn’t even flinch at the might of Jupiter, yet here it was, shaking like a leaf. What on earth could have happened?
The white beast relaxed its shoulders and front paws, cracking its joints ominously.
—Lion, you better scram if you don’t wanna bite the dust.
—Th-thank you.
And with that, Nemea the lion disappeared around the corner, its movements resembling a startled cat fleeing from danger.
—What the heck was that idiot doing, shiiick? What’s going on? Shiiick!
The white beast nodded in response to Hydra’s question.
—A snake with multiple heads, huh? So you must be Hydra? Your specialty is venom, hence you can pass.
The white beast’s eyes shifted toward the pig beside Hydra.
—So there’s a pig from that mountain over there, huh? Strong-type? Your steel scales look pretty sturdy—Iron Hog, or what? And that three-headed pup behind you, is that Spotty One?
Saaah.
At that moment, a brief silence filled the cave.
—Hmm, the name “Spotty One” is only permitted to our brethren and that gryphon Pluto. Shiiick, shiiick!
—That stupid fool just got its own name summoned for no reason. What a goner. Now, be careful not to break the cave, big bro. Kyuuhh!
Suuuuuuh.
Cerberus, the three-headed dog, stood up from its spot.
Normally, just a glare from Cerberus would leave any typical creature breathless and drenched in fear. Yet, the white beast seemed unfazed, even chuckling.
—Nice to meet you, Spotty. They call me White One. I’d love to suggest we get along as two namesakes, but it seems the situation isn’t favorable.
Hrrr.
The white beast took a deep breath, as if steadying itself.
—I won’t beat around the bush. Everyone, bang your heads together.
Whooooosh.
The roar of the white beast carried a strange power. The hostile brethren that had been hissing at each other fell silent, their eyes blinking in shock.
—Hahaha, shiiick, this is hilarious! It’s been so long since I laughed this hard. You’re amusing! Being a newborn, you probably can’t tell who’s who, huh? We must seem terrifying, and you likely think you’re a big deal, huh? I mean, just look at you! Not that I look like a pig either, you little runt! Reflect on yourself!
Kyuuhh!
Though it looked just like a pig, it was a beast born from the might of both gryphons and dragons, the pinnacle of strength.
Its charge could reduce rocks to dust and create deep caves in mountains.
—Hey, don’t wreck this cave! It’s filled with memories of my parents, shiiick!
—Don’t worry! I’ll control my strength!
Thud, thud, thock.
The large pig charged at the white beast, moving swiftly. If it collided with that small and adorable creature, it would definitely be smashed flat like a critter under a rock.
Thud!
As the pig crashed into the white beast, it echoed like steel clashing against steel.
—Oi! Pig, I told you to go easy! That’s the sound of the cave collapsing! Shiiick!
—B-bro…
The pig stammered under the scolding, barely managing to speak.
—This isn’t the sound of the cave collapsing; it’s the sound of… ugh…
—Exactly! That’s the sound of your head cracking! Is your head really that hard? It’s so heavy it doesn’t even bounce. Ugh, my hand hurts.
Suuuuuuuuuuh, thud.
With a sound like a fallen tree, the armored pig slowly toppled over. The dust clinging to the cave ceiling fell, creating a fog-like haze.
—W-What’s going on!? Shiiick!
—It’s a mist concealment technique. Hrrr.
As the white beast inhaled, its glowing red eyes and dazzlingly white fur vanished into the dust.
It wasn’t an illusion; it had completely disappeared.
—W-What!? Where did it go!?
The nine snake heads of Hydra searched the area desperately for any trace.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, a piercing sound rang somewhere.
Thud.
As the Hydra’s head fell to the ground, it flailed like a worm covered in salt, leaving only one remaining head.
—Aaaahh!! W-What’s happening!? Shiiick!
Shocked by its severed neck, Hydra screamed as if the cave would crumble.
Normally, its sturdy scales would easily deflect sharp hunters’ swords and claws, yet it had been cleanly cut away.
Fshhh.
Poisonous bl**d sprayed from Hydra’s severed neck across the cave floor. For Hydra to reign as a symbol of terror among beasts, it was the toxicity carried within its bl**d that made it formidable.
—You dare, you dare take my head! d*e! Just melt away!
Hydra sprayed its bl**d all over the cave.
How the white beast managed to conceal itself was a mystery, but it was evident it was somewhere around, and there was no way to dodge such a broad attack.
“Just a drop will mean victory for me!”
Thud, thud.
A mirage began to take a shape in the air, gradually becoming visible amid the red bl**d.
—Oh, the concealment’s gone.
—So you were hiding there! How dare you take my neck! Regenerating takes at least a hundred years! Melt away and become a writhing mess! I’ll evaporate your veins and bl**d, causing you excruciating pain! Shiiick!
—Hurr, hurrgh, th-the poison…!
The white beast clutched its chest with its front paw, gasping as it sputtered.
The potent venom capable of dissolving sand and melting rock could only be endured by its brethren, who shared similar physical endurance.
—GAAAHHH!
—Suffer more!
—Ha, haaaaa, just kidding. Using poison like a coward? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Bang!
Something whipped from the white beast’s mouth, striking Hydra’s last remaining head. The sensation of its skull and brain jolting caused Hydra to see darkness before its eyes.
Thud, boom.
A great rumble echoed in the cave.
—Crushing a hopeful opponent delights me. Now, it’s just you left, Spotty.
—White Beast, I think they called you White One, right? I’m not a fool. I know very well how strong you are. But why do you wish to k*ll my brethren? We barely know each other. We’ve done you no harm.
—Of course, you haven’t. But there’s quite a hefty bounty on your heads. I carry no grudge against you, but it’s just business. If you want to blame someone, blame that Jupiter bloke.
“Jupiter. So he was involved after all.”
As that name echoed in Cerberus’s minds, they began to ponder rapidly with all three heads.
—How about this then? Regardless of how it is, I’ll offer something worth double the bounty Jupiter promised you in exchange for sparing my brethren and taking out that Jupiter fellow.
If creatures moved solely for the bounty without animosity, Cerberus, the eldest brother, believed it could convince them to accept a better deal.
—What? Are you trying to buy me off? Do I look like some softie?
The white beast, White One, nonchalantly wiped the venom off its body, making a disgusted face.
“Looks like fighting is inevitable, huh?”
Just as Cerberus was preparing to take a combative stance due to the breakdown of negotiations…
—Tell me what this supposed doubled value is then. It must be something better than Jupiter’s treasure, Ambrosia, right?
[Author’s Note] If you found this enjoyable, please hit the recommend button at the very top of the mobile screen—just a 2-second action can brighten the day of a writer! @emailprotected
