Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 45: Hydra Blades

Raegar attacked the giant snake with more spells, but it was useless because the monster disregarded its safety. The monster wasn't stopping until he was dead, which made a chill run down his spine.

'I'll try to run,' he thought while watching the tail of the monster crushing all kinds of creatures during their fight.

He avoided most of the attacks because of his size, but the creature's tail struck him with force, sending him crashing through the forest once again. Intense pain surged through his body as lacerations tore into his skin and broken bones added to the torment.

Without wasting time, Raegar jumped up while ignoring the agony that plagued his body and started running, but the snake caught up and flung him into the air by crashing into the ground. As he was in the air, a wave of spells slammed against the monster.

He was stunned by the sight, quickly casting Flash Step to reappear on the ground below. As he regained his footing, he noticed adventurers charging toward him, attacking the snake with spells.

'Finally! They're here,' he thought with a tired smile. 'I can get out of here.'

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That's when he noticed Lycaon charging at the monster, greatsword in hand. The wolfman closed the distance quickly, unleashing a flurry of deadly strikes that shattered the snake's scales as if they were paper.

Raegar's eyes widened in disbelief. 'He must be a Tier Six warrior to take down that creature so effortlessly.'

Following that, a stream of fire flew above him and slammed into the snake, which was curling up thanks to Lycaon's attack. He sighed when realizing he wouldn't have to fight it anymore.

Moments later, Raegar fell to the ground with a thud as the injuries took their toll, but he smiled as he survived a Rank C dungeon. While lying there, Nymeria appeared above him with a joyful expression.

''I knew you'd survive,'' the wolf woman said before casting healing magic on him.

He felt the wounds close and bones mend as they snapped back into place, which made Nymeria frown as she spoke. ''Fighting the Swamp Titan and coming out alive is amazing. Not many mages could do such a thing.''

Raegar chuckled, nodding in agreement. ''I was lucky, but I collected plenty of Aether Cores while I was here. The rest of the loot wasn't worth hauling around.''

The wolf woman heard this and giggled, playfully ruffling his hair. ''Get some rest while we finish up. Theodore will still pay you. After all, you took down a lot while we were stuck outside.''

He was about to reply when he noticed a Tier One Cave Spider was creeping up on them, causing him to throw a dagger into the monster's face before answering. ''I'll stay with you for now. There are thousands of monsters here.''

''What about the pain?'' she asked with a concerned expression.

Raegar waved her off with a confident smile. ''The injuries only bring aches, but I can still use magic and throw my daggers. It's no problem.''

When the older woman heard this, her blue eyes sparkled, and a warm smile spread across her face. ''Such a gentleman,'' she said with a playful glint. ''I'll take you up on that offer, so I can keep an eye on you.''

The adventurers then cleared out the dungeon, a task that took another full day. When Lycaon saw Raegar, a smile spread across the wolfman's face as he exclaimed, ''What did you do to that beast? Your attacks really weakened it.''

Raegar was about to respond when Theodore's booming voice echoed from the entrance. ''Everyone, gather up! The dungeon is stabilized, and we're moving south!''

''South?'' he asked.

Nymeria nodded. ''Yes, we have another job in the Forgotten Wastes. It's been planned for months now and we're meeting the rest of our guild down at Zahakar City,'' she informed him.

''I've read about that place,'' he replied while cleaning his daggers. ''Endless dunes with ruins of the ancients dotting the land.''

The wolf woman smiled when hearing this. ''Yes, it is, but we've been exploring for many years alongside our guild.''

After ensuring the area was secure, the Nytherian soldiers escorted them outside, as most of them were exhausted. Once everyone was safely out, Theodore started paying everyone, handing Raegar seven gold coins.

''Here you go, boy,'' the older man said. ''There's two extra for what you went through, but this is where our contract ends.''

''Thank you,'' he said, slipping the coins into his bag.

Afterward, the adventurers were resting at the camp outside the dungeon, planning to head further south the next day. Raegar sat by his tent, gathering his thoughts. He attempted to reach Mist, but his efforts were in vain, stirring frustration within him.

Still, he pushed it aside as Lycaon and Nymeria approached. The wolfman had a big smile as he asked. ''What are you planning to do?''

''Going to keep hunting in Bloodfang Forest and wait for my grandfather to come get me for the academy test,'' Raegar answered while throwing some wood into the fire. ''The more I fight, the better I'm becoming, and that's why I'm out here.''

When the couple heard this, they chuckled before Nymeria responded. ''I can see the fire in your eyes. It's unusual for a young man to be so determined to grow stronger, most unlock their magic and think attending the academy is enough. Especially nobles.''

Raegar chuckled, raising his hand as a fiery dagger materialized, hovering just above his palm. ''I plan to go even further than the academy can take me,'' he declared, his voice brimming with confidence. ''I will conquer the Gateways and become the strongest Spellblade Sylvara has ever known.''

Lycaon grinned, his eyes gleaming with approval. ''And when your light shines, it's brightest, boy. We will be there to witness it.''

''That's if we meet again,'' he answered the wolfman while stoking the fire.

Nymeria giggled before ruffling his hair. ''I have a feeling we will Raegar Blackwood, grandson of the Dawnfire Lion,'' she said.

''Did Theodore tell you?'' he replied with a smile. ''I bet it was Vlad warning Dreadshade City about me being there.''

The couple looked at him with wide eyes before Lycaon warned him. ''Be careful boy, the Nytherians are very uptight about their king and the respect given to the royal family.''

Raegar waved him away. ''They can't hear, and even if someone did, it doesn't matter. I'll just hide in the forest until my grandfather comes for me,'' he said.

They looked at him before Nymeria started laughing. ''We're going to go get some sleep. I'm tired thanks to using so much Aether, but make sure you stick around in the morning. I want to say goodbye.''

''Of course,'' he reassured. ''I'll be traveling down to the swamp before making my way north again. I want to collect more monster parts and Aether Cores.''

With that, they left him alone, and Raegar wasted no time. The night was still young, and he seized the moment, drawing in Aether with relentless focus. He directed it into the largest pool, watching in awe as it devoured the energy at an astonishing rate.

It drank in the power like a bottomless abyss. Unexpected, but he wasn't about to complain. Hours blurred together lost in the intoxicating rush of his gathering. He only snapped back to reality when his senses flared as if something was near.

Instinct took over. Without hesitation, he unleashed Stormfire Bullet. The spell ripped through the air, a blazing streak of electric flame, and struck true. A piercing screech echoed through the night as the projectile slammed into a lurking Nightcrawler, tearing through the creature.

He sprang into action, summoning his dagger in a flash of steel. With lightning-fast movements, he dashed into the heart of the monstrous horde, weaving between them like a phantom.

His blades danced through the air, each slash precise and deadly. In mere seconds, the battle was over. The creatures lay lifeless at his feet, their bodies motionless in the dim light as more appeared from the shadows.

Once Raegar was done, he exhaled, a triumphant smirk crossing his face. 'I'm faster. Stronger. 'Now to finish the rest of them with something new,' he mused, with glowing red eyes.

Dismissing his daggers, Raegar stretched out his hands, channeling Aether as he visualized a weapon from his grandfather's armory. A surge of wind and earth converged, forging twin chakras.

Each cross, with four razor-sharp edges, hummed with Aether. ''Hydra Blades,'' he named them in an instant, the words ringing in his mind like a prophecy.

Raegar's grin widened as he flung them forward, the spinning weapons tearing through the darkness. Without missing a beat, he exploded, his daggers reappearing in his hands. He weaved through the Nightcrawlers like a storm, carving through their ranks.

Meanwhile, the Hydra Blades danced through the air, slashing and slicing, cutting down the creatures in a symphony of destruction.

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