Volume 5 Chapter 27 Winning Against Hydra
Toxy opened her eyes to find herself in the center of a vast, deep pool of toxic sludge.
"Whoa"
Up to her feet, Toxy's legs were submerged. She could feel them dissolving. But she wasn't particularly concerned.
Toxic substances were something Toxy was familiar with. She had bathed in them, eaten them, and constantly touched them.
So, she thought, "What's the big deal if they dissolve?" and started walking.
"What was the Hydra myth again?"
She remembered hearing it as a bedtime story. A monster that heroes would defeat. If she could assimilate with it, Toxy would become a monster too, and that thought was somewhat amusing.
"Wade, what should I say? But he's kind, so he'll definitely accept me."
Toxy walked through the toxic sludge with a somewhat embarrassed feeling. Although she had been outwitted by Ice, Wade had promised to accept her, no matter what.
So, Toxy decided to entrust her body to Wade. Whatever happened to her body, as long as it was for Wade's sake, and for everyone's sake, it was fine.
"Hehehe"
Toxy walked ahead with a light step. She knew from the start that there was something big up ahead. It was probably the monster she was going to encounter. And she had to make friends with it.
As she walked, a pain ran through her feet. "Ow," she looked down to see a small venomous snake biting her.
"...What's with this kid?"
Toxy crouched down and talked to the snake, "What's wrong, little guy?" The snake was desperately trying to protect something, biting Toxy with all its might.
"I see. Then it's okay. You can keep biting me."
Toxy stood up and continued walking. Then, another new venomous snake came and bit her.
"I'm popular, huh?"
Toxy didn't mind the pain and didn't shake off the snakes as she walked on. With every step, a snake would bite her. But since she knew it was to protect someone, she didn't get angry.
She walked on, and on. The snakes bit her, injected their venom, and refused to let go. While it was true that the venom didn't bother her, the weight of the accumulating snakes was a bit of a burden.
"It's okay, it's okay. It's okay, it's okay."
Even so, Toxy pressed on. Although her pace slowed down a bit, she didn't stop even for a moment.
And so, Toxy finally arrived in front of a massive shadow. From high above, a monstrous face drew near, its eyes fixed on Toxy.
It was the 9-headed dragon, Hydra. Hydra gazed at Toxy with a puzzled expression.
'What do you want, human?...'
There, Hydra tilted its head, perplexed by Toxy's unusual demeanor.
'Little girl... why are you still bitten by those venomous snakes?'
"Huh? ...They were desperate, so I thought it was bad..."
'...?'
Hydra looked at Toxy with a face that said it was hard to understand. Toxy held out her right hand, still bitten by the venomous snakes, towards the ancient dragon.
"Hello, I'm Toxy. I came here to borrow your power. My body will be the price. I'll offer it as collateral."
'...Can I believe such words? You humans are the ones who killed me and received their blessings. As proof, you ruthlessly slaughtered my followers ―――― no, that's not it.'
"No, it's not like that. I'll do whatever you want."
'...?'
Hydra tilted its head again, as if struggling to understand. Toxy thought, "It's surprisingly expressive for a reptile."
'Why didn't you kill them?'
Toxy replied to Hydra's question.
"I felt sorry for them. They were trying to protect you, right? ...I've been trampled on like that before too."
Windy. Although they're living together now, many members of the party still have trauma from Windy. That person accurately pinpointed the weakness of Wade's party, which was that Wade was strong, but everyone else was weak.
In reality, the Windy she saw as a comrade was obedient and would do anything she said, but she somehow ended up forgiving her without realizing it. Still, that memory lingered strongly in Toxy's mind.
Anyway, Hydra gazed at Toxy, who said such things, with a thoughtful "hmm..." expression.
'You're a peculiar existence, little girl. You have a deep affinity for poison, and you're kind to the venomous snake that bites you, speaking to me as an equal. You're not afraid of monsters, nor do you boast about defeating them.'
"I wouldn't do that. It's rude to talk like that to someone who's lending me their power."
'...Ku, ku, haha. That's right. Those people were indeed rude. Only you would know manners, little girl.'
"Hehe, that's right? I've received proper education, after all."
Toxy thought it was strange, laughing along with Hydra. Even among humans, magician who wielded poison were discriminated against, yet here she was, laughing with a Hydra, a creature of a different species.
'Very well.'
Hydra said.
'My name is Hydra. I'm the poisonous god who has killed many gods and monsters, even after being defeated by Heracles. I'm the true form of the Hydra, the ancient dragon.'
"I'm Toxy, the poison magician. Nice to meet you, Hydra."
'Ah, Toxy. If I were to borrow your body, it wouldn't be bad to see the world again. In exchange for borrowing your body, I'll lend you my poison, my characteristics, and my curse―――'
Toxy's eyes snapped open, and she asked sharply.
"Hydra, can you repeat what you just said you'd lend me?"
'Hm? Ah, yes... I said I'd lend you my poison, my characteristics, and my curse.'
"I understand about the poison. And the characteristics, like illusions and immortality, right?―――What about the curse?"
'Ah, that's it.'
Hydra laughed, "Kuhaha."
'It's nothing. It's just one of my poison's characteristics. In other words, the poison that kills gods. Would a weak poison like aconitum be enough to kill a god? But with my poison, gods can die easily. That's my curse.'
Hydra continued.
'My poison is a curse. A curse that can even shatter the immortality of gods. It's an invisible, divine law that only I possess, one that can dissolve everything. In other words, it's a fierce poison breath. Only the ancient dragon's magic can rival it, unstoppable by anything else.'
"That's it."
'What?'
Toxy thought of a secret plan. At that moment, the Hydra's illusion at the stairway exit was shattered.
The demonic sword Muramasa, wielded by Swallow, effortlessly cut through the path.
"I'm tired of stalling for time with you. Let's settle this, fallen hero. You'll be the one pierced by this hero-slaying sword."
Swallow sheathed Muramasa, but kept a firm grip on the hilt, lowering her stance. Toxy didn't know this stance was called "iai".
"I'm not a hero, but a monster... But I understand. Let's settle this, then."
Toxy covered her mouth with her hand, then stood up straight. Toxy didn't have a stance. The Hydra would cut down Toxy's enemies at will.
The distance between Toxy and Swallow was only about 5 meters. They were within each other's killing range. The next clash would decide the outcome.
"Aphorism: 'O king, O hero. You shall meet your demise at the hands of a sl*ve'."
A suspicious aura began to emanate from the demonic sword Muramasa. The curse that had dealt a fatal blow to Wade. For Toxy, who couldn't even dodge normal attacks, it was an accuracy that inspired terror.
The tension was palpable. Who would make the first move? Who would break the balance? It was unbearable. Her breathing became rough and labored. If she lost here, it was all over. She gulped down her saliva―――
"You're not like him from yesterday, are you?"
Toxy had intended to quickly gather the Hydra's illusions around Swallow. But Swallow had discarded all of that and was now closing in on Toxy. The target was her heart. Wade had been pierced, and his life's core had collapsed.
"But did you come for revenge? If so, I'll show you respect for that much."
A horizontal slash. Swallow took down Toxy with the same method as Wade, and Toxy collapsed. Alone, with no allies.
"It's over. That guy was tough, but you're not that strong―――"
At that moment, Swallow sensed something off.
The feeling of omnipotence that had continued since he defeated Wade last night had vanished.
"What...?"
"Your downfall was thinking I was a hero."
Toxy stood up. Toxy was also immortal. Even if her heart was pierced, she wouldn't fall.
"So, I thought that if you used the Demonic sword Muramasa seriously, I could win. You didn't even realize that was a trap."
"What are you talking about?"
"Another reason for your defeat was not knowing that I had a poison, or rather a curse, within me. You didn't know that curse could negate another curse, and that the intense poison breath could blow it away."
What Toxy did was simple. Toxy drank the Hydra's potent poison herself, taking in a toxin that could even kill gods, and harbored the curse within. Then, Swallow pierced Toxy with the Demonic sword Muramasa. So, the curse that bound her was negated.
"Do you get it? I broke the curse that Demonic sword Muramasa had placed on Wade. That's why you won't affect Wade's fate. You've returned to your strength before defeating Wade."
"A...a...?"
"That's right."
Toxy let out a sly laugh.
"From now on, this is my territory."
Swallow tried to escape the scene suddenly, but the Hydra's illusion blocked his path. Swallow tried to swing Muramasa, but it was already back in its scabbard and couldn't be drawn.
"Damn it! Damn it! Muramasa! I'll feed you a hero right away! Listen to me! Muramasa! Muramasa!"
"Ahahahahahahahahahaha! Hey, how do you want to die? You who tortured Wade so much, how should I end you?"
'Kuhahahahahahahahahahahaha! You're quite bold, kid. Alright, little girl, let's have some fun with this kid. You, who think you can take on a monster like me, are quite arrogant. I'll show you the hell you deserve for that pride.'
"Help me, someone, anyone, help me!"
Toxy slowly approaches Swallow. The Hydra's illusion raises its 9 heads, glaring at Swallow.
"Ah, ah, ahhhh...! Cough, cough, cough!"
Swallow's face turns pale, and he stumbles, trying to back away from Toxy. But there's no path ahead, as the Hydra's illusion blocks the way.
Toxy declares,
"I won't forgive you!"
"Eh...?"
"You, who tormented Wade, I will never forgive you!"
The room fills with toxic gas. The floor is flooded with poison, and the water level rises.
"Cough, cough, cough! Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh! I, I hate, this miserable way of dying. My, my feet, my arms are melting! I hate it! I hate it, ahhhhh!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Screams rise. Laughter rises. The snake-like monster devours the pitiful bird.
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