The village was already lost.
Houses lay shattered, roofs torn apart, stone walls crushed into rubble as if they were made of sand. Flames flickered in scattered patches, smoke curling into the sky. Not a single villager remained— everyone who could flee had already done so.
At the center of the destruction, a massive Hydra thrashed violently.
Its enormous body coiled and uncoiled across the ruined streets, scales scraping against broken stone. Multiple heads reared up, each one roaring in a different tone— one breathing fire, another exhaling freezing mist, another dripping venom that hissed as it touched the ground.
The Hydra was alone.
But not uncontested.
A party stood before it— broken, exhausted, and barely holding on.
"Hero-dono— get back!"
