CHAPTER 66: EVOLVED

The hydra shrieked in agony as Linda’s arrow pierced its first eye, the one place its thick scales could not protect. Blood gushed down its massive face, sizzling as it hit the crystal floor.

Linda’s eyes blazed with green light, sharper than ever. She gasped softly, exhilarated.

It’s like I can see everything. I can see everyone.

She steadied her bow. "Now... time to take out the rest."

Another arrow slid into place. The hydra flinched back, sensing danger, trying to dodge, but Linda was faster.

"Not so fast," she muttered. "I can read you now. I know exactly where you’ll move."

Two arrows whistled through the air, striking true. They buried themselves into the monster other eye.

The hydra screamed again, thrashing in blind rage. Its colossal head slammed the crystal ground, shattering stone as it swung wildly. It could no longer see her.

Linda crouched low, drawing on her second affinity. She inhaled sharply.

"Wind... lift me."

Air swirled around her feet, then exploded upward, launching her into the sky. She soared high above the beast, her glowing eyes locking onto the faint shimmer in its forehead. Not just a scar — its core.

The monster groaned, blinded and panicked, its body quaking.

"Goodbye," Linda whispered, loosing her arrow.

The glowing shaft streaked through the air and drove straight into the core. It shattered with a deafening crack, light spilling out as the first head collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Across the battlefield, Celia, still clinging to the back of another head, felt the surge. The hydra roared, writhing in agony, its strength faltering as one of its cores was destroyed.

"Celia!" Linda shouted.

Celia’s ears twitched. "What? You already killed yours. Let me finish mine!"

"No! Listen!" Linda cried. "Its weakness is in the forehead. The core is there. Aim for it!"

Celia’s eyes narrowed. She nodded once. "Got it."

Her sword flashed as she cut her way upward, climbing through the monster’s tough scales. The hydra screeched, thrashing, but she refused to let go. Step by step, she forced her way higher until she reached the glowing spot on its forehead.

The core.

Celia gripped her sword tightly, then plunged it deep into the shining mark.

The hydra roar tore through the dungeon, shaking the walls. Its massive body buckled, then collapsed into the underground lake. Water surged upward, crashing against the cavern walls, drenching Nolan and the others as the sound echoed through the dungeon.

Linda ran toward Nolan, her face glowing with pride.

"Master, I did great, right?" she asked eagerly.

"You did more than great," Nolan replied with a rare smile. "I didn’t expect you to grow so much. It was as if you became faster and stronger with every strike."

Celia emerged from the lake, coughing as water dripped from her hair and armor. She had fallen in alongside the collapsing hydra but dragged herself out, determined.

"Master... did you see what I did?" she asked between breaths.

"Yes," Nolan said firmly. "You are truly outstanding. You’ve gotten stronger." He looked at both of them, his tone carrying weight. "Now I’m sure you can follow me and participate in the tournament."

Both girls smiled, their exhaustion mixing with pride. They had become stronger, and they knew it. The hydra they had just defeated was no ordinary beast. Stronger than orcs, stronger than undead—monsters people feared even to face. People had once been shocked when Nolan defeated Gulam. What would they say if they knew Linda and Celia had brought down a hydra?

They would never predict this, Nolan thought. Even I didn’t expect it. Training is one thing, but real battle... it forges you. They proved it here. The fiercer the opponent, the stronger they became. Now... they’re truly ready to stand by my side.

"You both did well," Nolan said aloud.

Celia and Linda, still panting heavily, dropped to the crystal floor, sitting to catch their breath.

"I’ll take care of the rest," Nolan said. In a blur, he vanished, his speed like a streak of lightning. He landed atop one of the fallen hydra heads and reached into its forehead, pulling free its glowing core.

"Good," he muttered, examining it. "It wasn’t completely destroyed."

In another flash, he jumped to the second head, plunging his hand deep into the fractured core and pulling it out. Though pierced, it still pulsed faintly with power.

Satisfied, Nolan leapt back down to the crystal ground where his companions waited. He walked over calmly, the two cores glowing in his hands.

"Celia, take these and put them in your storage box," Nolan said, handing them to her. She nodded, stretching out her hand, and the cores vanished into the enchanted space.

"You two can rest now," Nolan told them. "Catch your breath. You did well."

"Thank you, Master. I’m so honored," Celia said with a small smile, still panting.

"Yes, Master," Linda added softly. "I just want to be strong enough to always be by your side."

A smile crept across Nolan’s face. Wow... I’m really happy.

This was the first time in his life he had felt this way. It’s time, he thought. If this is the first time I’ve truly felt it, then maybe this world really wants me to stay. Maybe I was always meant to have people by my side.

He clenched his fist lightly. I’m so lucky. Back in my previous world, maybe it was all part of a plan I never understood. I was satisfied living with the insults, with the ridicule... I had accepted that life and believed it would never change. I thought I would always stay the same—someone unwanted, someone ignored.

He took a slow breath, his chest tightening. But here, in this world... everything is different. People treat me differently. Maybe it’s because of my strength, I don’t know. And I don’t care. Because here... I can finally be happy. Here, I can finally be someone.

Nolan bent down as Linda and Celia sat before him, exhausted but smiling faintly. He placed a hand gently on each of their heads, his touch both firm and kind.