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"Master, you vowed to protect Lanster's life. You can't just stand here and watch him make the ultimate sacrifice!"

The trio of charming young ladies who had arrived two days prior were by my side. Following that day's interrogation, I had tightened the constraints of our contract. At the very least, Avril couldn't afford to be as impolite to me now.

"Master, super magical beasts are beyond our capability to handle. Once it finishes consuming humans and still remains unsatisfied, it might turn its attention to us. My suggestion is to retreat immediately and preserve our strength."

"I understand, Antarra, but this Hydra is clearly dwelling here. Even if we leave now, we'll inevitably have to confront it in the future when we clear the marsh passage. Therefore, I intend to at least gather some intel on it today. Now, order your Orc army to fall back. Any unrest will be met with death. Oseveli, you lead a hundred Werewolves in pursuit of the fleeing humans. Captain Hake, you can mobilize your ambush squad. Avril, step back. Bai Lanling, bestow your blessings upon me. Hai Ruo, unleash any high-level magic you have; if not, fall back."

Having instructed my subordinates on their tasks, I channeled fresh Nine Yin True Qi into the "Central Magic Stone" in my hand. Through the experiments conducted by the old Shaman of the Blizzards Hut, it was discovered that my inner strength, when utilized to manipulate magical artifacts, proved more suitable than a mage's magic power. This was also the reason behind my ability to wield the Eight Trigram Formation with such freedom. The original "Dui Marsh Eight Trigram Formation" had already crumbled under the might of the super aqua-type magical beast, prompting me to exert full control over the formation. The "Eight Trigram Yin-Yang Stones," which had grown dim and were on the verge of collapse, suddenly shimmered anew with radiant light, yet...

Chapter 15: Qing City, the Impregnable Fortress

"Perhaps, this is the answer."

The war began with great fanfare and ended in chaotic disarray. After the dust had settled, the prisoners were captured, and the aftermath addressed, all conversations inevitably circled back to the enigma of the Hydra. This creature, supposed to be distant by thousands of miles, why had it appeared inland? Why had it suddenly taken its own life, and moreover, produced nine crystal cores? One must understand that crystal cores are the crystallization of innate essence, the embodiment of spirit and life. It was utterly impossible for there to be multiples, unless, of course, they were the essences of nine distinct lives.

"Indeed, I believe this is the answer. This Hydra isn't a conventional life form. For some unknown reason, it lacks a primary head; all nine of its heads are independent. That's why it can condense nine crystal cores. From my inspection, considering the size of this Hydra and the color of its scales, it should be an advanced Level 10 Hydra King. However, the seven crystal cores we obtained are all low-level Water-type cores. This indicates that its magic power and vitality were divided into nine parts at birth. Ordinarily, due to living together, the nine heads have a remarkable level of synchronization. But once entranced by an illusion, their fragmented and incomplete wills, already divided, easily fall into a frenzied state. Consequently, they begin to turn on one another until death claims them."

The trio of beautiful girls and the venerable Hake, after much deliberation, had reached this conclusion, which was generally deemed reasonable. In fact, it was quite close to the truth. This Hydra had originally been an egg of a Hydra King from a previous generation, but due to premature hatching, it failed to develop properly. It was enshrined deep within the Hydra's lair, hidden away from the world. When the entire Hydra clan migrated, these places resembling tombs were sealed with magic, never again to see the light of day.

However, four hundred years ago, the cataclysmic "Twilight of the Gods" erupted, unleashing an unparalleled elemental surge that unexpectedly revived the dormant snake egg, causing it to hatch anew. The chaotic elements combined with the egg's inherent deficiencies made it impossible for a healthy life to emerge. The nine snake heads operated independently, possessed low intelligence, and shared the once-precious power of the Snake King, often leading to confusion and chaos.

Due to the corruption of a forbidden spell, its growth accelerated dramatically, and with all nine heads growing simultaneously, the speed was nine times faster. Within four centuries, it managed to condense nine Level 10 magic cores, collectively surpassing the magic power of a thousand-year-old Hydra King. As the nine consciousnesses constantly clashed, it spent most of its time slumbering deep in the marshlands, only emerging to hunt when hunger struck every few decades. This time, the noise of thousands of people above its head roused it from its sleep.

Influenced by Icewind, the two young Ice Behemoths ingested two low-grade Level 10 magic cores. Despite their eighth-level magical beast lineage, their tender age and significant level disparity made it difficult for them to evolve as Icewind had. Thus, signs of discomfort emerged a few days later.

After the priest's examination, I took their advice and set up the "Kan Water Octagram Formation," gathering frigid ice magic to help the youngsters assimilate the magic core's energy. At the same time, I supplied them with ample amounts of Nine-Headed Snake meat to nourish their bodies. True to expectations, their excess magic power bloated them, growing from just over a foot tall to over four feet in just a few days, allowing them to leave the protective formation. Though their subsequent growth rate slowed, it still surpassed the normal pace several times over. Even with a conservative estimate, they would reach their mother's height within months.

The spoils of this war were immense. "The Fallen City" controlled the vital Red River dock and marshland passage. If we could construct the castle before winter's low water season, we would essentially possess the golden trade route, attracting merchants and wealth in abundance. The city also held a large stockpile of human goods, intended for sale at a premium during the winter scarcity, mostly comprising the food and steel I needed. Additionally, the captured merchants were a treasure trove; some paid ransom to leave, while others would become my commercial agents in the human world.

A vast number of human captives, both from the siege and the marsh battle, initially attempted to escape. However, without supplies, escaping the marsh was a pipe dream, especially since I controlled the provisions camps within and had the guidance of local expert Hake, along with my elite Wolf Riders. Less than one-tenth of the mercenaries managed to evade my pursuit.