Not-So an Extra

"HAHAHA!" The Hydra's laughter reverberated through the air. Its voice dripped with unparalleled arrogance and unyielding superiority as it bellowed, "YOU INSIGNIFICANT MORTAL!! DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU, A MERE SPECK OF DUST, HAVE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE OF DEFEATING ME?! A GOD?!!"

"Tsk," Adrian clicked his tongue in annoyance. His worst fear had come true—the Water Elemental turned out to be the Hydra's healer. 'Things just keep getting better and better, huh?'

"Don't look back," Arthur's words cut through the chaos, compelling Adrian to redirect his attention to the front. 

Meanwhile, Arthur couldn't help but wonder how his sons managed to stumble upon an Endless. To make matters worse, the Endless had now transformed into its original form, a godly creature in the flesh. Judging from its appearance, Arthur was certain that it was one of the two stolen Sacred Orbs from the Tower a year ago.

A crease formed on Arthur's forehead. 'Now that I think about it, every accident my sons have been involved in seems to be connected to that cult,' he mused. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. 'Could it be—'

"RROOOOAARRR!!" 

The Hydra's deafening roar shattered Arthur's train of thought, bringing him back to the present moment. Wasting no more time, he urged his horse to gallop faster. 'Once this battle is over, I'll have to question both of them.'

—Drrttt!

But just as they were gaining momentum, the ground beneath their steeds began to tremble violently, sending shockwaves coursing through their bodies. Countless presences rapidly approached from all directions, accompanied by the bloodcurdling shrieks of monsters in the distance. This prompted Arthur to draw his sword, gripping it tightly in his hand.

"Shhrriiieekk!!"

"Grooowwlll!!"

Through the charred trees, their menacing forms could be seen, some of the creatures had their furs ablaze, yet the flames failed to deter their charge. Reacting quickly, Adrian chanted inwardly and unleashed a barrage of wind bullets.

—Splat! —Splat! —Splat!

The monsters let out agonizing wails as their heads exploded, showering the surroundings with chunks of flesh and green blood. Suddenly, a gentle brush against his hair, causing Adrian to instinctively look up. There, he saw Arthur smiling at him.

"That helped a lot," Arthur acknowledged, before redirecting his attention back to the incoming monsters.

Nevertheless, Adrian couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart. While his adoptive father had praised him in the previous world, this particular compliment felt different, more meaningful…? 

However, his respite was short-lived as the surviving monsters lunged forward. 

"Shhrriiieekk!!"

"Grooowwlll!!"

The Paladins pulled on the reins of their horses, simultaneously swinging their swords to fend off the relentless assault. With a swift motion, their blades cleaved through the monsters' bodies, sending green blood splattering into the air like macabre fireworks. 

—Splat! —Splat! —Splat!

Witnessing the relentless attacks of the Paladins and Adrian, Simone, Péréz, and the others found their courage reignited. The fear that had taken shelter in their hearts slowly faded, and they too began to chant, firing a volley of wind bullets toward the encroaching monsters. 

As the number of charging creatures dwindled, the horses galloped forward once again, their hooves pounding against the ground.

Amidst the chaos, Adrian seized a moment to glance behind him, only to discover that the Knights and Elementalists were also besieged by monsters. However, his brows furrowed in concern as he failed to spot the Hydra amidst the chaos. 

Just as his thoughts began to wander, a looming shadow cast itself upon Adrian. He darted upward, only to find the Hydra poised above them, ready to strike. "Get away!" Adrian shouted.

Immediately, Arthur and the Paladins skillfully maneuvered their horses, narrowly evading the Hydra's attack. 

—Boom!

A thunderous boom reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath them. Debris and dust filled the surroundings, and the monsters unfortunate enough to be beneath the Hydra were crushed, their green blood staining the earth. 

However, their relief was cut short as powerful shockwaves swept over them, causing the horse to lose its balance. In the split second before their imminent fall, Adrian cast a spell, enveloping the group with a transparent shield. 

Warmth flooded Adrian's body as a pair of arms tightly embraced him, and the world spun around them uncontrollably. Eventually, the chaotic motion came to a halt, and they found themselves disoriented but safe within the shield. Upon regaining their bearings, they witnessed their horses galloping frantically past them, driven by fear. 

Arthur released his embrace, cupping Adrian's face with worry etched on his features. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" he anxiously inquired. 

Before Adrian could respond, their attention was abruptly drawn upward by a surge of condensed Mana forming in the air. The sight caused their eyes to widen in disbelief. A crackling magic circle materialized behind the Hydra's rightmost head, unleashing lightning bolts hurtled toward them. Reacting swiftly, Adrian summoned ten massive layers of shields.

—Shattered! —Shattered! —Shattered!

One by one, the barrier shattered into shards, unable to withstand the onslaught. As Adrian was about to strengthen his defenses, Graham's commanding voice cut through the chaos. "First line, Earth Wall!" 

Instantly, numerous layers of sturdy Earth Walls reinforced Adrian's shields and in turn, Adrian fortified the Earth Walls with his new barriers.

Adrian dismissed the group's shields, and they swiftly regrouped before advancing toward Graham's position. Their escape path was blocked by the Hydra.

Adrian turned to his father, their strides in sync. "Father, there's no way we can escape it. I believe it's best if we fight back," he suggested, his patience for this constant game of fleeing finally wearing thin.

Arthur responded with a touch of amusement, "Say that when you reach adulthood, my son."

"But—"

Before Adrian could argue further, another thunderous boom shattered the air, drawing their attention back to the Hydra. Adrian's shields began to crumble one by one under the relentless assault.

—Shattered! —Shattered!

"Second line, Earth Walls!" Graham's commanding voice rang out, and a series of Earth Walls materialized behind Adrian's remaining shields. With lightning reflexes, Adrian reinforced them with his new shields.

—Boom! —Shattered! —Shattered!

However, as the Hydra's attack continued, The Elementalists' Earth Walls crumbled and Adrian's shields were torn down one by one. Just as hope began to waver, the assault ceased, leaving only three of Adrian's shields standing defiantly. 

"Shhrriiieekkk!!"

"Groowwlll!"

Right after the disoriented monsters regained their senses, they immediately charged toward the group, prompting the Paladins and others to retrieve their weapons from their Magical Spheres for the imminent clash.

"RROOOAARR!!"

The Hydra let out a frustrated roar and ascended into the sky, generating a powerful gust of wind that swept through the surroundings. Hovering in the air, a magic circle materialized behind the Hydra's leftmost head, firing a volley of fireballs toward the Paladins below.