Chapter 23: Wrath of the Nine-Headed Serpent!

Chapter 23: Wrath of the Nine-Headed Serpent!

(Author's POV)

Previously on Enigma Online PH, Zaphro and his allies stood their ground against an overwhelming force—an Epic-class monster known as the Nine-Headed Hydra, a nightmarish beast summoned through a surprise in-game event. Though united with other parties, the players were gradually being wiped out, outclassed by the boss's sheer brutality and regenerating power.

The battlefield had become unrecognizable—once a vibrant forest, now reduced to a smoking ruin of splintered trees and craters. The air was thick with dust, and the cries of defeated players echoed like whispers of defeat.

It was chaos. Pure, unrelenting chaos.

> "Zaphro, fall back—now!" Verillion's voice rang out from across the battlefield, powerful and commanding.

He and his mid-field support team had begun charging their ultimate skills—spells that could only be used once per event due to their immense mana drain and long casting times.

Zaphro, Andromeda, and the others immediately complied, pulling away from the Hydra's strike zone just as the monster began thrashing in fury. The serpent's nine heads snapped and roared wildly, spewing elemental death in all directions—ice, fire, lightning, poison, even void magic. It was no longer a boss; it was a natural disaster.

> "Everyone! Clear the blast zone!" Aryus shouted through the general voice channel, his voice booming in every player's interface.

Even players outside their party heard the warning and started retreating. Despite the chaos, most players listened. The few who didn't—either too close or too slow—were instantly struck down by the Hydra's uncontrolled elemental bursts.

Low-level players, realizing their abilities were no match for the beast, had stopped attacking altogether. Instead, they took on support roles—healing downed allies, casting minor buffs and debuffs, and doing everything they could to contribute without becoming liabilities.

And then it happened.

> "NOW!" Verillion roared.

A chorus of shouts followed as players unleashed their ultimates in perfect unison.

> "Rainbow Blast!" Verillion's body glowed with prismatic energy before firing a beam of light straight into the Hydra's chest.

"Crimson Apocalypse!" Erenir shouted, hurling a massive crimson spear formed of condensed fire mana.

"Moon Flaire!" Erik cast a lunar barrage, shimmering with moonlight and frost.

"Arashi: Nature's Wrath!" Ayana summoned a tempest of vines and wind that tore into the beast's flanks.

A massive explosion followed—a combination of spell energies forming a radiant storm that rocked the entire battlefield. From a distance, even non-participating players could see the surge of blinding light and feel the quake beneath their feet.

And then—

> "Way of Binding! Crippling Shadow!"

A new voice joined the fray. A lone card slinger emerged from the skies, dark cards swirling around him in a vortex of black magic. The player known as Accel had arrived. His spell wrapped around the Hydra like chains of shadow, locking its movement just long enough for the others' attacks to connect.

> "25% reduction in HP…" a system voice murmured across their interfaces.

It wasn't enough. But it was a start.

> "Zaphro! Long time no see!" Accel called out cheerfully.

> "Accel? You're here too?" Zaphro hovered closer to him, smiling. "Didn't expect to see you on your first event."

> "Yup! I couldn't miss this one. It's insane!"

Zaphro chuckled. "Hold up, I got something for you." He opened his inventory and quickly initiated a trade.

> "You need better wings. Those temporary ones aren't doing you any favors."

> "Whoa! Archangel Wings? And a full card set?!" Accel's eyes sparkled with gratitude.

> "Consider it a welcome gift. Just fight with us, yeah?"

> "You bet!"

Accel immediately equipped the items, his character glowing with divine light as his new wings unfurled behind him. He took off with Zaphro, joining Andromeda and Slicer in the aerial assault.

> "Dark Void!" Accel unleashed a black vortex card at one of the Hydra's heads, followed by a barrage of sharpened cards slicing through scales.

The others followed suit—Zaphro ignited his blade with Burning Essence, striking a second head with Cold Fire and Burning Stab. Andromeda was a blur, darting through the sky as her enchanted fans sliced into the serpent's throats with pinpoint precision.

The Hydra shrieked. Its health dipped by another 15%.

> HP Remaining: 60%

But their victory was fleeting.

The ground quaked. The Hydra's body shimmered with a crimson aura.

> "It's charging something!" Slicer warned.

> [SYSTEM WARNING: GET BACK AS FAR AS YOU CAN – GM Kaizen]

It was too fast.

> "Fall back!" Andromeda yelled.

They tried.

But a fraction of a second later, the world turned white.

A soundless explosion followed—a shockwave so massive it shattered boulders and vaporized trees. Those too close were instantly deleted. Not by code, but by the overwhelming force of a hidden AOE skill.

It was a system-level attack, one not listed in the Boss's info sheet.

A trap. A timed purge.

> "NOOO!" a player screamed as they were thrown backward, health bar obliterated in one blow.

> "Support team, status report!" Verillion's voice rang again, but static cut through his words. Many of the support casters were gone.

Smoke blanketed the sky. The Hydra loomed once more, heads regrown, glowing red with fury.

> "It's… regenerating again," whispered Accel, eyes wide.

> "What the hell is this monster…?" muttered Slicer.

Zaphro clenched his fists, his dark aura beginning to stir.

> "We're not done. Not yet."