The Cursed Prince

CROAK CROAK

As they rode their horses to pass through the dark forest, they could hear the eagles croak from above them. The three men with five archers kept moving swiftly with high vigilance. They were expecting a hydra to show up at any time and block their way.

NEIGGHHH!

Suddenly, the eight horses halted in their motion and raised their front legs in surprise. Luckily, all their riders were experienced warriors. They could quickly control their horses and find a good position to protect each other and anticipate what was coming.

SEESSHHHHH

Suddenly, shivers ran down their spine, when they heard the hissing sound. It sounded like it came from all around them, so it was hard to tell the direction of the voice.

"It's the hydra," Elmer said calmly.

Mars nodded. His eyes were the sharpest. He could see perfectly in the dark, so even though the forest didn't get much sunlight because it was covered by tall trees, he could see their way easily. He had been leading them on which way to go.

And now, he was the first man to see the second monster. A giant scaly creature looking like a monstrous snake with five heads slowly emerged from the lake to their right.

"It's there, on our right," Mars said to his men. "You guys go ahead and keep going straight. Use a torch to find a way. I will deal with this hydra."

Elmer turned to Mars and asked him to confirm that the prince could really take care of the hydra on his own. "Your Highness, we can also kill the hydra together and then go to the cliff to get Lady Ellena's heart."

"It's better if you go and get the heart first. We cannot take a risk," Mars said firmly. "If you go quickly and return here in an hour, I might still be here with the hydra. Then you can help me."

"Are you sure?" Elmer asked again.

Even he would think twice to fight a hydra alone. It was not an easy target to kill. However, he didn't want to offend the prince. Mars must know his capabilities better than anyone.

Besides, the man wouldn't do anything foolish. He had a wife and child to go back to.

So, when Mars nodded in affirmation, Elmer smiled and waved his hand.  Suddenly, his right hand illuminated and now they could see light around them.

Elmer finally said, "Very well, we will go now and do our task as soon as possible. Your Highness, please take care."

After he said those words. Elmer yanked his horse's reins and moved forward, leaving Mars behind to fight the hydra.

Gewen and the five archers followed the old wizard and soon, the men disappeared from sight. Mars unsheathed his sword and moved forward to the monster who had now reached the lakeshore.

Sheeeeesshhhh....

Mars had only read about this creature in books. He had never seen it before with his own eyes. He knew it was big and scary, but only after looking at the ghastly creature in person did he realize that this monster was truly magnificent.

The scaly body was shiny under the little sunlight that could pass through the lush trees above. Its five heads all had yellow eyes that reminded Mars of his own golden eyes. This made him think that the monster had a brilliant vision too and could see in the dark.

Each head had scary fangs, ready to bite its opponents.

"Gah!!"

Mars patted Snow's back and, in a beautiful synchronized movement between the horse and its master, they charged toward the hydra.

Mars swung his long sword to stab one of the hydra's heads.  He assumed that this monster's weakness was in its heads and heart.

Just like humans, if they lost their heads or got their hearts wounded, they wouldn't be able to survive the attack.

So, he focused all his attacks and charges on the creature's heads or heart. However, since it had five heads, which were equally vicious in attacking him, Mars had to work hard to just get closer and stabbed the hydra.

He must stab the heart, or else he would have to cut the heads one by one.

Neigh!! Neigh!

Snow moved agilely, according to its master's orders, jumping here and there to find opportunities to attack and moved back in defense when the hydra charged at them with one head after another. It was a very intense fight with both parties trying to attack their opponent viciously.

Mars suddenly saw an opportunity when the hydra retreated after he swung his long sword toward its heart, and one of the heads was still quite within his reach.

SLASH!

Mars decided at the last second to jump from his horse and swing his sword to slash the hydra's head. He exerted all his power on that one attack. 

It was a good move. The hydra's head was sent flying toward the lake and entered the water with a splashing sound.

Meanwhile, the prince landed on his two feet, with his sword bathed in the hydra's blood as the animal growled furiously with the remaining four heads.

Its body moved erratically, losing balance after one of the heads were cut and the neck spurted so much blood, that it almost looked like a fountain.

Mars panted for breath. He quickly got up and got ready to fight the monster again and finished the job. He was trained for battles and had faced so many enemies in big numbers. So, he had really good stamina.

"I can do this all day," he muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

His golden irises looked at the hydra who still moved around erratically. That sight reminded him of a worm when its body was cut in two. Each end would wriggle erratically and tried to find direction.

Mars jumped on his horse again and moved toward the hydra. He would not give time to the monster to make sense of its situation, that it had lost one of its head.

Before the hydra could calm down, Mars would attack again and cut the second head. And then he would just repeat the process.

"HEY YOU!!" Mars shouted as he charged toward the monster, ready to cut the second head. However, suddenly, he saw something that gave him the shock of his life.

Snow halted its movement and growled in panic.

"Shit!" Mars was shocked to see the neck, that spurted blood just now after the head was cut, now was filled with two heads. "How is that possible?"

Mars had never heard about animals who could grow their heads back after it was cut, let alone grow two heads to replace one that was cut. Now, witnessing this sight with his own eyes, he was stunned and at a loss for words.

"Dammit! If I cut one head, two will grow back.." he muttered. "If I keep trying to cut all six heads, this creature will end up having twelve heads!"

"Uff..." He suddenly had a deep respect for Killian who could fight this monster and came back alive. Yes, he was injured, but the fact that he could survive after fighting this scary unkillable monster must mean he was quite powerful.

Now.. what to do? Mars couldn't cut another head... the hydra would just grow more of it.

Uff... he had no choice but to go after the heart.