Before it finishes regrowing I stab and cut the main body several times doing as much damage as I can. As soon as the left head finishes regrowing I jump back clear of the mud, no way I can dodge with my feet stuck. The left head is far more aggressive and quickly chases after me ignoring the wounds to the main body.

As it charges at me it seems to miss a step and stumbles, which gives me hope since it is the first sign I've seen that blood loss is affecting it. If I can hold out just a little longer then I might actually win this fight. The hydra reaches me and the left head comes in to bite me, it is moving so fast I can barely see it.

It is far too fast for me to completely dodge, so I use the chain of my manacles to block. With the chain I manage to keep the head's mouth closed so it can't bite me, but the head still hits me. I can feel my bones creak in protest as the head hits me and sends me flying across the arena.

I cough up a little blood as I slam into the arena wall for the second time. Not sure if it was the head hitting me or me hitting the wall but my chest is starting to hurt, not sure how many more hits I can take. This time I at least manage to land on my feet and keep my eyes on the hydra.

It is coming towards me but it is noticeably slower now, all the wounds are finally starting to affect it. The bad news is the right head has finished regrowing and the middle head isn't far behind. Now my only hope is to keep my distance, two heads at that speed is way more than I can handle with these manacles on.

As the hydra advances towards me I back away, following the curve of the arena wall. It has slowed down a lot compared to the beginning but it is still slowly gaining on me. The crowd is going insane, they can tell we are approaching the end of the fight one way or the other.

The hydra catches up to me and the heads immediately start trying to bite me again. It takes everything I can muster to avoid the teeth, I get hit and thrown around several times in the process. No bites means no poison, but other than that I am getting beaten and thrown around like a rag doll.

Getting bounced off the walls repeatedly is not a pleasant experience but as it goes on I can see the hydra's movements slowing down. As the heads start being affected and slow down as well I am once again able to successfully dodge the attacks. I may be bruised all over and a few of my bones are certainly fractured, but I am still up and able to move.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Evasive Steps has progressed to level 2!

Evasive Steps

Level: 2

Agi +8

The art of not being where you are.

It is getting easier and easier to dodge the attacks of the hydra's heads, even with the middle head now regrown and joining the attack. It is going after me with everything it has, I guess it realizes it is dying and wants to take me with it. It seems to get more and more frustrated as I continue to dodge its attacks.

The three heads start using coordinated attacks to try and corner me, and it seems their intelligence has gone up as well. The more I dodge the more accurate its attacks become, it's learning. But it is too little too late, it has lost too much blood now to recover and defeat me.

With the hydra slowing down I am finally able to get some distance from it and take a look around. Lord Shendaw and those closest to him are silent, but the rest of the crowd is cheering like mad for me. To be honest having people cheering for me is a completely new experience, and I am finding it rather intoxicating.

This must be what celebrities felt like, no wonder they got addicted and did all sorts of crazy things. Of course if I become king cheering crowds will become something normal I would think. I will need to watch myself to make sure I don't become addicted to this feeling.

Finally the hydra stops chasing me and sinks to its knees, by this point practically the entire arena is covered in its blood. It looks like it is ready to fall over and die at any moment, but it has one last surprise for me as all three heads fire their breath weapons. If I was still watching the crowd instead of the hydra I would be dead, as it is I barely dodge.

Other than singing my fur a little, the last attack of the hydra doesn't do anything to me. The arena is another matter, a large section of the wall is destroyed and some of the crowd are injured. That last attack took the last of its energy and after it is over the hydra collapses.

The crowd continues cheering for a few minutes as the hydra breathes its last few breaths. Then the crowd goes silent and turns to look at Lord Shendaw to see if he is going to keep his word. As Lord Shendaw is opening his mouth to speak there is a sudden loud explosion from somewhere in the castle.

'Well, it's about time!'

The crowd is suddenly panicked and screaming as they try to scatter into the rest of the castle through doors too small for that many people. Lord Shendaw is screaming orders and his people are trying to follow them but they can't get out of the room because of the crowds. The sands of the arena are the only quiet place in the room and now no one is paying any attention to me at all.

First I cut out the core and stuff it in my pouch, then I remove the heart and start eating it. While I chew each bite I continue cutting at the hydra, my pouch won't hold the whole thing but it should hold a good portion of the meat. I would try to take the hide but after the long battle it isn't really in a condition that is worth saving.

Devour Activated! Str +10 End +10 Toughness +10 Regen +5!

New Stat Regen Unlocked!

'Regen? Yes! Yes! Finally! That fight was so worth it!!'