Chapter 15: Tastes Like Power
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The Hydra lunged and Xander dodged left...barely. A blast of sickening venomous steam hit the ground inches from where he’d just been standing, sizzling against the dirt like acid. The stench curled up his nose, thick and disgusting.
His stomach turned.
’No way in hell am I getting poisoned again.’
He moved fast with his blade raised, heart slamming against his ribs. The dagger was too small. Too light. Too everything he didn’t need. But it was all he had.
Another head came down, fangs snapping.
Xander ducked, rolled beneath it, and slashed across one of the scaled legs. The blade almost its nicked skin. The Hydra roared anyway, more annoyed than hurt.
"Okay," he muttered, stumbling back, "so you do feel pain. Good to know."
The ground vibrated as the Hydra pressed forward, all seven heads weaving in a deadly rhythm. One of them hissed, venom pooling in its throat. Xander darted right again, shoulder slamming into a tree as it narrowly missed him.
His lungs were on fire. Legs already tired.
But he moved again, him being quick and desperately, then he saw an opening. One of the Hydra’s heads reared back too far, teeth bared wide. Xander ran toward it, feet pounding the earth.
He jumped, dagger raised as he stabbed it straight in the eye.