Chrono Corruption
Act 4: New World Order
Chapter 23: Invasive Species
*Middle Ages, ?"
The Rift opened and Crono's party came through. They quickly noticed they were dumped into a dimly lit stone building. Glenn quickly recognized the place, "We are in..., Cyrus's Tomb! Crono, if I may, would it be possible for us to stop. I wish to pay my respects before we look for the Drayguards," he asked politely.
"Sure thing, Glenn," Crono agreed.
The party then made their way into Cyrus's Tomb and Glenn knelt down before the clean tomb of his dead mentor. "Cyrus, how I wish you were still with us. I feel as though I've let down the Kingdom. Nevertheless, I shall work with my friends and restore order. I swear it upon your grave!"
As Glenn rose to his feet he noticed the handle of a sword from behind the tombstone. Curious, he grabbed the blade. Glenn unsheathed the sword and noticed that it was finely crafted, "Incredible, a Steelheart Broadsword. Someone must have dropped this here as a way of paying respects. Cyrus, I require this sword, but mark my word I shall return it when my work is done! Now my friends, let us be off to find the Drayguards!"
"I hope he's all right," Lucca started. "I wonder if he's met with his ancestor yet?"
"Nevertheless, we must make haste, the Drayguards may be my only hope of curing Tata and the Queen!" Glenn stated urgently.
*Choras Swamp Lands*
"What's going on here? I thought the Choras Swamps were a little cleaner in this era," said Ty to himself as he wandered aimlessly through the thick mucky swamp that one day would become his home. "...It seems the swamp is already declining I can smell it in the air. Oh well, I gotta find Eston before he kills that damn Hydra and gets blamed for the devastation of this swamp!" he said as he hurried through the maze-like swamp. He waded through the slimy waters like they were nothing and easily cut down the poisonous plant and bug monsters that stood in his way. He seemed a little down, however, "Man this sucks, I lost my 'battle buddy' and I'm stranded in this era! Even if I can get Eston to avoid that Hydra how am I supposed to get home?" he said worriedly. "I forgot just how lonely it is adventuring by myself... I wonder if Tomo's alright. Well, at least I know she can't starve to death," he chuckled lowly. "Meh, come on me, what am I worried about? That's all she's ever done is explore, she should be fine...!" Ty said sighing all the while. "Speaking of which, I wonder where the others are..."
As Ty continued his way through the swamp he eventually came to a hidden stone structure that was abandoned. The overgrowth showed that it had been lost to time for quite a while. "What the hell is this place? I've never seen it before in my time," he said softly to himself.
Just then, Ty felt an arm wrap around him and a hand covered his mouth and nose with a chemical compound stained rag. He quickly reacted, however, and threw off his unseen assailant, who was just as surprised. As Ty turned and drew his daggers the person responsible also had a dagger drawn. Ty was stunned as he got a good look at the man. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and had dark brown spiky hair with a sweep in it. He had a lanky build and covered himself in a light brown cloak with a scarf over his face. He wore tattered clothing, a white undershirt, and a forest green button-up vest with brown pants that were missing cloth on the right leg. Lastly, he had brown cloth gloves that had the fingers torn off, worn leather boots and his dagger was a worn iron hunting knife.
Ty pointed at him in awe, "It's you..., Eston Drayguard!"
The man pulled the scarf down, "Do I know you? And, how did you resist my Tranquil Toxin? You should be asleep!"
Ty quickly began making things up, "Uh, I just heard about you before..., from the locals, that is!"
"Really? I'm famous already, huh?" he chuckled smugly. "Wait, wait, never mind that for a second! How are you still awake?!"
"Oh, I study poisons and chemicals too!" Ty said strongly. "Uh, that's why I'm here actually! Just, you know, studying the creatures in the swamp for their valuable insight!"
"Ah, so you've grown resistant to them as well!" Eston deduced. "That explains why you're running around here in such light clothing. You know it is strange, but when I look at you, I feel that you are familiar somehow..."
"Eh, just a coincidence! Surely!" Ty stammered. "Ahem, anyway, I want to know something. Have you seen any big snakes around this swamp? I'm talking BIG! With multiple heads and stuff."
"Oh, you mean the Hydra?" Eston began. "Yeah, that is a very dangerous snake! I've been avoiding it since I've been released from prison. It was hell having to listen to that monster slither around at night while in my cell. That beast is so toxic its breath even kills things!"
"So you, haven't managed to kill it?" Ty asked curiously.
"Are you daft?" Eston asked accusingly. "I wouldn't fight that thing if you paid me! I do want to study it though, it's a valuable species. I have never seen another creature like that here or in all of Choras! So I believe that it is an invasive species."
Ty's eyes widened as Eston continued to think, "An invasive species? It doesn't originate here in these marshlands?" Ty thought in astonishment. He then came around to ask Eston another question, "So, what makes you think it's an invasive species?"
Eston came around, "Oh, well, I've been imprisoned here since the year 589 A.D. and all the while I heard that nasty beast slithering throughout the swamp during the night. The creatures that it hunted always let out a piercing howl or screech, so I got to know each creature by its cries. Those poor critters! All devoured with gluttonous zeal. When I was released from prison with a few others the prison was shut down. The others quickly made haste to leave this place but I stayed to study. My studies quickly revealed that the Hydra devoured non-toxic creatures and left toxic ones alone."
"So it basically feasted on the small wildlife that naturally adapted to life here?" Ty said, putting it together.
"That is not my only clue, however," Eston went on.
"Oh?" Ty mused.
"Yes, much of the flora here is also very poisonous, some even release toxins into the waters," Eston claimed. "But, the majority of that flora is not from here either, but like a bunch of weeds, it is choking out the normal flora that did exist here before."
"So, do you think someone brought it here, or did it make its way here on its own?" Ty asked curiously.
"I have reason to believe that it was brought here along with the flora, but I have yet to prove it!" Eston deduced. "I believe this because, whilst I was imprisoned, I could hear voices outside my cell window at night. At first, I thought them to be ghosts or other vandals, but maybe they belonged to whoever brought that vile serpent here."
"That's very interesting," Ty said trying to suppress a chuckle. "Say, one more thing. Why were you trying to put me to sleep?"
Eston acted like a kid caught red-handed, "Uh, well you see...," he mumbled. "...You looked like you have some valuable stuff on you..."
"Heh, that's a little too honest for a thief," Ty chuckled.
Eston laughed heartily, "Maybe you are right. Maybe..., I'm not really cut out to be a thief."
"Why not use those skills on monsters...? Monsters are stupid anyway, I mean, why not put your skills to good use?" Ty urged with a somewhat praising tone.
Eston relaxed a little as what Ty said really began to sink in, "You know, no one has ever said anything like that to me before. And here I was about to mug you!"
"That's okay, if you wanted money, all you had to do was ask. I have some I can spare," Ty said with a friendly smile.
Eston seemed a little astonished, "Really? You would help a person like me with no catch? Just like that?"
"Sure, my parents taught me how to share," Ty retorted as he took some gold coins out of his pocket. "Here, get yourself some food and some supplies would ya."
Eston took the hand full of gold coins and was still shocked. "I... do not know what to say... I... What is your name stranger? Surely there is something I can do to help you in return?" Eston said eagerly.
"My name isn't really important, just call me Ty. I'm..., an explorer of sorts," Ty claimed, trying to leave out harmful details.
"Explorer? You mean like that famous guy Toma Levine?" Eston asked.
"Yep, just like him, well, I mean I would like to be," Ty claimed with a chuckle.
Eston sighed as he stared upwards, "Ah, to be like him, I would be lying if I said I was not envious of his life!"
"This is going way better than I thought!" Ty thought as he relaxed a little. "Hey, there is one thing you can do for me if you want that is."
"Oh? What is that?" Eston asked curiously.
"Help me find out who drug that Hydra here. I want to ask them a few questions!" Ty said with a serious tone.
"Absolutely, that I can help you with," Eston complied. "As a matter of fact, I've been seeing strangers other than you around lately. Perhaps we can catch them in their little ploy!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Ty said with a grin.
With the deal struck, they shook hands. Eston immediately hatched a plan, "Let's wait until nightfall. That's when I hear them the most. Here, this old building is where I was imprisoned. It has been abandoned because the swamp became so dangerous, but it should be fine for us!"
As night fell on the swamp and the full moon shined its reflected light through the toxic flora, Ty was given a tour of the old prison. It had been abandoned for so long, that Eston had retrofitted the prison into a very protective fort fit for only himself. He even turned a cell into a makeshift lab for studying toxins and another a rather cosey living room. However, one of the rooms caught Ty's attention more than any other. In the basement, a large cast-iron door sat at the end of a hallway. Eston smirked, "Heh, that room is the vault where the Guardian soldiers kept the funds for this place as well as other items confiscated from other criminals sent here. Really wish I could get into it!"
Ty inspected the door in awe, "This must be it..., the Drayguard Family Vault. It was hidden in this old prison. All I have to do is find this place in my era!" he thought with a wild grin that he hid from Eston. Ty regained his bearings and faced Eston, "Maybe I can open it."
"Really? That would be great if you could!" Eston praised.
"I can give it my best!" Ty said as he took out his lock picking tools from his kit.
As Ty tried to jimmy the lock he quickly became frustrated after many failed attempts. Then, he was struck with an idea, "Wait..., my Cloud Key. It's a skeleton key. Meh, can't hurt to try it," he thought as he reached for the Cloud Key under his shirt.
Eston marveled when he saw the key, "Incredible, you have one too?!"
Ty turned his attention to Eston, "You... have one like this?"
"Sure do! I found it in the warden's room still on a key ring with many others! I thought it looked amazing for its age so I kept it! I did not think to try it on anything because it seemed much older than anything in this building," Eston explained. "Mine's in my living room. I keep it hidden inside a book!"
"My family has..., had this for a long time. I found it in a lockbox when I was a kid. I like collecting antique keys...," he said trying to keep Eston from asking too many questions.
Nevertheless, Ty placed his Cloud Key in the tumbler, not actually expecting it to work. It fit nicely, which surprised him and with a bead of sweat on his brow, he turned it and the tumbler moved, unlocking the door. Eston looked at Ty with glee, "I did not think that old key would do it!"
Ty sighed, "Well, it is a skeleton key after all...! My parents had to take it away from me one time because I was unlocking almost everything in the house with it!" he finished with a chuckle.
"Ha, I guess you were a little scoundrel sometimes too!" Eston laughed. "Anyway, shall we see what lies behind this door?" he said getting back to the matter.
"Right!" Ty said as he swung open the door.
Ty and Eston's anticipation quickly gave way to crushing disappointment as the door revealed an empty room, one with not even a coin left on the floor.
"Curses, I guess those Guardians were sure to take their wealth with them when they left this place to rot!" said Eston angrily.
"Well, just use this room for yourself then! This room is big enough to hide all sorts of treasures," Ty suggested.
"Not a bad idea considering I can open it up now!" Eston said cheering up.
As Eston escorted Ty back up to his living room their idle chitchat was broken by the sounds of voices heard outside the other cell's windows. "Wait, do you hear something?" Eston said, stopping Ty.
"Yeah, I wonder if that's our culprit?" Ty said.
"Let's go see!" urged Eston.
Ty quickly followed his ancestor outside and they followed the voices quietly. Eventually, three figures came into view, the smaller figure a female, was complaining to her larger male companions. Ty quickly recognized the female's voice, "Wait, it can't be, is it?! Ty said aloud.
"What is it?" Eston asked.
"I think I know these guys, they're my pals! They must have come looking for me!" Ty said as he rushed out to greet them.
Ty approached the three and caught them complaining, "Damn it, Crono! You're eating up all the Panacea's we got! Quit getting stung and bit and keep some distance once in a while!"
"It is you guys!" Ty laughed as the party's attention turned to him. Crono seemed a little delirious, but okay.
"Ty, we finally found you!" Lucca said rushing over to him in relief. She quickly took notice of Eston and whispered quietly to him, "Is that..., you-know-who?"
"Yep, so please don't use my last name in front of him. He doesn't need to know it," Ty whispered back.
"Got it, I'll tell the others," Lucca said as she went to Glenn and Crono.
As Lucca told Glenn and Crono in a huddle, Eston caught Glenn's eyes, "Hey, I recognize you!"
Glenn came forward, "You do?"
"Yes, you are Glenn, the Squire to Sir Cyrus! You were with him when I was caught!" Eston said remembering.
"Yes, your memory serves you well, Eston Drayguard," Glenn said stoutly.
Eston started shaking in his boots, "A-are you here to take my life?"
"No, I am here to...," Glenn paused, thinking of an excuse. "Check the swamp for suspicious activity...," he said unable to lie.
Lucca quickly interrupted, "We are here looking for our friend Ty, nothing more. Are you a friend of his?"
"Um, we did just meet today, but all things considered, I would say yes," Eston replied.
"I hate to be a bother, but I don't feel so good...!" Crono said wobbling back and forth.
"Eston, can my friends come inside and freshen up a little?" Ty asked politely.
"Absolutely, I would not want to deny a Knight of Guardia after all," Eston replied trying to calm down.
Sometime later, everyone got to know each other and Eston whipped up an antidote for Crono, who was now relaxing. "Thanks, I feel a lot better!" Crono said, his head still a little cloudy.
Glenn turned to Eston, "I'm glad to see you have changed your ways Eston, but why stay in this place? Why not settle down further into Choras. You have served your punishment. There is no need for you to remain here."
"Thanks for the pardon, Sir Glenn. I learned a great deal while imprisoned here," Eston began. "Actually, the reason I remain here is that I'm looking for a legend."
This caught Ty's attention, "What 'legend' could that be?"
Eston seemed reluctant, but relented in the end, "Have any of you ever heard of the 'Life Sparkle'?" he said quietly as if someone might overhear him.
"Life Sparkle...?" Lucca said curiously.
"Can't say that I have," Ty retorted.
"Well, the Life Sparkle is a very special plant that can mysteriously grow in the world's worst environments. I believed one might be here in this swamp considering its poor condition, but I have yet to locate it," Eston explained.
"Why do you want to find it so badly that you will continue living here?" Glenn asked worriedly.
"The Life Sparkle is the world's rarest flower and I thought that if I find one I could study its properties. They say that the Life Sparkle is the main ingredient to immortality and other such things. I believe though, that it is the key to a very strong medicine. If I could do that then I could really do some good for the world!" Eston finished.
"You have come a long way indeed, Eston," Glenn complimented.
"Thank you, but unfortunately, I have not found even a single thing in this swamp that even resembles what could be the Life Sparkle," Eston finished with a heavy sigh.
"If what you say is true, then the swamp might not be in 'bad' enough shape to warrant its growth," Lucca theorized.
"That may be true," Eston considered. "Either way, what did all of you come here for? Are you perhaps guides for Sir Glenn?"
"As we said, to find our buddy Ty here," Crono started, his head clearing up. "Ya'see we got separated a little while ago and just sorta guessed that he would end up here. We guessed right it looks like!" he finished with a laugh.
"Oh, well then, Sir Glenn aside, are the rest of you explorers like Toma Levine?" Eston asked with intrigue.
"You can say that we really get around, yeah," Lucca replied shakily.
"I really respect Toma! After I'm done with my research here, perhaps I can meet him someday!" Eston wondered.
"I wouldn't worry, I believe you will!" Ty said with a grin. "In one way or another...," he finished saying softly.
"Well then, shall we turn in for the night?" Glenn asked everyone. "We have much to do in the morning!" Everyone agreed in one form or another and the party then turned in for the night.
*Dawn*
As dawn broke, the sunlight just barely shining through the trees, the party was awakened by a distant scream of terror. Everyone jumped from their bedding with fright as they tried to locate the source. Everyone was accounted for, including Eston, so it was not from one of their own. Quickly, everyone left the prison and quietly entered the swamp. "Where do you suppose that scream came from?" Crono asked curiously as he quickly darted his eyes around.
Just then, another yet quieter scream emanated throughout the trees. "I'd say from there, to the east!" Ty said as he focused on the scream.
"Then let's go! It may be the culprit!" Glenn said anxiously.
"I will follow, but still keep my distance, just in case someone tries to sneak up from behind!" Eston said.
With that, the party began heading through the eastern half of the swampland. The swamps winding narrow paths were difficult to navigate as it was a natural maze. The poisonous creatures made the trek difficult, but with Ty, it was much safer due to his knowledge of the creature's capabilities. Eventually, as the party progressed, a voice could be heard as a man came into view. He was gravely injured and sat up against a tree, shivering in agony. The party approached the man and Glenn knelt down in front of him. "You, are a pirate are you not?" Glenn said as he examined the gruffly dressed man with a scraggly beard and eye patch.
The man tried to focus on Glenn with his one bloodshot eye, "Ugh..., the poison must be... gettin' to me... A Knight of Guardia out here...? If ye be real... then please... end my sufferin'. The poison from that great serpent... is killing... me..." he said as he passed out.
Ty leaned in next to Glenn to examine the pirate, "He's gone. This poor bastard got a heavy dose of Hydra venom. I couldn't have helped him even if we had gotten here a little earlier."
A sudden roar could be heard up ahead, "That must be the Hydra...," Crono said, his hand edging closer to his sword.
"Everyone stay alert," Ty began. "The Hydra's venom can be applied in one of two ways. One; through a bite and, two; in its breath, like a mist. So everyone, watch your backsides!"
"Is that all, or is there anything else we should know?" Lucca asked, hoping to better prepare.
"I'm not totally sure. I've never actually faced one of these things before. I only read about them," Ty said nervously.
"Oh, wait, that reminds me!" Crono said as he faced Ty. "You might want some new equipment!" he finished as he brought out the Smith Spirit.
Crono had the spirit make Ty some newly formed items. Two bronze daggers called the Gladius, a Cobra-Pattern Jacket with matching shorts and Scarabshell Goggles. Ty traded out his old stuff for the new, "Great, that's much better!"
As the party continued on they came to a clearing where a small old pirate ship had been dragged from the coastline. It had been badly damaged and not much of it remained. Ropes had been attached to the hull and it seemed the crew dragged the ship little by little to where it now stood. Three pirates stood before the wreck. "W-w-where did that massive snake come from?!" one of the pirate lackeys said in fear.
"Someone must have brought it with us!" said another member.
The third, who looked like the Captain, scolded his subordinates, "You lubbers brought that nasty creature on board my ship?! I should keelhaul the deck scrubber who took the thing's egg!"
"So that's how that Hydra got here...," Ty said with a quiet fury.
Crono whistled with amazement, "They got pretty far with their ship though didn't they?"
The Captain heard the party and finally noticed their presence. His sight caught view of Glenn and he grew afraid. "Uh-oh, Sir Glenn of Guardia! T-to what do we owe the pleasure?" he said with sweat forming on his brow.
Glenn wore a stern, cold expression as he approached them. "The Kingdom of Guardia does not tolerate piracy!" he said unsheathing his sword.
The Captain fell back and landed on his rear, "W-wait, Sir Glenn! I..., well, oh never mind. I won't resist ya, Sir Glenn. Just get me and what's left of my crew outta this swamp!"
"I shall, but first, you might want to step aside!" Glenn said as he noticed the head of a large serpent emerge from the ship's hull.
The pirates screamed in terror and ran off past Crono's party in a rather haphazard manner. Crono and the rest of his party drew their own weapons. Ty stepped forward with a grin, "Let me try something. I've been wanting to use this for a while!" he said as he took what looked like a small candy cube from his Thieve's Tool Kit. He ate the gummy and his skin turned a bright red as his heart rate went up. "Hm, tastes like..., green apple." Ty then bolted towards the serpent and dodged its quick strike in a flash and retaliated by gliding his left-handed dagger along the snake's throat. He then used his right-handed dagger to cut a deep gash that nearly sliced off the reptile's head. It dangled a bit from the rope of sinew that still kept it attached until the rest of the snake elevated itself. Then with a disgusting sound, it tore off and landed in the water below.
"Wow, impressive he's moving so quickly!" Glenn stated.
The blood poured from the throat of the Hydra and pooled into the water below as Ty gloated, "Ha, how do you like my 'Adrenaline Rush'? That gummy I ate is a special recipe that floods my body with adrenaline so I can move faster and hit a lot harder!" he laughed heartily.
The blood that pooled into the water began to emit a strange mist and this stopped Ty's laughter as he quickly noticed it kill some nearby plant life. "Are you kidding me? Even the blood is corrosive?" he said in surprise.
The stump that was cut off withdrew as the snake emerged with another head from another section of the ship. This time though the ship collapsed entirely to reveal a large reptile with three heads, although with one removed, attached to a stout muscular body with two strong stumpy legs and a long, thick tail to counterbalance the heads.
"So that's a Hydra, huh? All right, I'm up for the challenge!" Crono said confidently. "Hey, Glenn, let's hit that other head with an X-Strike!"
"Agreed! I am with you!" Glenn agreed.
Both Crono and Glenn synchronized their poses and with a burst of speed and precision they lobbed off the second head with no effort. The reptile roared in pain as the head flopped onto the ground. "That's the way! Man, I sure missed that technique!" Crono cheered.
"It's exhilarating to be fighting alongside you again, Crono!" Glenn followed.
Lucca took aim at the last head, "All right, my turn!"
Before Lucca could line up her shot, the monster reacted strangely. Its body wriggled and wavered as the two stumps began to split like hairs. Then with a forceful push two new fully formed heads, coated with bodily fluids now reached into the sky. The party gasped as the now five-headed monster roared loudly. "Bullshit! It can regenerate lost heads with more heads?! That wasn't in the notes!" Ty said rhetorically, mouth agape.
"Well, that's not good...," Crono said with an uneasy smile.
"What a beast!" Glenn said astonished.
Lucca used her scope to scan for any potential weaknesses, "I got it! We have to cauterize the head stumps! Crono, we can use Fire Sword! Glenn, we can use Red Needle! Ty, you and I can finish it off with Scarlet Winds!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Crono agreed.
"I'm ready when you are, Lucca!" Glenn said with vigor.
"Got it!" Ty said with a bead of sweat rolling down his nose. "I got a bad feeling about this!"
Lucca chanted her spell and formed a Fire Ball in the palm of her hand. The Hydra roared as its heads slowly slithered in. "Crono, catch!" she shouted, giving a cue.
Crono leaped sky high with a confident smirk, "Ha, let's see you regenerate from having your head 'Cleaved' off with a burning sword!" he finished as he pierced Lucca's Fire Ball with a downward strike with his sword when he was above one of the heads. Crono cut clean through the head with a burst of red hot flames. The monster roared in pain as the cleaved head actually turned to Lucca and breathed a stream of toxic green mist right at her. She dodged to the right of it, but she screamed in pain as the mist caught her leg and began to burn it. "Lucca!" Crono shouted as the Hydra used one of its attached heads to slam Crono in the side and bat him away like a stone skipping over water until he hit a tree.
Glenn sheathed his sword for a moment, "Not to worry, my Healing magic should give us all a boost! I've altered it slightly to provide a barrier as well!"
Ty dashed over to Lucca and picked her up as they were both bathed in Glenn's healing magic. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
Lucca wearily got to her feet, her leg healed, but she still seemed off, "I... I feel kinda sick...," she replied as she began to sweat profusely.
"Yeah, you've been poisoned, here take a quick swig of this! I know it won't taste all that great, but it's the only known thing to neutralize the poison!" Ty said as he took out the vial of Hydra Humor he kept all this time and gave her a small dose.
"BLECH! That's gross!" Lucca said reviled.
"I know, it's kinda repulsive, but you'll be fine," Ty said with a warm smile.
"Thanks for the save Glenn, but here it comes again!" Crono said as he intercepted an incoming strike for Glenn as he quickly attempted to draw his sword again. Crono gave a strong shout as he demolished the incoming head with his Sonic Slash technique. The stump left behind began to wriggle as it began its regeneration process. Lucca shouted strongly as a Fire Ball consumed the wriggling head stump, turning it into a shriveling, bubbling grease. The monster roared to the heavens from the burn.
"Wait here, I'll get its attention!" Ty said bravely. Ty dashed at the beast and cut into its body with his daggers causing the corrosive blood to pour out some more. The giant snake responded to Ty's attacks with its poisonous breath. "Ha, gotcha! Wind Spiral!" he shouted strongly as the Wind Spiral pushed the mist away harmlessly.
"Lucca, now! While it is distracted!" Glenn said, readying himself.
Lucca breathed heavily as she created another Fire Ball, "I'm right behind you!" she wheezed.
She threw the Fire Ball above the snake that tried to dissolve Ty and Glenn leaped high into the sky. He plummeted with a mighty downward strike, his sword absorbing Lucca's Fire Ball, "Red Needle!" Glenn shouted as the sword eviscerated the head and cauterized the wound. Glenn hit the ground like a superhero and he pulled his sword out of the muck as steam emitted from the cooled blade.
The Hydra stumbled as it writhed in pain. The two heads lashed out together and aimed their attack at Lucca again. Ty, still using his Adrenaline Rush noticed and attempted to intercept. The beast's two heads expelled their streams of poison and Ty placed himself in front of Lucca, but to no avail, the poisonous mist still consumed the both of them.
"Lucca! Ty!" shouted Crono as he felt the snake's presence quickly turn its attention over to both him and Glenn. The Hydra began trying to nip and bite at Crono and Glenn who could only parry with a sword and block with a shield respectively.
Ty's head faced the sky, his eyes blank and his arms outstretched. Corrosive burns littered his body indicating that he took the brunt of the damage. Lucca stood, hunched over, her skin badly singed by the toxic fumes. She struggled to lift her weary head to see Ty, stiff as a board and outstretched like a scarecrow. Her vision began to waver like waves of water. She then coughed up blood as she struggled to catch her breath. Ty finally moved, turning his attention to Lucca, "Woah, that's an overdose...," he whispered in pain. "Lucca, take the rest of... the humor... this poison shouldn't... kill me... I think...," he struggled to say.
Then something strange in Lucca occurred, "No..., you go ahead... if I did that... then I wouldn't be able... to show you what I've learned... about the Aura Surge!" she claimed with a sudden surge of raw power. Ty fell backward into the water but still managed to prop himself up with his forearms. The Hydra quickly took notice and ceased its attack on the weary Crono and Glenn. Lucca's hair became hot pink and she was surrounded by a beaming red aura that rose like flames. She took a deep breath and opened her golden eyes. "Now..., let's end this!" she said as she raised her gun.
Glenn gazed at Lucca, "So, you have discovered this strange power as well?" he asked in awe.
Crono smirked, "You bet! Wait... you've transformed like that too?"
"Indeed I have, it was... exhilarating...," Glenn said breathlessly.
Lucca's gun flared up and glowed red hot like it had been in the pits of a forge and her aura took the shape of a pair of wings on her back. "Celestial Six-Shot...!" she said strongly as she pulled the trigger. A highly concentrated beam of fire magic hit the Hydra and obliterated one of the two remaining heads. Then she rose her hand and beat the hammer of her gun with her palm, emptying the remaining five shots into the massive snake. Lucca then returned to her normal state and slumped over, placing her hands on her knees. The Hydra had been reduced to a towering mass of cooked snake meat. It fell to the ground with a massive 'thud'.
Ty groaned, "Nice... work...," he finished as he passed out.
"Killer 'Super' Lucca!" Crono complimented.
"I think that goes without saying, Crono," Glenn said with a chuckle.
Eston came running, "Are you all, all right? You..., incredible! You have slain the Hydra!"
Glenn faced Eston as Crono and Lucca slung Ty over their shoulders, "Yes, the beast will no longer trouble this swamp. Thank you for leading us to this monster. If not for your time spent here, it would have dominated this area and maybe even entered Choras itself. I will let the King know of your service to Choras and my party."
Eston became relieved, "T-thank you, Sir Glenn!"
"Now, if you don't mind one more favor," Glenn started. "Help us with Ty here."
"Oh, yes, he does need some medical attention right away!" Eston said nervously. "Let us return to the prison!"
*End of Chapter*