Headed by a Snake

"Is this how you lost your pathetic life? Lying on your side like a virgin patiently waiting to be bedded? Humans crawling over your body like ravenous animals in heat?"

Tycondrius ground the sole of his boot over the lizard\'s eye socket... making certain he knew how exactly he was being insulted, "Open your legs for me, slut. I\'ll ensure your violation quick and painless."

"I will NOTTTT TOLERATE YOUR INSULLLTS!!!" The lizard roared...

The mana in its voice threw Tycon off and away... and he grabbed onto a thick tree branch to steady himself. It was loud enough that his head began to ache-- even through the mana protecting his ears.

The creature came at him... with tooth and claw.

That\'s what lizards did. First, they breathed. If the battle continued, they threw a tantrum, flailing about with their body.

The creatures were supposed to be intelligent... but when it came to martial combat, their arrogance led them to believe they were naturally unstoppable killing machines.

Generally, they were. The massive lizards were capable of demolishing a guild with their wings, cutting down armies with a single breath attack, razing entire cities...

However... if their combat ability were to be examined without consideration of their size and mana pools, their tactics were...

Brutish. Savage.

Insultingly simple.

Predictable.

"⌈Silent Shadow in the Dark,⌋" Tycon activated the second form of the Screaming Silence\'s strongest blade techniques.

Two illusions of himself coalesced out of the shadows.

One dashed forward to attack the lizard\'s mouth.

"Lizards," It groaned in contempt, "Biting and scratching like a disobedient child."

Its attack struck true, but its form was dissipated by a claw swipe.

"This is why you fall to mere humans," The second illusion dodged its bony tail, its shadowy blade sparking along the length of it.

At the rear of the dragon, it spun and cut its blade into its back right heel, "No armor. No weaponry."

Tycon deflected a stomping claw with his adamantine scabbard, then slashed deeply into the lizard\'s side, "Even a human child seeks clothing and protection from the elements. All you have... is this."

Cutting aside a flap of leathery skin... as well as three rib bones, the shriveled glowing heart of the creature was revealed.

Then... Tycon found himself flying backward.

It took a moment to realize he\'d been struck by a quick whip of the lizard\'s tail over its shoulder.

His back struck a tree, which broke... then another tree. Then, he tumbled along the dirt until he was launched up by a jagged rock hitting his side.

"It is... im... possible to defeat me," The lizard snarled as he whipped his tail into Tycon\'s last remaining reflection... "Without flesh... my mana... circulates not through my meridians... but through the entire island. All the power of death in this place... is MINE TO COMMAND!"

Tycon sat up.

His mouth tastes of iron... and he swallowed.

He was bleeding internally... He felt the left side of his face swelling up, but he had no intention of removing his helmet.

It wasn\'t the best he could do.

⟬ ⌈Inspirational Surge⌋ conditions met. Activate? Y/N? ⟭

« ...Yes, thank you. »

⟬ Activating... You\'re welcome. ⟭

"⌈Rapid Casting⌋ ⌈Twin Spell⌋ ⌈Magic Bolt,⌋" The lizardolich waved a claw... and nine spell circles appeared in the air in front of it. Dozens of magical bolts at a time began to fire at him at odd intervals.

Tycon sighed as he got to a knee. Then, upon standing, he began to defend himself... cutting through the spells with his magical sword.

It wasn\'t enough. Over half of the bolts struck his Arcanite armor... He felt his metal shell being ruined... bones creaking from impact after impact... his insides turning to gravy.

"Persistennnnttttt..." The lizard growled as its spell circles faded, "Lie down... and DIE!!!!"

It surged forward, wings outstretched... and Tycon ducked down, slashing his sword. He made a superficial cut on the surface of the lizard\'s shrunken heart-- he had erred in judging his sword\'s length and the creature\'s trajectory...

The creature roared in pain, gripped its claws into the earth and whipped at him with its tail.

Tycon avoided the sharpened tip piercing the sands by throwing himself aside, striking his shoulder hard against the ground and rolling with the momentum.

...It was sloppy. His balance had been affected by his heavy armor and the level of damage he\'d taken.

Through sheer force of will, he commanded his body to stand. As long as adrenaline continued to course through his veins, he had to perform at his body\'s limits if he wanted to succeed.

The dragon whipped its tail once more, which Tycon slipped underneath while dashing forward. Its wings twitched-- the subtle motion distracting him in his hyper-aware state... and he saw the creature\'s the end of the creature\'s bony tail rocketing towards his chest.

Gritting his teeth, he sheathed his sword and placed both hands on his adamantine scabbard to block.

He flew backward from the impact... again striking the dirt... his armor again scuffed by rolling in the rocks, pulling up entire bushes by the roots.

He grunted in pain as he struggled again to his feet... even more difficult through the numbing pain.

His left arm hung loosely at his side...

The angle of the lizard\'s attack had come at the perfect angle to break his elbow.

"Tss," He scoffed. "Good hit."

"You... are doomed," The lizard raised its head in undeserved pride, "Each... passing sun... my power only grows. My magic... my undead body... is great and powerful, gifted by the Dragon God."

"You must be quite proud of yourself," Tycon tore off his helmet and spat out the blood. He unstrapped his left gauntlet as well-- his arm was beginning to swell.

"And... youuuu..." The lizard pointed one of its disgusting claws at him, "are only... human."

Tycon took in a deep breath, circulating his mana, and flicking his thumb to remove the blade from its catch, "Incorrect."

Drawing his sword, he activated the third and final skill of the Screaming Silence blade techniques, "⌈Orochi no Ken wo KURAE!!⌋"

Taste the Hydra\'s Blade.