Lost In Fatal Existence

---

The eerie quiet of True Existence was shattered by the ground trembling beneath their feet. It began as a low rumble, growing louder with each passing second. Dust swirled around them, and the wind picked up, carrying an unsettling chill. Ryuta's heart raced, and a sharp instinct told him something massive was coming.

"Get ready," Cain warned, his eyes flicking around the horizon, where an unnatural darkness was forming.

Skyler, always quick on his feet, checked his gear. "I don't like this. We need to move now."

But it was already too late. A roar, deep and guttural, echoed from the distance. The ground cracked open as a massive, serpentine form emerged, its body coiled in the ruins of an ancient temple. Its scales glistened like molten gold, and its eyes burned with an unnatural fire. The creature's body was adorned with symbols—ancient runes that pulsed with a strange energy. Its roar reverberated in their bones, sending shivers down their spines.

"That's not just any monster," Merlin said, his voice tinged with awe and fear. "That's a Hydra—a creature of myth, but... more than that. It's real."

Zhen's eyes widened. "A Hydra? You mean... like the legends?"

"Exactly," Merlin replied. "But this isn't the kind of monster that just appears in myths. It's something else. Something that belongs to True Existence."

The Hydra let out another roar, and the ground shook. As it slithered closer, the group took a defensive stance.

"We can't just fight this head-on," Ryuta said, his mind working quickly. "We need a strategy. Something to break its hold on this world."

Cain cracked his neck, his expression one of unbridled excitement. "A Hydra? Perfect. I've been waiting for a challenge like this."

Roy stepped forward, eyes focused on the creature. "We don't need to defeat it. We need to find a way out. We don't even know what's controlling these monsters, and if we don't get out of here soon, we'll be next."

As the Hydra's eyes locked onto the group, its massive jaws parted, revealing rows of sharp teeth. It lunged forward, its tail whipping through the air, sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Incoming!" Alexia shouted, leaping out of the way just in time.

The Hydra struck, but they were faster. Cain, already in motion, rushed forward, flames engulfing his sword. With a single swing, he cut through the air, sending a slash of fire toward the Hydra's face. But the flames barely left a mark on the creature's scales.

Skyler fired a quick shot, but it too bounced off harmlessly. "Not enough firepower."

Merlin's face was grim as he raised his hands, chanting an incantation. A burst of magical energy surged from his palms, but the Hydra simply recoiled, its scales shimmering, deflecting the magic.

"This isn't working," Roy said, his frustration evident. "We're going to need more than just strength to take it down."

Ryuta's gaze shifted, narrowing as he observed the Hydra. There was something peculiar about the way it moved, the way its body shifted, as if it wasn't entirely... real. A part of it seemed to flicker, like a bad memory trying to hold itself together.

"It's not just a monster," Ryuta muttered, realization dawning on him. "It's part of the illusion. This whole world is twisting and distorting things. That Hydra isn't really here."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Alexia demanded, her voice strained.

Cain grinned, his sword flickering with flames once more. "If it's an illusion, then all we need is a bit of fire to burn away the truth. Let me handle this."

Ryuta grabbed his arm, stopping him. "No. It's not enough to just fight. We need to find the source of this... illusion."

Parker suddenly spoke, his voice low but serious. "What if it's connected to the myths themselves? This place... it's a world of echoes. What if it's trying to bring these monsters to life?"

Zhen's eyes widened as he put the pieces together. "That's it. The monsters aren't just here because they belong to True Existence. They're part of the world's distorted reality. They were created by the collapse of the world's structure."

Merlin nodded. "We need to sever the link, break the connection between the myth and this twisted reality."

The Hydra, meanwhile, had stopped its attack, its gaze shifting as it flickered in and out of existence. It seemed to be waiting, watching them with an intelligence that was more than just instinct.

Ryuta stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "We need to strike at the heart of this. If we can find the core of the illusion, we can shatter it and free ourselves."

"But how?" Roy asked, eyes scanning the ruins around them.

Ryuta's mind raced. "The ruins. The old civilization—these are the remnants of something that used to hold this world together. If we can find the right piece, we might be able to undo what's been done."

Without hesitation, the group turned and made their way toward the ancient temple ruins where the Hydra had emerged. As they moved, the creature followed, its body flickering as if it were bound by some unseen force.

The deeper they went into the ruins, the more the world seemed to shift. The air grew thicker, and the sense of unease grew stronger.

"Something's wrong," Alexia said, her voice tense. "This place is alive. It's trying to keep us here."

Skyler gritted his teeth. "We don't have time for this."

Finally, they reached the center of the ruins, where a large stone altar stood, covered in glowing runes. The Hydra halted, staring at the altar, its flickering form growing more unstable.

"This is it," Merlin said, his voice awe-struck. "The core of the illusion. It's anchored here."

Ryuta approached the altar cautiously, reaching out with a hand. "We destroy this, and the Hydra goes with it. The world's illusion will collapse."

But before they could act, the Hydra charged, its massive form barreling toward them with terrifying speed.

"Move!" Ryuta shouted.

Cain reacted first, his sword igniting with a roar. He dashed forward, striking the Hydra's head, but the creature twisted, its body reassembling as it moved. It was as if the Hydra was not just a creature, but a fragment of the very world they were trying to escape.

"Everyone, now!" Ryuta ordered.

With a swift motion, he slammed his fist into the altar's center, channeling all his energy into the stone. The runes exploded in a burst of light, and the world itself seemed to shudder. The Hydra's form flickered violently, its massive body rippling as if it were being torn apart.

For a moment, everything went silent. Then, with an earth-shaking roar, the Hydra dissolved into mist, vanishing as if it had never existed.

The ruins began to crumble, the illusion shattering in all directions. The air cleared, the oppressive atmosphere lifting.

"Is it over?" Alexia asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ryuta stood, staring at the crumbling ruins. "For now. But there's more to this place than we realize."

With the Hydra gone, the path forward was open. The group had escaped one nightmare, but they knew the journey wasn't over. True Existence was still full of mysteries, and somewhere, hidden in its shadows, was the way out.

But for now, they had their escape.