Okay, Puppy.

M...?

Move up a bit. Out of range of the Hydra's attack.

I told you. That's my people. You will attack me...

I don't care.

　Mmm," says a disgruntled puppy.
　I'm a scout. Reconnaissance isn't just about watching and analyzing.
　It's also called a power reconnaissance, isn't it?

Okay.... Come back when you're ready.

Kid?

　I jumped off Puppy's back.

　The former 'brave' level 99 isn't cool. When I descended from this level of height, my body art can move without any problems.
　In addition to that, most importantly, this sword at my waist. This is the sword that I haven't had since it was broken at the ruins of Rilkara.
　With this, I can use my realm of expertise - 'Sword Skill Level 99'.

''Hmph!''

　To Hydra's torso, one kick first.
　It was an all-out kick with a sharp tip and steel leg armor (Sabaton). It's hard to call it a weight-bearing blow as I was falling, but I knew it would still cause damage.
　However, my kick only made a slight dent in Hydra's hull.
　On the contrary, that hull is hard enough to make my leg numb as I kicked it.

''Hard!

　d*mn.
　Just like Drake and Angus said, this guy's outer skin is crazy hard. Even if I attacked it with a sword, I'm not sure if it would pass through.
　The nine wriggling heads looked at me in unison.

''■■■■■■■■■----!

Shucks!

　Sensing the danger, I kicked up Hydra's torso again, making her body float.
　With that, Hydra's head ran through to where my body had been. As expected of me, I'm not confident that I can withstand the bite of a level 99.
　I see.
　Two thick legs underneath its body and a tail. There are no arms, but instead nine necks that move freely.
　This is even more so, I'll have to aim for the neck.

''Hah!

　I drew my sword and ran down Hydra's torso to the base of her neck.
　All the while, Hydra's neck was attacking me. I ducked with a paper-thin duck as she opened her enormous jaws and bit me to the core. The sound of its fangs clacking together reminds me of how strong its jaws are.
　But it doesn't stop. Defying gravity, Hydra's torso runs as if it were the earth.

''Hah!

　Along with narrowly avoiding the attacking blow to my neck, I wielded my sword.
　I asked Silmeria for this sword, a reasonably expensive one, in case you're wondering. But that doesn't mean it's a sword with magical powers or anything like that. It's just that it's a gem of forgeability, struck by an experienced craftsman.
　But that sword easily cut off the head of Hydra.

"Oh.

................

　Hydra lets out an inaudible scream and one of my heads falls off.
　It's probably one of the reasons why my skill is 'Sword Technique Level 99'. However, I did understand something.
　The outer skin of the hydra is indeed hard. But that was only the body part.
　The neck, which can be moved freely like an arm, is made up of an outer skin that is more flexible than hard. That means that slashes can be passed against the neck.

'I see, huh!

　With the returning sword, he cuts off yet another head.
　There is no scaffolding, and the fight is in the air. I'm not going to be able to get through to you with a sword wielded only with the physical strength of my arms, without any hips in it. This is a happy miscalculation. The physical resistance level of 80 is only below the body.
　However, there is one more sad fact.

'Wha........it's already regenerating?

　The two heads I cut off just now were two.
　Even though almost no time has passed since then.
　In front of me, the nine heads were firmly looking at me.

''■■■■■■■■■■■■----!

　With a scream, Hydra's head strikes me again.
　If only I could somehow get to the base of the neck instead of an unstable foothold. If I do, I should be able to slice a few heads off at once.
　With that thought in mind, I run up Hydra's torso like a mountain climber, one step at a time.

''Hmph!''

　He slashes off one of the heads as it attacks him, smearing it with spurting blood.
　But that neck easily grows back from its base.
　As expected, the skill "Self-Renewal Level 50" is not a master. No matter how many times I cut off its head, it will only be a game of weasel words.
　In other words, the way to defeat this guy.

　To cut off all nine heads, all in one go.

".........

　Do we need any more validation?
　I step on Hydra's outer skin as hard as I can and leap. With that, my body goes around behind Hydra.
　Three eyes out of nine heads look at me.
　With a thud, I landed on the earth and put away my sword.
　The three heads also look forward again, as if they have lost interest in me.
　They did not chase after me as I came around behind them. Despite recognizing me as an enemy in my current state, there was no pretense of attacking me here.

''.........''

　There's a lot of discomfort.
　If I was level 99 and was an 'Ancient Dragon King' (Ancient Dragon) like Puppy, it wouldn't be surprising if I could communicate with him, but I can only hear screaming from Hydra.
　And on top of that, even though the enemy is me, I'm prioritizing progress over fighting.
　That's the strange feeling I have about Hydra.
　It feels like I'm being manipulated by something, and I'm under orders to 'just keep moving forward and destroy it' - that's what I feel.
　Does this mean that there is a profession other than mine that can use demons?
　And that too, in the heart of the Mullerian religion.

...Well, okay.

　For now, we know what we need to do.
　First, we're going to bring Hydra to a standstill. Then, it would land on its torso.
　Then, I drop the nine heads at once. The outer skin of this neck is not as hard as the torso. In other words, a demon of a reasonably high level would be able to drop at least one of the heads.

　The eight demons that exist as my fighting strength are.
　Milo, Gilanka, Chappie, Bow, Puppy, Drake, Angus, and Amanda.
　I'll need to coordinate with them and cut their heads off in unison.
　Now all I have to do is cut off the last of their heads.