The new continent was vast, wild, and untamed. The group had spent weeks exploring its dense forests, rocky hills, and overgrown ruins, following rumors of powerful relics and hidden knowledge. But nothing had prepared them for the discovery of the shrine—an ancient structure hidden deep within the earth, its presence almost forgotten by time itself.

  Emmet and his companions stood at the edge of the stone steps, which led downward into the mountain. The entrance was surrounded by elaborate carvings and symbols, worn by centuries of neglect. Despite the passage of time, the air around the shrine hummed with a faint, unfamiliar energy—old magic, potent and restless.

  “This is it,” Emmet said, his voice barely above a whisper. The air felt heavy with expectation, and a chill ran down his spine. The markings on the stone reminded him of the old summoning rituals he had learned of, the very rituals that had allowed him to bind his summons. He had never seen anything like this before.

  Tabitha, walking beside him, ran her fingers over the stone carvings, her expression contemplative. “This shrine... it’s not like the others we’ve encountered,” she said, her voice low. “It feels different. Powerful.”

  “The magic here is older than anything we’ve known,” Emmet replied. “But we don’t have time to waste. We need to find what this place holds.”

  The group descended into the dark, narrow corridor, their steps echoing off the stone walls. The temperature dropped with every step, the air growing heavier, more saturated with arcane energy. Tabitha's wisp darted ahead, its soft green glow lighting the way, while Emmet’s mind raced with thoughts of what might await them at the shrine’s heart.

  As they continued deeper into the ruins, Emmet felt something stir in the air. It was as if the ground itself was alive, pulsing with a strange, ancient rhythm. The deeper they went, the more intense the sensation became, like the very earth was holding its breath, waiting for something—or someone.

  They finally reached a massive chamber. Its high, vaulted ceiling stretched far above them, and the walls were adorned with murals and carvings depicting ancient summoners, each with their unique summons—beasts of unimaginable power. The chamber felt alive, as if the magic had seeped into the very stones and bones of the place.

  At the center of the chamber stood a stone altar, worn smooth by the passage of time but still strong. Surrounding the altar were four tall, intricately carved pillars, their surfaces inscribed with runes that glowed faintly. The air around the altar shimmered with a barely perceptible energy, like a crackling charge waiting to explode.

  “This is the heart of the shrine,” Tabitha said, her voice reverberating with awe. “It’s a summoning site—like the one where you bound me, Emmet. But this is far older. The power here could be... immense.”

  Emmet stepped forward, his pulse quickening. “If it’s power we need, we have to unlock it. For the sake of those we’ve lost.”

  He knelt at the altar, placing his hands on the cold stone. As he did, the runes on the pillars began to glow brighter, and the ground beneath him seemed to tremble. The air around them thickened, as though the magic itself was drawing near.

  Tabitha stepped forward cautiously. “Emmet, be careful. We don’t know what will happen.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “I know,” Emmet replied, his voice tense. “But I don’t have a choice. We need this power.”

  The moment Emmet's palms made contact with the stone, a pulse of magic surged through him. He was thrown backward, crashing into one of the stone pillars as a deep, rumbling growl filled the air. The temperature in the chamber dropped drastically, and the walls seemed to close in as a thick, oppressive presence filled the space.

  Then, from the darkness at the far end of the chamber, something began to materialize. Emmet’s heart raced, his body tense with anticipation. A low, guttural roar echoed through the room as a massive creature emerged from the shadows, its form slowly coming into focus. The creature was colossal, with thick, scaled skin and eyes that gleamed like molten gold. Its many heads—each with long, snapping jaws—seemed to leer at Emmet with a mix of curiosity and hunger.

  This was no ordinary summon. It was a Hydra—its body coiling and writhing in the air, its heads twitching with a feral energy.

  The beast’s eyes locked onto Emmet’s, and a strange voice echoed in his mind: “You have awakened me, summoner. I am bound to you.”

  Emmet’s heart skipped a beat. The power he had felt surging within the shrine was now embodied in this creature. A beast of legend, of myth—one of unimaginable strength.

  Tabitha stepped forward, her voice filled with awe. “It’s a Hydra—a creature of immense power. This isn’t just another summon, Emmet. This... this is something else.”

  The Hydra’s multiple heads snapped toward her, its jaws dripping with venom. “This bond is not forged in weakness,” the creature growled. “I will fight for you, summoner. Lead me.”

  Emmet’s mind was reeling. He could feel the bond already beginning to take shape between them. The creature’s power thrummed through him like an extension of his own soul, and he could sense its immense strength, its relentless hunger for battle.

  He stood slowly, his pulse racing, his mind focused. The Hydra’s power was overwhelming, but it was also a weapon—one that could help him reclaim everything that had been lost. With this creature at his side, he felt as though they could take on the Crown’s Wrath, challenge Marcus Azkalin, and rebuild what had been shattered.

  “I will lead you,” Emmet said, his voice steady, despite the chaos he felt inside. “We will take back what’s ours.”

  The Hydra’s form shifted, its massive coils slithering across the stone floor with unnerving grace. Its heads hissed and snapped in unison, each one displaying a fierce intelligence and determination that matched Emmet’s own. The power emanating from the beast was like nothing he had ever felt before—a wild, untamed force that seemed to defy nature itself.

  Tabitha, still staring at the creature, seemed both in awe and cautionary. “This power... it’s dangerous, Emmet. Do you understand what you’ve unleashed?”

  Emmet nodded, his mind still swirling with the realization of what he had just summoned. This Hydra was not just a summon—it was a force of nature. One that could reshape the battlefield and turn the tide in their favor. But Tabitha was right. With this power came responsibility, and they could not afford to underestimate the dangers it posed.

  “I know,” Emmet said quietly. “But we need it. We need all the strength we can get if we’re going to survive.”

  The Hydra’s multiple heads turned to face him, its glowing eyes full of understanding. “I will fight for you, summoner. Lead me to battle, and I will tear down your enemies.”

  As Emmet stood there, feeling the bond solidifying between himself and the Hydra, he knew that this was only the beginning. They had unlocked a power unlike any other—a creature of unimaginable strength and fury. The question now was: Would they be able to control it? Would they be able to harness it to protect the people they had left and take the fight to the Crown’s Wrath?

  Only time would tell. But for now, as the Hydra’s roar echoed in the chamber, Emmet felt a sense of resolve settle over him. With this new summon at his side, they would reclaim what had been lost. They would fight—and they would win. “At least that’s the plan.”