Fighting Montenegro

The young man scanned his surroundings, attempting to determine if the river in front of him matched the one described by the wise elder. Upon receiving confirmation from his trusted wolf companion, he plucked a stone from the riverbank and hurled it into the water. A momentary bubbling gave way to tranquil stillness.

"Without my keen sense of smell, I might have recklessly leapt into that river, unaware of any lurking monster," he remarked to his wolf, who promptly corrected him.

"Correction, my olfactory abilities are superior. I am the one who possesses the sense of smell, not you," he was reminded, though he likely didn't register the correction. This was often the catalyst for their arguments, leaving both parties frustrated. Slowly, he approached the river and settled down on its edge, fully aware that the monster lay submerged, patiently awaiting his scent. Just as expected, lost in his own thoughts, he was struck by the monster's tail and plunged into the water. Determined not to succumb to the depths, he fought with every ounce of strength. He refused to be harmed by the monster or let himself drown. If a fight was necessary, he knew he had to remain on the water's surface, no matter the cost.

Grimacing, he felt the reopened wound at the back of his head. He bit his tongue to divert his focus from the pain, recognizing that dwelling on it would only grant the monster an advantage. As he was yanked out of the water and then forcefully submerged once more, he glimpsed the spot where he had been seated before the monster's tail propelled him into the depths. He took note of the precise location of his sword, seemingly abandoned nearby on the riverbank. In battles against such creatures, he always made it a point to identify their weaknesses, enabling him to strategize accordingly.

He didn't engage in direct confrontation, but rather maneuvered his body and observed their behavior. In the case of this particular monster, its tail possessed considerable strength, indicating that severing it would be pivotal to his success. His sword, conveniently left by the riverbank, was the singular instrument capable of achieving this.

"Whoosh!"

Harnessing his abilities, he manipulated the water, causing it to surge in waves towards the sword and bring it to him. The next instant, the monster pursued him, driving him back to the river's depths. Summoning all his strength, he deftly sliced through the creature's tail. He had diligently observed its methods of tormenting him, thereby acquiring valuable insight for his counterattack.

After being plucked out of the water by the monstrous creature, he was granted a few precious moments to catch his breath before being plunged beneath the surface once more. The objective of the beast was to render him unconscious before carrying him away. Regrettably, it was now without its tail.

"Let's see how you'll reach me this time, you wretch!"

With a taunting laugh, he eagerly awaited its reappearance. His breath hitched when the monster resurfaced. To his astonishment, the severed tail had regrown and multiplied, resulting in a total of eight formidable appendages. How this feat had been accomplished remained a mystery, but his sole mission now was to swiftly sever each and every tail before the creature overwhelmed him. 

"Harness your abilities," his wolf companion urgently commanded. A moment of clarity struck him, and he promptly exhaled a gout of fire, aiming to reduce the monster to ashes. Alas, his attempt was in vain, for they were locked in combat within the watery depths where fire held no sway. A devastating blow struck his face, eliciting a groan as he was sent hurtling toward the treacherous depths. Throughout the altercations, they remained perilously close to the riverside.

"Quickly, exploit this! The monster's aversion to deeper waters hinders its ability to wage battle. Even after casting you aside, it gives no pursuit. It anticipates your return to the shallows," his wolf chided, observing the monster closely. Determined, he endeavored to swim back to the safer side, and indeed, the monster gave chase. But as he ventured further into the deep waters, the creature bellowed from a distance, unwilling to draw nearer.

"Summon the water to its location. Drown it, and that shall be your victory," came the wise instruction from his loyal wolf.

Mulling over his companion's counsel, the young man focused intently on the only sounds that resonated within his consciousness: the gentle gurgle of water cascading over rocks, and the melodic rush of the river coursing through its channel. Having honed his skill in water manipulation and conjuration over time, the lad discovered that even without the aid of incantations, he possessed the ability to exert control.

 A chorus of burbles surged forth as the water swirled around him. The monster, marooned on barren land, was robbed of its watery domain. In one audacious move, he propelled every droplet from that very river towards the beast with a resounding splash. Caught off-guard, the monster recoiled and attempted to flee. Seizing the opportunity, he sprinted towards it, brandishing his sword with laser-like precision, his target set upon its regrown tail.

"Charge!" came the command from his wolf, prompting him to swiftly move towards the now panicked creature. In one swift motion, he severed all million of its tails, causing blood to mix with the surrounding waters. Disgusted, he used the back of his left hand to wipe away the salty-like blood that had splattered on his face and found its way into his mouth.

Suddenly, his wolf's warning cry caught his attention. Without a chance to react, numerous baby monsters emerged from the opposite side of the river and launched an attack against him. The pain of their bites ripped through his skin, draining him of every drop of blood. It gradually became clear that these baby monsters grew stronger and larger each time they consumed his blood. Struggling to bear the pain, he realized that this was the reason the cunning old creature had lured him here. In order to defeat them, he knew he had to use his own blood. Suffering intense agony, he witnessed blood gushing out from his wounds as he screamed.

His blood became a magnet for the monsters, who eagerly swarmed towards him to satisfy their thirst. Reciting incantations he had initially thought he would never have to use, he summoned an unseen force to retrieve his sword from the water. With precise strikes, he cut down the particular trees he had mentioned during the incantations and extracted their essence. Under the charm, the sword was returned to him, now coated with the extracts. Gritting his teeth, he slashed his own throat, allowing the poisonous extracts to flow into his veins. As the monsters dropped lifeless into the water, he lost consciousness, unaware of how much time had passed.

Upon waking, all he could see were the water and the fish surrounding him. Struggling to regain his composure, he swam out of the river, desperately gasping for air. Crawling onto the riverbank, he noticed that his once normal skin had now turned green due to the effects of the poison. Although this poison wouldn't harm him, it would be fatal to any monster attempting to extract his blood. The poison weighed heavily on him, causing his legs to tremble and rendering his muscles immobile. His head throbbed with heaviness, knowing that he would lose consciousness at any moment if he focused on the pain. It seemed that his wolf had sensed his struggle and came to his aid.

He reminded him, "That cunning individual who sent us to this monster will surely demand its head in exchange for the promised gold coins."

In an instant, the pain was forgotten as he was reminded to retrieve the body from the water. "What in the world?" he exclaimed, startled by the discovery of a man. Observing closely, he could discern a man's head beneath the incredibly thick skin, with distinctly human legs as well.

"Mankind is far more menacing than any creatures I've ever slain," he muttered, recalling the havoc wreaked upon him by that monstrous beast and its offspring. Considering utilizing his abilities to displace the water and dispose of the lifeless monsters, his wolf companion intervened. Weary and aware that employing an additional set of powers might prove fatal, he realized the imperative was to return to Majorri cave, a place he had learned about, in order to recuperate, tend to his injuries, and replenish his energy.

"How might we obtain the heads?" he pondered aloud, certain that the man in question would deny his payment if only one head were presented. "I am convinced he will demand all of them," he responded to his wolf.

"Fear not, I have a plan," assured his wolf. "Enduring a modicum of discomfort yourself, close your eyes," his companion beckoned. The bones cracked once again, as his skin stretched under the strain of elongated claws and powerful limbs, and he knew his wolf was assuming control. With agility, the white wolf plunged into the water, employing its limbs to propel itself as its formidable fangs carried the bodies to the surface. Once the task was accomplished, the white wolf relinquished its dominant role, allowing its human counterpart to take charge. Armed with his sword, he severed the heads of the aquatic monsters and conveyed them back to the king.

"What on earth?" exclaimed the king, eliciting shocked reactions from all those assembled within his palace, reminiscent of a cavern. They followed his startled gaze, awe-struck as they witnessed the young man approaching, drenched and injured, burdened with numerous sea monster heads upon his back.

"Hurry, summon the healer!" the king commanded, prompting one of the guards to rush behind the cavernous walls. Wheeling towards another guard, he shouted, "And you, what are you waiting for? Go and assist the lad."

That was the last utterance the monster killer heard before he succumbed at the entrance, overwhelmed by the collapsing weight of the monster's head, completely enveloping his form. He appeared as though entombed alive.