Chapter 45: Showing Off The Upgrades

Chapter 45: Showing Off The Upgrades

Hiral raised both RHCs in front of him and aimed as a name appeared to his PIM, floating above the monster’s head. That’s got to be View kicking in.

Giant Horned Lizard – High-E-Rank

No surprise there. He pulled the triggers, the weapons kicking up as the Runes of Impact activated and released bolts of pure force. Unlike his Rune of Rejection, which simply pushed things away, the Runes of Impact concentrated their energy on the instantaneous collision, resulting in a force much like Right punching something with his Meridian-infused fist.

Whomp. The twinned bolts smacked into the side of the Giant Horned Lizard’s head, blasting off one of its namesake spines, and audibly fractured the skull. The lizard staggered to the side, distracted from Yanily as the man slid in beside it and unleashed a barrage of spear strikes. That wouldn’t be enough to bring the beast down, though—the second that had made the mistake of attacking the party—and Hiral darted out to his side, weapons aimed again at the lizard’s head.

Even in the relative dark and rain, the only light provided by the glowing roots and the slight purple flames from Infernal Conjuration, Hiral’s Dex and Atn steadied his hands as he pulled the triggers. Alternating fire—the weapons had a one-second cooldown between shots—one then the other, Hiral peppered the head and shoulders of the lizard while the others struck from melee range.

Nivian, with his whip and shield sheathed in purple fire, held his ground as Hiral’s shots zipped past him, visible only in how they displaced the rain. He then lashed out to drag the infuriating thorns across the lizard’s face again. Angry eyes turned in his direction, and Nivian lowered his shoulder and charged in, Spearing Roots bursting out of the shield in his hand.

Pull after pull, Hiral kept up his barrage of shots, the combination of his attacks and Nivian’s vicious shield strike twisting the lizard around on its back legs. From there, Vix danced in, his punches landing before he ever got close—projections of force shooting out with every strike—while Wule focused energy into his new rod and hurled a blast of icy energy at the lizard’s back foot.

Suddenly unable to shift its foot—or its weight—the lizard overbalanced, and Right swerved around Vix to deliver a powerful uppercut, completely flipping the monster onto its back.

Another strike from Yanily scored a light wound across the exposed belly, and then the man’s spear lit up with its final crude etching flaring purple light.

“Ready!” he shouted, shifting to the side and spinning the weapon in his hands.

That was Left’s cue. The double leapt into the air, twisting his body into a powerful spin that surrounded him a bladed stream—now purple due to Infernal Conjuration—from his Dagger of Sath.

Yanily’s spear struck with an eruption of purple flame at the same time Left’s liquid dagger did, its trailing stream suddenly rushing to catch up to the blade and add an unparalleled explosive slice to the strike. He’s gotten better with the dagger if he can use that ability.

The body of the huge lizard collapsed around the force of the two blows, bones and spines shattering, and bloody gore spilled across the ground in a wave. One of the thing’s front legs shuddered, and Hiral pulled both triggers one more time at the thing’s head.

Just to be sure.

And not a moment too soon, a croooooooak and cascade of breaking branches swept in at the group from one side.

“Vix! Behind you,” Hiral shouted, giving the pugilist just enough warning to dive to the side, though he still got clipped by the speeding lizard.

The new arrival, at least twenty percent larger than the original, skidded to a stop, claws digging into the ground for purchase, and its empty mouth clamped shut. The tail whipped hard in one direction, then snapped in the other, pulling the back end of the lizard around while it quick-stepped its feet to turn.

“You killed three of them in the time it took us to notice the fight was happening and run back?” Picoli asked.

“The new gear and abilities from the dungeon have made a huge difference already,” Seena said. “Hiral’s cannons there pack a mean punch, and finally give us a ranged option. Add in the new versatility Vix and Wule bring, we’re a much stronger party than we were a few days ago.

“And, yes, Yanily, your new spear is great too. Don’t pout,” Seena finished.

“Wasn’t pouting,” Yanily said quietly.

“Do you think that first lizard let us pass and waited for your group?” Seeyela asked, turning to Hiral with the question.

“No, I only heard it because it was moving,” Hiral said. “Maybe it was attracted by our sounds or the lights, and it just happened to find us when it arrived. I think it could’ve turned out much worse if it had been lying in wait for us.”

“Still, only on the path for an hour, and already we’ve been attacked twice,” Seeyela said. “That first lizard that attacked us was pretty small, but these three here look a little more intimidating. How do you think you would’ve done if they’d all come at once?”

“Not nearly as well,” Seena said. “Takes all of us to bring one down. Their scales and spines are just too durable.”

“You know, I was thinking about that after the first one we killed,” Lonil said, standing beside the latest kill hanging from the Spearing Roots. “Cal, could you and Fitch make armor out of this?”

“Armor?” Hiral asked Seena quietly as the two aforementioned Growers moved closer to inspect the body.

“Fitch and Caleon have been learning how to tan hides and craft armor from them,” Seena answered, her voice just barely above the sound of constantly falling rain. “Usually leather, like we’re wearing, but they might be able to do something with the scales from these lizards.”

“Fitch?” Cal asked. “Thoughts?”

“Maybe. It’ll be a bit different than usual, but we could try attaching the scales, and maybe even some of these horns to leather. There’s probably a way to make something directly out of the scales—would be lighter, but I don’t know how to do it.”

“Something Lonil could wear over his Stone Form?” Seeyela asked. “A few of those spikes would sure make anything attacking him regret it.”

“You trying to steal my gimmick?” Nivian asked Lonil playfully.

“You know what they say about imitation and flattery,” Lonil responded, his hand still running along one of the lizard’s longer horns. “How long would it take?” he asked Fitch.

“Much longer than we want to spend out here in the open,” Fitch answered. “When we get to the next dungeon and have a place out of the rain, we’ll see what we can do.”

“Sounds good,” Lonil said, standing up. “Shall we keep going and see what else is stupid enough to attack us?”