The group stood frozen at the entrance of the chamber, their eyes locked on the massive creature before them. Its towering form loomed in the centre of the room, its chitinous exoskeleton glistening in the dim light.
"Oh, come on," Ethan muttered. "This thing's even bigger than the last ones. How are we supposed to take that down?"
Sam stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the creature. "We need to analyse it first," he said, his voice calm. "Let's see how its size has affected its movements."
They spread out slightly, keeping their distance as they observed the creature. It didn't immediately attack, its movements slow and deliberate, as if it were sizing them up as well.
Sam's eyes narrowed as he studied the creature's movements. It's slower than the others, but those claws... they're massive. One hit would be devastating. He glanced at Ethan, who was gripping his shield tightly. Ethan won't be able to block those directly. He'll need to avoid them altogether.
"We can't afford to get hit, don't try to block just dodge."
Ethan tightened his grip on his shield. This thing's claws are like swords, if I try to block that it's going to crush me. He glanced at Sam, who was still observing the creature. We need a plan, and fast.
"So, what's the play here?"
Victor's cold eyes scanned the creature, his mind racing. Its armour looks thicker there are much fewer visible gaps in its exoskeleton..
"Its armour's more complete," Victor said, his voice low and steady. "We'll need to find what few gaps there are and focus our efforts on them. Anything else is going to be a waste of energy."
Lily adjusted her grip on her spear, her sharp eyes scanning the creature's body. It's huge, but not invincible, if we can find a way to slow it down even more, it won't even be able to fight back. She glanced at AJ, who was quivering slightly beside her. We'll need everyone for this.
"AJ, do you think you can slow it down?" Lily asked. "If we can keep it off rhythm, we might be able to make something work."
AJ rippled slightly. "I'll do... my best... but not sure... how effective... I'll be... against something... this big. Its strength... and momentum... might be... too much... for me... to handle."
Walter leaned on his cane, We'll need to be quick on our feet. One wrong move, one failed dodge, and we're done for.
"If we need to constantly hit it from multiple angles, try to overwhelm it or at least not give it an easy target."
---
The creature's slow movements gave them time to plan, but its sheer size was a constant reminder of the danger they were in.
"Right," Sam said, his voice firm. "Here's the plan. Ethan, you're not going to block its attacks directly. Instead, focus on dodging and drawing its attention.
Lily, AJ, and Walter, you'll work together to keep it off balance. Victor and I will aim for the joints and the eye. We need to blind it and bring it to the ground if we want to defeat it."
The group tensed as the creature growled, its glowing eye locking onto them. Its massive claws twitched, and it took a slow, deliberate step forward, the ground trembling slightly under its weight. The fight was about to begin.
"Right, let's get moving!" Sam shouted. "Ethan, draw its attention! Everyone else, get into position!"
Ethan took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his shield. Here goes nothing, he stepped forward with a loud shout. "Hey, ugly! Over here!"
The creature's head turned toward Ethan, its glowing eye narrowing. It raised one of its massive claws and swung it down with terrifying force.
Ethan's eyes widened as he dove to the side, the claw slamming into the ground where he had just been standing. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, Ethan scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding.
"Too close!" he muttered, his voice shaky. "Way too close!"
Lily watched as Ethan barely dodged the creature's attack, her heart racing. We desperately need to restrict its movements.
"AJ, now!" Lily shouted urgently.
AJ slid forward, his slimy body quivering as he latched onto one of the creature's legs. He focused his energy, his body vibrating as he tried to disrupt the creature's balance.
But the creature's strength and pure mass allowed it to shrug off the attack. With a powerful kick, it sent AJ flying across the chamber, his body slamming into the wall with a sickening thud.
"AJ!" Lily shouted, she hesitated for a moment, torn between helping AJ and sticking to the plan. But the creature's next attack forced her to focus.
Its claw swung toward her. She barely managed to roll out of the way, the claw catching her side.
She gasped as she got up and moved. Crap. That really hurts...
Victor moved quickly, as he circled behind the creature. His cold eyes focused on the joints in its exoskeleton, searching for a gap. I just need to hit the right spot.
He waited for the creature to swing at Ethan again, its attention focused on the shield-bearer. As it did, Victor darted forward, his knife aimed at the back of its knee.
The creature's armour was just too thick though. The blade struck the exoskeleton, but it barely made a scratch. Victor's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his grip, preparing to strike again.
But before he could, the creature spun around, its massive claw swinging at him. Victor couldn't duck quick enough as the claw grazed his arm, reopening the wound from the previous fight.
He hissed in pain, his hand instinctively holding onto the injury. This thing's even tougher than I thought. His expression darkened. We need to hit harder.
Walter moved with surprising agility, his cane striking at the creature's legs whenever possible. But the creature mostly ignored him, his attacks did little more than mildly annoy it.
He glanced at Sam, who was circling the creature, his spear at the ready. "Sam, go for the eye!"
Sam nodded, his gaze locking onto its glowing eye. He waited for a moment, his spear poised to strike.
He felt he had found the right moment but as he lunged forward, the creature's head turned. Its claw swung toward him. Sam dodged to the side, the claw missing him by a safe margin.
We need to adjust the plan. Sam thought, his breath coming in short gasps.
Ethan continued to draw the creature's attention, his movements quick but desperate. He dodged another swing of its massive claw, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber.
"Sam!" Ethan voice sounding desperate. "We need a new plan! This isn't working!"
Sam nodded, his expression grim. "Fall back!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Regroup and reassess!"
The group scrambled to retreat, their movements uncoordinated. The creature let out a roar, its massive claws slashing at them as they continuously retreated.
---
The group huddled together on the far side of the chamber, their breaths heavy and laboured. AJ lay unconscious against the wall, his slimy body quivering faintly but showing no signs of immediate recovery.
The creature's glowing eye was locked on them, its massive claws twitching as it moved in their direction.
"We need to hit harder," Victor said. "Ethan, think you can damage it with your axe?"
Ethan grabbed his stone axe, which he had strapped to his back. He had been relying on his shield so far, but the creature's attacks were too powerful to block directly. It's time to switch things up, he thought, his grip tightening on the axe's handle.
"I can try," Ethan said with determination. "I'll need a clear shot at its legs. If I can hit its knees, I might be able to bring it down."
Sam nodded. "Lily, can you and AJ draw its attention? If we can keep it focused on you, Ethan might get the opening he needs."
Lily glanced at AJ, who was still unconscious. "AJ's out cold," she said, her voice tinged with worry. "I don't know if I'll be able to do it alone."
Victor stepped forward. "I'll help," he said. "We'll keep it distracted. Just be ready, Ethan."
Ethan nodded. He set his shield down, gripping his axe with both hands, the weight of the weapon familiar but daunting. This is going to be risky, his heart was pounding, but we don't have a choice.
Lily took a deep breath, her spear held tightly in her hands. This is it, her mind raced. I need to keep its attention long enough for Ethan to land a hit. She stepped forward, moving quickly.
"Hey, over here!" Lily shouted, her voice cutting through the chamber. The creature turned towards her, raising one of its massive claws, the movement slow. Then swung down with speed and terrifying force as she approached it.
Lily dove to the side, the claw slamming into the ground. She scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding.
I've got this, just keep it focused on me and Victor and let Ethan do the rest.