As a myriad of poisonous pools sprouted up around the cathedral grounds, the Chimera visibly shivered, its grotesque form rippling as though struggling to contain the mounting chaos within. Each of its summoned pools hissed violently, the acidic bile consuming stone and flesh alike, releasing noxious fumes that clung like death’s breath.

Its sneezing fit from Lorelei’s [Lucky Strike] had bought the team a fleeting respite from its attack—but that quickly began to feel a bit like a cruel joke as the beast's eyes, now orbs of seething malice, refocused on its running prey, lips curling back to reveal fangs slick with blood and venom.

***Help Message Somewhat Muffled Through All the Popcorn Munching***

Man, you guys are so FUUUUUCKKKKKED

Yet, standing defiant in the middle of the cathedral grounds, Pete seemed oblivious to the venomous pools lapping at his boots. Lorelei blinked, her mind struggling to reconcile the lack of catastrophic damage, until she noticed the puffs of smoke beneath his feet and Zorrobar’s face twisted into an expression of raw concentration. The mage was literally burning himself out to keep Pete alive, his flesh cracking and flaking away as he poured everything into a spell to burn away the substance beneath the old tank. Fair play to him, Lorelei thought, as she scampered to the left to avoid a new pool opening up just beneath her own feet.

For her part, Hild continued to dart around the Chimera’s hulking form, her bellowing taunts barely audible over the gnashing teeth and the wet thuds of her axe embedding into scaly flesh. Her attacks succeeded in splitting the Chimera's focus, stopping it from being able to target any one person. Lorelei almost felt a grin forming on her face; it almost seemed like their plan might just work . . .

But then the pools grew more expansive, their edges gnawing at the earth with a hunger that felt almost sentient. There simply was not enough room for them all. They could keep moving, jumping to little patches of safety, but that meant there was no way they could attack the monster. And the enrage counter was ticking down. Each second brought the group closer to a gruesome end.

The Chimera, meanwhile, seemed to feed off their desperation, its wounds knitting together with sickening speed. The tiny amount of damage they were actually able to inflict wasn’t just insufficient—it was wholly futile against the creature's healing capabilities. Michelle's occasional appearance to launch [Backstab!] provided fleeting bursts of hope, but hope was a fragile thing, Lorelei thought. Her blades would sink deep, only for the Chimera to shake off the damage, mocking the colossal strain enacting these attacks was taking on the Veiled Stalker.

Likewise, the toll on the team's two undead summons was equally epic. Chrissy's troll, under the relentless assault of swirling acidic pools, roared in agony as its flesh sizzled and sloughed off, chunks of it splashing into the burning muck. Its eyes became increasingly dull and listless, Chrissy crumpling to her knees, her connection with the creature amplifying the shared pain.

“Get yer sorry arse of a troll outta there, Chrissy!” Pete’s voice boomed, but the troll, more a pile of melting flesh than a creature now, continued to swing until its arms snapped off, bone protruding through raw, blistered skin. Its final, mournful groan echoed across the battlefield as its legs gave out, dissolving into the acrid pool beneath it. Chrissy’s scream tore through the air, a sound of pure, unadulterated agony that sent a chill through Lorelei. Sure, Chrissy had volunteered to play Necromancer for this encounter, but she doubted the former stripper had appreciated the likely cost.

Then the Chimera attacked again, this time with a terrifying ferocity. Its giant form bunched up like a spring about to snap, muscles bulging grotesquely beneath its patchwork hide. Its jaws unhinged, opening far wider than anything natural, and a deep breath rattled out from the pit of its lungs, sending waves of decay wafting over the battlefield. The toxic cloud billowed out, thick and impenetrable, swallowing Hild whole before she could react.

The Valkyrie choked on the fumes, eyes bulging as the poison ignited within her, burning a path down her throat and clawing its way into her lungs. Her scream was cut short, replaced by a wet, choking gurgle. Blood spattered from her lips, boiling as it met the air. The Valkyrie staggered, her leather armour cracking under the strain as her skin began to blister and peel away. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed, a heap of writhing agony.

“Kris, fucking do something!” Lorelei’s voice cut through the madness.

Kris was already on the move, leaping from rock to rock, each step sending ripples through the pools of acid as he raced to Hild. His hands shook as he pressed them to her searing flesh, golden energy sputtering out as he cast . Vials of health potions shattered against her, liquid light sizzling away before it could take effect. The poison fought back, tendrils of it curling around Kris's arms, burning him as well. Hild gasped, her body convulsing violently, each breath she took filling her lungs with more of the Chimera's venom.

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“Shit. This stuff is too much,” Kris whispered, his voice trembling as he poured everything into his healing skills. But he could feel the other group members, their wounds and terror, and knew he couldn’t do it all. His mana was dwindling, the most potent potions he had left doing little more than buying time—a currency they were quickly running out of as the countdown at the edge of his vision made clear. Then he was gulping down his last mana potion, knowing it was a drop in the ocean compared to what he feared they would need.

And then the Chimera, no longer distracted by the interference of a second tank, locked onto Pete. The beast’s eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as it reared back, muscles rippling in preparation for a lethal strike.

***Help Message on the QT***

Don't say I never do anything for you . . .

There was a soft ding in Lorelei’s mind - a small blip in the overwhelming noise - as her Skill activated. It was as if the world slowed for a heartbeat, her consciousness expanding to grasp the power that, truth be told, had been performing in a pretty underwhelming way for the last couple of hours. Not now, though. A flood of memories, ancient and powerful, crashed through her—a surge of divine wrath and godly protection. Her body shimmered, shifting and hardening, skin glowing with a faint, ethereal light as the stolen power of Hild’s took hold.

Lorelei’s transformation was instantaneous. The aura of a Valkyrie surrounded her, divine energy crackling in the air. She threw herself in front of Pete, raising her middle fingers in a defiant salute just as the Chimera’s jaws came crashing down.

The impact was like a thunderclap. Sparks erupted as divine energy clashed with monstrous power. The Chimera’s fangs, each as long as a man’s arm, scraped against the glowing barrier, their edges curling as they met resistance. Lorelei gritted her teeth, her entire body vibrating with the force of the blow. Blood seeped from her nose, her muscles screaming in protest, but she held firm.

“Not. Today,” she spat through gritted teeth, forcing the Chimera back with a burst of raw, stolen power.

***Disappointed Message***

I mean, come on. "You shall not pass!" was right there . . .

With Hild incapacitated, Lorelei took up the mantle of off-tank, the stolen ability coursing through her. The shield flickered, threatening to falter, but she poured everything into maintaining it. Kris, free from focusing on Pete, redoubled his efforts on Hild, but his hands trembled with every motion—he was running out of time, mana and out of hope.

Enraged by its inability to crush Lorelei, the Chimera lashed out with its tail. The blow connected with CCMD, its carapace already a mangled mess, sending it flying into the nearest pool of acid. The spider didn’t even have time to shriek as it dissolved into the caustic sludge, leaving only a faint ripple behind. Steffan collapsed, the pain of the spider’s death too much to bear.

Zorrobar, though, roared in defiance, flames erupting from his hands. Wave after wave of fire washed over the Chimera, the beast’s scales blistering under the intense heat, but it was far from enough. Michelle darted in from the shadows, her daggers striking deep and true, but it seemed like the beast barely flinched.

Then the Chimera reared back again, unleashing a torrent of toxic bile that smashed against Lorelei’s [Aesir’s Shield]. The barrier held, but the edges frayed as the poison spilt over, searing her exposed skin. She screamed, her throat raw, but didn’t back down. Casting helped some, and a new random status effect notification flickered in her peripheral vision—[Balls to the Wall] activated—but there was no time to check what that meant. Lorelei could feel the ground shifting beneath her, the stone foundations of the cathedral crumbling under the weight of the battle.

With a deafening hiss, the Chimera whipped its tail around and struck the cathedral itself. The impact sent a shudder through the earth, dislodging chunks of stone and ancient timber. The roof buckled, and with a sickening crack, the entire structure began to collapse. Debris rained down, heavy and unstoppable, catching Pete in the deluge.

“Move!” Pete’s voice was a roar of desperation as he shoved Lorelei out of the way. A split second later, he was buried under a mountain of rubble. Dust and debris filled the air, a choking cloud that turned day into night.

“Pete!” Lorelei’s scream tore from her throat as she scrambled towards the pile of stone, her hands clawing at the debris.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The team was battered, bleeding, and in a pretty shit shape. But Lorelei knew they couldn’t give up—not now. With Pete buried beneath the rubble and no one else able to take the hits, Lorelei was the last line of defence. She squared her shoulders, determination in her eyes. The Chimera let out another hiss, preparing for a final assault.

***Help Message***

Look, I don't want to get all sentimental here, but if I don't say it now, I might not get the chance. You are Fortuna’s Fucking Herald, and you better believe luck is on your side.

“Come on, you bastard,” she muttered, raising her hands. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”