The sun timidly rose over the Gear Savannah, casting its first warm rays. An unusual group, consisting of a former soldier, a humanoid horse that vaguely resembled a goat, an old man who'd have been better off retired, and an inconceivable guy with three tails, continued along a corridor of metal and gears that would lead them to the Heart of the Forge.
After a night's rest, the group was ready to discuss their plan of action.
"Alright, guys, this time we've got to be spot-on," Marshmallow began with a determined look, ready to make amends for the last time. "Each of us has our own skills; we need to make the most of those. So, Dam, where do you think you can be most helpful?"
Dam started to think, his three tails moving as if they had a will of their own. "Well, my Tricoda is much more than just a combat tool. I can extend them to immobilize, thicken them for protection, and sharpen them for attacks from various angles. Though my range is limited, so I'd say I'll do well from the second line. Who's in support?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Eldrin, who, with his head buried in a notebook full of diagrams and notes, added: "I'll handle support. I've told you, I have potions for every situation, so I'll stay in the backlines to toss them out. I'd say Marsh should lead the assault, you all agree?" Everyone nodded, so he continued. "Now, we need to clarify what role the Goat Horse will play. Would it be better if he stays in his humanoid form or switches to his equine form?"
"I guess it makes sense to switch between them, right?" The Goat Horse replied nonchalantly. Everyone looked at each other; indeed, that was probably the best approach. Marshmallow had been a soldier, so he could agilely hold the front line, supported by Dam and Eldrin. The Goat Horse could act either as a Tank or a Sprinter, so he would certainly join Marshmallow on the front line. However, if he switched between the two forms, he could serve both as an excellent decoy and a great damage absorber. This would add an element of unpredictability to the quartet.
So the plan was set: Marshmallow and the Goat Horse on the front line, Dam right behind them, and Eldrin would oversee the situation from the rear. Every member of the group knew what to do. The tension was palpable, but there was also a newfound spark of hope. With the new addition to their group, they felt they had a real shot at success.
The return to the Heart of the Forge wasn't filled with the same uncertainty as their first attempt. As the group advanced into the main room, the place where the console was located, the pounding of their hearts echoed loudly in the tense silence. Now they were there, in the main room, and the console at the center caught everyone's eye, but the Mechanical Cerberus made its appearance, standing between them and the console.
"Stay sharp, guys," Marshmallow whispered, having already summoned the Titan Hammer. "It won't go down like last time."
It was time to execute the plan. If this were a soccer team, the formation would be a 1-1-2. Eldrin on defense, Dam in midfield, and Marshmallow and the Goat Horse as the central strikers. Everyone got into their combat stance, but the Mechanical Cerberus, instead of charging immediately, just stared at them.
What's with the staring contest?
Each head, each with its own distinct personality, seemed to size them up differently. "Oh, you've got a new little friend," the right head said. "You could bring an army, but even then, there's no escaping us."
"Yes, yes! Exactly!" The left head burst into a distorted laugh. "Fresh meat's back! This time we play to the end, I'll savor you, and erase you from this world once and for all!"
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"You're just annoying flies. It's time to end your buzzing," the central head declared.
Then, a triple roar shattered the air. The Mechanical Cerberus tensed all the muscles in its legs and leaped forward in a frontal charge so powerful it created a crack in the ground from where it launched.
Bring it on!
Marshmallow and his crew were ready for such an onslaught. Against the full-on charge of the Mechanical Cerberus, the quartet countered with a coordinated assault of their own.
Eldrin threw a stunning potion that forced the Mechanical Cerberus to shut its eyes, and at that moment, Marshmallow and the Goat Horse charged their heavy weapons and hurled them with all the muscle power they had at the first head. Dam joined in, thickening his tails and using them like three powerful fists, all landing blows on the Mechanical Cerberus.
Without Dam, the Mechanical Cerberus would have easily breached the group's defenses, but the B Rank's firepower was on another level. Thanks to his contribution, the Mechanical Cerberus was thrown back, temporarily dazed by the coordinated assault into a ridiculous canine yelp. The quartet didn't waste time celebrating; instead, they seized the opportunity to ramp up the attack.
"Now! Let's finish it!" Marshmallow called out to the others, raising his Titan Hammer. Using gravitational force to his advantage, he lunged at the central head and brought down the hammer, generating a shockwave that echoed through the room.
Everyone followed Marshmallow's lead.
"Ohrah!"
The Goat Horse dashed forward in equine form before transforming mid-leap back into his humanoid form, hurling a wrench at the Mechanical Cerberus' leg joints to further impair its mobility.
Eldrin pulled another potion from his bag, this time a corrosive mix. With precise aim, he threw it straight into the gaping mouth of the left head, causing a high-pitched sizzle as the acid began to work on the internal circuits.
Dam, with his three tails, began to barrage the left head with a flurry of strikes, resembling a gatling gun in action.
The Mechanical Cerberus, overwhelmed and in pain, tried to rise, but its three heads were mired in a chaos of agony and rage, doing nothing but whimpering like beaten pups.
"Don't let up, it's about to break!" Marshmallow encouraged, preparing another strike. Just as Marshmallow was about to deliver another powerful blow, the ground of the main room began to tremble.
There they are. They're back again.
As the dark entities materialized, the tension in the air became almost palpable. There were about twenty of them. Each figure was shrouded in an aura that inspired dread, emitting darkness that seemed to swallow the surrounding light. Their indistinct and unsettling forms moved with a clear intent: to destroy. Their sudden arrival instantly turned the battlefield into a theater of chaos and terror. Out of nowhere, a shower of dark darts wrapped in flames aimed straight for the heart of the group.
Marshmallow and the Goat Horse, being on the front line, were the first to be targeted. Driven by survival instinct, they launched into a desperate dance to dodge the strikes. Yet, despite their efforts, fate proved cruel.
"Ahhrrrgh!"
A muffled cry escaped Marshmallow's lips as a dart pierced his left arm, turning the flesh into a cauldron of pain. The dark fire enveloping the dart crept into his veins, spreading agony that threatened to overwhelm his will.
Similarly, the Goat Horse staggered under the devastating impact that struck his left leg, forcing him to his knees. The malevolent energy of the dart spread through his body, making him fear losing control of his limbs.
Eldrin, powerless and shaken, watched his fallen comrades with a sense of urgency that set his heart ablaze. His hands, trembling like never before, frantically searched his bag for something, anything, that could avert the cruel fate that seemed sealed. But in his heart, he knew potions might not be enough this time.
And then there was Dam, whose fighting spirit ignited like an unstoppable flame at the sight of his helpless friends. The urgency to act, to protect, to turn the tide of a battle that seemed already lost, filled him with a strength unknown before. His tails, now more than ever, writhed with a sense of foreboding. With determination forged only in moments of extreme peril, Dam gathered all his courage, and with a voice that seemed to echo through the Heart of the Forge, released the cry that could change everything:
"OVERDRIVE: KYUUBI!"