This does not feel real. That alarms me. Dangers not deemed real are worse. How do I shock us out of complacency?
Z: How sure are you that it will come from the closest part of the edge of the territory?
M: My map ability marks that as „boss point“. How much more do you want?
I hand out my last reserves of healing potions.
P: Healing potions. I don’t have many left. I’ve packed it into a protective cover.
J: You don’t have belts?
He unchinches his belt and holds it into his hand.
J: Who is the healer?
L: I am.
J: The healer must be protected best.
He takes the potion intended for her and sticks it into his pocket. This seems to have done the job.
P: Maria, how sure are you about your new flight ability?
M: Slow, but sure. I can take position on top of a building, don’t worry.
Z: Let’s do this.
--
I’ve hardly reached my position by teleport as my spy eyes pick up the boss. And I am put into a position to think that I am in a documentary about the Cambrian Explosion. A specimen of hallucigenia of twice the size of an elephant is coming to kill us at jogging speed.
It does not matter. I have a target in range. [Nebelwerfer 42] and [Joy of sustained Fire] are doing the job. The afflictions are in place. A few minutes more.
I’ve conjured my biggest rifle and Dalek-3IH has been instructed to fire as soon as the boss is in range and to fire his one big shot at close range, without regard for his own safety.
The dust it stirs up is now visible. This thing is huge. With a human companion this would be easier on my nerves. I cough out of nervosity. I get it in my optics. I have the largest range among us. Time to do damage.
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Lightning arcs between it spines. I’ve put enough shots to turn a tractor trailer into a wreck into this anomaly. It reaches the first line of fortifications. My barriers don’t slow it down. The rune traps do. Lightning arcs out blindly. We will need to put out burning grass and bushes. It does not exactly bleed in the way a mammal ought to, but protoplasma is running down its flanks. That fills my reserves back up.
I keep firing. When in doubt, making the enemy bleed is good. There is nothing else to do.
It hits the second line of rune traps. As the debris clears up one of its spines is hanging low. And it is slower. It is taking care that some of its lobopodes do not touch the ground. This is the signal to go all out. Marias first Fire Bolt streaks towards the anomaly. I add both staffs to the fire. The anomaly rears up.
P: Start firing!
Dalek-3IH joins the fray. The anomaly accelerates again. The sooner it hits the third and final line.
It is actually blown over. The spike already askew is broken off. But it doesn’t stay down. We keep giving out as much damage as possible.
It starts gathering lightning between its spikes. This is not good.
P: Cannon!
Dalek-3IH fires. The lightning bolt goes awry and hits the building Maria and Lidija are on. For a few horrible moments the Fire Bolts are silent. The giant hallucigenia turns towards the other building. Maria starts firing again.
Soon. I trigger [Cornucopia]. It turns again towards the other building. I fire [Hyperkinetic Cannon]. More spikes are detached. Now it is really mad. It tries another concentration, but the missing spikes dissipate the lightning. I switch to my assault rifle. Smaller lightning bolts are forming on each spike. Time to act.
I jump off the roof. The first salvo overshoots. It turns into a mad ride. Lidija’s spear hits it. I use [Eternal Moment]. Nevertheless I take three bolts, until I am half down the road. I need to trigger [Immortality] and teleport upwards. Zora jumps and repeats the feat, using her [Eternal Moment] into the building she has mined. The anomaly struggles to pass through the gate. With sheer force it breaks through. The building blows up. Has she survived?
Yes! She drinks her potion while still in the air and is scorched overall, but she at least glides down.
--
Thee looting has yielded an Awakening Stone of Dimension, an Essence of Life and and a very odd orb, that according to my probe unlocks an essence ability. I keep those in storage.
Jan is already working on the ritual.
J: I don’t want to perish now, because we hesitate.
I cannot argue with that.
M: Who shall claim the zone.
J: According to the plan you gave me, you need [Astral Affinity] to claim a zone.
P: Now I know why they hired me. I have that as a racial power from Dimension giving me Teleport.
J: You have Dimension! What other abilities did it give you? I need to know.
Z: Powerful abilities.
--
Claiming a zone feels like getting into a stiff wetsuit. I feel pressure from all around. And then a serene relaxation.