The area around the squad was pockmarked with holes in the surrounding concrete. Mark’s construct had stopped many of the projectiles, but as time went on he could feel the drain on his reserves.
“We need to do something, we are at a disadvantage, they are content to just hammer at the shield,” Davis said.
He was right, the entire time the creatures had maintained a distance, dodging or hiding behind rubble when the squad returned fire.
Making it hard to retaliate in any real way.
This new type of Corrupted was showing incredible intelligence and pack tactics.
They simply remained back hitting them with a seemingly unending barrage of attacks
something had to change soon or they were in trouble.
Suddenly a deep growl reverberated throughout the tunnel. Joining the mocking howls of the Corrupted.
A beachball-sized projectile of green acid slammed against the construct.
Mark had to brace against the sudden force behind it.
“Okay, we got a plan yet?” he grunted.
Another big hit came.
“Mark, can you get us some light there?” Jonathan called.
Mark sent his light shooting forward down the tunnel. Coming to a stop where he had last seen the main group. One or two bolts went at it.
The tunnel widened into a room up ahead. Allowing the Ghouls to funnel the squad and hit them with constant attacks. They were being held in a kill zone.
From where they were they could make out a few dozen Ghouls.
Near the center of the room stood a Corrupted three to four times in size compared to the others. If the others were small horses, this thing was an overfed hippo.
“I might be able to give us a path forward, but I’ll be down to fumes after it,” Jaya said.
“You can hold a gun right? This must be the last one. Do it!” Davis shouted.
“Alright. Everyone get ready to run” she called.
The water around her began to grow in volume rapidly. Waves began to drop onto the concrete floor. Water just continued to pour out. Then with a hand gesture, all the summoned water began to amass in front of the party. Bolts smacked into the screen and Jaya pushed the water forward in one crushing wave. The tunnel was flooded with water as it picked up rubble and debris, along with the surrounding acid.
The squad rushed in behind the wave, using it as cover. When they got to the entrance of the room Jaya spread the wave out, knocking some of the creatures to the ground.
Mark flared the light slightly to give a better view of the room. They were in an older section of the subway. The room looked like some kind of abandoned maintenance stop-off. Mark noted that there was no way out of there other than the passageway they had come through. They were blocking the only exit.
Though the wave had disrupted them the creatures were soon back to firing bolts at their party. About a dozen also charged forward into melee range.
“Alright, don't stop moving out there, if you are hit retreat. Frontline charge!” Jonathan yelled.
The Aura users once more dashed forward with enhanced speed at the charging hounds.
Sam finally seemed done with whatever she had been putting together.
with a flick of her wrist, a bolt of pressurized air flew forward at an incredible speed, detonating amongst a group of distant Corrupted and releasing a whoosh as air burst out. The wave of air was loud and did cause confusion in the ranks, but that was all. Mark turned to look at Sam only to see her lob a large fireball at the group.
As it got in their vicinity the very air around them seemed to catch alight and detonate, consuming the whole group in a huge ball of fire.
Sam whistled.
“A mix of Pure hydrogen and oxygen. Now I just need to figure out the right ratio” she muttered as icicles began to condense in the air around her.
The squad members that were engaged in close combat were having a tough time. They had to fight in close quarters with the Corrupted dodging claws and acidic maws. All while keeping an eye on their surroundings for incoming ranged attacks.
The only thing that remained unmoving was the tank-like Corrupted. If Mark were to apply a hierarchy here it would definitely be the alpha.
It seemed to be studying the squad, but with each kill, the anger on its twisted features grew.
Something wasn't right. Those large bolts of acid earlier had to have come from this creature. Yet now it was content to watch the battle. What was it playing at?
The frontline was struggling, but they were slowly reducing the numbers in the room. Daphne was wrestling with these creatures. It looked like whatever retributive damage she was doing did not trigger from the acid.
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The open space of the room was causing them too much damage. They had to fight for every inch of ground they gained.
Mark had an idea.
“Cover going up!” he shouted.
Slamming his hands into the ground he poured 90 Mana into their surroundings. Then manipulating the surrounding earth he started raising panels of earth as cover for the frontline. Even with the large amount of Mana used the process was slow. However, in this case, that did not matter, he wasn't trying to capture or harm the Ghouls, just obstruct them.
One by one, panels of two-inch thick stone were manipulated from the ground. Mark stopped them when they reached a meter high and release the spell panting.
The room had become a low maze of rock. Mark saw an immediate difference. Now that they had cover the Aura users would duck behind cover and dash out when they saw an opening. The stone began to crumble after a couple of hits but they still offered the frontline much-needed breathing room.
The bolts hitting Mark's construct were reducing by the minute.
A thundering growl originating from the alpha promised death to the room. Then in a sudden burst of speed, the massive creature went from a standstill to a dash.
Jonathan saw this and sprinted to block it. They were evenly matched in speed, but the creature almost seemed to expect him because the next it did was fire a bolt of acid directly at Jonathan. Who had to stop for a second to defend himself.
Using that opening the thing dove forward and made a huge leap across the room. Straight over the frontline, maze, and Mark's shield to land on the opposite side of the room.
It turned to face them while growling menacingly. Standing right in front of the exit.
The creature was now the one blocking the only path out of here.
Their entire formation was reversed.
It howled and all the other Ghouls backed off renewing their ranged assault.
“You gotta be kidding me” Mark growled.
He knew something was off. These things had planned this. They had willingly taken on losses to their number to lure the squad in.
They had been draining the group of resources the whole time. Mark gritted his teeth, his reserves were only at a third of their capacity. His Prana had taken a beating earlier leaving him with around 95 Prana.
The beast barely gave them a moment to think as it charged straight at them. He might be able to hold off its initial charge but who knew how long the frontline would be tied down for. They needed to buy as much time as they could.
The creature lunged at them.
“Sam scatter-” he shouted as he grabbed hold of Jaya. Who yelped at the sudden movement.
Pulling his construct in and wrapping it around himself, he pushed off the ground in a dash at the absolute maximum his muscles could carry him, the ligaments in his calves snapped.
Sam dashed backward too, only she was carried back at an accelerated rate as the winds surrounded her. Lifting her quickly and slowing her fall as she landed. A blue shield sprung into existence around her.
The thing landed in the space they had occupied less than a second ago.
Both of them had chosen different directions and when faced with the choice the creature pivoted towards Mark and Jaya.
Mark didn't know whether he should be relieved or pissing himself.
It lunged at them with an open maw.
Mark had the reaction time to see it coming but simply didn't have the speed to move them out of its path, even while he was pushing himself to his limits.
It opened its strange jaw and Mark could see down the creature's gullet. Acid dripped from its toothy mouth, which was big enough to close around Mark's entire top half.
Mark pushed Jaya backward while throwing everything into [Shape Mana].
A shadow covered him as its jaws began to close around him. Bringing his arms up he caught two of the four closing sides of its mouth.
The force of its jaw clamped down on Mark with the strength of several crocodiles. Cracks webbed through his barrier on impact. Teeth began to pierce through, sinking into his flesh. The acid began to fill the wounds immediately. The only reason he was not crushed was because he held the spell together with everything he was worth.
Rage and pain swam through his blood like a potent cocktail. That or it could just be the acid, but Mark found himself wanting to hurt this creature with everything he had.
Stubbornness made him set his heels in and Mark drew a single point of Mana from his spell and cast [Force bolt].
The difference this time was how Mark chose to use it. This time as it completed, Mark compressed the force further than he had ever been able to before. Sending the tiniest shard of compact energy straight down its throat.
A blinking appeared.
Mark heard someone screaming his name in the distance.
Then there was a detonation from inside the creature as the spell went off.
It screamed and released him, bolting backward in pain.
Light and fresh air reach him all at once.
The creature was reeling in pain but recovering quickly. He’d definitely damaged something. Maybe its acid spit.
Whatever damage he had done had not been nearly enough to kill this thing.
It just looked pissed now. Well, Mark felt the same way.
Twenty or so icicles came crashing into the creatures back like a very sad porcupine.
It had been so focused on Mark that it hadn’t noticed Sam behind it.
Jonathan arrived silently, swinging his blade in a downward chop.
The creature just managed to dodge it by hopping to the side.
However, it then didn't have time to dodge Daphne, who came through like a charging bull. Crashing into the side of the creature with her shoulder. The impact sound alone was deafening and sent the creature flying into the nearby wall. Knocking the wind from its lungs.
Mark turned back to see the frontline holding off the other Ghouls.
David made eye contact and shouted.
“We’ll deal with these ones, you four deal with that thing. Jaya with us” he said indicating to the large beast.
Jaya had gotten up at some point and held a pistol in her hands. She ran to Davis’s side, but not before nodding her thanks to Mark.
Mark pulled out two bottles of water and reabsorbed his construct. Pouring the water on the worst wounds. His passives would have to make do here, he didn't get much back from his spell.
The creature was recovering from its daze and looked at them with hunger in its black eyes.
The four of them surrounded the beast. Slowly edging toward one another.
Both sides sized each other up, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
The creature stared them down and released a vicious growl as if to let them know who the real danger here was.
Mark was done caring what squeals this thing made, he was going to butcher it.
An: Room layout
[https://www.dropbox.com/s/13hsu7h686o7au7/Chapter%2057%20-%20Dungeon%20Boss%20room.png?dl=1]