POW! POW! POW! POW!
Eat rapid-fire acid, fools! Point-blank shots fire from the celebrated commercial empire straight onto the front two elites, splattering them with my patented cleaning agent. Having done the deed, I do the only noble thing, turn around and run!
[Tiny, deal with these guys!]
[HRE, HRE, HRE, HRE.]
The giant ape’s gleeful laughter echoes in my head as we trade places, me running out and him charging in. I don’t want to get bogged down with those three, they’re tough as bricks and strong as an ox on steroids. I’ve got chunks missing out of my back! Chunks, I say! Luckily, the carapace is healing itself already.
My business is with the other members of this group. With Tiny supplying the threat and Invidia keeping him alive, I can plough into the softer targets that Crinis has been harassing.
She still hasn’t committed her main body, which is smart. Until that armoured guy moves, I don’t want us to get in too deep. If he’s stronger than the big three, I wouldn’t want to try taking a hit! More Gravity Bolts fly as I weave together something a little heavier. The regular warriors are tough, better than the ones I faced before, and they move with precision and power to strike at me. Without the sheer strength of the elites, though, they struggle to break through my diamond shell. My reflexes fire with insane speed, allowing me to turn and slant my body to deflect blows I see coming a fraction before they begin.
CHOMP! CHOMP!
My mandibles lash out at the press of bodies. Every time I grip a golgari in my jaws, I throw them to sow more chaos, right up until the Gravity Domain descends.
A dark purple sphere of pure gravity expands outward with me in the centre, pulling all the golgari to the ground. They’re strong, too strong to fall from such a spell, but it’s enough to hinder their movements as their weapons drag their arms to the ground. Probably my favourite thing about the Gravity Domain against opponents like these, is the way every blow becomes more difficult for them. With the weight of their own blades pulling them down, my carapace is easily able to deflect normal strikes, buying more time for the diamond layer to heal itself.
Still, things are getting crazy in here. Tired of messing around, weapons are starting to light up as Skills are put to use. The area becomes full of glowing ape fists, blade light, and crushing mandibles as I fight my way back to the Shapers. These are the guys who need to get put out of action the most. Without mage support, I’m not as worried about the warriors. When the potential exists for me to get half-knocked out with one punch, I can’t fight properly!
Get outta my way!
Protected by the domain, and with the armoured figure still just observing the action, I bully my way to confront the Shapers, only to run into a familiar face. He doesn’t look super happy to see me, though. Gah! Making contact in this situation is risky, but I’ll have to chance it.
[GRANIN! What the hell, man?]
[I know,] he sighs. [Got recruited just as forcefully as you did.]
[Is that Torrina and Corun over there?]
[Yep. We’re the experts on all things Anthony and ants, apparently.]
BAM! BAM!
Weapons continue to rattle against my carapace as I dodge left and right whilst trying to work out what the hell I’m going to do about my allies being here to hunt me down.
[What’s the plan then, Granin? Going to attack me? Kill my family?]
[Honestly? I was hoping we never caught up to you. We aren’t being particularly useful right now, but eventually, we’ll get an order that we can’t refuse.]
[Dammit, Granin. You put me in a pretty damn awkward position here.]
[Tell me about it.]
This sucks. I think it’s time to bug out.
[Retreat! Fall back down the tunnel and we’ll scare them off with numbers! Tiny, get the he—]
CRUNCH!
In a motion so fast, I can barely register what’s happening, even as I sensed it in advance, the armoured figure drew his sword, lunged, and crossed the space between us. His blade, illuminated with cold light and glowing runes, punctured my carapace with an alarming rip, the tip of the blade barely sliding past my core as I lifted my legs on one side to shift the angle.
What in the name of heck was THAT?
7. Stabbed in the Heart? Who’s to Blame?!
YEEEOUCH!
If someone ever told you that getting an enchanted blade through the gizzards is a good time, let me be the first to assure that isn’t the case! The pain is immediate and intense. I throw my body to the side in a desperate roll, keen to dislodge that sword from my guts.
Thankfully, the armoured warrior has a grip of steel, and the sword pulls cleanly out. Tucking my legs, I spring back up to find the mysterious figure watching me carefully.
This situation is not cool, and I don’t approve of it! How the heck did he get through me so easily? Is it something special about the sword? Or something about the fighter himself? The sword sure as hell looks rad, though, covered in glittering runic script and dotted with embedded cores down the blade. Bet that’s expensive…
I strain my senses and trigger my healing gland to deal with my internal injuries. My pets have already started to retreat, following my order, which has the unfortunate side effect of leaving me high and dry lagging behind them. Was this his plan? I pour more Mana into the Gravity Domain, compressing the energy to increase the strength of the pull.
[Crinis, I need some distraction. Have you got something for me?]
[Master! Are you alright?]
[I won’t be if you can’t give me some cover! Invidia, you too!]
I’m already moving, assuming my pets have my back. If I stay here even a few more seconds, I’m going to get surrounded, domain or no. My compound eyes are watching the armoured figure like a hawk-ant as I scooch my way back toward the reinforcements and away from the golgari.
The huge elite warriors are turning on me already whilst their leader watches on, blade loosely held. Thankfully, before they take a swing, a sudden darkness blooms around me, plunging the already dim tunnel into complete black. At the same time, my Mana Sense comes alight as spheres of concentrated energy flare to life around me. Crinis and Invidia have come to save the day, obscuring me visually and through Mana Sense.
Time to DASH!
My legs explode into motion, and I rush forward, keen to get some separation between these rock-people and myself. As nice as Granin is, he’s clearly not in control here and I won’t rely on golgari kindness again. Just as I pick up traction, my antennae flicker a warning. I twist my body by a fraction as the runic blade plunges toward me with inhuman speed.
CRUNCH!
Dammit! That freaking hurts!
Once again, with a sickening splintering, that hateful blade has pierced my wonderful Diamond Carapace and poked a hole in my organs! I need those organs!
This guy moves so fast it’s beyond belief. How was he even able to locate me? Sound? Surely that’s not possible! At least he made one mistake, which was to attack me from behind.
POW! POW! POW!
Eat acid! At point-blank range, the powerful golgari has no choice but to cop the sizzling liquid right in the chest as I pull away once again.
[Invidia! Shield!]
The restorative fluid from my healing gland is still sloshing through my body from the first strike and my HP slowly regenerates. After two seconds, a hardened barrier forms between the golgari and I, granting me some level of protection. Thank goodness that guy didn’t chop off my legs!