Polymath Redux

Chapter 27: PROJECT: Hellgate Part 4

"Bad news; it doesn't seem like my shield will be able to hold out for much longer. I'd say I can defend us 2 or 3 more times before it completely disintegrates."

Joutr was a monster in his own right when it came to defensive stats, but if even his world class shield was unable to withstand this for too much longer it was just a testament to the strength of Cerberus. Having a look around the soldiers around them was being burnt alive as they didn't have the protection of Joutr.

"We need to end this quickly!"

Leona told everyone and she was right. If the situation continued it could only get much worse in terms of casualty.

"What do we do?!"

Stella asked in panic.

"We have no choice but to go on the offensive to prevent it from getting a chance to use that flame breath attack. Wolf, can you keep it distracted with your speed and attacks?"

If Wolf could run around it and annoy it then it might be possible to prevent it from using the flame breath. Acknowledging Leona's idea Wolf nodded with a thumb up.

"Leave it to me."

Wolf accelerated using his skills and started pummeling the beast all over. Grabbing its attention it started to chase around Wolf in the same manner a puppy would chase around its tail.

"[Mana Arrow]! X30"

Taking the opportunity of its distraction Stella cast offensive magic to strike. Not just one or two but thirty. A flurry of thin missiles formed and struck Cerberus all over. However it proved not powerful enough to get through its magma armor and only served in annoying the beast and pulling its attention off Wolf.

"[Mana Shield]!"

Anticipating an attack Rio cast defensive magic in the area as Joutr Raised his shield. As expected Cerberus retaliated with a powerful flame breath, this time a little more effective than before and even with [mana shield] his physical black shield started to disintegrate in the inferno.

"Dammit... my shield's destroyed."

Cerberus drew closer with a face that almost appeared to be laughing at them but as it was about to rip them apart there was a second explosion far off in another sector of the city. Including Cerberus, everyone looked up to see what it was. Off in the distance a small figure draped in a blood red robe float around shooting extremely potent magic. Its face was merely a skull...

"E-e-elder Lich!"

The guild master cried out its name. With Cerberus he was a little excited but this time he was panicking for real. Everyone knew what that monster was; an extremely powerful monster that even dwarfed Cerberus, no perhaps this particular Cerberus may have been a match, but that didn't change the fact that the Elder Lich was power in its own right.

"What do we do Leona?! Split up to take them both on?!"

Stella asked but Leona shook her head.

"It's impossible, we won't be able to! The best course of action is to defeat this beast before we move onto that one."

Leona had an extremely hard time saying those words as it meant leaving the citizens and soldiers to take on that elder lich. No doubt that they would die and she didn't like it but what choice did she have?

Cerberus regained its focus and was slowly drew closer in a dramatic manner, drooling an acid like fire as steam was let off after making contact with the ground.

"Everyone go! I'll hold it off for a moment so scatter!"

Joutr shout out.

"What are you saying?! You'll die!"

Rio shouted back in distress.

"It's better than all of us dying!"

There was no time to think about their movements and Joutr grabbed Rio and tossed her across the battlefield into a safe position. Leona and Stella stared back for a brief moment as they honored his wishes with a solemn expression. It was impossible for them all to run, it would just drag the beast's attention and they would all die. In this split second of decisions one of them had to stay back to sacrifice themselves for a chance for a counter attack.

Joutr had made that decision as he raised his remaining shield. If even a little this shield would increase his resistance. He closed his eyes and waited for the flame breath to strike.

However it never came, instead what came was a large impact and shockwave, followed by an explosive dust cloud.

Joutr and everyone else stared at what had just happened. A red haired woman fell out of the sky and struck the beast with her sword through one of its head. The beast fell in pain and was starting to bleed out. Unlike the Hydra it did not have regenerative properties to outdo the damage it was receiving.

Eventually after a few more seconds Cerberus laid dead and the immolation around it died down.

"Tsk. Weak. You're all weak."

The woman spoke as she looked down on all of them, both literally and figuratively.
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Queue Guile theme. Actually maybe John Cena is better for this.