10 Chapter 8: Warbeas

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Hydro-electric Plant

1821Y 02M25D 1000H

They arrive at the plant, besides it a river running from the mountains going outside the city walls. The Warbeast made a nest on the river blocking the water's path out of the plant.

"We need to lure it outside the river." Baby suggesting to the group. "No worries, it will come to us. Luci there is a platform on the wall by the powerhouse use it to snipe at the beast." Luci took Smirf's hand. "Okay, let's go love." Luci taking Smirf's hand.

"Hide behind the hills till it commits to a fight." Acki and the rest did as they are told. Mat walks out of the banks his hammer crackling with energy. The Warbeast opened its eyes; calmly stood up and started lumbering towards him. He looks up at the overgrown water lizard, as the Warbeast look down at him, they already know what each other is capable of they have clashed several times already.

The Warbeast saw Baby's group coming out of the hills, snorted at Mat flicking its forked tongue. "Sorry, but I got no time to play with you — in a hurry... friend." As he took a defensive stance. The Warbeast growled and raised its claws to attack. Mat knows how powerful and fast that swipe is, nothing else to do but block.

Last time they met, he couldn't do anything but defend. there will not be much difference now but this time he is not alone. Acki and Menan already have his back and block the blow with him. Baby jump at the sides and started raining down arrows; Menan rolled beneath and slashed at its belly, Shiro drops down its face.

Furious, the Warbeast slammed the ground, shaking the very earth they stood then followed it with a tail sweep. Baby and Shiro evaded but it dragged the rest smashing them to the powerhouse.

"Pink... Great Arrow" a beam of pink light shot from a platform above searing the monsters' hide. The Warbeast gave a deafening roar immobilizing them. It drew in water from its feet then fired a jet stream from its mouth towards the two above. Mat immediately threw his hammer towards its head making it miss, then charge forward grabbing back his hammer on the way in. The Warbeast greeted him with a flurry of strikes making him fall to his knees. It opened its mouth aimed to take a piece of him but Acki deflected its head.

"Espada... Rebanse Triple." Baby slashed its neck barely wounding it, Shiro followed through.

The Warbeast stomp the ground again. Mat immediately shouted. "Tail sweep, stop it!" The sweep came, Mat raised his shield against it but was getting drag. Acki, Menan, and Baby regaining their balance rush to his side. eventually slowing it down to a halt.

Shiro swoop down; slashed at its face breaking his blade in the process.

Luci all charge up flip her wand, extending it making a staff. She poises to throw it "Pink... Grand Spear." The beast looks at her but it was the was already on its way, piercing its hide. It gave out a huge cry, then sprayed a torrent of water at the group below. "Behind me" Mat ordered, the group went behind him pushing his back.

They chargeback as soon as the stream dissipated. Baby ran above the monster collecting Luci's staff throwing it back. Menan ran his sword through its sides. Shiro threw exploding daggers at it. The Warbeast shrugged the attacks then charge forward, ramming both Mat and Acki back towards the wall. Luci grabbed Smirf as the wall shook. A stomp came, they knew what's coming next but...

"Run!" Mat shouted at Luci above them but, it was too late. The tail sweep devasted the wall making it crash over them. Smirf shouted as they fell over. Baby and Menan rush to the rescue. The beast roared immobilizing all of them then fired a jet stream, Menan push Baby away, while he got swept by the attack.

From the rubble Mat rose and hammered the beast kneecap making it buckle, Acki followed with his sword but it barely cut through its hide. "Get the girls," With a stern look Mat gave the order to Acki, he immediately left and scoured the rubble.

Mat called out. "Baby, concentrate on breaking through its hide." She nodded and started firing arrows at where Luci pierce through. It cried out; stood up and fired back at Baby. I need to get this thing grounded for a while, till Acki can get the girls out. "Azaleah," she zoomed in and blinded the beast; it thrashed about. Mat rush in before it could do much damage and hammered again its knee, sending crackling volts of electricity with it. The Warbeast fell to its side, immediately it countered with its tail slamming Mat to the powerhouse.

Baby move in "Espada... Torbelinno." Sending a flurry of slashes along its belly. The Warbeast fired a stream at her sending her to the river.

It stood up, limping as it did. Mat shook the rubble off him then ran. The Warbeast roared but he kept running shield forward gaining momentum as he goes. It iwas about to stomp but Acki intervened, holding its foot up. "Their safe," as he looks towards him. Mat gave a slight nod. He charges through, hitting the monster wounded leg brutally dislocating it. He could not stop himself and went tumbling towards the river.

"Mat," Smirf cried out to him but Luci held her tight. "Mage Art," immense energy seeps out of her. "Pink Grand Arrow. Piercing the beasts' belly. The monster squirmed and is now trying to escape.

"Menan," Acki called his muscle rippled as he raised his great sword above head. "Ocean Splitter." His skill made a gash along the monsters' hide. A bloodied Menan swoops a across the field rushing towards the Warbeast. "Render... Grand Splitter," Energy emanated from his straight sword making it bigger and longer then slash through its open wound. Then the Warbeast frantically fired streams at them sending them crashing along the trees. Shiro slashes at its face breaking his sword yet again. The monster fired at him, he quickly evaded then threw bombs at it.

Smirf whistled, her wagon came crashing through, she grabbed it on the way and took Luci with her. "Menan, Acki," Smirf shouted as she rushes to their aide. Baby seeing this fired arrows at it, keeping the Warbeast preoccupied.

Smirf threw Luci a potion patch they each applied to the boys. They both shouted in agony as the regeneration activated. "Let's get them inside." Said Luci picking them up.

The Warbeast roared like a cornered beast, opening up its wounds further, blood gushes out making the waters dark red. Suddenly, it drained the water beneath it.

Mat got out of the river. "Stop it." He shouted. Baby shot a flurry of arrows at it; Shiro dives in. The beast roared in agony as it steamed, closing its wounds in an instant. Its moss coloured skin turned, dark blue; emerald eyes, blood red.

Mat shouted getting its attention. The seams of his black armor lighted up with red aura, armament crackling in red lightning. The Warbeast poise to fire at him, but he threw his shield at it making the monster miss fire, then charge with both his hands gripping the hammer. Dodge rolled the second volley it fired then swung at its feet. It — jump. As his hammer misses its mark; looking up at the gigantic lizard above him. He dashed away from it as fast as he could.

As it landed, it made a huge crater sending everything unfastened helpless in the air.

It's winding up for a sweep! Mat immediately recalled his shield then threw it to Baby. "Catch." He shouted, she grab hold of it, he called it back to him with Baby on it. Keeping her between him and his shield. Shiro threw a chained dagger towards Smirf which she grabbed immediately and fastened to the wagon using reinforce. He then link it with another, throwing it towards an exposed steel beam on the powerhouse.

The tail sweep came, hitting Mat dragging them both in a full circle before throwing them with tremendous force, driving them deep inside the powerhouse. Both Luci and Smirf holding on to each other hanging as they smashed to the wall. Shiro went pass them swooping down the beast making a huge gash on its neck, his blade shattered, the pieces raining down on him. It didn't even flinch at the damage, instead chased Shiro with a flurry of swipes.

"Mat, Mat — Mat," Baby, unharmed dragging him out of the rubble, seeing that blood-stained armor, both arms, leg dislocated beyond belief. She can not stop her eyes from tearing up. But — he is not dead, how can that be he should be turning to light fragments by now. He slightly convulses, then his arms and legs snap back to position. Coughs badly then blood started to drip down his helm, as well as all parts of his armor. She stared there watching him stand up.

"Carpe Diem — CARPE DIEM," the first almost a whisper, the second like a warcry. His bloodlust caught the Warbeasts' attention, literally ignored Shiro, and lumbered towards its nemesis.

"FUCK TODAY!" Mat exclaimed, as he burst out of the wall towards his foe. The war cry woke up Baby. "Fuck today." She cried out. "Mage Art," Luci's energy brimming and overflowing, Shiro appeared beside her, dark energy swelled as he concentrated while he held tight his katana. "Fuck today," said Luci. Shiro nodded, laughing ominously. The wagons hatch opened, out crawled Acki and Menan. "Oh, fuck today," Menan complaining, Acki laugh.

Smirf teary-eyed said in a whisper. "Its pluck the day, its pluck the day..."

Mat started to jog, to a run. The Warbeast roared and ran towards him. Baby from behind shot arrows at it. The two crashed at each other, with Mat being pushed back.

A volley of lasers rained from above, the beast reacted swiftly and fired a volley of its own. The boys jump down cutting their way through the volley.

It wound up! Mat reacted quickly and bashed its front leg, making it fall to its knee. The boys quickly followed up with their swords and Baby through the sides. Again it gave a deafening roar as it stood up, then stomp the ground. They tried to regain their balance quickly but it started smashing the ground in quick successions, then jumps.

Shiro latch a chain at it, Baby used Cali to boost her up the beast, Acki shot Menan up with his sword. then started their assault in mid-air. Luci fired another beam piercing a hole right through it. Acki and Mat ran underneath it. The Warbeast came crashing down, the floor collapse slightly. All its wounds opened up blood came raining down. Water started to seep from river filling the entire crater. It roared like there's no tomorrow.

Everyone panic at the sight.

Then a huge electrified sword pierce through the beast from below. The Warbeast stood still, then fell on its side.