Headed by a Snake

⟬ Several minutes earlier. ⟭

"Do you really have to do this, Gianna?" Modestus crossed his arms, "And isn't it a bit late to go after them?"

"Which is why I had sent word for a horse," Shield Maiden Gianna mounted the gorgeous, red-brown mare. Her mount's coat was mottled with white; her legs, muzzle, tail, and mane were cutely tipped in black.

Gianna wanted to keep her.

After her father returned from the war, he became a successful merchant and landowner. Those suns of carefree horse-riding and doing as she pleased were long behind her. She joined the Tyrion military, searching for the same glories that he had. And in doing so, she found a new family-- one she wanted to protect, dearly.

Gianna smiled to reassure her overly protective tent group. None of them wanted her to go after Zehr and Justus. Her father never wanted her to join the military, either.

She tilted her head, "Everything's not as it seems, Uncle-Immortal."

The old man scratched at his greying beard, "That's what I'm saying, Gianna! It's too dangerous. The Duplicarius will take care of it!"

"We can't rely on Zehr for everything..." Gianna lamented.

"Pshhh," Modestus scoffed. "Sure, we can! That's how our tent group's made it this far! We'd 'ave all been dead and dog-shite if Caelistis hadn't had his face decorated by crossbow bolts."

The tent group mumbled in agreement, but Gianna shook her head. She was the strongest in their tent group besides those who had already left.

"The entire cohort owes it to Zehr for their survival," she declared. "I... have a gut feeling that we won't complete the mission without his help."

No one could say anything to that. It meant that even if they hadn't said it aloud, they understood it in their hearts.

Gianna tilted her head, "Wish me luck, gentlemen."

"Bring the three of them back safely!!" "Don't you dare die, Gianna!" "Do your best, Shield Hero!!"

Modestus grimaced and saluted, "Flame protect you, girl."

...

⟬ Current time. ⟭

Tycondrius finally approached close enough to identify the Chimera's features. A slight part of him hoped it was actually something else-- a weaker, more predictable creature. But alas...

⟬ Blast-Spike Manticore. Gold-Rank Magical Beast. ⟭

"What are.... those... explosions?" Justus wheezed.

He debated telling Justus in detail... but it would be mostly useless. What would he do with the information?

The Manticore was a type of Chimera that grew bony spikes on its tail as a defensive measure. The spikes could be released with a flick of its tail. Worse was the fact that there were still several long, protruding spikes remaining... no more than six.

Worse still was the fact that the specific Manticore's spikes would explode in bursts of bone-fragments, causing catastrophic damage to the humans. He hadn't heard of such a phenomenon, but it's not like he could argue against what he saw nor with the System's additional details.

"It's called a Manticore. It launches giant bone spikes. Don't get hit by them. Also, they explode," Tycon summarized.

If Justus was caught up in the blast, he would be almost certainly be killed. The magnitude of such an attack would severely injury Tycon, himself, or at least incapacitate him.

Tycon grabbed onto the back of Justus' armor and guided him towards cover. The young Decanus collapsed with his back against the rock, struggling for air and rubbing his aching legs.

"Rest. Catch your breath. Take a minute or two," Tycon warned.

Thankfully, Justus acquiesced without arguing, grabbing his waterskin, and attempting to drain it down his gullet.

Tycon snatched it out of his hands, "Drink slowly, fool. Small sips. We're about to join a battle."

He returned it to the embarrassed young man, who sipped obediently like a child. Tycon examined his surroundings... There was a sturdy looking boulder he could tie the end of his lasso around.

Peeking over from the rocky side of the mountainous wall, he observed dozens of bodies... Archers, it seemed, though Tycon did see at least one fallen shield-bearing Decanus. Centurion Cyrac and Optio Sixtus were still alive, some 60 fulms away.

The Rhodoks's shield-bearers had surrounded the Manticore. The beast was struggling with thrown nets, its hide ridden with arrows. Tycon was thankful that someone had figured out to bring at least that much.

It could have been worse, of course... but they had made it in a reasonable time. His and Justus' presence could save a few lives.

Turning back to the Decanus, Tycon judged him momentarily useless. The wheezing swordsman's hands were trembling too much to work a proper knot.

Tycon began to tie his rope to the adjacent sturdy boulder, "We will move together when you're absolutely certain you've regained enough energy to execute your skills."

Justus nodded quickly, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing.

Tycon glanced out from their cover, once more... He scanned the surroundings for a second stable point.

He noticed with interest that a sword-- no, a knife had been driven to its hilt into the Manticore's left eye. But still, it was valiantly fighting its useless battle against the humans.

Seven hells, the creature was stupid. Had it truly wanted to survive, it should have fled... Tycon surmised that perhaps there was a brood it was protecting-- some kind of logical reason it was unable to leave so easily.

There. Tycon. spotted it. Near the front of the cave, there was a thick, sturdy stalagmite he could tie his second lasso to.

He turned back to Justus, "60 seconds. Will you be alright to charge in 60 seconds?"

The young Decanus nodded quickly. He was wise to save his breath.

"Count to 60, then come out and follow. I'm going ahead."

Tycon slunk his way out from hiding, moving quickly and quietly along the rock wall.

"ZEHHHR!!!"

It had only been moments before his stealthy movement was spotted. Tycon's eyes widened, turning towards the voice. Holy Bolter Rena had emerged from cover and was making a mad dash towards him.

Unfortunately, the Manticore noticed, as well... and it was closer to Rena than he was to her.

"RENAAAAA!!" Justus yelled.

Further increasing his troubles, Decanus Justus left his hiding spot, running towards the girl-- he was still out of breath, waving at her like a maniac.

"GRAAAIIIIIIIIHHHHH!!!" The Manticore in the distance screeched. It whipped its tail towards them, launching its remaining bone spikes. They plunged into the dirt, narrowly missing the running archer.

She continued to run... but she wouldn't be able to get far enough.

Tycon skidded on the dirt and sprinted back towards Justus.

Reaching out his arms, he speared his shoulder into the young man's abdomen and grabbed the back of his legs to take him down.

A loud series of explosions shook the earth, engulfing Rena in a cloud of dust.