(Raiza) "Hot damn!! Haha! These badasses are getting shit done! I mean, y'all ain't messin' around, y'know? Got this shit on lock-down, man!"

His voice was filled with cool confidence. As he clapped his hands, the sound reverberated through the air, punctuating his words like a drumbeat of victory.

 

"They down there are kickin' ass and takin' lives! Ain't nothin' gonna stop 'em now!" Righteous, who stood behind him smirked with gladness.

 

Heathien and Breeus synchronized their efforts, determined to find a way to render the bastion's shell malleable. Their plan required precise execution and a deep understanding of their enemy's defenses.

Breeus focused his energy to harness pure mana within his weapon. With a surge of power, he channeled the mana into his spear, imbuing it with a vibrant green glow. The mana infusion enhanced the spear's cutting capabilities, enabling it to penetrate even the toughest of surfaces.

 

With unwavering resolve, Breeus dashed towards the bastion, his eyes locked on the target. He carefully aimed for a specific spot on the shell, identified as a potential weak point. Drawing upon his strength, he unleashed a powerful thrust, driving the spear deep into the bastion's exterior.

 

The impact reverberated through the air, as the spear's enhanced cutting edge sliced through the shell, releasing a burst of energy upon contact. The collision caused a localized disruption in the bastion's defenses, creating a small discolored area - a reddish-orange spot - on the beast's tough exterior.

 

However, the group quickly realized that their initial effort had not achieved the desired result. The bastion's advanced healing capabilities swiftly counteracted the disruption, restoring the shell's original color and resilience.

 

Teddy, the tactician of the group, assessed the situation with a quick-thinking mind. He recognized the need to push beyond their initial approach, devising a more innovative strategy to overcome the bastion's formidable defenses.

 

Breeus noticed that he decided that he needed to do much more than a simple blast of pure mana, calling his spear back he flashed a glance towards Heathien since he would need his help. Heathien with a smirk casted his fireball but is now more concentrated and more powerful. Similar to what Breeus had done, he made it so that the fireball was more so an attack of a small range, meaning that the sparks wouldn't go out but more in a tighter in radius, so that the spark hit the bastion more so than ever. Using his saber as the medium. A wave of hot inferno came and conquered all that was in its way as he plunged it into the bastion. The red/orange-like sparks came bouncing off of the bastion, it just stood there taking all of the intense sparks coming from the blade. The piercing area was turning red intensely as he slowly went further down deeper in the wound. Raiza was atop the cliff looking down with Righteous there since he would've been in the way of all this.

(Raiza) “ DAMN!! You see this Righteous!? A whole wave of fire completely engulfed-”

 

(Righteous) “ But it's not enough mother, see.”

 

As Righteous pointed down the cliff, her outstretched arm pointed at the battle below them, urging Raiza to follow her gaze. His eyes widened, and a deep frown etched itself onto his face as he peered down at the group below. What he saw affirmed his worst fears. The flames that had erupted from Heathien's saber, once a source of hope, now appeared feeble and insignificant in the face of the Queen Bastion's unyielding might. Its towering form remained unscathed, as if mocking their futile attempts to breach its defenses. Its tentacles moving now in erratic fashion.

 

With a swift and calculated move, the Bastion, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a devastating counterattack. Its many eyes, gleaming with an ancient malevolence, locked onto Nekomori as she descended upon it with unwavering resolve.

 

The Queen Bastion, its towering form emanating an aura of malevolence, seemed to draw in the very essence of sound itself. Yet, in a moment that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it, the immense maw of the Bastion slowly began to open, revealing row upon row of jagged, razor-sharp teeth.

 

The sound that accompanied this ghastly sight was a cacophony of nightmarish proportions. It started as a low, guttural rumble, akin to the growl of a primordial beast awakened from its slumber. The reverberations filled the air, vibrating through the ground beneath their feet, sending tremors of apprehension coursing through the hearts of the group.

 

As the maw widened further, the sound intensified, morphing into a bone-chilling, metallic shriek. It was as if the very essence of torment and despair had taken on a tangible form, echoing through the battlefield with a haunting resonance. The pitch grew higher and higher, reaching a crescendo that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality itself.

 

The sight and sound of the Bastion's gaping maw was a visceral reminder of the unfathomable power it possessed.

 

The air crackled with tension as an ominous beam of pure energy burst forth from the Bastion's core, hurtling towards Nekomori's vulnerable form. It was a strike of unparalleled precision, a calculated attempt to snuff out the flickering flame of hope that had ignited within their hearts.

 

Yet, in the face of imminent danger, Nekomori's instincts and reflexes proved to be her salvation. With a deft and fluid motion, she swung her hammer with unwavering precision, redirecting the beam's path. The ground quivered beneath the tremendous force as the redirected energy bore deep into the earth, Nekomori finding and landing on one of the intricate webs spun by Arenea. It was a moment of fleeting victory amidst the chaos, a testament to their collective strength. Rubbing her arms she coughed harshly due to how much strength she put in that swing.

 

Meanwhile, the sheer force of the Bastion's assault sent shock-waves rippling through the battlefield. Heathien, caught off guard and defenseless, was propelled away from the fray, his figure disappearing into the tumultuous haze. Breeus, stalwart and resolute, was thrown across the unforgiving terrain, his body bouncing across the battlefield like a ball.

 

The battlefield now stood as a living canvas of chaos and mayhem. Each movement, every clash of power, reverberated through the very fabric of existence. The stakes had never been higher, and as the dust settled, Raiza's heart ached with a potent mixture of fear and determination. In this crucible of adversity, his comrades stood as beacons of unwavering resilience, their spirits unbroken, and their resolve an unyielding flame.

 

(Nekomori) “ NYAAA!! Whew that was close!!”

 

She jumped down but not too far down, she landed on even more webs to land on and jump to.

 

(Teddy) “ Dammit! We needeth m're fireth pow'r! T 's starting to changeth its focus from us to Nekom'ri!”

 

As Teddy's frustrated words echoed through the air, a heavy sigh escaped Raiza's lips. He peered down at the chaotic scene below, his mind racing with a desire to aid his children in their time of need, but what could he do actively but to advise them on what he thinks is the correct way to go about defeating this foe. Determined to guide them, he used the transmission magic with a sigh , his voice carrying across the battlefield.

 

His words, filled with wisdom and concern, cut through the chaos. Raiza urged Teddy to calm down and analyze the situation with a level head. The enemy, he explained, possessed a keen awareness of even the smallest details. Nekomori, soaring high above in almost pitch darkness, had become the target of its attention. Raiza implored Teddy to find a way to enhance their damage output somehow and pin it against a wall, as Regina, Nekomori, and Spirlunia, awaited their chance to strike.

 

A smile tugged at Teddy's lips as he heard his mother's voice, her words reverberating in his mind. Taking a deep breath, he sought solace in his surroundings. His gaze swept across the battlefield, taking in the unwavering resolve of Yokishoto and the others. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the slightest misstep could lead to their downfall. Yet, Teddy's eyes remained fixed on the Bastion Queen, her defensive posture a constant reminder of the imminent danger they faced.

Teddy then had a epiphany of a magic he was most certain would do something against the beast terrorizing him and his family. It was using his poison and warping it in a cyclone of air.

 

In the midst of the chaotic battlefield, Teddy's mind became a tempest of ideas, swirling with the intensity of a gathering storm. His frustration and determination fueled his imagination, and his eyes shimmered with a glint of defiance. He closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him, and delved deep within himself to tap into the wellspring of his power.

 

As Teddy focused, the air around him seemed to thicken, charged with an electric energy that crackled and sparked. Whispers of wind danced between his fingertips, a gentle caress that promised both grace and destruction. The atmosphere grew heavy, the very air vibrating with the weight of Teddy's unwavering resolve.

 

With a surge of unyielding will, Teddy summoned his poison, a dark and potent force that pulsed through his veins. It slithered and coiled within him, a venomous serpent awaiting release. As the two forces converged within him, a symphony of power and chaos echoed through his being.

 

In that moment, Teddy became a conduit, a vessel for the merging of wind and poison. The air around him twisted and contorted, taking on a sinister hue, as if the very essence of his poison had infused the very fabric of the wind. The cyclone began to take shape, a swirling vortex of malevolence and might.

 

Gusts of wind whirled around Teddy, growing in strength and ferocity. They obeyed his command, responding to the call of his will, as if the very elements themselves recognized his authority. The wind howled and roared, a wild beast confined within Teddy's grasp.

 

With careful precision, Teddy used the energy from the cube to heighten the mana used to create this mix of venom and winds. He directed the cyclone towards the creature that threatened his family. The winds surged forward, carrying with them the poisonous miasma that Teddy had so meticulously infused. The air crackled with an ominous sound of high winds

(Teddy) "This...this shouldst doth something!"

 

He hurdles the cyclone towards the Queen Bastion hoping to deal some type of damage. As the high winds was spinning, it would cut deep into the beast letting the poison to go into the beasts system and do its thing. Luckily it was able to do so but barely the Bastion moved at incredible speeds trying to avoid the danger it sensed but it was not enough, the hurricane grazed its right side making the entire side’s shell to melt off of its living body. It kept going in a straight line destroying everything in its sight before dissipating. For Heathien this was a chance to constantly throw his wave’s of fire at the side the bastion was hit at using his saber. Flames would light the dim battlefield with a red-orange glow as it sparked against the beast it was hurled towards, it tried to heal its wounds as quick as it could but because Teddy dampened its magic potency using his own forcefully it wasnt healing much. Together with Breeus, he ran towards it consistently stabbing and thrusting with his beams of mana at the very tips of his spear puncturing the wound even more so.

 

A chance was there. They could see an outlier on this battle so long they can keep this pressure moving to greater heights. Teddy surveyed the current situation. In no way possible was mothers plan working with this beast. It's like a different version all together when dealing with this thing. 

As the battle unfolded, Regina tapped into her unique magic, known as 'Ever frost.' The temperature around her dropped dramatically, causing a visible mist to form in the air. Her fingers grew colder, and her clawed gauntlets glowed with an icy brilliance that seemed to emanate from her very core.

 

With a determined gaze, Regina directed her frigid beam towards the Queen Bastion. It was a sight to behold – a thin, almost imperceptible stream of ice shot forth from her finger, leaving a trail of sparkling frost in its wake. The sudden drop in temperature was so intense that it sent a shiver down the spines of those nearby. Their breaths hung in the air, freezing into tiny crystals, as if time itself had momentarily frozen.

 

The Queen Bastion, a creature of power and instinct, recoiled in the face of Regina's chilling assault. It attempted to evade the beam of ice, but to no avail. The freezing cold grazed its sides, causing an immediate reaction. The air around the beast seemed to thicken, as if the very molecules were struggling to resist the encroaching frost.

 

With each passing moment, a massive crystal began to form on the Queen Bastion's body. It glittered with an otherworldly beauty, refracting the dim light of the battlefield and casting mesmerizing patterns across the frozen landscape. The weight of the crystal burdened the creature, slowing its movements and adding a newfound vulnerability to its already wounded state.

 

In this breathtaking moment, the battlefield seemed to hold its collective breath. The clash of weapons and the roar of the Queen Bastion were momentarily hushed, as if nature itself had paused to witness the unfolding spectacle. The surrounding area was transformed, bathed in an icy serenity that contrasted the chaos of battle.

As Teddy onlooked the battle he commanded Nekomori to now jump in

 

(Teddy) " Nekom'ri! anon is the timeth!!"

(Nekomori) "Nyhaaa!"

As Nekomori descended from the webs and down onto the bastion, she swung her hammer with all her might, it collided with the Queen Bastion's head, creating a thunderous impact that echoed through the battlefield. The sound was a wild mix of flesh and metal crashing together, with a hint of something otherworldly, like the distant screams of trapped souls. It was a spine-tingling noise that made everyone pause for a moment, captivated by the sheer power behind the strike.

 

Now, here's where things got weird. Despite being a massive monolith with short limbs, the Queen Bastion somehow managed to leap into the air, defying all expectations. It was like watching a boulder do a high jump. And not only did it jump, but it did so at a weird angle, heading straight for Yokishoto's crew who had already taken down two of its royal guards.

 

But Nekomori wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. "Nya? Dammit, this is our only chance!" She landed on the ground with a mighty thud, creating yet another crater, and then sprang forward, covering an impressive amount of ground. She caught up with the beast before it fell near Yokishoto and the others and with a twist of her body and a swing of her hammer, she bashed the Queen Bastion's back, sending it tumbling headfirst and skidding across the ground like a giant bowling ball. The impact was so powerful that it even managed to slide uncomfortably close to the royal guards.

 

Seeing Nekomori's bold move, Teddy, Spirulina, Heathien, Alexsis, Elzaisis, and Breeus followed suit, charging in with renewed determination.

 

While in the air, Teddy started to speak with Spirlunia

(Teddy)  "Spirulina, didst thee receiveth a chance to receiveth some of its blood?”

 

(Spirlunia) “ N...n-no! It's t...t-to f-ast fo-for me t-t...to l-l-lock o-o...on to! A-as if it was trying to dodge me!”

(Teddy) “ Have you ever got any of the blood from any of these beasts?" Teddy asked exasperated. She simply shook her head no im compliance. "I...i thi...nk it's s...some in..terfera-nce w...hen i t-try to..." She said slowly.

In response he clicked his tongue and sighed smacking his hand on his forehead. "So it's either a mana stream blocking you or it's your own ability..." He said boldly as they landed where the rest of the group was. leaving Spirlunia quite to herself.

They then landed near Yokishoto group. Soror came up to them furious as he shot a bow as it soared through the air hitting a bastion in the air

(Soror) “ Why the hell is it here for?! Where still barely dealing with the beasts here!" 

 

Soror said in a concerned frustrated tone, with his fingers between his brows

(Breeus) “ I don't know!! It just suddenly headed towards here!!”

(Soror) “ Sigh, You all need to get it away from here!! If its with its guards then this is going to become extra  more difficult!"

 

He then shoots one of the guards to his left as Alexsis targeted it

(Teddy) “ Thee bethink not we knoweth this!! W're getting t hence from h're!”

 

Teddy then tells Heathien and Breeus to go towards Nekomori and try to make it bleed while Alexsis and Elzaisis try to gain its attention and allow Spirlunia to get close enough to siphon out at least a liter of blood from the beast. Then they noticed now how hard its shell is, looking at Teddy dumbfounded because, all this time, it’s innards was never shown ever since they fought the beast. Even when the poisonous cylone hit the beast it never had its innards shown, the flesh like parts they thought they saw was only the shell innards, not the beasts. The annoyance came due to the fact that it's like two different beasts put into one. The shell is a whole entire entity controlled by the other, which is the Queen bastion itself. But, they sucked it up and did what they was doing before.

 

Regina then ran towards Teddy.

(Regina) “Huff, Huff...H-hey Teddy!! What about mom!!" She said with worry in her voice. "She’s fine!! W're hence from h'r concluded, be it! Plus she’s atop of the cliff with Righteous!! t wonneth't knoweth wh're she’s at n'r is moth'r in any harms way!"

As Regina let out a sigh of relief and charged towards the ongoing battle with the Queen Bastion, Teddy's mind raced, trying to comprehend the sudden change in the creature's behavior. Teddy, known for his astute observations, couldn't help but question the motives behind the Queen Bastion's actions.

 

(Teddy) "Wherefore didst t moveth h're all of a sudden? is't seeking backup? But how can the rest of the royal guards assisteth at which hour their army hast already been decimat'd by Heathien and the oth'rs?"

 

Teddy's thoughts spiraled, searching for answers amidst the chaos of the battlefield. His mind delved deeper, asking himself more questions. Why did the Queen Bastion separate itself from its guards if it called its army out anyway? And why did it call its full army in the first place, if it is its full? The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and Teddy desperately sought to put them together.

 

But then, a realization struck Teddy like a lightning bolt. He recalled the moment when he threw both Righteous and a Raiza up onto the nearby cliff. It was a seemingly insignificant action, but now it held a deeper meaning. The Queen Bastion must have witnessed the act, deeming the two atop the cliff as valuable or protective entities, hell it moved towards there the moment he did so!

 

A theory began to take shape in Teddy's mind. The Queen Bastion had devised a plan, a strategy to test the loyalty and protectiveness of the group towards the 'insects' on the cliff. By leading them to believe they were reining in the beast, the Queen Bastion could observe their actions and determine their true intentions.

Teddy's mind raced with the implications of this theory. The creature had cleverly disguised its ruthlessness as a means to mask its defensiveness towards the two beings on the cliff. It had manipulated the situation to gauge if the group truly cared for and protected what it deemed as a valuable asset there protecting.

 

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and Teddy couldn't help but draw a realization that they were entangled in a complex psychological game with the Queen Bastion. A soft chuckle came out from Tedddy, to think a beast would be close to outsmart him, no...it already did. He then noticed how there was mana fluctuations different from his siblings beaming about. He looked and saw two bodies hot red closely together.

 

Teddy's gaze fixed upon the two guards as they converged, Hearing what seemed to be Arenea and Yokishoto screaming warnings as the beasts bodies burned a bright red before imploding. It was a sight both awe-inspiring and chilling. Their sacrifice was a final act, a last resort when all hope seemed lost. The thick and heavy shells of the guards shattered into shrapnel, becoming a deadly barrage aimed at those who had dared to threaten the Queen.

The explosion that followed was a spectacle to behold. The air reverberated with a deafening roar, echoing across the battlefield. The ground shook beneath their feet, sending tremors through the surrounding area. Dust and debris filled the air, creating an eerie haze that obscured vision and added to the surreal atmosphere of the moment. The sheer force of the blast rippled through the landscape, leaving behind a scene of destruction and upheaval.

The positions of everyone is layed out like this: Currently, besides Yokishoto, Soror,  Arenea and Vedo. They were more closer to the gold bastions then the rest. To the far right of them, were the Queen bastion and the rest of the group.

 

Yokishoto, Soror, Vedo and  Arenea, caught in the vicinity of the explosion, found themselves dangerously close to the epicenter as the shrapnel from the shells went in every direction. Yet, Yokishoto's instincts kicked in, warning him of the imminent danger. With remarkable agility, he swiftly employed his martial arts skills, evading the worst of the blast just in the nick of time.

***

As the dust settled and the echoes of the explosion faded, a somber silence fell over the battlefield. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt earth and lingering smoke. Teddy couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and trepidation for the Queen Bastion's cunning. This encounter served as a stark reminder that even in the face of defeat, their adversaries possessed a resourcefulness and a willingness to sacrifice that made them formidable foes.

As the explosion rocked the battlefield, Teddy's thoughts were momentarily interrupted