As they gazed across the desolate tundra, their eyes zoned in on the platoon leader's squad and the towering Styx facing them. Its body coiled a serpentine titan fifteen meters long, scales shimmering with vibrant scales with hues of purple and blue. Its hartebeest-like horns, forged of solid metal, curved with lethal elegance while spikes lined its frame, running like jagged mountains down its length.
Gilbert moved swiftly with his squad into shrinking their formation to rendezvous with Squad 3.
"Kruger, have you ever watched a high-level knight battle?" Aisling called out, hopping slightly over to their squad her power armor. The three of them looked at her with much sass
"Gilbert," she added
"I know," said Gilbert waving his gauntlet. "Until I arrived here I didn't barely even see squires-," but his words were cut short as his helmet's radar flared to life, sending out high rad alerts.
Turning instinctively, his eyes widened. 3A1's armor glowed through its seams as he unleashed a storm of gunfire into the styx. The Styx coiled, its colorful scales rippling under the light, its horn pulsing with latent energy, gleaming ominously, while sparks crackled along its spiked frame, a silent warning before it lunged forward.
One of his squadmates ID 3A7 stood firm, raising his large square shield with a black dragon painted on it. The Styx's horns collided with the shield and a magnetic force held it momentarily on its reinforced surface. Reacting swiftly, 3A7 unleashed a small-diameter bomb from a rocket launcher mounted on his back and a hail of bullets from a hole in its center. The explosion sent the Styx recoiling, forcing it to retreat as the pair backpedaled, narrowly avoiding the vicious lash of its tail.
As Squad 9 and 3 observed the scene in awe, their helmets displayed escalating rad levels, they realized the mods on a high Knight squad were far more advanced than they had ever encountered from high-powered weapons mounted directly onto their armor and thrusters that allow true flight to extreme explosions. It was then, for the first time, that they witnessed the Styx's bio attack. A surge of unnatural energy rippled through the creature's frame, and with glowing spikes, it unleashed a barrage of energy blasts toward the squad sending them all flying one was even being sent in their direction but was fortunately blocked before it reached them.
'PANTHEON: Pay attention - Tier III Styx inbound! Hold your ground. A higher-tier squad has been notified! Let your inner dragon burn bright and unyielding '
The alert reverberated through their comms, each squire's heart skipping a beat. Grasping their weapons their eyes tightened as their pulse quickened.
"Hehe, looks like we get to join the action after all," chuckled Aisling, spinning a pair of tonfas with a flourish.
"All other squads, fall back. Kean, scout the area up front and report when the Styx is close. The rest, form up around the truck and neutralize any low-tier Styx that comes our way," Gilbert ordered without missing a beat sending the squads into action except Squad 3
"Our squad ranks above yours in combat so who put you in charge?" one of Squad 3 members who couldn't hold back said
"Sure you're stronger, but when it comes to on-spot command Gilbert is at the forefront," Wolfgang quipped back with Adam stepping up beside him as their tempers flared.
" You insolent little-," his reply was cut short by a raise of Aislings hand
"Enough Gilbert and I will share command now move into formation we will take the left flank, while squad 9 takes the right. Now Move! Unless you want to end up dead," Aisling replied
"Incoming E.T.A. forty-five seconds," Kean's voice cut in across the comms as if on cue. Along with it he also sent an image of the Styx to their screens, nine meters long, with matte black scales, four powerful legs, and two tails with sharpened tips made from metal.
As the Styx charged into view, Gilbert reacted first. His thrusters flared to life as he fired his rifle, expertly gliding sideways to draw the creature's attention. At that very moment, one of Aisling's squad members, attempting to flank the beast, had his arm clamped in a vice-like grip. Waves of pain seared into his limbs as he let out a guttural cry of agony. Aisling seeing a member of her squad in peril closed driving her tonfas deep into its flanks unleashing a wave of energy blast causing blood to splash as each strike carved deep wounds into the creature-scaled hide, The savage assault forced the beast to relinquish its hold on her injured teammate, yet its retaliation was swift and vicious.
A massive, spiked tail lashed out in response, slamming Aisling against a jagged boulder. Her vision blurred under the brutal impact, and the taste of iron filled her mouth.
"Wolfgang, help her out!" Gilbert barked, gripping his dual swords. Without hesitation, Wolfgang moved in his shotgun roaring as he forced the Styx back a single step. With the enemy momentarily stymied, Gilbert charged to the right flank. With precise ferocity, his swords carved wounds deep into its flesh, while they were severe, they barely passed its scaled exterior failing to affect vital organs or bones. Behind him, Wolfgang provided essential cover fire. His shotgun roared as he advanced, but a whip from its tail tore through the side of Wolfgang's armor embedded deep into his shoulder catching him off guard. Blood mingling with sweat, as he pressed a gauntlet against the wound while still laying down suppressive fire.
Cornered and enraged the beast tried to break the encirclement
"Intercept it!" Gilbert shouted. Two of Squad 3 members went forward with their shields blocking its path but like a steam train, the Styx barreled through them with a sickening crunch of broken bones. Their sacrifice buys enough time for William to surge forward.
William's heat spear gleamed as he drove it toward the creature's eye. With a twisted contortion of its body, the spear seared deep into its side. Yet before it could be withdrawn another twist sent William flying into the sky with a whip of its tail came crashing down as he hurled skyward. Using his gauntlets to discharge a kinetic blast to soften the blow before he was caught by Gilbert in mid-air. Using his suit's thrusters, Gilbert decelerated their descent, the two collapsing roughly into cover as pain and injuries mounted.
The beast reeled from the assault, roaring in frustration when a fountain of blood erupted from its eyeball. Adam's sniper round rocking it sideways. Two of Squad 3's members took advantage of this to slam into its side further pushing it off balance.
Aisling fighting through a blurred vision and searing pain, grasped this opportunity and used her thrusters. Assisted by a boost from a nearby teammate, vaulted onto the Styx's back. There, she unleashed a rapid combo of attacks with her tonfas each strike from either end creating energy explosions that crumbled the creature's scales cratering its back. But as she tried to dismount, a vicious sweep of one of its tails skewered her from behind. Adam's quick sniper shot knocked its other tail off course.
Kean lunged forward, grabbing her. With his short sword he attempted to cut off the offending tail but failed instead he just yanked her off inflicting even more damage,
"Nice going, my knight in shining armor," said Aisling with a raspy voice, vomiting blood
"Say thank you or I'll drop you," Kean snapped dodging chaotic attacks straying their way. Hearing no reply coming he was going to drop her but he caught a glimpse of her monitor and saw that she was unconscious. Seeing many of their teammates down for the count Gilbert and William launched a coordinated attack using its blind spot they closed the distance to fend it off.
"Our attacks aren't doing enough damage other than its lost eye the rest of the damage just amounts to mere flesh wounds," Gilbert said over the comms while firing a blast into the creature's underbelly
"So do you have any plans or oh so wise leader?" Asked William firing in tandem as they danced with the beast
"Yeah peasant, any smart ideas," Asked Aisling crackling into the channel?" Giving them all a start.
"Weren't you unconscious?" Asked Kean poking at her stomach causing her to hiss in pain.
"Didn't your medics load drugs into your suits for delivery? I just added some anesthesia to mine, works wonders don't you think?" She replied with a wink "But thank you, you're a decent peasant."
"Yeah yeah, princess and frog listen up, The remaining members from squad 3, provide cover fire. Kean, William, Aisling, and I will disable it: aim for the joints, the rear of the knees, and the underside of the tail. Adam, you're our main man, try to take out its other eye but your main aim is to kill it." Gilbert barked out instructions.
"Who told you that I could move?" Aisling asked coughing some blood into her trembling hands
"Your pride," Gilbert replied. He then moved into action.
William pelted grenades at Styx each explosion causing more craters on its hide. Closing in William used his kinetic blast from his gauntlets forcing one of the creature's front legs into the air. Gilbert then deftly used the boost from his thrusters-driving his electro sword into the back of the limb, paralyzing it for a few seconds. William used this chance to swipe his spear furious arc serving the leg tendon
The Styx roared in fury its tail lashing out wildly. Gilbert noticing William is unable to dodge uses both his swords to deflect them, costing him his right arm in the process. They retreated to a safe distance. Another guttural shook them as the beast lost another eye courtesy of Adam. Now disoriented, it started running rampantly on its last two limbs before crashing into the ground after losing movement in another limb thanks to the efforts of Aisling and Kean.
Breathing heavily, the members who could still stand all backed up. Blood and gore are etched onto each piece of armor, with some limbs hanging limply by their owners' side. They all bore marks of relentless battle save for Adam whose condition remains intact
"Leader we are running out of ammunition," a fatigued voice from Squad 3 reported over the comms.
"Then take up a knife and run a blade through it," came Aisling's reply leaning on Kean as she bled through her stomach.
As they were contemplating further moves multiple bombs rained down. Explosions tore into Styx, crippling one of the lethal tails and shattering a leg.
"There is some cover fire, handle the rest. Squires!" said High Knight 3A1 boomed across the comms.