And so the battle began. 

Akemi leapt in first with the notion of striking the Monolith in its joints. Sparks flew as the fox demon dashed about, her flaming sword making contact with the creature’s molten skin. A loud, thunderous groan that sounded more like trees splitting apart filled the ravine and the Monolith responded by bending forward and unleashing a stream of liquid magma from the volcano that acted as its head.

The creature was somewhat blind, a fact that again, only Akemi knew. But it could read the heat signatures of its prey much like the Roushta from befor and itt sensed Sinthe as the one Hunter not currently attacking it. It directed its bulbous stream of lava in his directions flaming embers the size of cars launching off into the air and hurling towards the earth below. Meanwhile, the lava began to fill the ravine and surrounded all sides at a slow crawl.

It would be a long, delicate process, but the Monolith would eventually flood its prey in a sea of flame, scavenging and picking apart the remains to consume greedily. Likewise, the ongoing attacks on the monster’s knees were slow as well and would most likely favor in the creature’s patient strategy. That is, until a certain Zweihander-wielding newcomer arrived on the scene, instantly shattering one of the Monolith’s pillar knees and staggering it.

Before the monster could react further, the searing pain of darkness incarnate made another loud rumble erupt as Tatsumi struck hard and fast with his shadowy blade. The Monolith was almost brought to its hands, falling forward and precariously falling. But then a pronged hand gripped onto the side of the ravine and held it in place. The shifting of earth was heard once more as rocks began to fly out of the monster’s exterior and honed in like guided missiles.

If it couldn’t burn the Hunters, then it would resort to crushing them with sheer force alone. 

At least things were less disrupting back in Iredele, or rather the White Wolf Tavern specifically. Maribel found herself sitting next to Donny at the bar, sipping on yet another mug of bubbling red liquid. Another drink that she had demanded onto Donny to pay for.