Chapter 401: Another Monstrous Echo
As the manticore bore down on them, Kai actually swayed on his feet. He'd grown so used to Behemoth's Heart taking care of small aches and pains that he was off balance at first. It swiped with one massive paw, only to be met by Omilaena hurling needles into the pad of its foot. The manticore pulled back with another roar, but the needles looked tiny compared to its bulk.
"I don't think poison is going to bring it down," Omilaena said. "You okay?"
"I'll manage." Kai regained his balance and, when the manticore lashed out with its tail, he was able to strike it aside.
Given time, Behemoth's Heart could neutralize the manticore's poison, but until then he couldn't count on it to regenerate any wounds. At least half a dozen quills had pierced his body, and combined the ache was starting to get to him. He could definitely fight, but for how long? This wasn't the time to play around and try for a challenge.
When the manticore raised its tail again, he saw that the quills seemed to have regenerated. Before it could attack, Kai created the strongest Tyrant's Claw he could and swung his hand, aiming to decapitate the beast in the first strike.
He might have a decisive power advantage, but he wasn't quite fast enough: the manticore managed to twist aside and his claw only tore through its mane. That slowed it down enough that he and Omilaena had time to leap away before it unleashed the next wave of quills.
When they landed in the forest, a decent distance away, he heard Omilaena grunt. There was a quill through the flesh of her calf and she stumbled a step. As soon as she saw his look, she shook her head.
"The poison can't kill me, but this isn't going to be good."
"Quick kill?" Kai asked. "Or retreat?"