Chapter 24: Something Sneaky This Way Snakes
"Rudolf!" The [Fighter] called over to one of his party members. "What level is that thing?"
The [Ranger] blinked, then stared intently at the creature. "Er… twelve. Higher than most stuff around here."
"That's gotta be some kinda roaming boss," the party's leader scowled. "That doesn't look like it belongs in this forest."
"Be careful—it's a chimera type," the [Healer] woman called over.
The adventurers grimaced as if that meant something. Quintus and Ricardus rejoined the rest of the Legion as they formed two walls, one with four men and the other with three. The lines moved to flank the beast from slightly different angles. The adventurers, however, had other plans. Rather than attempt to work with the Legion, their warrior charged toward the face of the beast, screaming with his sword held high.
The archer continued loosing arrows at the beast, repositioning around the clearing as quickly as he was able. Most of them sank into tree trunks as the creature's slight movements sent them skittering off its thick pelt. Several, though, struck true and lodged themselves in their foe, slowing it down. Their healer was still occupied by reviving the member of the Legion that had been stabbed in the side with its stinger. From his brief glance over, Quintus suspected that the venom dripping from its stinger must have been difficult to heal.
All this, Qunitus took in as he slotted himself next to his fellow Legionnaires. They could have used the extra man, but it couldn't be helped. Right now, he was more worried about driving the beast off than killing it. Especially given its own state.
The serpentine creature had taken countless deep stabs into its sides, on top of the arrows peppering its face and body. Quintus had even personally hacked off part of its tail. Yet it still showed no sign of retreating. In fact, it was healing. Its hind leg, which had been injured on their first assault, was now moving much more nimbly than he remembered. It didn't look as though it could pounce like it had done at the start, but it was no longer stumbling over it every time it tried to move. And that did not bode well.
Whether that really did indicate some sort of supernatural healing or simply its ability to adapt to wounds, he didn't know. But Quintus did know the thing was clever. Its tactics had proven as much, trying to bait them into lowering their guard for an attack from behind. Only pure chance had allowed them to avoid it. He wasn't confident that they'd be able to see through its tricks in the future, especially if the engagement dragged on.