Headed by a Snake

The archers began to panic, some yelling, some cowering in confusion. A few brave fools continued to fire arrows at the skyborn creature.

That bastard, Sixtus, ordered a shield wall formation.

Decanus Constantina focused on Rena, ducking behind cover and pushing the crossbow girl down, beside her.

Rena wiped her tears with the side of her wrist, "Wh-what's happening?"

"After the explosion, you're going to run," Constantina explained.

"But--"

"Listen, for now, dear sister."

Rena pursed her lips, nodding, though her tears continued to fall.

Constantina continued, "I wanted so badly to train you... to hone your skills, to teach you to ignore those who hate you. Your archery... it's a gift... and you need to use it to save as many people as you can..."

She closed her eyes for a moment, opening them to reveal an expression of pure hatred and unabating fury, "--by killing every Flame-taken bastard who threatens your friends and family."

BOMMMM!! BOM BOM BOM!! A series of explosions, ear-piercing peals of thunder, reverberated throughout the cliffside.

The ground shook, a light rain of dirt showering the two of them. They were unhurt-- the ringing in their ears would only be temporary. Still, Constantina yelled over the scream of her dying allies, "You have to RUN!! GO!!!! NOWWWW!!!"

The creature landed.

It was like a cat, making next to no noise as it hit the ground. It was ridiculous. The creature had to have been a thousand librae of muscle, spike, and claw.

Constantina felt the monster's breath, hot against her back. The acrid stench of rot made her want to gag. Rena was frozen in fear, staring up at the creature's face.

Fight. Flight. Freeze. They were the three human responses in times of crisis.

The winged lion revealed its maw full of blood-and-gut covered teeth, "Hello.... ARCHERS!!!"

Constantina kissed Rena's forehead, waking her from her reverie

"Go," She urged once more before turning to face the monster, "⌈Shadowtooth Strike.⌋"

Dark clouds made of mana burst from her form, shrouding her movement. She pushed Rena away, towards the hill they had initially ascended. There was plenty of cover on the way. She'd be fine.

Besides, Constantina would provide a worthy distraction. She leapt up towards the creature's face. She let her instincts take over... smooth, swift, and faster than her senses could fathom, she plunged her long dagger deep into the murderous lion's eye.

It roared in pain, stumbling backward, "Yooooou BIIIIITCHH!!! Howw DARE YOU strike ME... after.... ALL of my MERRRCY!!!"

Constantina kept her eyes on the creature. She hoped that Rena was running-- but the only thing she could hear was the impossibly fast pounding of her heart. The only thing she could feel was every muscle in her body aching, screaming in pain. She had utilized nearly all of her mana, pushing her movement technique to its limits.

She screamed as loud as she could, "I've gone my entire life wishing that someone saved me! The stupid, useless Munifex with a scar who only had to rely on herself!! Be that person!! Survive this, Munifex Rena! Stay with the Rhodoks!! LEAD MY ARCHERS!"

The winged creature bounded forward, reaching forward with both of its monstrous claws, ready to score Constantina's flesh and tear out her insides.

"Save that little girl..." She whispered...

In her mind, she thought the words she could not say... 'Be her friend. Show her that it's okay to trust... some people... Don't let her become like me.'

A thousand librae crashed into Constantina. One of its claws swiped down, searing heat erupting from the entirety of her left arm. Her arm was severed at its shoulder-- how could it still hurt?? Its other paw pinned her down. Her ribs creaked... they were breaking. Blood was pooling in her lungs as she began to choke.

The lion-beast leaned in, staring down at her with its one functional eye, almost as big as her head.

"Remember when I said I'd KILL you lasssst???" The heat of the creature's breath stung Constantina's eyes... "I lied."

Constantina only had a few more moments of consciousness remaining... She reached out her right hand towards the dagger embedded in its left eye.

...

⟬ A few minutes earlier. ⟭

Tycondrius spotted the creature, flying... At the distance, it was barely larger than an insect.

His earlier conjecture was correct. It was indeed a Manticore.

It spun in a circle, whipping its tail swipe around. A Munifex plummeted off the side of the cliff, falling hundreds of fulms below.

He hoped it wasn't Rena.

Justus drew in a big breath of air as he ran alongside him, "Z... Zehr... We can sprint... We... we can make it."

"No. This is my pace, which is still faster than yours." Tycon responded, "If we go any faster, you will be useless once we arrive."

With his Iron-Rank physique, he had no issues jogging and holding a full conversation. He found the situation strange. He was one of the slowest members of Sol Invictus, but it seemed that was a terribly unfair standard. The young Decanus was being pushed, but the pace was still tolerable.

"Go... ahead... I'll... catch up," Justus spoke between breaths.

Tycon frowned. He didn't know the situation he'd be getting into, but all signs thus far suggested it was a poor one. Rena may have already been killed. No, he'd rather make a safer play and enter combat with Justus at his side.

As good as his offensive skills were, Tycon's most powerful skills increased the strength of his allies, not his own. If he were forced to show the Rhodoks that he was, in fact, an Iron-Ranker, Justus would be his instrument of war. Because of the young Decanus' trust, only he could receive Tycon's Command skills without a mana backlash or a reduced effect.

"Cease your complaints. Focus on running," He handed Justus one of the bundles of rope. "Hold this. Don't release that knot."

The red-crested Decanus took hold of it, placing the heavy loop around his shoulder. The weight was not conducive to his running, but Tycon needed to tie a quick rope knot into the other bundle.

The young Decanus started, "What... is..."

"Focus, young man. I'll explain," Tycon interrupted. "That is a lasso, commonly used to reign in cattle."

The terrain had changed to a bit steeper-- Tycon slowed slightly to ensure Justus wouldn't be pushing himself too hard, "We'll tie the end to a sturdy base. I will be throwing the opposite loop. It may be able to limit the Manticore's movement."

Tycon grimaced.

The more time that passed, the less likely he felt that Rena would still be breathing when they reached the battle.

He couldn't help but begin to distance his feelings from the archer girl. Yes, she provided pleasant company. It was common in her conversations to stoke his ego. It was nice to be reminded that he was incredibly handsome.

The creature would fall even without their help-- the Rhodoks' core force was strong enough to ensure it. An inefficient strategy, however, would still result in an unnecessary amount of deaths.

To a Gold-Rank adventuring company from the Holy Country, Munifex Rena was an acceptable sacrifice.

The concept annoyed him greatly.