Akoni’s quick thinking and use of gates effectively nullified the effect of the first energy blast, preventing the others from being harmed.  The returned arcane blast did not, however, appear to have any sort of effect on the creature after is disappeared into the churning vortex that was its maw.  Rather than a bullet being deflected back into the gunman, the River Current seemingly had the effect of splashing water into a pond.  The abyssal monstrosity certainly didn’t cease its advance, instead continuing to move forward at a threatening pace.  When Midori unleashed a torrent of fire toward it, her unholy flames spiraled into its gullet, doing no apparent damage.  

Even as Mary fired off a few parting shots while she made her escape from the cramped corridor, the bullets strayed from their intended paths to vanish forever inside the abhorrent blue light.  In a confined space, the literally and figuratively breathtaking force of the monster’s vacuum gave it complete protection.  Lest they be sucked in and devoured, Akoni and Midori were forced to flee in the footsteps of Souta and Mary, back into the large domed room from which they came.  Obligingly the creature followed, emerging from the hallway like a viper from its pit, and the terrible suction ceased.  

Souta, having lain in wait for a few seconds now for an opportunity like this, did not waste it.  He popped up from behind an overturned table and let loose a shot with Maelstrom.  The beast was not, however, as sluggish as it looked.  It writhed to face the incoming fireshard and sucked it up.  In reply, its outer surface bubbled, and oily tentacles grew from its back to latch onto the wall and ceiling.  Scuttling like a huge centipede, the abyssal maneuvered itself until it hung from the ceiling.  Though now its body was unprotected by its head, it did not hesitate to attack again.  From its maw it disgorged a cascade of fire, identical in appearance to the hellfire of Midori but blue in color, and it turned this way and that to blanket the room in an azure blaze.

Growling in frustration, Souta abandoned his cover as the fire swept over it.  His gun disappeared, and from a swirling font of inexplicable water two enormous hooks appeared.  When he whirled one about his head like a lasso before throwing it, the hook extended on a chain connected to his wrist, and its point latched into the side of the abyssal above him.  Just before the sorcerous fire reached him, the smith sailed upward to hang, suspended, from the creature’s torso.  [color=teal]”Didn’t really think this through!”[/color] he yelled.  Though safe for the time being, he knew nothing about what the creature could do.  The only thing, he expected, that kept it from growing a leg to skewer him with was that it didn’t know he was attached yet.