The heated, ferocious battle between Wrath and his technoorganic nemesis raged on, not abated for a second by the former's shifts in weaponry and strategy. To call their confrontation a duel would have been erroneous; though the beast's natural cunning and instincts did find some play against Wrath's own training and wit, the majority of their struggle progressed too quickly and too viscerally to be classified as an elevated form of combat. At this blistering pace with both sides sustaining wounds, though, the Nephilim learned more quickly. Moves that proved effective became muscle memory for him, whilst the beast's fighting grew to be more and more of a struggle. Though only a short time passed, each moment felt far longer to the combatants, so Wrath would be easily forgiven for thinking 'at last!' when the battle paused momentarily, the creature heartily softened up and apparently convinced that a lull had developed in which it could figuratively catch its breath. The perfect opportunity presented itself to finish the job.
Half-melted despite its property change, the metallic beast facing Lily did not think to stop itself when she abruptly vanished from its path even if it could have physically done so. Rather, it dug in its limbs in an attempt to slow itself down for another pass, not remotely dreaming that a transformed, draconic demon would crash from above. Wreathed in flame and wielding a large, blunt weapon with murderous intent, Lily impacted it like a meteor. Appropriately, then, even if she sustained a little damage, her prey had been ground into the earth to form a miniature crater. In a pristine state its armor would have been of negligible use against a crushing weapon, but when more slag than smithwork it forfeited whatever remaining defense it would have had, and the full weight of a demoness and her weapon totaled the beast. Instead of continuing to function at least in part, like a machine might have, it effectively died. Perhaps some sort of 'mercy kill' functionality existed for this bizarre, part-technological creature; if it took lethal injuries, it immediately expired rather than waste away painfully. No matter—this one wouldn't be troubling Lily anymore.
Any other being would have met a proverbial brick wall when attempting to tackle a beast such as this, but Fenn's sheer size and strength not only struck a savage blow to it, but also forced it back. Souta struggled to stay on the thing's back as it half-slid, half-stumbled backward, some of its armor crumpled and driven into its own body as an inward-facing spike of metal. The step back afforded the creature a quick look at the situations surrounding its companions; one had already bitten the dust and the other seemed apt for an ample asskicking. This new information did not seem to faze this water-imbued beast at all, however. With a rather machine-like indomitability it appeared intent on driving the invaders back, or perhaps just breaking even with the monster that challenged it. From the newly-opened ports in its carapace the beast began to generate water. Most notably, a high-pressure jet of water burst from its mouth in a frothing beam directed at Fenn. Not willing to stand idly, Souta swapped out his Trawlers for the clawed gauntlets Silverbeast and adopted a low stance. With enhanced strength he tore at the beast's armor, peeling it away from beneath in order to slash at the rubber-like flesh.
Despite the tenacity of that watery creature, at least one being present already thought the result of the ambush a foregone conclusion. Not far along the suspended winding path leading away from the platform, a small, humanoid figure atop some sort of bipedal, birdlike creature was speeding away. Panoptos, who appeared to have one of his claws around Uhelei's neck in a position somewhat like a gratuitous noogie, cleared his throat.
”Looks like someone doesn't want to stick around for when we're done with the tin cans. Hm. At that rate, I don't expect we can catch up.” He glanced at Lily, the only member of the group whose fight had, for the moment, finished.
”Convenient that there would be three of the same monster just waiting for someone to arrive, eh?” His many-eyed stare shifted to the party's guide.
”Are you sure all this isn't stirring your memory? You didn't mention angry locals.”
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