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Arcane Behemoth

from RIFT by Dan Johansen

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Chapter 11: Arcane Behemoth

When the Halcyon X approached this unknown dark mass it reacted and rapidly changed form. Before any of them had a chance to react they were face to face with a behemoth of darkness. A massive creature with two large hind legs and two smaller on the upper torso.
A long neck with a menacing head with 8 horns like a crown and instead of eyes it had one large crystal on its forehead. On its back were four giant wings, embracing it as it turned its gaze towards them while whipping its large tail around, and without warning lunged at them. Van barely managed to react to the sudden attack.
A fierce battle engulfed the Halcyon X and the behemoth. Van flew circles around it and fired lasers and rift torpedoes but nothing seemed to work. Every attempt at hurting the creature just passed through the body that acted only like a gas cloud.
In a sudden moment of recklessness the Halcyon X was hit by one of the limbs of the creature. The ship was sent flying towards the wall they had come from. Just before the impact Van managed to engage all boosters and stop the ship.
It seemed this alien could harden its body at will, maybe it could be used against it?
As Van began to fly closer to try and bait out an attack, Karoth analyzed the patterns and strategies. Karoth gave Van the signal to fire at one of the hind legs just as the creature dove towards them. The hind legs had become solid, ready to strike.
Van took evasive maneuvers and fired torpedoes. A direct hit! Both legs were blown off and separated from the beast.
The moment of success would be short lived as the pieces of both legs began to turn to smoke and in an instant returned back to the behemoth that seemed to become even more enraged.
Stopped in its tracks for a short while, the crystal on the forehead of the behemoth began lighting up. In a panicked state Halcyon warned Van that a massive force was heading their way, it was from the crystal! And also Halcyon noticed that the energy waves from the crystal was the same as the Zion Hex, the star crystal they had come for.
Van began taking evasive maneuvers again just as a massive beam of light shot out from the creature's head. A concentrated beam followed them rapidly around the chamber. Van had to use all his skills to dodge for their lives.
Finally the beam stopped, and it seemed like the beast had to recover from expending so much energy.
Karoth had been analyzing the events and come to the conclusion that the behemoth and the crystal were not one and the same. The creature must have at some point come into contact with it and managed to absorb it somehow. This would mean that the area holding it in place could not be gas like the rest of the body. The area surrounding the crystal must be hardened at all times to keep it in place.
A plan was formed, and set into action! Again Van sped towards the beast, with new found confidence and determination.
After a while, the creature would again slow down and try to launch the beam, this time they were ready for it. As soon as it slowed down, they went for it. Full speed towards the head and before the behemoth could react, the pin point accuracy of Van's aim struck the area holding the crystal in place, separating it from the beast.
Instantly Kathor used a tractor beam to pick up the Star crystal as they were speeding by.
The behemoth, now outraged turned towards them again. They could see that where the crystal once had been there was now a vacuum, starting to suck in everything it the surrounding. Even the Halcyon X was suddenly caught ion the intense suction. Van tried to go full speed, but the situation was dire and nothing seemed to work. The engine began to overheat as they were being drawn in close and closer.
When the situation seemed hopeless, one man did the unthinkable.
Kathor separated his part of the Halcyon X, and told Van to save their homes.
As Klathor's separated vessel was drawn into the creature he fired off the boosters at full blast. The engine went into full meltdown and created a massive explosion.
This destroyed half of the body of the behemoth and stopped the suction.
With a heavy heart for his once enemy turned friend, Van saluted and then took the opportunity to race straight for the exit before the creature could once more take shape.
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Story by Frank Johansen

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from RIFT, released January 18, 2024

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Dan Johansen Norway

I make cool epic stuff and release it, it's my way of life. Enjoy and POAAA on!

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