“Really, now,” Moran said as he stared at them scattered about the room. “I expected more from you four.”
Chapter Sixty-Four
“Pop your stimpacks,” Titus said as he threw up an Improved Barrier around himself and Zelda.
We can’t beat Moran head-on. Is there an alternate win condition here? We don’t need to kill him. Just distract him long enough to get the message out, right?
“Over here, you tyrannical asshat!” Kaiden shouted, scrambling for a ridiculous insult in order to draw Moran’s attention. As he shouted, he charged the hierarch, hammer raised, then switched back to private comms.
“Zelda! Can you get to the broadcast control panel? Send out the database while we distract Moran?”
Even from across the room he could see her eyes light up at the idea.
“Keep me covered. I’ll do what I can,” she said, but Kaiden was only half listening, staring as he was down the barrel of Moran’s hammer-gun.
Ability: Improved Paralyzing Shot
The shot exploded from Moran’s weapon. Kaiden spun, then activated Kickback. His hammer slammed into the ground and he exploded up, over the oncoming attack and Moran’s head in one motion.
He came down behind the hierarch and began charging an ability.
Ability: Flash Bang
Discharge an intense light from your shield that blinds opponents within 10 feet for 5 seconds. Has a 3-second cast time.
“Cover me!” Kaiden shouted but Thorne was already on it. She came in from the side and as Moran loaded up for a no-doubt crippling blow on Kaiden, Thorne landed with an Earth Shatter.
Moran was knocked onto his back. He stood up just in time for Flash Bang to go off in his face and blind him. He wasn’t stunned, though, so he was still free to attack.
Ability: Through the Breach
You channel charge into your armor. For the next 10 seconds all damage taken is reduced by 30% and your attack speed is doubled.
Moran popped the ability then attacked wildly, his massive hammer swinging in long, looping blows. One caught Kaiden in the shoulder before he could duck away and sent his newly replenished health back down to seventy percent. Thorne had other plans, however, and she stepped in swinging.
“We need to buy time,” Kaiden said, glancing to where Zelda was now interfacing with the console.
“I need sixty seconds for it to upload to the broadcast system,” she said.
“You heard her. Don’t focus on damage. Focus on delaying him.”
“I can do that,” Thorne growled.
Moran blinked a few times, then winced as Flash Bang’s blind effect wore off. He raised his hammer toward Kaiden, but Thorne grabbed him.
Ability: Improved Grip Like Iron
You channel charge into your shield hand. The next opponent you grapple will be held in place for 5 seconds plus X seconds, where X is 3% of your total strength stat. A grappled opponent can be attacked and deals 20% less damage when attacking.
“Interesting approach,” Moran grunted, then took advantage of the grapple to land several attacks on Thorne. He had the twenty percent debuff to his damage but still his blows fell with incredible force. The grapple came to an end with Thorne at forty percent health. Moran broke free and stepped away – just in time for Titus to hit him with the full force of an Improved Shield Charge.
Kaiden had all too good a view as the force exploded through Moran, sending his eyes wide and rocking his armor to its core. But Intransigence kept him standing, though it didn’t protect him from the damage of the attack. His health was down to eighty percent now.
The tides were turning; Kaiden could feel it. Moran was strong, but who could take on three opponents at once? And Zelda was at the broadcast control panel now, working it with hands a blur.
Thirty more seconds…
“Oh, so that’s where you went.” Moran’s voice boomed out, echoing off the floor and walls and ceiling such that it resounded through every nook and crevice of the chamber. Moran reared back, aiming at Zelda, and Kaiden didn’t need a visor to tell him an Energy Grip was coming.
He darted forward and caught Moran in the back with a Shield Bash, stunning him for two more seconds. The hierarch growled, but Kaiden scored two more hammer strikes on him. The stun wore off quickly, though, and Moran ignored Kaiden, aiming up the Energy Grip again.
Ability: Energy Grip
Ability: Lightspeed
Moran flung his lasso at Zelda – and Kaiden darted in front of it, carried by the unnatural haste of Lightspeed. The lasso wrapped around him instead of Zelda and Moran howled, then yanked Kaiden toward him.
“Not what you were hoping to catch?” he said as he climbed to his feet, then got a hammer strike to the chest for his trouble. Kaiden darted away before he could get hit again, his health bar already flashing. When it stopped, he was down to thirty percent health. But he’d bought Zelda a few more moments.
Just fifteen more seconds…
Moran charged Zelda.
Thorne cut into his path but was promptly bowled over by Improved Shield Charge.
“Hey punk,” Titus shouted. “Might want to rethink that.” He fired off his newest ability.
Ability: Center of Attention
For the next 30 seconds, a target of your choosing must target you or take 2x base damage for every second they don’t. You must be standing still to use this ability.
Moran hesitated for a moment, then scoffed and spun toward Zelda, his health ticking away by the moment.
Seventy-eight percent, seventy-six percent…
“I said get back here!” Titus lashed out with an Energy Grip but Moran slammed his massive shield down and blocked the ability as it reached him.
“Just about got it—”
Zelda was cut off as Moran reached her and ripped her from the console.
“No!” Kaiden shouted as she was flung backwards.
Moran hit a button and the progress bar on the console reset.
“Almost had it there,” Moran said, a look of relief on his face. “Now, Titus. I believe you wanted some attention?” Moran fired off a combo of abilities all at once.
Ability: Berserker
The warden does double base damage but also takes +50%
