Titus got the idea instantly and struck out with Energy Grip. The crackling whip of energy lashed around the blast warden’s leg, then dragged him across the floor and well out of the protection Clarissa had been providing.
Zelda focused her full attention to the blast warden and unleashed a string of attacks. Titus did the same, abandoning any attempt to protect Zelda in favor of landing several crushing blows on Alvarez. The blast warden was higher level than any of them, but that hardly made much difference when caught in the open and getting focus fired.
“No!” Clarissa shouted, then made to cover her teammate.
“Not today,” Kaiden said and darted after the shielder.
Ability: Shield Bash
The warden strikes out with their shield, dealing no damage but stunning the target for 2 seconds.
Cost: 15 charge.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
The stun caught Clarissa in the back and stopped her movement for two seconds – a critical two seconds in which Zelda and Titus continued their attack on Alvarez. Though nearly dead, he was returning fire as he beat a retreat toward the cover of his shielder. His health was low – twenty-two percent now – but high enough that there was a chance he’d make it back. At least, as long as Clarissa kept heading to meet him. Shield Bash’s stun wore off and she made to do just that.
Ability: Hamstring
Charge is redirected into your hammer. On your next successful critical attack this charge cripples your opponent. Their movement speed is reduced by 50% for 10 seconds.
Costs: 60 charge.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Kaiden poured what was left of his charge into his new ability, then swung at the back of Clarissa’s legs. The blow connected and she cried out, then stumbled forward. She tried to keep moving, but her movement speed was crippled and all at once she looked like she was trudging through molasses instead of down a hallway. Her limbs were slow and clumsy, as if they were numb.
Alvarez’s eye went wide as he realized what was happening. He was close to Clarissa, but not close enough. Zelda detonated an Improved Kinetic Grenade at his back and combined with the still persistent fire from the marines, his health bar flashed and emptied to zero.
He collapsed like a bag of rocks, armor clanking against the metal floor as he went down.
Blast Warden Alvarez assisted kill - 3,000 EXP gained!
For a moment there was something approaching silence, but for the sounds of Thorne being smashed around the hall some distance away. Then Clarissa slammed a fist into the wall.
“Well, let’s get on with it, then!” she snarled and advanced on Kaiden, still hamstrung but hammer raised anyway.
Zelda launched several attacks into her back and the shielder spun and raised her shield. She leaned into the assault, blocking most of the damage.
Ability: Shield Link
Kaiden’s visor alerted him to Clarissa activating an ability.
Shield Link? Alvarez is dead, so who’s she...
“Stop shooting!” Kaiden shouted. There were only two enemies left, which meant the only person Clarissa could be Shield Linking with was Esme. Kaiden turned his attention to the back of the hall in time to see Thorne launched through the air again. She landed, health at seven percent now, but threw herself into a roll and managed to make it most of the way to Zelda and Titus.
“Might be time for some backup,” she grunted.
Zelda stepped past her and toward Esme, who launched into the air in a blur.
Ability: Heroic Leap
Esme landed in an explosive wave of damage. Zelda’s health dropped to thirty-two percent. Esme, apparently, had gained a fair amount of charge from Clarissa’s surprise Shield Link.
Titus rushed to get between her and Zelda, his shield raised.
Ability: Improved Shield Break
Deals damage through armor and staggers the target.
Kaiden sprinted forward, his visor reading out vague details on Esme’s ability as he bypassed Clarissa and ducked under a wild attack from her. He left her in the dust, leaning on his dexterity to close the distance between himself and the fight brewing over the injured Thorne. Not fast enough, though.
Esme’s Improved Shield Break connected with Titus’ shield. The blow crushed a chunk of his health and staggered him backward. He tried to recover, but Esme had all the time she needed to get at Zelda.
Ability: Improved Grip Like Iron
Grapples the target, roots them in place, and weakens their attack while grappled.
Ability: Improved Chained Fury
A series of attacks, each dealing more damage than the last.
The power warden lunged forward with an outstretched hand that closed around Zelda’s throat, then lifted her into the air.
“What the—” she began, then was cut off as Esme bashed her with a flurry of hammer strikes. Improved Chained Fury amplified the damage of each successive strike. Every attack did a bit more damage to Zelda than the last.
She managed to block the first few blows, but then her shield was overloaded and she was left entirely exposed. Her health fell to twenty-eight percent, then twenty-three.
Kaiden raised his hammer as he drew in behind Esme but then he toppled forward, health flashing as he faceplanted. The reason why became obvious as he turned to find Clarissa’s Energy Grip wrapped around his ankle. She yanked hard and he slid back toward her.
He rolled over on to his back with a curse and charged 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.
Cost: 25 charge.
Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Clarissa lashed out with a Shield Slam, trying to stun Kaiden. It worked, but Flash Bang fired off right as her ability did. She reeled back, covering her eyes while Kaiden froze, stunned for two seconds.
All the while, Esme’s Improved Grip Like Iron held Zelda in place and her assault continued.
Seventeen percent. Ten percent. Zelda was just about done.
But Titus wasn’t. He was back on his feet
