Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 199: Book 3: Chapter 50: A New Enemy (Pt2)

Read chapter 199 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 3: Chapter 50: A New Enemy (Pt2) The chimera landed hard on the floor, stone cracking beneath its weight and mandibles clacking in a sound disturbingly close to a laugh. Then it crouched down as air swirled faintly around its limbs. And this time when it charged, it wasn’t just sheer speed. It moved in a blur, and earth aether wrapped its long claws, hardening them and coating them just like Tom-Tom did with his soup ladles . Everyone rushed at the threat now, weapons, arrows, glyph crystals and spells flashing outward to stop its advanced. It wove through their strikes like a practiced duelist, its movements slightly jerky but unmistakably effective. It used Holly’s footwork, Kate’s swordplay, and even Eric’s feints. Coupled with its monstrous strength, it was less a beast and far more like a nightmarish reflection of their own squad's skills. As they met once more steel clashed and shields cracked. Aether energy erupted in explosive detonations from nearly every member of the party. But within short order the squad was forced onto the defensive, every moment becoming a frantic scramble to keep from being carved apart. The chimera blurred forward, its limbs a storm of slashes and jabs. Garret’s shield buckled as a piece of it was broken free and launched away to crash across the stone floor. Ghrukk powered up even further with his augmentor spell, his aura turning into a burning shadow-fire storm. He contorted the flames with his will and sent them in a concentrated beam that seared the cavern walls crimson, only to see the chimera deftly dodge the spell entirely. The dodge brought the Chimera into the range of Henry, who slammed shoulder-first into the creature while his vines wrapped around his body, dragging it off its rhythm. His fists, wreathed in rippling water aether, bombarded its torso, forcing it back step by grinding step. “Go!” Henry bellowed, his mouth releasing spittle as he bore down on the beast. “I’ve got the bastard!” Rynel shot an aether-charged arrow from his bow, the string singing from its release. The projectile struck its forehead and burst, injecting a corrosive dark energy that clung to its eyes. Henry was sent flying as the thing kicked and thrashed in about in a blind anger shorty after. Selka tried to close in from behind while it was distracted and caught a strike across her face from its tail for her efforts. At the same moment Doran and Sarson came in together as a pair, hammer and sword striking in tandem, but both were knocked away as the beast released a shockwave of air forward from its body reminiscent of Alex’s [Flare] spell. It was still blinded from Ryenl’s arrow, though, giving them a possible window. Alex wanted to seize the moment, but knew it still wasn't the perfect time. His eyes flicked between Kate and Holly, who were already circling wide around the beast. “Hold on. On my mark! Ready yourselves!” They both paused their approach at his command. The humanoid chimera shrieked, its mandibles clattering like a dozen snapping jaws. It reset its stance, tensing its legs under its chitinous frame, then launched upward in a blur of air aether. Ghrukk followed with a powerful leap of his own and met it midair, both of them crashing together like colliding meteors. The impact boomed across the cavern, showering stone fragments from the ceiling. For a second it looked like Ghrukk’s orkish strength might overpower it, until the creature twisted with a grotesque flexibility and one clawed hand caught him under the ribs. The Ork’s roar turned to a gasp of pain as he was hurled across the chamber, his massive frame slamming into the far wall hard enough to crater it. “GHRUKK!” Myrae screamed. But Alex had no time to worry about his team’s injuries. He brought his hand down to the floor, aether surging through his channels. “[Earth Bind]!” Blue chains erupted from the ground, spectral links snapping shut around the chimera’s limbs as it landed from its mid-air exchange. For an instant, the