The Manticores charged as one, four tons of muscle, fang, and venomous death, launching toward three opponents who stood their ground with weapons drawn and magic gathered.
The four Manticores split their attack, two converging on Alissa while the others targeted Kipp and Elara separately. The creatures moved with terrifying speed for their size, muscles rippling beneath their resistant hides as they closed the distance in seconds.
Alissa met her attackers head-on, her sword flashing as she deflected the first Manticore's massive paw strike.
Her face contorted slightly as the impact sent vibrations up her arm despite her strength, forcing her back several steps. The second creature immediately capitalised, its scorpion tail whipping forward toward her exposed side.
"Alissa, left!" Kipp shouted, launching a compressed wind blade that intercepted the tail mid-strike, deflecting it just enough that the venomous stinger missed by inches.
