Wade darted forward, his sword flashing as he closed the gap between himself and the skeletal manticore.
The thing's bones rattled as it moved, its wings spreading wide and its tail arcing back like a whip ready to strike.
The moment Wade came into range, the tail lashed down.
He sidestepped, the stinger striking the stone and leaving a sizzling crater.
A hiss filled the air. The venom was corrosive, eating into the column's surface.
"Alright, no touching that," Wade muttered, darting left and slashing at its ribs.
The strike hit true, but his blade scraped across bone, barely leaving a mark.
The manticore turned its skull toward him and exhaled.
A cloud of green mist burst forth, rolling toward him like living poison.
"Not good!" Wade jumped back and threw up Basic Ward, but the moment the mist touched the barrier, it sizzled.
The ward flickered like a flame caught in the wind. The mist was eating through it, devouring the mana holding the spell together.
