26 Loss
a/n: Again a juicy prompt goes ignored because Rosalee and Neesae are running a dull mission, fighting ictus.
All the good things belong to Monolithsoft.
They tried to be clever about it at first. Neesea lined up her sights on the spot they'd need to crack open and got off a shot before they started. The shell splintered, which meant Neesae wouldn't need to pry it open during the tiny window when the thing was stunned. She felt real good about it until Rosalee yelped and swore, pulling back a knife that was dripping venom. Neesae's round hadn't just cracked the venom sac area; it had pierced it.
They still managed to get one intact material from that kill, but they didn't try it again. At least they knew that if the normal way failed, they could fall back on this method, at the cost of having to rack up three or four times the hunts. Rosalee washed off her knife, a weapon that had no special qualities beyond its weight, and contacted Frye. No change on his end. She nodded to Neesae and they tried it again.
The most clumsy method was the one that worked. They chose an isolated specimen, then peppered it with shots. Neesae had a few rounds that were more light than heat, and those were just what they needed to confuse the multi-legged horror. Rosalee pushed her way as close to the front claws as she could and when their rounds were spent, she slammed her shield into the ground, bringing the animal to its multiple knees. Not ideal for Neesae, who had to duck under snapping jaws to get at the venom sac area, but she wasn't complaining. Meanwhile, Rosalee flung her shield onto the sand and pulled out her knife. There wasn't time to apply the correct arts. She had to go in with nothing but pure muscle. No buffs, no special boosts. She slashed out the venom producing organs and jumped out of the ictus' embrace, which left Neesae the chance to prove that her rifle could do more than crack a carapace.
It was imperfect, and not every attack ended with a clean carve, but they were slowly piling up the materials. Between each fight they would call Frye, and he would reassure them that Carranza was currently holding steady. Emphasis on currently, not forever. Rosalee reset her layout and they started on the next ictus.
The individuals by the beach weren't as bad as the ones nearer the Nopon caravan. Those ones stayed hidden until you stepped into their territory, at which point they dropped onto you without warning, plummeting down from the rib-like geologic formations that hung over the path. The Interceptors had the territory well mapped, but things shifted every mission. There were a dozen places that the creatures might launch themselves. Rosalee and Neesae took it slowly, taking baby steps along the path, intent on only triggering a single indigen each time. The patience required for this kind of hunt didn't come easily for either of them.
"Break," declared Rosalee.
"We just need two more, three at the most."
"I'm starting to sweat through my gloves, and I need to sharpen. If you want to stand guard..."
Neesae shuffled with Rosalee to the very edge of the water. She dipped the toe of her boot into the lake and kicked a scattering of droplets at Rosalee.
Rosalee kept sharpening her knife, but she wriggled. "Goofy."
"You're goofy. I hear you went to the beach with Marguerite."
"I hear you helped her plan it." She stood up and engaged her launchers. "Do you need to do anything for your stuff?"
Neesae shook her head. "I might as well be fighting with a crowbar for what we need to do. Come on."
a/n: There will be more fight scenes. Marguerite took Rosalee to the beach in AUgust 2021/2/Exotic Vacation.
Next up: More fight scenes. I think we have 2? chapters left?