Chapter 8: Showdown, the Warlord of Cerberuses

Author's Note: Here we are the first warlord battle, honestly thinking about how the battle was going to play out has plagued me. Especially the later fights down the line to create challenge and tension for our Beastie. I like to think I did well in this chapter, but that is perspective. Anyways I hope you enjoy, this is TheFoolOfTheNoon signing off.

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Nacho's P.O.V.

I sat resting as the army set up the intercepting line. Land vehicles were put into defensive lines and tanks ready for the arrival of Trimonglius' army. Infantry, snipers, and all ground armed personnel are loaded and in position. It's been a few days, and our scouts had an encounter with the warlord's own scouting party. Which meant he was near and closing in for sure. Now would be any good time as ever to take on this child of Typhon without the defensive infrastructure of his base. We got informed by command aka Isabelle that Ankha, her squad and her co squad captain Johan are going to be sent to deal with the base in the absence of its warlord. A difficult task but are being supported by an attack force told to attack in the confusion after they did their job.

This also meant I wouldn't be able to see both girls until after this battle was over if things went well. I have full confidence though that Ankha can pull it off though. I know her too well and her skill set. As for me, well things look good so far. I mean most of the monsters I was able to tear through like paper. Not even the whelps stood much of a chance either, so safe to say I grown somewhat stronger. However, the warlords are supposed to be the best of Typhon's forces. It's the reason why they lead his armies in the first place. I do not know how much my strength compares with the brute and the only way is through combat with him. Kranaf believes in me, Crackerjack just tells me to be cautious, and Baron just tells me to make it a show.

I just got to use what I know and read my opponent carefully. With the current calm the anticipation is killing me. Stretching and doing some warmup training. Kranaf was watching me the entire time all the while trying to inflate my ego. Well, trying to, frankly it was kind of annoying, but he's trying his best to make me feel confident in myself? That is the best I can think of the brown nosing he is doing. I told him to take it easy because it isn't necessary to act that way for me. Though if he really can't help himself, he can at least tone it down.

"Kranaf, I got a question."

"Ask and I shall answer for you."

"Trimongulis, do you know anything about him that will be useful in a fight?"

"Ah, not much. I know he big, strong, and dum dum. He don't come around much to mine. Usually bring mean doggies that snap and bite. Three head like him. He proud do not like be told not. Killed some friendlies when happened."

"Hmm…well that was good enough for me. So strong and reckless…knew that already. Has three headed dogs, the monsters he controls over. Very prideful…hmm, maybe susceptible to taunts?" Seems like a stretch, but I have taunted large monsters before into traps I set up. Granted there is a chance it won't work against him. Well, having some tactics is better than none. I gave Kranaf my thanks as I continued my warmup. Some time later we were notified of the enemy's arrival. Trimongulis has arrived.

In almost an instant the soldiers ran into positions. Those who were passing the time dropped what they were doing on the spot, and those who were already on guard just pointed their weapons in the northwest direction we knew he would be coming from. I took the highest point possible to get a clear view of the battlefield. It was big enough for a full-scale battle, but enough spots where cover can be taken in no man's land. Looking ahead, I saw the enemy army and it was much bigger than the one I sent packing earlier. Countless monsters of familiar note along with multiple Cerberuses leading from the front. Contrary to the pooch I met in the underworld, these ones look very aggressive and feral. I spotted the warlord himself within the center front of his army. He really stands out among his smaller forces.

His army stopped as he noticed the forces opposing him. I cannot hear him from a distance, but I can tell he was laughing. He didn't fear for what's in front of him, rather he looked like he was welcoming it. With a wave of his army, he sent the front part of his army forward. Like a huge wave of flesh, muscles and weapons charging through. The battle began as I heard Crackerjack shout, "Contact! Weapons hot!"

What happened next is a launch of mortars and tanks shells being slammed into the attacking enemy force. Breaking down their ranks as they got closer to our position. That's when the machine guns started their barrage and ripped through those that remained. Even then they proved to be tougher than normal as they reached the walls and tried breaking through. They were gunned down and blown up ultimately, but this was only the first wave. Trimongulis army as a whole got closer, and he sent out another wave of what I thought were suicidal minotaurs as they charged headfirst. Aiming at our defensive wall as our forces did their best to keep them at bay. Still, some made it through the barrages and contacted the walls. Breaking them further with their strength. These monsters don't know fear and were willing to rush on through no man's land and losing many of their own. It's not smart, but at the same time this bull-headed strategy is going to slowly chip away at our defenses. Break one open to let the rest swarm through. He had more than enough men to sacrifice without a second thought.

Another wave came and this time he let out some of his dogs with them. They proved to be far tougher than the minotaurs as high piercing ammunition was the only thing to get through their hide. It was only a matter of time before they broke the defensive line and caused some damage within our ranks. As his army got closer more of our forces started firing with all we had at them. I can see the warlord smile as he sent a bigger wave of his forces of armored minotaurs to tank hits as some of his hyenas hanging on them.

"Brudda, if you're gonna start something I suggest you do it soon. I can see their death coming from a mile away," The baron kindly notified me as he continues to stay out of sight.

If there was any time to act, I better start now. I gave Crackerjack my heads up as I spread my wings and took to the air. They kept their firing until only a few remained and I dived bombed the remaining one in the middle. The last thing I heard was a crunch before the sound of broken earth hit my ears. I blew the dust to the side with my wings as I stared at the remaining army before me. In addition to the smiling face of Trimongulis himself.

He held his hand up, ceasing his army's advancement as he himself moved forward, "Ha ha! You saved me the trouble of finding you beast!"

"We been excited to meet you."

"So, we can finally prove ourselves to be the strongest around!"

All three heads can talk…I am not surprised, "So you're the warlord that has been trying to conquer Fort Corith. I been told you would be big."

"The biggest!"

"The strongest!"

"The toughest of Typhon's children!"

Definitely not the humblest, "I don't suppose I can convince you to turn tail and head back where you came from?"

"Ha! After all we done? You're joking right?"

"We will smash you flat and show off the corpse."

"Words are pointless beastie!"

Well, I can't say I tried, "If you say so, hard to believe you're related to the nice pooch I met in the underworld. Though maybe you need some discipline you mangey mongrel."

"Talks cheap, men! Stay back, I don't need any help for this."

"One on one, eh? Fine by me, let's see what you're made of."

I took a fighting stance as the warlord gave a loud howl as his men cheered on. The first weapon he revealed to me was a massive club lined with spikes. Big, heavy, and most likely very painful to get hit by. Welp, range advantage aside looks like I'll be doing what I can to get in close with my claws, fists and even the chains. We circled each other in the circular arena that was given to us as we sized each other up. One of us had to make the first move and I was tempted to try to see how much a solid attack from me would do to him.

After a short minute the warlord charged at me. Overhead swing first with his club that I rolled out of the way easily. It came with a crash as it shattered the ground with an impact that easily made the floor unsteady to stand on. Not my first rodeo as I aimed a punch and aimed for an unarmored part of his leg. He was a meatier target, but the precise shot made his leg buckle. I was going to follow up before I was met with an elbow to my face. The pure impact would have caved a skull instantly. For mines…just pure pain as I recoil back. It's official, I'm in a real fight.

"Nice try beastie, but I got three heads for a reason."

Pain subsiding, I glared at the warlord, "So one third of a whole brain each?"

"Let's see how well you make jokes when I smash your skull in!"

The battle resumed as the warlord pulled out his club and viciously began swinging it in a mix of horizontal and diagonal swipes that came in much faster than expected. I avoided most of the strikes but a fake out had me collided with a horizontal swing. Pure bone crunching strength and impact had me immediately sent flying into the crowd of the warlord's men. My vision was wonky to put it lightly and when I shook it off, I realized I was covered in the blood of the same bodies I collided with. A good mile away from the arena. I felt soreness in my arms that tried to block the blow. If it wasn't for my natural toughness and the armor, I probably would have been meat paste already.

"Okay…immensely strong…not the first time being outmatched physically…but the first time with a person within my weight class I guess…oh man…" Done speaking with myself I got up on my feet as I see the warlord beckoning me back to the ring. Gritting my teeth I spread my wings as I took flight and flew straight at him. I just know he is going to try something. I smiled when he readied his club like a bat. He must think I am as bull headed as he is. Delivering my own fake out by a sudden stop and taking extra height as he swung. Taking that chance I quickly dived and kicked him hard into the ground with great power. Quickly I gave a few hooks to all three heads before doing a quick spin for my sword like tail to slash him. Though in retaliation I saw him glow fiery orange which is a tell-tale sign fire was headed my way.

Having met Hade's pet pooch, I already know that's not normal fire. So, I dodged to the side as a hellfire flamethrower erupted from his mouths and touched the sky. I stretched a bit as the warlord got up laughing, "Hehe, we're glad to see you can throw a punch. We actually felt that!"

"I had too many close calls in Tartarus to see hellfire coming before it even hits me. Though to be frank I didn't expect you to be able to breath a flamethrower with that kind of power."

"As I said, I'm not that broken pet Hade's keep around. I'm…"

"Stronger!"

"Tougher!"

I rolled my eyes, "I haven't found a monster that I couldn't beat. It's not going to start with you kibble for brains."

"Kibbles? What in Typhon's name is kibble?"

The warlord was genuinely confused to which I didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer. Rushing in as I delivered a vicious punch straight into his gut and caused him to keel over. I followed up by grabbing his center head with my crush claws as I gripped it and in a show of strength forced him to flip forward. Landing him on his back on the ground as I summoned the chains of Tartarus to bind him.

"Oooh opportune attack! Ha ha! Left myself open for that one, but it's going to take more than puny chains to keep me down!"

"These are chains from Tartarus. You'll find them not very easy to break," I ignited them and to my annoyance it wasn't affecting him very much. He is hellfire resistant too, the full package.

"Heh you call that a fire?! This barely tickles!"

"No, but maybe this will leave a mark," I picked up his large club and began slamming it onto him. Its heavy weight was nothing new to me in my experience as a monster hunter. It's bone crunching weight putting dents into his armor and earning cries of pain from the warlord. However, eventually the chains gave way, and the monster grabbed me by the leg and started slamming me down like a rag doll. A dog with its favorite chew toy as after a few slams he did a final one in front of him before following up with a stomp and a breath of hellfire. The flames scorched my body, but I also felt it burning in my soul.

"Don't get cocky beast! I am not rolling over something stupid as using my own weapon on me!"

I gritted my teeth as the searing pain of the hellfire slowly faded as I shot my lower two tentacles out and stabbed him in the legs. While it caught him off guard, he didn't fall as I felt my extra appendages get grabbed and pulled. Along with it the same searing pain of hellfire as I got yanked out of the ground and slammed onto the dirt again. Recovering quickly I was met with an angry looking warlord as he picked up his club again as veins of fire began appearing on his body. Looks like I was drawing more of power out. Enough throwing each other around we ran at each other and collided into a savage collision of blows. Punches, swings, chain lashes the works. Some of our blows sent us into the crowd at different angles and even the wall I was supposed to protect. Despite the collateral damage and our bodies being heavily banged up we kept at it.

We were at each other's throats as I felt something stir in me. A spark of the wild rage to being thrown around like prey. Still, it's merely a spark and nothing truly intense to make me go wild as I did once before. Still, it was enough to keep me focused on the fight as my fist connected with his and his club. Even throwing some of my tentacles strikes in middle of it to keep him on his toes. Still blows connected to both of us and I felt my body growing more battered. Even blood leaking from a couple of places on my body. Eventually the battle intensity got to a point where the familiar feeling of fire in my hands cracked to life as fire erupted from the intensity. I can feel my fire ki rising again as more force came from my punches.

Despite the fire not doing any damage to him directly, it was weakening his club as I focused my efforts into destroying his weapon. Deciding it was time to show some of my power I used the last impact to create enough room between him and me so I could stomp on the ground and create a wall of earth between us.

"What?!"

Trimongulis' confusion gave me enough time to follow up with a kick that sent the earth wall flying straight into him. Knocking him down and dropping his weapon. Walking over to it, I stepped on it. All my previous punches to it have weakened its structure and almost like a twig it caved and broke from my applied pressure.

I spit out some blood, but my fire was growing bright, "I think we're passed playing around now. How about we start fighting seriously?"

"Hehe…we thought you'll never ask," Trimongulis got up from the ground and gave out a loud howl as his entire body ignited in hell fire. He looked almost as molten as the fires in Tartarus. He held his hand out as his axe formed itself in his hand. Igniting as well as he gave a few swings as roaring flames danced in the air.

As for me I simply rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck as I formed a sword in my right hand and readied a chain in my left, "Okay, let's see who's stronger now."

"As your puny fire and puny sword could do anything to me!"

"Yet here you are revealing the rest of your strength. You never fought somebody on your level before, didn't you?"

"No, and the fact you did well so far beast just makes it the sweeter when I kill you."

"Do you best pea brain, and I was talking to the middle head. I am pretty sure your other heads got nothing going on in their skull."

His fire blazed from the insult, "Why you little!"

He lunged for me axe at the ready. His slash came fast as I barely dodged it before trying to counter with a sword strike of my own. However, he grabbed my spiritual blade before breathing fire on me. I endured the pain as I dematerialized my sword and rematerialized it for a slash across his chest. The armored bits did little to protect him from the damage as his molten-looking blood leaked from the wound. Still, I received a kick for my troubles, and I had to block his follow up attack from his axe. I felt the heat reach for my skin as the axe attempted to melt my armor. Like the club from before the force of the attack still sent me a good distance away.

I lessened the distance by using some earth ki manipulation and jumped back into the fray. Throwing my chain out around his neck and gave him a quick yank to pull him close for a hard kick to the gut. Forcing him to lose air quickly and has his fire die down a bit. Yet his hateful glare stayed focused on me the entire time. He slammed his axe to the ground and caused a small eruption to hit me where I was standing. It was enough to make me slack the chain as I myself was pulled towards the killer warlord as volcanic spikes erupted from his body. While I was protected from most of the damage, some of the spikes found weaknesses in my armor and punched through me.

Growling I head butted his heads as I broke off the spike as we entered another weapon clash. Creating dual blades to change it up on the warlord. Rapidly slashing across his body during the brief time he was stunned as we returned to weapon clashes. The warlord though got a turn in as I found his large foot on mine and his axe into my chest. The damn thing broke through my armor and despite not going through my ribcage. It came close to that bone structure. The searing burning pain that came next just set my soul on fire. I gave out an angry pained cry as he drove me to the ground. Trying to drive his axe deeper, but all my appendages grabbed the weapon and wrenched it off my body and forced it to the side. I received a flamethrower to the face for my troubles which I think burned my skin further.

Tough scales or whatever, it barely held up against the hell fire. Following that I was stomped on like the embers of a campfire. Something might have broken in the process, but my brain was going into overdrive. Adrenaline kicking in and my small spark starting to turn into a roaring flame. I need to show this pup his place.

"RAAAAAAHH!" I roared as an aura of crimson fire erupted from me. I slowly got up and found the area around me completely scorched and much of the enemy army burned to cinders. As for my opponent, he was looking at me with apprehension. Like the first time he stared into the eyes of a predator.

"What the…why is my body screaming not to engage…what what is this power? You didn't have this before!"

"I really have to thank you…I think you broke something whelp…the blood…the pain…the adrenaline rushing through my very being. No…not there yet…but a step closer. You held up well against a weakened beast. I have to admit I am running on borrowed time right now. So…let me show you just a taste of your superior."

I don't even know if those were my words or something else. Déjà vu for sure, but my body rushed the warlord who was still recovering from the shock of the new developments. Claws out, fists ready, and tentacles lashing out covered in crimson fire. This is not normal flames as the normally heat immune warlord found out as my attacks connected. Leaving scorched marks and painful cauterized wounds as I tore into him. Manifesting my blades and the chains I kept him in place as I drove the blades into his body. The crimson fires burning him the same way he burned me with hellfire. A few more stabs before he managed to power out of the chains and fight me again.

Still with his wounds he was beginning to slow down and grow wearier. Some of his attacks became easier to read and his flamethrower became harder to perform. My flames were wearing him down as our clashes reached a close. By then the enemy army had already retreated to a safer distance as waves of flames emitted from our weapon clashes. My strength is greater than his as I pushed him back further with each strike taken. One last clash sent him a fair distance away and in one last desperate attempt he fired a hellfire flamethrower. I returned it with my own fire that clashed with it together. A bit push and eventually my fire consumed his and engulfed him in my crimson fire.

He howled and flailed in pain as he ran off trying to smother the flame. I wonder how far he will get before finally blacking out from the flames. I look over to the army he left behind, "So…who's next?"

None of them wanted what I had to give. Which was good because I could feel my power waning finally. I only laughed a bit as I had never seen so many monsters run. Still though that battle was close. I wouldn't say I decisively won as here I am about to pass out. More so it was a tie. Still though I feel like I have grown from it. My last thoughts before hitting the dirt face first was,

"Oh man I'm going to get an earful from the girls."