Seriously, they could kill half of my party in two, maybe three hits tops, and this is when I have a lot of people with good res! Not to mention how accurate they are. Red Dragons aren't as dangerous, since they are less accurate, but they tank hits well and can still hit hard.
Chapter 4-E-3 - Rebirth: Finished.
Ike & Soren: Charged the center, with Ike leading and taking out any comers while Soren sniped away with the Bolting tome, laying waste to many Red Dragons. They took care of the main wall of Red Dragons on the central staircase, and also fought off the White Dragons waiting behind Dheginsea. Once that was done, Soren sniped any choice targets harassing any of the other groups while Ike went to assist Stefan and Mordecai's group.
Laura & Aran: Not technically in a group, but they did the same thing. They took care of the enemies attacking from the flanks, Laura taking the right side while Aran took the left. Laura used the cover spaces to keep the Red Dragons from hurting her too much (though they were still dealing about 20 damage a pop), and she was able to take them down with Rexaura, though their huge health meant she didn't always finish them off on the first go around. Aran did the same on his side with Wardwood, and also made good use of Pavise, which let him shrug off otherwise painful White Dragon blasts, as he finished the otherwise fragile dragons off. After the reinforcements stopped coming, Laura supported the other groups with healing and Aran joined Mist and Jill on their side.
Stefan & Mordecai: Took the upper right path, leading to the horde of Red Dragons. They first had to cut through the White Dragons on the way, which required a bit of assistance from Ike and Soren to deal with, as well as a heal from Mist and Laura. Afterwards, they were able to lure out and take down the Red Dragons from the cover spaces, Mordecai and his enormous defense letting him completely ignore their attacks, while Stefan could at least avoid them. Slowly, they chipped away at them, and were able to charge through and deal with any reinforcements as they came.
Mist & Jill: Took the upper left path, and had significantly less trouble. They beat the Red Dragons slowly, since their defenses were so high, but the foes eventually fell, with only a couple of heals needed, and they went after the White Dragons waiting ahead. They did as Stefan and Mordecai did, tanking from wardwood and slowly taking down their foes, although their access to ranged weapons allowed them to counterattack. They took down their targets quickly enough, although Jill took some serious damage from time to time, which Mist healed off soon after. They then waited for the others to finish, and took out the reinforcements alongside Aran when he reached them.
Prep work for Dheginsea: After they took down the reinforcements, the party got healed with Physics to top condition, outside of Dheginsea's AOE attack range, so as not to get harmed before the fight. They then stepped into position around him, sticking near support partners, and Mist putting Gareth to sleep to open up another safe area to fight in.
Dheginsea: After the fight began, Ike, Mordecai, and Soren all attacked him on the first turn, getting respectively countered aside from Soren, who used Bolting. On the second turn after Ike and Mordecai were healed, Jill joined the mix, and the four of them dealt a decent amount of damage to him, although Mantle still healed him to about 50 health. Dheginsea then used his AOE, Laura healed everyone with Fortify, and everyone attacked him to finally take him down.
Vs Dheginsea: "Dheginsea, Dragon King. I can see you have no intention of letting us pass."
"I follow my goddess' decrees. My will is unwavering."
"I have no choice, then. Be on your guard."
"Very well, beorc general. Our blessings may be equal and opposite, but your strength is a mere fraction of mine. Show me your best!"
Their words exchanged, all present steeled themselves, and the battle began.
Ike began with a swift pair of slices that sent two waves at the dragon king, the first striking him on the chest and the second slicing into his neck, but they were only able to leave a shallow cut. As Dheginsea prepared a counterattack, a thin bolt of lightning ripped through him, stunning him long enough for Ike to roll out of the way of the enormous blast, sustaining only minor injuries as the energy lashed outwards. Immediately after the blast faded, Mordecai leaped out and drove his claws into Dheginsea's side, successfully tearing through the scales and wounding the mighty dragon king. When Mordecai landed, pivoting on his left paw to face their foe, he was then hurled to the side by the claw of the dragon king as it swept out and sent the tiger rolling across the tiles.
Mist and Laura, off to the sides to avoid the dragon kings wrath, quickly raised their Physic staffs and and healed the two wounded warriors, allowing them to prepare for the next bout of combat. Before that, however, came Jill, who flew in from above Dheginsea, diving down to slice at his skull with her axe, although it only cut him slightly, and she pulled back to avoid the reach of his claws. Ike sent two more waves at the king of Goldoa, and Jill dove in for another strike, this time getting struck by the kings claw as she pulled away, forcing her to land as her dazed mount recovered. Dheginsea turned his head over his shoulder, inhaling deeply as he prepared a blast to eradicate the two people peppering him with strikes. Before he completed the turn back to his foes however, Mordecai charged in from the side and hurled all of his considerable bulk into the dragon kings stomach. The air was forced from his lungs and his attack came out all at once into the invulnerable ceiling of the tower, the blast punctuated by a second spear of lightning that fell upon him.
"Fools! By denying your judgment, you merely rush to your death."
As he spoke, he ascended, and with an enormous roar, he sent an explosion of energy towards every one of the fighters around him, as they all braced for the incoming strike. Even despite their preparation, the blast still left them all wounded and winded, although the energy he expended also forced the dragon king to land, falling to one knee as he did so.
"He is weakening! Everyone, strike now!"
Even as he said the words, his sword was flashing through the air, sending another pair of waves at the dragon king. The counter blast Dheginsea sent was half-hearted, and Ike was able to block most of it with his sword and his armguard, the remainder only leaving shallow burns on his armor and sword arm. With claws and blade, Mordecai and Stefan charged in together and struck at their foe's chest, and were able to evade the blast Dheginsea sent at them, although the explosion it made as it dispersed sent them both sliding. Aran charged immediately afterwards, driving his spear forward and into the dragon kings side, blocking a forceful claw swipe with his shield, but being forced back a few feet. Jill made a couple more dives, but only successfully connected with one before having to dodge out of the way of a slow blast. Finally, Soren ran forward and switched his tome, pulling out the Rexcalibur and used the typhoon of ice and wind to sap the last of Dheginsea's strength.
Up Next: We face yet another hero, this one being someone we are all too familiar with...
