"Okay, here's what I think," Zavier said as they stood in front of another map of the zoo. "We take out a gorilla, head to the tigers and lions, and if we have time we go for an elephant. I figure at most an hour for each then we hightail it back here and out to the car. Anyone see any issues with this plan?"
They studied the map for a moment then each shook their head.
"Okay then, let's pick it up," and with that he took off at a jog.
Minutes later they were deep into a lush forest with grass taller than their heads. They'd squeezed through the bars and picked a direction at random. The System seemed like it encouraged these encounters so they were confident they'd run into the residents here no matter which way they took. Tess studiously cut down grass as they traveled so they had a clear route back when it was time to go, or if they needed a clear sprinting path. Soon they reached a flat expanse of grass that had been trampled in uneven patterns. The scents of crushed grass filled their nostrils and sweat tickled their necks as they stood just inside the tall stalks.
"There!" Cass whispered and pointed to a dark patch under a copse of trees. Zavier focused and a massive shape resolved itself in the darkness.
"Oh damn," he said. No one contradicted him. What had looked like a massive hairy boulder was a gorilla with arms wider than Zavier's entire body. Its limbs must have been eight feet long each, and Tess and Zavier could have lain on its barrel chest with room to spare.
"Can we take this thing?" Cass's voice was tight with tension.
Tess stepped up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I've killed bigger," she said and pulled out Claw and the Toxic Weaver dagger, then she was gliding across the grass like a shadow.
The rest of them took off at a sprint but weren't able to catch up. Tess arrived and lunged forwards with both weapons, Claw raking a vicious cut along its throat and the Toxic Weaver dagger gashing deep into its bicep.
It roared and jumped up instantly with a swiping strike that connected hard enough to send Tess spinning into the trees behind it. There was no moment of waking confusion as it fixed its eyes on the remaining three attackers. With another roar it punched the air in front of it and a ghostly fist flew at them in a blink, Cass barely got his shields up in time to catch it. Even with their impact resistance he was flung backwards. Luna and Zavier weren't able to take the moment to look back for him as the gorilla closed with them, its fists and feet vibrating the earth as it charged.
Zavier activated the Shadow Weave cloak's illusory double then rolled to the side, pulling the Rustling Creeper Vine whip off his belt. Both of the gorilla's giant fists smashed into the illusion, dispelling it into black smoke, but Zavier was already behind it, the tongs of the whip slicing across the back of its legs. He jumped as it spun and was clear of it before it could see what had struck it. Zavier lashed them down across its back as he came down behind it again. It swung a hand backwards with lightning speed but the Fleetfoot Hooves activated and he was gone before the strike landed.
Luna fired shot after freezing shot into its hide, each one followed by a pained bellow and sending ripples across its fur as they burrowed deep.
"I think it's weak to your attack!" Zavier yelled as he rushed in again, trying to distract it from Luna.
He needn't have worried, though. Tess appeared behind it and began dancing around its attacks to slash and cut into its limbs. Cass had made it back to the group and was standing in front of Luna defensively, both shields up.
"Don't give it a chance to focus on one person!" Tess yelled and they spread out into a neat triangle around it, each harrying it as it spun and swung in every direction, trying to hit everyone at once.
Then it stood to its full height and roared to the sky, beating its chest with a rhythm that created shockwaves in the air, sliding them all backwards as if being pushed. They smelled ozone and felt their hair stand on end as the beating continued. The gorilla's fur started to crackle with electricity. A second later and they were all blasted backwards as a titanic roar erupted from its chest and lightning arced out in every direction.
Zavier shook his head to clear it, trying to get his feet under him. He felt as much as heard a thrumming in the ground and suddenly he was gone, his boots once again launching him away from an incoming attack. The Thunder Titan's roar of fury did the job of bringing his attention back to the fight and he leapt to the side as it came in again. He sprinted in a circle around it, trying to keep its attention until everyone was back on their feet.
Tess was there a moment later, slashing again. She reached his side and gasped out "Think we're doing anything?"
Zavier swallowed a lump of phlegm and nodded at its legs. "It's limping now, I think the poison from this whip is finally taking effect."
She pointed her dagger at its arms. "Arms too. I've given it enough venom to kill a bear but this thing is damned tough."
"Luna's gauntlet hurt it though. I think it's vulnerable to ice," he said.
The family grouped up again and stood ready, the Titan staring at them with murderous eyes but breathing too heavily.
"Luna, your gauntlets are the key. You shoot it and we'll go in for the kill. If we get it you stay away, I want whatever this thing drops."
Luna nodded and they turned to face it one last time.
The Titan rose on shaky legs and bellowed to the sky again. It started a slow beat on its chest, the effort taking an obvious toll bit doing nothing to stop the smell of ozone from reaching their nostrils.
"Now Luna!" Zavier yelled and sprinting at it again. Shots fired over his shoulder and impacted its chest over and over in the same spot, each one digging deeper. The roar of defiance turned to one of pain as it stumbled backwards, looking down at its chest and gripping the hole there with both hands.
Before it had a chance to recover Tess and Zavier were on it and a few minutes later it faded into nothingness.
They looked down at the items in awe. "It dropped two items?" Tess asked in surprise.
Zavier scratched his head. "Yeah, I guess. Do you think it was level 10? Is that what happens when you fight higher-tiered monsters?"
They just shrugged at his question and he turned back to the items. "It must have been, because these things are crazy!"
Item Name: Titan's Gauntlets
Type: Weapon (Melee)
Description: Massive gauntlets infused with the elemental power of thunder and lightning, crafted from the Thunder Titan's powerful fists.
Stats:
Attack: +4
Strength: +2
Abilities:
Ethereal Punch: Grants the wearer the ability to launch a ghostly, electrified fist at enemies, dealing lightning damage and knocking them back.
Shockwave Strike: When the wearer beats their chest, it creates a shockwave that disorients and knocks back enemies within a 10-foot radius. Static Charge: Successful hits have a 15% chance to stun the target for 2 seconds.
Item Name: Thunder Titan Core
Type: Alchemical Ingredient/Enhancement Item
Description: The core of the Thunder Titan, pulsating with raw electrical energy. This core can be used in alchemical concoctions or to enhance weapons and armor with thunderous power.
Effects:
Enhancement - Thunder Infusion: Can be applied to a weapon to grant it electrical damage and a chance to stun targets on hit.
Enhancement - Electric Shielding: Can be applied to armor to grant resistance to electrical attacks and a chance to reflect electrical damage back to attackers.
Alchemical Use - Storm Elixir: Can be used to brew a powerful elixir that grants temporary electrical abilities, such as shooting lightning bolts or creating electrical barriers.
"Well I'm definitely taking these," Zavier said as he slipped on the gloves. He felt instantly stronger and more dangerous. "Oh yeah, I could get used to this," he said with appreciation.
They tucked the dark gray globe that seemed to be filled with internal lightning into Luna's backpack. No one needed any healing pills since they'd all leveled up after that encounter.
"One more level and we hit 10." Tess said and Zavier only nodded and smiled.
"Oh man, I can't wait to see that!"
"We both hit seven!" Cass and Luna said in unison, which led to a round of celebratory hugging.
"No time to dwell on it," Zavier said, "we'll go over it all when we get home."