The Elite Kobold in the sixth room looked indestructible and it looked like it used the other 2 close combat warriors as a shield while it threw range attacks from the back.
As the task team looked at the Kobolds from the distance sweat started coming down their foreheads. The pressure giving by the creature was something they had never experienced before, even Bhirl was nervous but it was nothing a good leader could not overcome.
"So whats the plan", said Rahz with a smile on his face.
Bhirl snapped out of his stupor and said, "It would be really difficult to defeat him without taking care of his guards first. The only problem is that nobody but us shield warriors would be able to withstand a hit from one of those pieces of ore. It would be up to Rahz and Artgal to dispose of the guards so we can all focus on the elite. Nobody should leave the area of defense from our shield unless you want to be snipe, and healers make sure you are slowing those guards".
All the members of the Task Team nodded their heads and got ready to charged into the room. Bhirl lead the charge and immediately got in position with the other Shield Warrior.
Screeeeech!!
The Elite Kobold was surprised at first but after everything that was happening sank in, he was furious. He send the two guards forwards and grabbed two copper pieces from his leather pouch.
Whoosh!! Bang!!
Bhirl slide backwards from the hit and the other warrior next to him went back 3 steps. The two pieces hit both shields at the same time showing the speed and control of the Rock Thrower.
Thanks to Strengthen Defense there was no dent on the shields but it was barely a warning shot.
Rahz and Artgal got ready to engage the two guards in battle as soon as their opponents got into striking distance. The rock thrower got another 2 ores and fire a second round of covered fired for his 2 companions so that they could strike at the back of the enemy group but they were once again stop by the shields.
Blaire quickly casted Icy Winds to slow Rahz's opponent down and make it a lot easier to dispose off in a few strikes.
The moment Rahz saw an opening, he attacked with a horizontal slash and managed to knock the Kobold down. Rahz followed with a Leaping Strike that would put the nail in the coffin for his opponent but before he could even reached mid way through his jump an ore flying extremely fast came at him trying to take his life.
Rahz instinct had never failed him before and it didn't failed him now. He stopped his attack and cover his chess with his weapon and received the shot.
Cling!!
The piece of copper ore bounce of Mr. Choppy and sent Rahz crashing backwards towards the task team. One of the scouts manage to break Rahz fall and prevented an injury that could have affected the entire fight.
Thinking about the trajectory the ore had taken to hit him in the chess made Rahz doubt what he saw.
"Did he curved that shot?"
There was no time to answer Rahz's question since the pressure was on and his opponent was already charging at them again.
Rahz attacked once more with an upward strike and was parry by the Kobold with his claws, the exchange sent the Kobold back a few steps but another copper ore didn't let Rahz follow up with another attack and almost got him in the chest.
"Bhirl Buddy, how about you stop that elite from blasting those rocks before I become a holy man... last piece of Ore was too close"
Bhirl was embarrassed from his performance as if it wasn't for those shots bypassing his shield Rahz would have killed that Kobold already. There was no luck on the side of Artgal either, as a piece of ore seem to come at him every time he was ready to deal a lethal attack on his opponent.
Sigh....
"We are going nowhere like these guys, anybody have any ideas" asked Bhirl
Blaire stepped in and said, " I think you guys need to surprised the Elite by rushing in and making him focus on you instead of having the liberty to pick and choose his target. Nothing venture, nothing gain!!! Also what are you scouts doing being afraid of engaging the guards. We probably only have one chance to killed the guards before the Elite realizes our strategy so don't waste it".
"Rahz you call it, the moment you have a sure kill lets us know and we will move in unison. DO NOT HESITATE!!"
The strategy worked like clockwork this time. The moment Rahz called for everyone to move in, Bhirl and the other shield warrior burst with speed and attacked the Elite. It was so sudden that it didn't have any other option but to jump backwards and shoot 2 pieces of Ore at the incoming enemies.
Bhirl and the other Warrior moved back from the recoil of the 2 ore bullets and not long after stopping, a mocking sound came assailing their ears.
They looked at the Elite and discovered that it had what seem to be a smile on his face but it quickly changed. The eyes of the Rock Thrower turned red and 2 infuriated screams came. It had finally realized that it was all a distraction and that his guards were now dead.
Screeeh... Hrggggg. Screeech!!! ( translation: Is on like Donkey Kong now bitches)
The Elite Kobold started moving faster than before and at the same time he grabbed 4 pieces of ore, covered them with energy and launched them against the walls of the room.
Clink ! Clink!
There were a couple of pieces that bounced of the walls and hit members of the Task Team that were not paying attention. The members that got hit had fracture bones and the problems were piling on. After the 4 pieces came another 4 and then another 4, ore was bouncing of the walls and going everywhere. People started dodging left and right and some threw themselves to the ground hoping to avoid the barrage.
Bhirl was helpless, they couldn't keep up with the movements of the Elite Rock Thrower and since the pieces were bouncing on the walls it could bypass their shields and still hit the other members of the group. The three healers had their work caught out for them, they were casting their small healing spells but it was barely covering the damage.
There was no way to recovered the team's strength and the Elite Kobold had plenty of Ammunition left in its leather pouch. The only solution to their predicament was to retreat and reorganized themselves.
"RETREAT!! retreat to the outside of the room, we will try to stop as many attacks as possible just protect your vitals the best you can and move out".
Rahz was hit a couple of times but ever since he experienced the fight against that bear his pain tolerance was not average at all. He used strengthen Defense on his body and try his best to dodge, and pulled back the people that were too injured and scared to move.
It was a disaster, by the time they managed to move back to the entrance 40% of the fighting force was unable to continue and they still had to deal with an enraged Elite.
The only good news for the Task Team was the fact that there was no other exit to the room they were fighting in so with the shields covering the only entranced there was no way for the Rock Thrower to escape.
Bang!!
Bhirls shield was hit by yet another piece of ore that moved him back but he very quickly regain his composure and step forward to stop the following shot.
Outside the room, the healers were checking the injuries of the group and taking out pieces of ore that had lodge themselves inside the Barbarians preventing the healing spells from working properly.
"How long can you guys protect the door?"
" As long as my shield holds there shouldn't be a problem to do it for hours but at this rate I say we have about 10 minutes".
Rahz frown and look around at the available hands they had for the fight. They had 2 healers, 2 shield warriors, Rahz and Arne. The team wasn't at full power group but they still had their best fighters available. The main problem was the inability of the team to get within striking distance of the enemy. They were being kited every step of the way and the barrage of bullets suppressed their heavy close combat team.
After five minutes of deep contemplation, Rahz sighed and said, " There is truly only one way to win and it all depends on you healers".
Blaire and the other healer turned to look at Rahz with a quizzical expression on their faces indicating they had no clue what he was talking about.
" Are you guys able to land Icy Winds on the Kobold?".
"The problem is that we have not been able to cast at all the whole fight. The ore comes too fast and when it ricochet of the walls it adds an unpredictable element to the fight. The range on the spell is pretty good so we can cast it from the door of the room the only issue is the speed of the target, It is to fast to lock his position".
" What if you knew where he was going to be?"
Blaire understood immediately what Rahz was getting at and said, " If that is the case, it shouldn't be a problem".
Rahz thought about it and the main problem they were facing was the movement speed of the Rock Thrower. There was no way for him or Arne to do anything unless the opponent was slowed down by Icy Winds.
This fight was for the Shield Warriors and Healers to be the heroes of the day. The strategy was very simple, the 2 Shield Warriors job was to shepherd the Kobold to the left corner of the room where Blaire and the other healer would try to land their spell to slow the movement speed of enemy. If successful, they could move into close combat range and start a relentless attack.
Rahz padded Bhirl on the shoulder and said, "Remember to aim for the eyes.... Ready?... GO!!!!"