So as to hide our presence, I use my humanoid shapeshift, as we approach the cave. Since Lia isn't nearby, I have a limited time for how long I can remain in this form, but for safety sake, using my significantly smaller humanoid form is better here. At least this is what I thought, but in the end, it didn't even matter. Just as we arrive near the entrance to the cave, a loud roar pushes us back as something flies out and lands on the ground behind us.
I thought there was a familiar feeling when we were following the tracks. A big cat that probably has wings, there is only one thing I've seen that fits this description, the Celestial Winged Liger. Thankfully this is only a Juvenile, unlike the Adult that I came across a while ago. Unfortunately, that doesn't make this too much easier.
Race: Juvenile Celestial Winged Liger
Tier: 10
Level: 14
HP: 22,041/22,041 MP: 20,571/20,571 SP: 21,551/21,551
STR: 23,020
VIT: 22,285
DEX: 22,530
INT: 17,143
WIS: 18,122
MND: 19,592
Details: Despite its name, it's not a true Celestial, although it can trace its bloodline back to Celestia. Under the right conditions, it can evolve to a True Celestial Winged Liger. It can create strong winds with its wings and conjure lightning with its roar.
Should I say we are lucky that it's only a juvenile and not the adult with stats in the millions or should I say we're unlucky to have even run into this at all? Unlike my last run-in with a Celestial Winged Liger, this one is neither injured nor far away, so I think escaping will prove to be difficult.
"Interesting, I didn't even know this monster existed. I'll need to make note of this and let it be written in the compendium," Aurelia says as she writes something down a piece of parchment.
"Why are you so calm! Do you not see the thing that's several times stronger than us, eyeing us down like we're its dinner!"
"Relax, panicking won't get us anywhere. More importantly, I do not believe that together we can not beat this. Certainly, it will be hard, but not impossible. Now I suggest you hurry and get ready because it's about to shoot."
While I'm in the process of returning to my true form, the Liger lets out a strong roar once more as lightning emerges from its body and rams into Aurelia's newly constructed golden barrier. In the blink of an eye, I transform and the attack has already dissipated, but the golden barrier has completely dissipated.
"You know if that thing hits me with lightning, I'm probably dead on the spot."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to always keep up my barrier, so long as you don't take a second hit before I can restore it you'll be fine."
Using my new favourite technique, I create a zone of darkness around the liger to blind it, but just as I finish, its eyes begin to shine and its body soon follows as the darkness is expelled.
Aurelia meanwhile moves forward and opens her mouth, yelling, "Aurelia Beam!" as a golden laser shoots out from her eyes... what the hell!
The Liger seems to recognise Aurelia's attack to be dangerous as it doesn't stand and take it like it did mine. Instead, it takes flight as the laser just clips the Liger's tail but still knocks its health down by 3,500. As for the collateral damage... anything that got hit directly by it was been completely vaporised. Over in the distance, I think I can see a burning crater and everything from there to Aurelia has been erased.
Not just me, even the Liger looks confused.
"What the hell was that!"
Not giving me an answer, Aurelia wastes no time at all as she begins using telekinesis to uproot the surrounding trees and launch them at the Liger. Of course, none of them actually hit as the Liger's mobility in the air is superb, but it kind of looks like its shaking.
"Of course he's shaking, I've been trying to use my telekinesis to suppress him this whole time, but his will is strong for a Juvenile, I should have expected as much from a Tier 10 monster. I was hoping that between your darkness and my impression attempts, that I could hit him with my Aurelia Beam, but I didn't expect him to have so much insight."
"Can't you fire it off again, just keep doing that until it eventually hits?"
"Unlike you, most people don't have near unlimited energy just for standing outside. It'll be a while before I can shoot again."
As expected, the Liger won't wait around and let us talk as he swoops down from the sky and scratches my back by using light to extend his claws. Perhaps because he noticed that I used the Dark Element he thought I would be weak to Light, unfortunately for the Liger, his attack does minimal damage as I heal most of it up from his claws of light.
As the Liger make a u-turn in the air, he looks a little surprised to see that I'm mostly unharmed by his assault. Just like Aurelia said, I have effectively unlimited energy, so long as there is a compatible element around I never really have to worry about anything other than getting killed in a single hit. This Liger is probably capable of that, but so far it doesn't seem to realise that I'm super weak to lightning.
Trying a new approach, the Liger sends out a strong gust of wind in our direction, throwing many of the trees that were uprooted by Aurelia back at us. Aurelia's eyes easily saw the hidden blades of wind behind the various objects that were thrown back at us as she dodges the attack. In my case, I just take the hit from the blunt force as the wind blades heal me back up.
For us, the Liger is to mobile to get a good hit on. For the Liger, we are a couple of hardy pests. This will probaly take a while.