Starbound: A Space Odyssey 97 The Great Hunt 19

They are covered in thick, beige, bony plates that can regenerate with unsettling speed, keeping them safe from most things crazy or desperate enough to attack it. Its red flesh isn't very hard in the opened areas of the exoskeleton but they are also very flexible, enabling the creature to twist its body and make fast, unpredictable movements.

It can climb along steep vertical surfaces with ease thanks to its ability to create sticky climbing webs from its rear end, and also use the deadly scythe-like limbs to climb. Add to this the potent acid it can spit from its maw, and Ixodooms are monsters best avoided if at all possible.

Threat Level: 4 (Dangerous)

John glanced at the entry about Ixodooms in the Universal Bestiary Codex and was able to confirm that the creature in front of them was some kind of Ixodoom.

But there was a difference in the image that was presented in the Codex, the size of the body and also the size of the scythes.

This one was a lot more menacing then the one shown in the Codex.

John looked beneath the Ixedoom and saw the small army of Ixolings following along.

"I have a small feeling that this ain't going to be easy." John commented while grimly watching the creatures approaching the location where he and Nuru were standing side-by-side.

"If it was ea.s.ssy, the Great Hunt wouldn't be fun." Nuru shrugged her shoulders.

John rolled his eyes at Nuru's comment.

He checked his Spitfire a.s.sault Rifle, looked at white pistol in the holster, and then glanced at the Dark Wraith dagger in the sheath.

He was ready.

After checking himself, he looked at Nuru.

She was casually standing there with the spear in her hands. Her whole demeanor was calm and serene, like this battle was just like all the others.

"How you suggest we to do this?" John asked for advice.

"I think isss for bessst if you maintain your distance and keep the attention of the Ixodoom in you while I deal with the Ixolingsss."

"Alright." John looked into his PIPS and counted his Spitfire ammunition. Once he saw that he had more than enough, he nodded in acknowledgement of Nuru's suggestion.

He raised his gun aimed at the Ixodoom's eyes.

*Bang*

The bullet travelled the whole distance in a blink of an eye and reached the target.

*Clang*

*ROARRRRR*

The bullet ricocheted after hitting right in the eye, even though John failed his initial intent of making the creature blind in one eye, he at least managed to enrage it.

"I have his attention, good luck to you." John said while he placed the rifle on his back and started to climb the nearest tree.

"I think you're going to need more than me..." Nuru said in a low voice while she bent her knee and waited for John to attract the creature far enough for her to engage in a fight against the Ixolings.

...

*Bang*

John was currently jumping from tree to tree while using his white pistol, MX801S, to annoy the Ixodoom and keep it following him.

*Crack*

*ROARRRRR*

Since the pistol is a Tier 3 weapon, it was capable of somewhat create a few holes in the Ixodoom's sh.e.l.l, but it didn't have enough power to fully penetrate a Tier 4 creature's natural armor.

The creature ignore the faint dent created by the bullet in the sh.e.l.l of the head, where John aimed his gun, and just kept going forward while following John with its eyes glowing with killing intent, knocking off everything on the way, trees, monsters.

It was clearly enraged by John, enraged at a strange level...

Once he dragged the Ixodoom into a more open s.p.a.ce, John finally stopped moving and faced the creature.

The Ixodoom realized its' prey stopped fleeing so it slowed down.

John put away his pistol, and readied the rifle that was on his back.

He calmly stared at the Ixodoom's crimson eyes that were looking down at John.

The creature started to slowly walk toward John.

John kept his locked on the Ixodoom, while he secretly placed his left hand behind the back and reached for a specific object inside his PIPS.

The moment the creature was close enough, John immediately threw the white cylinder object that was on his left hand toward the creature and placed his hand on his eyes.

*Bang*

With a small explosion, a strong and fast flash illuminated the whole place and disappeared as soon as it appeared.

*ROARRRRRRRRRRR*

The creature roared in pain as it futilely tried to close the eyes to recover the sight.

What John threw at the Ixodoom wasn't a simple object, but rather a Flashbang left behind at the s.h.i.+p by Lenny.

With the Ixodoom temporarily blind, John started to take action.

He retrieved the Grappling Hook from his PIPS.

*Bang*

He aimed at the creature and shot the hook.

Soon enough he was able stand on the creature's back.

John took the Spitfire a.s.sault Rifle and aimed at the beige sh.e.l.l.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

With the trigger fully pressed, the gun sent a flurry of bullets at its target, making a huge hole in the sh.e.l.l that was able to see the red flesh at the other side.

*ROAR*

The Ixodoom wasn't so happy to being injured right after with so much difficulty it was able have its sight back.

It started to sway and move around with abrupt movements, trying to shake John off.

John retrieved the Dark Wraith and pierced the sh.e.l.l. This enabled him to maintain his foothold on top of the Ixodoom.

With one hand occupied in keeping him on the Ixodoom, he used his other hand to retrieve another grenade from his PIPS.

This time, the grenade was colored red and not white like the Flashbang.

He stuck the grenade in the fast closing hole that he just created and jumped out from the Ixodoom's back.

*BOOMMM!*

*ROARRRRR*

The grenade exploded with a loud noise, sending shards of the sh.e.l.l and flames up in the air.

This time John used a Incendiary Grenade to put flames right inside the sh.e.l.l.

*ROAR*

The Ixodoom let out roars of pain as it tried to move around more frantically, but it was still unsuccessful in erasing the growing flames on its back.

John retreated to a safe distance and observed the situation. He knew this wasn't enough to bring down such creature, so he still waited by the side and tried to think in more plans to decisively take down the Ixodoom.