The Iron Grip

Chapter 16

A huge claw emerged from the frothy water, tearing at one of the ship's hulls and sinking it almost instantly.

As the beast finally revealed its huge bulk, the ships that were left had made a run from it. All boats that is, apart from the small craft that held Mallow, Lillie and Gogoat.

Suddenly, Lillie was picked up on the shoulders by a Talonflame. It lifted her into the clouds where a circling group of corviknight mounts awaited.

"Lillie", said Cheif. "Have you seen that thing. Do not try and attack it with the boat."

"Well, I can't do anything right now", Lillie chuckled.

"Oh, sorry." Chief let out a loud whistle and Talonflame let Lillie go. It proceeded to drop into a dive and overtook Lillie, causing her to land on its back.

"Better?", asked Chief.

"Yeah", Lillie replied.

"So what is your plan?"

"Well, try to get the boat round it."

"That clearly wont work. If we get Mallow into the air, sink the boat and we will take Gogoat back to the fort. You and Mallow are free to continue."

"That is a very ambitious plan Cheif. If that is what must be done, Mallow and I will defeat it  anyway."

"Good luck. You must know that patrols have spotted ships heading south to the volcano island. Check it out after you defeat that thing."

"Why do you trust me so much Chief?"

"Lillie, have you not noticed how you are a one man army. Some of the outlaws revere you as a god."

Lillie rubbed Talonflame's soft feathers, and it swooped downwards beneath the line of clouds. Mallow followed closely behind on Flygon.

The huge crab was as strange as it was big. This was mostly because it had a long, flowing beard constructed from sea foam and spray. A glint shone in its red eye and the creature shot a huge jet of water at Talonflame.

Yet Talonflame was too quick. It barrel-rolled beneath the water, using it as cover to approach the Kingler stealthily. Talonflame swooped under Kingler's body, allowing Lillie too scrape her sword against its underside.

When this didn't even leave a scratch, a new plan was needed. Kinglers exoskeleton was too thick to be pierced by the sword. Talonflame doubled back over to the hovering Flygon. Something had to be done, but what that plan was was unclear.

"What do we do? Its shell is impenetrable", Lillie asked.

"Go for a weak spot such as the eyes? I really have no clue. Use Talonflame to your advantages. You saw how skilled it was in catching you", Mallow replied

Instinctively, Talonflame began to climb high into the air. Once it could not go further, it dropped into a steep dive. Adrenaline raced through Lillie. One wrong move and she would plunge to her death.

As Talonflame levelled out the dive, the speed they had been travelling at became apparent. Using all the force she could muster, Lillie lifted the sword into the air.

To avoid crashing into Kingler, Talonflame swerved out of the way. As a result, the sword was wrenched out of Lillie's hand and it disappeared into the mouth of the huge crab.