Before long, the wave of enemies was upon them, and the melee fighters tried to hold the line with the tanks. The melee fighters, which included Kitana and Sidestep, fought viciously to stem the tide of Spiderbots, ensuring that none passed them, stepping back for others to take their place when they got tired. Alan watched as Kitana’s glowing blade struck down tens of Spiderbots with each swing, slicing through them like they were made of air, gracefully avoiding the creature’s leaping attacks.

The tanks, meanwhile, focused on drawing the attention of four larger Hive Guard Spiderbots, level 150, and the Brood Mother. One tank summoned a giant phalanx of blue energy, and pushed the tide of Spiderbots back with it. Alan continued to rapidly fire at the Spiderbots, trying to hit the weak points of the larger ones, but his shots began missing, or striking already killed enemies. Eve was simply unable to keep track of the chaotic battle.

The Brood Mother continued to swallow its fallen brethren, spitting out additional Spiderbots a few moments later. The wave of Spiderbots was about to overwhelm the tired melee fighters when Aurora thrust her hands forward, and a wave of energy emerged. The entirety of the Spiderbots front line was suddenly encased in ice, giving everyone a much needed breather.

“Run back to the cavern!” someone shouted out as they started sprinting backwards.

“No, wait, we need to focus down the Brood Mother!” Aurora frustratingly cried out. But it was too late, all of the group was making a mad dash backwards.

Only Alan, Kitana and Sidestep as well as one other player, a hooded healer, held their ground. Eve returned to her usual efficiency as the number of variables lessened. Alan focused all his fire at the entrapped Brood Mother, but as it was encased in ice he could only fire at the joints connecting its legs to its metallic body. Shortly afterwards it broke free of the ice, only missing 5% of its health.

Aurora sent out another ice blast, encasing the smaller Spiderbots, and created an icy wall about five feet tall. She called out, "I only have about 20% of my energy left, we need to finish this fast!"

The hooded healer called out in a somewhat familiar voice, "Looks like the rest are too chicken to face this mighty foe! Do not worry, friends, for with our combined might we shall slay this abomination. I shall heal all those that prove themselves in this battle, so you need not fret. Just don’t get knocked off the side.” And then the giant construct was upon them.

Immediately, Kitana met it head on, swiping her blade at its jaws, deflecting the jabbing legs. Meanwhile, Sidestep took three quick steps, leaving behind three clones. Each clone leapt forward, attacking a different leg. Aurora began firing much smaller balls of ice aimed at the Brood Mother’s joints to hinder its movements. Alan detached the rifle attachment, and instead used Orion’s Cores in their base form, twin pistols, to also snipe at the legs of the Brood Mother.