Without warning the door burst open as a withering wave of heat blasted through the opening.  Some of the backlash from the door angled toward Allistor, scorching his armor and searing his exposed skin.   He cast a heal on himself and felt the pain ease slightly as the flame subsided and shots rang out from down the hall.

The monster roared, the sound coming from just inside the door.  A moment later its scaled and horned head jammed through the door, jaws open and another gout of flame was sent down the corridor.

Allistor didn’t take time to see if his people got out of the way.  He lunged forward, jamming the point of the rebar spear into the side of the dragon’s neck just behind what looked like ear holes.  The spear point penetrated a spot between two scales, and Allistor put all his strength into driving it home.  Even then, it only sank about two feet deep in the creature’s flesh.  He was about to twist the weapon and yank it out for some tearing damage when a thrash of the drake’s head knocked him back.  He struck the wall hard, bruising if not breaking some ribs.

Weiss and Corvin both stepped forward, hitting the neck with downward two-handed chops.  Their first blows were turned aside, but neither let that deter them. They struck, again and again, trying to weaken the scales and get some penetration. The crew down the hall began firing again, and Allistor could hear the slugs and bullets striking the creature’s head.  One struck a bony protrusion above its eyes and ricocheted into the wall not far from Weiss.

Allistor and the airmen were taking a huge risk of being hit by friendly fire in addition to the damage this beast could dish out.

Getting back in the fight, he stepped forward and took hold of the spear’s shaft with both hands.  Grunting from the effort, he twisted and pulled on the rebar, yanking it free in a spray of hot, tangy blood.    Without even blinking, he cast Restraint on the beast and instantly jammed the weapon back into the same hole when it froze.  This time the point went much deeper, nearly all the way through the monster’s neck.

Fire Drake Matron

Level 12

Health: 5,300/9,000

The drake screamed as blood began to flow freely and pool beneath the wound.  It attempted to withdraw its head from the doorway, but the spear caught on the door frame.  Sheer force bent the shaft about forty-five degrees, while at the same time causing the tip to slice and tear through flesh and muscle inside the neck.