Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Journey Through All Creatures

Chapter 25a: The Titanosaur War

Part 2/3: The Denine Showdown

The cryopod opened and Fox came out. The Carcha stood over Sodden and Serenity as the Titano’s feet came down. Fox stood over the two and stopped the feet from crushing Sodden and Serenity. The feet stopped at the back of the Carcha, but kept trying to get down. Fox was shaking, and losing her strength. ‘Go! Save yourselves!’ Fox screeched. Serenity, who was unconscius and greatly injured, was carried by Sodden across the river as Fox held the Titano’s feet. Fox roared as she kept holding, but soon her back gave out and when Sodden got back to the unconscious Bronto, the feet crushed Fox instantly, the feet crushing her skin and blood bursting out of her. Then the dreaded red message known as the death message showed up. “Your Fox (Level 198 Carcharodontosaurus) was killed by a Titanosaur (Level 1)!” “Oh, no.” Red said. “You’ve had him for so long…” Rod said. Sodden fell on his knees and looked down at Serenity. The Titanosaur started closing in, then the remaining Gigas from Nudon came from the cliff and hit the water. They ran and started biting the Titano on the leg. It screeched, turned around, and started lifting its feet to crush the Gigas. The feet came down, injuring the Gigas, but they led the Titano further away from the group. Sodden held the bandage and pressed it down to stabilize the wound. Serenity then started to open her eyes. She looked around and saw Sodden sitting with her, stabilizing her wound. “Hey. You okay?” Sodden asked. Serenity was silent. She was stable now, but only half conscious. Sodden put his hand on her shoulder and looked at Red. “What…? He said. “You need to help her while I go kill that Titano. I need the Broth of Enlightments.” Sodden said. “Okay… well…” Red said. “I also need to go find a explorer note. Is the toilet still there?” He asked. “The toilet’s gone, but you could still just reach Level 100 with the other two.” Red said. “Perfect. But I need to hurry.” Sodden said. “Yes. You are getting off this Ark, no matter what. I’m not going to let anything keep you here. Okay?” Red said. Sodden nodded. Serenity opened her eyes again and lifted her head, and saw Sodden talking to Red. Sodden turned around and picked her up. “Oh, you’re here. Hopefully this doesn’t happen again.” Sodden said. He hugged Serenity then she limped to Red, who held her. “Stay with Red, okay? I’m going to finish off the Titano then I’m going to get back to Nudon.” Sodden said. Serenity nodded, then Sodden threw out a Thylacoleo, then got on it and rode it across the river. Sodden went towards the Titano, who killed all but one Giga. The Giganotosaurus was very injured, but the Titano had blood coming out of wounds on the neck and legs. It was at 40,000 HP. Sodden had to get it with the bleed attack three times then he could kill it with his sword. He ran towards the podium with an explorer note on it while the Giga fought the Titano, and used the Thyla to climb up until he got to the top. Sodden hopped off, then opened the box right next to him and he got a 2x boost. Then he took out a Broth that Red gave him and drank it. When he was done, he threw it down, got on the Thyla, and went back to the Titano. The Giga collapsed from exhaustion and injures, then the Thyla leaped onto the Titano’s back, and it screeched as it tried to walk around and throw it off. The Thyla’s claws then dug deep into the skin and it bit into skin deeply, and blood erupted from the wound. He then ran to the neck and did the same thing. The Titano was losing health alarmingly fast. The Titan’s feet started shaking, and Sodden felt the shaking. He realized the Titano was going to fall. It would instantly kill the Titano, so Sodden leaped off then threw a sword at it, and it was pushed deeply into the skin. The Titano let out one last roar as its feet lost the ground and it fell over, then crashed, letting out a huge shockwave and immediately pushing Sodden and his Thyla back. When they got up, they saw the message, “You killed a Titanosaur (Level 1)!” Sodden shouted in excitement and got back on the Thyla, then went back to Red.

When they got back, Sodden put his Thyla in a cryopod, and Red walked to him. “You did it. Now check your levels.” Red said. Sodden looked at his implant and gasped when he saw it. He had 3 levels. That meant he would reach Level 100 and do the Dragon fight. It meant it was time for the Ascension. But not yet. “Okay. I still need to save Denine.” Sodden said. “Oh, yeah. Well…” Red said, then he was interrupted by a ding sound. He looked at his implant and saw a message, which, unfortunately, was a death message. Two death messages. “Your Nuro (Level 291 Rex) was killed by Cordor (Level 40)!” “Tribemate Rud was killed by Cordor (Level 40)!” “Oh, no! He’s already there. Use the pteranodon, get the shotgun, and do not let Denine die!” Red yelled. Then when Sodden was about to get out his pteranodon, he saw a Giga running at him. Terad was on it. Then Grease stopped before Red and Sodden. Terad had no words to say. He was speechless. “Oh, hey.” Sodden said. “Go ahead and leave. I don’t care. But if I hear one thing… ONE THING that happens at Aberration that’s in any way related to the Ravage… You will be in huge trouble when you get back.” Terad growled. Sodden looked at Red, and he shrugged. “Okay, then.” Sodden said. Terad huffed then his Giga turned around to leave. Sodden threw out a cryopod and got on the pteranodon that came out. Then he set out for Nudon. Then as he was going, he saw Shelly on the ground, who had just woken up from being attacked by the Titano. He went down and put her in a cryopod. “Don’t worry. We’ll help you when we can.” Sodden said. He got back on his pteranodon and took off.

30 minutes earlier…

Cordor, Bordon, and his Quetzal flew to the river as the Titano pushed the Bronto off. They landed near it then Cordor got off. “Okay. Get our Argies. We will use our Brontos to destroy the turrets then I will run in and handle the Rexes. Then I’ll find the shotgun. You help the Brontos. I’ll do the rest.” Cordor said. “Yes. Perfect revenge plan.” Bordon said. “That complete idiot took 104 levels from me and the life of my favorite tame ever. Show no mercy!” Cordor yelled. Bordon nodded then threw out two Argies. Both were trained to go very fast. Cordor spent a long time training them, and now they were ready. Bordon and Cordor got on their Argies. Cordor whistled for the Quetzal to follow, then they took off for Nudon.

Rud and Paul sat on their Rexes, next to the gates. They were waiting for when something would happen. “I’ve seen some death messages. But Sodden managed to kill the Titano, so that’s amazing.” Paul said. “I know! Too bad he’s leaving for a while.” Rud said. “Wish I could join him.” Paul said. “You know, you could just ask.” Rud said. Then as Paul was about to respond, they saw some Argies coming. Then some cryopods were thrown into the base, and some Brontos came out. The turrets activated, then the Brontos started attacking the turrets. There were 4 Brontos, each attacking different parts of the walls. “Oh, god. They’re here!” Rud yelled. The Rexes roared as the Argies came down. They ran at them, then the Argies started swooping around them, scratching their bodies. The Rexes screeched as they tried to grab the Argies. But the Argies were so fast, and the Rexes couldn’t turn. Then one of the Argies hit Rud’s Rex in the head, causing a large crack to appear and the Rex to screech in pain. Then it collapsed from the damage. Then Cordor threw a sword in its head and the death message appeared. Rud ran for the gates, but Cordor jumped off his Argy, hit the ground, and ran for him. Cordor grabbed Rud and stabbed him in the chest. He let out a gasp of pain then collapsed. “NO! Dude… you’re joking, right?” Paul said. “Let me in, or you’re next!” Cordor yelled as he pointed his sword at Paul. Paul had no choice. He couldn’t lose more Rexes. He just had to hope Sodden got here soon. He opened up the gates and Cordor ran in, along with Bordon. They set their Argies down outside the walls then went in. “Please, dude. Get here now.” Paul said.

Cordor and Bordon ran in the breeding barn and looked through chests. Cordor reached in the carnivore troughs, then felt some metal. He yanked it out. It was the god shotgun. “Oh, yes. Finally. Now I can complete what I wanted to do.” Cordor growled. Bordon ran from the storage room holding the kibbles for imprinting and walked with Cordor to the castle. As the Brontos held off the turrets and took the hits, Denine saw all the commotion. “Oh, no. Dude, you need to hurry.” Denine gasped. She ran downstairs and towards the basement where the vault was. She looked around for the secret entrance, then heard footsteps. “I know she’s probably near that secret hiding place.” Cordor growled. Denine gasped then quickly jumped behind a cabinet. Cordor and Bordon approached the pile of poop, where the secret entrance was. “It reeks in here of turds and tribemaster. I know the secret place is here. Let’s get it on.” Cordor said. He threw out a cryopod and a dung beetle came out. It started pushing the poop out of the way. Denine ran upstairs while no one was looking and went into the kitchen, where she hid in the pantry next to the door. When the dung beetle was done moving all the turds, Cordor could see the vent that led down to the vault. Then, Bordon started looking around. “Hmm. Something reeks, and it isn’t the turds.” He said. “Come on, I know she’s in here.” Cordor said, then Bordon grabbed his arm. “That’d be too obvious. She knows a ton of hiding places in the base. We only know this one.” Bordon said. Cordor turned and grinned. “That is true. Let’s find her and end her.” Cordor said. Bordon nodded. Cordor put the beetle in a cryopod then he and Bordon walked upstairs.

Denine was quiet, sitting in the kitchen pantry, then Cordor and Bordon came and started looking around the main room. “There’s a lot of rooms in this base. You take the first floor. I’ll take the second and third.” Cordor said. Bordon nodded. Cordor walked upstairs and Bordon started looking around. He ran to the forge room, and looked in the cabinets, under the smithies, but all he found was a ton of metal and stuff. “Hmm. Maybe I could steal one of their god weapons. Oh, wait, we don’t need anything. We already have the shotgun. Silly me.” Bordon sneered. He walked out of the room. He walked towards the kitchen. “Obviously, they cook great food.” Bordon said. Denine gasped and stayed on the side of the door, out of sight. She covered her mouth as Bordon walked into the room. “The best food in the universe. Maybe I could steal one of their recipes. Ah, maybe later.” Bordon said. He looked behind the cooking pots and the small cabinets. Nothing. “Hmm. Maybe it’s in the pantry.” Bordon said. Denine gasped and looked around. Bordon reached for the door and opened it. He saw nothing. “Okay, then.” Bordon said. He closed the door. Denine came down from the top shelves and stayed on the walls. Bordon walked out of the kitchen and towards the forge room. Denine sighed in relief. Bordon looked behind the industrial forges set across the room, and walked towards the back door where sometimes, extra Ankies could dropped off for easier metal delivery. It was way smaller than the barn, though. Bordon looked at the ceiling and then walked to the door. Denine ran towards the room where the artifacts were held, which was next to the forge room. She hid behind the hole in the wall where the extra cryopods were. There was a map of the Island covering the hole. Bordon walked to the room, then looked around. “Artifacts… what about extra tames for your stupid ascension? I don’t even care if you leave as long as Denine is no more.” Bordon growled. Denine stayed silent in her hiding spot, then stood against the walls, but when she did, she felt a deep pinch in her shoulder and gasped in pain. She looked to see a sharp spike in the wall that had punctured her shoulder. She held her shoulder as she sat down. Bordon then walked to the door, then looked around. “Oh, you think maps fool me?” Bordon growled. He stormed to the map and tore it down. Bordon grabbed Denine’s arm and yanked her out. She tried to run, then Bordon grabbed her neck and took out a sword. “Cordor! I got her.” Bordon yelled. Denine screamed as she tried to let go, then Bordon pointed the sword at her chest. “You’d better shut up.” Bordon growled. Cordor heard the struggling and screaming from downstairs and ran down to where he heard it. Outside the castle, Rexes were tearing down the Brontos, but the Brontos’ tails were doing some damage to the walls. A few holes appeared and most of the turrets were gone. The Brontos kept whipping their tails, pushing away the Rexes, but the Rexes kept biting and their teeth went right through the Bronto’s skin. They started to collapse from the injuries. In the castle, Cordor walked downstairs and Bordon threw Denine onto the ground. She tried to crawl away then Cordor grabbed her by the collar and held her on the table. Denine took out a sword and tried to hit Cordor off, then he blocked it with the shotgun and Bordon grabbed her left arm. Denine screamed and tried to kick them away, but they held her down and did not let go. She kept screaming and kicking, but Cordor did not budge. Then Denine kicked Bordon’s leg, and he leaped off and let go, then Denine leaped at Cordor and grabbed the shotgun. She turned it away from her chest and the trigger was pulled, and it destroyed a part of the walls. Cordor pushed Denine into the forge room then Bordon ran at her to hold her, then Denine hit him away. She swung the sword at Bordon, and he dodged, then Cordor took out his sword and grabbed Denine. She grabbed Cordor’s neck and threw him at a forge. Cordor got up and growled. Then Denine threw the sword at him and he dodged, but it hit the forge’s fuel tank. It started leaking, then they saw sparks. Bordon ran from behind and pushed Denine onto the forge, then Cordor grabbed her neck and held her down on the forge. “Time for you to die.” Cordor sneered. “NO!” Denine screamed. Then Cordor threw the shotgun at Bordon and he caught it. Denine kept hitting Cordor and trying to make him let go. Then the fuel tank started making crackling noises. Cordor took the sword out of the tank with his right hand and put it in his bag, Bordon grabbed Denine’s left arm, and she tried to pull it away. She swung it over Bordon, but he wouldn’t stop pulling at it. Bordon pointed the shotgun at Denine’s implant, then suddenly, something hit him in the head. Cordor got thrown towards the other side of the room. Denine dropped to the ground, gasping and holding her neck. Sodden picked her up, then turned to Red, Paul, Dorack, Serenity, and Rod, who stood besides fthem. Then Cordor got up and pulled the trigger on the shotgun. It thankfully missed everyone, but hit the forge, immediately puncturing the tank, then suddenly…

KABLOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sound caused ringing in the group’s ears as they got knocked back into the main room. The forges had exploded, and the forge room was gone. All that was left was a massive hole in the wall where the forge room used to be and a crater next to it. Sodden got up, his head throbbing and ears ringing, then he looked around and saw a lot. Most of the group was above half health thanks to their great flak armor. Denine and Bordon, however, was wearing some riot armor and fur armor, which had way less resistance. Their armor was ripped up and they both had very low health. The group got up fine. “Oh, my god. What…” Red said weakly. He got up, as did everyone else, then gasped at what they saw. The forge room was gone. Cordor was nowhere to be seen, and Denine and Bordon were both unconscious. They checked their tribe logs with their implants and they did not see Cordor’s death message. He had somehow survived but probably was dangerously low on health. Denine was laying outside the hole, and Red ran to her. She was at 19 HP out of 350, only 7%. The lowest she’d ever been during an attack from Nameless. “Dude… I cannot believe she survived this.” Red said as she put some bandages on the wounds on her chest and arms. Then they heard rustling. Cordor weakly pushed some debris off of him. The group looked at him. He lay on the bottom of the hole in the ground, with some debris covering his body. He was at a whopping 0.9 HP out of 200. He had never been that low before. “This… is… not over. I will come back. And… when I do… I’m gonna… I’m… gonna… kill you all… I won’t stop… I’ll… get… revenge…” He weakly said, coughing and bleeding out. Then he let out one last exhale as his last tenths of HP went out. “You killed Cordor (Level 40)!” That was the death message that showed up. Nameless would definitely come back. This was the second time ever Nameless’ tribemaster had died. Sodden looked around at the chaos. “Dude. Dude. 50,000 metal. 40 hours. All down the drain because of that idiot!” Red yelled. “We grinded so hard for that room!” Dorack yelled. “Fox sacrified herself for me and Serenity.” Sodden said. “Well, just look at this. He has caused chaos. But if it wasn’t for Fox and our Gigas… we wouldn’t be here.” Rod said. “True.” Sodden said. Dorack put his hand on Sodden’s shoulder. Then Paul walked up to behind him. “Can I join your mission?” Paul asked. Sodden chuckled. “Oh, okay. I might be able to bring someone else with us.” Sodden said. Paul and Dorack let out a cheer of excitement. “Sodden, you are truly a great one.” Red said. Sodden walked to Red as he stabilized Denine. “Sometimes… sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.” Sodden said as he put his hand on Red’s shoulder. “True.” Red said. Then Sodden embraced him, and the rest embraced Sodden just then. “Well… what now?” Serenity asked. “We still have seven more creatures I need to kill. Then after that, we’ll meet up and head to the green obelisk.” Sodden said. The group let go then Sodden walked to the door. Serenity and Rod followed along. Serenity took Sodden’s left hand. Rod took his right hand. The trio walked out, and Red looked at them. “Good luck, guys!” Red yelled. The trio nodded, then threw out some cryopods. Their fliers came out. The trio got on their fliers and set out. The Brontos were dead, the walls were damaged, the forge room was destroyed, but Sodden had beaten his last challenge and that was all he cared about.