Austros

**Austros** is a bizarre Brute Wyvern notable for its hypertrophied claws and blade-like crest, which it uses to slice up anything in its path. The male of its species, it is often seen in the vicinity of its partner, Ardemin, and will work together with it to destroy trespassers.

## Physiology

Austros vaguely resembles a *Qianzhousaurus sinesis*, possessing an elongated snout with narrow fangs, a narrow premaxilla (a small pair of cranial bones located at the tip of the upper jaw), a medium-sized, tyrannosaurid-like build, and long legs. However, it has some differences to set itself apart from them. Its body is primarily dark blue, with some metallic gray parts here and there, such as its chest and underbelly, the spikes found on its neck and back, the claws on its feet, and the blades found on its arms. Its shoulders, lower arms, and lower legs are encased in a sturdy carapace that is dark blue with cyan stripes, and its arms are akin to those of Brachydios's in length, with them possessing rigid, hypertrophied claws designed for slashing and parrying alike. On its head rests a massive, scimitar-like crest that is gray with a cyan edge. Its head is dark blue, with gray outlines along the eyes and lips, and its eyes are red with black sclera.

## Ecology

Austros is a high-level carnivore, subsisting on a variety of smaller monsters, such as Aptonoth, Kelbi, Slagtoth, Burukku, Great Jaggi, Tzitzi-ya-Ku, Bulldrome, Seltas, and Yian Kut-Ku, and only facing competition from other apex monsters, Elder Dragons, and Elder Dragon-Level Monsters, such as Rathalos, Zinogre, Seltas Queen, Astalos, Tigrex, Gurenzeburu, Deviljho, and Chameleos. The male of an extremely sexually dimorphic species of Brute Wyvern, it holds a different set of adaptations from its female counterpart, the Ardemin. For starters, it possesses long, armoured arms that possess hypertrophied claws along with a scimitar-like crest that allow for extensive melee combat, with these also doubling as a status symbol among the species, with stronger, healthier males possessing longer claws and crests. The claws and crests also secrete a Void-based fluid that corrodes materials like monster shells on contact, suppressing their attributes to render their possessors more vulnerable to attack, and it sustains this fluid by feeding on Obscurity Berries and the organs of other Void-based monsters, such as Sohaloek and Teccarotl, storing the contents in a specialized organ. Its body is covered in a dark blue carapace that provides it with protection from cuts, impacts, and bullets, and provides it with camouflage in during nightfall and in dark areas like the caverns it calls home, with it hunting during the night, guarding its nests from hungry predators during twilight, and sleeping during the day. Its long legs are designed for quick bursts of speed, allowing it to gain the distance on prey in mere moments, and its tail provides it with balance and coordination as it runs. In addition, it forms a strong bond with Ardemin, and will work together with it in battle, attacking foes upfront while Ardemin flanks them from a distance, and will put its superior defenses to good use by shielding Ardemin from attacks intended for it.

## Behavior

Austros is highly aggressive, attacking anything in its vicinity on sight, and exhibits bravery and determination in battle, refusing to flee or surrender regardless of the circumstances. It works with its female counterpart Ardemin as a team, and if Ardemin is threatened, it will come to its aid, acting as a shield so it can recover.

## Abilities

Austros exhibits a high level of prowess in melee combat, using powerful slashes and acrobatic movements to gain the advantage over hunters, and its carapace is highly durable, allowing it to brush off brutal blows with ease. In addition, its blades secrete a Void-based fluid that wears down a hunter's armour upon contact, suppressing the armour's abilities, and the blades are sharp enough to inflict thick cuts that induce bleeding. It forms a strong partnership with Ardemin, and will work together with it to crush any opposition.

## Habitat

Austros is primarily found in caverns and mountains, but can also be found in settlements like the Tower.

## HP and Damage

**HP:**

* Base HP: 4,500 HP

* High-Rank (0.70x): 3,150 HP

* G-Rank (1.3x): 5,850 HP

**Physical/Elemental Damage Taken:**

* Head: 45 (Cut), 50 (Impact), 30 (Shot), 10 (Fire), 5 (Water), 10 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 25 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 10 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Horn: 20 (Cut), 20 (Impact), 10 (Shot), 10 (Fire), 5 (Water), 10 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 20 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 10 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Torso: 25 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 30 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 5 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 15 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Arms: 20 (Cut), 20 (Impact), 15 (Shot), 15 (Fire), 5 (Water), 15 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 25 (Dragon), 15 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 15 (Nature), 15 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Legs: 35 (Cut), 35 (Impact), 30 (Shot), 5 (Fire), 5 (Water), 5 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 10 (Dragon), 5 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 5 (Nature), 5 (Aether), 0 (Void)

* Tail: 45 (Cut), 40 (Impact), 35 (Shot), 10 (Fire), 5 (Water), 10 (Thunder), 5 (Ice), 20 (Dragon), 10 (Earth), 5 (Wind), 10 (Nature), 10 (Aether), 0 (Void)

**Element/Status Effectiveness**

* Fire = ★★
* Water = ★
* Thunder = ★★
* Ice = ★
* Dragon = ★★★
* Earth = ★★
* Wind = ★
* Nature = ★★
* Aether = ★★
* Void = ✖
* Poison = ★
* Sleep = ★
* Paralysis = ★
* Blast = ★★★
* Stun = ★★

## Attacks

Austros shares many attacks with other Brute Wyverns, but also possesses a number of its own.

**Triple Slash Combo**

Austros does a forward slash its left blade, then does a roundhouse slash with its right blade while moving forward, then finishes the combo by swinging both blades upward. Each hit deals medium damage, inflicts Voidblight, and has a 50% chance of inflicting Bleeding.

**Rushing Slash**

Austros runs towards the hunter with its arms towards its chest, then does an outward slashing motion with both arms. This attack deals medium-high damage, inflicts Voidblight, and has a 75% chance of inflicting Bleeding.

**Two-Handed Slash**

Austros hoists both its arms into the air, then does a downward slash with both of them. This attack deals medium-high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding.

**Void Spin**

Austros extends both its arms out, then moves towards the hunter while spinning. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding.

**Jumping Slash**

Austros jumps towards the hunter with its arms in the air, then slams its blades onto the ground. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding. It will often use this attack to close the distance between it and the hunter.

**Horn Charge**

Similar to a rhinoceros, Austros charges at the hunter with the blade on its head pointed at them. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding.

**Giant Void Wave**

Austros charges up Void energy in its head blade, then swings it either horizontally or vertically, sending a giant, sharp crescent of Void energy at the hunter, with this wave having medium range. This attack deals high damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding.

**Void Waves**

Austros charges up Void energy in its arm blades, then repeatedly swings them vertically or horizontally in a rapid fashion, sending multiple, short-ranged crescents of Void energy at the hunter. Each crescent deals medium damage and inflicts Voidblight and Bleeding.

**Blade Slam**

Austros raises its head, charges Void energy from inside its head blade, then violently slams it onto the ground, creating a series of rupture lines that travel along the ground around it and release pillars of intensified Void energy. both the blade and the pillars deal high damage and inflict Voidblight, though only the blade will inflict Bleeding. This attack releases tremors that require Tremor Res +2 to negate, and the attack cannot be blocked without the presence of Guard Plus.

**Guard**

Austros covers its face with its arms, then shifts its body in the direction of the hunter's attacks. If the hunter strikes it during this time, their attacks will bounce, even if Mind's Eye is activated, setting them up for a counterattack.

**Protect**

Austros will rush over to Ardemin with its arms covering its face, similar to Guard. During this time, it will try to block the hunter's path at every moment, intending to protect its partner while they run off to recover. Once Ardemin has reached a safe distance, it will go back to attacking the hunter normally.

**Swordsman's Rage**

When enraged, Austros becomes enveloped in a deep purple aura. During this time, its attacks will come out notably faster and inflict more damage, it will not flinch when struck, all of its physical attacks cannot be blocked without Guard Plus, and its moveset becomes entirely unpredictable. In exchange, it cannot guard or roll out of the way of attacks during this time (it will still come to Ardemin's aid if it's alive, however), and when the mode expires, it will get dizzy and collapse, rendering it vulnerable to attack until it gets back up. If Ardemin dies, it will be locked in this mode until it dies as well.

## Weapons

### Great Sword

**Diamond Scimitar** --> **Diamond Supremacy**

### Sword and Shield

**Draconic Suppressor** --> **Dragon's Ultimatum**

### Dual Blades

**Warrior and Wizard** --> **Righteous Duo**

### Lance

**Diamond Spear** --> **Diamond Bastion**

### Charge Blade

**Suppressor's Edge** --> **Suppressor's Brutality**

### Bow

**Suppressor's Cruelty** --> **Suppressor's Despotism'**

* **Note**: It and Ardemin share weapons, and thus, all of these require both of their parts to make.

## Armour

### Blademaster

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 285-630

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire 0
* Water +5
* Thunder 0
* Ice +5
* Dragon -15
* Earth 0
* Wind +5
* Nature 0
* Aether 0
* Void +20

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Steady Hand, Undrea Blood

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 480-715

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire 0
* Water +5
* Thunder 0
* Ice +5
* Dragon -15
* Earth 0
* Wind +5
* Nature 0
* Aether 0
* Void +20

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Steady Hand, Undrea Blood

### Gunner

#### High-Rank

**Defense**: 140-400

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +5
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice +10
* Dragon -10
* Earth +5
* Wind +10
* Nature +5
* Aether +5
* Void +25

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Silver Bullet, Undrea Blood

#### G-Rank

**Defense**: 265-465

**Elemental Resistances**:

* Fire +5
* Water +10
* Thunder +5
* Ice +10
* Dragon -10
* Earth +5
* Wind +10
* Nature +5
* Aether +5
* Void +25

**Skills**: Mind's Eye, Bond, Silver Bullet, Undrea Blood

* **Note**: Austros and Ardemin have the same armour, and thus, it requires parts from both to craft. However, to go with their theme, the Blademaster Armour primarily uses Austros parts while the Gunner armour primarily uses Ardemin parts.

## Breakable-Parts

Horn- The blade will be chipped and covered in cracks.

Head- The monster's left eye will be gouged out.

Arms x2- The blade will be chipped, and the arm's armour will crack.

Tail- The tail will be severed.

## Trivia

* Austros's name is an anagram of Saturos, one of the two main villains of *Golden Sun*.
* Austros was mainly inspired by Duon, a boss from *Super Smash Bros. Brawl: The Subspace Emissary*, in terms of design and abilities. It also takes inspiration from Dialga, a Legendary Pokémon with the ability to control time, in terms of design, and the aforementioned Saturos, who primarily uses sword-based attacks as opposed to magic-based ones, in terms of abilities.
* When fatigued, Austros will take longer to use many of its physical attacks, and cannot use ranged attacks. It can recover stamina by feeding on carrion or the current area's local Herbivores.
* Austros was designed to be the Red Oni to Ardemin's Blue Oni, being more aggressive and up-close in terms of its battle style. This is further reflected by its Rage Mode; when enraged, Austros goes berserk and attacks uncontrollably, while Ardemin stays collected despite being more inclined to attack the hunter.
* Austros was originally an artificial Bypaldian that guarded the Achirynce Prison, but this was changed due to Nin10DillN64 having few Brute Wyvern concepts and believing that it would work better as a natural, albeit abnormal monster.