It took a phenomenal effort, but Handy managed to raise his hammer over his head and brought it down. The metal struck the crown of the creature's skull. Splintered rock and dried earth broke off of it as it shrugged off the blow, once more bellowing in Handy's face. But not once did it strike back. Handy struck again. Each time the pressure in the air lessened, the pounding on the inside of his skull slackened, and it became easier to breathe and to think. The light in the creature's eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, the foulness dripping from its maw lessening as its jaw began slipping back into normal proportions. More and more of its 'shell' flaked off as he struck. But as he did so, the magical aura around the creature grew wilder still, unstable. Someone was approaching him from behind – he could feel them. Each hammer blow he delivered lessened the creature's area of effect.