Chrysalis

As soon as my confidence was beginning to rise, just when I though victory had been secured, that was the exact moment I was thrown back into the pit of despair.

It always seems to work like that, doesn’t it Gandalf?

I continue to support my colony brethren in the battle for our future. I’m totally exhausted by this point, having bitten so many times the muscles in my face are completely sore. What’s even more irritating is that, in order to support my fellow workers as much as possible I’ve been deliberately wounding my enemies but not taking the extra time to finish them off before moving on to the next target, leaving the crippled victims behind for the rest of the ants to deal with.

Despite my best efforts there have definitely been casualties on the ants side. Without an upgraded carapace like mine their defences were like paper in the face of the rabbit’s fangs and some were instantly killed when receiving a bite to the head.

Others have fallen to the centipede’s claws and jaws, battling in places I couldn’t see or reach in time. My heart is heavy knowing that some of my own siblings have been laid to rest as a result of my own actions. I have to comfort myself with the knowledge that victory will benefit the colony as a whole tremendously, and that is the goal the workers truly strive for at all times.

However, almost as if mocking me, the ground begins to shudder beneath my feet. Powerful vibrations rattle through the ground over and again, surely in response to some rather tremendous feet.

Please don’t tell me...

My despair takes material form when crashing through the trees in an appearance worthy of a final boss is a massive Titan-Croc, flanked on either side by two Croca-beasts, almost like henchmen following their leader.

Why are you stupid monsters so organised in such a dumb way all of a sudden?!

The new arrivals growl menacingly, the rumbles vibrating the air so powerful they send my antennae dancing. The lead Titan-Croc surveys the field of lesser monsters with discernible greed lighting up his eyes. Even for an evolved creature like him, the sheer amount of food here will be enough to fuel his mutation, as well as the two following him.

Lured by the noise and the aroma of Biomass these big baddies have arrived to wrap up the battle and stake their claim over the food here. Not many monsters would be willing to battle such colossal powerhouses, what kind of suicidal creature would take on those kinds of odds?

THIS ANT RIGHT HERE.

I refuse to surrender the spoils of war! The colony has already sacrificed precious workers in this battle and I refuse to see us walk away with nothing to show for it because a few fat crocodiles turned up!

only thing that has changed is

no idea how I’m supposed to deal with these powerful monsters. The Titan-Croc alone could probably fireball

enough acid in the

Then I see something.

moment, salvation is

darkest hour, she will

to shudder, as if a large monster were pushing through the tunnel inside. The very top of the hill shakes, some of the loose dirt collapsing inwards and more spilling out, rolling down the slope as the shaking and shuddering

enormous ant, her long antennae

dug wide enough for her to move through easily. When the colony was threatened she once again

looks down on the battle imperiously from the top

is here! And

the scene, the pile of wounded struggling ants at

the huge interlopers, still eyeing off

is killed here then everything will be lost! I wasn’t too concerned when only rabbits and centipedes were about since I didn’t think they’d be able to harm her majesty

not be up to the task but

I really have no idea how strong the

mean, her primary purpose is to lay eggs, which isn’t exactly a combat role, she also has specialised in

I’m really worried!

share my concerns as she chitters angrily and after a brief moment of concentration releases her powerful healing spell. A wave of light rolls out from her antennae, flowing over the ground and encompassing all of the ants in the wounded pile before rushing into

the waters of a river and I greedily drink it in,

healing has stamped an end to the hopes of the centipedes in this conflict, already outnumbered the return of injured ants to the combat has only tilted things further against them. Their snapping claws sound despondent and hopeless where before they were aggressive and vicious, almost as if they

the Titan-Croca have seen enough. With the combat reaching an end they want to sweep away whatever resistance remains and claim the

palpable as they watch a few small worker hatchlings starting to drag away the food, a few rabbit bodies are already being taken over to the nest from the back of the battle. Looking at their