Chrysalis

The monsters came from the north. They swept south in a hungry pack, seeking, destroying and devouring everything in their path like a tide of beastly Vikings.

As the monsters drew closer their snarling and growls rang louder in the peoples ears and panic quickly raced across their faces. The fear spread so quickly from person to person around me, clouding their faces and twisting their expressions.

So quickly they lost the will to fight, these people.

I shouldn't be too surprised. These people had lost their homes and families to these creatures. Small and weak it may have been, but they had also lost their country. Against a foe that had taken apart something so much larger than themselves, it's only natural that they would be intimidated.

But I wouldn't sit idly by.

[Tiny bring Crinis to me. We need to fight.]

If those stupid monsters thought that they could get this close to my colony then they are outside their damn minds.

I loudly clack my mandibles several times in succession.

*CLACK* *CLACK* *CLACK*

The sharp, staccato noises ring out loudly, cutting through the rising fear. The circle of people turn back to me sharply.

[Priest. Tell the people to go hide and stay out of my way. I will defend my colony but if any monsters get through, the people will need to defend themselves.]

The priest nodded enthusiastically.

[Of course, Great One! The blessings of the System belong only to those who are prepared to earn them! Your wisdom is as deep as the Dungeon, as broad the Endless Sky expanse and as …]

[Just tell them already!]

[Oh! Right!]

mind bridge with the mouthy priest and turns to the people to explain what I've said. Gradually some life returns to the faces of the people around me, when I push my way out of the circle, they

And good thing too!

are

can't help but feel a wave of nostalgia

of my old

slither

as well, I

are here! Awww, the little fluff balls! Devilish, murdering

the Croca Beasts. The stupid creatures

from the forest expanse area. Perhaps they are gathering the monsters over there, just as they did here, to assault the

Dangit!

I was finally

thundering of monstrous feet is growing louder as the horde kicks up dust as they rush towards us. Only a hundred

time to power up a Gravity Bomb. I'm going to have to do this the old

My brains kick into gear, each one crafting a gravity spear as quickly as possible. I haven't had that much time to rest since battling against the Croca

swiftly weaving together the magic, layers flowing together as if in fast

Gravity Spear! Times three!

spears fly home, not that they could miss, slamming into

spears take shape. I pour forth my

it me who crashes into

I smash into the thick of the monsters and their blows begin to rain down on my carapace, battering

if I'm just going to sit

Shattering Bite!

my diamond shell but I stand firm, the bulk of the damage failing to pierce through. Centipedes rise to clutch at me and I crush them with a single bite. When a fearsome bear smashes into me from the side, sending me sprawling, I channel mana into my mandibles

bite, I crush its defences, my stamina draining away along with

a chip here shave away at my health until I'm forced to trigger my regeneration