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!]

to the faces of the people around me, when I

And good thing too!

are upon

I see the swarm rushing towards the village, I can't help but

old friends are

damn centipedes! Like a carpet of pinchy death they slither and climb all over each other,

as well, I think I spy an

here! Awww, the little

to mention the Croca Beasts. The stupid creatures are here as

as if this is a collection of monsters from the forest expanse area. Perhaps they are gathering the monsters over there,

Dangit!

I was finally free of

they rush towards us. Only a hundred or so more metres and they'll be amongst

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

a gravity spear as quickly as possible. I haven't had that much time to rest since battling against the Croca Commander

weaving together the magic, layers flowing together

Gravity Spear! Times three!

set. The spears fly home, not that they could miss, slamming into the front line of the wave, snaring large clutches of monsters and binding them together, forcing them to stumble and breaking

of spears take shape. I pour forth my gravity mana and empower the spells, letting them fly just

me

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

just going to

Shattering Bite!

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 and dive back at

I crush its defences, my stamina draining away along with my mana until

the chip damage begins to pile up. A chip here and a chip here shave away at my health until I'm forced to trigger my