Chrysalis

The proud Golgari scion charges headfirst toward me, his fancy blade dancing in his hands. This guy really is stupid. Baited so easily, by a monster no less. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that he's diving in so recklessly, it's what I want after all. What I didn't expect was that the rest of the triads in front of me would leap into action the moment he stuck his dumb neck out.

Don't underestimate the power of little rich kids, Anthony! These other Golgari are probably all on the payroll! A personal protection force for the 'young master' as he goes out to seek retribution for the wrongs that were done to him. Despicable. If the Colony jumps out then he'll get to see the true meaning of borrowing the power of your family! It's getting less likely I'm going to get the outcome I want here. Nothing for me to do now but knuckle down and win this battle however I can. If I can do that much then the other ants won't need to get involved.

[I don't think you want to do this, pebble boy,] I warn as I flex my mandibles. [You couldn't handle me last time and I'm a heck of a lot better since then.]

[Taste my blade you trash!] He roars back and slashes at me with blinding speed.

Accurate and sharp, his sword light flies toward me, cutting a line straight through the rock where it intersects the ground. Impressive, as always. Let's see how well the 'ol carapace holds up against this one? Tucking my legs and rotating my body, I present my abdomen to the blade and let it hit me as I return fire with acid!

POW! POW! POW!

A rapid fire blast arcs out, causing the charging Warriors to dodge, losing their balance and momentum.

BAM!

cut has carved a groove into my shiny diamond shell but nothing to write home about. Even my last opponent in the tournament was able to do more damage

a hundred free strikes, you might even manage to wound me,]

wordlessly shouts and unleashes another slash, closing the distance to try and apply his blade to me directly. This guy is way too easy to bait. He's not even bothering to try and block or

me in so that I'll have to accept the blows no matter which way I dodge. Which is fine. If they want to try and whittle me down one blow at a time, I'll outpace their damage with my regeneration. If they want to try

blades slam into me, cutting deeper than junior's but not by much. Their slashes move slower and may not be as sharp, but they seem to have more 'oomph' behind them. Perhaps a difference in technique or maybe they're simply older and have greater Might? Regardless, my defence is holding up strong. Time for a little offence. The moment I land, another wave of slashes is on its way, but I outmanoeuvre them by turning to the wall and dashing straight up it! My claws dig into the rock and I fly up the round wall of the tunnel until I'm upside down, looking down on the

at my size. I'm not a mini little ant like I used to be, after all. I'm close to the size the Queen was before she evolved, so basically a minibus. Well, no need to look up here

YOINK!

them to me with my infused mandibles. With a cry of shock the chosen Warrior falls toward me, rising from the ground as my mandibles flex in preparation. The other's shout a warning to each other and their blades

Dang it. More countermeasures?!

by the strain being upside down puts on my claws. My Grip Skill just hasn't come along as fast as it needs to. I can't shift my weight quickly and it shows as more blows slash out and slice into my carapace before I can right myself. Dangit, the ceiling may have been a tactical mistake.

Eat fire, suckers!

form of a raging flamethrower that erupts from between my mandibles. Feel the heat of my wrath! As I direct the flames toward my foes,

BOOM!

GAH!