Chrysalis

I don't know what shocked me more, the fact that Tiny managed to land without getting himself killed, or that he actually managed to break through the layered shields and barriers of the Legion. Since he actually managed the impossible, I'm not about to let the chance slip by.

"GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!" I flood the tunnel with a wave of commanding pheromones that batter into the antennae of the ants behind me, driving them forward in a frenzied wave of insects.

[Crinis, I need you to go big on this one, alright? Keep your losses below fifty percent though.]

[I'll do my best, Master.]

Crinis acknowledges my order and I feel her gathering mana a moment before she slips off my carapace and into the shadows of the tunnel, vanishing without a trace.

[Go hard, Invidia! Keep Tiny alive if it's at all possible!]

[Hissss sssuffering will be mine!]

[Good boy.]

As Tiny's huge body slams down into the ranks of the Legion, dust and debris flies in a wide circle, obscuring the scene from my eyes. I can hear a ton of shouting, screaming and the omnipresent ring of steel. But all of those sounds are driven away by the piercing scream that detonates inside the tunnel. It's Tiny! The dumb ape has unleashed his primal scream in an effort to stun the Legionaries. Even more powerful than before, the waves of sound are enough to blow my antennae back into my carapace. I swear I can feel my eyes being pressed back into my head! What it feels like standing right next to him I have no idea, but it sure can't be pleasant.

Legion to worry about, not

enough to keep my first pet alive long enough, I drive my legs even harder to arrive that split second faster, my minds

POW! POW!

stream of acid blasts fly from the back zone, the hungry acid falling in a rain on the massed Legion soldiers as I charge. Every little thing that can help is going to be needed now. Just as I approach the

Awww hell.

BAM!

to be stopped. I crash through the shields in front of me, sending soldiers flying as my legs scramble and I lose my balance, collapsing in a heap in the tight ranks of

that job is done, I continue flinging ice magic as I pick myself up to my feet and start chomping like a mad thing. Surrounded

CHOMP!

feel the blows beginning to rain down on my diamond carapace. If they are given a few more seconds, the Legionaries will begin to coordinate their attacks and rip into my precious exo-skeleton. Fortunately, they don't get that much

"FOR THE COLONY!"

wave. The front row of ants batters into the shields of their foes and the ants behind simply climb over the top of them and throw themselves into the fray, followed by

are you?!] I call mentally to

comes the roar back

IDIOT! BUT

of ants, Legionaries and shadow beast pets embroiled in a grand melee. I can't see anything in any direction. All around, the crush of bodies presses against me, buffeting me from side