Chrysalis

[Master, we need help!] Crinis' call shocks me out of my daze and I rush over to assist them against the unending crush of demons that charge up the ramp once they have crested the top of the pillar and secured their position against their fellow demons.

The flying demons have such an absurd advantage in this situation, simply flapping their way up and onto the ramp, but once they reach this natural chokepoint, all bets are off as the demons fight amongst each other to reach the second strata.

[No worries, I'm here!] I call as I leap back into the fight, my mandibles pumping and minds spinning a new domain.

Without the overwhelming crush of shadow monsters, the fire domain no longer serves a purpose as the demons are at least partially resistant to it. All production of blue fire mana is discarded and the construct now starts to pump out pure ice mana which is deftly woven into a new domain. Likewise, the lava mana I was working with before is also cast aside in favour of the much easier to work with air. In only a few seconds the first compressed bolt of air is ready and I fire it at a lithe, weasel looking demon trying to slip past us. Caught unawares, the beast only has time to roar indignantly before the powerful gust of air carries it over the edge of the ramp and plummeting to the depths below.

Ice domain!

The moment I release the spell the air around us becomes infused with frigid air and spinning chunks of ice that bounce harmlessly from my allies but detonate with a sharp crack when they hit anything else. At first I'm wholly satisfied with this new domain, the demons certainly aren't big fans of the ice, but after a few seconds I notice something I may have overlooked. The amount of mana being sucked out of my core to maintain this domain is unbelievable! Even over this short period, the sub-brain in charge is starting to frizzle from overwork as it tries to maintain the spell and produce the ice mana necessary to keep it running at the same time.

The reason why is readily apparent: it's too damn hot here! The ice mana is being consumed way too quickly! Cursing inside, I throw away the ice domain and switch to air, both sub-minds working together to pump out the same type of mana to hurl bolts of compressed air at my foes.

[How are you holding up, Crinis?]

Master!] she replies, her voice steely with

nonsense Crinis,] I warn her as we battle back and forth with the demons, [give it to me straight, that's an

sapped,] she grudgingly admits, [and my flesh

her powers don't work half as well as they did before. Another problem quickly becomes

the bladed arm of a nasty looking horror scrapes across my carapace before I

them before,] Crinis guesses, [here they are surrounded

every demon who climbs the pillar has no choice but to move up it if they want to reach the strata above, we may

back! And make a break for the second strata! Alright?! If anyone

don't think you should stay here, Eldest!" Protectant appears to tell me in person, her antennae twitching in all directions as she nips forward to bite at the legs and joints of the demons near Tiny. "This situation

another demon fronts up to me, charging toward my much larger frame with reckless abandon. "Just hang on a little longer and then we'll retreat. We'd be fine if

the time

progress of my security guards is getting frustrating. The demon slashes forward with its claws and I blast it in the chest with a condensed burst of air, sending its wiry frame flying through the air and over the edge of the ramp. It was a quick and painless way to deal with the enemy, though it doesn't work nearly as well on the heavier ones. As we continue to battle hard, it's clear that we're being forced to give ground as the press of demons only grows thicker with the passage of time. For every one we put down,

ripples through the air and my antennae whip around as I try

edge of the pillar I see a massive arm covered in dripping black tar reach up and dig into the stone, thick muscles bulging to haul the rest of the monster

one here guys! Keep your eyes peeled!] I tell my desperately fighting