Chrysalis

In desperation, I turn the final stages of forming the gravity bomb over to my main mind, the only brain I have that specialises in handling gravity mana. I can immediately feel the difference, but I still need the support of the sub-minds to keep things flowing as I continue to piece together the biggest bomb I've ever made. When I let this go, it's going to get messy around here…

"Back off a little more!" I warn the Colony, "make sure you get a solid grip on something!"

After a moment I add.

"That goes double for you, Protectant! Create some space and hold on tight!"

I've no doubt that my defenders have been hovering closer than they should be against a foe like Grokus, and the odds are that they've taken a good chunk of damage from his aura effect just trying to stay near to me. Claws crossed they take my warning seriously, it'd be a massive waste of the Colony's resources.

[Unleash your spell!] the city lord taunts me as he rumbles forward, each step causing the very rock beneath our feet to crumble. [I almost hunger for it! I hunger for your despair!]

Enough of this guy's freaking mouth already! Sharp pain stabs through my insides as I skitter out of the way of his grasping hands, prompting me to activate my healing gland once again. The soothing liquid regenerates my missing health in short order but the rate of decrease is continuing to ramp up. Eventually I'll run out of juice and be eaten up from the inside out. This is one heck of a nasty power!

But I won't have to worry about that… I hope. My gravity bomb is ready.

of mana that I've created. It practically pulses with dark light, the only thing in the stratum with a larger appetite than the tier seven demon in front of

you're that hungry, chew on this!] I yell as the spell

as I can. Even so, I feel my weight lift for a horrifying second as the spell travels away from me, trying to draw me after it. A second later the terrifying noise of

HOOOOOOOOOOWWWWLLLLLLL!

launched the spell, the city lord grins wide as he sees my spell unleashed. Sensing the sheer volume of mana packed into it, he folds himself up in a defensive curl, wrapping his arms around his head to put as much meat between the sphere and his body as

wants to take the spell head on and come out standing on the other side, relying on whatever strange resistance and regeneration he has to pull through anything I can throw at

sphere of destruction almost twenty metres in diameter. The pull is horrendous, dragging stone, ash, fire and anything not nailed down toward the centre of the bomb where it will be crushed completely. I can't even

HOOOOOOWWWWWWWLLLLLL!!!

to scream as the ground shakes, the air shrieks and light fades away. All I can do is bury my head

effects, there's no way you can eat a gravity bomb this size and be standing on the other

several drawn out seconds, but eventually the spell fades and the

know that my opponent isn't dead. Without the notification

of the city lord is a twitching mess with a rather large hole chewed out of the middle. I find it shocking that he's actually still living in that condition. A few chomps ought to put an end to him. I approach cautiously, but without much concern, he

I almost can't believe my eyes. Starting at the base, but shifting rapidly up the body, the

yell at my two pets. [Hit him with everything! He'll be back to

forward, locking my mandibles into position