Chrysalis

[He's close! We need to get all minds on the job. Try and find his mana signature. It'll be hard, he's good at hiding, so we need to get on this now!]

[Anthony…] Sarah's mind hesitantly reaches out to mine.

[Later,] I tell her brusquely, [I can hear what you have to say later. The Colony won't be dissuaded on this, not after what he did.]

I switch my mind directly to my allies.

[Crinis, reach out through the shadows, cover as much ground as you can.]

I reach back and pat her with one antenna.

[This will be a huge strain on you, so be careful. It's important, but not more important than you are.]

[I understand, master.]

[Al, I need you to help track down this worm.]

[I do not understand. Confusion. What is a worm?]

[It's a type of creature that’s long and burrows through the ground. Just try and find the damn traitor, please?]

[I will try.]

As I've been talking all of my minds have already bent themselves to the task of tracing the mana that Jim wove with such cunning. I refuse to believe he's so good that he can hide all evidence of his weaving.

Wherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewherewhere?!?!

AHA! A sniff!

[This way!] I roar over the mind bridge to my team and we rush northwards. [Crinis! Let's go!]

blob of pure shadow has already vanished into the darkness, her body totally hidden from sight, so I make sure to call to her before I dash forward like a terrier on the trail. He covered his tracks as carefully as only a true coward can, but he can't compete with my

rush through the tunnels, brushing past numerous demons who we simply knock to the side, unwilling to waste time fighting them. A quick right hook from Tiny and a

a pre-dug tunnel,

one he used to reach us in the first place. Any chance we can use

believe it's

[Dammit!]

wind, Anthony! A thousand thoughts try to intrude on my mind as we run. I

those impulses away I sink myself deep into meditation, letting my emotions run cold. I can't afford to get distracted when the trail is

Do you have

able to

he doesn't get too far ahead then we can follow

that helps him hide his mana. I know he's not that far away, but I can't seem to grab hold of his core despite the fact that I should be able to sense it at my level of mana sight. I have a

that surprising, considering he's a worm, but

screech to a halt as I cast my senses about, trying to determine what

be going to

Crinis

I think he might be leaving the tunnels! Quick! We need

we run and climb our way out of the tunnels our hold on the trail grows ever more faint. By the time we reach the plains I can barely sense him at all, only Invidia and Al are

[Thissss way.]

[You're sure?]

[Alwaysssss sure!]

for me,

demon larvae, we continue to run as somewhere ahead

magic which may or may not even reach him.

within me but under the effect of meditation I allow it to flow

I taunt, [you sure you don't want to let her know why you betrayed her? Did you know she almost died because

growls at me with her mind and I turn my head

[… sorry,] I mumble.