Chrysalis

The fungus rattles around us and every member of the group stills themselves, casting our senses about to identify the source of the movement.

[Crinis? You got anything?]

[It's difficult for me to see,] the usually reserved Crinis sounds frustrated and irritated, [the fungus has a mana signature that blocks my sight.]

Dammit.

[What about shadows? Are you seeing anything around us?]

[I think there are tunnels beneath us, but it's hard to say.]

That's not unexpected, considering where we are, I have little doubt that the termites have tunnels beneath us and all over this mountain for that matter.

[Stay sharp everyone. I think we might have company soon.]

The fungus continues to rattle and shake as I eye it warily, my minds already spinning up the constructs necessary to fight. I decide to start pumping out fire mana, since it seems like it'll have the biggest effect on the mould around us as well as on whatever comes out to fight.

The rattling all around us continues to intensify before it suddenly grows still, the five of us left watching the field of white in perfect silence.

SNAP!

fungus begins to bulge in certain places, pushing upward as something erupts

[Termites!] Crinis yells.

fungus and their antennae swivelling wildly. In truth, they seem just as surprised to see us as we are to see them, but that doesn't stop either side from rushing forward as soon as they

into position as I dash forwards hoping to catch the termite on my right by

many

not sure! I still can't sense

things get too spicy we'll have to

ROAR!

mass towering over the termites as he swings with colossal force, his fists tearing through the air to crunch into the chitin covered insects, shattering

CHOMP!

down. Chittering with indignation, my opponent tries to pull back and snap onto my front left leg. In a normal fight between ants and other social insects, the battle for the legs is everything. With huge numbers available on both sides, fighting one on one is basically unheard

termite down for my ant allies to

send the bug staggering back, its six legs flailing as it corrects its balance, its jaws snapping shut on thin air, only to be met with my ferocious charge a second later. The impact of activating the skill is staggering and the termite's shell cracks even further as my own diamond carapace

sixth stratum but even you can't handle my shiny glory! Unwilling to play with it any further, I spin up the mana I've kept in reserve and unleash a torrent of blue flame, roasting the termite where it stands. What I don't expect is for the flame to instantly spread to the mould, melting

getting hot in

wails as she bats away the termites who try to

don't know!] I cry. [How was I supposed to know this stuff

a frenzy as they alternate between trying to put the fire out and punish us for setting it off. I see a few of them duck back underground and rush off through

my mandibles for another chomp. [Let's clean up a little and then