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!

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

[Termites!] Crinis yells.

their jaws filled with more fungus and their antennae swivelling wildly. In truth, they seem just as surprised to see

I dash forwards hoping to catch the termite on my right by surprise as it

many are

sure! I still can't sense

cornered! If things get too spicy we'll

ROAR!

a mighty bellow, Tiny rumbles forward, his frightening 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 their shells and sending them

CHOMP!

opponent tries to pull back and snap onto my front left leg. In a normal fight

don't have the luxury of pinning this termite down for my ant allies to finish

flailing as it corrects its balance, its jaws snapping shut on thin air, only to be met

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 it like wax even as it catches fire. If it were only that, perhaps it wouldn't be much of an issue, but unfortunately for us, it seems as if this

getting hot in

do?!] Sarah wails as she bats away the termites who try to

I cry. [How was I supposed to know

put the fire

can't stay here for long,] I warn the others as I ready my mandibles