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!

the fungus begins to bulge in certain places, pushing upward

[Termites!] Crinis yells.

massive insects bursting through, their jaws filled with more fungus and their antennae swivelling wildly. In truth, they seem just as surprised to see us as we are to see

to catch the termite on my right by surprise as it emerges

many

not sure! I still can't sense underground

and fight for now, but don't let yourself get cornered! If things get too spicy we'll have to back

ROAR!

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 flying

CHOMP!

punch through its shell, but without activating my skills, a single bite isn't enough to put one of these creatures 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

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

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

is for the flame to instantly

hot in

she bats away the termites who try

was I supposed to know this stuff was so

into a frenzy as they alternate between trying to put the fire out and punish us for setting it off.

others as I ready my mandibles for another chomp.