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

[Termites!] Crinis yells.

insects bursting through, their jaws filled with more fungus and their antennae swivelling wildly. In truth, they seem

back and lock into position as I dash forwards hoping to catch the termite on

many

still can't

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

ROAR!

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

CHOMP!

my opponent tries to pull

luxury of pinning this termite down for my ant allies to

only to be met with my ferocious charge a second later. The impact of activating the skill is staggering and the

the 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 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 fungus likes

hot in

you do?!] Sarah wails as she

supposed

sends them into a frenzy as they alternate between trying to put the fire out and punish

the others as I ready my mandibles for another chomp. [Let's clean