Chrysalis

In seconds I had enough fire mana to send spears of bright flame roaring through the air, igniting every bit of fungus that they drew close to. Smoke and fire billowed out immediately, drifting over the wide entrance to the termite mound and sending every one of the blind insects into a frenzy. Then I rush forward, my jaws locking in place as they flood with pure mana. When I'm close enough I spin together a mind bridge and extend it to the large ant zipping through the conflict at warp speeds, latching onto her almost by lucky accident.

[Senior! I had a feeling you might show up-up!]

[If you're talking slowly enough that I can understand you then I imagine you're exhausted. How are you holding out?]

As I draw closer to the melee I can see her troops are flagging, the relentless press of the enemy has been wearing them down. We've arrived just in time.

[We'd be fine if we could run!] Vibrant's indignation at being denied the freedom to move is total. [Those lizard-gizards won't let us leave!]

[Of course not, they want all of you to be trapped and die.]

[That's terrible!] she gasps over the mental connection.

Even while running I slap myself between my eyes with one antennae.

[What did you think they wanted with you? To go for a friendly jog? They want the termites to rip out your souls and feast on your Biomass! We need to break their concentration or force them to retreat and then we need to get the heck out of here!]

to invade the nest?] she sounds

That isn't going to happen. I'll be happy if we can you are your group

[Thanks Senior!]

point, I can feel just how heartfelt her gratitude is, and underneath that, her desperate concern for those who had chosen to follow her. No more time for discussion, as I hit the melee, I force my way to the front and unleash a Doom Chomp, shattering the bugs in front of me before I hurl concussive blasts

to threaten the kaarmodo in their vantage point, however a powerful shield

eye-beam,] I command

same time I will. I flick my attention inward to check on the progress of my sub-minds and come out pleased. Compressing a gravity-bomb is no small feat, especially at the levels of density I can achieve now. Comparing it to how I was after my second evolution is like comparing a match to a bonfire. I'll have to step in with my main brain soon, but for now I can leave it to

they are only just getting started. There are likely to be far more termites in the nest than this, millions even, but they could be anywhere, high up in the mountain, or down deep underground, tending to yet more fungus gardens. In fact, those who were chasing behind us

Chomp! Chomp!

the other ants as much as possible and give them time to recover.

and lashing out at the nearest termite they can find. As the dark limbs covered in barbs wind around their victims, I turn away and focus

escape, but I also really don’t want to see what Crinis does

not enough to tell

into a barrier placed before me. The impact is sharp, but not enough to damage me and I shake it off quickly and look up to see the shimmering barrier that they've

into it with all the strength I can muster, only resting to unleash

a futile effort, obviously, I can't break down a barrier created by five kaarmodo and their dozens of attendants, but what I can do is keep them reinforcing it, trading my energy and stamina for their mana and mental reserves