Chrysalis

"I'm really not sure about this," Isaac muttered under his breath.

[That makes two of us…] his new partner replied.

"I really didn't think they would go for this as enthusiastically as they did."

[It's how we are. If there's an advantage in it, we're more than happy to explore it. Even if it does prove to be… unconventional.]

Isaac felt the massive ant shift beneath him and tried to adjust his position to roll with the movement. The saddle they'd created wasn't quite the right shape, the craft ants having never made anything of this sort before, and it chafed him ever so slightly in an area he would prefer didn't see any chafing.

"I just never imagined that I'd ever be riding on the back of one of you. I mean, I didn't expect that I'd be fighting alongside any monstrous ants, but I got used to that well enough, but to be riding on one? Feels kind of weird. You aren't horses."

[What's a horse?]

"Have you seen a cow?"

[I have, in the farms around Renewal.]

"Right, so think of a cow that's prettier and faster."

[… I do not like this comparison.]

"That's what I mean!"

The once former guard captain heaved a sigh and once again fruitlessly tried to protect his most vulnerable zones from the pommel that rose too sharply between his legs. If it was made of cured leather, that'd be one thing, but that damned armour ant had decided to cover the thing in folded steel. To say he was sweating would be an understatement.

count you in starting in one minute's time.

then, here we

you don't

at least half

[That is somewhat true.]

more. He surveyed the course ahead again, a dizzying trail of loops and whorls that took them between pillars of rock, up the walls, across the roof and back down

with a slightly heavier head on it. He hadn't bothered to correct the ants about it; after all, what the hell did he know about wielding a lance? On the surface it was a noble's weapon and down below no idiot would be fighting on horseback. The very idea of mounted combat in the Dungeon seemed absurd. But if you were going to ride on something, an

time,] chided Cavalant and

of the skill, and even at rank one it provided significant bonuses. Not only were his thoughts connected to the ant he rode, to the point he didn't need to speak aloud if

concentrate, his thoughts slowly starting to align with those of Cavalant as she settled beneath him, flexing her six legs as she lowered her centre of gravity. When the countdown finished, she would explode from the starting line and Isaac didn't intend to be left

launched herself forward, all six legs firing

was sufficiently braced to hold on. Gripping with his legs, Isaac desperately clung to his partner's

up,]

could I

a moment of existential terror as they raced directly for the tunnel wall. The image of himself splattered across the rock flashed into his mind, then, with a mind bending twist of perception, Cavalant placed one leg on the wall, then the next, and suddenly they were

hold onto, they weren't necessary in this particular rider and mount relationship, but he did have a strap to grip to avoid falling to his

he struggled to keep

the trail. For his part, Isaac held fast to his lance and aimed it as best he could, every day of his life spent wielding the spear being channelled

Crack. Crack. Crack.

point of his spear and then, with

him and Isaac hurried to tighten his legs, desperate

going to be

[Don't you dare!]

Crack. Crack. Crack!