Chrysalis

Dig, dig, dig, dig, DIG, DIG, DIG!

The mountain shakes beneath us as a catastrophic BOOM rips through the nest and the temperature skyrockets again. The tunnel opening behind us glows brightly before the first hint of lava is seen.

[Invidia! Block it off, quick!]

Another BOOM shakes the stone around us as Invidia quickly weaves stone to protect us. Experience notifications are starting to pour in, but I don’t have the time to pay them any attention. Instead, my focus is on pumping my jaws as quickly as possible.

Have. To. Dig!

My earth mana infused mandibles rip through the dirt and stone at incredible speed, but we have a long way to go before we reach safety. Just how powerful is this spell going to be? I knew it would pack a punch simply based on the amount of mana and complexity required, and I compressed all the energy I poured into it for good measure. Even so, this literal mountain-shaking response is more than I expected.

In fact, I so didn’t expect it that I’m once again at risk of getting roasted by my own spell. I really need to work on this issue, I’ve come closer to ending my second life than my opponents have.

Enough thinking! More digging!

My face is on fire, even with the refreshing energy of the Colony rushing through my body. The combo biting doesn’t stop, and Crinis does her best to sweep away the loose material and funnel it behind us.

[The sssstonesss won’t holdsss!]

I shift my head slightly and I can see the “plug” that Invidia has been working on is starting to crack, the seams glowing bright as the rock heats up. Poor Tiny still has a foot on it, and he yanks it off as his skin starts to sizzle.

Ah, nards. This is going to get hairy.

[I’ll help with the rock, keep pushing!]

I divert some of my minds to helping channel earth mana, hardening the layer of rock being pushed up behind us by the lava pressure. The only thing that gets us out of here is if we break through!

Chompchompchompchompchomp!

Come on!

rock and I feel the resistance

Gogogogogogo!] I roar

clear the way and am immediately dived on by a dozen termites who start gnawing on my

have time for you

VOID CHOMP!

are on the verge of snapping, but I unleash my potent bite and evaporate the offending cockroaches,

course

are they going to let the opportunity to gnaw

just abandoned ship

aren’t going to

We need to get

insect that gets in our way. Not a moment too soon, because only a

is now acting as a lava hose, more and more of the stuff beginning to burst out each passing second, the flow increasing as

much lava is coming out of

RUMBLE.

moment, an ominous shake rattles through the mountain, sending the

fungus gardens were beneath us when

[I think so, Master.]

fungus is…

[Yyyyes… yes it is.]