Chrysalis

The ghostly serpent hovered above them for a short moment, its powerful core glowing bright in Columbant’s eyes. Then it bared its fangs and lunged for them.

[Dodge, Garg!]

The beetle-beast tucked her legs and rolled to the side as the others threw themselves from her carapace, barely avoiding the lightning fast strike.

[Garg, up front! Slither, sneak attack. Rist, behind me. Standard formation, everyone.]

Her Pet Detection array sparked to life inside her, giving the ant a perfect picture of where her allies were positioned and their general state. The Skills she had trained so diligently came to the fore as she tried to squeeze out every advantage for the coming fight.

Pet Commander gave bonuses to any action she ordered her pets to complete. Pet Coordinator allowed her to direct and position her pets with maximum efficiency. Even the more passive Skills that made her pets grow faster and stronger, increasing their Skill growth, stirred as her pets drew on their abilities.

Before the serpent could retract for another strike, Garg was already there, recovering from her roll and charging in headfirst, trying to land a blow with her horn. The monster was too quick for that, twisting its long, ethereal body to dodge, and pulling back for another bite.

Despite herself, Columbant couldn’t help but admire the elegant design of the monster. So simple, yet so brutal. Somehow, the creature had lucked into a powerful evolution despite being completely wild. A rare event, but with millions of Dungeon monsters being spawned and killed every hour, it happened more than most would think.

Balls of fire streaked overhead and again, the serpent twisted, coiling itself with incredible speed to avoid the flames. It didn’t realise that the explosions were coming.

BOOM!

A deathly hiss filled the tunnel as the flames scorched the monster’s ghostly flesh. Fury ignited in the serpent's eyes as it locked onto Rist, the source of the offending fire.

[Slither!] Columbant called.

The slug revealed itself, rearing out of the shadows not two metres from the serpent's tail. His mouth opened and he spewed forth a torrent of black, acidic goo.

tail. In one blow, the loyal pet was launched from

[Slither!]

fine,] he replied as he reformed his body and sank into the shadows

[Charge!]

herself and rushed forwards once more. It was her only move,

was quick enough to uncoil itself to avoid the charge and Columbant felt a surge of triumph as the beetle-beast struck home

felt the contact, twisting her head to maximise the damage, but the response didn’t feel right. Columbant could see the ghost-flesh of

dark weeds that floated in the shadow sea. Clearly, the

It doesn’t feel pain!

[Garg, dodge!]

reacted instantly, pulling back and rolling, except she couldn’t. The unhealed wound in her flank reared its ugly head at the worst possible time. She staggered as her middle-left leg

The snake bit home.

punched through Garg’s hardened carapace,

Dammit, no!

Columbant poured her efforts into

its grip. Garg quickly scuttled back out of range, but was deeply wounded. Columbant didn’t need her

Garg, I’ve got

she

[Don’t be stupid.]

every drop of healing energy into her loyal pet that she could and felt the wounds begin to close. She cursed her lack of energy, but gave everything she

and recover. That’s an order!] she snapped before she turned and rushed

teeth in frustration and limped to the shadows,

far

loomed over the smaller ant. Columbant thought furiously about what she could do. With Garg out of action, Slither wounded and Rist running low on mana, they