Chrysalis

“Finally,” Rillik grunted.

“This was far more effort than I expected,” Lacos agreed, fatigue breaking through his normally indefatigable visage.

“If you don’t mind,” Elly said through gritted teeth, “would you hurry up and finish the job? I’m the one who has to bind them.”

“Right, sorry.”

The crew leader stepped forward, blade in hand, and sized up the two ants they had, after much difficulty, managed to separate from the pack and capture. Restrained for the moment, they thrashed and struggled under the influence of Elly’s magic as he tried to find the best angle to approach for a clean kill.

The gaps in the carapace were the best approach, but the damn creatures were intelligent and shifted themselves every time he approached.

“Elly, can you bind them a little tighter? I don’t want to ruin the carapace if I can help it.”

It looked heavily mutated and might be worth as much as the core if they could bring it all back.

“No, I can’t,” she ground out, “they’re tougher than they look. Get it done quick, I can’t hold them forever.”

Hunting intelligent monsters was always such a pain. Rillik much preferred stronger, stupid targets than creatures like these. They’d had to rely heavily on Lacos’ powers of diversion and illusion to lure these two away from the rest, but they wouldn’t have long until they were swarmed.

“Fine, I’ll just grab the cores,” he said.

Such a waste, but circumstances were what they were. Better to get out with something than nothing at all. These two cores would almost cover the cost of the trip, though not for recruiting and training up a new member.

That idiot, Drake. Why is it so hard to find people who are patient?

He pulled back his arm and the blade began to shine, but then something happened that stilled his hand. First, the ants went still, no longer trying to break free. Instead, they turned to look behind them. Second, he felt a vast presence at the edge of his awareness suddenly reveal itself.

“What’s wrong?” Elly demanded. “Hurry up and get it done!”

to his side

go,” he

you out

big golgari turned to look at her, letting the fear in his eyes convince

our only hope,” he said quietly. “Let

when that powerful aura washed over her senses. As quickly as she could, she unwove

we run?” Lacos asked, his voice tight with tension. “I can swim deep, try and get help

blade flat on the ground by his side. “This is a mythic

unsettling terror that he felt and his own imminent demise. The formerly captured ants hadn’t leapt on them and chewed them to bits, which was a good sign. There was no reason for the creature to spare them, but he had to

awake, the chance of Drake surviving

to him to await their fate. It was almost surreal, sitting alongside two monsters, waiting to see if

this,” Rillik said. “I knew it was a risk, but I decided to

been a possibility,” Lacos said. “I do not blame you in

into, boss,” Elly agreed. “It was us that brought the job to

with their hearts pounding in their chests

view, Rillik couldn’t help but sigh in awe. It was the first time he had

metres off the ground. The weight of its aura was suffocating, pressing down on them to the point it became hard to

an incredible prize to bring home had someone managed it, but hunting monsters of this calibre was nothing but a dream to Rillik. Only the most elite delvers would attempt such a feat, and even they would likely

or a powerful nation, would be able to

to them. Depending on mercy from a monster was the last resort for any delver, and also their final one. Monsters weren’t known for their mercy. Not that he blamed them,

in the air. Even if it was hypocrisy, he would do

“We surrender,” he said.

of him before a thought pushed its way into his

mind magic. I mean, what do you

set underneath the spot its mandibles joined its head. Thankfully, it lowered its

exactly say that ants have the gift of the

his mind. Despite everything, the monster

magic with monsters unless you have specific training and protections. The mind of