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 and he sighed

go,”

you out of

her, letting the fear in

our only hope,” he said

she could, she unwove the nets that bound the ants to the ground, and the monsters stood, but didn’t

voice tight with tension. “I can swim deep, try

side. “This is a mythic monster, there’s nowhere

hadn’t leapt on them and chewed them to bits, which was a good

of it. With the monster awake, the chance

Lacos sat down next to him to await their fate. It was almost surreal, sitting alongside two

into this,” Rillik said. “I knew it was

a possibility,” Lacos said. “I do not

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

silence, each waiting with their hearts pounding in

in awe. It was the first time he had laid eyes

physical presence. Fifteen metres long, at least, it towered over them, its eyes sitting five metres off the ground. The weight of its aura was suffocating, pressing down on

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 avoid it if their

the Legion, or a powerful nation, would be able to take this

gazed down at them sitting on the ground as it approached. It was unreadable, giving Rillik no clue as to what it would do 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

Even if it was hypocrisy, he would

“We surrender,” he said.

of him before a thought

I mean, what do you

to reveal its horrific mouth set underneath the spot its mandibles joined its head. Thankfully,

the gift

in his mind. Despite everything, the monster sounded…

you have specific training and protections. The mind of a monster is… alien,