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!”

his side and

go,” he

Are you out

look at her, letting the fear

hope,” he said

later, she sensed it for herself, going pale as a ghost when that powerful aura washed over her senses. As quickly as she could, she unwove the nets that bound the ants to the ground,

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

Rillik said, and he sat down, placing his blade flat on the ground by his side. “This is a mythic monster, there’s nowhere we can run. If we had an hour,

he spoke, despite the 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

monster awake, the chance of Drake surviving

a moment, Elly and Lacos sat down next to him to await their fate. It was almost surreal, sitting alongside two monsters, waiting to see if another would spare

knew it was a risk, but I decided to

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

knew what we were getting into, boss,” Elly agreed. “It

with their hearts pounding in their chests as that oppressive

into view, Rillik couldn’t help but sigh in awe. It was the first time he had laid eyes on a mythic

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

a dark carapace that glittered with purple light, the ant looked magical, mysterious, and deadly. It would have been an incredible prize to bring home had someone managed it, but hunting monsters of this calibre was

would be able to take this

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, he hunted and killed them for a living,

Even if it was hypocrisy, he

“We surrender,” he said.

in front of him before a thought pushed its

use mind magic. I mean, what do you want me

horrific mouth set underneath the spot its mandibles joined

gift of the gab, you

in his mind. Despite everything, the monster sounded… surprisingly young. Not at all

with monsters unless you have specific