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

them go,” he

Are you out of your

look at her, letting the

hope,” he said quietly.

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, and the monsters stood, but didn’t move. They

“I can swim deep,

his side. “This is a mythic monster, there’s nowhere we can run. If we had an hour, we still couldn’t

leapt on them and chewed them

monster awake, the chance of Drake surviving had gone

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

Rillik said. “I knew it was a risk, but

always been a possibility,” Lacos said.

boss,” Elly agreed. “It was us that

silence, each waiting with their hearts pounding in their chests as that oppressive

sigh in awe. It was the first

them, its eyes sitting five metres off the ground. The weight of its aura

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 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

nation, would be able

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, so why would he expect them to

long shuddering breath, then raised his hands in the air. Even if it was hypocrisy, he would do anything to give Elly and Lacos a chance to

“We surrender,” he said.

before a thought pushed its way into his

I mean, what do you want me to do,

head to reveal its horrific mouth set underneath the spot its mandibles joined its head. Thankfully, it lowered its head back down

say that ants have the gift of the gab, you

in his mind. Despite everything, the monster sounded…

engage in mind magic with monsters unless you have specific training and protections. The mind of a monster is…