Chrysalis

Great. Just great. I finally get Morrelia to come out here, and she’s berserking. I’m hardly likely to get a decent conversation out of her at this point. So does this mean I’m going to have to fight, make it look convincing, while she goes full wild-style?

That’s… not going to be easy.

For starters, I let my mind constructs pelt her with water bolts, a near endless hail of compressed water balls that slam into her armour with loud, concussive blasts.

Not that it seems to bother her. Despite hitting like a well-swung hammer, they barely move her. Once she’s back on her feet, the blades come up, gleaming with red light, and she starts slicing through my magic as she draws closer.

Oh, you’re approaching me? Are you sure that’s a wise idea?

It probably is, it’s not like I can deploy a void chomp without worrying about biting her in half. Irritated by how complicated things have gotten, I trigger my regeneration gland to start healing my leg. My mobility is a bit shot at the moment, which means I’ll have to fight more directly. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but Morrelia’s sword strikes… are nasty.

Her moves aren’t nearly as artful as what the Folk can bring to bear, but they’re still extremely effective. The fact she was able to shear through my leg while off balance in mid-air is a little worrying. She might be the first person I’ve fought in Freehill who can actually damage my carapace.

[Alright then, bring it on! You want a piece of this? Come and get it!]

No more piddly basic spells. I throw away the elemental magic I’d conjured and start focusing on something a little more spicy. Given a little more freedom, Morrelia goes back into dash mode. Considering how bulky that armour is, she moves with lightning speed. Is this what Legionaries are really capable of?

Once again, the twin blades flash, but I don’t flinch. Instead, I charge in headfirst, angling my body expertly to deflect the blow.

When the sword light strikes home, I’m stunned. It’s unbelievably heavy, and indescribably sharp. Like twin shards of pure rage, they slam into my carapace and start to bite into the gravity compressed diamond. It’s not enough. Despite cutting deep, the blows are absorbed, and my strength, size and mass is simply too much to be knocked back by her strikes. I dash forward, jaws wide.

CHOMP!

I don’t use any Skills, out of fear of causing permanent damage, but I use as much of my raw physical strength as I dare. My physical jaws slam shut on the Legionary with terrific force, and for a moment, I’m worried I might have gone too far.

Except… she’s fine. And there’s a chip in my mandibles! What the heck did they make this armour out of?!

Two blades stab forward, sending sword-light spearing towards my eyes, and I have to stop, drop and roll. Letting Morrelia hang in midair, I release my grip, duck and get the heck out of the way.

becoming just

pretty much cut me in

the fighter dims, ever so slightly, and a coherent thought comes back

unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If

met my mother,] Morrelia

last! I’ve

the way you treat your former allies? You cut off

[You bit me.]

fine! I didn’t even

rueful laughter

the Dungeon did you get

that’s obvious

Abyssal Legion, right? Aren’t you all supposed to be experts on Monsters? I’m tier seven! I’m

up

who’s gotten unreasonably strong? What have they

Hard. Although, you could also say I had the talent

our best to put on a

to see you again, Morrelia, I kind of wish you didn’t turn up with a death squad. I don’t

tell she has a grimace on her

no matter what. They told me… the Dungeon Seers said you had

yeah, it is, and I hate it! Have you ever had a fishhook lodged in your insides? Just constantly yanking and pulling

[Oh, Anthony. I’m sorry.]

keep getting worse over time. If I

I’m sorry for that as well. No, I meant the prophecy. Twenty monsters will destroy the world. The Legion believes that if the twentieth Ancient ever rises, it will mean the end of the world. And they aren’t the only ones to think so. As

Legion is going to chase me into the fifth even faster than the Call can drag

the fifth? Can

Colony again? We’re going to get in there and purify the whole place, mark my

would be… quite the