Chrysalis

The boat fell back to the water with a bone-shuddering crash. Thankfully, the Abyssal Legion built their ships to withstand attacks from the powerful monsters who dwelt in the deep waters of the fourth. Commander Chyron estimated the vessel had been almost ten metres in the air before it fell.

Her legs shuddered and her knees creaked as they absorbed the force of her landing. Regardless, she remained upright and turned with a shout.

“Status report! Someone check for damage to the hull or leaks!”

Someone shouted out a quick reply and raced for the steps that descended below deck as Chyron leapt back to the railing at the prow of the ship. Water fell from the sky as the surface of the Lake began to calm, the air becoming clear once again.

The rock was gone, as was that dark void which had consumed it. The giant ant, so close to being consumed by its own spell, was a tiny speck at this range, and in free fall.

“Scorpions, take aim! Shoot that monster out of the sky!” she roared.

Hopefully someone in the fleet was able to get a clear shot. Hopefully the artillery she’d had fastened to the decks hadn’t shattered in the chaos.

Footsteps pounded on the deck, approaching quickly, and the Commander didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“The crew reports no leaks or major damage, though there is minor cracking on some of the interior plates on the second deck, port side,” Morrelia reported, snapping out a salute.

“Tribune, what in the name of the Iron Fortress did I just witness?”

Her Tribune hesitated for a moment and Chyron turned to glare at her.

“What’s the matter, Tribune, ant got your tongue? Explain!”

withering stare of her commanding officer, and Chyron could see elements of her mother and father poking through. Trying to command those two was like trying to command the Dungeon itself, simply

least Titus had mellowed as

seen anything like that before. I

of the ants and this monster in particular. Are you really telling me you never

That damned idiot had nearly gotten himself and everyone else in the area killed! The spell he’d cast was more of a

possible that this is simply the same magic, but scaled up; however, I

that it has been unlawfully

class of mana that even

Anthony. She had no idea what went through his mind! Not even the other ants had any idea what was going on in that head of his! How his unique abilities worked was a mystery to everyone; he’d never explained himself, and didn’t really

to have similar traits, changing the direction things fall, turning up into down and down

what she’d just seen was on a completely different level. Clearly, his ability to manipulate this strange mana had grown. During the sparring sessions amongst the

call, echoed shortly after from several of the

will!” she

the railing, gazing at the ant plummeting in the distance with complicated

this range,”

making an observation, or giving voice to her hopes?

no

Morrelia winced.

“Carapace, Commander.”

no idea what it’s made of, but it seems to be extremely tough. While he’s up there and unable to defend himself, though, I’d

for many kilometres, and their operators were

snapped forwards with a deep thrum, sending their deadly missiles