Chrysalis

Look, if I’m being honest, it’s not that easy to ‘steer’ when flying via gravity well. Manipulating the thing takes a lot of energy and focus; I’m basically doing something like controlled falling. It’s hard.

Now, in my head, I imagine doing a nice swoop and nimbly slipping away from the gigantic half-cloud, half-claw coming towards me, but in practical terms, it doesn’t work out that way.

Instead, I just slam directly into it.

The claws begin to close around me, but I’m not having that. With a mighty CHOMP, I bite deep, hoping the dragon isn’t too mad about having its digits munched on. Turns out I didn’t need to worry, because my jaws pass straight through as what had appeared to be solid returns to puffy cloud the moment my mandibles touch it.

Then I’m through, falling toward the gravity well and descending on the city like a meteor. I’m going to make such a big hole in that shiny golden roof, they have no idea what’s coming. I’m white hot with rage to the point I feel like my carapace is on fire.

My head is still filled with what I’m going to do once I get inside the cathedral that I don’t immediately realise that the dragon situation isn’t quite so easily resolved. The cloud that hovers around the city is swirling and dancing as the enormous monster forms and reforms itself constantly. As fast as I’m moving, the dragon is faster, much faster, and it doesn’t take long until I’m totally surrounded by cloud.

Hoping I can perhaps persuade this creature to leave me alone, I decide to broadcast a message. With a little luck, my reliable Anthony charm will allow me to talk it down?

[A member of my family has been captured and taken into the golden city! I’m just going in there to rescue her!]

There’s no immediate response, so I just concentrate on ‘falling’ as fast as I can toward my target.

[YES. I SENSE THE CREATURE YOU SPEAK OF.]

lying or trying to attack the city? I feel a burst of optimism. I might not have to

leave. Won’t take more than a minute. Maybe two minutes. Three. Let’s say five to be safe.

scales and

illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon,

MY MASTER ORDERS ME TO STOP YOU, AND SO I

Wait. Orders?

pet?!] I exclaim

pleased at being described as a pet, as it shouldn’t, considering it’s tier eight, or maybe even tier nine. I can feel the incredible power

the only thing that matters. At least I know there’s no chance I can reason with the beast. If it’s a pet, then it can’t refuse a direct order, no matter what. Even if the dragon and I end up being best buds, drinking tea and playing… whatever games friends play together, I don’t know, it won’t matter. If the Master says stop me,

at least, it’ll

are claws all around me, closing in fast. How in the heck does it do that? That’s so crazy! How is it fair if its body can be there sometimes and not there the

VOID CHOMP!

be topped off with Will right now, but there’s not a lot flowing into the thing with only ten thousand ants in range. I

energy form and then slam shut with a ferocious howl, the void drawing

of course, they dissolve back into nothing, only for

VOID CHOMP!