Chrysalis

Our charge continued unbroken until we reached the second defensive line, the monsters in our way were unable to stand before our might. Once we reached that point, I sent my three pets forward to defend the choke point as the Immortals and I collected ourselves. Unlike me, most of them were exhausted after the mad run and in need of a breather.

"Are you guys going to be alright for the second charge?" I ask Leeroy. "We can do it without you if necessary."

"We'll be fine!" she replied, her scent strong and confident despite her drooping antennae and shaking legs. "The Immortals will never give up a chance to fight!"

"Aren't you just anxious because they haven't been letting you fight for a while now?" I ask, sceptically. "Doesn't matter I suppose, you'll have some time to rest so recommend you all take a load off your legs and relax for a little while. We'll be heading out again in about half an hour."

Filled with relief at the chance to take a break, Leeroy and her followers collapse to the ground with a loud 'clank!' as their armour rattles against the hard stone. It's quite the amusing sight, especially when compared to how fired up they were before our charge started. A few minutes later, a detachment of defenders arrives on the scene, getting to work cleaning up and re-establishing their post here. Some things need repairs and a team of carvers jump to it, fixing damaged stone sections of the chokepoint and re-hardening the stone. When the soldiers move to relieve my pets of their job holding off the wave, I shake my head at them. Tiny and Crinis are still a little ways away from their evolution and this is another good opportunity for them. I'll have them make use of it to the fullest.

"You can take over from us once we push out for the first line," I tell the waiting general. "For now just make sure the tunnel is clear and check over the Immortals for injuries, as you get situated again. We'll be here for a half hour or so."

Not tired at all, I wander this way and that, checking in with everyone and making sure that every ant has the help that they need to perform their duties before heading over to the chokepoint and lending a hand to my crew. It won't do to tire them out too much, considering we have another stretch of tunnel to push through. Once we're done here, we'll have to move to another checkpoint and do the same thing. This lower section of the territory suffered the most during my absence and I'm determined to push back the wave in one fell swoop to make up for it.

After ten minutes, I make my way over to Tiny and Crinis to help them out, using my elemental magic to lob a few cheap shots into the crowd. That sweet, sweet combat experience is nothing to be looked down on! A cheeky level here or there and who knows, I might manage to rank up my omni-elemental magic sometime in the next century.

By the time half an hour is done, the ants have finished repairing the walls that we feel comfortable turning the defence over to their hands whilst we prepare for the next surge. I head to Leeroy who's still collapsed on the ground and nudge her with an antenna.

"What's the story, Leeroy? Are you rested enough or do you want me to do this one without you?"

Immediately, her eyes flash with an intense light that took me aback as she and the rest of the Immortals slowly pushed themselves off the ground, overtaken by a sudden and unnatural vigour.

"We are ready for this assault and a thousand more! The search is never ending!"

"Okay, chill!"

Yeesh. Immortals or Zombies? These siblings of mine are creeping me out.

"Then you have a little time, we'll form up and get ready to run out. One way ticket right up to the first defensive line."

"Sounds good," the revived soldier replies.

A quick check on Tiny and Crinis to make sure they're still prepared to bring the firepower that we need and then we form up ready to go.

"WE SEEK!" roar the Immortals.

"Let's go!" I cry, setting my legs and then we're off!"

Through the choke point and into the howling madness of the wave once more we go, putting mandibles and carapace to the test as we smash our way through monster after monster, once more forming that unstoppable landslide of the Colony's wrath. Nothing can stop us! Nothing can stand before us!

Except that.

I was the first to sense it, being at the front as I am. My antennae tingle with a feeling of otherness, something I'd never felt before. Perhaps if I hadn't reforged those delicate sensors with the Twilight Filament, I may not have noticed at all until it was too late.

"Hit the brakes!" I scream back at Leeroy.

[STOP!] I simultaneously roar at my pets.

But even as I yell it, I know that the heavily armoured ants won't be able to stop fast enough. With the weight that they carry and the momentum they've built up, it will be difficult for them to stop at all. Realising this, I ram my claws into the ground, Gripping for all I'm worth as I swing my body around, placing myself as a physical barrier between the oncoming Immortals and whatever it is I sensed. I brace for a split second before Leeroy rams into my side, followed by the dozens of her sisters.

Impact after impact rocks my carapace and rattles my mandibles as I hold on for dear life. So severe are the shocks that even my diamond carapace starts to crack from the sheer force. Every hit pushes me a little bit closer to that unerring sizzle in the air that I felt, and my antennae start to burn, sending ripples of pain down their length as they dip into something they surely don't like. Finally the last of the Immortals is brought to a halt as they run into the back of what must look like a ten car pile-up, ants on top of ants with tons of twisted metal to boot.

"Eldest? What the heck was that?" Leeroy groans.

"Shut up, I sense something bad. You need to get your sisters together and get the heck out of here."

"What? Why?"

"This isn't something you can deal with. Leave, now."

Saying my piece I turn away from her and face toward the monster now lurking on the edge of the gloom. A vile, poisonous energy ripples in the air around it, chewing into everything it touches. This is an energy that I've never felt before, something that not even the demons possess.

"You must be a long way from home, beastie… and I'm guessing you didn't come for a vacation? May as well give you a warm welcome… after all, it's a long way from the fourth strata."