Chrysalis

Rassan'tep looked out over the assembled masses of insect monsters and tasted the air with his tongue. Across the bond he could feel the minds of his attendants stir with trepidation. They had not expected to see so many. In the lead of the insect formation an enormous specimen, larger than the kaarmodo even, stood to attention, it's gleaming carapace reflecting the light of the embers that fluttered through the air in this stratum. Altogether the sight was an impressive

[Lend me your eyes,] he commanded, [let us examine them together.]

The setsulah, led by Ammon'sil, pooled their thoughts, allowed their mana to flow together before they collectively wove their spell and brought it back, laying it over their eyes. With their senses overlaid, the kaarmodo accepted the stimuli they provided and fed his own back into the collective. Immediately each of them shifted in place as the ant army in front of them blazed with a richness of energy that they had not expected to see. More than that, there ebbs and flows that should not be. The big one at the front, there was something… odd. Rassan'tep concentrated hard and even then he could just barely grasp the edges of that strange eddy, a curious ripple in the fabric.

[Release.]

The spell was allowed to unravel and the seven of them contemplated what they had seen.

[Speak your thoughts,] he invited his bond servants. [Do not stand on ceremony.]

Ammon'sil spoke first, as was his right.

[There are more than we expected to see, and they are more highly evolved than anticipated. This force is not to be underestimated.]

[The tier six has a core bursting with energy. Should it evolve again, it may even develop to the mythic stage,] Rapsep, wife of Ammon spoke next.

[A possibility exists that we may not be able to overcome them,] Chahan'sep spoke next, the surprise evident in the movement of his thoughts. [There is more to this colony than perhaps we expected.]

[The others may not see as clearly as we have. I believe that they may still think us to be a vastly superior force. It may be wise to consider retreat,] the youngest, Yuwan'sil said, which caused the others to turn and stare at her for her impudence.

[Peace,] the powerful mind of Rassan'tep rumbled, [I asked that you speak your thoughts, did I not?]

[You did, Old One,] Ammon'sil replied.

[Young Yuwan may well have the right of it. There is a chance we are outmatched here, which I did not foresee. There is also a strong possibility that the others will not arrive at this assessment, or ignore it even if that have. This is the brash attitude of the young and it should not surprise us. How can we expect them to know better? They have but a mere century of life behind them.]

The old kaarmodo considered for a time.

To an outsider, the standoff between the two forces, still over a kilometre apart, would have looked bizarre. Neither side moved. Not a muscle, or a twitch. The insects, as was their way, stood in perfect ranks, motionless, as if carved from stone. Likewise, the kaarmodo, with the patience born of their long lived nature and their reptilian ancestry did not stir, waiting and watching in perfect silence as their elder contemplated his course of action.

[We have been given a task by the Mahaan, so we shall carry it out,] he declared at last. [I will speak with the others and see what their appetite is like.]

He withdrew his thoughts from the connection he shared with his bondservants and expanded a bridge out toward the other kaarmodo who quickly latched onto the mana weave. Thankfully communicating via thought was so much faster other methods, they could afford to analyse their foe and coordinate themselves.

[We have taken a measure of our opponent. They stand between us and the garden that we have been ordered to destroy and it does not appear as though they will let us pass through easily. What are your thoughts?]

Generally the next oldest would be the one to speak next, but given that this war party was formed of adolescents and young adults, the hierarchy wasn't clear. As a result, dozens of minds leapt forward at once, creating a clamour as they competed with each other.

[This weak monsters shall be swept aside!]

[How can think to compete with us?!]

[We must obliterate them to send a message!]

[I believe some level of caution may be required…]

The final voice, a young female, was immediately piled in on as the others decried her perceived cowardice and lack of determination.

[These insect monsters have cowered before us for weeks. Now that we arrive in force they believe they can stand up to us? They shall be crushed beneath our claws, their attacks will brush off my scales like grains of sand. We should assault them immediately and rout them before we torch the garden.]

The Old One blinked slowly. Such a course of action would result in a resounding defeat. The kaarmodo were large and powerful creatures, each weighing tons, yet they were ill suited for massed combat. In short skirmishes they could throw their weight around and utilise their poisonous bites to great effect, but against more than a hundred times their number? They would be surrounded and picked apart, throwing away their greatest advantage, their magical superiority. Rassan'tep was tempted to show his teeth in contempt but he managed to restrain himself. He wasn't young anymore, such a display was better left for the impetuous and foolish.

Still, this stirring attitude had gained much support amongst the youth and they stirred, as if contemplating rushing forth at this moment without waiting for his order. An unthinkable course.

[You're too hot blooded,] he rebuked them and he could feel the young minds recoil at this stinging insult.

Such a thing to say to a reptile… yet they deserved it. Charging into the enemy? Such foolishness.

[We are not here to fight ants, we are here to destroy the garden. Ranged bombardment. Form teams of five and prepare to arc your spells over the insects. You have two minutes, begin now.]

Separately he reached out to the poor female who had been so rebuffed by the others for her caution.

[You have the right of it. I will commend your insight when we return.]

He didn't bother trying to correct the others on their misjudgement. They wouldn't listen to him, regardless of his standing or age, only experience would teach them so that was what he would provide.