Chrysalis

Having the collective Will of over a hundred thousand sentient creatures flowing through you at once is... heady stuff. When all hundred thousand of them are baying for the blood of their ancestral enemies... it's... difficult to stay level.

When Leeroy rocketed off like an idiot it was all I could do not to race in after her. If I'd actually joined in on the predictably suicidal charge of the Immortals I might never have lived it down. The last thing i want is for more of my siblings to join that stupid death cult. I can't believe they carried their dead sister into battle... in a casket that spread pheromones saying "death is coming!"

I mean, that's just not appropriate. The fact that Cardigant probably wouldn't mind doesn't matter in my books. Where's the respect?

I keep a steady stream of nonsense thoughts buzzing through my head as the front line of troops steps forward to engage the termites. The flood of Will pouring into me feels like a hive mind right now, the intent is so unified. It's like an angry god is poking me right in the brain, demanding I kill termites.

I'm going, alright? I'm going!

Despite my best efforts to remain in control of myself, I find my mandibles quivering with eagerness. Resolutely I pull them back and lock them into place as we continue our steady march forward.

The termites wait to receive us, thousands upon thousands of them piled up in the entrance to their nest. Even without the ka'armodo controlling them, they would still be here ready to receive us, they know, deep down, what it means when the ants come knocking on the nest.

That's right you blind cockroaches, either you fight us off or we bring the whole thing down on your heads! The nest, the brood, the queens, none of it will remain!

Not the kings either, I suppose, though the idea of kings is just... weird. I mean... what for?

No, Anthony! Don't dismiss your own original gender as useless, even casually! Don't forget your essential man-ness. Just because male ants are effectively useless and die almost immediately after they pass on their genes doesn't mean you can throw away your inner self!

Bah! Like it even matters. It's time to fight!

The nearest termite looms large in my eyes, rage and hate burning in every inch of its carapace and I leap forward, jaws ready to bite. That's exactly how I feel about you, bud!

CHOMP!

My mandibles snap forward, filled with the anger of a hundred thousand ants and my foe reels back, or tries to, with the barbs of my jaws still stuck deep in its carapace.

Gweheheheh. No escape for you, my friend.

Which is when Tiny jumps over my head and lands on it, crushing the termite beyond recognition.

[Oi! That one was mine!]

[RAAAAA!] he bellows with his mind and body at the same time.

The light of battle is burning in the big ape's eyes already, no point wasting energy talking to him. I'll just move onto the next one to vent the fury of the Colony that flows through me!

Except when I turn and move around Tiny's giant frame as he begins to hop lightly on his feet and unleash his devastating fists, I find Crinis is busy stuffing termites into her mouth whilst she drills into the minds of others and turns them against their foes.

Dammit!

[What's wrong, master?] she asks innocently.

[... nothing.]

I can't really complain, it's a battle after all. I'm just overflowing with this energy and I need to get rid of it!

No problem. Tiny in front of me, Crinis on the left, I'll just turn to the right.

BOOM!

An explosion rings out right next to me, vaporising a host of termites right in front of my face.

[Yesssssssss,] Invidia purrs, pleased with himself.

I can see the little demon behind me, his one eye glowing bright green, curved with glee. That little goblin knew I was going for them and is extra happy because he got to take them from me!

Argh! I can't take it anymore!

[You guys fight here, I'm going to make sure that Leeroy is alright!]

[Wait, Master! That wasn't the plan!]

[Plans never survives contact with the enemy, Crinis. This is the wisdom of the ancients. BAI!]

So saying I clack my mandibles with glee, duck around Tiny and accelerate madly.

Gweheheheheh! They won't stop me now. Bring on the termites, I'm ready for them! In fact, I don't even have to reach them before I start fighting...

I quickly charge my mandibles with a burst of gravity mana and yoink a nearby termite straight into my waiting jaws.

CRUNCH!

I toss the Biomass to the side and burst headlong into the termite ranks, glorying in the scrape and clatter of their mandibles on my glorious carapace.

Yes! Bring it on, all of you! I'll take on ten thousand by myself so come and get it!

VOID CHOMP!

The foes gnashing in front of me are shredded in a couple of seconds as my most powerful bite is inflicted on them. Before that dreadful power, their meagre defences cannot hold.

My stamina takes a massive hit with the use of the skill, but in the blink of an eye it starts to rocket up again. The vigorous will of the Colony is flooding through me, it's impossible to be tired!

You termites are in real trouble...

Filled with vim, I begin to lay about me with mandibles and acid, tearing through the termites with wild abandon as they rush forward, biting madly. They try to latch onto my legs, to find the joints in my armour, or pull my antennae off, but I simply cannot be stopped. Every time they dig chunks out of my carapace, I repair them, the regeneration gland filling up so quickly I can trigger it with absurd rapidity. The small injuries they inflict on me just don't have time to add up before I can wipe them away, and I don't ever have to stop.

So long as the Colony is with me, I won't ever stop!