The fungus rattles around us and every member of the group stills themselves, casting our senses about to identify the source of the movement.
[Crinis? You got anything?]
[It's difficult for me to see,] the usually reserved Crinis sounds frustrated and irritated, [the fungus has a mana signature that blocks my sight.]
Dammit.
[What about shadows? Are you seeing anything around us?]
[I think there are tunnels beneath us, but it's hard to say.]
That's not unexpected, considering where we are, I have little doubt that the termites have tunnels beneath us and all over this mountain for that matter.
[Stay sharp everyone. I think we might have company soon.]
The fungus continues to rattle and shake as I eye it warily, my minds already spinning up the constructs necessary to fight. I decide to start pumping out fire mana, since it seems like it'll have the biggest effect on the mould around us as well as on whatever comes out to fight.
The rattling all around us continues to intensify before it suddenly grows still, the five of us left watching the field of white in perfect silence.
SNAP!
A second later something beneath us breaks before the fungus begins to bulge in certain places, pushing upward as something erupts from underneath.
[Termites!] Crinis yells.
A moment later the surface layer splits to reveal the massive insects bursting through, their jaws filled with more fungus and their antennae swivelling wildly. In truth, they seem just as surprised to see us as we are to see them, but that doesn't stop either side from rushing forward as soon as they realise what's happening.
My jaws snap back and lock into position as I dash forwards hoping to catch the termite on my right by surprise as it emerges from below ground.
[Crinis, how many are there?]
[I- I'm not sure! I still can't sense underground through the mould.]
[Nards. We'll stick here and fight for now, but don't let yourself get cornered! If things get too spicy we'll have to back out and retreat to safety over the water!]
ROAR!
With a mighty bellow, Tiny rumbles forward, his frightening mass towering over the termites as he swings with colossal force, his fists tearing through the air to crunch into the chitin covered insects, shattering their shells and sending them flying through the air.
CHOMP!
My mandibles slam shut as I close in on my chosen target, catching it across the head as it doesn't turn in time to get its jaws between itself and me. With a satisfying crunch the barbs on my mandibles punch through its shell, but without activating my skills, a single bite isn't enough to put one of these creatures down. Chittering with indignation, my opponent tries to pull back and snap onto my front left leg. In a normal fight between ants and other social insects, the battle for the legs is everything. With huge numbers available on both sides, fighting one on one is basically unheard of, instead teams will try to gang up on an individual, latching onto their limbs and holding them down so others can move in for the finishing blow.
I don't have the luxury of pinning this termite down for my ant allies to finish off, but the termite does!
No you don't! With a heave of my mighty frame I send the bug staggering back, its six legs flailing as it corrects its balance, its jaws snapping shut on thin air, only to be met with my ferocious charge a second later. The impact of activating the skill is staggering and the termite's shell cracks even further as my own diamond carapace slams into it.
Ha! You might be born on the sixth stratum but even you can't handle my shiny glory! Unwilling to play with it any further, I spin up the mana I've kept in reserve and unleash a torrent of blue flame, roasting the termite where it stands. What I don't expect is for the flame to instantly spread to the mould, melting it like wax even as it catches fire. If it were only that, perhaps it wouldn't be much of an issue, but unfortunately for us, it seems as if this fungus likes to burn, because the blaze spreads in an instant.
It's getting hot in here!
[Anthony! What the heck did you do?!] Sarah wails as she bats away the termites who try to swarm around her.
[I don't know!] I cry. [How was I supposed to know this stuff was so damn flammable?]
Even worse than the sudden conflagration is the reaction of our termite opponents. The sudden ignition of their garden sends them into a frenzy as they alternate between trying to put the fire out and punish us for setting it off. I see a few of them duck back underground and rush off through the tunnels, doubtless going to get help to manage the fire.
[We can't stay here for long,] I warn the others as I ready my mandibles for another chomp. [Let's clean up a little and then make a dash for it!]
[Are we retreating?] Sarah asks.
[Heck no! We're following the trail of Vibrant! The termites will be too busy tending to the food supply to chase us for a little while.]
[If you're sure…]
[Of course I'm sure!]
I express a level of confidence across the mind bridge that I absolutely do not feel, but what choice do I have? I can't leave Vibrant and her crew behind, not for anything.
DOOM CHOMP!
Activating my potent bite skill, I lunge forward and bring the black jaws of pure energy shut on a pair of enemies who have no time to consider what's coming at them before they are nothing more than notifications ringing in my head. A few detonations go off as Invidia blasts some small groups of insects and then we are off, racing through the fields as my antennae waggle furiously, trying to keep track of the scent.
[The trail is getting stronger!] I let the others know. [I think we're on the right track!]
Behind us we leave a scene of devastation and an increasing group of termites who boil out of the tunnels below and race about extinguishing the flames. A few give chase but Invidia is more than enough to ward them off, detonating any stragglers who get too close. It won't last forever though, the termites are just as capable of following scent trails as I am and I have no doubt they'll be after us in force soon enough.
Dammit, Vibrant! Why the hell did you go so deep into their territory?! There's no need for it!