The flames in Caelum’s hands blazed brightly as he charged toward the Queen Wasp, his heart pounding in his chest. The massive chamber pulsed with dark energy, the walls and floor shifting under the Queen’s control as her power radiated through the nest. Aurelia lay weak but determined nearby, her Sting ready to strike as she fought against the Queen’s oppressive influence.
This is it.
Caelum hurled the ball of fire toward the Queen, the flames roaring through the air as they shot toward her. The light from the fire illuminated the Queen’s massive form, casting long shadows across the chamber. Her wings buzzed furiously as she turned to face the incoming attack, her multifaceted eyes gleaming with cold calculation.
But the Queen didn’t flinch.
The fire struck her carapace, the flames licking across her dark armor. For a moment, Caelum felt a surge of hope—he had hit her, and the flames were spreading. But then, the Queen’s wings buzzed, and with a sharp flick of her body, the fire dissipated as though it had been nothing more than a nuisance.
Caelum’s heart sank.
Her defenses…
The Queen’s chitinous armor gleamed under the flickering light, undamaged by his attack. Her Resonance Skill hummed in the air, a palpable force that surrounded her like an invisible shield, dampening the effect of his magic.
She turned her gaze back toward Caelum, her telepathic voice cutting into his mind with cold malice. Did you think it would be that easy?
Before Caelum could react, the Queen surged forward with terrifying speed, her massive stinger slicing through the air. Caelum barely managed to dodge to the side, his Instinctive Dodge kicking in just in time as the stinger slammed into the ground where he had stood a moment before, sending cracks through the floor.
Caelum stumbled, his heart racing as he scrambled back to his feet. The Queen was too strong—her speed, her power, everything about her was overwhelming. His Fire Magic had barely touched her, and her Resonance Skill was making it nearly impossible to break through her defenses.
We can’t win like this…
The Queen’s wings buzzed louder as she advanced on Caelum, her aura filling the chamber with suffocating pressure. Her movements were precise, deliberate, each step calculated to corner him. He could feel the venomous energy radiating from her body, seeping into the air and making it harder to breathe.
I have to try something else…
Summoning what strength he had left, Caelum raised his hands, channeling his Earth Magic into the ground. The floor rumbled beneath him, cracks spreading through the resin as he pulled the earth upward, forming a wall of jagged spikes between him and the Queen. It wasn’t much, but it would buy him a moment to regroup.
But the Queen wasn’t deterred. With a single swipe of her powerful legs, she shattered the wall, sending shards of resin and earth flying in all directions. Caelum threw up his arms to shield himself from the debris, his body aching from the strain of maintaining his magic.
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She’s too strong…
But then, from behind the Queen, Aurelia moved.
Though weakened from the venom and the mental strain of the Queen’s aura, Aurelia wasn’t out of the fight yet. Her Guardian’s Aura flared weakly as she pulled herself to her feet, her body trembling with exhaustion. But her eyes burned with determination.
Caelum… her telepathic voice echoed in his mind, faint but strong. I can distract her. Now!
Without hesitation, Aurelia lunged forward, as she closed the distance between her and the Queen. Her Sting gleamed with venom as she struck, aiming for a weak spot in the Queen’s armor near her legs.
The Queen screeched, the sharp sound echoing through the chamber as Aurelia’s Sting pierced her carapace. The venom spread quickly, its effects already starting to slow the Queen’s movements. But even as the Queen recoiled from the attack, her eyes flashed with anger.
You think this will stop me? the Queen hissed, her telepathic voice filled with rage.
The air around her pulsed with energy, her Resonance Skill flaring to life. Caelum felt the shift immediately—the Queen’s aura grew heavier, more oppressive, as her power amplified. The walls of the chamber seemed to tremble in response, the very hive resonating with her will.
Aurelia staggered back, her body trembling as the Queen’s resonance began to counter the effects of her venom. The Queen’s movements slowed for only a moment before she regained control, her wings buzzing louder as she shook off the attack. The venom’s impact was being neutralized by the Queen’s sheer force of will.
She’s countering everything we do… Caelum thought, panic rising in his chest.
The Queen’s resonance was too strong. It wasn’t just a physical battle—they were fighting against the very essence of her power. Her influence over the nest, her control over the environment, and her ability to neutralize their attacks made her a seemingly unstoppable force.
Caelum gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to despair. We have to keep fighting. We can’t give up.
He summoned his magic again, this time focusing on a combination of Wind Magic and Fire Magic. If he couldn’t break through her defenses with sheer power, he would have to use speed and precision. The wind swirled around him, gathering into a tight vortex as he shaped the fire into concentrated blasts.
He hurled the fiery projectiles at the Queen, aiming for the joints in her armor, hoping to exploit any weakness he could find. The flames struck true, but the Queen’s resonance flared again, dampening the impact. The fire barely singed her, the heat dissipating before it could do any real damage.
The Queen screeched again, her wings buzzing with fury as she turned toward Caelum, her multifaceted eyes locking onto him with deadly intent. You cannot win, she sent, her telepathic voice filled with cold certainty.
With a sharp motion, the Queen raised her massive stinger, and the air around her pulsed with venomous energy. Caelum felt the weight of her power pressing down on him, her Venomous Aura making it harder to move, harder to breathe. His limbs felt heavy, his magic faltering as the Queen advanced.
But then, Aurelia struck again.
Though weakened, Aurelia’s Sting found its mark once more, piercing the Queen’s side with a sharp, precise strike. The venom slowed the Queen’s movements again, her body trembling as the poison began to spread. It wasn’t enough to stop her, but it was enough to give them a brief opening.
Now, Caelum! Aurelia’s voice cut through the haze of the Queen’s aura.
With a surge of determination, Caelum pushed himself forward, summoning the last of his strength. He couldn’t let Aurelia fight alone. Not now. Not when they were so close.