The setting sun was blocked by the wave of bugs. Even from a distance, Nico could make out their shapes, which was a testament to their size. Large cricket bodies with scorpion tails, mighty ant mandibles, and scythe-like forelegs.

Nico gawked at the impending horrors, but the sleepers of the village stood firm, not one cowering.

“What are those things?”

“Jungle Fiend Locusts.” Vivian answered. The net of vines begane growing thousands of thorns, with more vines weaving together. Nico summoned the ape to his side and watched the swarm get closer. The first abomination hit the net, snapping furiously at the people on the other side. But as quickly as it arrived, the numerous thorns pierced its body, and it fell. Then the wave hit.

The net shook violently as bug after bug hit, clawed, and cut it. They stuck their tails through reaching for the sleepers. The vanguard moved, wielding tree bark shields. They thrusted spears through the net into the Locusts like a well oiled machine.

“Is this your ability?” I asked over the mayhem. It probably wasn't a good time, but the Sleepers held the line.

“No, this is Cobra Lily’s.” Vivian’s hands sparkled and a bow matching her eyes appeared.

“My role comes later.” That’s when the tables turned. The vines weren’t about to mend the damage and a bug got through. Vivian shot a white arrow straight through its skull and into another one still crawling through.

Nico ordered the Ape forward and it smashed the head of one bug, and pulled apart another.

‘You have slain Dormant Beast ‘Jungle Fiend Locust.” The spell whispered. These things were only beasts? The ape quickly dispatched another and Nico watched. The beasts had many weapons, but weren’t durable. He scrambled over to one of the dead bugs and lifted the dismembered scythe. It was light in Nico’s hands, but boasted a sharp edge. Nico let go of one crutch and swung the weapon.

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It almost flew out of his hands, and Nico had to twist his body to keep from dropping it or falling over. The Ape looked at him with a complicated expression ‘This is the brat who killed me’ is what it said. Nico looked back and issued an order.

“Hold a bug.” The ape compiled, and ripped the arms off of one of the bugs before

holding it in place. The bug snapped its enlarged mandibles, Nico glanced at the Ape who innocently looked back. Nico was going to complain, but if he could handle this, what could he do? Nico swung the scythe down, bisecting the bug's head before its mandibles reached him. The ape threw the body out, and punched the next bug into oblivion.

‘You have slain--’ Nico kept cutting bugs with Ape’s help, each time getting better at swinging. For every Bug Nico killed, another replaced it.

‘They don’t stop coming.’ Ape had left two arms on this bug, and Nico was battling for his life. The bug swung its legs, aiming to cut Nico into three pieces. Nico crouched and held the blade against his whole body and braced. The force knocked Nico back, and his feet were filled with splinters. The sword broke and the locust cut Nico’s forehead. A trickle of blood flowed down his face, staining the hospital gown. Nico yelled and picked up another leg, bashing into the bug’s leg. The bug recoiled its front legs and lunged in, snapping. Nico ran his weapon down the bug's throat. The mandibles enclosed around him, and squeezed. The bug’s eyes lost their life and the mandibles stopped before cutting his skin. Nico fell onto his but and wiped the blood from his face, giving the Ape a dirty look. The Ape responded with a thumbs up.

Suddenly another bug pushed through the dead bug and scissored his waist. Nico’s body gave me a burst of energy and he cut its right leg. Ape grabbed the other arm and held it before its mouth could kill him. Then a stinger came from his blind spot.

The stinger gleaned with poison. The droplets dripped on the wood where it was pinned. A white arrow stuck it into the ground.

“Stop slacking!” She yelled over the screeching bugs and aimed somewhere else. Nico slashed the bug’s face. He turned over and crawled to a dead bug, and started rummaging through the carcass. He pulled out a glowing shard and held it close. Energy flowed through him into his core, and he felt rejuvenated. Nico lifted his arms and gripped the leg.

“Holy--” The net broke.