I am mandibulating a bush to death. The plant immediately attacked me as I emerged from the aperture. Its vines are sharp, but not sharp enough to cut through my carapace and the plant acting on instinct only was far too stupid to target my joints. My servant is circling us, looking for an angle to fire, but its basic setup inhibits it from firing if their is a real chance of hitting me.

It whirls around and a single shot eliminates a lesser monster in beetle form, about two thirds of the length of my forearm, while I was human. „Good … robot“. This form does not make me mute, but my voice sounds deeper and the lips being much stiffer makes it hard to talk.

The enemy reduces to wood, that probably would not properly serve as firewood being much too wet, I conjure a note and send Dalek-3H back with it. The mana expenditure is becoming prohibitive. I return to Skavalander form.

I am standing on what I hope to be a peninsula in a lake or bay far inland. Three sides are water, beyond which green vegetation continues. Vegetation is blocking my view into the direction that going by the cardinal directions on the other side should be east. I call up my flask of magic holy water and form my maximum three eyes. I send two of them above the greenery and the third through it.

Tihomir followed by the dimished, spears and shields at ready, passes through the aperture. Dalek-3H follows.

P: Plant monsters ans lesser beetle monsters. Single so far. It attacked immediately, so I have no idea about their aura stealth. Lowest iron rank – category 1.

T: I get the new terminology. Sending your spy eyes?

P: Yes

He orders his men to form a semicircle to the south; I loot the monsters.

He rest of our people emerge in single file. I order Dalek-3H a bit to the north.

Tihomir needs to clear his throat for the people to stop gawking and assume a circle with weapons out.

P: It is unclear so far whether we are on an island or a peninsula. Neither do I know whether that is sweet or salt water, or indeed water at all, nor – more to the point – what kind of monsters stay in it. Watch out for plant monsters.

T: Can you do aerial reconnaisance?

P: Roger.

I take my time to properly and slowly extend my wings on the ground. An injury would be stupid.

Then I teleport upwards.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

--

IN THE AIR

This is marvelous. I am gliding. I don’t understand why I am doing this so rarely. It is immediately apparent that we have arrived on a peninsula. Its neck looks narrow and swampy. I have the sky to myself. But it is full of traces. They grow older the closer to the aperture they are. Has the commotion I caused against the bush alarmed them? As long as it has not attracted them, I can live with it. Time to call in the results with our new phones. That causes an unpleasant surprise. The phone displays „inoperable due to unstable conditions“. I will have to report in person. My spy eye inside the greenery has detected some movement in the canopy and on trunks, but it hasn’t gotten a clear view. I don’t know enough to make a good report. I need to at least know whether we can cross the neck of the peninsula. I am going to do something the kids better never learn about.

I am most gliding, sometimes a bit flapping my wings out over the water next to the neck. And then I drop a salami sandwich. And do a few waiting loops. There. Whatever ate that has too many tentacles for my liking.

ON THE GROUND

T: Ladies, if you have an aura sense, concentrate on invisible attackers. Branko, you too.

T: Everybody, stay vigilant and calm.

Z: There is something. I can’t tell where … or what. ….. Under us!

T: Everybody towards the vegetation!

The commotion is less than one might fear.

Z: We’ve gotten away.

T: Everybody else, keep looking out, that may just be a distraction.

They are waiting.

Z: They are coming over. Slowly.

L: Burrowers.

T: Yep. We can’t keep running. We are going to finish them one by one.

T: Squad, come with us!

T: Zora – isn’t it? – lead us towards the leading source. And stop about 3 meters away from it.

At first this is not difficult.The last few meters go slower.

T: People, don’t look at us. Look outwards! Other monsters don’t love us either.

He bangs a spear on the ground.

T: Coming up?

Z: Yes, definitely

The ground is shifting slightly. He rams the spear savagely into the ground. A howling scream escapes from the ground. He rips a fat worm resembling a turnip out of the ground. Zora uses her staff, which freezes the worm. One of the diminished finishes it off.

T: Have the others changed course?

Z: No.

T: Easy money.

--

I’ve landed to report and loot half a dozen worms. We are advancing through the forest? I proposed simply flattening it, but Tihomir does want to keep an ace in our sleeve. Our first monstrous adversary is a tiger-snake. It’s camouflage is so good, that we detect its aura, but don’t see it until it jumps. Our vanguard takes it on an improvised shieldwall and it quickly dies in our gunfire. Maria gets a fire bolt off, but misses.

T: Loot it and no delay.