Kael’s katana met the termite’s snapping mandibles with a sharp clang, the force of the impact reverberating up his arm. The creature screeched, its jagged limbs scraping against the stone floor as it pushed forward. Kael twisted his blade, using its momentum to throw the creature off balance before delivering a clean slice through its thorax. Black ichor sprayed across the ground as the termite collapsed in a twitching heap.

  Breathing steady, Kael adjusted his stance, his cybernetic eye scanning the dimly lit chamber for movement. The room was massive—a half-dome with five towering spiral entrances branching off into the city. At the far end, the massive gate stood sealed, its intricate carvings unmarred. Yet the faint sound of clicking echoed from within, a chilling reminder of the termites that had already breached.

  The defenders surged into the room behind Kael, their weapons ready. Felix was the first to reach his side, his shield raised. “Kael, you alright?”

  “Fine,” Kael replied, his focus still on the shadows ahead. “But this isn’t going to be easy."

  The defenders readied themselves, their weapons reflecting the faint crystal light. The swarm surged forward, their chittering growing louder. Then, a deeper, more resonant chitter echoed through the chamber. The swarm parted briefly as a massive termite emerged, its jagged mandibles snapping with deliberate precision. The soldier termite exuded command, its antennae twitching as it directed the smaller creatures with sharp clicks.

  Kael’s jaw tightened. “That one,” he muttered. “It’s controlling them.”

  Felix stepped forward, his shield braced. “Then let’s take it down.”

  Kael led the charge, his katana carving through the first wave of termites with precise, fluid motions. Behind him, Felix used his shield to batter away a termite that lunged from Kael’s blind side, finishing it with a sharp downward strike. “I’ve got your back,” Felix called, his voice steady despite the chaos.

  “Good,” Kael replied, his eyes fixed on the soldier termite at the far end of the chamber. “Because we’re not done yet.”

  Elira stayed near the rear, her hands glowing as thick vines erupted from the stone floor. The plants twisted and coiled, entangling clusters of termites and slowing their advance. “Keep moving!” she called to Kael. “We’ll hold them here!”

  Kael pushed forward, slicing through another termite as he closed the distance to the soldier termite. The massive creature’s mandibles snapped as it turned its attention to him, its antennae twitching in response to his approach. Smaller termites swarmed to its defense, their erratic movements a stark contrast to the soldier’s calculated precision.

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  The soldier lunged, its powerful legs propelling it forward. Kael sidestepped, his katana flashing as he struck its side. The blade glanced off its thick carapace, leaving a shallow cut but drawing its attention.

  Felix appeared beside him again, using his shield to deflect the creature’s next attack. “Now’s your chance, Kael!” he shouted, bracing against the impact.

  Kael didn’t hesitate. He leaped forward, his katana slicing cleanly through one of the soldier’s front legs. The creature staggered, its mandibles snapping wildly as it screeched in pain. Kael pressed the advantage, striking again and again until his blade pierced the creature’s head. The soldier collapsed with a final, violent convulsion, its command over the swarm broken.

  As the soldier termite collapsed, its screech echoed through the chamber, followed by an eerie stillness. For a brief moment, the swarm hesitated, their movements faltering as their coordination unraveled. Then chaos erupted.

  Without their leader, many of the smaller termites began to scatter, their erratic movements making them unpredictable. The defenders pressed forward, cutting down as many as they could. Spears pierced through carapaces, swords severed limbs, and bursts of Arcane Mana shattered shells.

  “Keep them from the Spires!” Kael shouted, his katana slicing through another retreating termite. Around him, the defenders fought desperately, trying to contain the chaos.

  Felix slammed his shield into a termite attempting to scale the wall, his sword finishing it off with a sharp strike. “There’s too many,” he said through gritted teeth. “We can’t stop them all!”

  Elira’s vines lashed out, tangling a cluster of termites near the western Spire. “We’re losing them!” she called out, frustration clear in her voice.

  Kael’s gaze swept the chamber, his cybernetic eye tracking the retreating swarm. The termites darted toward the five Spires branching out from the chamber, their erratic movements making it impossible to predict their paths. A few Molvari guards rushed to intercept them, but the sheer size of the chamber and the termites’ speed made it impossible to catch them all.

  As the defenders left the chamber, their steps were heavy with exhaustion. The battle was over, but the consequences lingered. Somewhere in the overgrown districts of Zharakai, termites now roamed freely, their escape a grim reminder of the city’s vulnerability.

  Kael’s gaze lingered on the towering Spires and the dark paths leading deeper into the city. His jaw tightened as the weight of their actions sank in. “Taking down the soldier termite first... it wasn’t the right call,” he muttered. “We should’ve contained them before going for the leader.”

  Elira, walking beside him, glanced his way. “Maybe,” she said softly. “But it’s done now. We’ll deal with it.”

  Kael exhaled sharply, his resolve firming. “Then we adapt. From now on, we set up watchposts and form a hunting team to track them down. We can’t let them gain a foothold in the city.”

  Elira nodded, her voice steady. “I’ll help organize the patrols. We’ll make sure Zharakai stays protected.”