… or at least it would be painful if I was going to end up landing in it.

[Invidia!]

Using his prodigious mind powers, the demon condenses a shield out of pure mana and air, snapping it together before I reach the ground. Placed horizontally, the barrier acts as a stable landing platform for my large frame and I grip the edges as I land heavily on it, ensuring I don't slide off.

How about that, frog-face!? Didn't expect me to have this sort of trick up my sleeve, did ya?! As Invidia has improved and ranked up his barrier magic, even something like this has become possible for him, although it drains quite a lot of mana and is more than a little taxing on him. To hold up my kind of weight in the air with nothing but air is… a challenge, even for the big brained demon.

Is my spell ready yet? Not quite. Despite their improvement, creating something like this is difficult for the sub-brains. As I carefully scan for my opponent, I lend the potent force of my main mind to the task. Drawing out mana and feeding it to the concerted efforts of my three weaker minds.

Ah, there you are, you disgusting punk. Clinging to the roof and looking at my position, standing on a shimmering plane of air, the beast has a somewhat quizzical expression on its face, as if confused that I haven't fallen into its pit of bile as it had expected me to. Alas not, mister frog, although the strategy was clear evidence of intelligence on the part of the monster. Once again, I consider attempting to make mental contact with this creature but dismiss the idea. For all I know, its thoughts are just as toxic as the rest of it and would taint my mana over the connection, I can't risk it.

[Masssster issss heavy.]

Oh, right.

[Sorry, Invidia. I'll move, just give me a second whilst I look for… somewhere… to.. stand?]

As I look around, I see that the horrific bile has continued to multiply and spread, consuming the shadow mana in the area and extending its tendrils into the air, flowing over the stone and running in little waterfalls into new crevices. Which conveniently has left me with very few places to stand. I flex my legs and launch myself toward the wall to my right, my claws digging deep into the stone to find purchase as I hang sideways.

It isn't comfortable. I'm not nearly as mobile as I used to be on surfaces like this due to my increase in weight without a corresponding increase to my Grip, but it'll have to do for now.

[Invidia and Crinis, I need you two to try and do something about this mana! Break it down, redirect the goop into a pit or something, I don't care what you do, but you need to do it fast!]

Spell ready yet? Still no! Damn, the sub-brains still aren't cut out for this yet? I thought for sure…

Whoa!

My antennae flare with warning as the toad once again launches its ball of hateful spew-mana in my direction and this time, dodging is more than a little difficult. Going to have to go for it! Dash! My legs fire one after the other as I try to maintain my grip on the wall but still move at speed and I find it much harder than I thought. I'm not going to make it! Thinking quickly, I split my legs wide and slam my claws into the stone, desperately trying to hold on as the horrific stuff sears my back, a portion splattering onto my carapace and burning with a harsh flare of pain. And not just burning, I can already feel the infection spreading as the green energy seeps through the wound, trickling into my body and trying to destroy my own mana.

Gah! Not good! My legs are shaking!

Spread wide from the body is not the natural state for ant legs and it's more than a little difficult to hold myself up. I need more power! For the first time, I fire up the new Vestibule, desperate for the strength boost that it will provide. I feel it almost instantly. The ever present Will that flows through the Vestibule and into the Nave changes direction and … form. Instead of nourishing my body as a whole, a huge chunk flows directly into my muscles and tendons, infusing them with newfound power.

Holy Moly! My legs steady in a moment and I reposition myself, skittering about on the wall like a hatchling, my legs flickering and my claws gripping with a strength they have never before possessed. Wow! The effect is way more pronounced than I expected. In terms of raw stats, it feels like having an extra fifty points of Might tacked on for free! Maybe more!

How's that spell? Close! Super close! I think I might need to go for it.

The toad watches me with bulging eyes as I zip around on the walls with newfound speed, clinging to its own perch on the ceiling. With its long, razor thin limbs, I doubt the creature weighs much, it can probably hold itself up there indefinitely if it chooses to. I stay on the move and eye my opponent carefully, the next opening will be my chance to go for the kill and I refuse to miss it. This monster has been a royal pain in the business district to fight and I won't let it get away.

As I watch, I can almost see the thoughts flickering through the creature's head, until those two eyes gleam with sudden certainty. Is it coming? What's going to be next. My shock is almost total when the frog instead turns around and attempts to flee.

YOU WHAT?!

Monsters don't run during a wave, dammit! Get back here! It's fast, much faster than I am, but I'm fortunate in that this is a one way tunnel and it only has one direction to go. Let's go Anthony! DASH! Three pairs of legs infused with more strength than ever before flex then launch, propelling me forward like a rocket. At the same time I reach within and take hold of the mana that my sub-brains have been busy shaping for me during this high-octane fight and fling it forward.

The gravity bomb howls into existence as it always does, spinning forward as it consumes all in its path. Even the frog reacts to that terrible sound as the very air around it starts to get pulled backwards by the approaching orb. It speeds its flight, but I've launched the spell ahead of it, there simply isn't anywhere for it to go.

Suddenly no longer interested in running forward, I put on the brakes and screech to a halt, dropping onto a section of clear floor and holding on for dear life as my deadliest spell blossoms into life right in front of the monster's face.

[You have slain level 91 Infectio Venandi.]

[You have gained experience.]

[You have reached level 4.]

[You have reached level 5.]

Goodbye, frog-monster. You were disgusting and I will not miss you.