It’s a shame that I haven’t been able to enjoy the fourth stratum a little more thanks to the assault we endured from the termites. With the pressure abated and a solid, well constructed nest established, the Colony is now able to take a breath and expand out into the area. Naturally, that means fighting all the monsters which were previously suppressed by our insect rivals and their endless fields of fungus.

“Die, fiend!” I rage as I bring my reforged mandibles down on a claw-centipede, shattering the brightly glittering diamond carapace with ease and ending its life with a single blow.

Seriously, if you aren’t tough enough to survive the attention, then don’t make yourself so easy to spot! Swanning about on all those legs like a mirrorball at a disco, you think we can’t see you?!

In fact, since the centipedes move in packs, they’re so easy to see moving around it’s a miracle they survive at all! Though I may be biased in this regard. Not every monster on the fourth is going to hunt them down with extreme dedication as I am, and as much as I hate to say it, this new breed of my hated foe is rather tough. They’ve seemingly popped up everywhere, mounds filled with the lousy things are all over the place, and since they cooperate well with each other, they’re doing rather well.

Not for long, though.

I toss what’s left of my opponent back to Invidia and he opens his multi-dimensional gob to store it. I get the feeling the diamond coating on these bugs will turn out to be a useful material, so we may as well harvest all we can. If Smithant can’t figure out a good way to use it, then we’ll feed it to the grubs. It may bring them good luck, or something.

Another pack of too-many-legged monstrosities dealt with, I take a moment to look around and enjoy the view.

The fourth stratum sure is easy on the ol’ eyeballs. Filled with life mana, the entire place just sparkles with vibrant energy. The water glitters like a rolling sea of jewels, the plants and trees are radiant and bursting with vitality, even the air feels brighter and cleaner. Doesn’t hurt that it’s so much better lit than previous strata as well, it almost feels like daytime walking about on the surface, and inside the tunnels it's cosy and clear.

[What do you think of the view, crew?] I ask the others.

Tiny looks about and shrugs.

[I can’t really see it, Master…] Crinis points out.

Invidia just stares at the environment, his eye aglow with hateful light.

[Invidia? Do you like it here?]

[It’sss too bright,] he hisses, and I almost stumble with shock.

What? He doesn’t want to own it or control it? That has to be a first. Although, considering he’s from the third, which is quite diametrically opposed to this layer, I shouldn’t be that surprised he doesn’t really vibe with the mana here.

[Oop, heads up, I think we’ve got another elemental.]

Making our way over the surface of a neighbouring mountain, we’ve run into a number of these monsters, which I’ve dubbed ‘elementals’. We fought one during the last wave, a water elemental, which proved to be a bizarre and unique type of creature.

I wouldn’t say they’re super common down here, but they aren’t rare either. The pool of water a dozen metres ahead of us might seem like an ordinary pond to the untrained eye, but there’s a few things that give it away. First, my mana sense, which is always on these days, shows a definite spike in energy. Second is the purity of the liquid. Water on this stratum shimmers like a sapphire, as I already said, but this takes it to the next level. If a human looked at it without eye protection, they’d get retina burn.

[Tiny, you ready?]

Not bothering to reply, the big ape unfolds his shadow wings and leaps high into the air, his fists igniting as he reaches the apex of his jump. Sensing danger, the seemingly innocuous pool of water starts to shift, but too slow.

Tiny crashes down with the fury of a lightning bolt, both fists slamming into the sentient liquid and discharging sizzling electricity down into the water.

The elemental can’t scream or yell, but in its own watery way, it thrashes and communicates its displeasure well enough. With a surge, the monster gathers itself and rises up, a stationary wave that looms over us.

[Watch out!] I shout at the others, a split-second before it fires.

A deep boom resounds as the elemental fires its water cannon directly at me, the pressurised liquid as hard as diamond at the laser-like speed it's fired at.

Fortunately for me, I saw it coming, in the literal sense, and my legs fire, sliding my massive body to the side.

Gweheheh. Still got it!

[Invidia!]

The demon's eye flashes with green light before he unleashes his laser. The super-heated beam lances through the air and plunges into the elemental, boiling away the liquid it comes into contact with. Gathering itself into a sphere, the monster foams and twists before lashing out with more jets of water, trying to strike down the little demon.

But Crinis is ready. Her tentacles streak through the air, blunting the force of the attack by sacrificing her shadow flesh. Yet more dark limbs rise from beneath the elemental, plunging into the frothing waters to reach for the glowing core.

That doesn’t please the monster one bit, and it transforms into a whirling dervish of death, ripping Crinis’ limbs apart. Which is fine. Tiny, standing to one side, shoves both fists forward, each glowing incandescent with energy.

At point blank range, he lights up the elemental, pumping it full of lightning until steam is quite literally bursting out of it in all directions.

After enduring this for a short moment, it gives up the ghost, collapsing in a heap and allowing us to reap the rewards. Unfortunately we don’t get any Biomass from these things, but the cores are always strong!

[Great work, everyone,] I congratulate them. [Let’s keep it up. You need all the experience you can get.]