The Ant Queen towered above them, her segmented body a nightmarish blend of obsidian-black chitin and jagged crimson markings. Her head was crowned with a serrated crest, and her mandibles were long enough to crush a man whole. A swollen abdomen pulsed behind her, each throb sending another wave of pheromones into the air.
Her multifaceted eyes locked on the intruders, reflecting their images in a hundred tiny fragments. A low, resonant screech rolled through the chamber, shaking loose dust from the ceiling.
The walls around them came alive. From hidden tunnels, drones poured in, their bodies clicking and snapping as they formed a living wall to protect their Queen.
Ryuzen drew his sword in a single fluid motion. "Guys, Formation is same as before, but tighter. This one won't go down easy."
The Queen rose higher on her legs, mandibles opening wide as a stream of acid hissed to the ground, eating through stone.
"Screech!"
