A problem Gem noticed immediately with hydra-Ostrum was that it didn’t operate on the same rules of combat that the other Ostrum did. It might have been a side effect of its mutation, or because of the construction of its heads, but only the middle head attacked Magiphis. The other two arched around on stubby little necks, doing everything they could to keep Gem’s mobs from attacking the wings or the heads themselves. Every time a Cicadossum attempted to scale the creature, the hydra-Ostrum would slap them away with a wing.

Gem snapped when the creatures just kept trying to get up and do it all over again.

At first the Cicadossum Boss Mob seemed reluctant to concede ground to its foe, but after some gentle coaxing it backed up, drawing the hydra-Ostrum with him. This gave Magiphis the opportunity to use his tail once more, and he swiped it at the hydra-Ostrum’s legs to slow down its approach.

While Magiphis had it distracted, Gem’s other mobs surged forward, careful to avoid its moving limbs but still doing as much damage as they could. The Cicadossum took to the trees, scaling the freshly grown bark with vigor.

Gem tried not to wince at the sound of their claws scraping at the bark. Hopefully their climbing wouldn’t damage his still-young trees.

Once they reached the boughs of the tree, the Cicadossums switched to their tails instead of claws. They slung themselves down to hang from the branch and then scooted themselves into position by worming their way along the available space. It was amusing to watch, even if the tail-based acrobatics made Gem feel glad he didn’t have a stomach to grow queasy at the sight.

Magiphis finally engaged in close combat once more, and the hydra-Ostrum stopped moving. The Goosalopes and Plantlings swarmed around its legs, slowly whittling at its hit points with vines and antlers. Before the extra Ostrum heads could orient on the hanging Cicadossums, they dropped down and started attacking the creature’s wings. Both were eventually shaken loose, but not before they took out the oddly organic limbs.

We’re so close, Gem thought, not daring to think the words telepathically in case the hydra-Ostrum made him regret it again. Just a little more damage…

“Gem?”

The name was spoken in a whisper. Just a faint breath of air loud enough for the Dungeon Core to hear it.

But that was all it took.

The hydra-Ostrum’s three heads roared in unison. It pushed Magiphis aside with one spiked shove, and the Cicadossum Boss stumbled backwards into the tree line. Then, with a speed that Gem could barely track, the hydra-Ostrum moved across the room, all nine eyes focused solely on Chesu.

Gem thought, having to repeat the command after opening his channels with Chesu again.

“But I—” The wisp noticed the creature running for it and shouted wordlessly. His wings became a blur of motion as he lifted himself away from the hydra-Ostrum’s reaching hands, but just barely. Chesu pressed himself against the very corner of the ceiling and bellowed once more. “Kill it! Someone, kill it!”

The Cicadossum Boss threw his head back and snarled. Ropes of saliva hung from his jaws. He lowered himself to all fours and shook from head to tail. As he did, the rest of his carapace flew off. Huge chunks of the stuff fell away, leaving a softer, blacker material along his body. Magiphis shook the final remnants away and immediately howled.

And then it vanished.

Faster than Gem could track, the normally slow and bumbling Cicadossum was across the room, throwing the hydra-Ostrum to the ground. He berated the creature with forceful punches that were tipped with claws instead of fists. Chunks of purple/black miasma were ripped away from the hydra-Ostrum before it could even start to react.

The hydra-Ostrum cried out in anguish but before it could bring its limbs around to fight off its attacker, it let out a mournful cry and erupted into a sparkle of purple and black particles.

A silence hung over the Boss Room. No one dared move.

“What in the Lowerlands was that?”

was all Gem could think in response. He looked at the Cicadossum Boss Mob and watched as its carapace started to reform as it slowly meandered back across the room.

Chesu whistled at the thought. “I sure hope so. Adventurers will not see that coming. Magi will keep them on their toes for sure.”

Gem laughed.

“The full name is too difficult. Magi’s short. Spunky, even.” The wisp grinned. “And I think he deserves a nickname after that.”

“If you don’t make that his title I quit.”

Gem grumbled, but made the adjustment as requested. He did not, however, change the Boss Mob’s name from Magiphis. Random adventurers would not earn the right to give affectionate nicknames to his mobs.

The wisp said nothing in return, but his grin spoke volumes.

Gem looked over his mobs. As they shuffled back to their assigned locations they started to regain their hit points, even Magi. The Cicadossum Boss Mob languished in his treeline, licking at his paws as if they had blood and viscera on them. His carapace was almost fully formed, although Gem didn’t know if that would slow down if it was reforming in combat.

“Well, alright. That got the blood pumping. Let’s get back to building that bridge, shall we?”

Gem asked, ignoring the wisp’s question.

Chesu at least had the decency to look embarrassed. “Anger? Worry? You sounded pretty upset and then you stopped sending and receiving. I knew you weren’t dead cause your gem was up with me, but I had no idea what was going on. Who knows if the Ostrum have some way of jamming telepathy or whatever.” The wisp frowned. “But if they hadn’t, I was going to give you a stern talking to. Just, uh, didn’t expect it to hear me.”

Gem mentally sighed. The wisp had good intentions, but his motivations came down to one thing: a lack of trust.

“I know.”

Gem sent the wisp an image of a serious looking gem.

Chesu looked as if he wanted to say something, but then he stopped himself. A frown creased his forehead and he rubbed at it with one hand. He looked tired. Perhaps he was exhausted from the excitement of the fight, or maybe just because he hadn’t slept in a while. Gem wasn’t quite sure if wisps needed sleep.

But eventually the wisp spoke, and when he did, his usual rough tone was gone. “I know, kid. Gem. And I appreciate it. I’m just very used to Dungeon Cores failing. For every winner you get five duds. They just can’t go the distance.”

Something softened in Chesu’s face. “Thanks, kid. I appreciate it.”

Gem felt a flush of heat—real or imagined— across his core.

“Excellent.” The wisp slapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “Well, let’s get building that bridge again, yeah?”