The ant king launched himself at the watcher.
Six arms extended, claws gleaming, mandibles wide. He moved faster than thought—a red and black blur that crossed the distance between them in less than a heartbeat.
His claws struck something invisible. A shimmer in the air, like heat rising off summer stone. The watcher didn't flinch, nor did he move. An invincible barrier surrounded him, thin as glass but hard as diamond.
The ant king rebounded, landed, and attacked again. Left, right, high, low—a blur of strikes that would have shredded steel. Each blow connected with the barrier, sending ripples of light across its surface. The watcher stood still, his empty sockets fixed on the creature with something that looked like boredom.
The ant king screamed—a screech of frustration and rage. He circled, looking for weakness. There was none. He lunged again, this time driving all six claws into a single point.
The barrier cracked.
