The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis' wings hummed softly as he hovered mid-air, his sharp gaze locked onto the massive serpent coiling beneath him. The Crystalgloom Serpent's tendrils lashed out like living whips, their crystalline tips glinting dangerously in the dim light. The creature's sheer size was daunting, but for the first time since this fight had started, Mikhailis felt a thrill of confidence coursing through him.

This bug superhero thing might just work after all, he thought with a smirk, flexing his hands encased in the glowing Crymber gauntlets. One radiated heat so intense the air around it shimmered, while the other exuded frost sharp enough to bite through steel.

The serpent's eyes locked onto him, their glow intensifying as it launched a series of snapping strikes with its tendrils. Mikhailis banked sharply to the left, the Tempestrike Drakeant wings folding and flexing with precision. His movements felt almost instinctive now, as though his body and the Chimera Ant variants had fused not just physically, but mentally.

Left tendril incoming, he noted, diving downward. The tendril swiped overhead, narrowly missing his wings and colliding with the cavern wall. Shards of crystal rained down, the serpent hissing in frustration.

<Maintain evasive maneuvers. The serpent's attacks are accelerating.>

"You don't say," Mikhailis muttered, rolling mid-air to avoid another sweeping strike. His grip tightened on the Slimeweave whip, its semi-liquid form glistening as he flicked it outward. The whip latched onto the nearest tendril, the adhesive threads sticking fast. With a sharp tug, he forced the tendril downward, the serpent's massive body shifting awkwardly as it fought to regain balance.

"Not so graceful now, are we?" he taunted, his grin widening as he launched forward. His Crymber gauntlets flared to life—one glowing red-hot, the other shimmering frost-white. He landed a devastating blow to the exposed base of the tendril, flames and ice colliding in a burst of steam. The serpent screeched, jerking back violently and pulling Mikhailis with it.

"Oh, no you don't," he growled, releasing the whip just in time to avoid being slammed into a stalagmite. He twisted mid-air, his wings catching the turbulent currents created by the serpent's thrashing. Below him, the cavern floor was a chaotic battlefield of fractured rock and glittering shards. The remaining Chimera Ant soldiers swarmed the serpent's lower body, clawing at its crystalline scales with relentless determination.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it," Mikhailis replied, his tone sharp but focused. He scanned the serpent's massive form, his eyes locking onto a cluster of cracks along its tail. That's the sweet spot.

Diving sharply, he angled his approach, dodging the relentless barrage of crystal shards the serpent launched in his direction. Each shard struck the ground with explosive force, sending debris flying. Mikhailis weaved through the onslaught, his enhanced reflexes making every movement feel like second nature. The Crymber boots' fiery propulsion left a trail of scorched air as he closed the distance, landing atop the serpent's tail with a resounding thud.

"Time to crack you open," he muttered, driving the Crymber gauntlets into the fissures. The dual-elemental energy surged, flames and frost intertwining in a mesmerizing dance as they spread across the cracks in a web of destruction. The intense heat and biting cold seeped into the fractures, causing the crystalline armor to groan under the pressure. The serpent roared, its deafening cry reverberating through the cavern as its massive tail thrashed wildly, sending tremors rippling across the ground. Each movement was desperate, frantic, as if the beast could sense its imminent defeat.

Mikhailis gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he pressed harder, the gauntlets pulsing with raw energy. Steam hissed and rose where the opposing elements met, shrouding him momentarily in a cloud of mist. He could feel the Slimeweave chest armor absorbing the worst of the impacts as the serpent's powerful thrashes tried to throw him off. Each collision resonated like a hammer striking a shield, but he held firm, planting his feet with the unyielding resolve of someone who had come too far to back down now.

"Not happening," he growled, his voice barely audible over the chaos. With one final surge, the flames and frost penetrated deeper, the cracks spreading like lightning across the serpent's shimmering armor. The beast convulsed violently, a mix of rage and agony in its guttural cries, as its crystalline defenses began to splinter and collapse under the relentless assault.

"Hm..." Looking at the monster before him, an idea crossed him.

"Now that's an idea," Mikhailis murmured to himself, a grin breaking across his face as the solution crystallized in his mind. The Tempestrike wings flared behind him, catching an updraft as he ascended rapidly from the serpent's thrashing tail. Each beat of the wings felt like an extension of his thoughts, precise and instinctive. His gaze locked on the largest stalactite overhead—a jagged colossus swaying precariously from the cavern's ceiling.

"Alright, let's see if this works," he added under his breath, the adrenaline sharpening his focus. With a practiced flick of the Slimeweave whip, he sent the adhesive threads snapping upward. The whip wrapped securely around the stalactite's base, its sticky threads binding tightly as Mikhailis yanked with all his might. The force reverberated through his arms and chest, the tension in the whip straining against the rock until it gave a thunderous crack. The stalactite groaned ominously before breaking free, plummeting toward the serpent below with devastating speed.

The stalactite groaned, then snapped free, plummeting toward the serpent with devastating speed. It struck the serpent's midsection, shattering on impact and sending shards of crystal flying. The serpent screeched, its movements becoming increasingly erratic.

"Now that's what I call an epic move," Mikhailis quipped, diving back into the fray.

Mikhailis' wings thrummed with power, keeping him agile as he darted through the cavern's chaos. The serpent's tendrils whipped out in erratic, unpredictable arcs, their crystalline edges slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Each strike narrowly missed, colliding with the ground or walls in explosive showers of rock and crystal. The Crystalgloom Serpent's glowing core pulsated brighter, its energy output spiking visibly with each moment of desperation.

The beast's movements had grown more frantic, its attacks losing precision but not lethality. A particularly violent tendril strike slammed into a nearby stalagmite, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. Mikhailis twisted mid-air, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to narrowly evade the deadly fragments, though one clipped his shoulder, sending a jolt of pain radiating through his arm. He winced but shook it off, his mind entirely focused on the battle before him.

It's starting to panic, he observed, a grim satisfaction flashing across his features. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Good. That means it's running out of tricks.

Below him, the ground was a chaotic battlefield of glittering debris and churning mist. The serpent's tail swept through the cavern like a battering ram, scattering the remaining Chimera Ant soldiers who valiantly clawed at its lower body. Their relentless assault, while not fatal, had left visible fissures across its crystalline armor. Mikhailis narrowed his eyes, quickly identifying one of the deeper cracks along its tail.

That's the sweet spot, he decided.

Diving sharply, he angled his wings to gain momentum, weaving through the deadly barrage of crystal shards the serpent unleashed. Each shard hit the ground with devastating force, leaving craters in their wake. Mikhailis tucked his body into a roll mid-flight, slipping through the gaps in the onslaught like a shadow. The Crymber boots propelled him forward with fiery bursts, closing the distance with remarkable speed.

He landed atop the serpent's massive tail, the impact reverberating through its body. The beast roared in fury, thrashing violently in an attempt to dislodge him. Mikhailis wasted no time. He drove the Crymber gauntlets into the deep fissures, channeling their dual elemental energy. Flames and frost surged together, seeping into the cracks and spreading destruction from within. The serpent's screeches echoed through the cavern, a mixture of rage and agony that shook the very walls.

Steam rose in thick plumes where fire and frost met, obscuring Mikhailis momentarily. He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he pressed harder, forcing the elements deeper into the serpent's weakened armor. The crystalline surface groaned under the relentless assault, fractures spreading like lightning across its shimmering scales. The serpent's thrashes grew more desperate, its massive form convulsing with wild, chaotic energy.

Mikhailis finally released his grip, leaping off the tail just as the serpent coiled to retaliate. His wings spread wide, catching an updraft as he ascended rapidly. Below, the beast writhed, its movements increasingly erratic as it struggled to maintain control. From his vantage point, Mikhailis spotted a precarious stalactite hanging above the serpent's midsection.

Now that's an idea, he thought, a determined grin spreading across his face. With a quick flick of the Slimeweave whip, he latched onto the massive stalactite, the adhesive threads securing tightly around its base. He pulled hard, the tension reverberating through his arms and chest until the rock gave way with a deafening crack. The stalactite plummeted, striking the serpent's midsection with immense force. Shards of crystal exploded outward, the serpent letting out a bone-chilling screech as its movements became even more erratic.

Mikhailis hovered above, his heart pounding as he watched the destruction unfold.

"Let's see how you like that,"