Recovery took even longer after defeating the Orthoptera colony than it had after the Hymenoptera, which the Void Hornets fell under. Though the battle had ended much quicker, and the crickets had quickly scattered after their ruler had been defeated, the fatigue was beginning to stack.
It was a miracle they were even able to fight after Phase Two altogether.
Mana and even muscles recovered, but mental strain stuck and that needed time and real rest, something you couldn't get in a gate like this.
Everyone collapsed wherever they happened to be standing, too exhausted to care whether the ground beneath them was smooth stone or jagged rock.
For several long hours, nobody spoke much.
Darius sat with his back against a boulder, eyes closed, while his spear rested across his knees. Seraphina lay flat on her back, breathing heavily. Even Kaela, who had an insane healing factor, took a short nap to recover.
Only Ethan was moving around.
