A light breeze moved through the jungle foliage, petering out as it blew into the circular area devoid of anything bar fungal life. Droplets of moisture clung to the underside of the mushrooms in the humid air. Spores danced in the shafts of sunlight that lanced the secluded area.

A wave of movement quivered along the strands of mycelium, from the outer edges all the way to the heaving mass in the middle of the fungal core.

Without further warning, a tight ball of fungus burst from the centre. Propelled through the air, it soared over the treetops in an arc, coming down into the branches of a palm. High on its leafy perch, the fungus trembled and convulsed. Slowly, it stretched and grew. One side distended and bulged and finally tore. And through the ripped strands of fungus protruded a sharp edge of black metal.