Chrysalis

This stupid wave! Just how threatening does it have to get? I'm already a wrecked heap. A heap I say!

Now the veins are extending into the escape tunnel, which will surely cause monsters to spawn right under our feet!

An addition we have to deal with these unknown threats from below? It's enough to drive an ant crazy!

Ok.. Think Anthony, what are you going to do?

Stay and fight? Against what!? We have no idea what sort of horror is going to ascend up that tunnel, eager to eviscerate our most sensitive zones? There is absolutely no way we stay here and battle it out against whatever is coming up. One of the first things I learned about in this Dungeon is not to pick a fight you aren't sure you can win.

Run?

Run where? The tunnel isn't complete! All we can do is run up towards a dead end! They don't call 'em life ends for a reason!

Only one choice remains! Hide!

"Quick! We need to cover up the entrance and seal this tunnel!" I shout to the workers around me,

The workers respond to my call to action rapidly, as they usually do. This is a family that can be relied on in a pinch!

A hundred workers leap into action, hauling dirt up to close off the remaining open section of the tunnel entrance, quickly shovelling dirt with their mandibles.

From beneath us the sounds of bloodcurdling screams and the wild gnashing of teeth, grinding away at the bones of still living foes echo endlessly, certainly providing ample motivation to my own digging efforts.

the heck is going on down there? Actually, I'm not confident that I

down there are experiencing a kind of existential terror that

to know, just to

from below have somewhat cured me of that feeling, I have to say. To the

progress of the mana veins slowly extending their baleful reach further into the escape tunnel. The speed is still slow, perhaps only as much as thirty centimetres an hour, but just seeing them visibly growing is unsettling to

why they are moving in this

about it! Just

as the dirt flies, ants crawling all over

continue to grow louder we quickly seal off the escape tunnel,

though. The muffles noises and vibrations that pass through the loosely packed soil are enough motivation for me to continue stacking

dirt, fellow workers! Start bringing it from the other end of

of earth between us and the horrors that will soon enter that chamber that I'll feel

that even the gradually extending tendrils of the mana veins on the wall have been covered over. Any monsters that

they manage to actually dig themselves out into the tunnel they'll be easy pickings for

As the rest of the

much air monstrous ants require

voracious appetite, the need for sustenance is constant. Without being able to charge out and secure Biomass every few hours we will eventually starve to

how long will

for now, if I can put off letting him know then I

of time helping the digging, with the sounds rippling out from the Queen's chamber growing more and more muted until barely the slightest of vibrations can be felt I decide to head

ripping into the soil and rock the entire time Tiny and I have been occupied with the defence. A

chunks out of the solid ground in front of her as

at this end of the tunnel are still vibrating with enthusiasm, fawning over their mother and,