Chrysalis

After spending time eating and attempting to train mana transformation, my small crew have a snooze and awake to work once more! Since we began napping in the afternoon it's now solidly night time. The forest is beautiful and ethereal in the moonlight, only made slightly less so by the trails of monster ants wandering about.

After assisting the colony farm once more, and returning with another core, I decide it is time to pay a visit to the town from which we had rather spectacularly made our entrance to the surface world. I hope that guy who's arm I accidently separated from his torso is doing well. I mean, life goes on with a single arm, right?

Although we won't be able to see that much in the dark I don't want to risk showing up in the day and potentially being spotted. It'll be best to minimise the potential for future limb removal type misunderstandings.

As we travel, Tiny the little ant and I, no time is wasted as I practice my gravity spells as we travel. I might not be able to grind shaping levels anymore but familiarity with the spell still counts and casting on the move is so much harder than casting standing still.

My magical skills grow with every passing day!

Eventually we come to the edge of the forest and I ask Tiny to remain in the trees, his hulking form isn't suitable for slinking through the wheat fields and staying unnoticed. With my little passenger on board I utilise my vaunted stealth techniques to creep through the farm fields towards to the buildings in the distance.

When we arrive at the town darkness has fallen over the land like a blanket. As we draw nearer to the town however, I'm gratified to notice it is surprisingly well lit. actually, its strangely well lit.

As in, what the hell is with this enormous fire!?

In front of the church a massive bon fire is blazing surrounded by what appears to be a lively crowd of people. They are all holding crude weapons in hand and even at this distance I can see that they seem possessed of a fierce energy.

Relying on my impressive stealth, I creep closer until I'm less than thirty metres away from the edge of the buildings and then I hunker down still to maximise the passive stealth bonus. In the dark, with my skills and nearly black carapace I'm going to be almost impossible to spot, surely. I'll just have to keep my claws crossed they don't have monster detecting gems here.

Actually, with their faces illuminated by the red glow of the crackling flames, pitchforks and rusty spears clutched tightly in their hands, they look a little demonic over there. Then I notice a voice rising above the background noise, filled with conviction and energy.

in front of the church I spot my old pal the priest. At this distance it's a little hard to tell but I think he's still wearing the same bloodied robes he was wearing when I first… met him. He is standing in front of the churches main double doors, one good arm flung to the sky as he exhorts the people below. Every now and

Just, what the

pulled open and a group

men approach the bonfire as the people fall silent and fall back out of their way. With a mighty heave they throw their burden onto the leaping flames and the crowd roars in approval as the fire roars

…

pretty sure that was

but

can't handle. If another Jellymaw crawled up out of that hole in the ground would these townspeople and farmers be able

faces of the people they all look determined and passionate, it seems like they are all

pumped up as the rest. If I were to try and describe her expression

shares my concern that the townspeople may be

isn't

frenzied mob any closer than

breezy. Did someone open a window or something? Have I gone bald? I'm fairly

Wait.

the

my antennae I slap my head and back before turning to scout through the

chest. That is

flash I flip on my mana sense and reach out with my mind,

is that its heading directly towards that roaring

are you a