Chrysalis

I’m no longer human, I get that, but coming from my world, I understand things like the sanctity of life. Even those soldiers that were killed by Tiny, justified as I felt ordering their deaths due to the massacre of my family, my stomach still twists thinking about whether those soldiers had families themselves, children, wives, parents.

Mindless killing serves no purpose. These villagers may be misled, or just incredibly dumb, but I don’t especially feel the need to massacre them because of it. They aren’t a threat after all, I could probably fight a village full of farmers by myself.

Almost as if they could sense my thoughts, Enid and the Queen immediately turn to me to plead for the life of their associates.

[These villagers are misguided, monster, there is nothing to gain from their deaths. Won’t you spare them?]

Well, I have no intention of killing them, but that statement isn’t technically correct.

[The colony would gain Biomass and experience. Hundreds of workers have died recently, our numbers need to be replenished] I point out.

It’s not like we would gain nothing, right?

The Queen’s face falls and so does Enid’s when my words are relayed to her. Enid looks even more despondent when she questions the Queen and her ruler has to reply, I think she’s explaining just how my colony ended up losing hundreds of members. More specifically, how I lost hundreds of my siblings.

Grrrr.

her knees and pleads with me, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. The Queen looks deeply moved

malicious. She offers you her own flesh as payment, I too am prepared to offer my life in exchange.

keen on

have dreamed of happening in my last life. What is the feeling swelling from within?! Superiority? Power?! Yes you puny humans, kneel, beg! If you wish for this great one to spare

Muahahahahaaaaaa!

words of Dark Anthony! Down, Dark Anthony! Down, you fiend!

I mustn’t allow myself to fall down the black path, I’ll end up being some cartoonish supervillain who’ll no doubt be killed whilst

no intention off massacring these villagers but if I can extract maximum value from the Queen and protect the colony at the same time....

than ignorance. If you wish for me to spare these people, as well as

to the risk then I’m prepared to take it on in order to get those cores. With so many of the precious gems in my mandibles I’ll be able to strengthen my entourage to the point where we will be invincible in the

To spare the townspeople she will need to turn their fervour to a less suicidal cause. These people are afire with religious zealotry, simply saying ’no’ won’t be sufficient to turn

out a plan. I’m not particularly a great fan of it, but I think

have

our time working towards the success of our plan whilst Tiny has been mostly sitting on the Queens guard captain and eating. The Queen herself spends

making sure they have clear instructions to stick with Tiny and not get into trouble, before collecting the

treated to a surprising sight. The town has become flooded with angry looking farmers, the crowd leading up the small hill to the church doors is easily ten times the size it was the last time

early morning light. The charred remains of various monsters are scattered around the base of the roaring flames, causing me to wince. Such a waste! The priest is still there, standing before the energetic throng, his frenzied voice rising above the buzz of the people and reaching

make no attempt to hide myself this time, sneaking up isn’t part of the plan. Thanks to our setup the crowd shouldn’t attack me, but if they do I’m prepared to make like a tree and leave at a moments’ notice! This ant knows not to