Chrysalis

After that the crowd was quickly pacified and I was relieved the Queen didn’t secretly sic the people on me. As we agreed she and I remained close to each other as we moved into the next phase of the plan.

With the people calmed, less suicidal and at the same time directed against her enemies, the Queen wants to turn her attention to her most potent and loyal forces. The ones she "cleverly" deployed in the Dungeon to assist other troops in a ploy to appear weakened and lure those who had been working to destabilising her rule into open rebellion. Too bad they had more backing than she had foreseen and with the soldiers she had left she had been soundly defeated.

She’d even kept her guard in the dark because they would refuse to leave her so vulnerable had they known about it. Even now those poor suckers are stuck in the top level of the Dungeon stabbing centipedes in the face whilst the Queen they swore to defend was forced to flee the city.

Honestly. All of these people are so stupid it pains me to be near them! Keep those precious cores in your mind Anthony! You’ll walk out here rich and leave these morons to their own devices.

The way the people in Malgate react to me know is a little unnerving to say the least. As I pass by then back away carefully, making sure not to obstruct my path, many even bow respectfully. All of these displays of subservience are stirring Dark Anthony! Just ignore me people! I’m honestly happier sliding into the background!

It doesn’t matter though. At my size it’s getting hard to hide. I’m already the height and length of a desk basically. If I continue to evolve am I going to end up car size? Bus size?! Yikes. Regardless, as I move about with the Queen people are easily able to find me and continue to show their respect throughout the day.

The Queen speaks to people one on one, in small groups and addresses large crowds. Everywhere she goes the reaction is favourable and those prepared to go and fight are quickly prepared, packing supplies, clutching their crude blades and strapping into worn leather armour that probably belonged to a relative who fought in a war three generations ago.

Even the priest is fully pumped up for this. He spends most of his time following along behind me, eulogising my status as a holy messenger at the top of lungs. I had the Queen tell me what he was saying but forced her to stop about two sentences in. So embarrassing!

all for the

more day the people are prepared and depart the village for the forest, marching together in a spirited column. About an hour from the village, just inside the edge of the woods we find evidence of ant activity. This is where myself and a dedicated team have been labouring away

is the Queen going to unite with her soldiers in the Dungeon without getting into the city and putting herself at risk? What task could only a dedicated army of earth shifting experts take on?!

we had to dump it somewhere that couldn’t be seen from the walls. The footprints of ants are everywhere but not a single worker can be found. As the column comes to the opening of the tunnel in the ground the Queen gathers everyone around and explains what has been done. When she’s finished the

One! These are

comfortably and they are a lot taller than ants. Even Tiny can move lower than them since he is

ensure it wouldn’t collapse. I don’t know what strange physics governs tunnels in this world but they sure manage to hold up better than I expect them to. Perhaps it’s the excavation skill at work that helps to avoid areas that might change the structural integrity, or maybe this world is fundamentally built to support underground spaces, the Dungeon exists here after all. Even the forest expanse we

the workers didn’t complete the tunnel since the soldiers on the other side would have surely killed them

away the last of the dirt, the very moment the last bit of dirt crumbles away to reveal an opening I back away hastily and place myself behind the Queen, leaning against the left side of the tunnel and trying to

able to squeeze herself through it. On the other side I can hear raised shouts and the Queens calming words. After

pause and allow the townsfolk who accompanied us to go first, squeezing myself to one side. Fortunately the tunnel is a little wider here and there is pace to push through. Once the last person has left our

happens I withdraw the leg and slowly push my head through. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright mana infused light of the Dungeon. As the light washes over me a comforting feeling comes over me. Perhaps I’m slightly crazy but coming back to the Dungeon feels

them, my six legs taking purchase on the firm Dungeon walls they make space for me, staying close but giving me room at the

Wherever I go this guy is never far away. My very own human shaped pain

of fierce and worn looking soldier types. Their gilded armour and fine blades are quite familiar to me as was those same weapons that