Chrysalis

There they are. Look at them. Peacefully sleeping for now, awaiting the day when they awake and take their first steps into the world. Shhhhhh little ones. You don't know it yet, but the world will be your oyster. Yes it will! You will roam wherever you wish and bring prosperity to our family. Our enemies will flee before your strength and become food beneath your mighty mandibles.

Yes they will! You adorable little things!

[Master]

WHA?! What now?!

[Crinis, why are you interrupting egg time?!]

[I'm very sorry Master but I believe I have detected another wave approaching from the tunnels below]

Haaaa. These stupid monsters just won't stop! I'm going to have to work out a solution for this problem before the time approaches. These waves have caused no end of headaches and significant losses to the colony over the last week. Those Crocs down below are going to get what's coming to them, the sooner the better.

[I'm on the way Crinis. Tiny wake up! Time to fight]

[oh? OHHHH! FIGHT!]

…..

have been caring for them diligently but I can't help coming up to take a look at

put in a lot of work to create those eggs! I deserve to be a little

it'll take a few more days before they hatch and then two weeks for them to complete their time as larvae and become pupa, then a little longer for them to

It's soooo loooong!

like kids probably felt at Christmas when there were presents waiting under the tree. I

I have made our home. It's been somewhat expanded recently, mainly to accommodate Tiny and allow us

the Dungeon and harvest Biomass for ourselves and for the Queen. We've seen significant gains in pumping up our new skills and our

and I ventured down, leaving Crinis on guard duty she had to fight off a wave on her own. Thankfully the ants from the chamber above became aware of the ruckus and rushed down to support her. By the time Tiny and I returned it had been cleaned up and casualties were at the

idea they up there until the colony had engaged with them and started calling for reinforcements. When the Queen's guards in the chamber above started moving out we were alerted and rushed out with them.

Being saved by the colony seems to have driven their affection for ant monsters to even greater heights. When workers wander past their growing encampment they bow respectfully and cheer. It's getting

been even more

safe first. That was a few days ago now, we've been quietly building our strength since then,

my family and gets

Crinis has extended her tentacles down the tunnel for more than

all back Crinis. Time

[Yes Master]

boundless hunger begins to retract the thin, wire like tendrils she had painstakingly extended down the tunnel back into her body. When the task

His hands clench and unclench repeatedly as if he can't wait to allow his fists to go to work. The silver hair on his arms is already