Chrysalis

"How’d it go Tungstant?" Cobalt asked.

The carver ant slumped into the council chamber, exhausted but with a glimmer in her eye that suggested she was more energetic than she appeared.

"Well enough I suppose" The small ant replied, dragging her tired front claws across her antennae.

"Will she be able to move more freely now?" Antionette asked, her concern for her mother bleeding through.

"Should be fine now", Tungstant replied, "we had to be a little careful in places seeing as the structure is more complicated than it was before, but with a bit of care we were able to widen the main shaft and strengthen the walls to bear her weight. She should be able to move vertically within the nest without too many issues."

Each of the ants relaxed slightly upon receiving this news. The evolution of the Queen had been a major event in the life of the colony and one that required several adjustments the moment the Queen had awoken in her new form. For one, she’d needed to retreat slightly lower in the Dungeon, meaning that a new chamber had to be prepared and more soldiers placed on guard to ensure no harm came to the Queen or to the brood.

Secondly, the carvers had needed to make several adjustments to the main body of the nest to ensure that the main pathways within the nest were able to accommodate the Queen’s new size. The main shaft in the nest had been dug just large enough for the Queen to move through before she had evolved, as she was by far the largest ant in the colony, but her new size had necessitated some careful work to ensure the widening project didn’t collapse or disturb any other chambers.

"The newly discovered ’Architecture’ skill seems to already be paying dividends to the carver caste," Cobalt observed, "along with ’Engineering’ our ability to make precise structural changes is vastly improved."

"I agree, sister," Tunsgtant responded with building enthusiasm, "but you know I think we also need to investigate the possibilities behind the utilisation of Earth magic in nest construction."

"You aren’t worried about the increased Skill training load?"

"Well I think that the Brood Tenders may be able to offset that."

"With the education Skills?"

"Exactly!"

"It may be worthwhile even without. It feels that there is sure to be a skill unlock in there somewhere."

"I quite agree."

"Do you two want to save that conversation until after the council is finished?" Coolant asked, amused.

"Apologies."

"Sorry about that, sisters."

of the colony’s history. It wouldn’t be long until the horde arrived at the nest and the family would engage in a battle for its very survival. To make matters more complicated, the Eldest was still engaged in levelling up and had yet to return, meaning the twenty would be forced to

centre. Each of the council members had their own place, including two spare

things to come out of the Queen’s evolution was an increase in her daily maximum egg production from two hundred to three hundred. Not a massive increase, since the

to be inevitable in the upcoming battle, perhaps as much as half of the colony would be destroyed, maybe even more. By ensuring a healthy amount of brood was prepared in advance, the colony would be able to ensure

evolving are you two?" Mendant leant over and whispered to the two Juvenile Queens to her side, Antionette and

for tier three to four is large, even the Eldest hasn’t reached it

the Eldest hasn’t had the colony force feeding experience down their throat"

that the combat castes and members of the colony be given priority over our own growth," Victoriant chimed in. "Every advantage must be seized in order

Mendant nodded.

importance on evolving these two Queens into an egg laying state, but even with the support of the colony during the wave, reaching level forty was no easy feat. Once the threat

almost complete on the construction side of things?" Sloan

ready, the wall and moat have been prepared. Without any brilliant ideas popping up, I’m not sure what else we’ll be

the carver caste," Sloan dipped her antennae in a

has been running on schedule. We should have our final class of graduates ready twelve hours before the horde

the soldier

themselves in the Dungeon. Every skill level counts at this

down

four hundred at

the field, we’ve committed a lot of soldiers outside the

huffed, her antennae twitching in irritation. "Do you think we’d leave Mother in any way

her own antennae in a

Of course you wouldn’t. How goes the

head, as if she hadn’t been paying attention

that?" the

bit back a curse. Damn mages, always had their

preparations going for the mage