Chrysalis

"What do you think, Ellie?"

"They're magnificent, Bella. Works of engineering, imagination, and unyielding effort! This must be the art that the Eldest spoke of when we were in training."

"I agree! This is art!"

"Do you think the other members of the council will agree with us?" Ellie asked hopefully.

"Not a chance," Bella replied.

The two Core Shapers didn't allow the perceived dearth of culture in their fellow council members to dim their enthusiasm at the successful culmination of their project. The colony had entered the mandatory rest period now and almost all members of the family had entered torpor. As non-combatants, the two Shapers were not expected to participate in the battle. But that didn't mean that none of the Shapers caste would be present. Fifty Shapers rested in the large chamber that had been constructed once the colony had approved the project.

These shapers were young, barely hatched in time through the dedicated nurturing of the Breed Tenders and then put through a brutal, accelerated training regime in the academy in order to bring this project online in time.

"I wonder if this is how the Queen feels. Gazing down on her children," Bella wondered aloud.

"Perhaps," Elligant mused. "Though, as beautiful as our creations are, can they really compare to the wonder of the ants the Elder created?"

"Of course not!" Bella scoffed. Then, "I do wish we could have gotten one more evolution into them before they were forced into battle."

"No point fretting. We were lucky to get this project off the ground at all. Don't you have confidence in our work?"

"How could I not? The Eldest put us onto this path with their own words! It's sure to succeed!"

"Which do you think will perform better, the Manglers, or the Reavers?"

were the one hundred shadow beasts that were also resting in the chamber. The council had been loath to give up the resources, but saw the potential in a force of Core Shapers with pet soldiers. How could they not? The Eldest deployed such tactics with tremendous success! It also helped to

enhanced arm strength, more devastating claws and fangs than the regular beasts. The Mangler, Bella's concept, sported increased leg strength and a streamlined body, dramatically increasing speed,

original monster. With the Core Shaper controller, fully

you remember how they performed in the Dungeon?" Bella gushed to

I do! Wasn't

have imagined the devastation that they would cause. Such

Core Shapers will

two ants huddled together in the dark chamber with eyes that sparkled as they imagined the bright and glorious future

Elsewhere in the colony…

cause

coolly, "the water mages will wash away the stain of the invaders by the hundreds. If not

really think the enemy is going to be scared off by getting DAMP?! My Mage-Ants will be causing explosions, not hosing down the enemy! Are you trying to hurt

members rested within the chamber. Soldiers patrolled the space as this chamber was below ground level, a deliberate choice in order to afford the mages a chance to refill their cores and magic affinity

mage ants had continued to swell in the build up to the battle. Of the four base elements that were the

field will have

Dungeon tunnels?" Propellant queried, her earlier ire vanished as if it had

I've been thinking about the impact of the more open space on our

you have in mind? I can't imagine the bolt spell will be much less applicable in the open than it

it will be more useful due to the increased range. But no I was thinking

updates, better experience，Please

Propellants eyes lit up.

mean, using them in an offensive

"Quite."

does sound interesting! Have you calculated the mana expenditure against

appear to be