Chrysalis

Finally! Back in the nest and away from the crazy! The Kaarmodo is gone (hopefully) and I have nothing to worry about. Let's go get it!

Full of energy, I barrel into the nest and charge down the main shaft. I'm heading for that Dungeon and nothing's going to stop me! Lumbering behind, Tiny shares my enthusiasm. He missed the entire battle and I can tell he's sour about it. The closer we get to the Dungeon, the brighter the big ape's eyes become. By the time we make it to our old resting place his ears are twitching with excitement. I'm with you Tiny, it'll be great to get back to the simple life!

[Eldest.]

No. Pls. Don't do it to me like this. I was so close. So damn close!

[What is it Victor?]

The now much smaller than me general crawls out of a side tunnel to appear in my line of sight.

[I was hoping to have a quick word before you left.]

[Okay, Victor. Hit me. What's happening.]

[The council wants to elevate Vibrant to the position left vacant by Grant's passing. She's the logical choice as the next eldest soldier in the colony, even if she probably won't be around all that much. What do you think?]

[It's fine with me,] I say, a little exasperated. [You don't need me to okay these things. Just do what you think is best.]

[Of course. We just wanted to make sure you approved.]

[It's fine,] I repeat. [Is there anything else?]

to

hesitates for a brief moment before

This time is important for the development

could go wrong?] I laugh. [There's

chill in the air that descends in

check in with you guys when I get back. Just keep it simple. Everyone needs to keep learning, keep growing the colony and secure

That's what

drop in to see Mother when we get down there. Catch you

And finally free!

out into the Dungeon at last! Muahahaha! Time for these stupid monsters to become

locations are still higher than normal. The colony has been busy cleaning out the tunnels around the nest as fast as possible in order to make use of this. Even the farms have largely been abandoned now, left to try and develop their own ecosystems, hopefully a few spawn locations develop and they can still be used, albeit in

away from the nest where the colony hasn't been able to clear away all the monsters and we smash them like a bowling ball hitting some very brittle

and lightning dances across his mighty shoulders. Crinis also lets her… tentacles… down, and the cold fury of the JellyMaw is once again unleashed on the poor denizens of the Dungeon. I can almost see Crinis' cold smile as her writhing limbs perform their dark dance, tearing limb from limb

work, they need the experience far more than I do and it's soothing to me in a curious way to watch my two friends go to work. A bit of acid here and there is the extent of my contribution. More to let myself grow accustomed to my new range and aiming capacity than anything else. Being able to shoot in front of me without having to turn around is such a boon I can hardly describe it. Especially now that I'm this large. As an insect, I'm not especially flexible, there isn't a whole lot of twisting that goes on, I just have to turn my entire body

damage, duration and sticking effect thanks to the concentration gland as well. And since it regenerates faster, I can fire it for days! Very happy with my acid system overall. And with new organs comes new opportunities for mutation! I need to play around with my new abilities a little more before I decide on what to do

occasionally when we find something of a reasonable tier. None of us is particularly struggling for Biomass right now, after consuming

+5 reduces the penalty for consuming Biomass of a lower tier monster. Doesn't eliminate it,

satellite nest where the Queen is currently residing. Dug into the shortcut I'd constructed earlier, this large and spacious chamber is, for the moment, the beating heart of the colony in the sense that all egg production

it's only natural that the place is bristling

[How goes it everyone?]

hundreds of ants turn from their tasks to face me for a moment before they return to their tasks. A

progressed from Juvenile Queens to Young Queens! Each of them is able to lay fifty eggs a day. It might not seem like much, but over time it'll rapidly add up. The Queen, post evolution, is now able to

Which is many.