Chrysalis

[Yeah, these Cultists are crazy. I shouldn't have to say that should I? They're Cultists. Just because they worship the biggest and baddest worm in this world doesn't mean they get to skate on that.]

[You make a solid point. Sarah didn't seem to share your point of view though. She seemed a little more forgiving of them.]

The massive worm gives a little wriggle that I can only interpret as dismissal.

[Sarah's just too nice. They took her in when she was desperate, gave her rest and someone to talk to and she was won over inside a year. They basically let her get out of the monster life, go back to being civilised. I can't blame her too much.]

[What about you? You've been here for a few years, so I hear. Gone native? Out of the monster game?]

[Me? Hell no! This incredible specimen of a Megadrile is still in the game! I'm just taking a rest and grinding my Skills. I had it rough out there, man. You think you had it tough as an ant? Try being a worm! How am I supposed to fight?]

The man has a point. Actually, the former-man-now-worm has a point. How exactly was he meant to fight?

[So how did you fight?]

[I didn't! I hid underground and snuck up to steal scraps of Biomass like the gorgeous detritovore that I am.]

[Not too dissimilar from my own early strategy to be honest. How long did you have to keep that up?]

[About a year.]

[A YEAR?!]

[Took a long time! Food was hard to come by, I spent most of my time starving, buried under the ground in the dark. The only way I could tell when monsters were near was through the tremors they sent through the ground.]

did you even

start than I did. It seems impossible that someone would be able to go from a blind, almost completely harmless worm to evolving at least three times by the look of

to gain confidence. Defence was a little better, sneaking skills levelled up a bit and I was able to

[You have a mouth?]

have a mouth! You think worms can't

Stupid

able to start doing a little hunting. Small creatures here and there. Took another year before I

broke in, [you didn't form your core

giant worm in front of

I spent two years getting to level five! You

apologise, Elemental Worm of Earth

of shoulders makes it difficult, but somehow Jim manages to convey the general sense of

worm helps with that I suppose. Wouldn't mind meeting

skin he's in, just as I have. I need to stick to my guns, not that there was much chance of me doing any different! My ant soul burns bright, too bright! James and his worm

plan to just keep grinding here before leaving? Do you think they'll let you

thing? What the hell is this? Madness! They've lost what little they had left of their minds. Nuts, I'm telling

you still think they'll

if he were explaining something to someone very young. Or very

a worm. I literally eat rocks and dirt. At this point of my evolution, I think I can melt

little naïve. These Shapers have a whole lot of tricks up their sleeves, even though they don't wear shirts. The moment he tries to wriggle out of their sight, I bet they knock him senseless with mind magic and drag him back up. Heck, maybe Jim knows that and he’s working on his mental defence Skills. It's not really my business I suppose. Just like with Sarah, other than being formerly human, what do we have in common? James is living his best worm life and I have a new family, one that actually

stung me in the thorax. Something

shifting feet of

Call me

to drag me back to my cell where I'll resume grinding away at my Skills in the hope that

much but you can tell when they get fidgety.] Jim sounds a bit depressed as he confirms my suspicion. [Look, just try to cover your bases, alright? From what I know, the members of this Cult have been trying just about everything to create a new ancient. Which means that there's all types of crazy monsters in this place. Just