Chrysalis

In this world.

All things.

Flow.

To the Colony.

• Spoken by Cobalt at the seizure of the lightning mines of Al'Razza.

The plan has to have a name, of course. What is it with these ants and their insistence on stupid names?! I shoot down a few of the more obnoxious ones, like "Omega Seed Shield" and "Phoenix Ant Flames". I mean… why?! What the heck does flames have to do with anything, even if there are phoenix flames? That's just stupid and I administer a phew THWACKS to drive the point home to these thickies.

In the end, I manage to sell them on "Slow Grow".

"There's a chance that through some unknown magical means, the enemy may be able to interpret our pheromones," I tell them, "so any reference to seeds or phoenixes may lead them to uncover the plot and immediately know what it means. From this point, Slow Grow will be used to refer to this concept, and any pheromone messaging related to it will be scrubbed as thoroughly as possible. Acid wash the whole room if you have to."

The council agreed immediately. No measure is too extreme when the survival of the Colony, and indeed, our entire species may be on the line.

"Make this a priority," I inform them, "for my part, I'm going to get myself back out into the tunnels, scouting and fighting. I'll make sure not to get too far away, and I'll keep a scout relay between me and the nest at all times. Vibrant, you should get your team back out into the field as well. Skills and levels are going to win us this war, we need to get 'em."

"Are you sure you don’t want to go with Vibrant again, Eldest?” Sloan asks, "your last expedition was very fruitful as I understand. The expanse you conquered is certainly one of the largest we've yet seen."

"Be careful in there," I warn her, "the big spider mother in there wasn't defeated and I get the feeling she holds a grudge. She's a sneaky so and so, don't take any risks. If she's still in there, we'll need an extensive digging project to get her out."

Leeroy looks like she's about to volunteer something, but her fellow Soldier, Brendant, puts a claw on her back and she quiets. Sending her and her squad after a large, powerful monster would be exactly the sort of thing she'd be looking for to enact her 'glorious sacrifice' plan. That's not happening.

has done for Leeroy and the group and after talking to her, it's become clear that she isn't getting the help that she needs. It

Cobalt shift in their seats,

feel that it's a waste to pour their effort into making things that we get naturally. If we want

clear from their words that they, in part, seem

next hundred years, that'll change, but for now, it's not. So if a soldier has maxed mutations for carapace, mandibles and whatever other organs they have which are combat related, they are no longer able to get stronger until they

armour can be used in

armour will help keep them alive until they can evolve. It's win-win. After my next evolution, I myself intend to order a set. I'll

around, a few more crafters may

to do," I tell them, "just get Smithant the help that she needs. Asking her to produce enough sets to clad even a small force of ants on her own is just ridiculous. The amount of work that goes into one of these suits is

I have a think.

think I'll go pay a visit to our prisoners before I leave," I announce, "from what I hear, we haven't gotten much out of them, so I may as well poke my antennae in and see what they have

Mendant tells me in her

He'll be filling their heads with all

need to meet back here as a matter of urgency. Until then,

people in them who get by with a council, but geographically we are covering a huge amount of space. The two new nests are

we'll be up to a million strong Colony before too long! What

members as they each contemplate their roles under the threat of the impending invasion. A million

do, is try my best to do my duty as the strongest ant in the colony. Get stronger,

end, we

out into the Dungeon, Master?] Crinis

language, Crinis. I just walk around assuming that you know

the menu last time, it was unusually

and I'll be

will do that, Master,] she

by, what

21 Master,]

not so bad! Why are you