Chrysalis

Dungeon warfare is probably the most studied and practiced craft on Pangera. The Rending was a rude introduction to the intricacies of the three dimensional conflict beneath the surface, but the sapient races of the surface proved to be quick studies, and the basic strategies were established, most likely independently, all across the world.

Fighting Monsters is always a losing prospect. They can't be exterminated, they simply respawn and nothing that is known will prevent the Dungeon from doing that. But population control is possible, and indeed, it is the primary occupation of those who are tasked with defending the surface from a repeat invasion. By culling populations, scattering concentrations of spawn points and draining mana from areas of particular density.

These tactics can be effective, but the work is relentless. Without constant monitoring, depleted respawn points will reform elsewhere, populations will swell and mana will flow, like water, to pool in another location. War with the monsters is an exhausting, never ending chore that all civilisations of Pangera must engage in ceaselessly.

But this is not the true conflict.

There are a multitude of empires, kingdoms, city-states and alliances within the Dungeon and their wars, battles and spats are endless. Several Historian colleagues of this author have spent decades attempting to map the history of inter-sapient conflicts and have floated the idea that there has been no time during the post-cataclysm era, that all of Pangera has been at peace. As stunning as it is to think about, the records appear to line up, there has never been a time when the Dungeon hasn't been home to an inter-Sapient conflict.

Which means the strategy of warfare within the Dungeon is a highly developed art-form. Even the relatively simple act of breaching walls has become an intricate process. The more rigid the doctrines become, the more predictable the outcomes. It's said that the Grand-Strategists can predict the outcomes of a decade long war before the first blow is struck.

Regardless, it's a fascinating area of study that I don't think I'll ever tire of.

• Excerpt from a letter by the historian Agronidas of the Tower.

busy as ever over there. What I haven't heard about, is the

prefer for the assault to come now, rather than endure this mysterious silence. It's unbearable. Every moment I expect the penny to drop

and everyone is suffering from flagging energy levels, even me. At this distance from the colony, I don’t get

and pushing my Omen Chomp into the next rank. It's been close for a long time, but I've been so focused on icing, burning, crushing, or slicing my opponents magically that the ol' fashioned

V. This advanced bite technique allows the wielder to further harness their inner energy and use it to inflict harm through the medium of teeth, mandibles or fangs. Range and power are both increased at this rank, and the wielder gains insight into shaping the energy

employed the Skill could, in fact, be manipulated. I can't do a whole lot with it right now, but I can make the mandibles a bit

boost in power, from what I've seen so far. I'm quite curious to see what sort of qualitative leap in strength

Very well, in fact! Without anyone else to prevent me from hoovering up the experience, I've made good progress. Nothing pumps the Skill levels quite like battle does! Ice magic affinity has pushed all the way to rank five! Whoo! I'm also making solid progress (heh) on my Earth magic. It won't be long until that too reaches the fifth tier, then I can move onto the final remaining

[Master, I sense prey!]

[Oh ho! Anything interesting?]

of death mana. Could be

hate

[Experience is experience, Master.]

[Yeah, I know.]

into the second strata, the thicker the stench of death becomes. It isn't as if the shadow mana fades away, it's simply joined by another, more malevolent force. With the rise in death mana, we naturally see a

The undead.