Chrysalis

As we flee from the scene of the battle with all haste, I take a moment to let the System messages from the battle roll over me.

[You have slain Level 54 Legionem Shieldbearer (Human)]

[You have slain Level 44 Legionem Armoured Scout (Human)]

[You have slain Level 45 Legionem Shieldbearer (Human)]

[You have slain Level 58 Legionem Swordsman (Human)]

[You have slain Level 42 Legionem Armoured Scout (Human)]

[You have gained experience]

[You have reached level 58]

A lot of experience was gained there. Also, the next evolution is getting a lot closer. Another twenty two levels and I'll reach that mythical level 80 that seemed so far away after I'd evolved. It's a shame to leave their armour and technology behind, but I don't want any delays. I believe it's likely they'll have a way to know when their people go down. All in all, this ambush was highly successful, but still, I can't shake the feeling that my mandibles are unclean.

[They have come to kill you, Master. Don't worry over them when they wouldn't do the same for you,] Crinis' voice echoes in my mind.

I twitch, startled by her sudden words. How well is she able to read my mood? I still have meditation active! I hardly even have a mood!

[What do you mean?] I ask her, [why would I be feeling anything other than triumph right now?]

Crinis considers her

watched carefully and I see more than you think. I know that you do not want to hurt the humans. You didn't really want to hurt the golgari either. Even though they are filth that treated Master so poorly! They should be burned… burned! They should be flung into a pit of ten thousand mouths

[Crinis!]

defeating this enemy would make you sad, so I

I sigh.

you usually are. I felt as though… I felt like we could be a bit better than this, with monsters for everyone to fight against, why would they go out of their way to fight us? I thought if the Colony was peaceful and didn't attack anyone, then we'd be left

feel Crinis

is wrong! What reason do they have to attack your family? None! These trash have

riled up. I can feel the teeth of her tentacles grinding against my perfect diamond shell. I

I try to soothe her, [this is the situation that we're in and we're going to have to deal with it. I can't be

[Master?]

[Yes?]

[What's an ass?]

[…]

could I even explain it… monsters don't

I can as we wind our way through the narrow tunnels until we come to the point I'd been looking for. That weird root had appeared in this location and I want to take another gander at it before it becomes too hard for us

first there had been a regular, second strata tunnel, filled with darkness and the scent of death, grasping plants and shadow beasts, is a now a totally different scene. Green vegetation has exploded along the walls, thick and vibrant. The four of us

this?" I ask nobody in

asks from over my head. "We have

wasn't ---. Doesn't matter I suppose. Should we

the root itself and I can't even see it, but I can't imagine anything else is responsible for this explosion of greenery. Seeing this amount of bright plant

going to lie,] I announce to my pets, [but I've got a bad feeling about this place. I'm

that those stupid soldiers will have to deal