Chrysalis

Obviously, my new Skill would be totally useless to me if I weren't able to make effective use of it, so all four of my brains were made to practice forming it. Early signs… weren't good. It was a nightmare frankly. The entire thing fell to ribbons in my hands, falling apart and vanishing into dust as I watch.

This construct is a fiendish mass of complexity, it's like a construct within a construct within a construct. Which.. I suppose… is exactly what it is. It's capable of creating twelve different types of elemental energy, basically twelve constructs in one! I'm not deterred though, thinking back to how difficult I found creating my first construct, I know that this is only going to be a matter of time. It's like playing an instrument, it takes time to memorise exactly how all the pieces fit together.

[Master?]

[Huh? Crinis? What's up?]

I feel my loyal eldritch terror shift on my carapace.

[How long are you planning to stay here, Master? I know you want some time to spend on your new Skill, but it's been several hours already.]

Oh, right. The war.

[Thanks for the time check, Crinis. We do have things we need to be about. Let's go.]

The last part I say to all of my pets and we gather up to return to the front lines. I toss the practice regime onto the sub-brains and let them deal with it whilst I go back to where the action is. I can almost feel my sub-brains shuddering with pain as the load of putting together this monstrosity of a construct lands solely in their lap. They can suck it up! I don't have the luxury to let them slack off.

It doesn't take long to return to the front, I didn't move that far and it's not like it would move that far in such a short amount of time. I do get a surprise once I arrive at the defensive line in the form of an unexpected visitor.

"Sloan! I'm a little surprised to see you out of the main nest. How are things travelling up there?"

The two generals of the council have been locked in the main nest managing the two sided conflict to the best of their abilities. We've been relying on them to be the organisers and decision makers when it comes to overall strategy, a heavy burden that I was only too happy to not be a part of.

She gives a weary wave of an antenna.

the Colony is now

growing that fast? Are the

She nods.

brood at full capacity. The Brood Tenders have been in a frenzy, trying to ensure the academy handles the load. There are still teams out there expanding territory and securing resources for the hatchlings even whilst this conflict

Colony after all. No matter what

upstairs? Keen to get your mandibles dirty on the frontlines?" I

that we needed to get a better sense of what

for

you were hiding in the nest

accusatory fashion, pinning the smaller general

not," Sloan plays it cool and waves away

eye her with

of the Colony are still

front?" I allow myself to get diverted by the question I really want

fighting is much more direct there than here. Sarah has agreed to engage as well and with her help we've been able to take the fight right to the

I'm shocked.

really didn't think she'd be willing… Hopefully she's

fighting in a gruesome battle,

are downright boring in comparison to

general gives me an odd

"What?" I ask.

going along with what we asked, Eldest," she

THWACK for that… but it's too accurate. I've been biding my time waiting for the Skill fusion to