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.

she sighs, "very busy. Things are constantly changing and the Colony is now so large that keeping track of all

that fast? Are the

She nods.

handles the load. There are still teams out there

Colony after all. No matter what is happening out here, the Colony has to ensure that the next generation is

then? Getting bored being locked upstairs? Keen to get

that," she surprises me. "Victor and I decided that we needed to get a better sense of what was happening so we each came to a separate battleline. This way we'll have

think for a

if you were hiding in the

poke forward in an accusatory fashion, pinning the smaller general

course not," Sloan plays it cool and waves

I eye her with

Colony are still

to get diverted by the question I really want

direct there than here. Sarah has agreed to engage as well and with her help

I'm shocked.

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

imagine that reserved and timid person fighting in a gruesome battle, even if she is

are downright boring in comparison to that," I shrug,

me an

"What?" I ask.

patient and going along with what we asked, Eldest," she tells

to deal out a THWACK for that… but it's too accurate. I've been biding my time waiting for the Skill fusion to occur, patiently grinding