Chrysalis

Getting back to the nest helped a lot with my physical exhaustion, washing the fatigue from my limbs and easing the pain in my muscles, but the mental fatigue is still there weighing me down and after five days of almost continuous fighting, even the impressive constitution of a tier six monster is barely enough to keep me going. Even Tiny has no fight left in him by the time we make it back inside the defensive wall of the nest, stumbling forward like a punch-drunk boxer, the lights almost entirely out in his eyes.

Crinis has been asleep for a while now, just latching onto my carapace and falling asleep the moment she can, whereas Invidia is having trouble keeping himself in the air, his small wings flapping with more energy than usual to correct his frequent dips and lurches as he zones in and out.

All in all, the trip to the third strata was a success, but it nearly killed us a couple of times, which was less than ideal. From what I gathered from the troops stationed at the walls, our intervention was very keenly felt across a wide area along the deepest edge of the Colony's territory, which is gratifying to hear. Including all the experience, Biomass and cores we accrued over the journey, as well as the intelligence we gathered regarding the third strata, I would have to qualify our adventure as a rousing success.

By the time we reach our chambers inside the inner part of the nest, all four of us have had it. Collapsing into a pile of carapace, fur, and a giant eye, we fall into slumber immediately, the relaxing grace of torpor falling over me and dragging my mind into the void to rest. Until…

MOVSLAJAGGA!

I'm up!

Awareness rushes back to me and I spring up onto my legs, my mind refreshed and my body completely awash with energy. The thoughts, hopes and wishes of the thousands, tens of thousands of my kind in the nest pouring into me and bubbling up as a mass of spiritual power that, for a moment, threatens to overwhelm me completely. I grapple with it for a moment, my Will straining until I succeed in shoving it into the background, the roar of the Colony fading back to a dull murmur.

What the heck was that?!

It's never behaved like that before… Is it the accumulated desires of my siblings that piled up when I was resting? Are the members of the Colony just impressing more of their will onto me than usual? Are there just more ants around here than I was expecting as their numbers reacted with my new Vestibule? For a moment I'm tempted to ask for advice from Granin and co about the issue, but after thinking on it for a moment I decide not to. It isn't that I don't trust the golgari trio, but I feel the need to keep some of my cards close to the carapace. Also, there's just something odd about the Vestibule and Nave and the way they interact with the rest of my kind that makes me a little hesitant to spread the word around. They just seem so different from anything else I've seen from other monsters that I sometimes wonder if I'm the only monster in the Dungeon who would have an evolution like this.

Everyone I've ever spoken to says insect monsters tend to not reach tier five or six, so it might be entirely possible.

Ah well, something to worry about another day. I rouse Tiny, Crinis and Invidia, who wake with some reluctance, especially Tiny, before charging out of the chambers and into the nest in order to go about our day. So much to do, so much to see! As always, it's go, go, go in the nest, with ants rushing hither and thither on their innumerable tasks following the dozens of scent trails that lead to every destination in our territory. Such is the hubbub that it takes longer than expected to make our way to our destination, but eventually we find our way to the Core Shapers workshop to find Bella and Ellie busy arranging their caste in numerous teams.

There are thirty ants gathered into groups of three when we arrive, each lined up neatly and listening to Bella give a grand speech on their mission. She stumbles to a halt when I arrive and I suddenly find myself the centre of attention as each of them turns their attention to me.

account of me!" I wave

You haven't stumbled across any other revolutionary core shaping techniques on your latest outing

immediately, "but I did bring you

[Crinis?]

into her own mass, fishing around for a few moments until emerging with a small cache of

selection of demon cores fresh from the third strata!" I proclaim as Crinis hands them over to a suddenly reverent Ellie, who grips the spheres in her mandibles as if they were precious diamonds. "We weren't able to grab many, things

"We've been given a few demon cores from the outer defences, but they've been trickling in. To have some directly from the source will be most useful

a good home. All the best

his group engaged in tea-time with Enid, surprisingly enough. The three oversized rock-people look a touch out of place in the neatly furnished rooms of

to see you made

strata was like that?] I demand.

one stone

by the idea of the entire surface of our world being supported by rocky pillars. But

cannot possibly tell me

says as she takes a long sip of

Ah.

Enid, my manners have totally gone begging. How's things been with you? I trust Renewal is

there a chance

to the surface?

I'm not sure -

I even finish the sentence, I can see the disappointment