Chrysalis

While the hatchling enjoyed a little solitary education, we moved back out beyond the defensive lines of the territory to drive back the swarming monsters for possibly the final time. The mana levels continued their slow draw down and with every hour that passed the spawn rate of monsters began to gradually recede. I was hugely relieved that we had managed to get through this wave without having to confront any monsters of too high a tier. My last evolution had really driven home to me the exponential rate of growth in evolutions. Since the energy doubles each time, it's reasonable to expect that a tier seven monster with a perfect core is going to be literally twice as strong as me. Wild monsters in the Dungeon with perfect evolutions all the way down the line are hard as heck to come across, so it's unlikely we would run into one, but I was quite worried that we would.

After an hour or so of throwing back the tide, we retreat back behind the checkpoint to catch our breath and plot our next moves. At this moment, I get a surprise visit, although I suppose it's not really a visit due to her more or less constant presence, from Protectant. Thanks to the addition of the Nave, I have a much clearer idea of the whereabouts of my twenty bodyguards, generally speaking, although whatever high tech stealth organ they have still manages to interfere sometimes. Looking slightly larger than before, she appears above me, clinging to the ceiling at the same moment I detect her scent.

"Eldest, I have come to report."

"Hey there Protectant! How're things going? Been a little while since we last spoke!"

It had been. I knew they'd been busy, since I'd detected them running this way and that rather than just hanging over my head all day, but I hadn't actually interacted with any of them for some time, too focused on my pets and now the hatchling. I guess I had given them a task to complete, so I felt it would be best if I just left them to it.

"You're looking a little larger up there Protectant! Is it safe to assume that you've managed to evolve to the fifth tier?"

She shifts a little from side to side, clearly uncomfortable with being exposed to plain view but, to her credit, she stands firm long enough to answer my questions.

"I have. And I'm happy to report that all twenty of us have completed our evolution, as you requested."

"Really?! All twenty of you have made it to the fifth tier? That's amazing!" I peer at her a little more closely. "You didn't get all that much larger considering the shift from tier four to five. What on Pangera did you spend your energy on? If your stats are too low you're going to suffer in the future, you know?"

I don't really want to pry too deeply, but I am a little concerned. I know that in their evolution from tier three to four, the species they chose granted them their powerful stealth capability, but in choosing that they threw away the chance to gain anything more combat related. Being able to hide from view is only one aspect of their role, after all, the other is that they actually need to be able to fight.

"Not to worry, Eldest," she replies defensively, "we have made the necessary investments to ensure we will be able to complete our function. We decided as a group that it would be for the best if we tried to keep ourselves at a smaller size in order to make it easier to remain discreet. Rest assured that we are up to the task of ensuring your security."

I allow my mana sense to wash over her and I can tell that she has already reinforced her core post evolution, possibly even maxed it out already. Looks like they've been serious about getting themselves ready for the delve to come. That's quite a relief and a massive weight off my mind. I was worried they wouldn't be able to handle it and there was little chance I'd ever be able to convince them to stay behind.

there. Make sure you do the right thing and get your cores maxed out as soon as possible. Mutations also! Get as close as you can to a complete tier five over the last few

I know they're strong enough to handle their job going forward.

Invidia, let

push out the hatchling, dripping with his saliva

little one. Did you enjoy your time with

did not!"

with an antenna,

second teacher was trying to

stares

away,"

pat her on the head, "I knew you'd listen to your educators

didn't expect to be doing as much teaching in this life as I've ended up having to do, but as expected, using the methods that were

aren't going to attempt to sneak away every few seconds, we can finally sit down and begin your

the foundational principle that I have laid down on the Colony that differentiates them from every other ant in existence: they are to

if I'm fighting an enemy, I'm supposed

"Right."

enemy severely in exchange for

for crippling them a

I can defeat them outright in

defeating them and

task that needs to be completed and only by working myself to death will