Chrysalis

After visiting the core shapers, there isn't too much left to do. I don't want to take the hatchling in to visit mother, since she's likely to declare something rude like "I could be a way better Queen" and get her head thwacked in. By me. So I abandon that idea and instead decide that it's time to begin doing the real work of the hatchlings' education. Combat!

Not to mention, I need to stuff her full of Biomass and cores in order to assure the best possible evolutions! Gweheheheh.

"All right then hatchling, no more slacking around. Are you ready to be the best ant that you can be!"

"Of course!" she retorts. "I'm ready to be the best ant out of them all!"

"Oh ho! I'm happy to hear that, because it's time for full on, no holds barred combat in the tunnels!"

"Yeah!" she punches the air in excitement.

"… For me and the others. All you get to do is eat."

"What?!" she sulks.

"Come on now. You are a tiny little hatchling, whereas we are mighty tier six monsters, literally the highest tier of any monster in the Colony. You need to work your way up to this level if you want to match us someday, and this is the start of that process. We need to get Biomass and cores into you so that you can start to evolve and get stronger, as part of that, we'll teach you the basics of how to fight like an ant!"

The difference in power is hard to ignore, I'm so much larger than she is that she could walk underneath my carapace without me even having to raise myself up from my normal standing height. At tier one, she's just food for whatever monster happens to look her way, and she's smart enough to realise it.

you is going to

unsurprisingly volunteers, eagerly

puts a hand up, offering to care for the

Invidia is totally silent.

you sick or something? You're telling me you want to help

gives an almost offended

I wave my front legs at him. [You ALWAYS want to fight! You don't get to look offended when I get shocked that you are actually asking

to look a little embarrassed. I immediately feel bad for

honest? Good for you, big guy. You can guard the hatchling, all right? We need to secure Biomass, cores, and experience for her, so make sure she gets those

the defensive line. The wave has all but sputtered out now, no longer are monsters leaping from the walls and floor every few seconds, claws

my mind magic!

far too easy to take down and the death monsters, though harder, aren't that much of a challenge either. Only in overwhelming numbers were they a threat and those numbers just aren't there anymore. And the experience and

we need to go deeper

them within an inch of their life

two tiers above her own lands the hatchling

do I do now? Do I evolve?" she asks, excitement clear

to learn, to see and experience… I can

will be stuck low tier forever and those who can advance and grow strong. The