Chrysalis

That's right dear readers! I ventured where so few have dared to tread! Within the heart of the nest itself! Of all the exotic locations I have plumbed over the years, all the dangers I have braved and risks I have taken, I have to say that this, this was not like those.

A part of me wants to say it was anti-climactic, in a sense, but another part of me wants to say that it was anything but. Here I was, on the brink of stepping deep within a nest of ravening monsters! How many thousands of them made war within the Dungeon just a few hundred metres beneath my feet? It was exhilarating to think about and my two guards were so tense their impressive muscles threatened to bulge right out of their armour.

On the other hand...

I was accompanied by a smiling tour guide who laughed and chatted with the townsfolk on their way to the Colony, on the road just as we were. We passed by a young mother and her small children on their way, the little ones running and cheering as their mother tried to keep them both in line as they dashed toward the impossible fortress that loomed ahead, bristling with monsters.

"What reason would this young lady have to take her children into the nest?" I leaned toward Emilia and whispered.

The old rumours came back to me in that moment. Where these children about to be sacrificed to slake the insect hunger for flesh!?

"The Colony runs a day care program for young children twice a week," she smiled gently, "mothers can come and spend time with each other as their children play with the hatchlings and take lessons from the brood tenders."

"Brood tenders?" my curiosity seized hold of my imagination before I had to process the idea of insect child care.

teach. They are hyper-specialised in this field and provide heavy bonuses to anyone under their tutelage. Raising the young of the Colony makes them immensely busy, but for two days a week the Colony allows

does this benefit the

any such thing between the Colony and the survivors of the frontier kingdoms. Though they have never demanded anything from us, we are essentially one and the same. They have never failed to help us when we asked, and they help

you understand me now, dear reader? A fearsome den of monsters this nest may be, but it is also a location for schooling children. My feelings

• from Chapter Seven of 'Traveling Tolly in the lands of the Colony' published in

you really think you can outlast be, INSECT?!]

me dodging and hopping out of his

little more difficult than you think, big

bomb as my main mind remains free to manoeuvre my body. The spell is growing within me at a tremendous pace, but I dare not release it half baked. I need this spell to turn the tides on Grokus and I've already seen how resistant he is to spells, shrugging off all the damage I can do with basic elements without breaking a sweat. If the gravity bomb isn't enough to hurt him, I'm going

working on the other demons with the help of the Colony. Spells and waves of acid along with attacks from the soldiers

will cause damage over time. Make sure you don't stay close to him for any length of time. Use your lightning Tiny, and Crinis just try and chip away from range. If you get caught up in his area

kind of reserves I do when it comes to healing. Tiny in particular has very little going for himself in this department, which means he won't be much use for the fight. Still,

every little bit helps at this