Chrysalis

Our plans made, the council disperses, Vibrant disappearing over the horizon before I can so much as blink. Although… that could be a long measure of time, since I can't blink. I'm actually starting to forget what it was like to close my eyes, to be honest. I mean, how long can you go without eyelids before you forget how they felt? I've been in a carapace so long, I'm starting to forget what skin felt like! It just seems so weird to me now, being squishy on the outside and hard on the inside. How does that make sense? Don't you want the squishy stuff protected? Not to mention the possibilities for shiny perfection that I have embraced through mutation!

Even the demons reject the true doctrine of exo-skeleton. In fact, almost all monsters do… No, I must reject this line of thought. If I continue to follow it I might wind up having sympathy for the centipedes and that is simply something that cannot be done. Spiders… maybe. Centipedes? Never.

Naturally the moment that their leader runs off, a large detachment of suspiciously speedy ants races in pursuit. Now that she's evolved to tier six her follower count has significantly increased once again. Each and every one of her loyal troops is a peak specimen of the Colony, heavily mutated and experienced in battle. Just another example of the powerful influence a champion can have on those around them. She may be a handful, but Vibrant has proven her value to the family a hundred times over. I have high hopes for the next champion also, even if she continues to be a pain in the abdomen.

Speaking of the devil, she's currently playing with Tiny, the giant trying to herd the hatchling with his hands as she schemes to get past him. Despite his massive size and quick reflexes, she almost manages it a few times, faking him out and playing mind games with the poor sod. Though the more I watch, the more I begin to suspect she's conditioning him for an eventual escape.

Just a constant pain.

We remain close to the pillar for the time being, but I'm already getting a little bored. We have things to do and not much time to do them, most important of all, continuing to train and level up the hatchling. Getting her up and running, contributing to the Colony and dedicated to her own niche as soon as possible is my main focus for the time being.

"Alright then Brilliant, time to get busy."

She pauses in her game and turns toward me.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you think we were done? You're not even halfway to as evolved as you need to be! Your older sister is tier six! So am I! What exactly are you supposed to do running around as a piddly tier three?"

"What do you mean? I'm useful already!" she declares, her antennae waving wildly.

"At what? Annoying me or escaping? Those are the only two things I can see that you excel at."

"Oh yeah? What if I told you that my mana shaping skill is tier four?"

tell you -

inside Invidia's mouth! No time

is

puffs herself up

you I'm the

the best if my Skill

be higher soon!" and then she fires

know what, I'm starting to believe you.

"Yes, of course."

can't be overtaken by this damn hatchling! What about my pride as the Eldest! Desperate not to be outdone I immediately order all of my mental constructs

smug little thing, I can't help but be impressed.

up the good work, Brilliant, but as I said, we still need to level you up. That's going to be our

wave of pheromones from

scent of fear and then a crash which quickly reveals itself as Smithant, covered in various bits of metal plating stuck on her back,

Someone help me

a tentacle extended from her place on

to go running off into the third stratum again without having a chance to give you what I've been working on

shouts up the pillar to a trio of ants carefully picking their way down the vertical slope, each of them laden with more metal and bits and

how much stuff did you

up the

for Tiny as well, as well as a few pieces for Vibrant, is she

"Nope."

to

"Good luck with that."

getting this stuff