Chrysalis

[It's so damn hot!] Sarah complained.

[Of course it is,] Granin snorted, [it’s the third stratum. Place is nothing but ash and lava.]

[You might be fine,] the giant bear grumbled, [but I'm covered in fur. If I was a rock person like you, maybe it wouldn't bother me so much.]

The old shaper harrumphed.

[For starters, I am not a rock person, I am a goglari who has bonded with a true skin, a layer of ore that covers and melds with my natural skin. And I think you'll find that mental toughness, rather than heat resistance, is responsible for my tolerance.]

Torrina rolled her eyes and joined in the conversation.

[Actually, our true skin does provide a huge increase to our ability to endure extreme temperatures. It's one of the reasons the goglari were so successful expanding to the third stratum in the centuries after the cataclysm.]

The giant bear turned her head and fired a glare at the leader of the triad who did his best to ignore the threat of being stared at by a truly vicious tier six Asura Bear. Particularly one equipped in the way that this one was.

[The armour probably isn't helping the situation,] Corun observed helpfully. [I know I'd be hot under all that.]

It was true that the padding and weight of the armour, nearly two tons of it, were doing little to improve the situation. As if being a furred animal wasn't enough, she had layers of cloth and steel covering her to the point she felt as if she were sweating literal buckets every second.

[I need to hydrate,] she gasped.

[I think you need an enchantment to help manage the heat issue,] Torrina observed.

more resistant to the environmental changes as you descend through the layers, but I think this is something of a special case. Sarah is much better built to tolerate the cold than she

really appreciate it,] Sarah

wide open space that opened up before them and extended in all directions as

put me in a bad mood. Sorry if

sympathised, [I'm much the

of them as she glanced

do

five minutes or so,] she informed

managed to get this lift system in place so quickly,] Sarah said, looking up at the massive rope system

me about the Colony, but their ability to get stuff built quickly is starting to become just a normal expectation from my point of view,] Granin shrugged. [How many times do they need to pull of the impossible before I just start to

were able to unpin and open the gate, allowing

I'm here, take it off

all the straps, by which time the platform had already ascended

goodness,] Sarah groaned, [that is

to come down here,] Torrina reminded her,

rolled

right, sitting up there, enjoying the benefits of the Colony's achievements without contributing anything. They work so hard whilst I sit around and what? Play with the grubs?

mean you have to fight,] Corun reminded her. [It didn't work out so well last time did

a little but then

helped protect the nest … and if I hadn't, who knows what

told her, his usual gruff tone just a hair softer than usual. [You just need to remember not