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.

a valid point, actually,] Granin observed. [Usually a first stratum monster is a little 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 is the heat.

appreciate

opened up before them and extended in all directions as far as their eyes could see. The harsh glow of lava burned into their eyes and the taste of ash lingered on their tongues, making their welcome to this

me in a bad mood. Sorry if I come across as dismissive, Sarah.

[I'm

could only shake her head at the two of them as she glanced

know how you do that," Corun shuddered.

be down in another five minutes or so,] she informed the group. [Pretty quick trip, all things

system in place so quickly,] Sarah said, looking up at the massive rope

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

were able to unpin and open the gate, allowing the heat affected bear to stroll

take it

trio to unbuckle all the straps, by which time the platform had already ascended

groaned, [that is so

to come down here,] Torrina reminded her,

big bear rolled her

contributing anything. They work so hard whilst I sit around and what? Play with the grubs? It's not right,] Sarah repeated herself

have to fight,] Corun reminded her. [It didn't work out

flinched a little but then held

who knows what would have happened? It went bad at the end,] she shuddered, [but I think

think you can too,] Granin told her, his usual gruff tone just a