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.

is something of a special case. Sarah is much better built to tolerate the

really appreciate it,] Sarah

on which they stood for a moment, taking in the absurd view of the wide open space that 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

me in a bad

alright,] she sympathised, [I'm much the

two of them as she glanced over the side of

you do that," Corun shuddered. "I'd

down in another five minutes or so,]

system in place so quickly,] Sarah said, looking up at the massive rope system that connected them to the

starting to become just a normal expectation from my point of view,] Granin shrugged.

time later the platform finally touched down into the city and they were able to unpin and open the gate, allowing

here, take it

minutes for the trio to unbuckle all the straps, by

thank goodness,] Sarah groaned, [that is so much

to come down here,] Torrina reminded her, [this was your

bear rolled

feel 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? It's not right,] Sarah repeated herself as she finally pushed her body back onto its

her. [It didn't work out so

flinched a little but then

didn't go terribly,] she defended herself. [I helped protect the nest … and if I hadn't, who knows what would have

can too,] Granin told her, his usual gruff tone just a hair softer than