While the hatchling is sleeping through her tier four evolution, the rest of us take a break to strategize a little with Granin and co before we rest. Sometimes it's easy to forget that the others need a break a lot sooner than I do, at least, whenever I'm within range of the Colony. There's just something about never getting tired that seeps into your subconscious, before too long you start thinking of fatigue as abnormal. While everyone else is getting some shut eye, I keep my minds spinning, working hard on practicing new constructs and weaving spells. The grind train is on and it don't stop for nobody!
If the demons think I'm going to rest on my laurels they've got another thing coming.
Still, talking to Granin and the others provides a much more sober evaluation of where we sit in the power scales. Despite having risen so far, there is so long to go.
[That's the way of it in the Dungeon,] the old Shaper shrugs, [until you get all the way to the middle, there's always going to be something stronger than you are. The only time you can really feel safe is when you're the highest tier in a particular stratum and there isn't a wave going on.]
[The way things have been lately, there'll be another wave before too long,] I grump.
He nods.
[That's true. There haven't been two waves this close together in recorded history, and the ambient mana level is still elevated. Some of the more anxious members of the cult feared that this might indicate the cataclysm would come again. I wasn't inclined to believe them then, but now I'm not so certain.]
[The cataclysm? You mean the Rending?]
then the mana level will continue to rise higher and higher, with wave after wave until the energy becomes so fierce that the Ancients will rise from the centre of the world and consume the
they're going to come up here and eat all of us!?
working against the ancients rather than with them? Granin
great worm. The ancients are close to gods in a lot of ways, beings capable of ripping the world apart if they so choose, but they are monsters. Our cult and the others around the world understand that the ancients follow their nature. They seek growth, as all creatures in this world do. It's not like we can be mad at them for taking experience and Biomass when they get the chance.
[I guess not…]
unsporting though… Mind you, I would definitely do it if I had the chance. I'm a monster, so manners aren't expected. I'd likely get enough experience to
actually happens, and they rise again, then won't all of
they would likely eat you.
I slump.
only answer is to keep
[Right,] Granin grins.
you wanted the Colony to thrive, you
that, but I didn't realised there was an ancient level threat on
The Cataclysm has only happened once, and nobody was alive in the Dungeon at that point, so nobody has any idea what the conditions
Sophos down here at
younger mage
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