Chrysalis

Corun, Torrina and Granin all stare at me with glittering eyes after they reveal that it's the Ancients who've stuck this hook in me rather than the Dungeon itself. At times like this I have to remind myself that despite their intelligence, these three are cultists who essentially worship a giant worm.

[So in your opinion, the fact that the Ancients have done this to me, rather than the Dungeon itself, should change my view of it?]

[Of course,] Torrina nods seriously, [these are the oldest and most powerful creatures in this world.]

[How could it not make a difference? Are you saying you don't care that you've been called by these god-like entities?] Corun entreats me, grinning.

I stare him in the eye.

[OF COURSE I DON'T CARE! Why the hell would it make any difference to me? Are you stupid? Is your brain a worm?! I swear on the Colony, if I ever become an Ancient I'll stick a hook in your guts and haul you around the Dungeon, we'll see if your opinion changes!]

Granin raises both his hands and tries to calm the mood.

[Alright, let's settle a bit. Obviously Anthony isn't thrilled at being in pain. That's perfectly understandable. I'm sure that you can understand why we might be excited though, right? You've essentially been touched by what we would consider to be omnipotent beings.]

[Granin,] I grate out, [even if I wasn't in pain, I wouldn't care about the Ancients. All they are to me can be summed up as 'threats to my family'. Outside of that they can take a long walk on a scenic trail.]

Corun almost winces.

about them like that, Anthony,] he

bite back. [Will they cause me

shift as the ache

even doing this?] I complain. [I can't detect any mana that's connecting to

can't help you with that,] Granin admits, [nobody has ever been able to figure it out, or what requirements are necessary to trigger the call. Some promising monsters begin to feel it early, perhaps even at tier four or five, but others never do, not even at tier eight.

be possible according to what I know, but these monsters have been alive for literally thousands of years. If they haven't

aside my anger and try to be reasonable. [You can't help get rid of this, is there any way I can mitigate it? Reduce the effects? Right now I can barely operate on this stratum at all, I presume going to the

understanding where I'm coming from. She glances at Granin, who indicates she can answer before

it that we've ever found is for the marked individual to … ] she reaches for the right words, [ …

an evolution

ranks, completing the circle of twenty. For that reason they've reached out and attempted to draw promising monsters to them,] Granin says directly. [It's a crude method, but

what he can do with his beliefs when

being difficult are you,

shock. It

the base of the hill is a swarm of ants who posture aggressively, zipping this way and that as they rush forward to assess any threats. But underneath all of that swarming carapace is a form that I can't forget no matter how much

"Weren't you in

of thought that would end