Chrysalis

The justice of the Colony is possibly one way in which they are more alien to other sapient races than any other. What is important to them, what is not, where they are harsh, where they are lenient, doesn't always make sense to the outsider. Some of their penalties could be considered unspeakably cruel in some circles, but the ants don't so much as twitch an antenna.

Their view on forced labour, a common enough practice in the Dungeon, is strangely reticent. Perhaps that isn't speaking strongly enough. They hate it. The idea of 'forcing' someone to work is completely alien to them. After all, why would anyone need to be forced? And if you did force them, would the work produced be any good? Having unwilling workers, producing faulty work, is only decreasing overall efficiency. A waste of time.

No slavery. No indentured workers. Some might say they are a lenient race and try to take advantage of them. Those people would very quickly regret making that choice. The ants themselves do not transgress upon each other, their social cohesion is perhaps their greatest strength, but when others do, their fury is total.

• Excerpt from "Collective Justice: A treatise on the Laws of the Colony"

Yesssssss. I can feel it! I can feel the hate flowing through me. It burns… it burns so good! After being suppressed for so long, it is now the time, the rise of Dark Anthony! Finally we have him, the egg-killer, dancing about like a guilty worm full of guilt, pierced by the sweet hook of justice. Everything is now in place to catch the elusive, juicy fish of revenge.

I'm so delighted, I'm not even bothering to mask my mental assault on Jim, broadcasting my descent to all and sundry.

[How do you taste, Jim? Are you delicious? Will the grubs who feed on you grow up big and strong? I want to be sure they won't be tainted by the nutrients of betrayal that are riddled through your entire, corrupted, body.]

[What is wrong with you, Anthony?] the worm dares to lash out at me. [Are you crazy?]

Such impudence!

[You do not speak with Anthony, but Dark Anthony! I will not yield, rest, relent or abide until every ounce of your crimes has been wrung from your evil flesh. One ring at a time!]

[Are you even human?]

not! I'm an

of humankind can protect him? Those things are fragile. In truth, life on Earth was much like life in the Dungeon, if you ask me. The powerless were subjected to horrific treatment in the dark, but most didn't notice because it wasn't

wretched, wriggling, portent of

can regrow when you're cut in half. Is that true? Can we turn you into a Biomass farm and feed our grubs on you forever? Considering what you did, that's

continue to circle and prod the enemy with glee until something breaks into my mental broadcast,

What are you

behaviour. Not surprising, really, she hasn’t been exposed to the Dark One before. The darkness cannot be contained!

am giving this… creature… the treatment he deserves! After the evil seeds that he has sown. Seeds of evil, mind you! He watered them with the rich, foamy water of betrayal and they germinated, oh did they germinate, into little sprouts of murder and death. Now, the time has come to reap the harvest, the doomed harvest, of doom! I won't avert my gaze from the terrible acts he has committed, nor will I shrink away from the punishment. It will be equally harsh! If

desperation and fear. [You can't leave me in the hands of this madman!

[Jim….]

and it's written all over her bear face. The mammals, with their soft, readable

of this is

me, Sarah!] Jim pleads. [I did all of this for you!

clings to this presumption that he did not act selfishly. Such pish! The darkness within my soul only

of sick! You'll never take responsibility for

I did was dig a

of that, you moron?! Innocent grubs and

different from you annihilating hundreds

or I'll bite

silent as Brilliant continues to poke and prod him whilst skittering across him. I

you. I know that none of this feels right,

presence that radiates