Chrysalis

We warred for survival. That was our driving motivation for so long that when we eventually reached the point that survival wasn’t threatened, we almost didn’t know how to act. We had established enough power, enough allies, that the forces who sought to exterminate us were unwilling to pay the cost, and thus secured our ongoing existence.

Some theorise that it is only when one doesn’t have to struggle day to day that their true personality can shine through. In that case, this period would reveal who the Colony was, what our priorities were, and who we saw ourselves being in the future.

Even the Eldest, so often the driving force behind our development and direction, stepped into the background. Left to our own devices, the Colony had to search deep within itself to find a new direction, a new channel in which to place its bottomless energy.

·

• Excerpt from the private notes of Historiant

Turns out, it takes a lot of mana to create a volcanic eruption.

[Stay away from the master you trash! Die!]

[GRAAAAAH!]

[Ssssurrender your livesss to me!]

BOOM! BOOM!

And it requires an extreme level of concentration and focus.

[Succumb to fear! Retreat from the shadows!]

[Ahhh. The experience isss mine!]

[HRAAAAAAAAA!]

[Can you keep it down, dammit! I’m trying to focus!]

[Sorry, Master!]

take a moment to push away my irritation. It’s not exactly reasonable to expect them

I’ll try and get this ready as quickly as

[Okay!]

bunker for us to huddle in, but it doesn’t take long for the larger termite soldiers to start scissoring away at it. Even the workers are capable of nibbling at the stone and tearing it down piece by piece. Since neither I, nor Invidia have the energy to

little demon could divert his attention to whipping up some stone, but personally I’d

a freakin’

condensed before they are added to the intricate weave that is this spell.

something that I want to be standing next to when it goes off, but I don’t know how long

Exciting!

There’s more

in the name of all

but they

and what do you know, she’s right. It’s horrifying, but also fascinating to see. The termites flood around the tunnel corner like literal water, a densely packed wave that sloshes and

gotten out to the wider nest that the queens were under threat. Naturally they drop everything, no matter what is happening, to come and defend the queen. In

wager there’s a few lizards with mighty headaches out there right

can do about it!] I tell them. [Unleash everything you’ve got.

[I-I’ve got it, Master.]

hasssss it! Givesss it to

it this time, the green light shredding

dripping onto the

overdo it, Invidia,] I tell him.

he replies

with all the delicacy and speed I can muster. Within, the omni-elemental construct spins and whirls as raw mana is pumped

damn thing is

on mana, just… frickin…

out in triumph.