Chrysalis

“So how does it feel, Eldest?’

I turn a little to look down at Advant. I’d never really considered before, because I’d never really had to, that the position of my eyes and shape of my head blocks my vision to the ground beneath me. Unlike a human, with a handy dandy neck, I can’t exactly look down.

So when Advant approaches close to my legs and wants to chat, I actually can’t see where she is. I lower my legs on one side to change the angle and I spot her on my left.

“Oh, there you are. What do you mean by that?”

“To be a tier seven? You’re reaching levels of power that most in the Colony can only dream about.”

I feel a little uncomfortable when she puts it that way.

“What do you mean? You’ll reach this point soon enough. Bit of time, Biomass and cores are all you need and bam, you’ll be my size before you know it.”

Or bigger, considering her energy is mostly dedicated to physical growth, whereas I split mine. To my surprise, she shakes her antennae in denial.

“No, I don’t think there will be many who manage to take the leap that you have. The amount of resources required to push one of us to such a high tier is hard to justify. There are over a million members of the Colony now, each and every one of them in need of cores to fuel their evolutions. We must consider the strength of the overall family.”

a few heavyweights,” I suggest, “that big burny demon was a good counter to our normal swarm tactics. Having one big shot to take it down fast is the right

that will be me,” she sighs. “I have responsibilities as a member of the council, I can’t be hoarding resources and putting myself on the frontline all the time. Vibrant will likely be supported to make a push toward evolution, but I doubt I will ever reach tier

the Colony continues to grow in the manner that it has, then the demand for this precious resource will only continue to grow. If the Colony

one who insisted we do everything

I say, trying to give a better answer. “I’m

in size I’ve had. Other than the tier five soldiers, almost everyone around me can walk straight under my carapace

body is almost pointless. My mandibles are longer than I was tall, even before the leg thing. In short, I’m huge!

to admit, thinking back to that period, it feels good to know I

terms of total mass, he’s fallen far behind me for the time being, something that appeared to hurt his feelings. At least, he was sulking up a

a little more time has passed,” I tell Advant. “For now, I’m still not used to a lot

The soldier nods.

your

love to

down there for the moment. You’re all safe enough for the time being, even though the demons are going crazy.

to head back, but I’ll have to

have a harder time than I am,” I tell her, “but you’re all way better at organising this sort of

emergency has been resolved, but the ongoing danger in the demon stratum continues to grow. The Colony needs to get to work preparing for the onslaught, and I need to prep myself for battle with possibly

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