Chrysalis

My first nap as a tier seven, a deep and satisfying torpor that I luxuriate in. Indeed, life is only complete when one gets their eight hours! I’ve been flat out for way too long, to the point I’ve started to worry that the Torpor Police might disappear me.

That would have caused quite a stir, I’ve no doubt.

They do an incredible job of hiding, those little ninjants, but ever since I picked up the Vestibule, it’s been impossible for them to conceal themselves from me.

Unlike my bodyguards. Whatever it is that they use to create the strange forgetful effect was powerful enough to give me trouble for a little while. Ever since my evolution, though….

I reach out with one leg and poke at the air.

….

I poke again.

….

Another poke, harder this time.

“... Is that really necessary, Eldest?” Protectant complains.

Gweheheheh.

“I just find it fun, how easily I can spot you now.”

The guard smells decidedly unhappy about it.

“We would like to know how you do it,” she grumbles, “out of professional courtesy.”

way. You’d just try and find a

is one. As far as I can tell, as long as they’re ants who believe in me, they will provide me with Will. As long as the energy is flowing, they’ll be lit up like a christmas tree, regardless

themselves. I can’t see Protectant with my eyes, or even feel it when I poke her with my leg, or detect the scent when the guards communicate with each other, despite knowing for a fact exactly where they

stealth they’ve achieved is absurd.

is why it’s so fun to

Please stop it,” Guardiant

Heheheheheh.

that I’m tier seven, you all need to make the push to tier six,” I tell the invisible squad of babysitters. “If I’m going to be rumbling with tier eight enemies, you’ll be flattened just

we’ll be able to hide

whip around and poke her again, with both

be stupid! You can hide from everything you need to hide from already. You need to seriously bump up your stats and combat prowess. That

alright! Just stop

drive home the point, then I turn to Crinis

gang. We’re fresh, we’re ready for action and we need to get some Levels into you, pronto. Hunting in the fourth stratum is likely to be our best bet, but at the same time, we need to be on standby in case they need us in the

in unison. It’s rewarding

we’ll hunt and gather Biomass. I need a fair bit to get my mutations ticking along, but we should make sure to contribute to the Colony stockpile, since you three are all maxed out. Let’s go see

of those diamond centipede nests. My rage won’t abate until I wipe that species from the Dungeon! As it

let her catch up. “Eldest. They want to see you down on the shoreline. It’s about something

I rumble down to

by a host of ants that watch their every move with preternatural stillness. The leader, a fairly

around me like this. Weaker enemies can’t

a mind bridge and latch onto the mercenary, then

so soon,] I greet them. [Excellent, excellent. I suppose

own, and I make a conscious effort to tone it down. I can’t be scaring away our potential partners

in their boat, depositing a dozen of the offensively glittering

warily. [The Dungeon seems to be spitting them out at quite a rapid clip. We sailed two mountains west and tried our luck, ran

love of centipedes. They’re probably being spammed everywhere on this level of the Dungeon. New spawn points will