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 way

As far as I can tell, as long as they’re ants who believe in me, they will provide me with Will. As long

works on my other senses when they actively try to conceal themselves. I can’t see Protectant with

stealth they’ve achieved is absurd. They’re like

it’s so fun to prod

Please stop it,”

Heheheheheh.

of babysitters. “If I’m going to be rumbling with tier

able to hide from

around and poke her again, with both antennae this

and combat prowess. That concealment organ has soaked up way too much evolutionary energy, don’t waste the next evolution

alright! Just stop

then I turn to Crinis and the others for

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 third. There’s some funky business going down up

three of them nod in unison. It’s rewarding

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

the Dungeon! As it turns out, we don’t even make

to me and I stop to let her catch up. “Eldest. They want to see you down on

stratum, I won’t let them get a foothold. I rumble down to the shoreline, my friends in tow, only to find the

every move with preternatural stillness. The leader, a fairly burly-looking golgari, almost seems happy when he

around me like this. Weaker enemies

spin together a mind bridge and latch onto the mercenary, then I bring his two followers into the

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

mind impacts onto their own, and I make a conscious

their boat, depositing a dozen

found them pretty quickly, all things considered,] the leader grunted warily. [The Dungeon seems to be spitting them out

level