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.”

try and find a way

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

when they actively try to conceal 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

achieved is absurd. They’re

is why it’s so fun to prod at them. Poke.

stop it,”

Heheheheheh.

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 by being near me if

we evolve, we’ll be able to hide from you

poke her again, with both antennae

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

alright! Just

more prod, just to drive home the point, then I turn to Crinis and the others for a quick

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 unison. It’s rewarding having an audience of active

my mutations ticking along, but we should make sure to contribute to the Colony stockpile, since you three

rage won’t abate until I wipe that species from the Dungeon! As it turns out, we don’t even make our way out of the tunnels before someone finds us with an urgent

and I stop to let her catch up. “Eldest. They want

my highest priority on this stratum, I won’t let them get a foothold. I rumble down to the shoreline, my friends in tow, only to find the mercenaries from

three of them stand awkwardly, surrounded by a host of ants that watch their every move with preternatural stillness. The leader, a fairly burly-looking

out around me like this. Weaker enemies can’t even stand up to

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

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

onto their own, and I make a conscious effort to tone it down. I can’t be scaring away

the cargo in their boat, depositing a dozen of the offensively glittering

the leader grunted warily. [The Dungeon seems to be spitting them out at quite a rapid clip. We sailed two

probably being spammed everywhere on this level of the Dungeon. New spawn points will be popping up all over