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.”

just try and

that there 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

of interesting, actually. The organ that causes me to ‘forget’ or ‘ignore’ their presence still works on my other senses 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

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

to prod

Please stop it,”

Heheheheheh.

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

be able to

around and poke her again,

seriously bump up your stats and combat prowess. That concealment organ has soaked up way too much evolutionary

alright! Just stop

drive home the point, then I turn to Crinis and

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

three of them nod in unison. It’s rewarding having an audience of active

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

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

and I stop to let her catch up. “Eldest. They want to see you down on the shoreline. It’s

this stratum, I won’t let them get a foothold. I rumble down to the shoreline,

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

strength radiate out around me like this. Weaker enemies can’t

together a mind bridge and latch onto the mercenary, then I

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

impacts onto their own, and I make a conscious effort to tone

question, the three of them begin unloading the cargo in their boat,

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

centipedes. They’re probably being spammed everywhere on this level