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

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 of what

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 when the guards communicate with each other, despite knowing for a fact

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

to prod at

stop it,”

Heheheheheh.

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 by

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

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.

Just

home the point, then I turn to Crinis

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 third. There’s some

in unison. It’s rewarding having an audience

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

of those diamond centipede nests. My 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

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

They’re 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 earlier

surrounded by a host of ants that watch their every move with preternatural stillness. The leader, a fairly burly-looking golgari, almost seems happy when he notices my approach, even as he winces

strength radiate out around me

onto the mercenary, then

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

the force of my mind impacts onto their own, and I make a conscious effort

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

found them pretty quickly, all things considered,] the leader grunted warily. [The Dungeon seems to be spitting them out at quite a rapid clip. We

Gandalf and his love of centipedes. They’re probably being spammed everywhere on this level of