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.”

You’d just try and find a way around

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

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 when the guards

achieved is absurd.

to prod at them.

stop it,”

Heheheheheh.

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

be able to hide from you again…”

her again, with both

to seriously bump up your stats and combat

alright! Just stop poking

then I turn

we need to be on standby in case they need us in the third. There’s some funky business going down up there, and

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

get my mutations ticking along, but we should make sure to contribute to the

species from the Dungeon! As it turns

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

a foothold. I rumble down to the shoreline, my friends in tow, only to find the mercenaries from

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

have my strength radiate out around me like this. Weaker enemies can’t even stand up to

mercenary, then I bring his

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

of them grimace as the force of my mind impacts onto their own, and I make a conscious effort to tone it down. I can’t be scaring away our

them begin unloading the cargo in their boat, depositing a

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

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