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 find

ants who believe in me, they will provide me with Will. As long as the energy

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

stealth they’ve achieved

so fun to prod

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 flattened just by being near

we’ll be able to hide

whip around and poke her again, with both

stupid! You can hide from everything you need to hide from already. You need to seriously bump up your stats and combat prowess. That concealment organ has soaked up way too much evolutionary energy, don’t waste the

alright! Just stop poking

the point, then I turn to

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 funky business going down up there, and we may need to

unison. It’s rewarding having an audience of

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

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

catch up. “Eldest. They want to see you down

them get a foothold. I rumble down to the shoreline, my friends in

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 under the

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

onto the mercenary, then I bring his two followers into

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

them grimace as the force of my mind impacts onto their own, and I make a conscious effort to tone it

response to my question, the three of them begin unloading the cargo in their boat, depositing a dozen

all things considered,] the 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, ran into

everywhere on this level