Chrysalis

I’m tempted to utilise my new gravity wells to help lift me up to the plate city of Roklu, but I decide not to. I’ll be damned if I appear undignified in front of the entire nest built against the pillar.

So I climb instead.

For quite some time now, my ability to Grip hasn’t increased in line with my size. I’ve allowed my training to stall on this particular Skill and now I’m paying the price.

Now that my weight is up to multiple tons, I mean, I easily outmass an elephant at this point, maybe even a couple of elephants, the little claws at the end of my legs are struggling to lift that bulk. I’m too damn swole! I’ve got the muscle power to hold on, but seriously, I need to engage in some hardcore grip training. The idea of an ant who can’t hold on upside down indefinitely is absurd!

Eventually, I manage to haul myself up onto the plate, with maybe a little help from Crinis, and I immediately set off to try and find Al. The burning eyeball of doom is rather hard to find when he doesn’t want to be found. Rather, it’s impossible.

Fortunately for me, he seems to be in the mood for discussion, since we find him rather easily. His house is still standing in the outer areas of the city and when we check, he’s in there, floating, reading a book.

I didn’t even know demons could read….

I have to say, the picture of a giant eyeball made of fire hovering over a lectern is an odd one to say the least. A question immediately pops into my mind.

[How do you turn the pages?] I ask.

The book floats up into the air, snaps shut, then drifts toward a shelf where it slots itself into a gap between two other volumes. Of course, he uses magic.

[Second question, how many books have you set on fire by staring too hard at them?]

The demon turns to face me, although all he can really see is my eye peering in through a window.

[Curious. It has been some time. I see you have evolved.]

[That’s right, Al. I’m the same tier as you now. BEHOLD ME.]

The burning eye glitters.

strong. Interesting. I hope that you are strong enough to

leading statement if ever

a little deeper into that?] I ask. [And

and I stand to my full

than before,]

dimension to stick my organs

mine

…. Demons.

any rate, is there a chance you can explain what’s been going on with the demons lately? There’s fighting all over the place, even in this city some demons have gone off the handle and attacked

some knowledge I can

in waves at the mention of knowledge. This guy

were we

with him using information from Earth, feeding him plot lines of various shows and books in exchange for his wisdom. It doesn’t even seem to matter that the info I give him is completely useless, his obsession demands that he

so then they bricked him up in the tunnel, until he changed his mind and decided to be a good engine.

so hot it's

he purrs. [I find this world of talking… trains…

I’ll tell you about the one where a kid throws rocks off a

[Wonderful.]

the demons? What the heck is

falls silent for a moment as he ponders where

are you aware of Arconidem?] he asks

again? I’m so sick of those

know is that Arconidem is an Ancient, one

with bright

is the connection between Arconidem and the demons that is the root cause of the current

born from one monster before the floor