Chrysalis

Odin skulked amongst the larvae that covered the ground. Now knee deep, the newborn demons were even more frenzied than normal, hacking and tearing at each other with wild abandon.

He’d been one of them not that long ago, it was difficult to remember that sometimes. Weak, having to climb up over his own kind in order to survive. Just like his life as a human.

Idly, he wondered just how many larvae were spawned across the entire stratum in an hour. Billions? Trillions? Breaking a few eggs to make an omelette was one thing, but the inefficiency in this process was almost offensive to him.

Loss of life was something Odin could relate to, given his previous line of work, but each death was supposed to be significant. It should mean something, when a creature dies. Most of these larvae wouldn’t make it past tier two, and none would remember them, or even notice their passing.

Getting melancholic. Focus on the job, he admonished himself.

Lowering his frame, he turned his head from side to side, imitating the sweeping hunter’s gaze that evolved demons adopted on the plain. Despite appearances, he only had eyes for the ants.

They were everywhere. Everywhere. Groups combed through the larvae like gold-hunters with metal detectors, every now and again snatching up a specimen and examining it. The lucky, or unlucky demon was either placed back with the others, or stowed carefully in a bag, thrashing like a wild… demon.

Ants travelled in huge lines, thousands of them, following trails just like an ant on Earth would, except these were even more orderly. They carried all sorts of things; metals, ores, Biomass, cores, shipping materials from distant parts of the Plains and pouring them into the gigantic nest that loomed in the distance. It was as if that immense structure were a monster itself, all the wealth and resources that could be gathered for kilometres around were flooding toward it in a ceaseless flood.

Odin was sure he could see them scuttling about on the roof overhead, though what they might be doing up there was beyond him.

Every time a group seemed as if it might come nearby, he would shift his direction, moving away from them without seeming to. A cold, tense feeling coiled around his monstrous guts, a sensation that he had felt only a few times before.

sombrero and ladder, he’d made his way into their compound and found himself surrounded on all sides. The ranchera of death drifted from every window and each time light flashed on a sequined vest, he’d felt he had

the seat of their power. To reach even this seemingly innocuous position, he’d been required to slip past numerous patrols, several mines, six construction

that ultimate power that might set him

demons who had claimed him, and the grip of Arconidem on his soul, Odin needed help. He wasn’t accustomed to needing help, but here, in this world, where the rules weren’t

Over there!

more, he caught a glimpse of what he’d been hoping to see. Easy to pick out, even when surrounded by

the three monsters he had seen following the creature before. Each was powerful, stronger than he,

an unspoken authority and strength that grabbed hold and refused to let go. He could see it in the other ants as

as this one, this

intercept, but not too closely. This group of four had quite the

perfect nonchalance, every inch the prowling demon looking for prey, he watched the group's movements,

were several ways he could play this, depending on the outcome that he wanted most. If he could devise a way to bring the ant and the demons who plagued him into a direct confrontation without revealing himself, that may be for the best. If the ant was victorious, then he would be free to go about his own

the conflict. Posing as the helpful messenger, he could reveal the danger and provide advice. The issue with this approach was that he lacked mastery of the magic that allowed him to converse with others. If demon speech existed, he did not

worked with some demons, that much he

No.

that’s where he, Odin the feared assassin, was most comfortable. Decision made, he nodded to himself and

angle. The small

was the

his body, causing his muscles to spasm and lock even as