Chrysalis

Granin felt as if he had a headache coming on. Scratch that, he felt like a boulder split straight down the middle. Shock after shock had come from that gigantic ant until he felt as if the ground were shaking under his feet. It was even more aggravating that Anthony had no idea what he had become. To the people of the Cult, an Ancient was a god. A peerless being of almost fathomless power. The strongest creatures on Pangera, each and every one of them could destroy cities, or devastate armies, with contemptuous ease. And they had, during the Rending.

Anthony had become a proto-ancient, a demi-god, with power beyond what a normal monster would have. Every Mythic monster was powerful, but what he was now capable of went beyond that. Granin was certain that the young monster had no idea just what the Cathedral inside him would enable.

The ant had described the torrent of power that came flooding through the Vestibule. Hundreds of thousands, possibly more than a million ants were currently within range, so the flow of Will was doubtless enormous.

But the Colony was only what… a year old? Maybe two? What would happen in ten? Or fifty? With enough mutations, Anthony might be able to fit a billion of his siblings within the range of the Vestibule. What then?

After a long life working toward a single goal, to have that goal suddenly so close to hand was almost painful to Granin. The weight of the combined Cult members, from all of the Cults around Pangera, over thousands of years, pressed down on his shoulders.

Success here could stave off a second Rending. Would bring fruition to the grand design of the Ancients.

Failure would haunt him for the rest of his life.

“No pressure,” he rumbled to Corun and Torrina, “but we need to give Anthony some advice, and it had better be good. He’s finally opened up to us, we can’t let him down.”

“My mind is completely blank,” Corun stated, still in shock. “All I can think about is centipedes.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know!”

to his youngest student, almost in

tell me you have

him for a long moment, her eyes clearly critical of him. Her stare asked

there are some Skills that Anthony has definitely overlooked. Predictive Thinking would be an excellent addition, given his

actually,” Granin praised her, calming himself down a little. “What about the Nave,

to patiently go through all of the options with Anthony, and we all

true…. Any

so many legs? And the claws as well?

him. Thoughts on the Nave,

most powerful asset is the Altar, and that mutation will allow him to squeeze more power out of it. After that, he should carefully consider mutations that accentuate the unique properties of the Nave. It allows him to communicate with those contained within,

fight, but for coordination and communication, it could be invaluable. Perhaps there’s an option which will allow

mind constructs he can host,” Torrina refutes. “It would be trivial

point. Well done keeping a cool head.” Granin turned a hard frown at Corun who still seemed

There’s a couple more I

to have higher rank Skills than many low-ranked ones.

golgari pondered for a

got some stuff which will work well for him

able to move back to the table at which Anthony was waiting. The ant was an intimidating sight; the force of his aura, even when he wasn’t actively flexing his Will, was unstettling. Even as a physical presence, he was domineering. His diamond carapace gleamed a faint purple, along with his mandibles, and the light almost seemed to get pulled into him. Sitting on the ground, his legs propped up, the monster felt incredibly massive. Just how much did he weigh now?

to waste your time, but we don’t want to be reckless with what we suggest. Given more time,