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!”

his youngest student, almost

me

stared at him for a long moment, her eyes clearly critical of him. Her stare asked the question ‘aren’t you the teacher?’ but she

can suggest. I have a few ideas about what he might do with his acid gland, and there are some Skills that Anthony has definitely overlooked. Predictive Thinking

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

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

true…. Any thoughts,

And the claws as well? Centipedes are…

Thoughts on

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, right? Perhaps he can create more ‘seats’ which will allow him to host more ‘orbs of Will’. Instant communication, regardless of distance,

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

“It would be trivial for him to check in on everyone within the Nave

frown at Corun who still seemed lost to the winds. “This idiot is going to get

suggestions? There’s a couple more I could suggest, but spreading out too thin is

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

pondered for a

work well for him right now. Let’s

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

to waste your time, but we don’t want to be reckless with what we suggest. Given more time, we can cook up some more interesting combinations,] Torrina apologises for them and the big ant waves one antenna