Chrysalis

I mean… you want me to leave messages for EVERY caste now? Give me a break. What do I even have to say?! Really, this is my fault. The moment I did the first, every member of the council was going to come after me, asking me to leave a nugget of wisdom for their followers.

Listen well, hatchling, Don’t let your siblings hassle you into things you don’t want to do.

I mean, it’s hard for me to say no to Bella and Ellie. The Core Shapers are near and dear to my heart, because the pets that I raised became such dear friends and reliable allies. I can’t imagine what would have happened had I been forced to face the Dungeon by myself.

Treasure your pets. In fact, don't even think of them as pets. They aren’t disposable, they aren’t less than you are. They’re your sword and shield, just as you are theirs. Don't even think of them as friends and allies, but as members of the family.

- The Eldest’s message to the Core Shapers.

It’s not easy to read a giant floating, fiery eyeball, but I can tell that Al is intrigued. Mainly because my eyeballs feel like they’re boiling from the heat pouring off him.

[Answer a question for me, Al. Why the heck are you a burning eyeball if you’re a knowledge demon? I’m not trying to pry, but it doesn’t seem to line up. Shouldn’t you be some sort of flame demon or something?]

He radiates heat like a mini-sun, for goodness’ sake. What does flame have to do with knowledge?!

[I was a type of envy demon in the past, but took on the aspect of fire along with my desire for knowledge in my evolution to tier seven.]

[So you changed significantly in your last evolution?]

[Indeed.]

I guess that makes sense. I turn my attention to Invidia floating nearby, his eye fixated on Al. I wonder what he’ll turn into during his next evolution? Right now, he’s envious, of pretty much everything and everyone. How will that obsession change? Personally, I wouldn’t mind if he became a little less broadly focused. A bridge to cross when we come to it.

[Now then. Time to get down to business. You used to live a lot deeper in the stratum, and you’ve been collecting information for goodness knows how long. I figured if anyone knows anything about these long sleeping demons, then it was going to be you. Care to share what you know?]

while, contemplating his

of the demon of which

he means the

going to have to beat all

will be able to

be able to do

be difficult. But

tell you, but there will be

Of course there is.

hear it then. Hopefully, there won’t

[What is… price gouging?]

get distracted, we’re already in the middle of a transaction. Unless you want that to be

go to confront the Heralds, I want you to take me with

little unexpected, but the help will certainly be worth

don’t plan on allying with them, do

The flaming eye flashes.

welcome my help.

can tag along. Now spill the

[What are beans?]

[Concentrate, dammit!]

I am sorry. Allow me to explain what

thoughts, fire flickering around

deepest reaches of the stratum, in places thick with mana to sustain them. When he wakes, he sends them to carry out his wishes amongst the demons. Creating havoc, driving out any non-demons, these are his

servants

last awake five hundred years ago, which corresponds to Arconidem’s last period of activity.