Chrysalis

I’m not a huge fan of my insides turning into my outsides, or having my carapace replaced with candy floss, or indeed, of being flattened/expanded into less/more dimensions than I’m comfortable with.

Having said that, the moment when Brilliant drops me into the fourth stratum makes it more than worthwhile. Instantly, I feel a wave of relief wash over me as both my gasping core relaxes, and the insatiable gnawing of the Call fades away.

It’s still there, obviously, but no longer is it the maddening, mind-bendingly painful yanking on my soul, merely a comfy nail through the foot.

Nothing I can’t handle!

“Thanks, Brilliant,” I sigh in relief, “I appreciate the trip.”

“Are you feeling well, Eldest?” the little maniac says, prodding me in the side. “This is unlike you.”

“Pah. Don’t you have something you should be blowing up? Shoo.”

“Why yes! I do! If you find yourself in need of my services again, don’t hesitate to call my name! BRILLIANT!”

With a pop, she vanishes from sight and I allow myself to slump to the floor in relief.

Bliss.

It doesn’t last long, though.

[MASTER!]

Glomp!

From nowhere, an enormous blob of shadow flies from the crevices in the ceiling above me and latches onto my carapace. Crinis wastes no time expanding herself to wrap around my abdomen, poking and prodding as she goes.

[I’m fine. I’m fine. Nice to see you, Crinis. Stop poking! I haven’t been gone that long. I didn’t even do anything dangerous!]

[Then why did you leave us behind? We could have come too!]

[It’s not that easy for Brilliant to haul powerful monsters around. I thought it was better if you three waited for me down here. Did Tiny and Invidia make it alright?]

[The Mother Tree didn’t really want to move us, but she’s still in debt to the Colony,

out of the deal? Lousy matchstick! I’ll go have a word when I get a chance. In the meantime, stop

[Who is Solant?]

champion. She’s an interesting one, tried to poison

[She WHAT?!]

You're going to snap my

FILTH that dared

mean… you don’t breathe, do you? It’s fine. She tried to poison me with… heh… sugar. It was funny more than anything

[... fine.]

a few things to do, then I’ll

inducing shadow monstrosity mollified for the moment, I turn my attention to the twenty ants before me. They look a little overwhelmed at the dramatic increase in mana concentration compared to where they were

analytical mind of hers. I can practically hear the cogs turning in

I suppose some congratulations are in

“Congratulations?” Solant asks.

graduation from the

finished?” another ant pipes up. “Does that mean we

a sense, yes. In another, more realistic sense, no. You’ve been enrolled in the Colony’s most prestigious and exclusive postgraduate program.

they getting

THWACK!

to the Eldest? Now, Solant, let’s have a quick chat. The

privately. Brilliant was kind enough to deposit us inside the chamber

from the smashing defeat

She glares at me.

“No.”

drive you forward. I’ve got high hopes for you, Solant. I see some qualities in you that are… rare, to say the least, in the Colony. You’re going to

champions, this one wasn’t raised by me. She’s been taught and reared like every other ant, with the love and care of the best monster mums the Dungeon has ever seen: the Brood Tenders! My… unorthodox methods will seem almost cruel by

understand what you

to take an even more unusual

aware what a Champion

“No.”

but sometimes a monster is simply born better, with an already formed core in some instances. But it’s more than just better, also different. In a