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?]

to move us, but she’s

matchstick! I’ll go have a word when I get a chance.

[Who is Solant?]

Colony champion. She’s an interesting one,

[She WHAT?!]

to snap my

this FILTH that dared to

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

[... fine.]

Now behave, I’ve got a few things to do, then I’ll chase down the other two

my madness 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

for Solant. She’s studying everything with that restless, analytical mind of hers. I

some congratulations are in

“Congratulations?” Solant asks.

early graduation from the

up. “Does that mean

In another, more realistic sense, no. You’ve been enrolled in the Colony’s most prestigious and exclusive postgraduate program. You get to learn directly from the

they getting

THWACK!

about me! Sheesh! Where’s the respect due to the Eldest? Now, Solant, let’s have a quick chat. The

pull the general to one side where we can speak privately. Brilliant was kind enough to deposit us inside the chamber I

defeat I inflicted on

She glares at me.

“No.”

burning anger to 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 become a very important member of the family before all

that unlike the previous two 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…

understand

that moment, I decide I’m going to take an even more unusual

aware what a

“No.”

instances. But it’s more than just better, also different. In a species