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?]

Tree didn’t really want to move us,

trying to weasel out of the deal? Lousy matchstick! I’ll go have a word when I get a chance. In the

[Who is Solant?]

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

[She WHAT?!]

You're going to snap my antennae! Let go!

annihilate this FILTH

poison me with… heh… sugar. It

[... fine.]

got a few things to do, then

ants before me. They look a little overwhelmed at the dramatic increase in mana concentration compared to where

for Solant. She’s studying everything with that restless, analytical mind of hers. I can practically hear the cogs turning in her head,

suppose some congratulations are

“Congratulations?” Solant asks.

from the Antcademy. Well

ant pipes up. “Does that mean we can go

in the Colony’s most prestigious and exclusive

they

THWACK!

to the Eldest? Now, Solant, let’s

one side where we can speak privately. Brilliant was kind enough to deposit us inside the chamber I evolved in. Spacious, and, it appears, quite abandoned for the moment, we are

defeat I inflicted on you

She glares at me.

“No.”

Nothing like a bit of 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

remind myself that unlike the previous two champions, this one wasn’t raised by me. She’s been taught and reared like

really understand

moment, I decide I’m going to take

you aware what a Champion monster

“No.”

better, with an already formed core in some instances. But it’s more than just better, also different. In a species like ours, they go from rare to ultra, super, giga-rare. In fact, inside