Chrysalis

“This… ‘Colony’. I don’t like it, Theraz, but it’s new, and new can be either good or bad for business. What I need to know, as soon as possible, is which it’s going to be.”

“Well, the first thing I can tell you is we aren’t going to be able to dislodge them easily.”

“Really? That mountain has changed hands so many times recently I was starting to think it was impossible to hold. First that tree had her roots all over it, then the ka’armodo seized it for whatever reason and now these ants are setting up shop! I don’t like it when others set up shops next to mine, Theraz.”

The Satrap didn’t get as disgustingly wealthy as he had by tolerating competition, after all.

“We are directing as many of the lake monsters as we can toward their fortifications, and so far they haven’t made a dent. Worse than that, since they’re monsters, all we’re really doing is flooding them with Biomass, experience and cores.”

“Are you suggesting we cease the siren song?” Umizen muttered, leaning his cheek against one of his hands. “Your father had the same thought.”

My father is a lot smarter when it comes to fighting.

It wouldn’t do to say so out loud, of course.

“Any and all matters regarding the Divine Guardian Beast are for you and you alone to decide on,” Theraz replied smoothly. “I am merely reporting the progress, or lack thereof, being made.”

“Fine,” the Satrap grumbled to himself. “After everything I’ve spent on her, you’d think she could deal with squishing a few ants.”

“She isn’t fighting,” Theraz reminded him, “she’s just using her song.”

“Should I send her up? Make a direct assault?”

expensive was an asset, and the Siren was incredibly expensive. His uncle wouldn’t risk her unless

seen… I’m not sure how to put this…. I’ve seen a very powerful ant monster, a Mythic one, tier seven or eight probably, it was hard to tell from the waterline. It came out of the mountain and scared off a sky

He shook his head.

are more

of the monster, both his cousin and uncle had leaned forward eagerly,

think it’s strong?” Piris gasped. “Could

you think it’s valuable?” the Satrap

both of you: yes, I think it’s strong and valuable. The carapace sparkled under the sun like a jewel and I could feel the mana thundering in its core. Secondly, no. I could not beat it, certainly not alone, and capturing it would be even less likely, since that’s the only time it has come out of the mountain. Fighting through a fortress guarded by

just ants,” Piris and

Theraz shook his head.

few weeks, you’d have a good deal of fear and respect for them, right? I implore the Satrap to

older, pudgier brathian leaned his scaled cheek on

some tier six, and they all have a core. Every single one of them, and there’s hundreds of thousands of them, maybe more, according to what I’ve read.

man felt a chill run

to enjoy the privileges of wealth,

back

your father

he agrees with

a risk like that,’ and ‘how many brathian are you willing to sacrifice to

all valid

someone else taking it and supplanting our people from our dominant position in this area of the stratum. These monsters may be a threat, yes, but if someone

to displace from our position in the Lake,” Theraz assured him. “If it comes down to it, my father and I will give our lives to protect our people, and the

long moments before he clapped