Chrysalis

The ability to create functional gates was perhaps the greatest leap forward in magical technology since the time of Rending. Safely securing travel, even at significant expense, between strata, between cities, and finally connecting the civilisations in a meaningful way, changed life on Pangera forever. No longer were the civilised races forced to huddle in their cities, with only the mightiest of warriors able to leave or travel with any reliability.

Trade flourished. Cultural exchange blossomed. Alliances were formed and cemented. The gates are the greatest defence, and the greatest weapon against the Dungeon.

- ‘Forward March - Advancing society post-rending.’ by Arcurial

Assistant was worried.

“It’s nothing, she’s fine,” Experimant told her tersely.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Now focus on your job.”

Above them, perched on her station overlooking the experimental portal and the entire workspace, Brilliant flopped listlessly. Her legs dangled uselessly as her antennae shifted this way and that, seemingly without purpose.

“We’re almost ready for the next test,” Experimant reported up to their leader. “Repairs are complete, in record time, the power banks are charged and our monitors are reading steady.”

“Of course the repairs are complete,” Brilliant sighed, “there was barely any explosion at all last time.”

“That’s not a bad thing, remember?” Experimant griped acidly as she continued to direct the rest of the team.

“It’s boring.”

“We’re on the verge of creating a breakthrough in portal technology for the Colony, and all you have to say is ‘it’s boring’?! We might even succeed on this attempt!”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Brilliant said, completely devoid of energy. “We are going to succeed on this attempt. There’s no mystery, no excitement, no risk of anything blowing up, no sense of the unknown.”

Her legs wiggled fitfully before she resumed her listless flop.

“I just can’t feel any interest now that we’ve succeeded.”

a stable gate here in the chamber, do you? How about you ensure that you’re

sure I’m correct,” the leader groaned. “Did you forget who I am?

Be that way. Assistant, do we have

is coming

your shivering. It’s going to be

“I-I-I’m just excited!”

“Weak,” Brilliant called.

“You be quiet.”

looked carefully around the chamber once more. The team were busy preparing the gate, ensuring the many, many enchantments, reading devices and

energy, the mana within churning as if begging to be released. Even the liquid mana tanks were half full, enough power to blast a hole in

they weren’t going to blast a hole, they shouldn’t need to anymore. As their tests had gone on, Brilliant had refined the process more and more, narrowing their focus and adjusting the method from a battering ram between dimensions to a handshake

test, they’d successfully established contact between the sending and receiving gates, but failed to stabilise it before there was

minute!” she

“Gate is clear!”

“Begin recordings!”

“Recordings started!”

“Activate weave monitoring!”

“Activated!”

“Connect the powerbanks!”

a loud thunk and a rippling of

“Connected!”

“Charge the shields!”

“Charged!”

our

We’re holding s-s-s-steady. S-s-s-signal

“Initiate the handshake!”

dimensional energy

“I-i-i-initiated!”

bunkers! Go!

into the waiting cages that lined the room. Experimant grabbed Assistant and dragged her along