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.”

in the chamber, do you? How about you

sure I’m correct,” the leader groaned.

do

s-s-signal is

your shivering. It’s going to

“I-I-I’m just excited!”

“Weak,” Brilliant called.

“You be quiet.”

took a deep breath and looked carefully around the chamber once more. The team were busy preparing the gate, ensuring the many, many

released. Even the liquid mana tanks were half full, enough power to blast a hole in the dimensional weave should they

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 through space

established contact between the sending and receiving gates, but failed to stabilise it before there was another manifold collapse with only

test in one minute!” she

“Gate is clear!”

“Begin recordings!”

“Recordings started!”

“Activate weave monitoring!”

“Activated!”

“Connect the powerbanks!”

loud thunk and a rippling of

“Connected!”

“Charge the shields!”

“Charged!”

are our coordinates

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

“Initiate the handshake!”

within the gate, sparks of dimensional energy flickering and leaping

“I-i-i-initiated!”

into the bunkers! Go! Go!

and dashed into the waiting cages that lined the room. Experimant grabbed Assistant and