Chrysalis

Sure enough, it doesn’t take long before Vibrant comes sprinting out of the office, even more energetic than before.

“It’s amazing, Senior! They know soooo much! Even though they have rock-rock heads!”

“Hey, they just have a second layer of rock skin, it’s not like their heads are actually filled with rocks.”

“I thought they just had thinking rocks.”

“What the heck is a thinking rock? You know what, I’ve seen weirder things on Pangera than that. Sure. Go and evolve, have fun. At least the torpor police won’t have to bother chasing you for a while.”

“I wish I could evolve while running. That would be amazing!”

“No it wouldn’t and don’t ever try it. In fact, it’s banned. I don’t want to find out if that's possible. Evolving is the only extended nap I ever get anymore and I refuse to have it taken from me.”

It’s also the only time I get free from the endless influx of the Colony’s Will. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, having the desires and impressions of my family thudding into my mind in a never ending stream. It just gets overwhelming at times.

“Have you spoken to your crew about what they’ll be up to while you’re down here?” I ask Vibrant.

It’s hard to believe she’s a leader, given her easy-breezy attitude, but not only is she a member of the council, she’s also a certified, bonafide commander of her own personal army. I wonder if they’ve come up with a name for themselves yet? Vibrant’s speedsters? Always Accelerating Ants?

Goodness knows.

all have to evolve so they

on the third stratum trying to hoover up experience and cores as quickly as they possibly can. Which is fine. A more powerful speed-squad is only helpful to the Colony after

it, then.

going to get a mythic evolution that turns her into the ant equivalent of a fighter jet, or one of those rocket-propelled

not meant

prayer to the unnamed ones. Whoever’s job it is to

is getting stronger, so it’s all fine. In fact, I wonder how long it is until Brilliant and Solant

eerily still, like a statue, just… watching. What is

Odin. How’s

in surprise as I smack

me? I was

you want to avoid my eyes. Also, learn some mana manipulation so you can

hadn’t thought of

cold and calculating vibe, and his mental voice is quite mature, giving me the sense he was a lot older than me when he died. Doesn’t mean

to scent. There’s also your gravitational field. I can pick

Wouldn’t that field

[Yep!]

An awkward pause.

you planning on just hanging around outside of Sarah’s evolution chamber until she’s done? Just… hiding in stealth

lithe demon

already such an… incredible engine of death. I can’t imagine how she’s going to