Chrysalis

The Legion unload their ships, pack their supplies, and move onto the mountain. Apparently, they have some barracks or something, they certainly brought quite a few troops. A full Legion, which is five thousand soldiers, plus non-combat staff, I’m told. I mean, the Colony has ten thousand, but I don’t like those odds. We have a heck of a lot of carvers in our mix, not exactly our strongest and best fighters. One saving grace is that we brought a decent contingent of mages, more than we usually would in a group this size, so we are packing quite the magical heat, as it were.

Still, as they move around, I make a point to greet them, friendly style. Clacking my mandibles every now and again, things like that. It’s not like I’m snapping them as loudly as I possibly can or anything, just loud enough to send an ear-piercing crack through the air, like a gunshot.

Judging by the reactions of the soldiers, they seem to welcome my provocation—that is to say friendly greeting, glaring up at me. Morrelia plants her face in her palm and I see her taking several long, slow breaths every time I do it, so I’m sure she’s enjoying it.

[Are they interested in talking to me at all?] I ask Grey.

The scruffy swordsman almost turns to look at me.

[Why would they want to do that?]

[They’re here for me, aren’t they?]

[They are here to destroy you. The context is important.]

[Is it a Legion thing to not talk to their targets?]

[Anthony, I do not hold long, philosophical conversations with the monsters I kill, regardless of how intelligent they are. If the Legion are one thing, it’s stubborn. They haven’t changed their attitude in thousands of years, and they won’t now. To them, all monsters are dangerous and need to be eliminated. Monsters with potential for mass destruction, like ants, are incredibly dangerous, and need to be stamped out. Powerful individuals from a species capable of mass destruction—]

[Let me guess. They need to be eliminated.]

[Correct. In addition, any monster who hears the Call…]

[Eliminated?]

[Annihilated.]

[Great. That’s… that’s great.]

I’m really trying to work on an angle where I can have a chat with Morrelia, check in, see how the family is, but I really don’t see how it’s going to work out.

[Why the hate against monsters like us anyway? Every time this sort of thing comes up, people seem certain that monsters are going to go feral, no matter what. The Colony hasn’t gone stomping on anyone’s toes unprovoked.]

Besides a few independent cities who found themselves within Colony territory. No need to mention those.

with an antenna, or at least I try to, he steps smoothly

[What?] he asks, irritated.

you

completely unruffled, he displays a rare sign of ruff

don’t know the answer to that,] he

story has been stolen; if detected on

whoa! Hold on

my legs and lower myself down to roughly his level. A few people standing under me had to scramble out at

is very young. I

confused. He exchanges a

the phenomenon for yourself. You were attacked by the creature, Garralosh, who had amassed an

are,] I reply,

it,] he

[Have what?]

[Anthony…]

I’m not being deliberately thick!

Grey sighs.

force of your core, your

monsters, especially ones stronger than me, felt

Will is not all that this effect can bring about. Should a monster sufficiently strong come close to one who is sufficiently weak, they can dominate them

so that’s how Garralosh had all those monsters following in her wake? She just…

then yes. It seems absurd that you don’t know

That seems…

around weak monsters… I suppose. At least, I’ve never noticed

first stratum in… forever. Demons didn’t seem affected… but I suppose they have some sort of connection with Arconidem… perhaps they’re immune to outside influence? I’ve been on the fourth

a chance to notice something

tier three could be susceptible to you right now,] Grey says. [You’ve never seen such a

shake my

be

unusual. Nevertheless, it is a real

monster is going

believe we should be prepared for it to happen again.

not a fan of