Chrysalis

“Be careful, Tribune. The monster may attempt to manipulate your thoughts.”

Morrelia frowned.

“I’ve received mental fortitude training and raised my Skills to the commander level,” she said evenly. “I will of course remain vigilant nevertheless. Thank you for your diligence, Legionary.”

[What’d he say?] Anthony’s voice echoed in her mind.

[They’re still worried you’ll manipulate me,] she sighed.

[I mean… is it possible to communicate in any way without allowing for the chance of manipulation? I’ve seen what the brathian do to people with just words. It’s not pretty.]

[You know as well as I do that a mind bridge allows for more than just communication. How did you defeat Garralosh again?]

[Ugh… I’d rather not remember, to be honest; that was nasty. Alright, this is the place.]

The ants’ forward operating base wasn’t anything special, yet. There were hundreds of carvers still working on it, and she knew full well what miracles they could accomplish.

[Are there really rooms in there for us?] she asked, a little sceptical.

[Of course! We’re an accommodating group of insects. Unlike your Legion.]

Morrelia felt a pang in her chest.

[Are you thinking of the bolts we shot at you?]

[Of course I am! While I was falling out of the sky as well. That’s such a cheap shot.]

took a

to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end,

regard her directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming at

is best to protect people. It’s the right goal, just the wrong target. But hey, I don’t think I’ll ever convince the people who run your

sighed in relief. At least he wasn’t going to hold

to know,] Anthony continued, [is what you think. Am I a threat to the peace on

him to put her on the spot, hitting right at the heart of her

helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm.

right by the Colony, and we’ll

at the Silver

an instant, all the energy was sucked out of the massive

that…. That

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

[not by a long shot.

quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least. It was hard to believe this was the same creature

fitting into the nests,] she

make the tunnels wider,] he dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right? You want to know how we’re going

she said, looking around

were thousands of ants, hard at work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning to muster the might of

above?] she asked. [I assume this isn’t

invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going to be around a million

[A million?!]

fifth stratum, Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here, take a look at

to a separate area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds of… strange… wobbly

[I love these guys. I don’t know