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.]

a deep

apologise for it. The stated purpose of the Legion is to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end, they’ve determined you shouldn’t be

turned to regard her directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming

that you lot are doing what you think 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 outfit

he wasn’t going to hold it against her personally, but he wasn’t

I’d like to know,] Anthony continued, [is what you think. Am I a

put her on

Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in it, yet… I still struggle

by the Colony, and we’ll

what happened at the

of the massive monster and he slumped to the

about that…. That whole mess was disturbing

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

by a long shot.

up onto the tips of his legs. To have such a large monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least. It was

fitting into the nests,] she observed as they walked toward the entrance to the

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 down in

said, looking

work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning to muster the might of their

working on this above?] she asked.

is being prepped above. It’s going to be around

[A million?!]

is the fifth stratum, Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any

area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds of…

told her, [I love these guys. I don’t know