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

of the Legion is to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end, they’ve determined you shouldn’t be allowed to descend any

directly, the many lenses in his eyes

or anything, you don’t run the Legion. I get that you lot are doing what you think is best to protect people. It’s the right goal, just the

least he wasn’t going to hold it against her

like to know,] Anthony continued, [is what you

her on the spot, hitting

us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in it, yet… I still struggle to imagine the

do right by the Colony,

happened at

the energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he

Don’t talk about that…. That whole mess was disturbing and

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

no,] Anthony muttered darkly, [not by a long shot. But that’s

To have such a large monster moving so 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 observed as they walked toward the entrance

and he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right?

she said, looking around

of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was

above?] she asked.

not!] he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going to be

[A million?!]

[We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it.

over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending

told her, [I love these guys. I don’t know why they turned out so