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

stated purpose of the Legion is to protect people from the Dungeon,

her directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming at

doing what you think is best to protect people. It’s

he wasn’t going to

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

on

said. [The wisdom of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in it, yet… I still

do right by the Colony, and we’ll do right by

what happened at the Silver

energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he slumped to

talk about that…. That whole mess was

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

a long shot. But

monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least. It was hard to believe this was

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

[This is what you came for,

said, looking around

at work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only

working on this above?]

he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above.

[A million?!]

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

area where a group of

guys. I don’t know