Chrysalis

Alright, Jern and Alice have apparently been transformed into killing machines. Good, I guess? They'll rack up levels and experience quickly, which is a benefit, and I don't have to worry about them getting hurt. That's fine. All positive.

But what about the kids?

Emelia, Trean and Allison are watching the growing chaos with neutral expressions, seemingly unmoved by what they're seeing. I'm getting a bad feeling about this. What have the Nameless done with these kids? Surely, they aren't as… killy… as the other two? Right?

[Alright, you three. Do you feel like you can head in there and contribute without putting yourselves at too much risk?] I ask them.

The three of them look about, carefully assessing their surroundings, then share a long, silent exchange of glances.

[We'll be fine,] Emelia says shortly.

Ooookay. I guess I just… have to trust they know what they're doing. I mean, the Nameless wouldn't have let them out if they would be in danger… right?

Let's see.

The three young people move together in eerie silence until they approach the back ranks of the battalions. Then they just… vanish.

What the….

For the next ten minutes, I'm treated to a horrifying, terrifying display that shakes me down to my claws. The three of them are everywhere and nowhere. They pop out of the shadows with perfect timing, slashing out with quick and deadly strikes before vanishing once more.

to track them with my eyes. If I didn't have the Vestibule and Nave, I would have no idea they were even out there. The monsters they defeat have no idea what happened, struck from blindspots, beneath them, behind them, to the side. Heck, I saw one of the three jump out from behind an ant's leg. The leg. Even if it was a soldier, their legs aren't that thick…. How do you hide behind

in a sombre mood, reflecting on the tragedy of

we do well,

well. Too well. I feel nothing but

do as I asked and head off to join Jern and Alis, who give them high-fives and

can't put the blame entirely on them. I'll have to have a word

it a bad thing that they can defend themselves? Of course not! But having such young death machines leaves an itchy feeling in my mandibles. Then again,

was much wiser, though.

later. You can't put spilled babies back in

Bert. You're up. Show me what you can

not going to be fooled this time. Bert might look like a harmless old man who mends pots and cleans things for a living, but he went through the same deadly training of death that the others did. There's no way he hasn't been turned into

nods at my request, and draws his

[Bert.]

[Yes, Eldest?]

a

replies, flipping it once

you… going to

back of his head

so in the end