Chrysalis

"This is our chance," Leeroy hissed. "We can't mess it up again."

"Shhh!" her second in command, Hamadant shushed, waving her antennae to dispense the scent faster. "We don't know who might be paying attention."

The two looked around surreptitiously, then paused, then inspected the shadows beneath their feet. Leeroy went as far as to prod her own shadow with an antenna.

"I think we're in the clear," she said, dubious.

"We don't have much time," Hamadant said. "Artaxant said the armour will be repaired in less than a day."

"The evolution might take longer than that," Leeroy fretted. "What if it's not finished in time?"

"We have to take this chance," Hamadant stated, emphatic. "It was your idea, and we all agreed."

"Mufasant was particularly keen," Leeroy muttered. "She trampled over all our doubts."

"If any of us evolve with supervision, they're going to demand we explain our options and choose them for us," Hamadant said. "Our only chance is for one of us to evolve in secret and find the right option for the rest of us to pick, and you're the only one who's reached max level. We're counting on you, Leeroy."

Member of the Council, among the oldest of all the ants in the Colony, leader of the Immortals and constant disappointment to the Eldest, Leeroy felt her heart swell with powerful emotions as her second in command placed a leg on her carapace and spoke so earnestly.

All they wanted to do was sacrifice themselves for the Colony. Was that so wrong? Was it such a bad thing to be so dedicated, to listen to what their instincts told them?

be defeated, and even if they were, they would simply revive. The Phoenix Flame had been so detrimental to their goals it had almost pushed them entirely out of reach. Whenever the Immortals found themselves in

given up hope. Not at all. The search went on until they found what they were looking

It was the best

a rare core, nodding firmly as

she said, then turned and scuttled out of the remote chamber

deeply moved, then firmed her resolve. This was a chance; she was going to undo her mistake and find the evolution that would counteract their current evolution and its cursed Phoenix Flame Organ, giving them a chance to achieve their true

was good; she welcomed and embraced it. This pain was nothing compared to her burning will, her defining ambition. When weighed against her need for glorious sacrifice, what was

Nothing.

be a big evolution, the first of the Immortals to rise to tier seven. This time, she couldn't afford to make any mistakes. She would read the full description

rest of the Immortals to

of mandible-clenched focus. As she engaged the evolution menu, she flicked through the notifications until the list of possible species appeared. She honed in on each

digest each and every one fully and

For her followers.

Options are as

Enduring SoldierUnending WarriorUndying Commander

Things weren't off to a good start. Even looking at the names, things didn't seem promising on the surface. Hopefully there was something better in the special or rare options. She would check the details of each evolution, of

Soldier of Endless Rebirth (Special)Unquenchable Flame of

but she knew it wasn't good. She wanted to be

legs together like she saw the human priests do with

HAS to

refused to fade, she