Chrysalis

Chapter 1402: Wave Breaks [This… this is remarkable,] Rathwyn tells me, then turns to say something to the goggle-eyed gaggle of mages behind him. They all nod enthusiastically, each jabbering as quickly as the next.

[Why don't you just hook all of them into the mind bridge?] I ask him, a little exasperated. I've been watching him pass on my words for an hour now, and the lack of efficiency is starting to bug me. [You know I'm safe, as far as giant ants go.]

The group is standing inside one of the mighty gates that separates the inside of the fortress from the platforms and intakes outside. They were extremely keen to learn how the safe-zone was created and maintained, and there didn't seem to be a problem showing them. Just to be safe, I checked with Solant, and she didn't seem to care, so here we are.

They were fascinated, and somewhat charmed, by the wuffers, happily wuffing away on their platforms, chewing through prodigious amounts of toxic mana without breaking a sweat. Only half of the wuffer platforms in the fortress are active right now, so there's still a long way to go before this place is running at full capacity, but from what I've heard, the core shapers are really cranking them out, so it shouldn't be long.

[You're right,] Rathwyn chuckles. [I should connect them up; it would make my life easier, if nothing else. Give me a moment.]

He goes silent for a brief period, and I'm given another opportunity to witness his masterful control of mind magic.

[There, that should have all of us connected. Introduce yourselves, please.]

[I'm Anthony,] I say, giving a wave, [nice to meet you.]

[Englebert.]

[Horatio.]

[Lady Meritious.]

[Camsworth.]

[Kathy.]

hard at the woman in question without letting her know I'm staring. Easy to do

think I might have spotted the bodyguard they 'snuck' in.

welcome to the fortress. I hope we don't all die in

defended, militarily?] Kathy asks, folding her arms across her chest, inadvertently showing

make it obvious! Still, there's no reason to

[Just to check, we're all comfortable getting a bit closer to the action? Beyond this gate is an

aren't any windows?] one of them, Camsworth,

see it, you've got

sure it'll be fine,] Rathwyn states encouragingly. [Let's

the mechanism which opens the massive thing, letting it swing wide enough for me to squeeze

a scene straight out of a nightmare. There's a bridge, blazing with light as massive amounts of mana are channeled through it, beyond which stands the platform itself. Tens of thousands of ants and militia hold the line, defending the intakes and holding back the

Explosions, fire, acid and slime fly every which way. There's a steady stream of figures moving to and fro between the field hospital set in the centre of the platform. Burned individuals and those contaminated by toxic mana are rushed in to be cleansed before they get sent back out to do it all over

look on their face as they

group. [This is where the mana intakes are located, so without them, the entire fortress would

defend these platforms throughout the entire duration of the