A hundred of the most highly trained and powerful warriors within the Liria Bulwark sat in the tunnels, sweat and grime covering their forms�each exhausted. They�d battled for hours here on the edge of the defensive line. Wave after wave of shadow beasts had assaulted their position. Even the odd demon had been mixed in, something Mirryn never thought she�d see.

A shoulder-tap drew Mirryn�s gaze around, then up at the monstrous auxiliary soldier beside her. Unable to talk with a grotesquely fanged muzzle where his mouth had once been, he raised his claw-tipped paws and gestured to her in the simple, yet effective sign language she�d learned at the fort. His was a question many had on their minds, one Mirryn didn�t have an answer to.

�I�ve only heard stories, but I�ve never seen anything like�� she gestured helplessly toward the scene that held them all captive for the last twenty minutes, �that.�

Head cocked to one side, the auxiliary nodded politely and turned back to watch the spectacle. Mirryn kept her eye on him for a moment longer. It had taken her some time to grow accustomed to the auxiliaries. Half human, half monster, they were not a pretty sight to see. Not to mention, no two were ever the same. The twisted mutations they manifested depended in part on the monster flesh they were fed and on the human being. Still, after fighting alongside them this last week, she�d gotten over her reservations. Condemned criminals they may have been, down here, they were Legion.

A blinding flash of light forced her to shut her eyes, and a deafening crash followed�a hail of stones and debris announced the use of another rock shattering skill. The constant howl and scream of monsters dimmed for just a second before it rose once more to a fever pitch.

It was hell down here. Day in, day out, they�d fought and battled until they could no longer stand. Until their hands no longer worked, and they needed to be pried out of their armour, scrubbed down by workers and thrown into a bed for a few hours of nightmare-plagued sleep. Then back into the action. Mirryn had fired so many arrows, slain so many monsters, she was sure the Dungeon would have been empty by now. But it didn�t make a dent. Nothing did. This was only one fort along the Bulwark and hundreds of thousands of monsters had met their doom here. And it was never enough.

Mirryn turned to her other side and laid a hand on the scarred runic metal of her new partner. The Abyssal armour she�d been issued, a fine example of the medium-sized Ranger pattern she�d been wearing throughout the conflict. Since they�d been relieved at the front, she figured she may as well take it off and rest for a moment. It wasn�t exactly heavy, but wearing the armour was taxing on the mind and spirit.

BOOM!

Another impact pierced the shriek of monsters. Dust and rock battered into the tunnel walls, drawing her attention back to the battle still taking place not even fifty metres from where she sat.

Encased in his oversized, rune-inscribed Abyssal armour, the commander, alone, held the tunnel. His great axe hummed with delight as each swing sent red blades of light tearing through dozens of monsters. Every now and again, he would stomp with one armoured foot, and the tunnel itself would shake, forcing everything in front of him to stumble, which allowed him to wind up another swing.

He�d been at it for twenty minutes already.

The commander had just shown up, pushed his way to the front, and started tearing monsters apart with those wide, impossibly powerful swings. They�d tried to help at first, but the commander gestured for them to move back and kept going. So, they had. It was surreal, to be here at the front and not fighting. She could tell from the bemused expressions of those around her that they felt the same.

Mirryn sighed. Every muscle ached. In fact, she could barely remember a time when they hadn�t ached. What had life been like before she�d come down into the Dungeon on this delve? What did the sun even look like? It hardly mattered, it was bright enough down here. The tunnels had constantly blazed with light ever since the wave started.

As she pondered the glare of the Dungeon, her eyes flicked toward the veins lining the tunnel A frown creased her face as she tried to register what it was that she thought she saw. She slowly stood and closed in on the closest wall, her attention fixated on it to the point even the horrific sounds of battle faded from her mind.

There was something about the walls. Something about the Mana veins. She stared straight at one from only a few metres away�wait. When had she started to be able to stare straight at one? She could now because the Mana� was decreasing?

In one motion, she turned and sprinted back to where her fellow Legionaries rested, shouting at the top of her lungs like a banshee.

�The Mana is decreasing! The wave is ending! The Mana is decreasing!�

At first, they looked at her as if she were mad. What did she think she was doing? Gradually they realised what she was saying, what it could mean if it were true.

One by one, they turned to the walls. It didn�t take long for them to confirm her claims with their own eyes, and with delighted roars of triumph, the Legion leapt to its feet.

There was jubilation, hugs, even the monster auxiliaries were howling and snarling with glee.

With spirits renewed and joy in their hearts, the Legionaries suited up, readied their weapons, and charged into battle alongside the tireless commander. One last push! One last push and then it would all be over!

Five hours later, still in her armour, Mirryn lay flat on the ground of the tunnel. The flow of monsters had begun to decrease at last, and when the relieving force arrived from Raileh, her squad had chosen to stay on for an extra hour to help beat the last of the enemy back.

In truth, with the commander there, it had been the easiest shift she�d had across the entire wave.

The man wasn�t human. Mirryn understood that in some ways, neither was she, but Titus was so far beyond her own limits he simply couldn�t be the same species anymore. Just what did a Legionary have to go through to get that strong?

She wasn�t sure she wanted to know.

With a grimace, she sat up and took stock. The battle still raged, though at a reduced cadence, some two hundred metres away. She�d retreated back to the fort proper, and most of the Legionaries on her shift were still here, taking a brief rest before they hit their bunks.

The commander was still on his feet. He walked from soldier to soldier, a word here, a pat on the shoulder there. His eyes gleamed with fierce energy all the while. He didn�t even look tired. When he caught her staring, he said a final word to the Legionary he was speaking with and moved toward her.

�Finally getting my Mana levels back to where they used to be,� he told her quietly. �Taken quite a while to get my motor running again.�

It was clear he�d seen what she was thinking and Mirryn couldn�t help but blush at how easily she was read.

�I�ve never seen anything like it, Commander. I didn�t mean to be rude.�

He waved a hand to dismiss her concern.

�Don�t think much of it. Those of us who�ve served the deep are a little different than most. You haven�t met any Legionaries who�ve been that low other than me. We rarely come back up at all.�

�Why did you, Commander?�

A little of the light went out of his eyes.

�My children. My wife became pregnant and I requested a transfer to the surface.�

�I�m sorry, sir. I shouldn�t have pried.�

�It�s fine.�

A tussle at the entrance to the fort broke their awkward silence before it could truly settle, and a haggard-looking messenger burst forward.

�Commander, sir! The Dungeon Seers have reported. Garralosh has been slain!�

It took two days to clear the battlefield. Two whole days of the entire colony working around the clock, hauling, cutting, storing, and generally stuffing their faces at every possible moment. Even with every ant eating so much, the nest was still stuffed to the brim with Biomass, all of it needing to be consumed yesterday. The Queen consumed the most�from the moment she recovered, until she�d been forced to rest by concerned members of the twenty.

Well� the nineteen now, I suppose.

Grant�s core had been recovered, but nobody suggested we reconstitute her. Having a member of the family, a sibling, start following one of us around as a pet was too weird for any ant to consider.

This did mean there was an opening on the council, which I suppose would need to be filled at some point. I have no idea how they plan on going about that. Try and find the next oldest soldier? Raise up a new council from scratch? I don�t want to be involved, whatever they decide.

I mean, believe me, I�ve got my own problems. Tiny, Crinis, and I started consuming the Biomass that had once been Garralosh, and it doesn�t take us long to conclude a few things. One, it�s a bit strange to be consuming the monstrous remains that had once housed a human being. Two, as expected of the old monster, she was Biomass rich. And three, there is no way we�re getting through all of it before it dissolves to nothing. Garralosh was one chunky croc. She must weigh around twenty tons! Even after a good portion was lost to the Gravity Bomb, we can�t handle it at all. Not to mention the core we dug out of her. I don�t even want to think about that massive thing.

And since this food is the richest of all, I decided it would make the most sense if it were consumed first. After we fill ourselves to the brim, and all of my stomachs are packed, I tell the surrounding ants to dig in, eat some for themselves, take some to the Queen, and to Victoriant and her sister.

Spread the love, you know?

The next thing I realise is that I can�t stay on the surface for nearly as long as I could before. The Mana in my core floods out at a truly disturbing rate now. By the time I finish eating, I�m practically running on fumes and have to roll my swollen abdomen back into the nest. It�s a lot harder to manoeuvre in there since my evolution. Quite a few tunnels are too small for me to even consider entering. Once I make my way down to my old chamber, I rest there.

And so, for the last two days, the ever-ongoing cycle of eating and resting has repeated until the surface is somewhat back to normal. The carpet of Biomass has been consumed, and the colony is able to return to business as usual. Brood production has gone into overdrive, the Queen now producing three hundred eggs per day. Not satisfied with this rate of growth, the colony sought to take advantage of the fading vestiges of the wave and took Victoriant and Antionette out of the nest and into the Dungeon for a power levelling spree.

By the evening of the second day, they returned to the nest in triumph! Both have settled in to evolve to the fourth tier where they will begin their lives as egg-producing Queens of the colony. There is quite a lot of energy amongst the nest at that, I have to say. A great deal of excitement and anticipation. It feels as if the very first Formica Sapiens colony has reached a major milestone of producing our first homegrown egg laying Queens.

As they evolve, Tiny, Crinis, and I use the small opportunity to take stock. I�m super happy the wave is receding, obviously. With far less danger, the ease of exploration is opening up again. There�s a ton of stuff I want to do in the Dungeon, after all.

For ages I�ve been hoping to check in on the sophos. They can�t be too far away, beneath Liria somewhere, for sure. I really want to go deeper and see how things work down there, forge a path for the colony and all that. But more to the point, as the Mana levels are falling, my little hidey hole so close to the surface isn�t providing me with enough juice! I have to go deeper in order to live.

Stupid Dungeon.

The Queen has it even worse than I do. Her chamber has since been relocated to a much deeper location, forcing the colony to expand down toward the Marsh Expanse. With spawn rates returning to normal levels, we are easily able to handle such a project. The colony has grown strong, and from here out, will only explode in capability.

I also have a ton of Skill Points and Biomass I need to deal with. I picked up a heap of Levels from my fight with Garralosh, as I expected from a battle with a creature so far above me. I�ll have to deal with that sooner or later. For now, I�m not too bothered. I�m looking forward to a more relaxing existence where I�m not stressing about dying every second of the day.

No existential crises! No imminent doom! As if I could just slip into torpor and stay there for a few weeks�I don�t want to do a thing.

Of course, I can�t do that. The nest is positively buzzing with activity and energy. Brood Tenders are rearing and teaching, mage ants and core shapers are experimenting, carvers are building and studying. Even the soldiers and scouts have gone nuts, hunting and exploring in the Dungeon without pause, eking every little bit of experience and Biomass they can get before the wave is over.

With the surface clean-up complete, it seems as if I�ve fallen into a heap whilst the rest of the colony keeps on going. The guilt is overpowering! Or perhaps that guilt is just the constant niggle of whispers and tugs that filter through the Vestibule. I don�t want to think too closely on that though and ignore it with all my strength!

Picking myself up, I may as well pay the humans a visit before I wander off, just to make sure they aren�t doing anything too stupid.

With Crinis riding on my now much more spacious back, and Tiny following behind, I make my way out of the nest only to pause when we crest the top of the hill and come across a team of carvers working on something that appears to be shaped from solid earth.

�What are you guys� oh my god.�

The dozen workers jump at my words and pull back to reveal the massive project they�re cooperating on is an earth carving of me, post evolution. I appear to be standing watch over the entrance to the colony, my steely eyes and noble antennae are matched by my fierce mandibles and aggressive pose. The statue manages to convey a sense of protectiveness and dignity I�m fairly confident I don�t possess.

The carvers are frozen as if they were naughty children caught with their hands in the biscuit tin. For my part, I have no idea what to say and can only shake my head in disbelief.

�Make one for Grant,� I tell them and continue toward the human village.

The carvers each look to each other before they nod and begin to shape the soil next to my own effigy.

I have to wonder, where the hell did they get the idea for that?

[What in the name of all that is good on Pangera has infected your minds?] I say.

Enid�who�s certainly dropped a few points in my esteem toward her�can only grimace next to me, trying to justify this� spectacle.

[People saw what you did during the battle. From our wall we were able to watch the whole fight. Not to mention the healers who appeared during the battle to cure our wounded. There isn�t a single person in the village who could say they don�t have at least one family member who was directly saved by them.]

[Gratitude I understand. Gratitude would be completely fine! This isn�t gratitude! What the heck is this?]

Enid shrugs helplessly.

[With sentiment running high before the battle took place, it�s obviously going to be overflowing now that it�s done, considering what happened. These people have lost everything, Anthony! They need something to cling onto. Something to give them hope for the future.]

[I can�t believe you okayed this. Did you fall on your head or something? A monster clock you with a rock? It blows my mind that anyone at all thinks this is a good idea!]

My frustration is starting to bubble over and I can�t help stabbing forward with my antennae toward the monstrosity we�re currently discussing.

Enid hesitates before she speaks again, but speak she does.

[You have to admit that you aren�t much like a normal monster. Or� anything like a normal monster. Are you sure there wasn�t anything unusual about your creation?]

[Of course not,] I deadpan. [Pure ant right down to my claws.]

I have no idea if the humans on the surface know about monsters inhabited by humans from Earth like the sophos are, but I�m sure as hell not going to be the one to tell them.

Enid frowns at me as she adjusts her shawl. I say nothing to appease her suspicions.

[Don�t distract from the subject at hand, Enid! That�] I stab one antenna toward the construction [�is going to cause a lot of problems.]

[Honestly, I don�t think even you could convince them to take it down. I�m not sure that I even want them to.]

[You�ve fallen to the dark side, Enid.]

[The what?]

[Don�t give up hope! There�s always another chance to walk in the light.]

[I have no idea what you mean.]

I�m not happy about this situation, but I�m also not sure what I can reasonably do about it.

Enid and I are standing on a slight hill, gazing at a feverish construction taking place not twenty metres away. Men and women sweat in the heat as they work, digging, flattening, squaring stones. The foundations are already starting to take place of what will certainly be a far too large a structure of imposing stone.

To one side, a worker is going to town on a granite boulder. Already, the ant-like features are taking shape of what I�m told will eventually be a mighty statue of me. Ant observers are about the place as well, members of the colony who�ve snuck over for a stickybeak on what the humans are up to. Turns out a couple of mages have even managed to unlock the Mind Magic Skill. It�s difficult for them to use it with any level of proficiency, or for very long, but already early communication attempts are being made.

For the most part, they�ve been asking the villagers how they do stuff. Tungstant is over at the forge right this moment, along with a mind mage, hassling the smiths about their craft. Apparently, this all started yesterday, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will continue for a long time to come.

Even Beyn is down there working! The priest is still wearing his now tatty robes and is working with his one remaining arm, clearing rock and jovially encouraging the people around him. Not that they seem to need a pick me up. Ever since I arrived, their faces have been lit with joy, working at a furious pace.

It all leads me to one, sincere conclusion: these people are very sick.

[This is a literal temple to a monster, Enid.]

[To you, Anthony.]

[And what exactly do you think I am!] Seriously, I�m aghast at the ease in which she said that.

[I�m not sure, why don�t you tell me?]

[A monster!]

[Really?]

[YES!]

[Hmmph. Not like any monster I�ve ever heard of,] Enid says.

Gawd. Even Enid�s been infected. It�s officially contagious. Do I need to isolate this community? Set up a containment? It would be irresponsible to allow others to be exposed. Or indeed, if the wider world found out these people were worshipping monsters, would they just get wiped out? Perhaps I need to isolate them for their own protection�

[You haven�t sent anyone out of the village at this point, have you, Enid?]

[Oh, yes! There are more survivors out there, I�m sure of it. We also need to get far enough north to check what the damage is like to the neighbouring kingdoms. If they�re fine, they may be able to send aid. We also want to keep an eye on the main Dungeon entrance where the capital used to stand�just in case anything comes up. We�ve had dozens of volunteers ride out, most of them yesterday.]

[Dammit! I was too slow�]

[To what?]

[�Nothing.]

As frustrating as this is, I�m happy to see the ants and humans coexisting in a peaceful, non-eating each other way. The council has obviously taken my message of trying to learn from our neighbours and are pushing forward even more rapidly than I anticipated. My shock just goes to show that I�ve underestimated the colony�s appetite for work once again.

The village itself took remarkably little damage during the assault. The people had wisely set their defences alongside ours, away from the established buildings of the village. As a consequence, the monsters left them alone. Garralosh wanted to destroy the people, she didn�t really care for their irrigation system.

As I look across the village, the people seem happy, industrious. Farms are springing up, houses are starting to have a little more of a permanent vibe. Even the kids appear happy.

[Looks like you�ve come through the crises okay then,] I say to Enid.

[Thanks to you.]

[Not this again.]

[I�m just being honest. None of us would have survived if not for you. I don�t understand why you would be so against humans giving you such respect.]

[This isn�t respect. You don�t build a temple to show respect. How can you not think this is weird! Am I going to lose my cred as a monster over this?]

[I don�t follow.]

Haaa� These humans are so tiring. I should get out of here before Beyn tries to speak to me.

[I�ll be heading into the Dungeon for a while. Plus, it�s a lot harder for me to be on the surface now, so you won�t see much of me. Maybe this temple situation will blow over if I don�t show my face for a bit.]

Enid�s snort speaks to what she thinks of that idea.

[Looks like the colony is going to keep hassling you guys for knowledge anyway. If you keep teaching them, I�ll make sure we keep protecting you.]

[Sounds fair,] she says.

[I need to get out of here.]

I break the contact with her and turn to head back to the colony. Yep, no doubt about it anymore�these people are nuts.

In an effort to return to normalcy, I think it�s best I get back to the colony as quickly as possible. With Crinis and Tiny in tow, we make our way out of the village. Before long, my thoughts wander toward the Collective Will Vestibule. It�s powerful, there�s no doubt about that. The constant flow of energy trickling from the gem-like organ and into my system is nourishing in an all-encompassing way. Washing away my fatigue, refilling my other glands, healing me and perhaps other things as well. If it was able to provide me with Mana it would be an all-singing, all-dancing provider of everything I could possibly need.

The only issue I have are the strange whispers and thoughts that pop into my head. I�m finding I get an urge to do stuff at random, and have a sneaking suspicion I know what�s causing it and why. The connotations are a little disturbing.

I don�t intend to set myself up as some sort of king, but the colony feels like it�s currently trending that way. I�m not sure I like it. I�m really looking forward to breaking out on my own for some Dungeon exploration. Just put some space between the family and myself for a little while and let things settle down. I need time to adjust to this new evolution, and Tiny and Crinis need to evolve and build their strength if they�re to keep up with me.

Before the wave is gone completely, we should push deep, maybe even try and find the second strata. Do some fighting, level up a few Skills, clear the air a little. After all the excitement of the attack by Garralosh, I can�t wait to get back to a simpler life.

Muddling along like this, I walk for twenty minutes before I wake up to the fact that I�m nowhere near the nest.

[What the heck? Where are we!]

[I-I�m not sure, Master!]

[Hurrn?] Tiny grunts.

Seems as if we�ve wandered into the forest, and I�m immediately suspicious. There�s no way I would�ve gotten lost, I�m an ant! I follow the pheromone trail. I could walk along the path whilst asleep and still manage to get there! Someone has been playing with my mind.

And I can think of one likely suspect�

[Uhh, hello, Mr. Ka�armodo. I hope you�ve brought me here for a friendly chat. No hard feelings about me killing Garralosh, right? Or for murdering your attendants? Uh� Maybe I shouldn�t have mentioned that. I mean, they did try to kill me first. Self-defence is a thing.]

Babbling within my own mind, I nervously watch the surrounding trees for any sign of a large, vengeful lizard about to charge in and attempt to bite my head off.

To my chagrin, there is only silence, and I don�t see any movement. Doubt begins to creep in. Did the ka�armodo drag me out here just to play funny buggers? Is he messing with me?

With caution, I turn around to orient myself back to the nest.

[GAH!]

And out of nowhere, the ka�armodo has appeared! Flanked by six of his Setsulah attendants�with their hoods down for once�the Lizard Wizard stands only three metres away. I leap back in shock as Tiny and Crinis move to take an aggressive position, ready to come to my defence.

[What the heck are you doing! You�ll give me a heart attack! You�ve been there this whole time, haven�t you? Playing tricks on me!]

The lizard shifts his weight slightly, his eyes staring unblinking into mine. Something tells me that�s as close as a ka�armodo gets to laughing out loud. When I calm myself a little, I take a good look at this manipulator and his attendants. I�ve not seen them this close before, and let me tell you, they�re quite interesting.

The Lizard Wizard himself is bedecked in finery. I hesitate to say it, but for a giant lizard, he�s rolling in bling. Woven tapestries with gleaming golden thread tassels lay across his back. The colours are rich and deep: purples, greens, and yellows that depict mountain scenes and deep caves filled with magic. On each of his legs he wears at least one golden ring, and his neck is positively covered in them.

The servants are similarly well-dressed. I�d thought they would look more human, but they�re definitely more than a little part-lizard. Their faces are heavily scaled, whilst maintaining a humanoid shape. Eye colours vary from deep gold to emerald green, but each are vertically slit like a reptile. Golden nose rings, necklaces and torques, each intricately carved and decorated with jewels adorn each and every one of them.

Pretty darn flashy for slaves.

[Perhaps I should have made my presence known earlier,] the voice of the ka�armodo resounds in my mind. Very notably, that was not an apology. [Please be at ease, I have not come to destroy you.]

Ouch. Very aggressive choice of words there.

[So, no hard feelings about the� uh� unfortunate loss of your slaves, then?]

Why the hell would you remind him of that, Anthony? Not smooth! Opposite of smooth!

A spike of pain jabs into my brain across the Mind Bridge that I have only just begun to sense, causing my legs to spasm. I let it roll over me, probably well-deserved, to be honest, as I consider his spell weaving. How the hell he�s able to hide them like this I have no idea.

[These are not my slaves, and you are lucky they did not hear you describe them as such. They are bonded to me, and I am bonded to them. Our relationship is one of mutual respect and dependence.]

[Okay. Sure.] I shrug my antennae. [Doesn�t really matter to me. Since you brought me out here, without the intention to annihilate my atoms, what exactly would you like to say?]

I don�t feel particularly comfortable talking to this ancient wizard. The sooner he lets me get on my way, the happier I�ll be.

[There is no need to rush, young one. It wasn�t easy getting close to form this mental connection without your colony mates detecting us. Depending on how much you know, we may need to converse for some time.]

[Know about what?]

[Do you know� where you are?]

My antennae twitch a little at the odd question. What�s he getting at here?

[You mean� Pangera? The planet? The smoking ashes of what was once the kingdom of Liria? The uncivilised wilds? I�m not sure what you mean.]

The ka�armodo shifts his legs slightly, which causes his attendants to glance at him. Once they�re certain he�s comfortable, they return their flat, unfriendly stares to me.

[Hmm. This may take some time.]

[I do not wish to burden you with knowledge that you may not be prepared to understand. My order has spent much time plumbing the mysteries behind this place, and despite centuries of effort, we have only been able to learn a portion of the whole truth. Even that limited understanding came largely through the intervention of an outside influence.]

Perhaps I should pull up a chair and whip out my spiral bound notebook, since the teacher is about to launch into a lecture�so naturally did the lizard slip into a lecturing tone, I presume he�s actually well-practised in it.

[Master! What is happening? Do we need to fight?] Crinis says into my thoughts.

[I think we�re okay. He seems to want to explain something to us. Stay alert, just in case.]

[Of course, Master.]

[I do have a name,] the ka�armodo drawls.

[If you never tell me what it is, you can hardly complain that I don�t use it.]

[That� is true. We tend not to share our names with outsiders, although this may be a special circumstance. It is truly rare for one of my order to have such an opportunity. Hmmm� My name is Ivran�tep, second scholar of the tower at Gold Peak.]

[Nice to meet you, champ. My name is Anthony�I�m an ant.]

[Yes� Indeed, you are.]

An awkward pause develops as Ivran�tep examines me, his large, angular head turning a fraction this way and that.

[Hmmm� As I say, we don�t tend to have the opportunity to talk with those such as yourself, especially when you are in a state to coherently speak back. Too often, the process of being inserted into the Dungeon and left to fend for themselves is too much for your minds. Garralosh herself was almost completely lost by the time we became aware of her. I have been with her for many years, but rarely was she able to speak with me.]

I�m taken aback by how up front he�s being with me.

[Then, you know all about us? Humans from Earth inserted into the Dungeon as monsters to spice up the place?]

[The records of my order go back over a thousand years, and we have encountered less than ten of your kind across the entire globe. We have heard of this �Earth� before, but we know precious little about it. We also do not know why your kind is brought here. Do you have some clue?]

Yea, I might keep the fact I can talk to the Dungeon itself quiet for the time being.

[Who knows? Maybe the Dungeon gets bored.]

[Hmm. Perhaps so, perhaps so. There may be some merit in this suggestion. I will ponder on it later. For now, are you in possession of Garralosh�s core?]

HUCK! I don�t want to think about that stupid gem. Don�t even want to remember it exists.

[I am. Not here with me, obviously, but yes.]

[I would be very careful that the knowledge of what you have doesn�t travel far. A treasure of that type is exceptionally rare and exceptionally powerful.]

I can�t help but shrink back from Ivran�tep at those words.

[You�re saying you don�t want it?]

[I do not. We are not interested in the core. We are interested in those with the power to absorb it.]

[You say we. I presume you�re referring to your order? Is this a ka�armodo sorcerous cabal of some sort?]

[No. My order is not limited to the ka�armodo, although we are quite accepted in the mountain empire. We are found across the face of Pangera among those with great knowledge of this world and the courage to face it.]

[Does this collection of esteemed scholars have a name?]

[The conclave of the Red Truth.]

[Ehh, that doesn�t sound ominous at all.]

[Hmm. It does sound ominous. Deliberately so. We bear dangerous knowledge and must act as such.]

Well, that makes me nervous.

[Look. I�m not sure I want to have any part of this �dangerous knowledge.� Please tell me what it is that you want to say, but try not to� you know� unleash any eldritch truths on me.]

[I can do this. Hmm� you have heard of the Ancients?]

Thinking back, Formo the sophos mentioned something about them.

[Vaguely. Very old monsters that live very deep in the Dungeon. That�s about all I got.]

[It is sufficient. There are many old monsters who live deep, but the true Ancients number only nineteen. They seek to make that number whole, wishing for another to join their ranks.]

I do not like where this is going.

[My order seeks to assist them in this endeavour. Indeed, it is our sole purpose. There are many who would prefer that such a thing never came to pass. There is conflict, of a sort.]

[So that�s why you were following Garralosh around? Keeping her alive when others were trying to bottle her up and kill her?]

[Yes.]

[And when you met me, you decided to back off a little because� you feel you might have found a better prospect?]

[Yes.]

[Nards�]

Ivran�tep goes incredibly still. Which is rather unnerving considering he barely moves as it is. Not even a twitch from this guy!

[I do not know what this word means,] he says.

[It�s uh, never mind. I don�t really think I�m down for this. I�m happy just doing my thing.]

[It is not intended that we would force this arrangement on you. There are many candidates for the final seat at the highest table. I am but one agent, and the charge with whom I worked has fallen. I will return to my people, it has been many years and we yearn for home. Should you choose to make use of that core, then perhaps there will come a time that we meet again.]

There�s a note of finality in the communication from Ivran�tep. It�s clear he wants to leave. He said as much, but also left many questions.

[Just one thing,] I break in before he can leave. [I-If I were to reconstitute her core. Garralosh�s core, then would she� come back?]

The narrow eyes of the ka�armodo blink slowly as he processes my words.

[No. I do not know where your souls go when you die here. But they are not contained in the core. She is gone.]

[Alright� Thanks for that.]

[Farewell. Good luck to you, Anthony. I hope you find it within yourself to ascend. Only then will you have a chance to break free.]

With that, the lizard and his entourage disappear into the forest.

Mind abuzz with concerns, I head back to the nest. I have so much to think about, I�m not even sure where to start. I can�t wait to go hunting in the Dungeon.

Finally! Back in the nest and away from the crazy! The ka�armodo is gone�hopefully�and I have nothing to worry about. Let�s go get it!

Full of energy, I barrel into the nest and charge down the main shaft. I�m heading for that Dungeon and nothing�s going to stop me! Lumbering behind, Tiny shares my enthusiasm. He missed the entire battle, and I can tell he�s sour about it. The closer we get to the Dungeon, the brighter the big ape�s eyes become. By the time we make it to our old resting place, his ears twitch with excitement. I�m with you, Tiny, it�ll be great to get back to the simple life!

[Eldest.]

No. Please. Don�t do it to me like this. I was so close. So damn close!

[What is it, Victor?]

The now much smaller than me general crawls out of a side tunnel to appear in my line of sight.

[I was hoping to have a quick word before you left.]

[Okay, Victor. Hit me. What�s happening?]

[The council wants to elevate Vibrant to the position left vacant by Grant�s passing. She�s the logical choice as the next eldest soldier in the colony, even if she probably won�t be around all that much. What do you think?]

[That�s fine with me,] I say, a little exasperated. [You don�t need me to okay these things. Just do what you think is best.]

[Of course. We just wanted to make sure you approved.]

[It�s fine. Is there anything else?]

I�m itching to go here, and the general is hesitating! Hesitating. Then she just shrugs off whatever concerns she may have had.

[I think we�ll talk to you when you get back. This time is important for the development of the colony. We don�t want anything to go wrong.]

[What could go wrong?] I laugh. [There�s nothing here to stop us right now.]

Even I feel a slight chill in the air that descends in the face of my brazen overconfidence.

[Okay. I�ll check in with you guys when I get back. Just keep it simple. Everyone needs to keep learning, keep growing the colony and secure more territory, but slowly. No need to complicate things.]

[As you say, eldest. That�s what we thought also.]

[Alright then. I�ll drop in to see Mother when we get down there. Catch you later, Victor.]

And finally free!

Tiny, Crinis, and I burst into the Dungeon at last! Muahahaha! Time for these stupid monsters to become my stress relief.

The last vestiges of the wave are beginning to fade. Monsters are no longer springing from the walls fully formed, Mana levels are sinking back to what I experienced for a brief time just after I was born. Though it hasn�t completely fallen to that point yet, and spawn rates are still higher than normal. The colony has been busy cleaning out the tunnels around the nest as fast as possible in order to make use of this. Even the farms have largely been abandoned, left to develop their own ecosystems. Hopefully, a few spawn locations develop and they can still be used, albeit in a reduced way.

It takes a little while, but we eventually find some action away from the nest where the colony hasn�t cleared away all the monsters. We smash them like a bowling ball hitting some very brittle pins.

With savage glee, Tiny unleashes his frustration through his unstoppable fists. As he goes to work, a grin splits his face and lightning dances across his mighty shoulders. Crinis also lets her� tentacles� down, and the cold fury of the Jellymaw is once again unleashed on the poor denizens of the Dungeon. I can almost see Crinis� cold smile as her writhing limbs perform their dark dance, tearing limb from limb, and cutting monsters to ribbons.

I let my pets do most of the work, they need the experience far more than I do, and it�s soothing in a curious way to watch my two friends. A bit of acid here and there is the extent of my contribution. More to let myself grow accustomed to my new range and aiming capacity than anything else.

Being able to shoot in front of me without having to turn around is such a boon, I can hardly describe it. Especially now that I�m this large. As an insect, I�m not especially flexible, there isn�t a whole lot of twisting that goes on, I literally have to turn my entire body around to orient my business district. Now I can just lift my commercial interests high, lower the front of my body, and POW! Acid time.

The concentrated acid has increased damage, duration, and sticking effect thanks to the concentration gland as well. Since it regenerates faster, I can fire it for days! Very happy with my acid system overall. And with new organs come new opportunities for mutation! I need to play around with my new abilities a little more before I decide on what to do there. If I make a hasty decision before I�ve had time to consider what I want to do with my acid network, I�m sure I�ll come to regret it.

Just like this, we happily smash the pitiful and unfortunate monsters we come across, occasionally pausing to eat Biomass when we find something of a reasonable tier. None of us are particularly struggling for Biomass. After consuming Garralosh, we have a mighty hoard, but it never hurts.

Without much dallying, we make our way down to the Marsh Expanse and find the satellite nest where the Queen is currently residing. Dug into the shortcut I�d constructed earlier, this large and spacious chamber is, for the moment, the beating heart of the colony�in the sense that all egg production is occurring here. Even Victoriant and Antionette have moved in.

Considering its importance, it�s only natural the place is bristling with soldiers and Brood Tenders.

[How goes it, everyone?]

As I enter, hundreds of ants turn from their tasks to face me before returning to their work. A constant stream of Biomass is being brought in and taken to one end, where the three Queens are currently residing.

After their evolution, Victoriant and Antionette have progressed from Juvenile Queens to Young Queens! Each of them is able to lay fifty eggs a day. It might not seem like much, but over time, it�ll rapidly add up. The Queen, post evolution, is now able to produce three hundred eggs per day, bringing the total number to two thousand eight hundred new brood each week.

[Hello, child,] the Queen greets me warmly.

I almost brace for a solid thwacking out of habit, but she doesn�t attack me this time, rather turns to give me a pat on the head with one antenna.

[Hi there, Mother! How are our new Queens doing?]

[Greetings, eldest,] Antionette answers. [It�s wonderful to be able to contribute something at last.]

[Finally! I can�t wait to see my children at work,] Victoriant says happily.

[They are doing very well,] the Queen assures me. [And yourself. What are you planning to do?]

[Going to hit the Dungeon, level up some Skills, explore a little. Hopefully get Crinis or Tiny to evolve. Want to try and find a few things also.]

[Oh?]

[It might be nothing, but we�ll see how it goes.]

[Very well. Stay safe. The colony needs you still.]

[Of course! You know me.]

[That�s why I worry.]

After chatting for a little while, I bid farewell to the Queens and let them get back to their important work, namely eating and producing brood. In one month, the colony will have over ten thousand individuals. I�ve no idea how they�re going to manage the education program now that the wave is subsiding, but I�m sure the council will be able to work something out. Getting literally thousands of monsters to form a core, level up to tier three, and get enough Biomass to mutate is going to be a logistical nightmare. Especially now that the farms aren�t going to be effective.

Wait a second! A flash of understanding hits me and I dash back to the Queen.

�The Aphid Queen, where is she?�

Surprise shows in the twitch of the Queen�s antennae. �My pet? She�s down here, producing young aphids. Where did you think she was?�

Excitement thrills through me.

�So it�s started then? The aphid project? Are there any in the Expanse?�

�I think the first of the aphids went out yesterday,� Victoriant says. �The soldiers and scouts have been hard at work in the Expanse getting it ready. Wills, Advant, and Sloan have been down here since yesterday. Didn�t you know?�

�Uh� I�ve been busy.�

The Queen�s antennae begin to vibrate, as if she senses my lie and is preparing a thwack. I need to clear off!

�I�ll go check it out! Thanks-bye!�

And we�re outta there! Practically sprinting, I blow past some confused-looking Brood Tenders and out into the Dungeon tunnels. From there, it�s a short hop over to the Expanse proper. The ant presence here is immediately visible.

Soldiers and scouts are in position around the entrance, climbing over the mounds of damp earth and clinging to the trees. There are literally hundreds of them here, and a steady column of Biomass is being hauled out and taken to the Queens.

Holy moly! I blinked and the colony moved into the Expanse in a flash! Faced with hundreds of cooperative monsters, it appears as if the monsters of the Expanse had little choice but to roll over and accept their fate.

�Eldest? I didn�t expect to see you here,� Advant�s scent reaches me.

I turn to face the much smaller soldier approaching from the nearby column.

�Hey there, Advant. How goes the Expanse takeover?�

�Smoothly! We managed to exterminate the old aphid population pretty easily. The new aphids are being tended to now, and they started producing Biomass just a few hours ago. Want to have a look?�

Of course!

My glee knows no bounds as I follow Advant into the depths of the marsh, helping to pulverise monsters along the way. It doesn�t take long before I�m able to witness a tender sight that I�d only seen in documentaries before.

High in the branches of the largest, Mana-infused trees, tiny aphids cling to the thinner branches, extracting whatever sweet tree juice they need to survive. All the while, a team of ants watch over them, checking the aphids for problems and shifting them about periodically to ensure they�re getting the most efficient meal. The ants begin to prod the little bugs with their antennae and the aphids happily offer up Biomass for their defenders.

Perfect!

�How many aphids do we have so far?� I ask my guide.

�Roughly thirty. The Aphid Queen only started producing young recently, but the population should rapidly expand. We think we should have over a thousand in a week.�

Makes sense. The aphids, despite their cuteness, are very simple and weak monsters. The only complex thing about them is their capacity to offer Biomass nectar from their business district. No weapons, no armour, no advanced senses. They�re helpless without the ants watching over them.

Which means, egg laying wise, they�re cheap as chips to produce. The Aphid Queen could knock out a couple thousand a week, given enough food.

It�s wonderful to see the system coming together!

�This is good stuff, Advant. This might help the colony pick up the shortfall in Biomass now that the wave has receded.�

�Just as you predicted, eldest.�

With that casual expression of confidence in my non-existent foresight, the ant claps me on the side with one antenna, and then wanders off to see to her many duties. Which leaves Tiny, Crinis, and myself in the middle of the Marsh Expanse, left to our own devices.

I let Crinis and Tiny cut loose to rustle up some experience whilst I try and deal with something I�ve been putting off for some time: my status.

I might have four brains, but I just can�t handle the numbers, dammit! Since the fight with Garralosh, I received a heap of Levels, a heap of Skill Levels, a ton of Biomass, and with all my new glands, there is a metric ton of mutations I need to do. Perhaps the fear of the itch is what did it, or perhaps the fight with Garralosh just left a bad taste in my mouth. Regardless, the time is now!

Currently, my status looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 14 (Rare Core) (V)

Might: 91

Toughness: 79

Cunning: 64

Will: 55

HP: 158/158

MP: 250/250

Skills

General:

Expert Excavation Level 5 (III); Enhanced Grip Level 8 (II); Advanced Stealth Level 9 (II); Tunnel Map Level 7 (II); Iron Mind Level 2 (IV); Expert Stamina Level 7 (III); Profound Meditation Level 12 (III); Flicker Dash Level 5 (III)

Mana:

Mana Transformation Level 15 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 9 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 8 (III); Mana Coveter Level 2 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Advanced Mind Magic Affinity Level 9 (II); Empowered Mana Sensing Level 9 (II)

Pet:

Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Core Surgery Level 6 (III); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I)

Defensive:

Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 16 (III)

Offensive:

Deadly Acid Shot Level 8 (III); Advanced Precise Shooting Level 9 (II); Omen Chomp Level 3 (IV)

Mutations

Senses:

Heightened Perimeter Eyes +20; Oracle Antennae +20

Defence:

Hardened True Diamond Carapace +20; Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating +20

Physical:

Tough Rapid Osmotic Legs +20; Bright Empowered Mandibles +20; Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20; Convincing Pheromone Gland +20; Selective Gluttonous Stomach +20; Musculature; Sub-Neural Network

Acid:

Mana Feasting Bind Acid +20; Acid Nozzle; Acid Concentration Gland; Acid Stimulation Gland

Mental:

Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20

Mana:

Unending Gravity Magic Gland +20; Collective Will Vestibule +3

Species: Juvenile Colony Paragon (Formica Sapiens)

Skill Points: 17

Biomass: 381

I upgraded Cerebral Endurance to Iron Mind and gained a bunch of Levels in a heap of Skills. What�s really gonna take my time is the Biomass expenditure. After ONE feast of Garralosh, I gained over four hundred and fifty points. Utter nonsense is what it is. Just how many mutations did that old monster have? Mind you� just how Biomass rich am I becoming? I�d rather not think on that, actually.

May as well get started with it, then. We move a little distance away from the ants, where my loyal pets can shield me from prying eyes.

Bring on the menu!

I�ll start with my new acid network.

[Do you wish to improve Acid Nozzle to +5? This will cost 15 Biomass.]

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

Once again, the vast list of possible mutations unfolds within my mind. What a pain. Even for something as simple as the acid nozzle, there�s still this many options?

Let�s see here. Focused Acid Nozzle? Reduces accuracy at range but increases the force of the acid spray. Hose Acid Nozzle? Instead of firing in bursts, it turns into a hose-like attack. Hmmm� Flexible Acid Nozzle, increases the flexibility to improve firing angle even further. I mean, that�s what I originally purchased the nozzle for, but I�m satisfied with the result so far. I think I�ll focus in a different direction.

After much musing, I decide to go with the Pressurised Acid Nozzle. This option improves the range and reduces the spread of the acid fired, meaning I deliver my product with more precision across more distance. This is something I can only endorse.

The Acid Concentration Gland. This organ serves the purpose of thickening and increasing the potency of the acid within the acid gland it�s attached to. I wonder what sort of options I�ll get here?

[Do you wish to improve Acid Concentration Gland to +5? This will cost 15 Biomass.]

[At this level you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

Alright then. The list has hundreds of options, many of them what I expected. You can use the concentration gland to add extra effects to the acid, elemental damage, longer lasting, more acidic�seems as if the concentration gland makes a nice pairing with the acid gland. You can spread your bonuses or further reinforce them with this organ. There isn�t anything that�s too wild here, although the �solidifying acid� one is weird. Turn the acid solid? Why? Perhaps it would make sense in a monster built a little differently than I am, I certainly wouldn�t want to be delivering that product.

In the end, I select the Potent Acid Concentration Gland +5. This will improve the ability of the concentration gland to perform its role, making the sticky and Mana-eating effects of my acid more powerful, without doing much for the damage caused by my acid.

Lock it in and keep going� Only 376 Biomass to go. Ugh.

Next on the chopping block is the final link in the commercial zone: the Acid Stimulation Gland. It�s a simple gland that does what it says on the tin, replenishes the acid faster. I�m curious what sort of upgrades would be available for something so relatively straightforward.

[Do you wish to improve Acid Stimulation Gland to +5? This will cost 15 Biomass.]

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

If the list is shorter, then I don�t think I can tell. Still a metric ton of options. Short bursts of rapid regeneration? Constant but smaller effect? Tie rapid replenishment of acid to certain times of day or particular conditions? Drain stamina to increase replenishment? Drain Mana? Drain HP? That last one is a bit nasty. Literally draw blood and turn it into acid. How in the heck�

But the Mana and stamina options intrigue me. By triggering the gland, it will start to consume the specified resource to stimulate the acid gland and increase acid production. Since Mana is a resource I have a lot of use for and don�t want to increase the drain on, stamina seems like a logical choice. Especially when I consider that I gain increased regeneration from the Vestibule.

Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +5 it is!

With that, my business district has chosen its path. To keep things simple, I�ll take the option to double down on those upgrades at +10 and eventually reinforce them at +15, which should give some potent effects. This is for purity of effect in these interconnected organs and not because I can�t be bothered searching through the menus for more options!

That�s my story and I�ll maintain that lie to my grave!

With that done, my attention turns to my Musculature and Sub-Neural Network. These are two upgrades I�m very excited about. First, the muscles.

[Do you wish to improve Musculature to +5? This will cost 15 Biomass.]

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

Again, the menu, and again the tantalising options. Elastic muscles, extra flexible muscles, muscles that are hardened to resist damage, muscles that self-repair, muscles you can force to break themselves for a burst of extra strength. I guess I need to focus on what I want my muscles to do�

As an invertebrate, my muscles don�t feel quite as critical, since they�re on the inside rather than the outside. Flexibility options are irrelevant, defensive options, I can also discard. What I really want is to bite harder. I�m a fairly uncomplicated ant, I suppose. Moar biting. That is the name of the game when it comes to my muscles.

The most important muscles to an ant are right in their face! No endurance, just more instant power!

Twitch Musculature +5. Increases the instant release of power for rapid but short movements. This looks good. It doesn�t help with sustained biting, but it helps give more explosiveness to my bites. It may even have an effect on my movement, allowing for a faster Dash.

And then the Sub-Neural Network. Essentially a fast response nervous system added in to increase reaction times, this little enhancement cost me a fair bit of evolutionary energy, and I�m very interested to see what sort of mutations are available.

[Do you wish to improve Sub-Neural Network to +5? This will cost 15 Biomass.]

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

And I shall!

Look at these options! External Sub-Neural Network? Enable the nerves to extend outside the body itself and detect fluctuations to further improve response times? Wouldn�t having nerve endings outside your body be a little on the risky side? There�s a heap of options to make the network more sensitive to various forms of stimuli or respond to specific threats�heat, cold, poison, air movement, Mana density. You can really tailor the response based on the threats to get hyper-fast reaction speeds to the threat you hate the most. It�s tempting, for sure, but I�d prefer to have something less effective, though more generally useful.

After a while, I settle on something I think is fairly sweet.

Gated Sub-Neural Network +5. Forms Mana spatial gates that send signals directly to receptors in the brain, shortening travel time of signals from extremities. It does cost extra Mana to maintain, but I think this will provide the biggest generic boost without any other serious drawbacks.

Essentially, my body becomes covered in these little gateways where my nerves come together, which then teleport the signals into my brain. That is freaking awesome. Lock it in!

The only question is, do I want the same thing at +10? I�ll need to consider the options.

And now for the Vestibule. Saving the finest for last.

[Do you wish to improve Collective Will Vestibule to +5? This will cost 9 Biomass.]

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

I have to admit, I�ve got a little trepidation surrounding this. The Vestibule is far and away the single most powerful gland I have, I certainly don�t want to mess it up with a poor selection. Let�s see what we have.

The majority of options are surprisingly what you would expect. Improve the effect the Vestibule has on stamina, stress, health regeneration, or gland rearmament. There�s no option where it can regenerate Mana, though, curse the luck. Other options relate to range of the effect, allowing the organ to be effective farther away from the source of the �Will.�

A stab of fear hits me when I notice the option to include another species in the designation of the Vestibule. Am I really prepared to start receiving energy from the humans of the village? Those nutters? No. I don�t think I could handle it.

For now, it�s safest to go with something conservative and increase the range. I can�t always guarantee that I�ll be close enough to the colony, and if I can have their support whilst roaming the Dungeon, I�ll be a great deal happier.

Let�s lock in the Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5.

Then I�ll pay for those.

�Oh, right.

The itch.

Ah, the itch is back, and it�s horrendous. In just moments, I�m on the ground with Tiny and Crinis watching over my prone and twitching form. Perhaps I should have waited until I was on my own� Why must I suffer this endless torment?

To be honest, the worst part, by far, is the Vestibule. As the strange flesh-crystal undergoes its mutation, waves of irritating, irresistible itchiness roll through my whole body until my eyes are bugging out of my head. I hate it! I hate it so much!

After five minutes, it�s all done and I immediately start queueing up the mutations for +10. If I�m going to put up with this, then I�m going to get it all done at once. Maximum pain in the minimum amount of time. Let�s do this! After poking through the menu, I end up with my selections looking like this:

Hyper Pressurised Acid Nozzle +10,

Thickened Potent Acid Concentration Gland +10,

Rapid Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +10,

Instant Twitch Musculature +10,

Wide Gated Sub-Neural Network +10.

Doubling down on all of the upgrades I�d selected before, except for the Vestibule. Not counting my previous itch, this particular purchase is going to set me back a cool 200 Biomass. Quite the hefty price to pay. I�ll have 179 when it�s done.

The previous itch was only just beginning to fade from my mind. I grit my mandibles and confirm my selections with the great and bearded System.

�HAGGACKAFLA!

Wait a sec�

SMAGGAGLEADAP!

Is there another one coming� HA� HAG�No� No, I�m good�

SHLAMALAMANAN! Aaand I�m back on the floor. This time, it takes ten minutes to get back to myself as my body undergoes a savage round of mutations. To be honest, it isn�t quite as bad as the last time because I chose not to mutate the Vestibule. I want to think a little more on that before I commit to anything.

In fact, the range I got from the first mutation seems to be quite significant. The trickle of energy has rocketed back up to what it�d been during the battle. The entire colony must be within my range now. Which is good. Upgrading from +3 to +5 has also increased the amount of energy trickling into my system, which is a plus! With more upgrades, the Vestibule will really start to flex some serious power. Something to look forward to.

[Alright, guys. I�m okay.]

[Are you finished mutating, Master?]

[Yeah, I�m all good.]

I push my legs under me and get back to my glorious, not flailing-on-the-floor self.

[Let�s go exploring. I want to try and find an old friend.]

[An old friend, Master?]

[Yep. Formo the sophos. Stand-up guy, but a little old-fashioned. I didn�t have you when I met that guy. He�s a super powerful Core Engineer with pets that are insanely strong. He suggested his whole village was close by. Hopefully, they�re as friendly as he was.]

[I�m sure we can make our escape if they prove difficult, Master.]

[Ehh. You didn�t see that worm.]

[Worm?]

[Let�s just say, it was bad news. Let�s go, Tiny. Time to hunt in the Dungeon!]

Tiny is only too happy to leap up and get back into the swing of things. The things swinging are largely his fists in this instance, as he pummels his way through the monsters in our path. With Crinis providing support, her tentacles lash out, grasping hold of poor unfortunate monsters who don�t get long to lament their fate before they�re rendered, then eaten.

I last saw Formo in the tunnels branching off from the Forest Expanse, so hopefully, I�ll be able to get in contact with him somewhere over there. I don�t have any bright ideas on how to find him other than wandering around the tunnels and broadcasting widely through Mind Magic. But before I can start that, we need to get in the right location.

And so, we battle! Glorious, glorious battle!

It�s almost insulting how easy it is for us now. We tear our way through the first strata monsters like a super-heated knife through already partially melted butter. Even an Earth Bear Tyrant isn�t able to stand up to my Omen Chomp for more than a single bite attack. My newly upgraded musculature allows me to snap down with incredible speed and force, and the upgraded Skill, which allowed me to tear into even Garralosh�s powerful scales, is easily able to pierce the hides of these monsters.

But I still sit back and give most of the experience to Crinis and Tiny. Crinis in particular is quite close to her evolution. She�s only a tier three lifeform at the moment, as opposed to Tiny�s tier four and my tier five. If I can get her a rare core, then she�ll get a massive boost in power during her next evolution.

More things to look forward to!

My mandibles close with a mighty crunch and another massive centipede has met an early grave.

[You have defeated a Level 15 Adult Claw Centipede.]

[You have gained XP.]

To one side, Tiny is pinning down a rotting rabbit, repeatedly punching it in the head until it stops moving. On the other, Crinis continues to work her dark magic on the creatures unfortunate enough to fall into her clutches.

[Got things under control, team?]

[URAAA!] Tiny bellows, both in my mind and out loud, his fists finishing their work.

[Yes, Master. These low-class filth will be out of your way in just a moment. Do not trouble yourself over them.]

[I mean, they aren�t really any trouble.]

[Just leave them to me! I mean� us.]

[Uh� okay.]

It may just be me, but Crinis has become a little more intense lately. She�s always been a bit� on edge. But ever since the Garralosh fight, she�s been fighting hard for every scrap of experience she can get her horrific, barbed limbs on.

[How close are you to evolving, Crinis?]

[I still need six more Levels, Master.]

[Don�t stress about it. We�ll get you up to Level 20 in no time flat. You�re doing great work, no need to beat yourself up.]

[Yes, Master.]

I can tell from the sullen knot she�s making with her tentacles that she�s not happy. Tiny is still flexing his hands and eagerly eyeing our surroundings for things to beat up. I can�t help but sigh. Both of my pets are soaking in the desire for strength. Which I understand. Now that I�ve reached tier five, my strength has skyrocketed. Crinis doesn�t want to feel useless, and Tiny doesn�t want to fall behind.

I need to get my hands on appropriate-level cores for them in preparation. Tiny will need a rare core, and who knows where I can get my mandibles on one of those. I think Crinis will be fine with a special core evolution. Trying to absorb a rare core at her tier may not be safe.

[Let�s keep looking around. We must be getting close to the Forest Expanse by now.]

The three of us clean ourselves up, scanning our defeated foes for cores to absorb, and eating a little Biomass before moving on.

I�ve been trying to get back to the place I met Formo�the obvious place to start our search. Three days, we�ve been pushing through the twisting tunnels of the Dungeon, taking a brief nap to refresh ourselves after the first fifteen hours.

We�re far from the colony here, and the support from my Vestibule has begun to fade. I�m honestly surprised it goes this far. I�m a long way out, after all. Perhaps further mutations to increase the range will keep me in touch with my siblings from a truly ridiculous distance. Food for thought.

The tunnels before us are dark and oppressive now that the light of the walls has faded to a muted glow. Jagged stone formations cast pointed shadows at odd angles, and the constant shrieking roar of monsters has been replaced by the muted scurrying and furtive battles I recall from my �youth.�

The Mana levels are still higher than they were when I was born, but we�re back to a far more comfortable state of affairs. Travelling is certainly more comfortable than it was before.

We pick our way through the tunnels, my focus honed in on my antennae, ensuring that I pick up every lurking creature.

Running through all these tunnels is doing wonders for my Tunnel Map, I�m filling in all sorts of new territory. As this tiny slice of the Dungeon continues to unfold in my mind map, the thousands of varying sized tunnels twisting and branching in every direction, the sheer size and complexity of the Dungeon is starting to come into view.

It�s big. Real big.

Wait a sec� tentacles?

[Watch out, Master!]

From her traditional riding position on my back, Crinis whips out a few tentacles to grab a nearby stone pillar and drags me to one side just as another set of tentacles whip through the air where I�d been just a moment before.

[Crinis! What the hell?]

[It�s not me!]

I process that for a second.

[Another Jellymaw?]

I�d been slow to react, because when I see tentacles in my future sense, I ignore it. It�s always Crinis.

[GRRRRR!]

Just as I realise what is attacking me, Crinis releases a decidedly un-Crinis-like growl of rage.

[Crinis, what�s�]

Before I can even ask what�s wrong, there�s an explosion of dark limbs within the narrow tunnel, blocking my sight entirely. The almost black tentacles writhe through the air. With a shriek of rage, Crinis throws herself from my back and rapidly expands.

In seconds, the tunnel is completely filled with shadowed limbs, and I can�t for the life of me tell which tentacles belong to which creature. Tiny and I back off, helpless to discern where exactly we should attack.

[Crinis, are you alright?]

[DIEEEEEEE!]

Yikes! Something about this has really gotten underneath Crinis� skin! Wanting to help my pet, I scramble up the side of the tunnel to get a better view. As my claws grip the stone, I�m a little dismayed at the difficulty of hauling my newfound bulk off the ground.

Damn! This mass and size are really weighing me down here. Literally!

Gritting my mandibles, I get myself upside down to try and push forward. Unfortunately, the tunnel is still a wall of battling tentacles in front of me. Crinis� main body is pushing forward toward the conflict, eager to close the distance, and I decide to do the same.

Here we go, try something new. Upside down DASH of power!

My legs scream at the load as I activate my Dash Skill whilst hanging upside down. In less than a second, I smash into the wall of coiling limbs, my sheer size pushing them out of the way through momentum alone. Beyond, I see something I did not expect.

Similar to Crinis in a way, the monster resembles a dark flower made of shadow and tentacles. Thick limbs like petals rotate around the centre of a giant, dripping maw, suspended on a stalk-like pillar of limbs. The �head� of this monstrous flower tips from side to side while an increasing number of tentacles extend from the body to combat my pet.

Is this thing more evolved than Crinis is?

[DIEEEEEE!] Crinis shrieks as she continues her furious tentacle assault, one that is matched by the dark flower in intensity.

Their conflict is practically an enormous pile of shoelaces actively tying themselves into knots. That interaction takes a darker turn as both sets of shoelaces extend differing but equally savage barbs that tear into each other with abandon.

The tunnel reverberates with the sound of buzzing and rending as the two shadow creatures slice each other apart. Their shadow flesh is curiously pliable and doesn�t offer much resistance to the cutting force as bits and pieces of both start to litter the floor.

[Crinis! Are you okay there?]

[DIE! DIE-DIE-DIE-DIE-DIEEEEEEEEEE!] is all I get in response.

Holy moly! She dove right off the deep end!

I need to assist. Not that I think Crinis will lose in this Jellymaw showdown. I just want to ensure she doesn�t get too torn up in the process. Indeed, she�s already begun sprouting new tentacles to replace those that have been lost, and those limbs whip through the air to battle alongside their brethren in the great tangle.

From my precarious position on the ceiling, I notice the shadow flower extending limbs like roots across the floor of the tunnel, burrowing into the soil, but I also manage to see the creature�s own shadow deepening to black darker than night.

At that moment, I make use of my new and improved business district to fire my sizzling product at the enemy.

POW! POW! POW!

How do you like that for an express delivery? The acidic fluid rockets fast enough to produce a piercing whistle, and the flower, not ten metres away from me, recoils as if struck by stones when my projectiles strike home. At that speed, I suppose the liquid would feel rather solid�hadn�t thought of that. Though less splashy than usual, I�m happy to see that the acid still gums up and starts burning its way through the shadow flesh of the flower at a prodigious rate.

POW! POW! POW!

Plenty more where that came from, you offensive rose of death! And I mean, plenty more. With the full weight of my new production system back there, my acid has become the potent weapon it was when I�d first been born.

Ah, the nostalgia is real. Back when I was so weak that everything I saw was a threat, and ranged combat was my only viable path to victory. The memories, the terrifying, harrowing memories. Things have come a long way since those days, thank Gandalf.

For now, let�s focus on what�s truly important: quenching the white-hot rage that burns within the heart of my poor eldritch monstrosity of infinite horror.

The flower isn�t enjoying my new and improved product by any means. It writhes in pain, a hundred tendrils coiling around itself to shield it from my wrath. Not likely, you Crinis-irritating flower. It�s way harder than that to get away from me.

My legs are still straining to hold my more impressive bulk attached to the ceiling, but I�m able to scurry forward and bring myself closer to the creature, just as Crinis completes her work with the shadows. Suddenly, a dozen ravenous, barbed limbs rise from the floor and latch onto the beast, hungrily tearing into its flesh.

Just in time for me to apply my mandibles.

Omen Chomp!

A huge chunk of stamina drains away as the nightmarish dark mandibles manifest before me and slice through the air. Shadow flesh isn�t the toughest stuff in the world to start with, and in the face of such a powerful skill, the limbs extending from the flower are shorn away like hair caught in a barber�s scissors.

A frankly disgusting amount of limbs flop to the ground, and with a psychic shriek of savage joy, Crinis bounds forward, her jaws wide open to reveal the cavernous, dark void within. I have to admit, the shadow flower puts up a valiant defence. It has a remarkable amount of shadow flesh in the tank, and if I�m not mistaken, there�s something fancy going on with those roots.

Flipping on my Mana Sense, my suspicion is confirmed. The creature has penetrated tentacles deep into the ground and is sucking Mana up at a furious rate. In fact, that might explain its prodigious capacity to create shadow flesh. If the creature had some sort of capacity to convert Mana into shadow flesh quickly, that would be an interesting solution to the problem Crinis attempted to solve with her Shadow Flesh Generation Gland. This shadow flower is an interesting design based on the original Jellymaw.

Hang on a second� design?

Suddenly suspicious, I turn my gaze at the creature itself. A powerful core blazes inside it. Probably not rare, but pushing the upper limits of special, for sure. I can�t shake the feeling this creature is a little more carefully put together than the Dungeon�s own scattershot approach.

[Hold on, Crinis!] I call.

Too late.

[FEEEASSSSSSSSTTT!] she hisses viciously as her maw opens wide.

What happens next, is not meant for mortal eyes. The process of one Jellymaw consuming another is, I can only imagine, the sort of thing dark gods whisper to each other at their evil clubs of nefariousness to make each other shiver. It was loud. It was messy. It was not quick.

Tiny and I look down at the now shrunken Crinis, who appears to be covering herself with tentacles in order to shield herself from what she must assume is our judging gaze.

[Crinis�]

[Don�t look at me! I�ve disgraced myself!]

[You really haven�t.]

[I lost control!]

[As if I haven�t. Let�s not mention Tiny.]

Tiny nods in solemn agreement.

[I am not worthy of your words, Master. Please disregard this disgusting servant.]

[That isn�t�]

Like a distant wave rushing from a kilometre away to inside my head within a second, a formless pressure builds and then explodes into my consciousness with an audible SNAP.

[Holy heck that smarts!]

[I SAY, YOU CRETIN! What in the name of BOSH have you done to my SERVANT?]

The mental contact is powerful, skilful, and as loud as a foghorn blasting within an ear canal.

[You wouldn�t happen to be a sophos, would you?]

[OH-HO! SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU�VE DONE, YOU RAPSCALLION. I�LL STRIP OUT YOUR CORE AND MOULD YOU INTO A FOOTREST! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU, SIR!]

Maybe you shouldn�t have left your pet out in the tunnels on its own if you cared so much?

[I COULD READ THAT, YOU TWIT! DON�T YOU EVEN START WITH ME! I�LL FEED YOU TO MY WORM AND LAUGH. LAUGH, I SAY!]

I do NOT want to be fed to one of those worms!

[Wait a second!] I interject. [Any chance you know Formo? We came looking for him. He knows me!]

C�mon, Formo. Please don�t be a recluse that nobody�s ever heard of.

[WHY DIDN�T YOU SAY SO? I�LL COME FIND YOU, OLD BOY. HOLD TIGHT!]

Thank you, Formo. Thank you from your shrivelled legs to your bulbous, eyeless head.

When our guide appears before us, I do a quick double take, as he�s remarkably similar to Formo in appearance. The impression is somewhat reinforced when he arrives riding on the back of a tremendously fearsome worm-monster.

The sophos are quite small, with thin, gangly arms and legs that support an unimpressive torso. Without eyes or perhaps even ears, the sophos have an impressively bulbous head that they can�t seem to hold up properly, resulting in a hunched posture that makes them look even smaller than they ought to. They appear completely hairless and somewhat wrinkly, which I can easily tell, since they don�t wear any clothes other than a loincloth.

[WHAT HO! ARE YOU THE DASTARDLY CREATURES WHO THROTTLED MY CREATION?]

I take that as my cue to step forward.

[Ah, yes. Hello there! We come in peace! Had we realised the creature we were battling belonged to one of the sophos, we�d have left it well enough alone, and�]

[WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE CORE FORGE IS THAT!]

I can�t help but frantically look around to see what he�s screaming about, but the guy doesn�t have eyes! How the hell am I supposed to know what he�s looking at? His head didn�t even move!

[I�m not sure what you mean?]

[YOUR PET! HOW IN THE BLAZES DID YOU GET YOUR GRUBBY MANDIBLES ON ONE?]

[Are you referring to Tiny? I mean. He�s a big �ol gorilla. There�s a few of them in the Forest Expanse, I�m sure. We can�t be far from it, I�d be happy to take you.]

[NO, YOU BLITHERING NUMBSKULL! THE LIGHTNING FIST APE IS AS COMMON AS MUD AFTER IT RAINS ON A MUD FARM! I�M TALKING ABOUT THE SHADOW CREATURE!]

[Crinis? Uh. Just got lucky, I suppose?]

[GIVE HER TO ME!]

[Nope.]

A brief silence descends between myself and the sophos, who imperiously looks down at me�maybe�from atop his powerful worm-mount. I get the feeling he never considered the possibility I might say no to such a request.

[IT WOULD SEEM TO ME, THAT YOU OWE ME REPARATIONS AFTER DESTROYING MY CREATION.]

Even if the volume hasn�t changed, it feels as if his tone has become a little less demanding.

[You may be right about that,] I�m happy to admit.

[IF YOU GIVE ME CONTROL OF YOUR PET, THEN I SHALL CONSIDER THE DEBT ERASED.]

[No chance.]

Silence descends once more.

[WHY?] the sophos finally demands.

I don�t have to think on the answer.

[These aren�t simply my pets. They are my friends. You don�t just give away friends that have battled loyally by your side, that�s just nuts.]

The sophos glares incredulously. [BOY, THEY ARE MAGICALLY COMPELLED TO SERVE YOU LOYALLY.]

I shrug my antennae. [Don�t care about that�] Heeey, wait a second! [How in the heck did you know I was a boy!]

With his sightless gaze, the sophos is likely considering how to punish my disrespectful self, when a great, booming laugh rattles into my head.

[HOHOHOHO! IT�S RARE TO SEE SOMEONE WITH A TRUE RESPECT FOR THE MASTER/PET BOND OUTSIDE OF MY KIND. WHAT A TREAT! A TREAT, I SAY! AS TO THE OTHER, I MAY HAVE NO EYES, BUT THE BLASTED DUNGEON CAN�T HIDE MUCH FROM ME. WE SEE MUCH THAT IT WOULD RATHER REMAIN HIDDEN!]

In a surprising move, the sophos leaps from the back of his mount to land quite lightly before the head of his worm and draws near to us.

[MY NAME IS TIRIMON. ALLOW ME TO GUIDE YOU TO OUR CONCLAVE.]

[Hello, Tirimon. I�m Anthony, this is Tiny and Crinis. Nice to meet you!]

Our journey to the village is a little unpleasant. I can still remember the modes of transport I enjoyed back on Earth. Buses, cars, bikes�all that normal stuff. I never thought I�d yearn quite so hard to return to those simple times quite so hard as I do whilst riding on the back of a giant, slithering rock-worm.

You can�t see a thing, for starters. The worm is almost as thick as the tunnel, so we�re forced to squeeze into gaps where some of the body ring segments are smaller than the others. Tiny and I smack our heads more than a few times on the tunnel walls.

That would be bad enough, but then Tirimon turns around to apologise about having to shut our minds down a brief moment before my consciousness is smothered from within my own head.

I awake to find myself within a strange cavern with another sophos peering into my compound eyes. Something about the colouring of his leathery skin tickled my mind. Or perhaps that was the Mind Bridge that springs up so effortlessly between us.

[Formo?]

[NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, OLD BOY!]

[Is there a particular reason why you sophos are so loud?]

[LOUD? WE�RE TALKING MENTALLY, YOU CRETIN. NOT A SOUND IS MADE!]

[Formo! You know exactly what I mean! Every time I form a Mind Bridge with a sophos, I�ve had my head rung like a bell. Can you tone it down a little?]

[WE ARE SIMPLY EXUBERANT, MY BOY! FULL OF BEANS!]

[I seriously doubt you eat beans, Formo.]

[WELL, NOT UNLESS IT WAS A BEAN MONSTER, I SUPPOSE!]

[Just, take it down a notch, please?]

[I SHALL�ahem. I shall try. I must say, young Anthony, I didn�t expect to see you again. Judging by your change in size, you�ve been quite productive over the course of the wave.]

[Well, once the colony got rolling, the wave was almost more help than harm.]

[Hmm� I wonder if you understand why that might have been the case.]

[I�m not sure what you mean.]

[No matter. Come, my boy, let us wander this way. My domicile is found near the forge.]

Continuing our stroll through the sophos community, I�m not sure what I expected, but the place is more humble than I�d assumed it�d be. After my first meeting with Formo, I envisioned the sophos to be an all-powerful community of core shapers without compare, living in the lap of luxury. That isn�t the case.

The village is built along wide tunnels, with domiciles carved out of the rock. I asked where the giant worms and such lived, and was informed most of them live in holding areas beneath the village�bit surprised at that. I thought they�d treat their pets a little better, considering how much they rely on them.

Tiny and Crinis have been sent down there, as pets are discouraged in the upper levels. I�ve been assured they�ll be treated with the utmost respect, and I really have no option but to trust them. Formo has never steered me wrong�yet.

The other thing that strikes me is the total lack of Mana veins. The walls are bizarrely clear of them, light instead being provided by a series of core powered lighting installations. I�m pretty darn interested in learning how the heck they do that, but Formo was cagey about it when I asked. Damn you, you bulbous-headed sophos! Give me your secrets!

On top of all that, there are so few sophos. Most of them look fairly similar, the defining feature being the mottled colouring of their skin. Most have green skin, but some have patches of red or blue, even orange. Other than that, their featureless faces appear the same from one to the next. Mind you, they would probably say the same about us ants.

[I don�t see a whole lot of your people around, Formo. Is it a market day or something? People sleeping in?]

[What? Of course not! There just aren�t many of us. We�ve worked hard to ruffle the Dungeon�s feathers, and it doesn�t appreciate it, not a whit! The spawn rate for sophos is abysmally low as a result.]

Even I can tell how bitter he is from his tone.

[How does that even work? The Dungeon just up and decided your people were monsters?]

[BAH! You touch on a sore subject, old boy. We don�t much like talking about it, but when the opportunity to rant about the Dungeon pops up, who am I to pass it up?]

[I�m sure I wouldn�t know.]

[INDEED! My people were underground dwellers long before the Dungeon appeared. When Mana began to seep through the ground, we were the first to experience and make use of it. When the Dungeon tunnels connected to ours, we were the first to come into contact with monsters and battle them. The surfacers ignored our warnings and laughed at our pleas for help. I have to say, their attitude towards us was much the same back then as it is now.]

[That�s terrible.]

[STIFF UPPER LIP AND ALL THAT, OLD SPORT! It�s tough to keep a good sophos down! We adapted, thrived even! But things began to change. After hundreds of years, we were so steeped in the Mana of the Dungeon that the stupid System couldn�t differentiate between us and monsters. In an instant, like a switch was flipped, we lost our classes, couldn�t bear young, our Levels were gone, and only Biomass could sate us.]

My mind is boggled. What a tragedy! How the heck did they survive?

[Just step this way. That was more than a thousand years ago, and there are some of us still alive from that time. We were nearly wiped out, I�m afraid to say; it was a close run. Luckily, we�d relied on our pets from the outset, and they did not desert us. Now, we build our settlements around any spawn point we know has produced a sophos, and we battle against the Dungeon wherever we can.]

[How do you actually fight the Dungeon? Is it a thing you can hit? I thought it was more of a nebulous sort of� entity.]

I�m not sure how much I should share about my conversations with a mind that seems to think it runs the show around here. The sophos may already know about it, or they might pin me down and dissect me. They�re pretty anti-System in general. Probably best if I play it cool.

[Oh, there is much about the Dungeon that can be learned, even when it doesn�t want you to. It is also possible to work against the interests of the Dungeon, once you know what it wants. For example, have you seen the Expert Profile of a creature after consuming a ton of it?]

Ah, the profiles! I�ve unlocked a heap of those after all the fighting and eating that�s gone on over the last few weeks. Honestly, I haven�t been bothered to read through them all. I actually unlocked Garralosh�s full profile after eating her Biomass; considering there was only one of her, the Expert Profile was unlocked straight away. Just can�t bring myself to read it yet. I mean, I killed and then ate her. I�d rather not learn something that will give me cause to regret it. As a fellow former human, I probably owe it to her.

[Sure I have. Those damn centipedes were the first.]

[PRECISELY! Ahem. You were probably a mite taken aback by what it said. That profile gives a little insight into the dastardly intentions of the Dungeon.]

[If I recall, that profile suggested the centipedes were proving to be a good species and would be propagated further�]

[Right. Which means that species has been successful, and the Dungeon wants to see more of it. Spawn rates will go up and new varieties will be tried, perhaps a shadow variant on the second strata, or even farther down than that.]

[What?] I squawk. [Those filthy centipedes are trash. TRASH I SAY!]

[INDEED, OLD SPICE! IF YOU WERE TO GIVE THE SYSTEM WHAT FOR, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO HUNT DOWN EVERY CLAW CENTIPEDE YOU COULD FIND AND WIPE THEM FROM THE DUNGEON IN ONE FELL SWOOP! THUS FOILING THE BLIGHTER�S PLANS!]

[You know what, I just might.]

I�m certain the colony would be happy to follow me in an anti-centipede crusade. I hate those things.

[Ah, just around here,] Formo says.

The two of us turn a corner and I can�t help but gasp. The space opens up into a massive cavern, and every surface is filled with circular workstations cut into the stone. Here and there, sophos diligently meditate in the clear space in the centre of their stations, cores sitting in their gnarled hands as they strive to modify them to their wishes. There are cores everywhere. Every bench holds dozens of the things! In the middle of the cavern, a huge repository with tiered shelving runs from the floor to the ceiling, and each layer is covered in cores.

I kind of drool a little.

[WELCOME TO THE FORGE, YOU LUCKY DEVIL! NOT MANY GET TO SEE IT, YOU KNOW. HERE WE CREATE THE MOST FEARSOME PETS THE WHOLE WORLD OVER!]

The pride is obvious as Formo slips in the control of his volume. I don�t mind too much. This is quite the sight!

[Most of our civilisation was lost when the blasted System changed us. No need for farmers, artists, or poets when you�re a monster. It was our ability to manipulate cores and create pets to fight for us that mattered, and over the years, we�ve taken that skill as far as we can.]

We�re relaxing in Formo�s house, carved into the wall around the outside of the forge. The inside is as simple as the outside: a small number of rooms, a crude bed and furniture carved from the rock. Formo sits on a stone chair next to a small table whilst I stand just outside with my head through the door. This part of the town isn�t exactly made for monsters to move comfortably in, and the sophos are quite small.

[I�m a bit surprised you guys look so similar. Since you�re monsters, shouldn�t you have evolutions and all that? What tier are you, anyway?]

Formo�s snort rings in my mind.

[It�s a touch rude to ask that sort of thing, old bean. Though I don�t mind, I suppose. We deliberately don�t evolve much in order to keep our settlements in the upper levels of the Dungeon. Most of us are tier five and a few of us are tier six. We use Mana concentration enchantments to bring Mana up from below in order to sustain us. If we kept on evolving, that�d become impractical and we�d have to move down. This settlement is already something of an oddity, since most of our communities are in the second stratum. Better cores down there, you see.]

[I can imagine. Any chance you would share those enchantments?]

[Nope.]

[Dammit�]

The Mana in the air is definitely more concentrated in here than in the tunnels outside, which is crazy, considering there aren�t any Mana veins. Are they moving Mana around with some sort of Mana air conditioning system?

[Your friend, Tirimon, seemed very interested in my pet, Crinis. Any particular reason for that?]

[Is that the tentacly one?]

I nod.

He begins to muse, one clawed hand coming up to stroke his narrow chin. [Yes� That�s quite the rare specimen you have there. Quite rare indeed. Very new species. We encountered them for the first time during the wave, which I presume you did as well.]

[For sure. Scared the heck out of me.]

[Hah! I bet! It�s not unusual for the Dungeon to spit out new species during events like a wave, see how they fare. Now that things are calming down, we�re quite keen to send an expedition to the lower levels to see what we can find.]

I refrain from pointing out they won�t see much, due to being blind. That�s too cheap, even for me.

[No one�s going to steal her, are they?] I ask nervously.

[What�THEFT? NONSENSE! The sophos aren�t petty thieves!]

[Tirimon was pretty keen to get his hands on her.]

[Tirimon is a BLITHERING IDIOT for letting his pet out into the tunnels unsupervised. If he wanted to test its performance, then he should have done so here in the proving grounds. I�m sure he wanted to replace his lost specimen, but he got what he gosh darn deserved.]

He stands, thin legs wobbling a little as his oversized head begins to tip his balance.

[WHOA THERE! Might as well pop down to the pens if you�re worried. Wouldn�t mind checking in on my own pets.]

I have to back myself up a little in order to clear the doorway, and we pass through the forge where sophos diligently work their craft. We come to an enormous staircase leading both up and down. These stairs are so massive, even Garralosh might have been able to navigate them! Makes sense, I suppose, there would have to be somewhere the sophos could move their pets throughout their community. That�s probably why their streets are so wide to start with.

The stairs curve, and it isn�t long before we arrive in the �downstairs� area. My mandibles drop open reflexively. Had I really thought the sophos would treat their pets poorly? I�m such an idiot.

This area can only be described as the most luxurious stable I�ve ever seen. A trickling stream of Mana-infused water meanders between spacious pens with high walls and comfortable amenities. The pets have beds. BEDS! And they look so much better than what the sophos themselves enjoy! In fact, one of those enormous worms is comfortably nestled on an enormous padded cushion in a nearby pen. A pile of Biomass rests next to the languid worm, and there�s a sophos massaging the great beast.

In fact, there are far more sophos here than upstairs. They move from pen to pen, checking on creatures, or just resting alongside them. They don�t appear to be doing much physical labour, which is understandable, considering how weak they are. Instead, they direct other pets to do the heavy lifting.

[Seems as if your people spend more time down here than upstairs.]

[Hurrumph! We can�t have children anymore, you know. The Dungeon doesn�t allow natural reproduction from monsters. Not in the way we could before. My people invest most of their energy in their pets. They�re the only children we�ll ever have. Of course, not all pets are treated this way. Some are disposable soldiers, an unfortunate reality of living in the Dungeon. Those who�ve been with us for a long time though� It�s hard, when they die.]

[I understand. I�ve wanted to try and find a way to free my pets.]

[Hmm. You don�t want them to be compelled to follow you, but do so from their own choice?]

[Right!]

Nice to meet someone who understands my principle!

[SMASHING empathy there, chap, but I have to say we haven�t found a way to do it. When you reconstitute a core, the bond is formed and we don�t know how to sever it.]

[Dang.]

Speaking of my pets, I find them resting in the lap of luxury within a pen, waited on hand and foot. Tiny is loving life as he reclines in a padded chair that seems designed to hold his sort of weight, munching on handfuls of Biomass. Crinis, for her part, is cringing against the wall trying to hide herself from a small crowd of six sophos who are staring at her, motionless.

Now of course, I know they�re probably having a rich�and loud�mental conversation, but I have to say, it looks rather creepy.

I can feel Formo weaving together a Mind Bridge in mere seconds as he attaches us to what I can only describe as a mind web�a multi-link bridge construct between the sophos.

[WHAT IS ALL THE HUBBUB?] he bellows.

[NO NEED TO BUTT IN, YOU PEASANT!] comes the sharp reply.

As they erupt amongst themselves, I wander over to Crinis.

[How�s it going there, Crinis? How long have they been here?]

[The. Whole. Time.]

Oof.

[Do you guys mind? My pet is feeling a little put upon here.]

As one, the sophos turn on me.

[MIND YOURSELF, BOY! THE EXPERTS ARE TALKING!]

Yikes. Not one to mince words, this one. Although, I could say the same for all of the sophos I�ve met. They�re universally loud and pugnacious.

[THAT�S HIS PET, YOU NINCOMPOOP!]

[HOW DARE YOU!]

[OH, I DARE THAT AND MORE!]

[FORMO, YOU SLACK JAWED NINNY! I�LL MAKE PAJAMAS OUT OF YOUR FAVOURITE PET FOR YOUR WORDS!]

[YOU WANT TO TRY IT, ASONAN? I�LL TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A BIOMASS PANTRY. AND LAUGH! HEARTILY!]

[Calm down! Sheesh! No need to get so worked up,] I interject.

They turn on me once more.

[THIS�ahem. This is merely banter, old boy. Conflict between sophos is�well, its unheard of.]

[AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN�T TALK!]

[OH-HO! JOLLY GOOD JAPE!]

[QUITE SO!]

I�m not sure if my burgeoning headache or weariness will become more pressing in the short-term. These damn sophos are exhausting.

[WE WERE MERELY EXAMINING THE CHOICES YOU�D MADE WITH YOUR PET!] the one named Asonan shouts at me.

[I don�t see why it�s so interesting,] I say. [For the most part, I let Crinis make her own choices.]

Silence falls at my words as the sophos sightlessly stare at me, then they turn back to studying Crinis.

[Anthony, you really let your pets make their own evolution decisions?]

[Yes?]

[Even that one?] Formo points and Tiny as the ape continues to shovel handfuls of Biomass into his face.

[Yep.]

[You didn�t design their evolutions, or manually control their evolutions?]

[I did a little work on Crinis before I reconstituted her, but my Skill Levels were low back then, and still are compared to yours, so I wasn�t able to get much done. For the most part, I let them pick what they think will work out.]

[�Why?]

The other sophos are obviously listening along the communal line as Formo queries me. I�m not sure why they have such an interest, and I become a little defensive.

[Look, I�ll come clean. On the one hand I can�t be bothered to micromanage every little thing, on the other, they have their own minds, even if they�re pets! They can decide what they want and how they want to go about it. These are big decisions, after all!]

[We don�t disagree with that, we just find it interesting that your pets were able to make quite good decisions without your input.]

[Really?]

[Yes. Although with that one,] he points at Tiny again, [you�ll need to intervene. The Lightning Fist Ape is an interesting creature, but it chews up its own mental attributes every time it evolves, until it eventually becomes effectively mindless. We rarely bother with them due to the hassle, but if you can find a balance, it could prove to be strong.]

[Uhh, that�s great advice.]

[We tend not to give our pets such free rein. But I can respect your choice to do so.]

[Thanks!]

[WE REALLY CAN�T DECIDE HOW MUCH POTENTIAL THIS NEW SHADOW BEAST HAS,] another member of the Crinis fan club interjects. [IT�S AN INTERESTING NEW APPLICATION OF THE SHADOW FLESH ARCHETYPE. I�M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT WILL EVOLVE!]

[Well, I think Crinis is pretty darn close to evolving right now, aren�t you, Crinis?]

[Ah! Yes, Master!]

[Yes, old chap, we can see that by looking at her core,] Formo says.

[How the heck can you look at her core without touching her?]

I can almost feel the sophos rolling their non-existent eyes.

[Level up your Skills, Anthony. We hardly waste time on core shaping our real pets until we reach rank six.]

SIX!

[Sheesh. I created a whole new species of ant monster, and I�m only rank three in core shaping.]

[YOU DID WHAT?]

I get a solid mental blast right in the sconce at that. All of the sophos stare at me once more, but this time, the air is a little more tense.

[I, uh. I modified the Queen�s core to produce offspring more like me, and the species of the entire colony, including myself, changed when they were born.]

[WHAT A BLASTED THING TO DO!]

[INCREDIBLE!]

[INSPIRED!]

[BLOODY FANTASTIC IS WHAT IT IS!]

[ANTHONY, MY BOY!] Formo is back to his head-thumping loudest. [CREATING A NEW SPECIES IS A GRAND ACHIEVEMENT. ESPECIALLY FOR A LOST SOUL SUCH AS YOU. GOOD SHOW! GOOD SHOW INDEED!]

His pronouncement is met with a chorus of �GOOD SHOW!� and �INDEED, YES!� from the gallery.

[Phew. I have to admit, for a second there, I thought you guys might get angry at me for making super-intelligent monster ants.]

[BAH! WE�RE NOT SO EASILY FRIGHTENED. WE�VE FOUGHT OFF SWARM MONSTERS DOZENS OF TIMES.]

[HUNDREDS!]

[WE ARE NOT INTIMIDATED BY ANTS!]

[You know, that�s nice to hear. It�s good to find people who aren�t afraid of monsters.]

[WHAT BOSH! WE ARE MONSTERS!]

[I even made a caste within the colony who are dedicated to core shaping after I was inspired by Formo�s pets.]

[OUTRAGEOUS!]

[HOW DARE YOU, INSECT?]

[NOW, THAT IS THREATENING!]

[What, really?] I exclaim.

[NO! OF COURSE NOT!]

I sag to the floor a little, my legs splaying out. Yep. Definitely exhausting to deal with. Almost as if taking pity on me, the sophos gather around to pat me on the carapace with their gnarled hands.

[It�s rare that we find someone who values the shaping arts to such a degree. We�re impressed, Anthony.]

[Thanks, Formo.]

[Lost souls such as yourself are not often in such a good position as you. Most that we come across are� disturbed, even from the beginning. That you have been able to defy the Dungeon and find a place in it is impressive.]

[Thanks. I�ve only run into one other of my kind, and that was Garralosh.]

[Hmm. She died recently, did she not?]

[How do you know?]

[There are ways,] Formo says.

[Be mysterious, then. I know you mentioned another that you�d met.]

[Young Sarah! Fine young woman-bear.]

[BEAR?]

[Indeed!]

[How is that fair?]

[What? That she started as a powerful bear, and Garralosh started as a fiendish crocodile, whilst you were an ant?]

[Exactly!]

[Just another reason to hate the Dungeon!]

[QUITE SO!] the sophos agree, followed by a chorus of, [HEAR, HEAR!]

No need to remind me about that. These guys seriously carry a grudge.

[COME, YOUNG ANT MONSTER. LET US DISCUSS THE FINE ART OF CORE SHAPING. AND IF YOU WISH, WE CAN SPEAK OF WHAT WE KNOW OF YOUR KIND.]

[That�d be great!]

Tungstant snapped back to alertness with a start. Though her mind was still fuzzy with fatigue, she pushed her feet beneath her with alacrity, energy surging through her body. There was so much to do. So much work, so much discovery�it was electric! How could a Formica Sapiens possibly rest when the tasks to perform lay spread before them like a delicious banquet? Impossible!

She charged out of the chamber she was resting in to find the tunnels filled with frenzied ants. Pheromones blazed against her antennae, the air thick with ants communicating at a rapid pace.

�Hurry up! I�ve gotta get to the new crafting district yesterday!�

�Not my fault you�re late, slacker!�

�Quit polluting the air with your nonsense! Some of us are trying to discuss construction theories!�

�Take it to a workshop or chamber. This is completely not the place for that!�

The carver caste council member took it all in, then threw herself into the crush. In an instant, she was buffeted on all sides by ants of all castes as they rushed to get to a hundred different places. Her position as a council member afforded her no extra consideration from her siblings, they cared only for the task at hand.

She followed the branches of the tunnel toward her first stop, the brood chambers. Upon arrival, she couldn�t help but feel delighted by the masses of young. Hundreds of them, lovingly cared for by dozens of Tenders. This early in the day, the brood was being transferred to higher chambers in order to benefit from the warmth of the sun.

Tungstant frowned. The humans used fires in order to warm enclosed spaces. It was a crude system, to be sure, and the smoke would be troublesome. Perhaps she should check in with the mage caste to see if they were making headway with enchanting. It should be relatively simple to produce a core enchanted to generate heat. With some care, the brood chambers could be at the optimal temperature for the entire day.

More work to be done, but rather than crushed, she was delighted. Her mind was afire with the possibilities. The visits to the human village had been everything the eldest promised they would be. Access to a civilisation with thousands of years of learning behind them was invaluable. Of course, the people of the village were still struggling in the aftermath of their kingdom being laid to waste, but the ants had been able to extract a tremendous amount of information. Forging, construction, enchanting, agriculture had all been new concepts to the colony. They�d pestered the humans endlessly and started experimenting straight away.

And with experimentation came new Skills, and new Skills meant grinding!

�Florence! How goes the brood?�

The Brood Tender turned away from her charges to speak with her fellow council member.

�Tungstant. As nice as it is to see you, we really are very busy. Could you make this quick?�

�Who has time for a conversation that not�s quick these days?� laughed the carver. �I was asked by the generals to check in, they wanted to know how many hatchlings we were expecting over the next few days. They�ve been attempting to scout out hunting grounds in order to provide enough experience, and they�re worried there won�t be enough.�

Florence twitched her antennae, able to recall the numbers in an instant.

�Three hundred and twenty-four tomorrow, and three hundred and fifty-seven the day after.�

�Fair enough. How long until we reach full capacity?�

�The first round of eggs from the new Queens hatched yesterday. We expect them to enter the pupal stage in five days.�

�Great! Have a great day, Florence.�

�To you as well.�

The Tenders were always so polite. If only the mages could follow their example, as that was Tungstant�s next destination. Back out into the connecting tunnels of madness she went, making her way to the mage chambers. Inside, dozens of mage caste ants practised their craft, grinding Skills and experimenting with enchanting cores.

�Got some more work for us, Tungstant? Need to hand more tasks to the big thinkers in the colony?�

�You do know carvers have higher Cunning than mages, right?�

�Speak not of this heresy!�

�Actually, Propellant, I had something that might be right up your alley. Fire enchantments to keep the brood chambers warm.�

�Oh-ho! I see it. Yes. Yes! Simplicity itself!�

�Just make sure you test everything properly. I�ll put a team of carvers on it as well. We can compare notes. Have your researchers made much progress?�

�We were only able to learn a small number of basic enchantments from the humans. Other than using those to grind our Skills, making new breakthroughs is difficult. It�s going to take time.�

�Not to mention the lack of resources.�

Tungstant looked out over the chamber. The colony still hadn�t done much by way of architecture. Most chambers were just hollowed out spaces of earth and rock without decoration, though she could see the beginnings of customization here. Each mage had carved out their own little work space, demarcated by a small circle of raised dirt. Within each space, mage ants meditated, shaped Mana or engraved Mana onto cores.

The cores were the key. They needed cores for new members of the colony, for the core shapers and enchanting. The colony had an insatiable appetite for them, and there was only one way to get them: fight and destroy monsters.

�The soldiers and scouts are doing everything they can,� Propellant said. �We just have to make do with what we have.�

Tungstant could only agree. �Keep in touch. Things are moving fast, we don�t want to miss anything.�

�You could say, things are really heating up.�

�Just. Why?�

Only too happy to leave the mages behind, Tungstant made her way back to the carver workshops. Of all the castes, theirs had been the one to receive the newest knowledge from the humans. With so many areas of advancement to keep track of, she couldn�t afford to be away for long.

The workshops were where the carvers did the bulk of their work, and it was a flurry of activity as usual. Cobalt was watching over a team of carvers who were experimenting with new developments in Earth Magic.

�How goes it, Cobalt?� Tungstant greeted her sibling.

�Busy! Where have you been slacking this time?� came the good-natured reply.

�Has there been much progress?�

�Since yesterday? No, of course not. These things take time.�

�I just can�t help but feel a little impatient.�

�I understand that, sister. If we rush, we�ll come to false conclusions. Steady progress is key.�

�I�ve been told we�ll be getting four hundred new carvers in three days.�

�That�s more than we thought!�

�Well, do we have work for them?�

�We could find work for twice that number.�

�Right. All of the castes are being pushed hard right now.�

�Wouldn�t have it any other way.�

Looking out over the ever-expanding workshop, a burning passion rose in Tungstant�s chest. Here and there, ants constructed forges, trying to create tools shaped to their claws to replicate the techniques they�d seen from the humans. Already a few had learned the Skill. Next to them were experiments in enchanting, Earth Magic, and engraving. Along one wall, a carver was using Earth Magic to shape it, gouging neat and perfect lines into a mural. Artwork, a tapestry of stone and soil.

Curious, she moved closer to inspect the work. It was still taking shape, but it was clear already what it would be. The eldest was depicted in bold lines, standing atop the fallen monstrosity of Garralosh.

It was strange, the sensation of emotion that rushed through her abdomen as she beheld the picture. The power of images and storytelling. This was also something the colony would seize. They would seize everything.

Morrelia was tired. There were many reasons for a person in the village to be tired. For one, construction continued unabated since the threat of the horde had faded. The militia hadn�t relented in their training and practice either, which consumed a lot of energy. Small scale Dungeon delves took place every day, much safer now than when the wave had been underway, and that required coordinating and supervision.

There were rescue teams constantly being sent out. Morrelia and Anthony hadn�t managed to find everyone in the kingdom who might have been hiding from the ravenous beasts. There were sure to be more out there, and many members of the village volunteered to go out and search. Perhaps they hoped to find family members or friends who might have survived, it hardly mattered. This required administrative effort and a heck of a lot of oversight.

None of which came easy, and obviously that didn�t help Morrelia�s energy levels. But mostly, she was tired because of Isaac.

�Well, �ello there, spicy lady. What might �ave you lookin� so magnificent today?�

�By the Legion�� Morrelia groaned and clapped a hand over her eyes to shield them from the pain. �Isaac, not again.�

She took her hand away to find the man in question leaned against her door frame, a broad grin on his face and a plate of hot breakfast in one hand.

�The roar of the tigress does nothin� to dampen this lion�s ardour.�

�They aren�t even� You know what? I don�t care. Give me the food.�

She snatched the plate and shouldered past him, eliciting a grunt that the lower-levelled man tried to contain. Morrelia kept walking, shovelling the much needed meal into her mouth. She had no idea who managed to start making fresh bread, but in her opinion, that person needed a church more than Anthony did. If he could eat regular food, she had a feeling the ant might agree. She couldn�t imagine he reacted well to seeing the church being built. She�d asked Enid about it, and the older woman had been cagey, which told Morrelia all she needed to know.

�I just want to go one day without having to punch you,� she spoke to the air.

But sure enough, Isaac was right behind her.

�I thought those were love taps!� She could feel the muck-eating grin on his face, even without having to turn around.

�I swear, if I weren�t so busy, I�d get my blades and hack you to pieces. Why are you trying so hard to piss a berserker off?�

�Sounds like the flames of yer passion are burnin� out of control!�

�FINE!�

In one motion, she whirled around, plate gripped in two hands and she�

Ten minutes later, she was with Enid in the under-construction town hall.

�The healers are busy enough as it is,� the mayor groused. �It�s not like the ant healers pay us a visit every day.�

�I know,� Morrelia sighed.

�This is three days in a row now.�

�I know! How is this my fault?�

Enid slapped her pen down. �Because Isaac is an idiot, and you are a former Legion trainee. One of you is expected to have some self-control, and it isn�t him!�

�Send me away then. Let me go on a delve or to hunt for survivors. Let me go to the city and see if the Legion force comes up. You know I can be useful there.�

Enid pinched the bridge of her nose. There was so much damn work. They�d gotten a paper press together, goodness knows how, and she�d seized on the opportunity to start documenting everything, as a good merchant would. A census was done, followed by an inventory, then they�d had to start drafting official documents. The kingdom of Liria might have fallen, but Enid would be damned to the fifth strata if she would live in a place without law.

Which meant consulting the people, drafting a town guard, putting regulations in place. It took a tremendous amount of time. Then, of course, there was the trickling of survivors coming in. The search parties had been successful, which meant more mouths to feed and house, which meant more work.

How it all got done, Enid had no idea, and she was the only person who knew everything that was going on.

�Enid, you need help.�

�What?� she snapped, only to find worry in Morrelia�s eyes.

�You�re burning out, Enid. You need help. Bring someone on board who can help shoulder the load. There�s too much going on and too many people for you to be doing all this by yourself. And it�s going to get worse, you know that.�

�I know,� Enid sighed, and her shoulders slumped a little. �I�ve known that for ages. I could run my merchant house by myself, but this is bigger. I just� If I start bringing in more people, make a council, then all of this will start to feel official. Politics will come into it, tussling for authority. We don�t need that.�

�What we don�t need is the mayor to fall flat on her face from exhaustion.�

�Maybe I�d be less tired if our strongest warrior wasn�t knocking out the captain of the town guard daily.�

�Ahem�putting that aside. I don�t think it�ll be as bad as you suspect. The people here are united. I�ve never seen anything like it. Besides, the ants are watching us so closely, people are on their best behaviour.�

�Maybe you�re right.�

�I am.�

They fell into a companionable silence. Outside Enid�s office, the sounds of a village�not a village, a town�drifted in through the glassless window.

�I�m going to get out of your hair,� Morrelia announced. �You don�t need me right now. I�ll leave some people behind to keep training and leading the delves, but I think I�ll be put to better use in the city. I�ll head over there and start a delve to try and make contact with the Legion. They might be on their way up already, wouldn�t hurt to meet them halfway.�

Enid watched her coolly. �Even I�ve heard of Titus. How do you think your father is going to react if he finds out what things are like here?�

The air grew still as they both considered that. Legion policy toward monsters was direct, clear, and incredibly simple. Kill them.

�Are you saying,� Morrelia began slowly, �that you don�t want the Legion to know about this place?�

�What I�m saying, is that you should be careful how much you say if you happen to have a reunion. Collateral damage is inevitable when the Abyssal Legion moves in force. You know that better than anyone. These are good people here, just trying to put their lives back together. They�ve taken the help that was available. That�s not a sin.�

Morrelia�s eyes narrowed. �Just what have you started to believe, Enid? That sounds quite close to something that Beyn might say.�

Enid turned to look out the window. �It doesn�t matter. I can�t tell you what�s divine and what isn�t. I�ve gotten attached to these people and I�d rather they not be purged. That is something we can all agree on, isn�t it?�

Morrelia nodded.

�It is.�

It�s been nice, visiting the sophos. Despite their somewhat decrepit and ghastly appearance, they were fine hosts. Every day, they�d bring Biomass to Tiny, Crinis, and I. We�d feast together with Formo and his favourite pets. They even took time to show me how they worked with cores and put together some of their most powerful pets. I have to say, their means and methods are far beyond what I�m capable of. Even after the first session, I was happy to bow down to their superior skill and capability.

Particularly in the area of core melding. Which is a skill I�ve yet to unlock. Many of the sophos� best monsters are formed by fusing multiple cores together. This is an advantage in a number of areas. Firstly, by making changes to multiple cores, it�s possible to effect more changes than if you focused on a single core. The resistance barrier, they call it, the wall you push up against every time you make a change to a core. More changes, more resistance. If you can only make ten changes to one core, then by forming a monster out of two cores, you could make twenty changes!

Of course, it sounds far simpler than it is. That�s just the theory. The art, as Formo took great pains to point out, is in making the changes in such a way, that not only did you push toward your desired outcome, you simultaneously shaped the cores so they would fit more snugly together. Doing that was a massive pain in the commercial zone. The sophos could spend days, even weeks, plotting a single change to ensure the final outcome is closer to what they want, whilst also enabling the fusion process. I myself have seen multiple sophos standing over a pair of cores arguing and slapping each other over the head as they discuss what changes to make.

Then there are the three-core constructions. Holy moly, that�s a whole new level. Only the best and brightest of the sophos dare to attempt it�those with the best stats and highest Skill Levels.

Apparently, the worms were such a pet. Crafted for each sophos, either by themselves if they�re capable enough, or by an expert. Each core has to be moulded with the final product in mind, which involves two fusions. The first two cores have to be shaped in such a way that they�ll fit snugly together and accept a third once that process is done.

Honestly, it sounds like completing a puzzle that then has to fit inside another puzzle. HARD! COMPLEX!

I was keen to give it a go and take my findings back to the colony. The core shapers already proved their worth, and this was just more evidence they would be able to make a powerful contribution to the family.

[I can see it in your face, you BLIGHTER, you�re thinking of trying this, aren�t you?] Formo burst into my thoughts.

[�Maybe.]

[Well don�t be a COLOSSAL, BLITHERING DUNDERHEAD. These techniques are incredibly stressful to the mind and require high-Level Skills. You�re only up to Core Surgery and don�t even have the Core Fusion Skill. That becomes available once you rank up Core Surgery. Don�t even think of trying this until that�s done.]

[What�s the harm?] I protest. [Even if it doesn�t work out, it�s not like the core is wasted. I can just give it to a pet to absorb it, right?]

[NOT RIGHT, YOU DONKEY!]

[Donkey?]

[Every core is precious! And some are vanishingly rare. Besides, more experience towards the next Skill Level is granted from utilising that Skill correctly, as opposed to stuffing around! You could fudge your way to the next rank over hundreds of failures, or you could achieve it with dozens of successes. If your colony is trying to raise many core shapers, do you truly believe you have cores to waste?]

[Ah. No. No we do not.]

[PRECISELY, OLD BOY! Do as we do and take your time to ensure each core you work on is a SMASHING success. That�ll maximise your gains.]

[Good advice� Should we go help your worm?]

[Barry? BAH! With Garralosh gone, there�s nothing around here that can hold a candle to him. Worry not!]

[I suppose so�]

Barry truly didn�t appear to need much help. The worm is gleefully smashing everything we come across, either using its tremendous bulk or simply swallowing everything in front of it.

[I do want to point out, though, we came out here to get experience for Crinis.]

[Ah! So we did!] Formo exclaims as he smacks himself in his bulbous noggin. [Barry! Heel, you lovable noodle!]

It�s a little strange to hear Formo call his pet as if it�s a dog, especially when he could have kept that conversation private. And even stranger to see the massive worm slither back, full of excitement and practically wriggling in delight.

[Okay, Crinis. Your time to shine. Go in there and smash some monsters! We�ll get you fully mutated and ready to evolve in no time!]

[Alright, Master!]

The abominable ball of death sitting on my back raises two tentacles like clenched fists in a somewhat adorable boxing pose, before she inflates in size to open her mouth and reveal the nightmare void bared behind her razor teeth.

[You too, Tiny, get in there and practise your Skills. Just don�t steal too much, these kills are worth way more XP to Crinis than they are to you.]

[HRN!] Tiny grunts in acknowledgement.

It�s amazing how much he communicates with a grunt. I can tell from that singular grunt that he�s not happy to be restricted in his fighting, but nonetheless happy to be able to cut loose.

[What about yourself?] Formo asks.

[Ah, no. Not for me, thanks. I�ve recently hit tier five. These monsters won�t do a lot for me.]

[Right you are! Won�t be long till you�ll need to descend!]

[Wassat?]

[The Mana here is too thin! It�s already too thin! You�ve only been fine in our commune because the Mana is thicker there.]

As Crinis and Tiny move forward and begin their hunt, I check my core. And he�s right�I�ve started losing MP! This is a big deal, since I�ve been using my sub-brains to draw in Mana using External Mana Manipulation in order to train the Skill and it�s still not enough! Yikes! I could work a bit harder and maybe be fine, but still, this isn�t a good sign.

[You�re a second stratum creature now, NO MISTAKE, MY LAD. I recommend you head there immediately when you�ve finished your holiday with us. The Mana here in the first stratum is weak�WEAK, I SAY! Every time you go down a stratum, there�s a qualitative change. You�ll see.]

[I guess you�re right.]

[Besides, there�s a good chance you might be able to find more people such as yourself down there. With a bit of luck, they�ll be saner than Garralosh was!]

[The time has come, Crinis! Time to seize your destiny. To elevate yourself to a higher plane. A new tier, if you will. You shall become stronger, more powerful, more excellent in every way. But choices will need to be made. You must navigate the labyrinthine System and make the selections that speak true to you. Be certain of your path and firm in your convictions! What you select matters not, only how you feel about your choices matters. Reach deep inside the infinite void of endless murder that lies within and be true to the self you find there. Do you hear me, Crinis?]

[I-I do, Master!]

[Good energy! You�ve come a long way, Crinis. Tiny and I are proud of you!]

[HRM,] Tiny grunts.

[Exactly! We�re with you all the way. There is nothing to fear except fear itself�and that fear is something we�ll fight! On the beaches! And the trenches! Or tunnels, I suppose�]

Dammit, I�m losing it!

[I�ve got it, Master! Don�t worry, I�ll be fine.]

[Okay, great!]

Phew. I was really running out of steam there. I need to see if there�s a pep-talk Skill. Any help I can get will be welcome, because I suck.

[Got your mutations sorted, then?]

[Yes.]

[Special core�s been absorbed?]

[Yes.]

[Right. Then we are all systems go. Let me just check your core to see if everything�s on the up and up.]

I scuttle up to Crinis and touch my antennae to her shadow flesh.

Name: Crinis

Level: 20 (core) (III)

Might: 78

Toughness: 65

Cunning: 34

Will: 32

HP: 130/130

MP: 150/150

Skills: Expert Shadow Flesh Manipulation Level 15 (III); Expert Grappling Level 12 (III); Expert Shredding Level 16 (III); Greater Tremor Sensing Level 5 (III); Barbaric Dismembering Level 1 (III); Greater Fear Inspiration Level 9 (II); Mana Transformation Level 11 (III); Slick Tentacle Walking Level 4 (III); Advanced Tentacle Fu Level 4 (II); Further External Mana Manipulation level 4 (II); Advanced Shadow Magic Affinity Level 2 (II); Stealth Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Armoured Shadow flesh +15; Obliterating Void Maw +15; Endless Dimensional Stomach +15; Legion Tentacles +15; Razor Barbs +15; Grisly Teeth +15; Omniscient Mana Sensory Gland +15; Reservoir Shadow Magic Gland +15; Abrupt Shadow Flesh Generator +15; Clear Shadow Eye +15; Masterful Tentacle Conductor +15

Species: Shadow Murder Orb

SkillPoints: 30

Biomass: 255

As always, Crinis has been diligent in practising her Skills. All of her magic abilities are progressing at a steady pace, as well those centred on fighting. She should probably emphasise her Shadow Magic Affinity until she can get it to at least the third rank. The real juice starts to come out at around that level.

The real difference is the mutations. After eating her fair share of Garralosh and stuffing her face through the tunnels in the days since, she�d been able to get more than enough Biomass to max out her mutations, further aiding her evolution.

She�s put a lot of thought into her choices. She fused her Shadow flesh mutations to create a tougher body that will hopefully take a bit more of a beating. She chose to emphasise the disintegrating aspect of her Maw�anything that goes in there will start to break down at a fairly rapid clip. Nasty. Fused her stomach so now it truly is starting to be bottomless. Her dividing tentacles were fused, enabling her to produce even more of the damn things.

Crinis was even able to emphasise the cutting aspect of her barbs�they are sharp. Should help her cut through sterner defences. The teeth� I don�t want to talk about the teeth. They scare me. Her sensory gland was fused, increasing range and granularity of her detection. The Shadow Magic gland was also fused, bringing the properties of rapid refilling and greater capacity.

The shadow flesh generator now spits the stuff out even faster than before, and her Shadow Eye is rather interesting. If she reinforces it, the increased clarity of shadow sight can make a world of difference, or so I�m told. As for the Tentacle Conductor, she surprised me a little. I thought for sure she�d increase the number of tentacles it could control, but instead, she gave it finer control, allowing the conductor to make incredibly fine movements without her having to think about it.

Crinis has done a great job. How far she�s come from when she couldn�t make a choice for herself at all! Looking at this powerful, intelligent, and accomplished pet, my heart fills with pride. If I could, I�d shed a single, manly tear.

[Looks fantastic, Crinis. Go forth and evolve!]

[Okay!]

Crinis gives her guts pose once more before she slithers into a corner of the pen and falls still. I turn to the ogling audience of sophos.

[Can she have a little privacy, please?]

[WHAT? OH! OF COURSE, APOLOGIES!]

These guys are incorrigible. I can�t find it in my heart to get mad at them, though. They�re just obsessed with pets to a truly unhealthy degree. Helping each other evolve their pets is par for the course around here. To them, I�m the odd one out who wants his pets to evolve themselves and would prefer nobody was around.

[I�ll wait for you upstairs, Anthony. You can find me at my home.]

[Thanks, Formo. Appreciate it.]

[Not at all!]

Turning on their heels, the small crowd of sophos walk away, stumbling every now and again as they lose their balance. They really have horrific physical stats.

Tiny drags my attention back by rolling over and slapping his hands against the soft leaf matter that makes his bed.

[Bit unhappy are you, Tiny?]

[HUFF!] the giant ape snorts and turns his back to me.

What a baby. I crawl over to him and pat one furry shoulder with my antennae.

[No need to worry about it, big guy. Crinis is just catching up in tier. It was bound to happen eventually. You still have a significant lead in Levels. You�ll hit tier five long before she does.]

He shrugs his massive shoulders, but I can tell some of the angst is draining out of him.

[Won�t be long now and we�ll head down to the second stratum. Thicker Mana down there. Crazier monsters. Who knows what we�re going to find, eh? Could be anything! We should be able to find some serious fights, don�t you think?]

[GRRRR.]

[That�s right! Things will pick up, Tiny, don�t you worry.]

Somewhat satisfied, the battle-mad ape settles himself and prepares to sleep. For my part, I lower my body to the ground and start to practise my Mind Magic Skills while waiting for Crinis to complete her evolution. For tier four, it should take half a day. I�m very curious to see how she comes out!

Of course there�s a Dodge Skill. It�s obvious there would be one. It�s a classic Skill! One of the very basics. Right up there with charge and hit, there is always going to be Dodge! I don�t remember seeing it in the menu of available Skills, so it must have unlocked at some point. Perhaps when my stats were high enough, or after I�d successfully avoided an attack from something.

Why the heck didn�t I go back and check for Dodge? I suppose I�ve adopted a strategy of allowing myself to get hit. What with my incredible, shiny carapace and ability to shift position to maximise the usefulness of said shiny carapace, I�ve not really needed to dodge. Except when I run into the big powerful stuff, then I really,really need to.

Grumbling at myself, I purchase the Dodge Skill. I need to be a little more diligent�since there�s no prompts, you never know if something super useful has popped up over the course of battling. Whilst waiting for Crinis to complete her evolution, I pass the Mind Magic shenanigans over to my sub-brains and peruse the lists for more defensive options.

Sure enough, a couple stand out and I purchase them readily.

[Endure: Provides knowledge and instincts to assist absorbing impacts when struck by heavy blows.]

[Grace: Assists the user in maintaining balance when moving or in combat.]

Combined with Dodge, these Skills are bound to help elevate my defensive game to a new level! With my future sense and massively heightened reflexes, I�ll be able to dodge, duck, and weave my way out of a lot of trouble! If I�d thought to purchase these Skills and Level them up, I�d have had a much easier time avoiding those reckless charges from Garralosh!

Ah well. No use crying over it.

What do I do while Crinis is evolving? I guess� I better just entertain myself. She�s not far away, wibbling away like little ball of jelly, and I suppose I�ll just� stand here? May as well flex my legs a little bit, get the ol� monstrous ichor flowing. Good streeeetch� followed by some tippy tap leg movements. Sometimes I feel like I�ve only ever had six legs, and other times I can remember what it was like to walk on two feet. In my opinion, six legs is clearly the superior option. In fact, I�d go so far as to say it is the only option. With six legs, you can really get a rhythm going when you start moving.

Fred Astaire has got nothing on even the clumsiest ant! Tappity-tappity-tappa-tappa-ta!

[Master? Are you alright?]

[GAH�Crinis! I thought you were still evolving?]

[I�m finished, as you can see.]

It was true. She�s changed very slightly in shape once again. Her evolutions have a tendency to be undramatic on the outside, but a little more show stopping on the inside. This time is no different. Her size has seen another increase, approaching a beach ball now. She still has eight stubby tentacles permanently extended that act as her legs, and now she has four slender tentacles that extend equidistant from each other around the circumference of her body, almost like arms.

[Looking good there, Crinis!] I praise her, hoping she didn�t see much of my dancing. [I hope you�re happy with everything you picked.]

The ball of death shifts from side to side, suddenly shy.

[I believe so, Master. Why don�t you check and see what you think?]

[Good idea!] I gasp.

Moving slowly, I tap gracefully toward Crinis and slap an antenna down on her before she can question my staccato steps.

Name: Crinis

Level: 1 (Special Core) (IV)

Might: 100

Toughness: 90

Cunning: 56

Will: 57

HP: 180/180

MP: 150/150

Skills: Expert Shadow Flesh Manipulation Level 15 (III); Expert Grappling Level 12 (III); Expert Shredding Level 16 (III); Greater Tremor Sensing Level 5 (III); Barbaric Dismembering Level 1 (III); Greater Fear Inspiration Level 9 (II); Mana Transformation Level 11 (III); Slick Tentacle Walking Level 4 (III); Advanced Tentacle Fu Level 4 (II); Further External Mana Manipulation Level 4 (II); Advanced Shadow Magic Affinity Level 2 (II); Stealth Level 3 (I)

Mutations: Armoured Shadow Flesh +15; Obliterating Void Maw +15; Endless Dimensional Stomach +15; Legion Tentacles +15; Razor Barbs +15; Grisly Teeth +15; Omniscient Mana Sensory Gland +15, Reservoir Shadow Magic Gland +15, Abrupt Shadow Flesh Generator +15; Dark Shadow Eye +15; Masterful Tentacle Conductor +15; Tentacle Conductor; Light Sink; Shade Phase Organ

Species: Gratuitous Death Sphere

Skill Points: 30

Biomass: 140

From the looks of things, Crinis has continued her balanced stat increases. Her stats are still good even when compared to mine. Curse my lowly starting ant stats! I�m starting to overcome that handicap, but even so, it kind of stings.

Her organ choices are interesting. Another Tentacle Conductor? Clearly she�s aiming for the ability to control even more tentacles. Considering how many she can manifest, that makes sense. I wonder if she�ll stick to the same mutations with this one? Finer control of a smaller number, or go the opposite way, somewhat improved control over more limbs?

The Light Sink. That�s interesting. She seems to be fully pursuing the limits of her shadow nature. This little organ will allow her to absorb light, darkening whatever area she�s in. I wager with enough mutations, she�ll be able to strengthen the effect to the point she�s surrounded by complete darkness whenever she wants. A massive advantage for her, considering she doesn�t need light to see, and some of her abilities are stronger in the dark.

Lastly, the Shade Phase Organ. Quite the incredible piece of evolutionary gear. If I�m reading this correctly, it�ll allow her to move not just her tentacles, but her main body through patches of shadow. A limited teleport, if you will. That could get particularly nasty. Along with the development of her Skills, Crinis is ready to take on the second stratum!

[Great work, Crinis. I�m very proud of you!]

[Thank you, Master. If you�ve finished dancing, we can head upstairs.]

I can hide nothing from them.

[A shame you couldn�t stay longer, old chap! It�s been wonderful to better make your acquaintance this time.]

[Likewise, Formo! Your people have been remarkably hospitable. I have only positive things to say! Except for maybe the noise�]

[WHAT!]

I wince. [That�s it, right there.]

[I suppose you�re right. We hardly notice it, you know. Until you pointed it out, I hadn�t even considered how we sound to others.]

[Well, how often do you meet other people? I can�t imagine you get many visitors down here.]

[Hardly any! Since we were classified as monsters, we get hunted by a lot of opportunistic nincompoops. Those tend to get fed to the worms. There are a few groups still willing to trade with us, but they tend to be considered a little unsavoury by upstairs standards.]

[IGNORANCE!] I shout.

[QUITE SO!] Formo agrees. [Nevertheless, we persevere. Good luck on your journey, young Anthony. I wish the best for your colony.]

[Any chance I could bring some of my core shapers here to learn from you?]

[HO-HO! HA! No.]

[Worth a try.]

[No, it wasn�t. Your kin are more than welcome to come and trade with us, but we don�t share all of our secrets so easily.]

[Didn�t seem so shy when you were teaching me�]

[We didn�t show you nearly everything, boy!]

[Fine, fine. All the best, Formo.]

[Farewell, young Anthony.]

Only Formo came to see me off, which is fine. I gather these sorts of farewells are not a big thing amongst the sophos. I�ve had a good time staying here, and I�ve learned a ton, but it�s time to move on. Some might say I�ve been shirking my duty to the colony, and we can�t have that!

Standing in the tunnel somewhere outside the sophos village, I wave to Formo with one antenna. Naturally, they wouldn�t see me off from the village, oh no, they had to darken our minds and haul us out on a worm. At least they were polite this go around and didn�t knock us out immediately. They politely asked, which is something.

Formo raises one scrawny, shrivelled arm to wave back, then he mounts his enormous worm and moves back down the tunnel.

[Alright then, gang. Time to go deeper!]

[Yes, Master!]

[HRAAAAA!]

Tiny matches his mental communication with a rowdy bellow. He�s ready to unleash his rage upon more powerful monsters and harvest that rich, succulent XP! And I can�t say I blame him. I�m also ready for a more serious challenge. With Crinis on my back and Tiny thumping the ground by my side with his meaty fists, we set our sights on a new destination.

Using my Tunnel Map, we angle back toward the colony�with a new twist: we�re going down. As the tunnels start to slope downward, excitement builds in my heart and my core is soothed with relief. Every metre down thickens the Mana in the atmosphere and eases the burden on my newly-densified core. My body is thirsty for Mana, I can feel it. Even using my sub-brains to drag the nearby energy into my core is barely enough to sate my appetite. The second strata is calling to me and I�m happy to answer.

Not to mention all of the goodies the sophos told me about. Enriched materials and stronger monster cores are compelling arguments. When we eventually return to the colony, it�ll be with a mighty haul of riches, I�ve no doubt. Before then, we need to amass cores to reinforce ourselves and experience to improve our Levels and Skills.

We proceed with caution through the Dungeon. The aftereffects of the wave are still permeating here in the form of monsters who were spawned at the height of the wave, or those who made their way up and are now surrounded by monsters who aren�t their match. Most of what we encounter are the usual first stratum dross, not nearly able to match up to us. Though, every now and again, we come across a nasty shadow creature or evolved beast, which means we need to progress carefully.

I let Tiny and Crinis fight for the most part. Both of them need more experience than I do, but I take more than my fair share of the Biomass. I need a heck of a lot of the stuff now, and I�m going to make sure I max everything before I evolve again.

It takes days for us to shift our away across, due to moving laterally more than vertically. Soon enough, we come to a place where the narrow, craggy tunnel opens up to a wide, wide passage. Immediately, I can smell a change in the Mana in the air.

We�re close!

The air tickles against my Mana Sense, a new sensation, like a pool of shadow lapping against my mind. There�s something else that�s off about this tunnel. It�s too� civilised. The usual crags and stony pillars that jut upward or downward are curiously absent. It�s almost as if someone curated this section of tunnel to make it more palatable to move through.

Oh, snap!

Have we come across another section of tunnel the humans use? Or does someone else live around here? There�s no ruling it out. Time to engage stealth mode! Which I have to say, I�m not nearly as good at now, given my size�

It�s better than nothing!

[You guys hang here for a minute. I need to go and explore this tunnel to make sure it�s safe.]

[Hurr?] Tiny grunts.

[No, we can�t just fight everything. If we run into those Legion guys, they�ll be more trouble than we need. Use your head.]

[Harr!]

[Yes, I was a bit harsh there, I apologise.]

For an ape so thickskulled that his head might have been condensed within the heart of a neutron star, which itself was the bastard child of another, even denser neutron star, he really could inject plenty of emotion into a grunt.

Crinis, ever obedient and eager to please, was happy to hop off my back. I�m certain she�s planning on keeping an eye on me with her Mana Senses, though.

Stealth mode�activated! Come on Grip Skill, strain! My claws groan as I journey up the wall, my vastly increased mass causing all sorts of trouble. With a bit of effort, I make my way to the ceiling of the cavern and start snooping down the side.

With every step, the Mana thickens and changes, my legs drink it in from the walls and my core soaks it in, recharging at a rapid pace. Nice! We must be close now.

This tunnel is truly massive. It gapes, more than a hundred metres wide and easily more than twenty metres tall. It�s quite the drop from up here, even for me. But fortune favours the bold. Forward, Anthony, go boldly! Where no Formica Sapiens has gone before!

The farther into the tunnel I travel, the clearer the signs of civilised intervention are. The floor hasn�t been carved into stairs, but it�s clearly been flattened and smoothed out, especially in the middle. Perhaps some kind of road? I�m intrigued!

Slowly and carefully, I shuffle step by painful step, even gaining a new Level in Grip along the way. Which helps, but not much. Damn. I�ve got six legs, I should know to never skip leg day. Tough it out, Anthony! Breathe through it!

A few hundred metres down, I spot something that makes me do a double take. It�s a wall. Normally not cause for a whole lot of excitement, but when I say wall, I mean an actual, constructed wall. I might not have spotted it if I hadn�t noticed the smooth curve as it met the tunnel wall on the other side. Bless you, eye mutations. All of those itches were worth it!

Like a stalking tiger, which is actually an upside down ant, I creep forward one leg at a time. I�ve learned since the last time I snuck up on a guard post, they have monster detecting crystals. Considering I can detect a few small critters creeping about, suspiciously few, to be honest, I don�t think they know I�m here, but I don�t want to get much closer.

Instead, I creep around the perimeter long enough to establish that this isn�t some tiny guard post, but rather a more substantial fort-like structure. There�s a rampart, a gate, narrow windows for firing out of. What I don�t see is any people hanging around, but to be honest, I don�t need to. I�ve seen enough!

Time to hightail it out of here! Stealthily�

I turn and sneak my way back to my waiting pets. Tiny is asleep and Crinis is quite anxious. Typical.

[We have an issue, guys.]

[What is it, Master?]

[The way forward is guarded by a big ass fort.]

[HARR!]

[One we won�t attack, you abs for brains!]

[How will we proceed then?]

[We�ll do as any good ant should�prepare the digging formation!]

What else would an ant do? All problems can be solved through the power of digging! The tunnel won�t even have to be that long. A couple of hundred metres and I should be able to pop out past the fort and home free to the second stratum! Gwehehehe.

The deep calm of ant zen washes over me as my face-hands get busy in the soil and rock. With my Tunnel Map, it�s trivial to angle our little tunnel so it meets up with the main passage past the fort.

Post evolution, all that extra power I have goes a long way to speeding up the digging process. My mandibles dig huge grooves, crushing rock with ease and making rapid progress. Tiny and Crinis take up position behind me and haul the dirt out. Tiny with his massive ape hands and Crinis with her hundreds of tentacles are able to scoop and shove the loose material behind us at a rapid pace.

At this speed, we�ll be through in less than a day. Muahahahaha! Stupid fort! Did you really think you could stop me?

Diggy-Diggy Dig!

It�s digging time! My soul is soothed and my very being is suffused with peaceful serenity as I chomp my way through the dirt and soil. The going is slower than I�d thought it would be, having underestimated the increased tunnel size required to fit my newfound bulk. It really is quite discombobulating�is that a sophos�ism?�to have one�s body change to such a massive degree. I�m more than double the size I was just one evolution ago.

For my next evolution, which should be far away, I think I�ll be focusing less on increasing my size and more on density. There should be a heap of easy gains to be had there since I enlarged myself so drastically last time.

Still, such thoughts melt away as I dig. They�re transient, as the dirt is transient. With our labour and efforts, such things can be moved, they can be shifted, made light by the work of our face-hands. Indeed, the only truth we find is that which we unearth for ourselves. Dig, for peace. Dig, for truth. No matter the reason, dig!

Time flows by, and I�m truly disappointed when my time carving out this tunnel comes to an end. The rock crumbles before my chomping mandibles, revealing a dark cavern. Poking my head through, the other side of the fort is some two hundred metres away on my right.

The gate is more clearly visible�a tough-looking, steel grating covers imposing banded gates. The fort is built into the wall of the cavern itself, its stone walls curving to meet the cavern rock on either side. The ground leading to where I�m currently spying from has been cleared away to make it impossible to sneak up. Thankfully, they weren�t that thorough on the uphill side.

Well, it�s none of my concern. I�m in the clear!

[We�re through. Let�s go, guys! Second strata, here we come!]

The excitement is palpable as Crinis and Tiny help me rip away the last of the stones, and we tumble into the main cavern. With barely a moment to pause and gather our balance, we bound into the dark to put some distance between us and the fort.

And it�s dark for real. The light barely sputtering weakly throughout the cavern.

Hugging one side of the rocky cavern walls, my antennae detect strange movement amongst the deepening shadows. Flitting forms unnervingly dart about on the edges of my sight. The other thing my antennae notice is that it�s getting bleedin� cold! With every step, the temperature drops and my heat detection is falling away. Even the hints of creatures that I see barely give off any heat.

Come to think of it, does Crinis? I swivel my temperature awareness back to the enlarged blob riding on my back. Sure enough, as the heat leaches out of the air, her temperature has fallen down to practically nothing.

[You cold, Crinis?]

[Uh, no?]

[How about you, Tiny?]

[Cold,] he grunts.

He actually spoke a word? He must feel very strongly to squeeze out actual language! I�m definitely onto something here.

Another hundred metres, and we come to a tipping point. The tunnel curves down sharply, as much as forty-five degrees, and before us is what I can only describe as a shoreline. Except it isn�t water that eddies and swirls before my feet, but something else entirely. It�s like a mist that hugs the ground, except thicker, almost to the point of being liquid. It stretches out, seeming to go on forever.

I think this is the official border. Formo had told me I�d notice the change when I got to it, and here it is. Tentatively, I dip one claw into the stuff. Just for a second.

Cold!

May as well be freaking ice! I snatch my limb back and the dark air clings to it for a second before settling back down to its normal calm, unruffled swirling. You know, I knew it would be dark, I just didn�t expect the cold. We�re going deeper into the ground, shouldn�t it be getting warmer? This doesn�t make any sense. Then again, it is Mana. Who am I to tell it what it can and can�t do?

Nothing for it. I�m not going to let a chill stop me from progressing on my path to adventure, awesome, and colony world domination!

[Come on, team, let�s go!]

Leading boldly, I plunge into the second stratum. Cold washes over me, and as soon as my head pokes through the surface layer, I can appreciate just what the shadow layer is all about.

Dang, it�s dark! Where the heck is the light from the Mana veins? That comforting blue glow I�ve relied on for so long� I bring my head closer to the wall and, to my shock, the Mana veins are still there, but no longer do they pulse with soothing blue Mana. Black Shadow Magic now flows through the Dungeon�s veins!

[Oooh, this is nice!] Crinis croons from my back.

I can feel her stretching her tentacles and her powerful flex as they reach out into the cold, dark air.

[This must feel like coming home in a way. How do you like the air here?]

[It�s invigorating! Almost like I�m connected to every inch of space down here!]

I suppose that makes sense, since this place is so damn dark and completely saturated with the kind of Mana she uses to reach through shadows. I wonder, does that mean other shadow beasts are able to do the same? I don�t like the sound of that!

I try to scry the dark tunnel with my eyes, but they just aren�t doing much for me down here. I�m starting to get a little nervous. My heat sensing antennae are almost useless, and my eyes are in the same useless senses boat. How the heck am I supposed to navigate? There could be shadow monsters reaching out of thin air to poke me in the eyes right now!

Quick! Mana Sense!

I mentally Snap on the skill, and I�m relieved to find it works just dandy here in the second layer. The thick Mana in the air floods my senses, but just like eyes underwater, the sense still works, just not perfectly. Looks like I�ll be grinding this Skill for the time being.

Let�s press forward!

Although cold and dark in extreme ways, it�ll be nice when the colony expands down to conquer this place. A new terrain and frontier that shall submit to the superior power of the ant.

I feel a little guilty leaving the family behind, but things were a tad weird there after my evolution. The whispers, the reverence directed my way, doesn�t quite sit right with me. This is a good time for a little separation. Perhaps after some time apart, the strange atmosphere that was taking over up there will dissipate. And maybe I�ll be able to figure out what exactly being a colony paragon entails.

I�m a �juvenile� after all. I suppose when I next evolve, I�ll be given the option for �mature� colony paragon. That may be the rare evolution, or perhaps even a normal one. What�ll that consist of? I already have the communal will gland, weird flesh-crystal that it is. Do I get another? Maybe something else? And those strange whispers� What the heck is that about? I don�t want to think about it too much, so I shy away from the implications. I�ll have to face up to it at some point though, I suppose.

But not in this very moment! Right now, we have a new world to explore. And what a strange place it is.

It�s been curiously quiet, activity-wise, as we continue to descend sharply into the second stratum. My Mana Sense is growing more accustomed to navigating this swirling mass of dark Mana. Almost like navigating through a storm. Instead of hail and sleet pelting me from above, it�s the ebb and flow of shadows twirling like mist caught in a breeze.

Except there�s no wind. Spooky. It really feels like I�m underwater, plunged into a Shadow Sea.

The landscape gradually changes alongside the beginnings of an ecosystem. And the rocks themselves are strange. They curve in odd directions, forming an eerie geometry rather than normal stalagmites and stalactites. Sharp angles and unexpected contours create shapes that cannot be found in any nature I subscribe to.

As we skitter along, Tiny trundling next to me, the great ape�s shoulders shrug uncomfortably as he eyes the tunnel with unease. On my back, Crinis appears to be having the time of her life. Her newer �arm� tentacles wave happily in the air, almost as if she�s waggling her �fingers� through the thickening Shadow Mana.

At our tread, small shifts of movement amongst the rocks are the first thing that clues me into a new form of monstrous life. I skitter a little closer and am stunned. It almost looks like a coral. From the stone floor, it appears to be a small rock formation, maybe basketball size, but tiny fronds emerge from holes to trail gently in the air. It�d almost be adorable, if not for the staring eyes that tip half of the stalks, and the mouths full of razor fangs atop the others. When I draw near, the gently waving fronds retract into the stone in an instant, and all that remains is a seemingly innocent hunk of stone with indistinct holes.

Well, provided they don�t get any larger than that, I don�t anticipate this thing being a problem. Wait, did I just curse myself?

As I ponder just how horrifying a massive version of this creature would be, a sudden shift in the twisting shadows snags my attention. To my Mana Sense, it looks as if small whirlpools appear spinning in midair. To my eyes, I don�t see a thing. What a curious sight�

Then five shadow beasts leap out of the air.

[Holy moly! Enemy attack!] I shout to my allies, uncertain if they�re wise to the danger.

In Tiny�s case, I was right. The ape is confused as his head swivels left and right. Crinis is, of course, right in her element. More sensitive to the changes in the Mana than I am, her tentacles are already snaking toward these beasts as they begin to fall straight at us.

I can sense the slash coming before it even occurs, and my reflexes are absurdly fast, twisting my body to the side and presenting the perfect angle of carapace to the shadow claws that strike down from the lead beast. Sparks fly from my diamond carapace, unmatched under heaven for both hardness and sparklyness.

The beast snarls, and its twisted maw of rubbery shadow flesh grimaces as its surprise attack is foiled. Too late for regret, creature! Experience my mandibles of power!

CHOMP!

Too lazy to even activate an attack Skill, I snap out with my mandibles, fully expecting the rending of shadow flesh between my snapping jaws.

Shock strikes as my jaws snap shut. Even though I saw it happen, I�m not sure I believe it! The Shadow beast absorbed its leg inside its body and just extended it out again in a different position� They can do that?

Since when?

[Something is weird! Smash them!]

�ROOOAAAAA!�

Tiny bellows in rage as one of the beasts swoops down and rakes its claws along his back, drawing blood. Unwilling to take it, his lips peel back to reveal his sharp bat-fangs, and his massive hands sweep through the shadows. One creature is unfortunate enough to land within that meaty palm. With a shout of joy, Tiny clenches his fist, securing his victim. It isn�t pretty. After he brings the monster up in front of his face to roar at it, Tiny rears back to smash the beast into the ground with all his strength.

No coming back from that one. I don�t care what type of fancy tricks they have.

The strange, slippery abilities the monsters are displaying are giving Crinis some trouble. Every time her tentacles latch onto one, they morph and reform their bodies to escape. But she learns quick. Multiple limbs start to reach for each creature, latching on in several places at once. The beasts aren�t able to shift themselves fast enough before the barbs emerge and begin to rend them apart.

After that, it isn�t long before we clean up the last of the beasts. The fight was instructive. It�s clear that the shadow monsters will enjoy advantages here that they wouldn�t otherwise have. I wonder what else will crop up?

[Remember why we came down here, guys?]

[To escape our responsibilities?]

[No! Crinis, what the hell?]

[Sorry, Master! I-I thought you said�]

[Never mind what I said! Those are things we keep between us. Special secrets that we never utter out loud.]

[But� we aren�t talking out loud?]

[That�s besides the point! No, let�s focus on the other important reasons we�re here.]

Crinis raises one of her thin tendrils to scratch herself on the top of her sphere. [We�re here so you can absorb Mana and survive long-term�]

[Mission accomplished on that front. My core is ticking along great down here.]

[Wonderful!] Crinis gushes, then turns serious. [We also came to get experience and Biomass for Tiny and myself.]

[Right. Since we don�t get much of either up above, we should find more challenging, highly-evolved monsters down here.]

[And we want to scout out the stratum for the colony,] Crinis says. [Since the Queen will need to come down here eventually.]

[She will, and soon,] I agree.

[And you wanted to try and find traces of others like you, Master.]

[Correct! According to the sophos, there are a few like myself and Garralosh down there in the depths. I�d love to hear what they�ve been up to�so long as they managed to hold onto a little sanity.]

Come to think of it�

[Does it bother you that I was from another world and resurrected here as a monster, Crinis?]

[No. Why would it?]

[Uh� I have no idea. Perhaps you would think I wasn�t a proper monster since I used to be a human?]

[Pfft. Master? Not a proper monster? Surely you�re joking with me!]

Eh? [What do you mean?]

[Come now, Master. I don�t think you�ll find another monster that�s as strong�]

Well, I mean, that�s true.

[�or as wise�]

I am known far and wide for my great wisdom!

[�or as savage�]

Natura�wait, what now?

[�as cruel and relentless�]

Hold on, really!

[�merciless and ambitious as my Master!]

[That�s really how you think of me?] I ask.

[Of course!]

Ouch. That�s some serious psychological damage you�re inflicting there, Crinis. You don�t even realise it, either. Actually, that somehow makes it worse. Am I really that nasty? I mean, I�ve done some stuff, but cruel? Savage? I�m not confident Crinis� views can be trusted on this one. She has a strange slant sometimes. In my mind, I�m a perfectly lovable ant monster.

We finish munching on the Biomass of the defeated shadow beasts, when a notification pings from the System.

[Master profile of the Dark Ghoul unlocked.]

Oh? I�ve not checked in on my unlocked profiles for a long time. Formo did say the master profile was a way of peering into the mind of the Dungeon itself. Which he thinks is important. There�s no harm in it, so I may as well take a look.

Idly munching, I bring up the full profile for the Dark Ghoul.

Master Profile:

Tenebris Pallidi: Dark Ghoul. A Shadow Affinity monster with powerful claws and tricky movement. Beware the Shadows.

Might: 33

Toughness: 25

Cunning: 15

Will: 18

Current Evaluation:

The Dark Ghoul is an iterated version of early base-design Shadow Creatures. Despite the age and relatively crude design, the Pallidi has proven to be an enduring monster archetype, the Shadow variant particularly so. Perturbations were introduced to the evolutionary tree of the creature this cycle to attempt to find a better pathway to carry forward, as higher tier versions haven�t lived up to the base monster�s efficiency.

Interesting. These Dark Ghouls may have been around for a long time, since the Dungeon finds them to be successful monsters. Except, the evolved versions are underwhelming? I�ve yet to see much of the evolved versions of this monster. No doubt I�ll run into plenty. Not that I want to do too much fighting just yet. I think it�ll be better if Tiny and I can acclimate to the conditions in this stratum before we go too crazy.

To that end, I decide it may be best to leave this main passageway and explore a few side tunnels. We�re less likely to run into any big bads, or stumble into an Expanse, if we stick to the smaller passages. If we use the body analogy, these big tunnels are the main arteries that connect the organs, or Expanses, together. The smaller tunnels are like capillaries, the little veins that are useful for hiding and settling smaller monsters in. Sadly, I no longer fit in all of these, but some are larger than the others, and I can get around alright.

I direct the team to the left wall, dodging around weird corals. I stop when something wraps around my leg. Not feeling too threatened, I notice the waving fronds of another small plant-like thing. Kind of reminds me of seaweed. Long and wide leaves that float through the air as if we were underwater. I didn�t notice them since this specimen is quite small, less than a metre tall, just enough to wrap up the tip of one of my legs.

I pull my leg free with ease, but when I do, a sharp stab of cold pierces into me. Ouch! What the heck was that? Bringing my eyes closer for a better look, I spy small needle points lining the edges of the fronds. It appears this stupid plant stabbed me! If only my legs were as tough as the rest of me�

I will have vengeance. Without mercy, I unleash a blast of acid at the offending seaweed and watch with satisfaction as it bubbles away to nothing. Still, checking my HP, I notice I�ve only taken a single point of damage from that strike, but the cold sensation remains, as if ice were injected in my veins. Poison is a strong possibility here.

[Crinis?]

[Yes, Master?]

[Could you cut the end of my leg off?] The sharp twitch of her beach ball body is enough to tell me she does not like the sound of that question. [Please?]

Protesting, but not as strongly as I�d expected she would, Crinis wraps the stinging leg in one tentacle and her barbs do the rest. Thankfully, I can regenerate half a leg in no time flat. Five minutes later and we�re back on the move, wary of poison plant-things.

Within another ten minutes, we locate a side tunnel with enough headroom to accommodate Tiny and myself, so we plunge forth. The narrower space gives a sense of comfort in this lightless environment and I�m becoming less worried about creatures springing from nowhere.

At least the�Oh god! Creepy spider!

To my eyes, there is nothing wrong with the tunnel ahead. More of the coral-like plant fronds crop up, along with a few specimens of stabbing fronds, which I�ll provide my trademark service whenever I can. Visually, there�s nothing wrong�the scene is peaceful, idyllic. One might even venture to say picturesque. My Mana Sense, however, paints a very different scene.

Threads of pure shadow cover the tunnel from top to bottom. As if the darkness itself had been woven into thick webs that cling to the walls, ceiling, and floor for dozens of metres. Worst of all, in the centre of the mess sits the most horrific arachnid I�ve ever imagined.

I look down on spiders for having two more legs than necessary. I mean, you get to six legs, the perfect number, enjoyed by the majority of lifeforms on Earth and probably Pangera. You�re at six, why the hell would you keep getting more? You�ve achieved leg nirvana, the goldilocks zone of legs! An organism would have to be diabolically stupid, or dipped in pure distilled evil, to fail to recognise the holy nature of the insect.

I hate spiders for that reason. Stupid or evil, I care not which. They�re all horrible and deserve what comes to them. This spider has seen the wicked ways of its kind, witnessed them indulge in their cauldron of sin, and thought to itself: �What we have going on here? It�s good stuff. I�m impressed, I dig the vibe. But check this crazy idea. What if we had� what if we were to have� more legs?�

I recoil in horror as the bloated beast reveals itself to my mind. Eight? No. Ten? No. Twelve? Not at all. Sixteen legs! Why? In the name of all that is good and sacred in this world and all others, WHY? That number of legs is completely superfluous. I cannot imagine any advantage to be gained by possessing this ridiculous number of legs.

This creature cannot be allowed to survive! I shall rend it to pieces and devour its legs with savage glee�Glee, I tell you!

Facing off against the many-legged Taratect of legend, I won�t back down. The webs will be a problem, but not one that I can�t handle. They appear woven out of attributed Mana, not actually physical or tangible in the normal sense. Luckily for me, my acid is the perfect tool for deconstructing this mess.

Foul creature of evil, eat acid!

POW! POW! POW! POW!

[Hurr?] Tiny grunts in confusion as I unleash acid into the seemingly normal tunnel. His expression changes as tangly ropes of shadow begin to melt and fray into view.

We�re going to have to do something for Tiny. He�s going to struggle in this stratum if he can�t see what he�s doing. Crinis has none of these issues and is completely aware of what I�m doing.

[Why does it have so few limbs?] she asks with revulsion.

[�Wrong question, Crinis. And I have less!]

[You�re different�You�re perfect, Master!]

[Correct! Insect kind reigns supreme!]

POW! POW!

More acid flies out, rapidly chewing through the webs. The many-legged spider doesn�t appear to enjoy the process of having its sweet home torn into shreds. From its position clinging to the top of the tunnel with its grotesque number of legs, the spider descends and reaches out. Able to grip both sides of the tunnel at once, its limbs seem to stretch forever as it begins to advance on us with a deadly grace.

Yuck! This just keeps getting worse! The creature is like a nightmare daddy long-legs of a spider. Each limb is metres long, thin, and bent sharply at the joint. The details of the body are still hard to make out. It�s bulbous and disgusting, I can say that much with certainty, but the rest remains hidden in darkness.

Not for long!

POW! POW! POW!

Raising my business end up high, I aim and continue to deliver liquid justice toward the face of the creature. The more my acid chews through the web, the more the scattering droplets splash closer to the offending beast.

Unleashing a long, guttural hiss, the spider bares its fangs. And what a hideous maw it is. Not one set of fangs, oh no, just like everything else about this arachnid, it�s decided to take things to extremes. Its mouth is nearly enough to rival that of Crinis, my dear murder sphere, in its sheer horrific-ness. Multiple sets of jaws make a ring of sharp grabbers that grasp at the air as if tasting me.

Seems like you want to get closer to me, mister spider. I believe I can find it in my heart to grant your wish!

My sub-minds stir and begin to pump gravity Mana into my mandibles. Their combined efforts flood my jaws with energy in a few seconds, energy which I�m only too happy to reach out with toward our many-legged friend.

YOINK!

I seize the spider, pulling it to me and preparing the Omen Chomp Skill to deal fantastic and deadly damage to this offensive arachnid. However, the beast reacts with incredible speed, digging its claws into the walls and defying the suddenly resistible call of my face-hands.

Damn you, spider! Do I really have to go in there and get you?

POW! POW! POW!

I unleash further blasts of acid, trying to bait the arachnid out, but it proves to be surprisingly dextrous, dodging wildly and remaining ensconced within its tattered web. Maybe I�ll try�

YOINK!

My mandibles glow bright with gravitation Mana once more as I try to drag the spider out, but it resists, snatching at the walls with its many legs and straining against my pull. This damn spider! It wants me to chase it into what remains of its webs. I�m not going in there, who knows what crazy shadow-web tricks it has going on inside that maze. I also don�t want to have to sit here and acid the webs away. The gross stuff extends for dozens of metres, I can�t be bothered melting it all!

Crinis stirs on my back and I tip my front end upward a little to get a better view. Perhaps frustrated by my lack of progress at extracting our webbed friend, she wants to take action. Her permanent tentacles wiggle back and forth while she concentrates, and the darkness around her deepens, thickening until it almost appears solid. Her body ripples like the surface of a pond after a stone is thrown in, and a dozen limbs flash out of her main body and plunge into the shadow portal she created around herself.

The spider unleashes a shriek of surprise as Crinis seizes its body. Actually, she�s not going for the body, she�s going for the legs! Her tentacles lash out and wind around each of the spider�s legs in a flash, immobilising it in an instant. Furious, the spider opens its jaws wide and sinks its fangs into one of the offending limbs.

[Tsk,] Crinis mutters, withdrawing the damaged tentacle, only to wrap others around it and start carving it off.

[What the heck, Crinis?]

[Poison.]

[Ah.]

The rest of the spider�s legs begin to suffer much the same as Crinis� tentacles as her buzzing barbs begin to rend them from its body. With the spider momentarily incapacitated, Tiny is able to make it out in the darkness. With a whoop of joy, he leaps forward, heedless of the webs, reaching his victim just as his fellow pet completes her dark work and de-legs the spider.

What follows is mercifully brief as Tiny electrifies his fists and smashes the spider�s head into a fine paste. I feel like he was venting his frustration, much as I wanted to do.

Ah well, nice job, Tiny.

The Biomass of shadow monsters always has a weird texture. It�s rubbery and less solid, but at the same time is quite filling. I don�t partake too much, the pets still take priority, but only just. I snag some points, which goes to show this spider must have evolved at least a few times.

May as well check the profile. I�m interested to see what the Dungeon has to say about it.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Aranea Plurimorum. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Aranea Plurimorum unlocked.]

[Aranea Plurimorum: Many Hands Spider. This monster uses its stealth and webs formed of Shadow Mana to entrap its prey. An ambush hunter by nature, direct confrontation is not this creature�s greatest strength.]

Yeah, I get that much. Spiders are cowards, everyone knows that. Filthy, many-legged wimps who shun a fair fight. I�ll conveniently ignore any and all webless arachnids to justify my snobbery. You don�t see ants hiding in wait, making sticky traps, no! Ants charge forward, facing up to much larger and more powerful foes in a direct assault! Sure, we usually outnumber our opponents several thousand to one, but hey, no need to focus on the little details.

Still, the webs aren�t too impressive. Tiny is able to leap straight through them, no problem at all. Crinis and I have to pick our way through a little more gingerly. I�m not sure why, but I just don�t like the look of the stuff. The web hasn�t dissolved or anything since we defeated the spider. In order to progress, we�re going to have to melt or destroy it.

[Good job getting on top of that spider, Tiny. I�m impressed you could break through the webs so easily.]

The big ape looks proud of himself, a wide smile on his bat-like face. With just a wave of his meaty hand he conveys the sense that it was no trouble at all, but only he could have managed it.

[Don�t get so full of yourself. You had no clue if that web would be safe for you to jump through. What if you�d gotten stuck?]

He frowns and clenches a fist, waving it with vigour. He�s saying it wouldn�t matter what the web had going on, he�d have been able to smash through it regardless.

[This is what I keep saying. You can�t just smash everything with brute strength. What about Garralosh? You couldn�t fight her with strength, could you?]

He deflates a little and waves his fist vaguely toward the ceiling.

[You�d have been able to fight her if you were just a bit stronger? I think you�d need to be a lot stronger. I�m serious here, you dumb ape. I�m worried that one of these days, you�re going to get yourself into a real mess. Crinis and I have both been poisoned in this stupid shadow layer. What would you do if you were inflicted with that?]

A fierce grin splits his face and he wiggles his eyebrows.

[No, you can�t punch poison, you idiot!]

Still smiling, the great ape goes back to shovelling the Biomass into his face. Well, he seems fine. Out of idle curiosity, I check his status. I don�t know what I expect to see, but something brings me up short.

[Hey, Tiny, did that spider injure you?]

He�s clearly insulted by the suggestion.

[No? So why are you missing three HP?]

Confused, he starts to check over his body, shifting his arms to inspect them carefully before pawing at his back. Unable to find any wounds he shrugs at me and goes back to eating.

During the whole performance, I watch as his health ticks down another point.

[You got poisoned by the webs, you idiot!]

I slap myself in the forehead with one antenna out of frustration. Of course there was some trick to the webs! They�re made of Shadow Mana! There�s no way a bottom-feeding monster like a spider would be satisfied just wrapping people up with webs. There�d be tricks to it. Attributes in the threads, razor-sharp threads, remote thread control, weapons made out of webs! All sorts of stuff is possible!

And whilst I�ve been thinking, his health has gone down another two points! For his part, Tiny looks mildly confused. He raises up one fist, as if he was going to hit himself in the stomach, then looks at me.

[NO! You can�t punch the poison out of yourself! Just how dumb can you be? Argh! I�ll have to try healing you. Hold on a minute.]

Grumbling at the effort required, I laboriously start to weave together a Healing Mana Construct. It�s not one I�ve used before, and learning a new construct is always a massive pain in the abdomen. More complex than an architectural schematic, more intricate than an artwork. Without the Skills and beyond-human brain power, they�d be impossible to hold in one mind.

Luckily, I�ve got four minds now! It still takes me ten minutes to get it up and running. I push out some Healing Mana and ungraciously pour it into Tiny. He�d lost thirty HP whilst waiting for me, and I keep pumping it into him until he gets back up to full.

[There you go, you dumb ape. Try not to do�]

And his health is still going down. We might have a problem here.

I continue to heal Tiny every few minutes as we sit in the ruins of the lousy spider�s web. Every time I heal him, his health trickles down a few moments later. Does this poison never run out? What the heck is going on with it? If I had the power of resurrection, then I�d bring that stupid spider back just so I could kill it all over again. How dare it do this to my loyal, stupid, hardworking, idiotic, steadfast, and stupid pet!

After an hour of constantly healing him, my minds are starting to hurt, and the slow leak of health out of Tiny is yet to stop. Begrudgingly, I spend a Skill Point to buy Healing Magic Affinity Level 1. I probably should have bought it ages ago. It�s not like it�s never going to come in handy, but for some reason, I held off. I don�t want to be the healer of the party�I want to shove that responsibility to another so I can focus on being badass and annihilating stuff. But if just dumping Healing Mana into the big ape isn�t going to do the job, perhaps the Skill will teach me some poison removal magic?

Aha!

It�s here. I thought as much. The trickling knowledge of Healing Magic is filling up my brain with lots of new spell forms and interesting methods. Including one for the removal of poison. Grumbling at the inconvenience, I whip up the required spell and apply it to the ape, who still looks like he wants to punch himself in the stomach.

I should let him�

The Healing Mana settles onto him and sinks into his body whilst I sit back with a sigh. There we go, crisis averted.

[Be more careful next time, you moron!] I scold Tiny.

His bat ears twitch and he holds his fist up once more.

[NO! I just cured you. Why would you want to punch yourse�]

His health is still going down�

DAMMIT! Why! What the heck kind of web-fu did that taratect have going on, huh? Hacks? Is it hacks? Some sort of cheat skill�I never got one of those, Gandalf! You bearded moron!

[Crinis! Do you have any idea what�s going on? Some sort of shadow poison? Have you seen a Skill like that at all?]

[No, I haven�t. But I don�t think it�s poison, Master�]

[What? What do you mean?]

[Look closely, Master. You should be able to see it with your Mana Sense.]

[My Mana vision isn�t as good as yours�]

I focus on Tiny, not with my eyes, but with my mind. Crinis has a huge advantage over me in this department, but my Skills aren�t totally lacking. Letting my mind reach out, I examine with minute detail the Mana flowing through Tiny�s body. His core flares bright in my mind and the energy that ripples through his entire frame is bright and energetic. He seems fine? Wait!

I grasp a sliver of something that slips away from me. What the heck was that? Determined, I focus harder and strain�there it is! Roaming through his body like a cunning worm is a slithering shard of Shadow Mana! It wasn�t poison that those webs injected him with, it was a spell.

How insidious! This must be some sort of advanced Skill or technique, it has to be. I get the feeling that spider was quite a high Level, grown fat during the wave on the fresh monsters that swarmed through its tunnel. Now that I can sense what�s happening, I can see the harm being done in real time. Like a dark snake, the Mana flits throughout Tiny�s body, wrecking and damaging everything it comes across, causing his HP to drop. When I heal the damage, his situation doesn�t improve because the Mana continues its work. The poison removal didn�t work, since it�s not actually poison that he�s infected with!

What the heck are we supposed to do?

[Alright, Tiny. I want you to listen carefully.]

A serious expression comes across the bat-features of my first pet. He leans forward, attentive, his huge fists curled in his lap.

[You aren�t poisoned by the spider. You�ve been infected with damaging Shadow Mana.]

His eyes steady, Tiny nods slowly. Then, he thunderously punches himself in the stomach. Unable to resist his own colossal strength, he groans and collapses to the tunnel floor.

[�You idiot.]

After I heal him up�he managed to do quite a lot of damage to himself�I try to use External Mana Manipulation to dissolve or remove the offending spell, but it�s too hard for me. Either because the Mana is trapped within his body, which means it�s more difficult for me to affect, or it�s too elusive and slippery for me to take hold of.

And so, it�s come to this. I decide we�ll continue our delve of the second stratum while healing Tiny as we go. Perhaps if my Healing Mana gets to a high enough rank, I�ll be able to cure him, or if my External Mana Manipulation ranks up, I�ll be able to help that way. Either way, the spell inside him is small enough that he doesn�t lose his health super quickly. As long as I keep topping him up, he�ll be fine.

Still, it�s an inconvenience I�d rather not have to put up with, and the constant threat to my oldest companion�s life is anxiety-inducing. We�re off to a poor start here in the second stratum. We need to be smarter in our approach. Although, considering the membership of our group, with me leading it, this mess was somewhat predictable. Well, the benefit of hindsight is 20-20 as they say. We can only move forward with greater wisdom! Greater enthusiasm!

Whoops! Better heal Tiny again�

I�m going to have to either supervise my sub-brains or have them oversee each other. They can flip the job of maintaining the construct between them in order to get enough rest. With three, it should be fine. By fine, I mean I won�t have to dedicate my main mind to the job of topping Tiny off. This should help to train my Skills quickly as well.

With that renewal of spirit, we set off! I clear out the spider webs and we advance down the side tunnel. There are still small plants cropping up and we take some time to investigate each one before continuing.

Crinis is forced to sacrifice two more tentacles to poison and negative energy. I�m starting to sense a theme in this strata. We come across a few creatures that are easily dispatched, but then we find something that really irritates me.

Centipedes� Always with the lousy centipedes.

In the tunnel ahead is a tangled trap of terrible centipedes. Clearly, these centipedes are of a new and different breed. Bodies of sleek shadow flesh, segmented armour that practically smokes with dark wisps of Mana, and gnashing mandibles that gleam to my Mana Sense.

I mean. What the hell! Why does the Dungeon love these stupid creatures so much? Of all the invertebrates that exist on Earth, or that the Dungeon can dream up and cobble together out of random insect parts, why is the Dungeon so prepared to lavish its love on these filthy centipedes? I�m starting to understand the sophos� point of view more and more� Perhaps I�ll do just as Formo suggested and eliminate every root and twig of these cursed creatures just to expose their inferiority once and for all!

[Tiny! Crinis! Attack without mercy! Annihilate them all!]

DASH!

The three of us rush in to do battle, and the centipedes hiss with fury as they sense us approaching their nest. The creatures appear to have abandoned the built-up mound style of nest I observed in the Forest Expanse. They appear to have dug out a pit into the tunnel floor. It�s sizeable, more than ten metres across, and is filled with the hideous things.

They gnash their mandibles, spit and splutter as we throw ourselves bodily into the pit. Dozens of centipedes rise to meet me, but I hold no fear for them. Even if this new species is larger and more formidable than the old version, I�ll show them what I�m made of!

CLINK! CLANK!

Mandibles and stingers fly from every side only to bounce off my precious diamond carapace. I can�t wait to upgrade it again. The day when I�m covered in precious diamond will come soon! Prepare to receive the bite of justice and destiny, filthy bugs!

Omen Chomp!

The mandibles of dark energy expand before me as my stamina plummets, and six centipedes are caught between the ethereal jaws.

CRUNCH!

[You have defeated a Level 14 Stitit Tenebris Scolopendra (II).]

[You have gained XP.]

A whole new breed of centipede for me to destroy! I shall purge them all!

BOOM!

Tiny leaps into the pit and collapses on the swarming monsters like a rockslide�a rockslide bursting with electrical energy. The sound of sparking lightning fills the air as his fur writhes with ropes of electricity that sizzle and flare every time he touches a foe, which is lots, since he�s in a pit full of them. The cries of burning bugs and the scent of roasting Biomass fill the air.

Haha! More!

CHOMP! CHOMP!

The centipedes� rage at having their home invaded is palpable. They bite and stab, and we return in kind. Crinis is able to extend her limbs to reach every nook and crevice of this habitat, and begins to carve the creatures apart without mercy. My pets may have inherited my distaste of this creature. Which is a good thing. Hatred of centipedes should be universal!

Despite being a new species, the clutch of creepy crawlies proves to be of little threat and we exterminate them in short order. A triumph for ant-kind over the weaker arthropod! And now, the feast!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Stitit Tenebris Scolopendra. You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic Profile of the Stitit Tenebris Scolopendra unlocked.]

[A new variant of the Claw Centipede, the Dark Arisen Centipede has taken on the properties of the second stratum, such as shadow flesh, affinity for darkness and shadow, as well as enhanced poison abilities. Along with a general increase of Toughness, Cunning, Might, and will, the Dark Arisen Centipede is far more dangerous than its weaker cousins.]

You what? Damn you, Gandalf! You�ve lavished this level of attention on these stupid creatures, and they�re still so weak? I�m gonna eat them all! Just you watch!

We chomp our way through the nest of coiled insects, Crinis in particular shoving them into her cavernous maw with relish, before we continue to explore the tunnels. Having to pause and heal Tiny every so often is a bit of a pain, but otherwise, we make good progress. We find a few monsters, though nothing so extreme as the spider for the next few hours, and we find our groove.

It�s taking a little while to adjust to being nearly sightless. After investing so many of my early Biomass points in my eyes, it�s quite painful to come to this stratum and find myself blinded. I assumed it would be dark down here, only this level of dark is out of control. Goths would hesitate in the face of this much black. To my Mana Sense, the walls positively pulse with the Shadow Mana that flows through the Dungeon veins, leaching out into the air and stealing away the light.

The monsters glitter, like small glowing points of shifting energy in a dark cloud. It�s hard to make them out, but it�s doable, and I�m getting better with practice. A few more Skill Levels won�t hurt. Though, I expect it�s going to take a couple of days for that to happen. In the meantime, I can make do with what I have.

Tiny�s the one struggling the most. He�s basically operating on sound and the light he produces from his electricity. Whenever he bumps into something, he starts sparking just long enough to demolish whatever it was that got in his way, usually a rock.

The tunnel consistently slopes downward, and the farther we go, the thicker and denser the corals and plants become, forcing us to shift our path or cut our way through. There are smaller tunnels that shoot off this one, but most are too small for me to enter anymore. These places are the refuge of the weaker and smaller monsters, amongst which I no longer count myself a member.

After a few more hours, we come back to the main tunnel we initially broke off from. According to my Tunnel Map, we�ve basically been moving in parallel, following a far more twisting path. Not to worry, we need to continue gathering experience.

[Come on, Tiny, let�s follow a few more of the side tunnels before we get too much farther. If we keep following this major tunnel, we�re sure to connect to an Expanse eventually, and I want us to be ready.]

[Hurr.]

Tiny rumbles a growl at me. I can tell he�s still irritated by the Shadow Mana ripping through his body, and the monsters we�ve battled so far haven�t been enough to slake his desire for challenge.

I�m not too worried. I�m sure the second stratum has way more interesting things to throw at us than what we�ve seen so far�

It�s true that shadow monsters seem stronger than the creatures of the first stratum at a lower level of evolution. Most of the monsters we encounter are tier two or three, and are significantly stronger than monsters of that same tier we encountered above. It�s keeping life interesting, but the experience and Biomass penalties are still applied. Frustrating! With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I�m coming to realise this means I�ll be permanently gimped for being born as a first stratum monster.

It makes sense, Dungeon-wise. Down here, the Mana is thicker and attributed. This means the Dungeon is able to produce different kinds of body parts, the shadow flesh, for example. Who knows what the lower stratum monsters are capable of, or what they�re made of? Perhaps there are ants born below who are diamond from the moment they come out of their pupal stage�

Jealous! That better not be true!

The only way we can keep up is to push our mutations and Skills to the limit. Although, I wonder if it�s possible to recreate certain body parts into more powerful versions�made from more Mana-intensive materials, is what I�m driving at. I�ve not seen the option, but that doesn�t mean it won�t ever exist. Perhaps arriving in the second stratum is enough to unlock the option. I�ll have to wait until I evolve again to confirm this, but that�s a long way in the future.

Tier five creatures are thin on the ground so far, and to be fair, we�re only creeping through smaller side tunnels. Other than the strong monsters who�ve created their own little kingdoms like that spider, there�s mostly smallfry here.

Must have been crazy in these tunnels during the wave. Thank goodness I never had to see it.

[Master, I sense something strange.]

[Really?]

Mana Sense Levelled up a little while ago and I was able to rank it up to Expanded Mana Sensing, which improved my range, but not my finesse. Crinis still has me dead to rights when it comes to detecting our foes.

[I�m not finding anything, though?]

I concentrate harder to no avail.

[It�s weird,] Crinis mutters. [It�s like dust? The moment I find it, it�s gone again.]

The orb on my back writhes its tentacles back and forth as she tries to find whatever is triggering her eye.

[Tiny, you hearing anything?]

One thing we�ve learned is that Tiny�s ears, even without mutations, are really good. I shouldn�t be surprised, considering he has the large, triangular ears of a bat. I think when he evolves again, he should make them mutable. Tiny cocks his head to one side and listens, then shakes his heavy head.

[Think you can give us some light?]

The big ape nods and concentrates, beginning to spark, electricity roaming over his fur and illuminating the tunnel oh so slightly. The flickering light throws the objects in the tunnel into relief, ironically dousing the tunnel in shadows. Because that�s what we need more of.

It�s enough light that my fancy compound eyeballs are able to be put to use. I scan the tunnel to try and find what it is we�re sensing. But there�s nothing there.

[Are you sure, Crinis?]

[Positive. It�s fast and small. I think there�s more of them, Master.]

[Eh? More? Like, how many?]

Getting nervous at that proclamation, but I don�t even know what I�m looking for! Gently swaying fronds of various poisonous or stabby plants wave through the air, along with dotted stone formations that extend mouths or barbs, or barbed mouths out in order to feast on monsters that pass by. Along with general outcroppings of rock, the tunnels are starting to get quite busy, making it harder to spot� whatever it is I�m looking for.

Wait! I sense something!

To my Mana Sense, it looks as if floating dust suddenly comes together and darts behind a stone.

[I�ve seen it! It really is like moving dust. It came together into a ball and hid. Tiny, spark up a little more, we might be able to see it.]

Tiny grunts in response and the electricity becomes more intense, sizzling and cracking dangerously. The heat in the tunnel begins to rise as the light glitters through the shadow stratum. At first, I can�t see anything.

[Crinis?]

[It�s hard to detect. I feel as if it�s everywhere and nowhere.]

[That doesn�t sound good�]

I stare hard, using my mental faculties as well as my physical ones. I don�t want to be taken by surprise down here in this sea of shadows. Who knows what might happen? More poisons, maybe even death Mana, teeth from the shadows, or dodgy fast food. Who knows what horrors lurk in the darkness?

[Over there!]

I flick an antenna to the right, pointing to the slight movement I caught. Tiny and Crinis both turn quickly, just in time to watch a patch of dirt on the wall crawl together into a blob.

[What is it?] I wonder.

A small sound reaches my antennae then, as if a tiny vibration were rocking the tunnel. The small hairs that cover my antennae stand on end and I refocus on the tunnel walls on the other side. All around us, the walls are shaking as what had appeared to be a layer of dark dirt comes to life and starts to gather together.

[It�s all around us!] I holler.

[Master! I can sense it now. It�s huge!]

I can too. For dozens of metres ahead, as well as dozens behind, my Mana Sense is flaring as whatever this is begins to literally pull itself together from its disparate parts.

�ROOOOAAR!� Tiny bellows, smashing his chest with his mighty fists, his eyes burning with rage.

Finally, a decent fight, he seems to be saying as he snarls, his fangs on display. Lightning surges even thicker across his body and begins to accumulate on his fists as all around, the walls continue to crawl and shift. The dust gathers into small blobs that then begin to seek each other out and merge. Rapidly, bodies are forming all over the place, except my Mana Sense is telling me this is one creature. All the Mana I sense is exactly the same.

Not willing to wait, Tiny leaps and smashes his charged fist into one of the blobs, scattering it with explosive force. The disparate pieces splat into a nearby wall before they quiver and begin to move once more. Tiny shakes his fist, unsatisfied, and turns to another blob to blast it with lightning. Twin streaks of blue energy shatter the air and the blob is vaporised.

To my Mana Sense, not all of the dust was destroyed, but at least some of it was. As if sensing it can be harmed, the dust begins to amalgamate quicker.

[You hurt it, Tiny, keep going!]

The ape grins.

Lightning crackles through the air as Tiny unleashes his full arsenal. The edges of his fur lifts, his whole body positively choked with snaking lightning. It curls around his arms, sparks off his ears, and runs down his huge, silver back.

As the creature continues to coalesce around us, Tiny begins to blast lightning from his fists. Every time he takes a swing, a spear of lightning flies out and annihilates one of the blobs. They continuously scatter and reform, each time a little smaller than before.

Even so, dozens of clumps are still forming, each about the size of a person. It�s creepy as heck. These things pulse and shift�on the ceiling, walls, and even the floor of the tunnel in every direction. Just when I start to wonder how the monster is supposed to attack us, the closest blob flexes, changing its shape and revealing a mouth ringed with razor-sharp barbs.

[Look out! Mouths!]

I step backward. Crinis has already acted, lashing out with tentacles to seize the offending shape. Her limb wraps around the blob and tightens, crushing it in an instant. It doesn�t slow the monster, though, as the individual particles are still able to gather.

[It�s on me!] Crinis cries�the dust sticking to her tentacle is slowly creeping toward her main body. [Get off of me, you filth!] she roars and whips the coated limb around, flicking the offensive dust away.

[Tiny�s hurting it, but not enough. Do you think we should run for it?] I call to my pets.

�ROOAR!� Tiny bellows, his face alight with glee as he blasts out electricity.

[How dare you touch me, you traaaaash!] Crinis screams, her tentacles whirling in all directions, scattering the blobs.

Ooookay. No tactical retreat then? Doesn�t look like it�s possible at any rate. Both in front of us and behind, the blobs have merged together, blocking the tunnel with a pulsating wall. The wall shifts, and a huge bulge protrudes, taking the shape of a circular mouth, massive in scale, with needle-like barbed teeth.

What the heck is this monster! My Mana Sense confirms the monster is all around me, as if I were already in its stomach. Not a great feeling. And if I�m not mistaken, the more time passes, the faster this thing is able to move. As if it�s waking up� Perhaps, the more it�s able to bring itself together, the more control it has over its body.

Movement is everywhere, drenched in protruding mouths and teeth, faster than what Tiny and Crinis can destroy.

I�m frozen by indecision. How do you fight something like this? Biting won�t work. I don�t think Gravity Magic will work. I could hose it down with water, will that do anything? Should I try and connect to its mind? I just don�t know!

Seconds pass as I try to settle on a plan of attack, but the decision is taken out of my claws as the yawning mouths extend to consume me. My antennae blaze with warnings of attacks from all sides, and my nervous system lights up like a Christmas tree.

Without having any time to think, my reflexes fire, informed by my defensive Skills. I dodge two bites and allow another to scrape across the tough armour of my carapace. I flinch as the teeth gouge into my exo-skeleton. Those are something special, yikes! I�ll need to be careful.

And to make things better, the giant formations blocking the ends of the tunnel have begun to advance, attempting to squeeze us in the middle.

Come on, Anthony! There has to be something you can do! Gritting my mandibles so tight they grind against each other, I shunt control of the Healing Mana Construct to one of my weaker sub-brains. It�s going to push that mind pretty hard, but this will free up resources.

I don�t think water is going to work on this monster, and I don�t want to take a chance on Mind Magic. Tiny�s lightning was able to burn away small chunks of the creature, maybe fire will help?

I quickly throw up the menu and buy the Fire Mana Affinity Skill as my two free sub-brains start to throw together a Fire Construct. It takes precious seconds to puzzle out the unfamiliar shape, time I don�t have.

[Tiny! Time to go all out! Crinis, you too!]

Tiny�s been having the time of his life. He�s been blasting out wave after wave of electricity at every blob he can see. Anything that comes close to him, he scatters with his hands directly. Every burst of lightning illuminates a savage grin twisting his features and reveals a fiery light in his eyes. At my words, he howls bright and pours out the last of his reserve of lightning, saturating the air with chittering sparks.

From her place on my back, Crinis expands to her full size, her mouth opening to reveal the void she carries inside, ringed with teeth. Dozens of tentacles extend rapidly to fill the tunnel, the thick limbs whipping so fast they blur to slap and tear at the dust wherever she can reach it. It slows them down, a little.

As fast as the pieces are scattered, they come together. The entire tunnel is full of the beast now. No part of the walls, floor, or ceiling are visible, now cloaked entirely in congealing and amassing mouths that gnash and leer at us.

The situation is looking grim.

The Fire Mana Construct snaps into place, and I feed Mana into it. My antennae twitch and my limbs fire as the mouths descend from all sides. It looks as if the tunnel is collapsing and darkness fills my vision.

Omen Chomp!

The dark, ethereal mandibles punch a hole in one side and I leap through it, the rest of the teeth scraping on my carefully angled armour. I activate my Meditation Skill in an attempt to push away the chaos that threatens to wash away my calm. Take the Fire Mana, shape it, quickly.

It glows a deep red and my minds seize upon it, weaving and shaping it. The knowledge of basic Fire Magic has been trickling into my brain since I purchased the Skill, and I grasp onto a shape I know well. The water cannon has an equivalent here, and hopefully, it works the way I want it to.

Visibility is effectively zero. Tiny is bellowing and roaring from nearby, and the crunching sound of Crinis slamming her limbs into the rock echoes from above.

[Duck!] I cry.

A torrent of fire erupts from in front of my face, so bright and hot, my eyes and antennae flare with pain. Actual light and heat! I didn�t realise how much I�d missed it down here.

Greedily, I feed Mana from my core into the Fire Magic Construct, taking hold of the magic and pouring it into my spell.

As the first tongues of flame lick against the creature, it unleashes an ear-splitting shriek. The form that presses in all around me shudders as I direct the fire to burn it. Fire was a good choice! It�s super effective!

The monster thrashes this way and that as I pursue it with my flamethrower. Ha! This is awesome! I didn�t realise how cold I was until I had enormous flames right next to my face.

Whoops! Need to be careful not to singe the antennae.

I snatch my two sense organs back before they dip dangerously low into the jet of flame. Mana flows out of my core at a fast pace, but I�m absorbing plenty of energy through my feet. Interestingly, the dark attributed Mana of the strata is what�s sucked through my legs, but when it arrives at my core, it�s changed back to pure, unattributed Mana. My suspicion is that the core is unable to accept any type of Mana other than clean, untainted energy.

Luckily, my reserves are being replenished just as fast as they�re expended, which means, thanks to the hard work of my two sub-brains, I can keep this flamethrower going forever! Gwehehehehe!

Burn, baby, burn!

I leap left and right, blasting the monster all around with the jet of flame as its shrieks and cries pierce our ears. The creature shudders as the fire incinerates its strange body. Roast, you uppity monster! Be burned by the flames of your own gumption! Also, by me. I don�t want you to think I�m not part of this situation, I absolutely am. And I�m taking a great deal of joy in it.

Fire does appear to be the creature�s Achilles heel. The body we struggled to effectively damage before has now become kindling�quite literally ash in the wind. Everywhere the fire touches, the monster melts away, the air filling with a scent of burning flesh.

After ten more seconds, the monster has had enough. The blobs shift away from us, revealing the stone and soil of the tunnel. Far more sprightly than it was when it first awoke, the creature still isn�t very quick. Luckily for us.

[Don�t let it go, guys! We need to destroy it, seize its core and feast on its Biomass!]

[Agreed!]

[Harrr!]

Still fired up�heh�my pets are eager to chase down the usurper before it can flee. Gleefully keeping my flamethrower active, we chase one half of the monster down the tunnel in the direction we came from.

After roasting it all to pieces, we turn around and race to catch up with the other half, still busily glooping its way down the tunnel.

Burn, sucka!

[You have defeated a Level 41 Venator Atramento.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 15. One Skill Point awarded.]

Take that! You want to ambush us? Want to feast on this incredible diamond hide? No chance! MUHAHAHAA!

There isn�t much left of the monster after I�m done burning it to a crisp, and it doesn�t look particularly appetising either. What had originally appeared to be tiny specks of dust are actually little bloblets, more fluid than dirt. Each individual piece is a tiny drop of shadow flesh that the creature is able to spread out and control, even if there is no connection to its main body.

This is something I�ve not seen before and was certainly creepy as heck. All that remains is a gloopy, wet-looking mess of Biomass that we reluctantly chow down on.

[Venator Atremento: Ink Hunter (V). This monster uses its ability to disperse its body to prey upon unsuspecting victims. Extremely difficult to defeat through physical violence, the creature has a fearsome ability to prey on those weaker than itself.]

Oh, I�m sure. When it picks on someone stronger, it gets cooked and eaten! The Biomass proves to be quite rich as well. There isn�t as much as we�d like, but it�s enough to share. The final surprise comes when we get to the end of our meal.

[Compatible rare core detected. Would you like to absorb it or reconstitute the monster?]

Hmm. I think we can hold onto this for later. I let Tiny keep the core, and he stashes it somewhere in his fur. I�m not sure exactly how. One moment, it�s in his giant hand, then he reaches up to an armpit and the core is gone. Whatever, I�ll take it. The creature was actually tier five? Interesting. I guess that explains how weird it was. If it had been tier two or three, I�d be terrified of what it would look like after a few more evolutions.

After resting briefly, we continue our journey through this branch of tunnel. Funnily enough, there aren�t many other monsters around, probably preyed upon by our friend, the hunter. In short order, we make our way back to the main tunnel and I decide to stick to one side and follow it.

The tunnel continues to shift downward, but at the same time we descend, we�re also trending in the direction of the colony. Once we get back to underneath it, I plan to rise up through the tunnels, scout out the lay of the land, and reconnect with my family. This way, I can hunt out any threats and do the heavy lifting for the colony as they start to take on the second stratum.

After a few tough fights and a whole heap of easy ones, I think we�re ready to see what this stratum really has to offer. I want to get into an Expanse, see what we can see.

We continue our journey for another day, having to shift off to a side tunnel and carve out a space in order to rest. The sweet embrace of torpor is most welcome, and I rest secure in the knowledge that Crinis is watching over me.

Naturally, I have to top Tiny off before I can rest, and then again the moment I awaken. The invasive Mana is still rampaging through his body, constantly causing damage. My healing Skills have improved thanks to the constant exertion, but not yet enough to increase the rank of the Skill, the only thing I can think might help me remove it.

Refreshed and ready, we continue our travels, fighting when we need to and carefully avoiding the many forms of venomous plants that are becoming more and more common.

After another six hours of delving, there�s a notable change to the feel of the Mana in the air. Our tunnel has curved this way and that, always sloping downward. I�ve noticed a few tunnels coming together, and I suspect the reason why.

Carefully, with all senses attuned, we advance. It isn�t long before the tunnel floor drops away, the ceiling rises impossibly high, and a vast, open space of incredibly dense, dark Mana yawns before us like an underwater ocean.

This� is not what I expected.

The Expanse is truly deserving of that name. It�s impossibly vast. How the heck can such a space exist underground? Is this planet even stable? I start to become nervous about the ground beneath my feet. All of this is possible with Mana, be cool, Anthony. Magic planet is magically stable despite being hollow like a piece of Swiss cheese.

My eyes aren�t able to penetrate the dense Shadow Mana, and visibility is only twenty metres at best. But to my Mana Sense, I can trace the veins that line the walls as they rise, and rise, and rise above my head, and fall the same way below my feet. The space in between just feels� empty.

[Well. We found our first Expanse, guys. Let�s head on down and see what we can see. Surely, there�s more to it than this.]

With Crinis riding on my back, and Tiny climbing beside me, we make our way down the wall. It�s steep and my increased size doesn�t make life easy. I really need to continue to level up my Grip Skill if I want to be able to climb like this. I firm my resolve. It�s time to go back to climbing on the ceiling, or at least the wall, as much as I can. The Skill is levelling up faster now that I�m heavier, so I�ll hopefully see some quick progress.

The stone and rock are ice cold beneath my claws, much like the air. Insects don�t like the cold much. Ants are known to hibernate in winter, entire colonies going dormant and hanging out in their nests, waiting for warm weather to return. I have to admit that I feel a sluggishness creeping into my limbs. But my Will is strong and I fight it off. It�s going to take more than cold to slow this ant down.

Holy shadow mackerel! What is this I sense? Out in the open space above my head is a gigantic, twisting lifeform. No wait, not twisting. It�s swimming? Seriously? The monster�s Mana is dense and powerful, a strong core is definitely found in the heart of this beast. Not that I�m super tempted to fight it or anything, I can�t even see it! It turns back on itself like an enormous snake and speeds away, vanishing at the edge of my perception.

If I had lungs, I�d let out a tense breath. Yikes! That is one heck of a monster! Well, there must be more stuff here, since there�s no way a creature could evolve to that kind of size without feeding on something. A heap of something! Hopefully, we can avoid whatever the heck it was until we learn a little more.

[Crinis, did you get a good look at that creature?]

[Yes, Master. It looked strong.]

Tiny turns his head toward us before snapping it up to the air. He peers into the dark, only to become frustrated. His ears twitch as his irritation builds.

[You can�t fight it anyway, you moron! It basically flies, you can�t reach it!]

He growls, ears drooping in disappointment.

[I�m going to �forget� to heal you one of these days,] I threaten.

A wide grin splits his face and he flexes his arms impressively at me, disregarding my anger. I can�t help but chuckle at his antics. It�s hard to stay mad at him.

[The monster was very large, and strong,] Crinis says. [But that isn�t all, I sensed strong magic in it.]

[Was it shadow, or maybe poison?]

[No, it was Death.]

[Well, butts.]

Death aligned creatures are just� no. The rabbit was bad enough. I don�t want to deal with some undead sea leviathan of darkness! No part of that sounds good! But I�m not willing to turn back. Whatever challenges we face, we�ll smash through directly. What sort of ant shirks hard work?

Ignoring the fact that I am avoiding my work at the colony right this moment, we continue our descent, and after thirty minutes of claw-cramping wall climbing, I notice the wall is starting to curve toward level. What�s more, I can sense, rather than see, large obstructions rising from below.

As we get closer, those shapes are confirmed to be massive versions of the tiny corals and vegetation in the outer tunnels. More climbing reveals these corals extend almost a hundred metres into the open air above, rising from the dark soil of the Expanse floor that finally comes into view.

The scale of this place is really hurting my head. I think it might be a kilometre high, maybe even more. It�s difficult to say. I can neither see nor sense that far, but if we assume we entered the Expanse at roughly the vertical halfway mark, then a kilometre sounds about right. Which is insane, but I�m going to suppress my Earth-logic.

This is Pangera, there�s magic for goodness� sake. What�s a giant evolving ant monster to say this would be impossible?

When we reach the bottom, it�s a surprising scene. Thick and tall fronds wave to the movement of a wind or current only they can feel. Enormous corals tower taller than trees and form an elaborate maze of tangled stone that looks impossible to navigate. It feels like a reef for titans, but instead of a riot of bright colours, the palette is flat and grey. The leaves are dark, almost black, and the corals are muted whites, as if bleached.

Here and there, I can detect life, monsters, flicking in the gaps, feasting on the plants or on each other. And somewhere above, the leviathan swims, perhaps with other creatures who treat this world of shadow as a vast ocean.

Alright, Anthony, time to get your game face on. Let�s shake it out.

I flex each of my six legs and rattle my body to loosen any kinks in the system. Brain check. All of the brains appear to be on task and working hard. Central sub-brain is in control of the Healing Construct, left sub-brain is healing Tiny up, right sub-brain is practising External Mana Manipulation. Main mind is checking on the others. Nice. Stamina feels good, Skills are locked and loaded, core is full, and Mana gland is topped off.

We�re ready�we�re pumped up.

Finally, we�re going to be let loose in a hunting ground that�s close to our Level. No more pesky experience penalties or Biomass reductions! When I think of the Skill Level ups and mutations that await us, my mouth starts gnashing at the air uncontrollably. My thirst for adventure is unquenchable! My appetite for Levels can never be sated!

[Tiny? Crinis? You ready to head in?]

In response, Tiny nods and grins. Crinis lifts herself from my back and begins to crawl forward, supported by her tentacles.

[Master, I suggest you allow me to go first. I�m better suited to the scouting role here.]

[Well, you�re right about that. Lead the way, Crinis. Just make sure you don�t take all the prey for yourself!]

[I wouldn�t dream of it, Master!]

[I�m sure.]

Commander Titus was a stoic man with a reputation for an iron will and an unbreakable sense of duty. And it was true. He�d lived a hard life and had made hard choices without hesitation. Where others would shirk their responsibilities, Titus shouldered his burden with pride. For this, he was both loved and respected. The commander did his best to live up to his reputation. Square shoulders and a stern countenance were synonymous with Titus, as if his face and body had been carved from granite.

But if there was one thing that could push him to the edge of cracking, it was the person he saw coming toward him now.

The Legion had marched hard back to Rylleh as the wave waned and the shocking news of Garralosh�s demise spread. The Legionaries were in dire need of rest, but not all were able to receive it. The technical crews, smiths, and enchanters laboured long to repair worn weapons and armour, scouting parties had been dispatched to ascertain the environment within the Bulwark. Messages were sent to every outpost, and even ritual spells of communication were enacted to reach the wider Legion network. Now they awaited word from their superiors.

With the wreckage of their homes weighing on their minds, Titus and his troops had been unable to rest. After the centurions found the third party attempting to escape the barracks and venture to the surface, Titus considered relenting and allowing a team to establish an outpost. When the fourth escape party had contained a good number of centurions, Titus finally gave the order that he himself would lead a full column to the surface. All advanced gear was left behind, only leathers and basic weaponry allowed. The soldiers were eager to be away.

Despite their victory in the lines, the soldiers� mood was grim. They knew roughly what awaited them above. A ruined city, a destroyed nation. How many of their loved ones had survived the slaughter? They pushed hard and Titus marched at their head, as relentless and unyielding as a stone. The Legionaries stuck to the main paths, as direct as they could be. What monsters they found were ruthlessly crushed.

On the fourth day, steadily climbing up the main tunnel, they�d heard footsteps coming down. Titus raised a fist, then pointed to his left and right. Archers moved to covered positions along the walls, and shield-bearing Legionaries formed up beside him. There they waited as the sounds of approach grew louder.

Humans, and a small group, ten or less.

Titus� ears were far from normal. At his Level, with his Skills and class benefits, he was barely the same species as those who dwelt on the surface. He could clearly hear the footfalls of those approaching, though they were still two hundred metres away. The tone of their voices was clear, almost the words as well. Then a woman spoke, harsh and cutting, and the other voices grew quiet, their steps more careful.

Titus nearly dropped his axe. He knew that voice�would recognise that wasp tongue anywhere. It was all he could do not to break ranks and run up the path. To the soldiers around him, it merely appeared as if he grew as still as a winter pond.

Titus held himself back as the other group came into view, and his eyes narrowed. Farm boys and merchants� daughters with shoddy gear, no Levels and little training. In normal times, he�d roll them up, smack their heads, and boot them out of his Dungeon, but these weren�t normal times, and the hard-faced woman in stout leathers leading them demanded his attention.

Her name was on his lips, but he dared not call it out, lest his will break and he ran to his daughter. He wouldn�t stand for such a break of decorum. Besides, if he tried, Morrelia might just punch him. She wasn�t one for public displays of affection.

�Is that Morr? Morrelia, hey! Long time no see!� a male voice called out.

CRACK!

The stone beneath Titus� feet shattered into dust, sending a cloud of stone chips flying in all directions. Shouts of alarm and confusion arose, but Titus himself hadn�t moved, instead he remained at ease, his hands clasped behind his back and his axe strapped across his shoulders.

To one side, Donnelan cursed his own stupidity. How could he be so careless as to call out to Morrelia in front of the commander? It was well-known that the legendary commander of stone doted on his daughter, even if he never let it show. Ice cold sweat rolled down the young mage�s back�he may as well have been grasped in a giant fist. He prayed that his voice hadn�t stood out too much and wasn�t recognised, otherwise death might come for him!

Indeed, Titus had recognised Donnelan, and his mind seethed with the torturous drills he would put the Legionary through the moment they got back.

As she approached the Legion force, Morrelia couldn�t help but sigh. She�d hoped to run into her father and her former comrades here, but it was awkward. And she knew exactly what Titus was thinking at this very moment. Some things never changed.

The Legionaries waited patiently. When the smaller villager force drew close enough, Morrelia stepped forward as the representative and moved to greet the Legionaries. The villagers themselves were quite overawed. The legendary Abyssal Legion lived up to its reputation. To these people�s eyes, despite the glorious victory they�d achieved, these soldiers were true heroes, returning to the surface after defeating who knows what horrors in the deep.

�Commander Titus,� Morrelia greeted her father.

�Daughter,� he returned, rejecting the formal tone she attempted to set.

His daughter�s eyes narrowed at that, and Titus� heart swelled with pride. She was as stubborn as he was, a trait she had inherited from both her parents. It was a curse and blessing.

�Morr, you seem well.�

�Father, you appear to be in good health also. Not that I should be so surprised.�

�What is that supposed to mean?� Titus said with a deepening frown.

Morrelia rolled her eyes.

�Only that you�re basically unkillable up here. Other than Garralosh, what monster could possibly harm you in the first or second strata?�

Perhaps it was foolish that Titus was still prideful of his daughter recognising his strength. In his mind, she was still the little girl who would follow at his heels, striking fiercely at his back with wooden training swords. She was born a warrior, a lion cub, ready to be a Legionnaire from the moment she opened her eyes.

�I�d never seen you happier, than when you began your training. You had a fire in you then, you were like an inferno. Everyone was warmed by your zeal,� Titus said wistfully.

Morrelia�s expression turned confused.

�It�s unlike you to reminisce about the past, Father.� She chuckled a little bitterly. �We both know that to be a Legionary was everything I�d ever wanted, to follow you and Mother into service. And we both know why I left. That�s history now.�

Titus cocked an eyebrow.

�You�re barely into your twenties, far too young to be talking about history.� His voice softened. �We would have you back. At any time. Just say the word and I�ll make it so.�

�That�s against regulations. I�m a deserter!�

�Damn the regulations. You�re my daughter. If the Legion wouldn�t have you, then I�d quit myself.�

Morrelia�s eyes widened, and she dragged her father away from the crowd. The Legionaries, disciplined and reserved, hadn�t batted an eye at their commander�s words, and the villagers were too far away to overhear them. But how could she allow the commander, the hero of the Legion in Liria, to speak such words?

�Watch what you say!� she hissed. �If the people found out you would abandon them��

�What people?� Titus asked. �Tell me truly, daughter, what is left above ground? Is there any kingdom left? Do not doubt this, even if every one of them were still alive, I would put you first.�

Tears sprang up in Morrelia�s eyes.

�Why are you saying this now? Has something changed?�

Titus shrugged his broad shoulders, his stony countenance as unreadable as ever.

�Things are moving, Morr. There�s change in the Dungeon, I can feel it. First this wave, then Garralosh getting killed. I don�t know what, and I don�t know why, but I have a feeling things are going to get messy. I want you to be safe.�

�I can take care of myself.�

�I know you can. But I don�t know what�s coming. This old man would rather you were close by, where I can help if you get into trouble. It�s a father�s right to worry for his child.�

Morrelia gripped the hilts of her two blades. �There�s more, isn�t there? What aren�t you telling me?�

Titus stifled a sigh and looked back to the Legionaries assembled and waiting for him in the centre of the tunnel.

�With the kingdom gone and the lizard dead, there�s no reason for the Legion to maintain the Bulwark. It�s costly in blood and coin, the high command will be eager to move those resources elsewhere.�

Morrelia�s eyes widened. �You mean�?�

�Aye. I think they�re going to call us in. Open the gateway and bring us to the Black Castle.�

�Mother.� Tears threatened to spill over but Morrelia controlled herself and blinked them away.

�Yes, daughter. You would be able to see her again. I must say, it�ll be nice to see my wife after all this time.�

�Not that I could tell, looking at your face,� Morrelia laughed.

It was true, even now Titus maintained his usual, stern demeanour.

�You don�t have to join again if you don�t want to, you can just come with us.�

�There�s no way they would allow that! A non-Legionary at the seat of their power?�

�Don�t underestimate what your mother will allow in order to see your face again. You�re the only one we have left.�

�But�� Morrelia hesitated. �The people here, they need my help.�

�Tell me,� Titus said.

Morrelia told him of the survivors and their growing town. She told him of the daring rescue mission she launched with the aid of a �mysterious mage� and his pets. That even now, people were flowing into the town.

�I never trusted mysterious mages,� Titus grunted. �Handsome, is he, this fellow?� The commander�s eyes narrowed as he imagined some perfumed fop in silks with books, leering around his daughter.

�Anthony? No.� Morrelia laughed. �I would say he�s quite hideous. I don�t think he�s anything like what you�re imagining.�

Titus relaxed a fraction.

�That�s good, then.� He shrugged ever so slightly. �You don�t have to make your decision right now. Think about it, then come and talk with us. I�m sure you have some old friends you could catch up with. I should go and have a word with a few of your people as well. Not that I don�t trust you, mind, just to maintain friendly relations.�

For some reason, his daughter appeared mildly worried, but she nodded, even if it was a touch reluctant. Titus was a bit offended. Did she think he was so charmless he couldn�t avoid scaring a few farmers? He clapped his daughter on the shoulder and gave her a gentle shove toward the Legion ranks before he turned toward the gathered villagers.

Morrelia cursed a little under her breath. Her father�s version of �gentle� and a normal human�s were a long way apart. She�d gained a few Levels since she�d left the Legion, spent most of her time delving and fighting, but she was still a mile away from reaching his ridiculous strength. What would it take? Grumbling, she met with the Legionaries and began to spy out some familiar faces.

�Greetings, good people,� Titus began his charm offensive. �I must apologise for the Legion being unable to defend you in person, I understand you have suffered much. Rest assured, we did all we could in the tunnels below to prevent an even worse tragedy unfolding.�

Even as he said it, he knew it wasn�t enough. What did it matter to these people that the Legion had fought, bled, and died in the tunnels whilst their homes had been destroyed and their family members consumed by rampaging monsters? He�d be lucky if they didn�t spit in his face. He was prepared to take it. It was the least he could do for failing to protect them.

To his surprise, they simply nodded. A middle-aged man clutching a simple spear stepped forward and bowed clumsily.

�It�s ah, nice to meet you, Commander. We�ve heard a lot about you. We was provided for, in the end. Maybe it was fate, or destiny, but the Great One gave us shelter and showed us the way forward.�

Great one? Perhaps the mage Morrelia mentioned.

�Morrelia spoke of this� Anthony. A mage of some power, I understand. I hope he�s not spending too much time with my daughter,� Titus half joked, his eyes narrowing a fraction.

The villager blanched.

�Oh no, sir, the Great One is busy helping his family most of the time.�

The man had a family? Even better.

�No, sir, it�s Isaac who�s pesterin� her. Proposes every day from what I hear.�

Stone shattered and exploded in every direction as the tunnel became filled with a dense, murderous intent. An invisible pressure that weighed on everyone like a ton of bricks.

�What, was that name again?�

It doesn�t take long before the sheer, overwhelming darkness wears me down. I can�t take it anymore! I�ve had it! I�ve had it right up to the tips of my antennae.

Through constant use, my Mana Sense is improving, but too slowly to satisfy my need for sweet and tender sensory input. Therefore, I decide to push my minds even harder and craft up a Fire Mana Construct. One of my weaker sub-minds is maintaining the Healing Mana Construct, while the other tackles the Fire Construct, and the more powerful sub-mind alternates operating the two in order to keep Tiny�s health topped off and provide Fire Mana for me to produce some damn light!

Having to upkeep the constructs is hard for the sub-brains, right on the edge of their capabilities, and it won�t be long until they start to ache under the strain. Whatever, they�ll just have to toughen up.

The spell is simple enough, thank goodness, much less demanding than the flamethrower. The end result is a ball of fire that sits a metre above my head. With concentration, I�m able to move it around and feed it more Mana in order to increase the intensity of the light.

Of course, there are drawbacks. The heat source so close to my antennae makes them light up and constantly blast me with the strong signal, like having a powerful smell right under your nose all the time. It�s not a bad smell, just strong and constant. The other issue is, although my compound eyes that face forward are now able to see something, those pointing straight at the flame are constantly overwhelmed by the light�which, here in this lightless realm, is freakin� bright!

After ten minutes, my eyes are so sore, I ask Crinis to intervene. With care, she�s able to extend a few slender tentacles to form a bridge above my eyes that shields them from direct light. The very first pair of ant sunglasses has been invented! Sort of�

With that, we�re finally a little more comfortable to explore the Expanse, which, to be honest, is extremely creepy. The tangle of overgrown corals are like gigantic roots made of stone that have woven together to form a three dimensional maze dozens of metres high. Under the light, the endless nooks and hollows flicker with shadows that hint of tunnels and openings, only for them to fade to nothing as we draw closer. And there�s monsters here. Lots of them. We can�t spot them, really, but I can hear them and sense their Mana as they duck and dart with speed and grace, whilst we trudge like snails.

I swear, if I don�t find and chomp one of these creatures soon, I�m going to start going wild on these corals. The only thing holding me back is the suspicion that they might all collapse on my head were I to try.

Crinis is perfectly happy here, riding on my back and soaking in the thick Mana that matches her affinity perfectly. Tiny shares my irritation. Being close to my own size, he shares my struggle to navigate the narrow openings we squeeze through.

Just when I think I can�t take it anymore, I poke my head through a gap between two rival corals and notice a clearing ahead with some actual open space.

At last! Even better, it�s full of monsters to fight!

[Tiny! Crinis! Something to do! Let�s crack in!] I cheer and charge into open air. Because, naturally, we were ten metres off the ground at this point.

I can�t make myself care about it. I slam into the ground, my legs straining under the pressure, releasing unpleasant popping sounds. Thankfully, they don�t break. In front of me is what appears to be a nest of some sort of crab monster. They�ve carved a depression that resembles a bowl into the floor of the Expanse. Smaller crabs skitter about, startled by our descent, and in the main central area, the crabs are big and nasty-looking.

Instead of crab legs, they have slippery tentacles that support their hard, shell covered bodies. Their faces are a mass of writhing polyps tipped with dripping limbs, making them resemble a cluster of sea anemones more than anything else.

I pump more Mana into my fire light to study the creatures better. They flinch back from the flame. I don�t believe they have eyes, but I think the heat scares them. Nonetheless, the larger and more powerful specimens come forward to shape up to us. Flexing claws filled with narrow spikes that weep a dark black fluid.

Always with the toxins down here. It�s starting to get annoying.

I have the remove poison spell, but I�d like to have more protection against it. My carapace has been the best defence so far, since the monsters have a hard time penetrating to inflict their nastiness on me. If they happen to get through, I want to be able to resist. If I open up my menu and find poison resistance that I haven�t purchased, I�m going to be super irritated.

[Tiny! Try not to get poisoned! I want you to hit �em with lightning and stay light on those twinkle toes of yours. Got it?]

[Hrrn.] He nods, reluctant.

Playing defensive isn�t his style, but he�s going to have to cope with it for the time being. If he�s careful, he can still get his swings in.

[Crinis, go wild.]

[I will, Master.]

[Let�s do it!]

Full of vigour, I charge toward the mass of crabs, my mandibles flexing with anticipation. The larger crabs are big boys, as tall as I am and with plenty of mass. No way they aren�t tier four. They don�t back down, and come rushing in on their tentacle legs to meet us, faces writhing in a disgusting manner.

Let�s see if your shell is able to match up to this!

Omen Chomp!

Like the manifestation of an angry god, the two dark jaws manifest and slam shut in time with my own, catching the crab metres in front of me. With a massive CRUNCH, its shell begins to crack under the pressure. The crab falls back into its allies, arms swinging wildly, and I step back a little to create space. I only need a little room to raise my rear end high and unleash my acid!

POW! POW! POW! POW!

I blast out four quick shots, not aiming at anything specific, just hoping to cause a little chaos. Tiny has to heed my orders, and rather than leap into the middle of the thick cluster of crustaceans, he dances along the edge, arms swinging and delivering powerful shocks to everything he hits.

This of course makes me the focus of attention, and it isn�t long before more crabs slither around their injured comrade to surround me. Luckily, I have an anti-surround weapon on hand, which I call Crinis.

Tentacles explode from the ball on my back, snatching up crabs left and right. A second after she grabs one, the air becomes filled with the high-pitched screech of her barbs scratching away at those dense shells. Desperate to free themselves, the crabs snap at her limbs with their claws, tearing and ripping them as much as they can. Some crabs are able to escape, but others aren�t as lucky. With their outer defences broken, the poor creatures are as weak as I myself would be, and quickly fall.

Come on, crabs. I�m still hungry!

I hope these crabs taste good. After all the nasty monsters we�ve had to eat on the second stratum so far, I�m hoping they live up to the reputation of Earth crabs for being delicious. Although, I suppose I ought to finish the fight first.

Omen Chomp.

CRUNCH!

Another crab reels, its shell cracking and splinters flying in all directions. The disgusting mass of anemones on its face roil and grasp for me, but I�m already moving. My fast reflexes and future sense thrive in a situation like this. Despite monsters surrounding me, I�m able to move deftly with a speed that belies my large size. My synapses fire with incredible speed. Claws reach and gross mouth parts seek to drill into me, and in the midst of it all, I shift my position with precision.

Angle the carapace here. Shift my legs. Tilt my body to the left. Each movement presents a better angle. Each time I step with my six legs, I�m able to dodge by a hair. They strike my carapace repeatedly. The sharp spines in the claws are damn sharp. Whenever they grab at me, they chip into my hard shell, trying to inject their venom.

So far, my carapace holds. It�s actually starting to give me a great sense of pride! How�s that, you damn crabs? Your shells are nothing before us, but mine holds strong! The ant reigns supreme yet again! MUAHAHAHAHA!

But if the fight drags on too long, they might put my endurance to the test. Although the Inner Carapace Plating is doing its sweet work, I don�t want to put it to the test, and neither do I want to rely on my healing gland too much. I need to save it for replacing legs more than healing chips in my precious diamond carapace.

Even if they aggravate me�

Stupid crabs! Omen Chomp!

CRUNCH!

Gwehehehehe. Enjoy that, you stupid crab! Although, I�m starting to get tired. Too many uses of the Omen Chomp in a row is a massive drain on the stamina. I�ll have to shelve it for a moment to let myself recover and do something to get these monsters off of me.

Solar flare!

I pump Mana into my fireball, and it blasts the clearing with light, chasing away the shadows and sending the creatures skittering back in fear. Nice! Since they fear the heat so much, I�ll just have to give them an extra dose!

Using my main mind to shape the spell, I draw out more Fire Mana and feed it into a basic bolt pattern. I�m familiar enough with this shape that I can whip it out in seconds, even with the minor adjustments for the Fire Mana. Shortly, I have a rough and ready fireball ready to throw!

I blast it at the closest monster. It reacts sharply, flinging up its claws to keep the hateful heat at bay. Surprisingly, the monster doesn�t burn. I was kind of expecting it to light up like a candle, but no such pyrotechnics take place. However, the crab definitely hates it. After absorbing the bolt, it begins writhing on the ground, out of the action. I�ll take it.

I put my strongest sub-mind onto the task of spitting out firebolts and concentrate my efforts on biting, firing acid, and making a general nuisance of myself. Tiny is busy ripping up the outside of the fight, and Crinis is working hard to keep the monsters from swarming me. Every firebolt puts a crab down; even without dealing fatal damage, they�re easy pickings for a quick chomp.

Like this, we rip through the clearing until the only monsters left are the smallest crabs, tier ones probably, scuttling away into the coral forest, slipping into gaps through which we can�t hope to follow.

[Nice work, team! Tiny, I�m impressed you did so well following directions. Thanks to that, you aren�t dead! Crinis, nice support, you did great!]

I pat her with an antenna, causing her to freeze in place with joy. She�s still working on that, apparently.

We have claimed this clearing for the colony! Our first piece of territory in this Expanse�in the entire second stratum!

Though I don�t think we can claim it for long. At the centre of the depression, right at the bottom, is a dense pool of Mana. Spawn point. Explains why the crabs occupied this territory. Very normal behaviour for monsters with a base-level of intelligence, so the sophos told me.

They like to grade monster intelligence based on a few simple behaviours. Apparently, the dumbest monsters are usually physically powerful roamers, wandering about smashing stuff until they either become too powerful to stop and take over an area, or more likely they get eaten when they run into something stronger.

Above them, you have pack hunters, creatures with some level of social behaviour in order to overcome relatively weaker individual strength. Above them, you have crude societal structures, like these crabs or even the claw centipedes. At least smart enough to form a group around a spawn point and act together in mutual defence.

Of course, higher than that, you have things what my colony was. Creatures capable of sophisticated social behaviours. Naturally, higher than this is the monsters who begin to approach human intelligence. Alone or in groups, they�re a much greater threat than anything else. According to the sophos, monsters tend to get either smarter, stronger, or both, the lower you go in the Dungeon. These crabs seem to be literal bottom-feeders, which tells me there are much stronger creatures we�ll have to contend with.

It�s kind of nice not to be top dog. After sensing that massive leviathan earlier, I�m quite certain I�m not even close to the biggest and baddest monster down here. Which is exciting. A new challenge! A great feast! I can�t wait.

For now, we need to count our gains from this crab harvest. I got quite a few Skill ups. Omen Chomp, Healing Mana, Fire Mana, general defensive abilities. I even got a Level! Quite the profitable fight. Hopefully, Crinis and Tiny reaped an even greater reward.

Time to eat!

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Allium Major Capsule (IV). You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Allium Major Capsule: Greater Claw Anemone (IV). A hybrid between a successful plant species and a crustacean archetype, the Greater Claw Anemone has a strong defence and multiple ways to apply deadly poison. Beware its mouth parts, which are capable of tunnelling through flesh to consume its victims from within.]

Well, that�s horrifying. Also, the taste is awful. These crabs have made it onto my hit list.

The taste may be terrible, but the rewards are good. Ever since I was reborn in this Dungeon, the one thing that has remained constant is my belief that Level ups are delicious. With some Biomass under my belt and a little peace and quiet here in this clearing, it�s an ideal time to take stock and mutate a little. A chance to fortify ourselves before we continue our mission of conquest.

[Alright then, squad. Time to mutate and upgrade anything you need to. We�ll get it done before we set forth.]

[Alright, Master.]

[Uuoooo!]

Tiny�s excited. Speaking of which, better heal him.

[Healing Magic Affinity has reached Level 5.]

Oohhh, nice! I can spend a point to upgrade that to the next Level. Maybe it�ll give me the secret medicine I need to rip foreign Mana out of Tiny�s body. In fact, I might as well go through all my Skills. Be a little more thorough. There�s a couple of things that have come a long way since I�d last gone through my full status.

My core shaping Skills that I practised with the sophos have Levelled nicely. I�ve been continuing to train with every core we can spare, but mastering the fusion techniques has proven difficult. I�m certain I�ll be able to, it�s just going to take more time. My defensive Skills are Levelling at a good pace, my mental Skills also.

I�ve had to spend a lot of Skill Points on upgrading recently. Never thought I�d ever run out. I still have seven in the bank, but that could disappear in a flash, especially if I try another Skill fusion.

I�ve been considering ever since I purchased the Fire Magic Affinity, why not get all the elemental affinities and aim for the fusion of all four? The Elemental Mastery Skill sounds powerful. People usually don�t go for it, since the time required to raise each of the Skills to an appropriate rank is a drain. But with multiple brains on the job, I might be able to get there. Elemental spells are proving more useful than I expected.

I don�t know when I�ll finally get access to the Gravity Magic Affinity� may as well go for it. But not yet.

For now, there�s other business to attend. And what�s that business? Mutation, naturally! It�s time for me to once again indulge in the love of carapace! I�m determined that the first thing to reach +25 is going to be my exo-skeleton. It couldn�t possibly be anything else! But to go from +20 to +25 is going to take some serious Biomass. One hundred and fifteen smackers, just for this. For one upgrade! But for my precious carapace, it�s worth it.

The last upgrade took me from True Diamond Carapace to Hardened True Diamond Carapace, which further toughened the sections of carapace bonded to the tough diamond exterior. There�s probably going to be a ton of options again, but I�m all in on diamond. I will be unbreakable!

[Would you like to upgrade Hardened True Diamond Carapace to +25? This will cost 115 Biomass.]

Confirm it! Don�t even talk to me about the cost!

[At this level, you may choose a mutation advancement. Select from the menu.]

There are so many options, but I don�t care, I won�t be distracted! I rush through the menu searching for the upgrades that will further let me walk the path of shiny diamonds. Aha! Here it is

[Complete Diamond Carapace: Expands the range of diamond coating to cover the entire exo-skeleton.]

It�s here! Finally, the time when my entire exterior is coated with precious diamond! I don�t know why, but I�ve become addicted to feeling this expensive. To improve matters, this is going to remove the last weak points in my exterior. No more worrying about whether a stray stab is going to magically stab straight through me. Now, all attacks must go through the full might of the diamond carapace!

Confirm it�confirm it immediately!

HAGOOF!

It itches! It itches so bad! We�re starting strong here, and it�s spreading so fast my entire carapace feels like it�s on fire in an instant. I can feel the sections of diamond coating covering the last of me, crawling over my face, tracing the edges of my eyes and running up to the base of my antennae.

I�m becoming encased and it�s glorious!

When the itch fades away, I�m happy enough that I ignore the odd looks I get from Tiny and Crinis. There are a ton of other things that I could have upgraded first, but I�m glad I went through with the carapace mutation.

I have the satisfaction that at least one body part is prepared for the next evolution. I only have 48 Biomass left. Enough to do a little bit of work with, but I�ll leave it for now.

At the end of the reflection session, my status looks like this:

Name: Anthony

Level: 16 (Rare) (V)

Might: 91

Toughness: 79

Cunning: 64

Will: 55

HP: 158/158

MP: 250/250

Skills

General:

Expert Excavation Level 7 (III); Expert Grip Level 1 (III); Advanced Stealth Level 9 (II); Tunnel Map Level 9 (II); Iron Mind Level 4 (IV); Expert Stamina Level 9 (III); Profound Meditation Level 14 (III); Flicker Dash Level 9 (III)

Mana:

Mana Transformation Level 19 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 10 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 9 (III); Mana Coveter Level 5 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Empowered Mind Magic Affinity Level 1 (III); Expanded Mana Sensing Level 6 (III); Enhanced Healing Magic Affinity Level 1 (II); Fire Magic Affinity Level 4 (I)

Pet:

Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Core Surgery Level 14 (III); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I)

Defensive:

Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 19 (III); Advanced Dodge Level 2 (II); Advanced Endure Level 2 (II); Grace Level 4 (I)

Offensive:

Deadly Acid Shot Level 9 (III); Expert Precise Shooting Level 2 (III); Omen Chomp Level 6 (IV)

Mutations:

Senses:

Heightened Perimeter Eyes +20; Oracle Antennae +20

Defence:

Complete Diamond Carapace +25; Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating +20

Physical:

Tough Rapid Osmotic Legs +20; Bright Empowered Mandibles +20; Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20; Convincing Pheromone Gland +20; Selective Gluttonous Stomach +20; Instant Twitch Musculature +10; Wide Gated Sub-Neural Network +10

Acid:

Mana Feasting Bind Acid +20; Hyper Pressurised Acid Nozzle +10; Thickened Potent Acid Concentration Gland +10; Rapid Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +10

Mental:

Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20

Mana:

Unending Gravity Magic Gland +20; Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5

Species: Juvenile Colony Paragon (Formica Sapiens)

Skill Points: 7

Biomass: 48

[Alright, guys, it�s time to move out!]

The nice thing about having this flame is it gives the sweet light of� light, into this dark world of shadow. That�s great. I�m a huge fan. The bad part about it is that we essentially have a signal fire to every monster with the eyes to see it. Perhaps they can even feel the flickering heat my orb of flame emits. Seems unlikely, but it�s the only source of heat I�ve found down here, so maybe they can.

After we leave the crab cavern, it becomes apparent that whatever creatures have been flicking about on the edge of our awareness have continued to track us. Crinis is the first to notice, with her highly sensitive ability to track Mana sources.

Whatever they are, these monsters are slick, able to sneak away anytime we attempt to get an eye on them. They�re also smart. Perhaps a pack monster, seeing as there�s quite a few of them out there, enough to keep tabs on us from all directions at once. Organised, numerous, and cunning�

I don�t like it. At least I can assume they�re weak, otherwise they would have come for us already. They know where we are, they know we�re alone, it�s perfect. Clearly, they think they still can�t take us. Which means they�re waiting for an opportunity or for juicier prey to come along.

It�s frustrating, but since I can�t seem to hunt these creatures down and fight them on my own terms, I�ll just have to keep moving forward with the expectation that whenever we get into a fight, we might also have to deal with a pack of slippery-somethings. I wonder if they didn�t jump into the crab fight so they could watch us fight? If so, they might be smarter than I thought. Or perhaps they were busy feasting on the little crabs that escaped?

Whatever, it�s time to move on!

Our business done, Tiny, Crinis, and I get mobile once more and hit the road. Except in this case, it�s less of a road and more of a horrific, dark, stone coral jungle of death. With the flame burning bright, we�re able to navigate a little more carefully, which helps a great deal. The atmosphere down here is oppressive. Despite being an ant, I find the coral jungle kind of claustrophobic. There�s no order, no pattern. Instead of neat tunnels and friendly scent-trails, there�s just a tangled mass of pain in the backside.

[I�ve had it! Let�s see if we can get a little height!]

[Master?]

[The stone corals and plants reached up to a point and then stop, right? We could climb up to the top of the corals and walk along that. We don�t have to struggle to push our way through this mess. If we sense anything below us, we can just crawl down and fight it. So we should cover way more ground this way!]

[Okay!]

Crinis is happy enough to agree. We choose paths that take us a little higher, and I immediately notice that the higher up you go, the more free space we see. It makes sense that things would free up, I suppose. The other thing I notice is that with more space comes more monsters! Whoo!

After squeezing our way up, we run into more spiders, a lower tier than that nasty bug we fought up in the tunnels, but assuredly the same base species.

Tiny goes nuts the moment he sees them skittering along the stone and baring their fangs. Lightning crackles and flashes across his hands, and he blasts every spider in sight with both barrels. A dozen of the eight-legged pests are exterminated in moments before he then decides he�s not satisfied blasting them from a distance and runs in to get his fists dirty.

I think he�s holding a grudge against these spiders. I suppose it can�t be too comfortable having this Mana constantly ripping up his body. He doesn�t seem to react much to what I�m sure must be a quite painful ailment, but clearly, he�s mad about it!

[Let�s go and support, Crinis!]

These spiders are likely only tier two or three, and we make short work of them. I crunch any that come close with my mandibles and flare my fireball every now and again to scare them, which makes them easy pickings for Crinis. Thirty of the hideous beasts are destroyed with ease, and it�s time to feast once more.

[Make sure to gather up any cores you find, guys!] I remind my pets as we munch on the Biomass.

Our income of cores has been fantastic down here. The spherical Mana stones seem more common in the second stratum as opposed to the first. Up there, maybe one in five monsters had a core, unless they were close to a source of Mana they could absorb. Down here, where the ambient Mana is thicker, the ratio is closer to one in two. For monsters tier three and over, it�s more like ninety percent. Creatures who don�t form a core run into a wall pretty quickly, outclassed by their kin who are able to absorb more Mana and gain more from each evolution.

I made the right call all that time ago. I knew I was right! Forming the core immediately was absolutely the right choice. It�s nice to have one�s choices reinforced in such a direct manner.

I gain a few Skill Levels from the fight and another 30 Biomass, which is a nice haul. Tiny did most of the damage, so I didn�t gain a Level, but crucially, my Fire Magic Affinity reached Level five so I can rank that Skill up.

The knowledge of new, totally sweet Fire Magic starts to seep into my brain the moment I confirm the upgrade, dropping my available Skill Points down to 6. To make matters worse, I pick up the Earth Magic Affinity, putting them down to 5. They seemed too plentiful at one point, now I�m starting to run dry! Ah well. Hopefully, I�ll start to Level faster once we get into more fights.

It shouldn�t take long before we find a few. There�s bound to be some action up on top of the corals.

The closer we come to the top of the coral jungle, the more life I�m able to sense. My Mana Sense is detecting signs of energy up to fifty metres away at its current rank, and it�s clear there is a whole lot more going on above. We begin to encounter new forms of monster as well. To my amazement, they�re more fish-like, matching the leviathan I saw when we entered in their ability to �swim� through the Shadow Mana.

We spot an eel with the appearance of a large lamprey with three heads. I thought a single lamprey mouth was horrific enough, but the Cerberus effect took the disgust to a whole new level.

The horrible thing launches itself out of the shadows and latches onto Tiny. A quick snap of the mandibles is enough to sever the body in twain, but the many, many teethed heads require Crinis to dig them out before I can heal the suffering ape.

What a nasty creature. Naturally, we eat it, and I�m interested to see what the Dungeon has to say.

[Sanguisugae Rapax: Ravenous Leech (III). This creature is extremely adept at stealth, able to hide its body and conceal its Mana signature with ease. Once latched onto its prey, it will attempt to burrow its head inside, feeding on the life energy and draining the Mana from its victim. Be aware, they can regrow their body from the head, so ensure all of the creature is destroyed!]

Oh� that�s� yuck. If we�d been a little slower, it would have tunnelled into Tiny�s body and regrown itself? I may be an ant, but that thought makes me nauseous. And what�s more, it drains the Mana out of your body? This is the first I�ve heard of a creature who can eat Mana from another creature.

Wait a second�if it can eat the Mana from inside another creature� is there a chance it could drain the offending Shadow Mana still rampaging through Tiny�s body? We might need to experiment with this. I�m sure Tiny will be excited. Medicinal Leeches might be making a comeback!

Trying to keep an eye out for more leeches, we continue our climb and soon run into another �swimming� monster. This time, it�s just straight up, unapologetically, a fish.

Darting around a thick frond of shadow seaweed, it comes at us like a dart. Almost three feet long and with razor-sharp barbs for teeth, it�s a literal nightmare piranha. Sadly for the fish, it�s not quick enough to avoid getting snatched out of the air by Crinis and torn apart.

I insist on eating what�s left to check the profile.

[Umbra Salmo: Shadow Salmon (I). This base fish species is weak on its own but deadly in a school. Their teeth are powerful and their only weapon of note.]

Explains why the monster was relatively small and unthreatening, only a tier one. After a few evolutions, though, it could prove to be quite scary. The main question I have: how the heck are these creatures able to fly? Is it a property of their shadow flesh?

[Crinis, do you feel like you could swim through the air down here?]

[I don�t think so, Master. It�s hard to explain, but the air feels, tangible, like I can take hold of it, shape it, should I want to. Does that help?]

[Not really. Maybe try and experiment a little. See what you can make happen. If there�s some cool stuff you can do in this stratum, it�ll only help us out.]

[Okay.]

From that moment on, Crinis begins to constantly wave a few tentacles, feeling out the Mana and trying to do something with it. I don�t know how her efforts are going, but hopefully something comes of it. In the meantime, we keep pushing our way upward and eventually make it to the top of the corals and find a whole new world laid out before us.

Just as I suspected, this is a reef! And like any reef that exists under the ocean, it is teeming with monstrous life. The wide-open spaces above are no longer empty but full of fish-monsters, eel-monsters, and all sorts of other critters, swimming about avoiding each other, hunting each other, or generally minding their own business.

Schools of small fish-monsters move together in strange harmony, darting this way and that at blinding speeds as they seek prey. Along the top of the corals are other monsters like crabs, spiders, even a few slugs fighting each other for space, no doubt wanting to lure in willing Biomass from above.

My Mana Sense tingles with the abundance of sources, but strangely, I feel as if I�m the centre of attention, as if all of these sources are pointing at me. Curious, I flare my ever-present ball of fire by pumping some extra Mana into it, beating back the shadows a bit farther so my eyes can see.

What is revealed is that every monster up here has turned their mainly eyeless faces toward me, or more specifically, my little ball of fire. If I�m not mistaken, their faces are full of what I can only describe as wordless rage.

I freeze under so much attention. Very slowly, I bring the level of flame down to its previous state, but even now, I can�t quite bring myself to dismiss it. Perhaps they�ll be okay with just a little flame?

[Tiny, Crinis, let�s head down a touch, okay? I don�t think these guys appreciate Fire Magic.]

The three of us move slow and nonthreateningly as we climb down the coral branches. My claws are gripping tight to the stony surface, but my mind is laser-focused on the area above. After about ten seconds, I sense something rush toward us.

[Haul ass! Get down, now!]

We frantically skitter downward, and I flare the fireball, revealing dozens of angry salmon darting in closer at breakneck speed!

Omen Chomp!

My mandibles slam shut, but the fish are small and display remarkable agility, slipping through or changing direction so only two fish are caught in my bite. In moments, they�re upon us, snapping at the three of us.

My carapace holds up nicely, but Tiny and Crinis are less fortunate as the creatures try to take chunks out of them. Tiny unleashes a burst of electricity that the fish shy away from, whilst Crinis unfolds dozens of tentacles that lash out at them.

And wouldn�t you know it, this is the time our shadowy pursuers decide to pounce�

As the fish swirl, biting and tearing in a dozen angles at once, from below comes a new threat. Almost like wolves, they run and leap, agile as monkeys across the stone, snapping at our heels. Slippery, and with mouths frothing, they circle at high speeds, the fish also unwilling to cease their snapping.

Some of the dogs look larger than the others, some of the fish more powerful. I�m fairly certain these are lower tier monsters, only threatening in their numbers. They are rather irritating, though.

[Crinis, try to deal with the fish, I�ll take care of the dog situation!]

[Okay, Master!] Crinis declares, determined.

When she decides to go all out, Crinis can be quite intimidating, to say the least. More than three dozen tentacles explode out of her rapidly inflating body, creating an instant web of barbed death for the fish that nibble and rip at her. With her little tentacle brains steering them without her having to think about it, a large number of the limbs become mobile, making complex manoeuvres that chase and whip toward the fish with deadly precision. The fish are small and twist past her grasping tentacles more often than not, but she starts to take hold of them and gradually whittle down their numbers.

For my part, I need to help Tiny. The dogs are circling him, nipping at his feet as he bellows and takes wild swings. Whenever he tries to zap them, they duck away into crevices and gaps, only to emerge again when he turns away.

The big guy�s getting pretty frustrated, his eyes red with rage. Any longer and he�s going to start smashing the terrain to pieces, and we might fall into a den of vipers beneath our feet!

My claws grip the coral hard, and I Dash, my bulk scattering the dogs, and I catch one in my mandibles.

CHOMP!

[Chill out, Tiny! I�m here to support!]

The moment I show up on the scene, the dogs scatter. Instead, they loop around to my sides and prowl, nipping at my legs and business district. It�s low! These damn dogs are so sneaky, and their tactics are dirty!

Where�s the eager, upfront battle of monsters? The clash of strength, the contest of will? All of this sneaking and backstabbing is diminishing our dignity as monsters, isn�t it? Even if I used to do it�

Fortunately, I have just the thing to deal with enemies who want to stay behind me!

POW! POW! POW!

Acid flies to strike with precision against the unsuspecting dogs. In moments, the liquid hardens, weighing them down even as it burns them. A moment later, the dogs abandon their strategy of remaining behind me and stick to my sides. So persistent!

With my attention elsewhere, I barely notice one of the dogs sneaking up from below until my antennae tingle a warning. From a gap between the layers of coral, a monster leaps forth, larger than the others. With its mouth open wide, its tongue lashes out, a pointed barb on the tip, stretching over two metres to stab at me from beneath!

Dodge! My reflexes fire and I twist my body to one side.

CLANG!

The pointed barb shears off after my carapace deflects it, the diamond coating saving me. The tongue is reeled back in and the creature vanishes into the darkness below.

�Rooaaar!�

I turn to see Tiny collapse on his side, one of his legs impaled by a spear-like tongue. The moment he goes down, the dogs retreat, at least, those not covered in my acid do, but I can sense their lurking presence below us.

Now they want to poison and run? The cheek of these mutts! It�s almost enough to make me wish I was a spider so I could wrap them up in webs and torture them at my leisure!

No, Anthony, don�t think such dark thoughts. If you were hunting as an ant should, you�d have hundreds of your siblings by your side, cutting off their retreat and swarming them at every opportunity. The ant is still the superior way.

Since Crinis has the fish under control, I move closer to Tiny, working my Healing Mana Construct with my main mind to shape together the poison removal spell. As I work, the flesh around the puncture wound is necrotising rapidly�it must hurt like hell. What sort of poison is this? It works damn fast�

In the minute it takes me to piece the spell together, Tiny is already starting to appear faded, his breath is shallow and his bat-features are turning pale. When I finally cast the spell, I can sense the poison being drained out of him, the spell purifying and cleansing it from his body. In such a short time, that stuff has done a ton of damage. I move quickly to heal him back up.

The poor ape. His offensive power is still able to cut it, but he�s beginning to show some weaknesses here on this level. As a creature with skin, his defence isn�t able to ward off these insidious poison attacks as effectively as I can, and Crinis, with her amorphous shadow flesh, is far more capable of removing poisoned limbs before they become a problem.

There�s a lot of gaps his next evolution needs to cover. I�m going to have to work hard to make sure it can happen.

When Tiny stands up ready to fight once more, the dogs have already slunk out of range, not wanting to continue the fight. Yeah, you better run, you mangy mutts! At least I have three of them I can eat. And eat them I do.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Umbra Venandi (I). You are awarded one Biomass.]

[Umbra Venandi: Shadow Creeper (I). This creature is weak by itself, but if able, will form packs under the leadership of a higher tiered creeper. They are quite intelligent, able to utilise tactics to corner prey, striking when at its most vulnerable, and injecting their venom before retreating to await the victim to weaken.]

That squares away with what we saw from them.

[The fish are defeated, Master!]

[Oh! Well done, Crinis! I wonder why those fish decided to chase after us?]

[They didn�t seem to like the fire much�]

[Yeah, but are they afraid of it or do they want to attack it?]

[Both, maybe?]

[Both, huh.]

Certainly, when we stuck our heads up, the monsters paid a lot of attention to the flame. More accurately, it really ticked them off. Perhaps Crinis is right�they�re afraid of the flame, so they hate it? Want to extinguish it? Perhaps we can make use of that�

[Crinis, have you ever gone fishing before?]

Ah, fishing. It�s a peaceful, pleasurable, and altogether gentlemanly pursuit. A meaningful hobby for those who enjoy quiet and rest. The sun dappling on the gentle waves. The quiet hum of insects, and the chirp of birds in the trees. Serenity. Tranquillity. These are the words I associate with this noble activity.

[Master! I really don�t think we can handle any more!]

[That can�t be, it�s only been two minutes. What�s Tiny�s opinion?]

[You know he gets happier the more danger he�s in, Master!]

[Oh, come now, Crinis. I�m sure Tiny has a reasonable and measured opinion on how things are going.]

[I really must disagree!]

[How�s it going down there, Tiny? Do you think you can handle some more?]

[HOOOOAAAAAAAR!]

[That�s what I thought!]

I manipulate the fireball to extend it farther from my position, nestling on the upper reaches of the reef, and flare it once again. This draws the ire of the monsters swimming above, some of whom can no longer bear this source of hated heat and light to exist, and charge in to massacre the being responsible.

Which of course leads them into a trap we�ve prepared. Crinis has extended a maze of tentacles, all she can handle, which is more than even I thought she could, to block up the path the monsters need to take to get to me. Just in front of her position, Tiny meets the oncoming rush head on, his fur alight with electrical energy, his fists moving swiftly, snapping out with jabs and straights that pick monsters right out of the air.

He makes for an impressive figure when he actually focuses. Up on the balls of his feet, he shifts his position with speed and grace, keeping the enemy in front of him as he dances, his hands reaping a dreadful toll. For her part, Crinis maintains her maze of limbs, the active tentacles mixed inside with the stationary ones, snatching up unsuspecting monsters, coiling around them and rending them with her barbs.

All according to plan.

The only problem is that we�ve drawn in more monsters than anticipated. Fish, leeches, some sort of eel-thing, and a big shark creature that stinks of death. A good catch, to be sure, but Crinis is starting to get overwhelmed.

The majority of her tentacles aren�t being actively controlled by her, so when the monsters too large to slip between the gaps get frustrated, they just rip and tear into the limbs. Due to her mutations, Crinis� shadow flesh is tougher than it was, but it still isn�t as difficult to penetrate as my carapace, not even close. The shark in particular can tear through it with ease, forcing Crinis to regenerate her flesh and extend fresh tentacles to fill in the gaps.

[Master, your assistance would be most welcome!]

[Are you sure, Crinis? This is all for your Levels, you know. Aren�t you going to show me how powerful you�ve become?]

[I-I will! I can do this! I won�t let you down, Master!]

[That�s the spirit, Crinis! By overcoming your limits, you�ll ascend to a new height and greater power. Become the Sphere of Unending Decapitation that you�ve always yearned to be!]

With this motivational speech, Crinis redoubles her efforts. In a few short minutes, the air fills with wails of terror as monsters learn what fear truly is.

After Crinis� plea, I do bring the light inside our little hiding place, no longer flaring it to draw in victims. The battle is fierce and vicious, pushing Tiny and Crinis to the edge of their abilities.

They�re rather battered by the time it finishes. Tiny has wounds all over his body and I move fast to heal him�don�t want his ongoing affliction to finish him off while we eat. I also perform a poison extraction, since I assume he was infected by one of his assailants. For her part, Crinis has shrunk, a good chunk of her shadow flesh has been lost in the battle and it will take her some time to regenerate it all. Her central body took little damage, so her HP isn�t much affected. This appears to be another quirk of her shadow flesh physiology.

[Good job, team! Hopefully, you managed to harvest some Levels out of all that?]

[I did!] Crinis gushes.

Tiny nods in such a way that conveys he did indeed gain a few Levels, and he enjoyed the fight immensely. Furthermore, would it be possible to send more enemies next time?

[I think that was about as much as you can handle, Tiny. You did nearly die.]

He shrugs in a way that indicates he doesn�t agree, he�s stronger now, so it should be fine.

[Stop being dumb and eat. We have a ton of Biomass we need to clean up.]

The unfortunate part of fighting up here is that a lot of Biomass fell through the gaps in the corals and is thusly lost, but we did hold onto more than half of the total.

I�ve grown accustomed to the taste of shadow monsters over these last weeks�it�s still really terrible. Not that anything I�ve had to eat since I was reborn in this world is delicious. Perhaps I should have eaten some human food back at the village? They have a temple to me now, right? I could get them to leave offerings of delicious meals! But, it wouldn�t have any Biomass, so it�s kind of a waste. Maybe I could get them to cook monster parts for me.

As I ruminate on the possibilities of Biomass cuisine, the three of us munch our fill and rest. More Biomass points have been harvested and my total has reached 251. A good opportunity for a cheeky upgrade, and I think I know just what I want to improve. I�ve really been having a lot of fun�and getting a lot of use out of�my Instant Twitch Musculature and Wide Gated Sub-Neural Network.

The musculature allows greater strength to be exerted in smaller bursts, perfect for snapping mandibles or quick dodges, and my neural network helps me react to the barrage of information my eyes and antennae provide in the midst of a fight.

These two combined have improved my offense, but more dramatically, have taken my defence to a whole new level! In fact, they�ve truly allowed my defensive Skill, Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence, to shine brighter than ever before, and I�m Levelling that Skill much faster than previously. It�s all coming together!

So naturally, I want to take these two body parts to +15!

[Do you wish to improve Instant Twitch Musculature +10 and Wide Gated Sub-Neural Network +10 to +15? This will cost 130 Biomass.]

I do!

[At this level, your mutations will be reinforced. Do you wish to proceed?]

For both of these body parts, I chose to go deeper down one aspect rather than generalise, so reinforcing the effect is the only option. Bring it!

CHANGALANGATANG!

STUPID ITCH!

When it finally fades, I look in satisfaction at the entries in my status.

Blink Musculature +15 and Transmission Sub-Neural Network +15.

Titus surveyed the broken wreckage of the once prosperous City of Liria. The Legion fort around the Dungeon entrance had been levelled, giving him a clear view of the devastation the moment he stepped onto the surface.

Garralosh and her monsters had thoroughly done their work. Everywhere he looked, there was wreckage, as if the beasts couldn�t stand to leave one stone on top of another. The Legion commander was weighted with a pain in his heart as took in the ruins. What remained of Baker Dockerty�s shop was visible from where he stood. The jolly old man had been full of life, ready with a smile and a glazed bun�Titus� favourite�every time he�d stopped by. So much waste, so much loss. All because of one stupid monster.

He blew a breath, releasing the tension building in his chest. What was the point of raging at a dead beast? The kingdom was gone, Garralosh was gone, the Legion�s responsibilities in this backward part of the world were over. Still, Titus held no sense of satisfaction.

They hadn�t defeated the giant croc themselves, and he was filled with regret that he�d failed to take her life when they�d previously clashed. His axe had bitten her flesh, taken an arm, but she�d slithered away like a snake. Perhaps if he�d pursued then, he would never have witnessed this scene now. Perhaps his son would have taken the trials elsewhere and survived.

Regret boiled in his belly.

Sensing her father�s emotions, Morrelia placed a hand on his shoulder.

�You�re an idiot,� she said.

Titus turned his stony face toward her.

�You did more for this city, more for this country, than any dozen other people in its history combined. You fought harder and longer than even the Legion asked of you. There was nothing more you could have done, so stop being stupid and feeling guilty about this. None of it is your fault.�

Nearby Legionaries were quite chagrined to hear their revered commander spoken to in this way, but what could they do? It was his daughter! Titus himself didn�t appear to mind at all. He only nodded and patted the rough and calloused hand on his shoulder with his own, equally worn one.

�You always had a way with words, Morr.�

Morrelia snorted. �No I don�t and you know it. I�m just in a unique position to look at you as a human instead of a legend.�

�You don�t see me as a legend?�

�My memories are of you teaching me how to lace up a boot, not saving the kingdom for the umpteenth time.� She stepped away from her father to run her eyes over the wreckage. �I still can�t believe this happened. When Anthony and I first came here, this whole space was filled with monsters, almost every surface covered with them. How did we ever kill so many?�

Titus flicked an eye at her words. Behind him, many Legionaries were overcome with emotion as they reached the surface. Many had been born here, had parents, spouses, some of them even had children. Morrelia had been able to provide a list, the names of everyone who gathered at the survivor village. It was a scarce comfort.

Only a fraction of the people who�d lived in the kingdom remained, and the capital had been the hardest hit. The tears and cries of anguish stung. Sometimes, Titus wished he could unbend long enough to show that kind of emotion, but he never did. Part of him was afraid that if he ever let it out, he would never be able to bottle it up again. Only his family were able to truly see what went on under the surface�only his wife and daughter.

And he was determined to keep them safe.

�Have you thought about my offer, Morr? I want you to come with us when we go.�

In truth, Morrelia was conflicted. During the journey upward, she�d spent time talking to her old friends, from her centurions, trainees in her year who�d gone on to make full Legionary and others who�d started not long before she left. The Abyssal Legion had been such a part of her life, to reconnect with it again felt so natural, as if she�d been welcomed back to the family.

To her, the Legion was literally family. It was a chance to spend time with her father, to reconnect with her mother after ten years of separation. She didn�t want to abandon the community in the south, the survivors she�d formed bonds with through desperate battles and struggles. But how could she turn away from this chance? If she did, how long would it be until she saw her parents again?

Enid, Beyn, Isaac. Well, Isaac could burn in the third stratum, but the others, even Anthony, that puzzling creature who seemed to turn everything she�d been taught about monsters on its head. There was something building there, something special. She wanted to be a part of it, wanted to help build it. It was an adventure, creating something entirely new out of the ashes of the old.

�Give me a little more time to think,� she told her father.

The commander looked as if he had more to say, though he restrained himself. He wouldn�t push her. His children had never reacted well to being pushed. Titus never once mentioned the idea of joining the Legion to them as they�d grown up. He wasn�t certain he wanted that life for them. Sure enough, they�d thrown themselves in headfirst the moment they�d come of age. Morrelia was the most headstrong of them all, it was unusual of her to be undecided in anything. He would give her the space she needed.

A sob, almost a muffled cry, sounded behind them. They turned to see a devastated Alberton, the Legion Loremaster for Liria. The old scholar had a hand raised to cover his mouth, and his eyes were red as he took in the wreckage of his home.

Titus stepped toward his friend, putting a powerful arm over his shoulders. Morrelia approached his other side, reaching to grasp his arm. Alberton had been a big part of her upbringing in the Legion, both as her father�s friend and as her teacher when she was a trainee.

�Lean on me, old man,� Titus encouraged, Alberton appearing to be close to collapse. �Don�t stand on ceremony.�

�The entire kingdom? Everything my family has built for hundreds of years. All gone? So many people�� The old Legion scholar was beside himself as he openly wept. His entire life, his family, his history, wiped from the face of the world.

All that was left was ashes.

�This is why we call them monsters, Morrelia,� Titus spat. �Look at what they�ve done. Look at this! We can never have peace until they�re all dead. As if they never existed in the first place.�

The pain and suffering throughout the members of the Legion affected Morrelia deeply. These were the men and women who�d dedicated their lives to defending the sapient races of the surface from the depredations of the Dungeon. They were the inheritors of a mission that originated in the Rending and had endured for thousands of years.

To those battle-hardened eyes, the annihilation of Liria represented more evidence of righteousness for their cause. It was hard for Morrelia to disagree with that sentiment, being something she herself believed her entire life. Such proof was hard to deny. The monsters were responsible for this catastrophe. They brought death and destruction with them everywhere they went. Had done so since the moment they breached the surface.

And yet, she�d seen a different way. A monster who was prepared to cooperate with humans, who was prepared to bring other monsters along with their ideals. Coexistence was possible, she�d seen it with her own eyes. The very concept spat in the face of everything she�d been taught. What everyone on the surface had been taught.

What did this mean? Who should she talk to? Who could she talk to? The people in the village were a little too enthusiastic to throw away the lessons of history and embrace a new way. Not without good reason, but could they really be trusted to see things clearly?

Similarly, the members of the Legion were far too slanted in their view. They were literally a monster exterminating army, unmatched in zeal and efficiency. Were they really the people to talk to about cooperating with a monster? Morrelia could imagine how it would go. The moment she spoke to Titus about what Anthony really was, they would drop all their plans, march south, and exterminate every ant and human they found, pat themselves on the back, and count it a job well done.

The thought of Enid cut down by her father�s axe made her physically nauseous. It was pretty much inevitable that Isaac would die that way, but the others didn�t deserve it.

�You look troubled, Morrelia. Care to share your thoughts?�

�Mirryn?�

�Hi there,� the younger woman smiled and sat on the stone Morrelia rested on.

It had been a cornerstone for the White Lion, a well-known tavern in this corner of the city. Not much remained of it now. One crumbled wall and the smashed remains of the once gleaming oak bar. Shards of glass lay scattered across, the final remnants of the bottles the innkeeper, Gregor, had once taken such pride in.

�Feels a little strange to be trying to give advice to my own senior,� Mirryn admitted.

Morrelia scoffed.

�I�m not your senior. I�m someone who dropped out of training, whereas you are a full Legionary. Under what definition could I possibly be considered senior to you?�

Mirryn shrugged. It was hard to explain, especially to Morrelia�s face. That she was so dominant and overbearing, so forceful in her personality, it was hard to think of her as anything but a superior.

�You�ve probably even out-Levelled me,� Morrelia grimaced. �Doing whatever it is you Legion-types do in the deep.�

�Surely not!� Mirryn protested, but secretly, she thought she just might have. The slaughter she�d taken part in during the wave had catapulted her Levels and stats to a height she�d never dreamed of achieving.

The other woman�s eyes narrowed, as if detecting the underlying truth, but she let it go.

�You�ll be coming with us, won�t you?� Mirryn asked. �I�ve never been through a gate. I�d only heard of them. It�d be nice to have more people we know on the other side.�

Morrelia�s black leather armour creaked as she shifted uncomfortably.

�I�m still thinking about it� Just not certain.�

�I understand. Things were pretty tense when you left.�

�I said a lot of things that I came to regret.�

�You were grieving, we all were.�

�That doesn�t make it okay.�

�Time heals all wounds, so I�m told. Maybe you should trust in us more.�

�Maybe I should,� Morrelia admitted.

Mirryn leaned back and looked up at the sky.

�Seems like we won�t get a chance to visit this village of yours. Runner came up an hour ago. They�re going to send us through early. The commander has already issued the order to pack everything up and get back to marching. Alberton�s furious. He wanted more time to comb through what was left of the archives.�

�It would take weeks to excavate anything out of there. Garralosh caved the entire thing in!�

Mirryn giggled.

�The commander tried to tell him, but the old man is too stubborn when it comes to his precious books. I think we�re going to see the Loremaster carried away over the shoulder of a centurion soon!�

�Save me from stubborn old men,� Morrelia muttered.

�At the very least, you�ll come down and see us off, won�t you? We�ve so much more to talk about, I don�t want to have to wave you off in an hour.�

�I can promise that much.� Morrelia was reluctant to leave her father behind so soon, and it had been nice, catching up with old friends. �It�ll be interesting for me. I�ve never seen the underground city.�

�It�s fairly interesting, to say the least!�

�I�ll bet.�

The two fell into a companionable silence. The only noise came from the occasional shout of a Legionary as they bustled about, packing and securing their supplies for the journey into the deep. A gate was being opened at the fort below which would take them to the fabled Black Castle, the founding headquarters of the Abyssal Legion. Despite her old life having been destroyed, Mirryn was excited to find out what this new chapter would bring.

�Come on then, lazy bones.� Mirryn stood. �You might as well come and help.�

�I suppose I may as well,� Morrelia grumbled as she stood and stretched out her tired muscles.

They headed toward the Dungeon entrance to find the officers busy running their rulers over the logistics of the march, chasing down every stray member of the expedition, and confirming details with their own superiors. At the centre of it all stood Titus, barking orders where necessary, but mainly being a silent pillar of calm in the centre of a storm of activity.

When he spotted Morrelia coming, he walked toward her without hesitation.

�Are you coming with us?� he asked without preamble.

�I�m coming to the gate,� Morrelia stressed. �I haven�t decided to join back up.�

His face showed no emotion, but she knew he was happy to hear this news.

�Good then. Make sure you report to Tribune Aurilla, she�s in charge of our headcount and food.�

She almost snapped out a quick Legionary salute, but restrained herself at the last moment. Her father�s eyes missed nothing and were laughing at her as he turned away.

�See if I ever salute you again, old man!� she fumed to herself before she went to gather her few belongings and weapons before seeking out the Tribune.

As they finished readying themselves, darkness had begun to fall over the ruins of the city. The villagers who accompanied Morrelia north had begun the journey back, to report on what they�d seen and bring word of the conditions in the Dungeon.

So far, the upper reef farming strategy has proven to be successful, if stressful. Some monsters are too reluctant to approach the bright flame, while others are maddened by it, charging down to extinguish me and it with extreme prejudice.

After we start to notice less monsters swarming our original spot, we pick up and move to another location, clearing out the riffraff along the way before recommencing our farming practices.

We�ve been at it for four days, and both of my pets are enjoying the benefits of the near-constant fighting. Both of their Levels have been steadily climbing and their combat Skills are getting some serious boosts. Most of the monsters they fight have been tier two and above, which really helps in terms of XP gain. The influx of Biomass has also been most welcome.

For my part, I�ve been grinding away at a number of Skills. Non-combat related ones, since I�m making sure Tiny and Crinis do most of the fighting in order to hasten their evolution to the fifth tier. The Skill I�m most interested in raising is my Core Surgery Skill. I need to unlock the mysteries of the advanced techniques employed by the sophos so I can teach them to the colony when I return, but so far, they�ve proven difficult to master.

Grinding away at manipulating cores in order to increase my Skill Level and bring me closer to increasing the rank of the Skill is one thing. I can do that, no problem, and I have been. But mastering the ability to fuse two cores together so neatly that they slide into each other like laser-cut metal is a freakin� nightmare!

For starters, I need to get Core Surgery to the next rank before I can even unlock the Skill, but I�ve been practising the techniques required in order to ensure I get my hands on it as quickly as possible. I�ve been straining my poor head as much as I can, and so far, all I�ve gotten is a headache and some not quite as horribly scrambled as before fused cores.

Once I�m done, I�ve been handing the cores over to Crinis and Tiny to make sure they�re as close to maxed out as possible. It shouldn�t be much longer now, and they�ll almost be ready to accept the final core to tip them over the edge.

I�m keeping an eye out for a rare core, but we�ve yet to come across one. Special cores are more common down here and we�ve come into possession of a few, but rare cores are proving elusive.

The issue I had with my core is that I pushed it to max size, then absorbed a special core immediately after I evolved. My hope had been that with time and patience, I would have been able to absorb two special cores beyond the limit and gain a more powerful evolution. My gambit ended up being taken to an entirely new level when I obtained the rare core and tried to push the experiment even further.

Not only did I absorb a special core past the normal maximum, I went ahead and absorbed a rare core as well! The end result was excruciating pain and a very high risk of damage to my core. Having escaped such a fate can only be put down to dumb luck. By the blessings of Gandalf�s ever-bristling, bushy beard and brows was I able to survive!

For Crinis and Tiny, if I only feed them the rare core, they should go through a truly painful and uncomfortable experience, but not have to experience the risk of permanent damage. Even now, I worry that something went wrong and I just haven�t been able to notice. A hidden flaw in my core, a fault line or hairline fracture that might flare up and bite me right in the profit margins when I least expect it. It�s anxiety-inducing!

My magic Skills have been another focus. Healing Magic is getting a constant workout due to Tiny�s affliction, so Level gains have been steady there. I�ve made a point of playing with Fire Magic during the downtime when we hide away to rest in order to keep pushing that Skill higher.

I�d like to go ahead and buy the Air Magic Affinity, just to round out my basic Avatar elements. I haven�t even had a chance to try and Level Earth or Air Magic yet since my brains are already being pushed to the straining point maintaining the Healing and Fire Mana Constructs. Besides, I�m still low on Skill Points.

I�m starting to think I�m going to need a lot more brains down the line. To utilise one type of magic effectively, without a gland to produce that Mana for you, it really requires you to perform two tasks simultaneously. You have to create and maintain the construct, which takes an effort of Will on its own. Then operate the construct, feeding it raw Mana to produce the desired affinity. And THEN you take the new Mana of the desired affinity and shape it into a mind bending, intricate shape to produce the desired spell!

In an ideal world, you would have two brains to perform these tasks. One to hold onto and operate the construct, and one to shape the spells. For the time being, I�m using my weaker sub-brains to maintain the constructs and the stronger one takes turns operating and shaping the spells.

This means I have to pitch in with my main mind every now and again, which is frankly a pain. I�d much rather all this petty grinding be done by the sub-brains so I can focus on other things. Perhaps my sub-minds will come to resent me for that, but they�ll just have to deal with it. They know who�s in charge!

The other thing I need to consider is how far I want to push the elemental magic Skills before I attempt to fuse them. The further you push before fusion, the more potent the fused Skill will be, that�s a fundamental truth of the System that Beyn imparted to me. Certainly, it�s been true with my bite Skill. The result of the fusion has proven to be very strong after getting each bite Skill to the fourth tier. My goal is to go for the fourth tier. Since I have multiple minds to grind away at these Skills, I should aim high. Who knows how humans and ka�armodo train their Skills to the heights they do with only a single brain? Crazy.

Right now, the three of us are resting. After an extended fishing expedition, we retreated down to roughly halfway to the bottom of the coral reef, where we found this nice and cosy little alcove. Crinis and Tiny are sleeping whilst I keep watch. It�ll be Tiny�s turn to watch when I slip into a little torpor to get some rest. I�ll have to explicitly order him not to sleep when I do so, otherwise he slacks off.

In front of me is a small pile of cores, our harvest from the last hunt. I say small, but thirty cores is quite respectable. The abundance of cores down here is starting to change my view of normal. A haul like this in the first stratum would be considered incredible wealth.

With a sigh, I bring my antennae forward and touch them to the next core. I need to keep pushing and force myself to adapt these stupid things to the most extreme level that I can, then try to fit them together with another core from a different species. It�s gruelling, headache-inducing work, but someone�s gotta do it!

I stagger awake from torpor, my body snapping into motion faster than my brain can keep up. My legs spasm and my antennae stab into the air at the same time, giving out a general vibe of intense energy coupled with mind-shattering fear.

Hugga!

I�m still getting used to not being able to blink. At no time in the day is this more apparent than just after waking up. The urge to clear the sleep out of my eyes, to eliminate the dryness�but I can�t blink! Can�t even rub my eyes or anything.

It�s weird, and continues to be one of the last hang-ups I have as human-turned-ant. Generally speaking, I�m good with the rest of it. I don�t have many problems anymore with my new form. In fact, it�s pretty great. In my opinion, those who wouldn�t swap from human to monster-ant are fools! Seriously mentally deficient!

I even get to join a family with thousands of siblings. For someone who never had any brothers or sisters in their human life, this is a big plus! Well, I suppose I still don�t have any brothers�

[Okay, guys, I�m up. Are we ready for some more fishing?]

My pets give their acknowledgement and we make our slow and careful way back to the top of the coral reef to try and reel in more monsters. Our farming is starting to slow down at this spot; we�ll have to move soon.

It�s hard to be sure exactly where you are in this absurdly massive Expanse, and I�ve been trying to skirt the edges of the coral reef. I don�t want to pull down something on the level of that giant leviathan, not until we�ve had more time to power up, explore, and scout out the situation at the top of the food chain.

The plan is to lay relatively low and keep pumping our Skills, eating Biomass, and pushing Tiny and Crinis toward their next evolutions.

[Okay, Crinis. Are you set up and good to go?]

[Ready, Master!]

[How about you, Tiny?]

[Oooo!]

[Nice. It was slowing down at the end of the last one, so I�m going to start fairly bright. Be prepared for the enemy to come in hot!]

Having forewarned my pets, I push more Fire Mana into the ball of light even as I manoeuvre it out past the last grasping tendrils of the corals and shadow seaweed. The response from the drifting schools of sea monsters is immediate. Some dart away from the heat and light that elicits fear and discomfort in them. But others charge headlong to destroy it�straight into our net!

The battle is fierce, and I contribute in the little ways I can from my hiding place. Smashing out the odd firebolt spell and chomping on anything that gets too close isn�t a huge contribution, but when my poor pets are getting swarmed, every little bit helps. When the fighting is done, we hoover up all the Biomass we can, the stomach upgrades proving their worth, before we retreat to our hidey hole to count our gains.

All in all, another profitable run. I Levelled up this time, which is a pleasant surprise. It feels nice to get some Levels, even if I�m still a long way from my next evolution�which is at Level eighty.

Both of my pets are creeping closer to their tier five evolution. Level forty is still a ways off for them, but if we continue our routine, they�re sure to get there before too long. I really did skip ahead of them a lot in Levels by harvesting the XP from those croca commanders. Then I got the experience for finishing Garralosh, which was another ton of Levels.

Once we make it back, I take a few hours to grind through the cores we found.

After all of my grinding over the last five days, I was finally able to Level Core Surgery enough that I could increase its rank to Core Crafting (IV), which means that so long as I can pull it off, the Core Fusion Skill will unlock for me.

After a number of attempts, I still fail to slot two cores together neatly enough to satisfy the unlock condition. Through painstaking trial and error, I have gotten closer. The two creatures I�ve chosen are the Leech and Fish. Taking weak variants of these two creatures, only tier two, due to their simpler cores, I�ve been trying to shape them into compatible parts before fusing the two cores together. The trick is to focus on the traits you want to keep from each of the creatures and manipulate them in such a way that the fusion won�t affect the integrity of that part of the core.

Easier said than done. When I�ve finished with all of the cores, Tiny and Crinis absorb them, only to inform me they�ve maxed out their cores and can�t take any more.

This is good news!

The preparations for their evolutions are getting closer and closer to being complete. This means the last six cores are mine to absorb. It�s going to take a heck of a long time before my own core is maxed out. Since you can double the size of your core each evolution, that little bit extra I squeezed in last time pays forward double this evolution, which means more evolutionary energy again! So long as I can find a suitable core to use at the end of the process, I�ll be good.

My mind automatically shies away from thinking about the core we took from Garralosh, still stashed with the colony far above my head. Nope. Not even going to consider that until I absolutely have to.

With another round of feasting behind us, our Biomass has built up quite significantly. I haven�t upgraded myself during this hunting spree, so I suppose I might as well go ahead and do a little spending.

With 257 points to spend, there�s plenty I can do!

In order to maximise my gains, I�m going to take my stomach upgrade from +20 up to +25, maxing it out. This should help keep the Biomass flowing even faster and allow me to get the rest of my upgrades in a shorter time. It�s going to cost a whopping 205 Biomass just for this one body part, but it should prove worth it in the long-term. To be honest, I probably should have invested in it straight away, but I get easily distracted by other, shinier upgrades.

The list of choices expands rapidly in my mind and there are many to choose from. I wouldn�t have thought there would be such a list for just a stomach, but the System never fails to be creative.

Faster digestion is an interesting choice. You could spend less time between meals, increasing Biomass intake that way. There are a lot of options that allow for increased Biomass extraction from a particular type of monster, which is intriguing. Essentially, the stomach will mutate to become more adept at refining Biomass from, for example, shadow-based monsters. It seems limited in usefulness however, unless you intended to stay and hunt in a particular strata for an extended period of time.

That could be super worth it for the ant Queens, though, now that I think about it. I doubt Victoriant and Antionette are going to keep evolving to a super high tier. They might even stop taking XP at tier five or six, which means they�ll probably stay in the second strata for a very long time. If these mutations can increase their efficiency for the prey consumed here, the colony might benefit a great deal!

For my part, I take the next level of Biomass penalty reduction and stomach capacity increase, doubling down on the mutations I chose at previous levels. The end result is the Vast Hungering Stomach +25! Gwehehehehe.

Maxing out mutations always puts a smile on my dial. If only I didn�t have to deal with the stupid itch�

Having pushed my stomach to the maximum possible level quickly starts to pay dividends. After mutating, the three of us pick ourselves up and move to another spot. The usual method to traverse the coral reef is to climb our way back down to the ground and move from there.

This has a few benefits. Firstly, we don�t get hunted by monsters from above, and there�s no chance of accidentally bumping into any leviathan class monsters, which is nice. Safety first, as I always say! Secondly, we increase the possibility of happening across a nest or den of monsters along the ground. The crabs proved to be such a tasty and delicious meal of XP and Biomass, one I have no objection to indulging in again. We haven�t stumbled across many such treats, but if we don�t try, then we never will.

It just so happens that in the process of moving, always a careful and slow affair in this web of coral plants with their stinging barbs, I sense a signature of a nearby cluster of monsters.

How delightful! A travel snack!

[Tiny, Crinis. I sense a nest of creatures to the left over there. Can you see them, Crinis?]

[Oh! Ah, yes, I have them!]

[You should have picked them up way before me. What�s the story, Crinis? Have you been sleeping back there?]

[I haven�t been asleep, Master, never! I was just� distracted.]

[Distracted? By what? Is there something else around here?]

That�d be the last thing I need, jumped by some monster leaping out of nowhere to smack me in the middle in the thorax whilst my supposedly omnipresent eye is dazed and confused. It�s very unlike Crinis to be anything but perfectly diligent. She�s almost obsessively careful in her scouting responsibilities.

Her ability to sense Mana sources at great range and clarity is such a blessing down here. I haven�t checked, but I hope the first thing she mutated to +20 was her Mana Sensory Gland, followed closely by her Shadow Eye. The latter of those two has grown to be quite the handy thing here in the second statum. It gives her the ability to see through shadows, and since Shadow Mana is literally everywhere, she�s able to get a good look directly at whatever is within range.

[No, there isn�t anything else here! I was just� thinking.]

Thinking? What sort of development is this?

[What were you thinking about? If you don�t mind sharing, that is,] I hasten to add.

I�ve been trying to build a sense of independence in my pets for a long time. I�m certainly not going to try and squash this fleeting sign of development from my most dedicated pet!

[�I-It�s nothing.]

[Remember, you can always talk to me, or not. Your thoughts are your own. If you decide that you�d like to chat, you can do so anytime. Okay?]

[Yes, Master.]

[Alright then. Now let�s go annihilate whatever it is that�s occupying this nest nearby.]

[I think it�s centipedes, Master.]

Damncentipedes! EXPERIENCE THE HEAT OF MY RAAAAAAAGE!

Thirty minutes later, the hated shadow variant of the claw centipede has had their territory reduced by one nest. I�m still determined to completely erase this hated species from the entire Dungeon. Perhaps it will be impossible on my own, but with the assistance of the colony, we may be able to accomplish such a feat one day.

The thought of millions of ants hunting the hated centipede throughout the entire world of Pangera puts a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart. It�s decided! The moment we return to the colony, I shall pass on this most sacred of missions!

As we�re busy munching on the Biomass, Crinis interrupts my thoughts.

[Master, I think I�m sensing something.]

[More monsters? Excellent! I�m barely warmed up.]

[I�m not sure it�s monsters, it feels different. I think they�re coming this way.]

That sounds interesting. What could be going on? I reach out with my own Mana Sense, but I can�t get a handle on what Crinis described.

[They might be coming for the clearing. Let�s get behind some cover. I want to try and get a look at whatever this is. What direction are they coming from?]

Once Crinis indicates a direction with one slender tentacle, the three of us scramble to hide on the other side. I duck and weave through the stone coral until we�re reasonably behind cover. It�s not easy for an ant larger than a car to hide, but I do my best! Hopefully, the stealth Skill will carry me a little here.

Tiny isn�t particularly stealthy either, so I urge him to get a little farther back. Crinis is still resting on my back and quite small in her shrunken form, shouldn�t be any problems there.

After a few moments, I start to detect what she was talking about. There are six different Mana sources, but they�re different from what I would normally associate with monsters. Monsters are bright with Mana, filled to the brim as it flows through every fibre of their bodies. If the monster has a core, it glows like a lightbulb, and energy ripples around those creatures as their core pulls in the Mana around them.

What I sense now isn�t like that, not at all. There seems to be hardly any Mana inside the bodies of these creatures, nothing at all like a monster. It�s so confusing! What could possibly be down in the Dungeon appearing so dim to my Mana Sense?

What is it? What could it be? Unconsciously, I nudge myself a little closer to the clearing to get a better view, just as these six strange entities step into view.

The figures take in the scattered remains of the Biomass we�d been consuming. They move quickly toward the centre of the clearing, and I take in my first impressions. It�s immediately obvious why they didn�t feel like monsters. It�s because they aren�t�monsters, that is.

If I�m not mistaken, these are sapient creatures, possibly from the surface. They�re humanoid, but taller and bulkier than a human. I�d put the tallest at over eight feet tall, nearly as tall as Tiny, and wide, thick in the shoulders and hips. Unless the light they�re carrying is playing tricks on me, it also appears as if they�re made of, or at least covered in, stone.

�Gruhalesa Rorrhan,� one of them speaks, its voice as deep and rough as two rocks being crushed together.

I�m agog, fascinated. Surface people! With language! Made of stone!

This might help explain why they felt so strange to my Mana Sense. They had a stronger reaction to the infusion of Mana than humans, which initially made me think there was no chance they were a sapient race. Clearly, they have a bit more of the special stuff in their makeup. Not as much as monsters, who are literally born from the stuff, but hey.

The obvious problem I have now is, how the heck do I get as far as possible from these giant stone-people before they try and hack me apart for my delicious core?

Suddenly gripped by fear, I hunker down and try to keep myself as still as possible. Don�t breathe, don�t even blink! Blink and you�re dead! Wait� I don�t have eyelids! Settle down, Anthony. Play it cool.

My mentality is frazzled after being thrown into this unexpected situation. And I thankfully have just the Skill for this. Without hesitating, I sink my mind deep into the soothing calm of Profound Meditation.

When using this Skill, emotion fades into the back of my mind, brushing against the edges of my awareness instead of rushing to the forefront and dominating my decision making. To be honest, I should probably spend almost all of my time sunk deep into the Meditation Skill.

When I use the Skill, my emotions no longer cloud my thinking. The problem is that I don�t really like the feeling of being this cold and logical, it doesn�t feel like me. I tend to avoid it as a result, despite recognising how much better my decision making would be. The more I use the Skill, the higher Level it would get as well. Who knows what depths of emotionlessness are possible as it continues to rank up?

Those considerations are for another time, I must focus on getting out of this situation cleanly.

My thoughts clear, I watch the six figures with cold detachment, taking in details that I hadn�t noticed before. The armour the stone-people are wearing is minimal. Their arms and chests are mostly bare, with only arm guards strapped to their forearms, the glint of hard metal standing out against their dark grey skin. A variety of weapons are also visible. Large, curved blades and two-handed swords adorn their backs, as oversized as one would expect due to their massive frames. One of them looks like he�s carrying a Buster Sword�look at the size of that thing!

A shiver runs along the outside of my awareness as the image of that massive edge shearing through my carapace flits through my mind.

Don�t worry, Anthony, the diamond carapace is inviolable, it will never fail you.

They�re scanning the clearing constantly, taking in the signs. Their movements are professional and clean, and never move too far from each other. Hands remain on the hilts of their weapons and they talk constantly, muttering in low whispers to each other. Presumably about what they see or sense.

To combat the ever-present darkness, they each hold a glowing crystal which emits a strong beam of light.

I need to be careful. I know for a fact that Mana detecting Skills are possible for humans, and I�ve even seen humans use Mana detecting crystals. If they bust out something like that, my overloaded tier five core is going to light up like a firework.

I�ve seen enough. Staying still any longer carries way too much risk.

[We need to sneak out of here, team. Get yourselves ready to go. We move slow and silent.]

My pets give me their assent, and I shift my legs nice and steady, gradually pulling myself farther away from the clearing. I don�t know why these stone-people are down here, and as much as I�d like to get more information, I don�t want to risk it. I have no idea how powerful they are. Nor do I want to start any beef.

Maybe I launch a Gravity Bomb and wipe them out, get a bunch of experience and walk away laughing. Then three days later, the entire Expanse is flooded with very angry stone-folks wondering where their team went, who begin hunting for my impressive sparkly hide? No way!

[Advanced Stealth (II) has reached Level 10. Upgrade available.]

I�ll take it. Perfect timing for this particular upgrade. Without hesitation, I spend the Skill Point to upgrade the rank of Stealth. As the knowledge trickles into my mind, I begin to employ the techniques that blossom into understanding, minimising my massive profile, using the shadows and lowering my weight with care to suppress sound.

I take ten steps before my antennae send a shock through my non-existent spine. A tingle of warning that creates phantasmic ripples all over my carapace.

DUCK!

BOOM!

The coral explodes as my hyper-speed reflexes send me smashing my own head into the dirt to duck low. As a testament to my newfound reactionary prowess, I even tuck my antennae in and neither of them gets chopped off! Winning!

[GO, GO, GO! Get on your bike and ride!]

Tiny bellows out a hoot of rage mixed with two parts joy as he leaps to his feet, and with one mighty bound, sends himself flying up into the coral branches as they collapse around us. With my near three-sixty-degree vision, I can see the coral appears to have been sheared off, as if sliced with a giant knife, and the giant structures are starting to come down around our ears.

Agile as a� well� a monkey, Tiny flings himself through the wreckage even as it descends, but I don�t have time to admire his grace, I need to motor! Six legs scrabbling and spinning like a roadrunner, my muscles strain as I push my legs to the extreme, forcing immense amounts of power through my legs to the point I can feel them about to crack. Luckily they don�t, and I gain traction. We�re away!

BOOM!

Missed me!

[Advanced Dodge has reached Level 3.]

Excellent! Keep running!

DASH!

Putting all of my Skills to use, I move so fast my antennae are pressed against the top of my head by the wind pressure and the scenery around me fades to a blur. In my mind, I sense the six dim figures launching in pursuit, moving with incredible speed and precision.

These people might be a higher Level than I thought! This is exactly the sort of thing I didn�t want to happen!

How did they spot me? Detection Skill? Another one of those enchanted crystal-gizmos? Good �ol fashioned eyesight? At this point, it doesn�t matter, I just have to get away.

[Hang on, Crinis! See if you can throw them off somehow!]

[Okay!]

Darting left and right, I avoid their strikes. I can see them, if only vaguely, as they flash out around me. It�s sword-light, but narrower and so much faster than I�ve ever witnessed before. In just a heartbeat, it slices through everything in range and then it�s gone. This is surely a high rank Skill in use. I don�t want to mess with whoever is throwing these out, the variables and potential danger are simply too high to bother with.

It�s not like I�m defending my home or anything, I have no stakes here. Better to just run away and live to fight another day. So, I run!

DASH!

Another surge of strength pulses through my legs and I zip forward, my eyes no longer able to follow my own movement. The coral branches and swaying seaweed rush past. I don�t even care if I get stung by some horrific poison. Escape first and cleanse poison later!

Even now, I can still sense the enemy behind me, flitting like shadows through the destruction they wrought.

LEFT!

Fzzz-ting!

A buzzing tickles my ear before a steel tipped crossbow bolt slams into the ground next to me. I stumble slightly due to the sudden change in direction before catching myself and continuing to run. I need more distractions!

POW! POW! POW! POW! POW!

Acid flies in all sorts of directions wherever I can sense them. Wherever it strikes, the acid sizzles and turns sticky, causing the pursuers to shift and adjust their trajectories to avoid it. The hard punch of my greatest commodity doesn�t buy much, but every little bit helps.

[Crinis? Got something yet?]

POW! POW! POW!

[Now!]

After concentrating hard, Crinis plunges her tentacles into her own shadow on my back, and they emerge dozens of metres behind us, erupting from the ground to form a dark web that reaches greedily to engulf one of the hunters.

I don�t exactly know who these people are, but they are very persistent! Thanks to the magnificent Meditation Skill, I�m very much remaining a cool, placid lake. Not a ripple on the surface of my thoughts.

BOOM! CRUNCH!

Not upset at anything. I am a calm, blue ocean. I embrace serenity. Serenity now.

BOOM!

Serenity now!

PLEASE stop trying to inflict such deep cuts on my business zone! The level of budget cuts they want to inflict simply can�t be borne in this fiscal quarter. My Gaster has been experiencing very lean times. That�s a lie, but don�t focus on that part, focus on the part where I don�t get sliced and diced!

They�re trying to slink around and surround me, moving as a unit even though I�m sure they aren�t speaking. How could they? The collapsing corals are falling with the weight of buildings to the floor of the Expanse. As we run, the air is full of the roar of stone as it crunches everything around us.

Why the heck are they so keen on killing me? Am I so delicious? Is my core so precious? Surely not! Is it my carapace? Shiny and pure, coated with pure diamond. Who wouldn�t want it? It�s my curse for being so beautiful! Did I bring this on myself for being so attractive, so illuminating? Like a precious jewel, my lustre is too bright to resist.

Whatever the reason, I will escape! I will run free!

Firing acid, I put my minds to work furiously pondering ways to enable my escape. Should I cast spells? Difficult. Wielding Fire Magic, Water Magic, or Gravity will be tough. If they catch up to me, gravity could prove helpful. I could slow them down using bolts or the domain in order to preserve myself. Hitting them whilst they flit through this waterfall of destruction is near impossible. Also, I don�t want to antagonise the hunters if possible. Clean escape is by far my preferred option.

Therefore, the best course of action, my minds reason, is to find a distraction and use the chaos to run!

[Crinis, keep a Shadow Eye out for distractions!]

[I�m a little busy here, Master!]

[Get a second brain already!]

To be fair, Crinis is probably using her main brain to focus on her tentacles involved in her little surprise attack. Which appears to have gone well. Her target is currently engulfed in tentacles that surround them like a sphere of horrific blades and pulsing limbs. Hopefully, no emotional scarring results from the stay within this eldritch prison.

The other hunters react with obscene speed to the threat and divert themselves to their comrade. Blades flash, shadows converge, and light erupts behind me as I push my speed to the limit and haul my precious diamond backside away.

[Ahhh!]

Crinis cries out in pain as her limbs are severed, and she hauls what remains back out of her shadow gate.

[What�s wrong? That wouldn�t normally hurt so bad!]

[I don�t know! It just hurt!]

Dammit. These hunters are getting on my nerves. How dare they hurt my pet!

[Hang on!]

I�ll make sure to use this opportunity!

Bringing my brains into the escape, I perform a number of actions at once. I dash around and through a dense section of coral whilst firing a barrage of acid toward the clumped shadows and grasping for nearby monsters with my Mana Sense.

In a moment of blind panic, I find a tiny spark and seize it. And if I could, I�d smile. Sweet justice is coming for you little mutts, and I�m gonna enjoy it. From a safe distance.

Heart surging with hope and joy that I allow to wash through my meditative mind, I angle my way through the coral forest toward the nest of shadow hounds. Crinis� painful sacrifice has bought us enough time and separation that I have the space to get clear. Acid now gums up many surfaces between the hunters and I, which buys just a tiny bit more time as they resume the chase.

It�s enough. I burst into the clearing as sword-light explodes around me, and a horrified pack of shadow hounds is already in the process of hightailing everywhere and in all directions, clearly spooked by the cacophony they�d no doubt detected landing in their laps. Luckily for me, their flight in all directions includes back toward the direction I came in, right into the faces of the hunters.

MUAHAHAHA!

How do you like them apples?

Now, let�s get clear!

[Tiny! Where the hell are you?]

[Haaar!]

Up there? Above my head, the big ape is swinging through the coral like a� I�m not going to say it. I�ll just say he looks at home up there, comfortable even. I can feel the resentment building up. I�ve been down here struggling and running, and where was my loyal pet during this time? Lazily swinging and leaping above our heads!

You�ll get yours, Tiny. When I�m done with your core, you�ll see. After you evolve, your head will turn into an actual brick! You�ll be a giant lightning ape with a literal fired clay brick for a head! I�m sure it�s possible. With the power of Mana, anything can be achieved. A brick head, which contains within it, another, more dense brick. That�s you, Tiny! Laugh while you still have a soft, malleable face!

Despite my smooth work, it still takes us five more minutes of desperate running until I�m confident that our pursuers have lost the trail. Tiny, Crinis, and I sit hunched in a small pocket of space halfway up the coral forest.

All of us are breathing heavily and recuperating from our frenzied escape. A part of me is still paranoid, expecting blades of sword-light to explode around me at any second. Those hunters are fierce, and persistent! They were freakin� dogged in their pursuit! Is hunting a monster like me really that valuable? Is it my core? I mean, it�s a good core, don�t get me wrong, especially for a creature of my tier, but for strong and skilled fighters like the Stone Temple Pilots back there, it can�t be the first one they�ve ever seen.

Now that I reflect back, the whole chase feels a little off. None of those sword slashes were completely lethal. Surely I shouldn�t have been able to dodge that many strikes so cleanly? The more I think back, the more I feel as if those strikes weren�t lethal. Were they trying to cripple me, rather than kill me?

A chill runs through my core. Something is definitely off about this. Why are these stone hunters down here so soon after the wave? Are they normal Dungeon delvers, or is their purpose something else? I have this uncomfortable feeling something is happening that I don�t understand.

[How are you, Crinis?]

[I-I�m okay. It hurt, but I�ve replaced the flesh I lost.]

[Great. Tiny, come over here and I�ll heal you.]

Once I top off his HP, it�s time for us to rest.

[Let�s recoup our strength. I�m not sure we�ve seen the last of those hunters, much as I wish I could say different.]

This is going to make life more difficult for us. If we have to keep our eyes open for stone-people trying to slice our legs off, we won�t be able to hunt as blatantly as we have up to this point. Which means slower rates of experience and Biomass gain, which makes Anthony a very sad ant.

No matter, we�ll just have to cope with the situation. Furtive and stealthy hunting may be less efficient, but it�s safer. A little safety sounds like just the thing I want right now.

Our rest doesn�t last for long. When an opportunity comes along in dire circumstances such as these, I�m not going to say no! After thirty minutes of catching our breath and healing up, Crinis perks up just before I notice it also.

A strong reaction from my Mana Sense, below us. From the glow of the core, this monster has to be tier five, the same as me. This is a good chance to harvest some experience and gain a powerful core to play with, then absorb. Should we go for it? Those hunters could still be around� It hasn�t been long since we lost them, and if they�re still snooping in this area, I don�t want to get their attention back on us so soon.

But, oh! This prey feels so juicy! Nice strong core, surely a ton of Biomass on offer as well. Since I was only just considering how scarce good hunting opportunities are going to be if these hunters stick around, can I really afford to turn away from a tempting target such as this?

[Let�s go and check it out at least. Surely, there�s no harm from that?]

Reasoning this way, we emerge with caution from our resting place and descend toward the creature. It�s almost leisurely picking its way through the coral undergrowth, confident in its own strength. Oh-ho, we�ll see how strong you are, my little fish.

Something about stalking prey tickles the primitive parts of my human consciousness. It�s dynamic and exciting. I climb down vertically, claws gripping the surface tight as my antennae sweep through the air, soaking in every little particle the atmosphere has to give me.

Even Tiny sharpens up, his ears twitching furtively as he takes in the sounds of the Expanse, his eyes focused with an unusual gleam.

[Nice, Tiny. I like to see that look on your face. Stay frosty.]

He gives a confused grunt.

[I mean, stay sharp.]

His ears droop a little.

[Just stay focused, dammit!]

Ears perking back up, Tiny gives me a toothy grin as he lowers himself hand over hand with his powerful grip. For her part, Crinis is intent as she concentrates her special sense on tracking the prey. It doesn�t take long for us to find it.

The creature resembles a mutated lobster. The front end is raised up, two powerful, fearsome-looking claws on its right side, a mass of writhing, leech-like limbs on the other. Those things look particularly nasty�tentacles tipped with ringed mouths as if they seek to suck out their victim�s blood.

Beneath the carapace, its many little lobster legs scuttle along, moving with the lazy grace and confidence of a creature who feels unthreatened in its environment. Compared to the usual crabs and leeches, this monster would surely have little trouble moving through this place, but not today, Mr. Lobster. I wonder if you taste as expensive as you look?

No, wait. Stay cool, Anthony. Don�t rush things. You might end up in serious trouble that way. Still spying on the unhurried creature from above, I cast about with all my senses, trying to find any hint of the hunters.

[Crinis, I want you to go and scout around, see if you can find any sign of suspicious movement. We don�t want to run into those damn stone-people again and get jumped when we attack.]

[Okay, Master. Will you be okay with me moving away?] Crinis frets.

[Of course, don�t worry so much!]

Reluctance is evident in every tentacle on Crinis� body as she rises from my back to extend her limbs and move away.

[Tiny, don�t attack, let�s just relax here and take it easy until Crinis has had a look. We need to be careful.]

A look of dissatisfaction crosses the face of the big ape, but up against a direct order, he doesn�t have a choice but to follow my directions. The two of us hang there like giant, more attractive spiders. We control our breathing and move as little as possible to stay hidden whilst Crinis does her scouting. Beneath us, totally oblivious to the two hungry creatures watching from above, the massive lobster continues to scuttle on its way.

After five minutes, Tiny and I have had to change our position twice, and still, Crinis hasn�t returned from her scouting mission. I�m starting to get a little nervous, when her voice rings in my mind.

[Master, I think I found something strange. Come to me.]

Oh no. That�s not what I wanted to hear. Moving carefully, we head in the direction I can sense Crinis, and find her hanging from a coral branch by her tentacles, her body still in its shrunken form to minimise her profile.

[Toward the left, Master, along the ground.]

I stretch out my own Mana awareness and I find them, faint ghosts of energy, creeping through the lower reef.

Dammit! Stupid hunters! They�re still here, all six of them, moving in a pack.

[Now, Master, toward the right.]

Uh wot? I already found them on the left? Don�t tell me� Heart sinking to my core, I turn my senses in the other direction. Another six move in the same direction as the first lot, perhaps sixty metres apart. They�re coming through the coral like a drag net! Trying to scoop me up like a fish!

No, no, no! Not like this!

[We need to get out of here. They�re clearly hunting for us. But where can we go?]

[What about up, Master? I haven�t detected them above us.]

Good idea!

[Move slow and careful. We must stay hidden at all costs!]

Twelve hunters on our tail. Twelve. And those are just the ones we�ve found so far! Was that tier five monster, so nonchalantly moving through the area they�d lost me in, just bait? Is this all part of their masterful plan? Why the hell would they even want me that badly�I don�t like this, Gandalf!

One leg at a time, we creep toward the upper reaches of the coral branches in order to escape above the hunters. If we can get high enough and sneak over the top of the two hunting groups, we�ll be in the clear. Once we get past, we can race toward the edge of the Expanse and get the heck out of dodge. With this strange behaviour from the hunters, it�s just too dangerous to stay here anymore.

You win, hunters! You�ve chased me out of here, tail between my legs. I don�t want to deal with your nonsense, so I�m out! Go and hunt each other and your mothers for all I care, just leave me out of it. The closer we get to the top, the more we start to angle across to loop over the hunters� heads, far below us now. Desperate to get away from this net, I�m willing to take the risk.

Of course, they predicted it. They saw me and my pets climbing during the last chase, and know we can climb high in the coral with ease!

As we loop over the top of the hunters and exultation is soaring in my heart, Crinis stiffens on my back. Then I sense them as well. A third group, right in front of my face. They haven�t seen us yet, but we only have seconds before they do.

What to do? Fight? Run? Hide? My sub-minds begin to spin at a thousand kilometres an hour, drawing on Mana and preparing spells that might help as I try to think. I barely got away from six of these people, how the heck will I get away from eighteen?

Well, nards. This isn�t ideal, not even close. Enemies below, enemies in front. With these new groups popping out of nowhere, my mind is starting to conjure stone-faced hunters leaping out of the shadows in every direction, ready to drag me to the ground and peel off my carapace.

It�s not going to happen. I won�t let it!

[We�re in too deep, they�re all around us. We�ve no choice but to try and break through the middle. Crinis, stay on my back and help with distracting them. Tiny, try your best to follow and throw a little lightning to keep them off our trail. It�s going to take a real effort to slip out of this one, but we can do it. Let�s go!]

It�s clear these hunters are determined to get their rocky hands on me, even though I have no idea why. I can�t afford to play nice anymore. I didn�t want to get violent in case it increased their desire to give chase, but it appears such sentiments were a waste of effort on my part. They were always going to come for me. I should have gone hard when there were only six.

To be fair, it isn�t as if I could have predicted such a situation. More hunters appearing? It�s inexplicable and defies explanation! How could they possibly know what a magnificent specimen of a monster I am? They only caught a glimpse of me! Nevertheless, no more Mr. Nice Anthony. I�m getting out of this encirclement and never turning back. They won�t even smell me again!

[Go!]

As I holler out that command, we burst out with as much speed as we can muster, all pretence of stealth thrown away. We head left, sharply moving toward one of the groups and away from the others just as quick. The reaction of the stone-people is rapid and decisive. The group in front moves to intercept as the group below us rises through the coral branches to cut us off. The final group circles behind us and starts to climb.

You aren�t the only ones who have ideas. Let�s see what happens when we do this!

Flaring to brilliant life above my head, the globe of flame makes a glorious reappearance, flooding the area with light and blessed heat. Quick as a thought, I whip the ball of fire upward as high as I can and pump it full of Fire Mana churned out by my main sub-mind. Like a miniature sun, the fire roars, sending light deep into the vast ocean of shadow above, bringing warmth to a place that hasn�t felt it since it was formed.

And the monsters hate it. Even as my mind starts to work on my next spell, the angry cries and roars of hundreds of monsters echo down. This will bring any other hunter groups right to me, but I have to chance it. A massive swirl of chaos is going to be my best chance of escape, and believe me when I say, I�m going to make it the biggest end of the year shindig I possibly can!

Hordes of fish, sea snakes, and creatures that want to extinguish my flame and myself are already coming. The shadows of the hunters hesitate before they recommit to the chase. Their resolve is strong, I�ll give them that.

Well, not as much as mine! Freedom beckons and I shall seek to leap into its welcoming arms, no matter the cost! My antennae forewarn me of the incoming sword-light, and my legs pulse with strength as I shift my not inconsiderable weight to respond to the perceived threat.

CRUNCH!

Shards of coral fling through the air as blades fly up from below and sever branches all around me. My minds frantically churn as I fall, helping to calculate the best path through this collapsing mess. I have to jump from falling branch to falling branch, even as I weave together my Gravity Domain. If they�re going to come at me, they�re going to have to deal with the power of gravity! Let�s see them overcome that!

The purple Mana from the Gravitational Mana Gland explodes out and forms a dense sphere around me. It�s a strain to maintain it, but I�ll have to push myself hard to get out of this. The hunters react with caution when they witness the expanding Gravity Domain. My Mana Sense catches them hesitating, but only a fraction of a second.

By all ant-kind, nothing will deter them!

From above comes the swarm of enemies. Shadow fish, sharks, tentacled monstrosities of all kinds hurl themselves into my Gravity Domain, trying to bite me at any cost. What they find is that their own weight is massively increased and swimming freely is not quite as easy as they found it moments ago. The weaker monsters even drop out of the bottom of the domain, hopefully right onto the heads of the hunters.

The hunters on my right grip their blades and unleash strikes as a coordinated unit, almost as if they�re thinking with one mind. Six separate sword-lights carve away the footing around me, forcing me to jump for stronger ground that I can dig my claws into. I can�t afford to lose speed, and every moment I�m in the air is a moment my legs aren�t rocketing me onward.

My antennae tingle and more blades streak toward me, ripping apart the coral I was about to land on, sending me tumbling through the air. I might have fallen right into their hands after those well-placed strikes, but fortunately, my backup army of fish has arrived to muddy the waters and the hunters can�t follow up, buying me and my pets precious seconds.

[Crinis, Tiny! Gonna need some help!] I shout as I frantically try to get my feet back under me and generate some traction.

Lightning crackles and tentacles whip in response to my call. The hunters are swift and nimble, but even they struggle to evade the wild arcs of electrical energy coming their way. Crinis contributes in her traditional manner, by spawning all manner of horrific tentacle nightmare zones at the enemy and sinking her limbs into their very shadows.

Nice! Good work, team! Still falling through the air, I get my legs set on a tumbling block of coral long enough to leap from it to a nearby stable coral piece. The second my feet touch down on that precious safe ground, I�m going to Dash and never look back. So long suckers! Stay here and play tag with each other forever for all I care!

At that moment, a powerful blow strikes my consciousness and rings it like a bell. My vision blacks out and each of my minds scream in pain, but I manage to hold on and stay awake. My thoughts are sluggish and my brain, all of my brains, ache powerfully.

My momentary lapse was enough to miss my foothold, and my Grip Skill can�t support my massive frame. I slide away from the coral and find myself falling again. Shouts from Crinis ring in my mind, but they�re dim, spiking into my awareness as if from a great distance.

[Get� safe,] I squeeze out before another blow strikes my head and I tumble away.

Granin Lazus leaned heavily on his staff, as did his Triad mates beside him. The difficulty of such a mental working was high, and the strain was considerable against normal foes. That the Triad had been pushed to such an extent against a single foe was a testament to the strength of the individual monster they�d tackled. Granin himself was shaken from his brief encounter with that alien mind.

Images of swarming ant monsters crawling through tunnels, walking over the top of each other, their antennae always moving. Chambers filled with heaving larvae, glistening eggs, and an endless number of monster bodies being brought in to feed their ravenous hunger. Most striking had been the fleeting glimpse he�d seen of what he could only assume was the Queen. A monstrous creature of immense size, an alien intelligence gleaming in its eyes.

It was enough to make his granite skin feel brittle.

�Are you well, Ternate Lazus?� Corun Nium, the second of the Triad asked.

�I need a moment to recover, Nium. The mind of the monster was bizarre and alien. I learned more than I wanted to, I believe.�

�Knowledge of the monster?� The second leaned closer to his Ternate. �Surely, that is valuable to us? Were you able to confirm we have found the right creature?�

Granin lowered his voice. �Do not speak of this now. Not all are with us.�

Nium pulled back, properly chastened by his teacher. Fortunately, the younger golgari Mind Shaper was spared having his blushes seen by the dark basalt he�d chosen for his true skin.

The third member of the Triad, Torrina Lakshan, stood quietly, recovering. The strain of their group work showed on her face.

�Take the time you need to recover your strength, Lakshan,� Nium told her. �The other Triads will need more time to properly subdue our target.�

The weary Shaper looked toward her elder and nodded her understanding. Nium couldn�t help but grunt. Not one for many words was his youngest apprentice. Feeling his age, he scratched at his granite-coated arms and groaned aloud as he sat on a nearby rock outcropping.

The beginnings of a headache were starting to grind the stones in his old head. There was no escaping it. He�d pay a high price for the shaping he�d undertaken this day. In some ways, he couldn�t wait to lay eyes on the monster who�d needed a full Triad of Mind Shapers to knock it out, and even avoided capture from two Triads of the golgari�s famed warriors.

�Hopefully, this creature will be the key we need,� he muttered.

For the next ten minutes, he and his fellow Triad members rested and recovered their strength, each fighting to stave off the pain blossoming in their heads. Conversation sputtered to nothing as none among them would cope well with speaking in the midst of their suffering. Stone skin they might have, but stone minds they did not.

Not far away, the shriek and clang of combat continued as the other Triads fought off the myriad creatures lured by their quarry�s ingenious call. The Shapers were left out of it, thankfully. When another five minutes passed, the noise finally dimmed, and Granin felt in control of himself enough to summon his team and move to meet the creature he�d helped to capture.

Still weary, he did his best to conceal his wariness and trudged toward the others.

He was confronted by an angry pair of eyes that belonged to the leader of this expedition, an experienced delver with a powerful sword arm and solid Skills. Granin didn�t like him. The other had chosen limestone streaked with silver as his true skin, a laughable indulgence of vanity. It made the golgari warrior shine with colour and reflect the light like liquid metal, but the stone was brittle and weak.

�About time you crawled over here. Some of us have been working.�

Granin ignored the pup. He had eyes only for the monster, the next candidate to attempt to bear the Red Truth.

Granin was hopeful in his heart as moved closer to the creature. He�d anticipated this moment ever since he�d been informed a new Ancient candidate was identified. Even better, one whom the Abyssal Legion was ignorant of. He�d had to exert a great deal of effort, alongside the other members of the cult, to put together a few delves to search the second stratum beneath the ruins of Liria.

By some miracle, they�d found it.

Golgari stood in their Triads around the monster, weapons drawn and eyes darting attentively. Several bore exterior damage to their true skin, a testament to the difficulty they endured.

The creature was large, larger than expected. Six thin, dark legs rose from the second of its body segments, where they bent sharply back down to the ground. The mandibles were barbaric. Long and jagged, with spikes for gripping, ridges for crushing and tearing, and judging by the broad head, plenty of muscle mass behind them.

Surprisingly colourful for an ant, the monster�s body was rust-red, but the gleam of light off that carapace showed it had been coated with another substance. Most disconcerting were the eyes. Multifaceted and unblinking, those eyes stared in all directions at once, watching all of them. He was certain a fierce intelligence and powerful will to survive resided there.

Surrounded by six warriors with blades drawn and held down by weighted netting, Granin didn�t doubt for a second that the monstrous ant would be desperate to escape. He would need to communicate with it, and soon, to prevent tragedy from occurring.

�Are you listening to me?� an outraged voice broke into the Shaper�s thoughts.

The old Shaper suppressed a sigh and turned away from his magnificent catch to address the younger golgari. He reminded himself to be patient, that out in the Dungeon, it wasn�t he who made the decisions. One false move could undo the work the cult had done to get to this point. He wouldn�t let it come to that.

�I apologise, Warrior Balta. I was distracted by the monster you and your brave men and women have been able to capture. Your family�s reputation is clearly well-deserved.�

One didn�t become an Elder Shaper without a century or two worth of schmoozing practice under their skin. His smooth words had the desired effect as the puffed-up scion of a wealthy house swallowed his anger at being ignored and allowed his childish temper to be tamped by the praise directed to his family.

�So long as you understand who is the leader of this expedition.�

�It is you, of course,� the words came easy to the wily Shaper�s lips. �As the highest Levelled warrior among us, the responsibility is yours.�

The Shaper smoothed over the rough stone and placated the younger warrior, inwardly muttering at the ridiculous necessity. Calm now that the proper deference had been shown, Coriinam Balta gestured with one glittering hand to the restrained monster.

�I�m not sure why it was so necessary I come out here to restrain this� thing. Should I remove the core?�

�No!� Granin exclaimed before he moderated his tone. �No,� he repeated. �It is not for the core that the Shapers sought to capture this monster. Now that we have it, we are to transport it via a gateway to the field academy beneath Ogrinnore.�

The silver-flecked face of Coriinam twisted at the incredulous nature of these instructions.

�Transport the creature? Has your true skin turned your brain to granite? This monster wasn�t easy for us to capture! How are we supposed to march through an Expanse and bring it with us? Just kill the thing and be done with it!�

As if you could have caught it without us, Granin grumbled internally. He interjected to cut off the hot-headed idiot before he took a sword to the precious specimen, keenly aware that all this time, they were being watched by the unblinking eyes of the monster.

�Whilst I defer to your command in the field, Balta, I must remind you that the Shapers� Circle has provided the funding for this delve and set the terms. Should we return without the creature alive, then that would surely become a blemish on your record.�

Balta�s eyes widened, outrage boiling up inside him. A blemish on his record? Unthinkable!

�Fine! We bring the creature back, alive! But I will ensure it is crippled for the journey. I won�t accept arguments on this. The safety of the Triads is my highest priority.�

Being a vengeful little ass is your highest priority. Granin controlled himself and refrained from speaking such words. So long as they could get the candidate monster back to the cult, all would be well. Hopefully, it wouldn�t be too angered by the limestone idiot�s antics.

�If you will allow me, leader, I would like to have a moment to work my craft on the creature. I may be able to intimidate or dominate it into cooperation.�

Balta grunted and turned away, displaying the contempt for Shaping that was so common amongst his class. This suited Granin just fine. The fewer eyes on him, the better.

He took a breath and closed his eyes to centre himself. His head still throbbed from the earlier exertions, and this was a risky thing to do. If the monster attacked him, it would be difficult to fend it off in his weakened state. The fact that the ant was capable of Mind Magic was one of the few things the cult knew about it.

Granin steadied his breathing and centred himself before he began to weave a Mind Bridge between himself and the creature. He didn�t try to hide what he was doing, the giant ant�s focus no doubt homing in on him from only ten metres away, perfectly, disturbingly still.

An old and experienced Shaper with extremely high Skill Levels, it didn�t take him long to form the connection. He was hesitant to solidify the link, but he couldn�t hesitate for long. Who knew how much time Balta would give him?

[Do not be alarmed. I only mean to speak with you. I do not mean you harm.]

The ant didn�t move or react in any way. Not even a twitch of its long and dangling antennae. Finally, a voice echoed back in Granin�s mind.

[You�ve got a strange way of showing it, rocky.]

A fearsome pressure was exerted from the powerful monster. Even with it surrounded and tied down with heavy weights, Granin couldn�t help but take a step back as that voice echoed in his mind. He swallowed hard and sought to clarify himself.

[You�ve spoken to one of my order before. A ka�armodo, named Ivran�tep, yes?]

A pause.

[The Wizard Lizard�you know him? You�re a member of his� conclave� thingy?]

The golgari Shaper�s skin itched. The tone of the monster was light, airy, but from it, he sensed a dangerous and potent air. The dichotomy of impressions was enough to put him on edge.

[Yes and no. I don�t have much time, so I must speak quickly. Will you give me a moment?]

[Do I have much choice?]

[You do. It�s not our intention to force you, but circumstances have forced my hand.]

[Alright then, stone man. I�m listening.]

Granin took a calming breath as he put his thoughts in order.

[My people are called the golgari, and among us, those who wield magic are called Shapers. We are regarded beneath those who employ the Warrior arts.]

[Stupid.]

[I won�t disagree, but it is important I explain this so you understand the dynamics of this hunting party and the reason we have sought you. I am not in charge of this expedition, and not all of my people here are members of the Cult. I want you to come with us alive, but others would be happy to see you dead. I encourage you to cooperate, even though it may not seem to be in your best interests, as otherwise, you will surely perish.]

He was mostly thinking of the imminent arrival of their moronic leader to break the legs of this precious specimen.

[Keep talking and I�ll think about it.]

[�As you say. Let me tell you how I came to be here. The Cult enclave where I study was contacted by Ivran�tep because we were the closest members to where it was assumed you would travel. He told us he�d identified a promising candidate monster, and that we should attempt to be aware of your progress and growth. Normally, the matter would drop there, it�s not our policy to attempt to force a monster to ascend, but circumstances have taken a dramatic change recently.]

[So, you and the ka�armodo are members of the same group?]

A brief hesitation. How to explain thousands of years of interconnected history between secret societies?

[Sort of�. You could think of us as branches of the same organisation. More accurately, my Cult and the Conclave are separate entities that share a common purpose.]

[You want to raise the twentieth Ancient.]

[Exactly. Thus, we cooperate. Since you were known to be coming into our sphere of influence, he passed his knowledge of you onto us.]

[Which led to me being hunted down like an animal� how?]

[I was getting to that. You see�]

�Step aside, Shaper,� came the cold and superior tones of Balta.

Stifling a groan, Granin raced to inform the monster of what was happening.

[This idiot is the Warrior leader of the expedition. I cannot overrule his commands in the field, even though I represent the people who funded it. He has demanded we cripple you for the journey.]

[Journey? Wait�cripple? Talk fast, rock-face. I can take this guy down and all of us will go with him if I don�t like what I hear!]

Such a claim was bold, though, considering the strange magic the monster was able to employ, not impossible.

[He wants to break your legs. That will make it harder for you to escape as we transport you back to the custody of the Cult. No further harm will come to you on this trip, I give my word.]

[What about after this trip? I suppose it�s all beach chairs and milkshakes after that? I�ll trust you, but I want something in return.]

[What?]

�GraninLazus. Step to one side so I can ensure the safety of our expedition. You wouldn�t want to be accused of standing between a warrior and the execution of their duty, would you?�

Granin cursed under his breath. [What is it, monster? Quickly!]

[Find my pet, heal them, and bring them with us.]

[Done.]

The old golgari broke the link and stepped away from the giant ant before he turned to the warrior leader, dipping his head in a show of respect.

�I have been able to subdue the monster to some degree. You will find it cooperative. I do not believe it is necessary to inflict harm upon it. The Circle of Shapers seeks to bring the beast in alive, after all. My Triad are more than willing to take over responsibility for the safe handling of the monster.�

Coriinam Balta was in no mood to placate a member of a lesser profession. He waved a hand dismissively in the older golgari�s face, promptly ignoring him. He stepped toward the monster and unsheathed his blade. The soft ring of steel resounded in the air, and the low light reflected from the perfectly imbued blade.

Balta was eager for this moment. Not only had the monster embarrassed him by escaping, he�d been forced to rely on the Shapers, twice. Once to locate it again, and once more to ensure it was captured. He would strike back now to put both offending parties in their place.

Granin stifled his protests as the blade struck, the sword-light flashing expertly along each side of the monster, cleanly severing its legs.

Balta wasn�t sure what he expected the creature�s reaction to be, but he was sure it wasn�t what he got, which was, nothing. The creature remained perfectly still, its antennae still, its eyes alert. There was a moment of tense silence as the warriors waited for a violent response, but none was forthcoming. Disgruntled, Balta sheathed his blade. It was at that moment the ant gradually opened its mandibles and then snapped them shut.

Clack.

It repeated the gesture with the same deliberate pace, over and over.

Clack� Clack� Clack� Clack� Clack�

As each sound rang out like soft, repeated laughter, Balta�s face became uglier. He snapped and ripped the blade from his sheath in a rage.

�You dare to mock me, beast?�

The great, two-handed sword swept down faster than the eye could see, the blade light flashing out in a blinding arc to slice directly into the face of the ant. So unexpected was this behaviour that all stood frozen in shock as the blow struck home. Granin himself was filled with despair that turned to relief.

The light cleared to show the ant remained as it had before, a small scratch carved into its carapace right between its eyes. Even as the stunned crowd watched, the small groove began to heal, filling up with a thick fluid that began to harden into fresh exo-skeleton. This time, Granin could not contain himself and burst out at the expedition leader.

�Balta! I insist that you refrain from attacking the creature. We are specifically tasked with returning it alive!�

The silver-speckled golgari warrior breathed heavily, rage still burning in his eyes as he witnessed the poor efficacy of his strike. Even with its legs severed, the creature watched him, completely unafraid. Before the shocked eyes of the hunting party, the mandibles once again slowly opened wide, then snapped shut.

Clack� Clack� Clack�

�Are you alright, Granin?�

The old Shaper raised his head wearily to meet the concerned gaze of his youngest Triad member. Torrinna Laksham gleamed in the darkness of the Shadow Realm, a product of the ore she�d been able to obtain to form her true skin, an infused variant of manganese she�d stumbled on by chance.

He tried not to glance at the padded leather armour that covered her left leg. He should probably be grateful the warrior circle left her any of the precious material at all, but he couldn�t help but feel bitter and suspect they�d ensured she wouldn�t have enough to form a whole skin. She was tough as nails, though, more than willing to bear the shame of being incomplete in order to utilise the enhanced properties of the ore to enhance her Shaping. The Circle had high expectations of her, as did the cult.

�I�m fine,� he muttered, waving away her concerns. �When you get to my age, these jaunts in the Dungeon become more taxing on the system.�

A pair of serious eyes looked down on him as he rested after his recent exertions. The confrontation between Balta and the monster had put everyone on edge. The creature appeared more than willing to try to get under the silver fool�s skin, and being a puffed-up warrior, the glorious leader was unwilling to endure what he saw as an inferior creature�s mocking.

In the end, his own Triad members had been forced to restrain the enraged warrior before he could throw himself upon the restrained monster in a blind rage. A ridiculous display for an esteemed member of the warrior Circle, and a complete embarrassment for his family. Granin was hoping they�d settle for paying off the members of the delve to keep it quiet rather than resort to more� extreme measures. Not that the monster cared.

�I don�t think I�ve ever seen a creature with such a low sense of self-preservation,� he burst out.

Laksham raised one stony eyebrow.

�You expected the candidate to cooperate after we chased it down and abducted it? I think he�s being well behaved, all things considered.�

Granin was a little taken aback.

�He? That sounds a little familiar. Have you been communicating with the specimen much, Laksham?�

He knew she�d been speaking to it via a Mind Bridge, as had Nium, the second of the Triad. It was necessary that he himself not be the only one making contact with the creature. Though he now began to suspect they may have been speaking more than he assumed.

�This is the first time I�ve come into contact with a proper candidate. You can�t blame me for being curious. What if he�s the one?�

�Don�t let your imagination run wild,� he rebuked the young Shaper. �It�s not a proper candidate yet. I�m not certain what the leadership is planning� This isn�t the sort of action we would normally take. I do know the Cult hasn�t decided to throw our support behind this creature yet.�

�You really shouldn�t refer to him as an it. You know as well as I do that he�s a sapient creature. He was a human before he was reborn here as a monster, and deserves to be treated with some respect.�

�I won�t hold it being human against it,� Granin retorted. �You need to recognise that whatever it was before, it is now a creature of the Dungeon. A monster. We may have a different opinion of creatures from the Dungeon than most, but there is still a certain level of caution that I recommend in you. They don�t play by the same rules we do. We must always be cautious in our dealings with them.�

�I am always careful,� Laksham stated, her gaze steady and calm.

Granin rolled his eyes and pushed himself back onto his weary feet. He wasn�t about to argue with the young Shaper, he wouldn�t win even if he tried. Stubborn as an actual rock, this one. It wasn�t a problem, she was smart and cautious, he could trust her to make good decisions. It was the other Shaper in his Triad he was worried about. Nium could be a little more impetuous, and things might get complicated if the monster was able to sway him into doing something stupid.

�It�s almost time to perform the healing again, isn�t it?� Laksham said.

Granin groaned.

�Dammit, I�d almost forgotten. Could you handle it this time? I need to go find Nium.�

A nod was his only reply before Laksham moved away into the darkness toward the monster�s ape pet. He almost envied the ease with which she was able to sense it out. At her age, he hadn�t been able to wield a fraction of that sort of skill.

Pushing his misplaced jealousy aside, Granin moved back toward the rest of the group. They weren�t far away, the warrior Triads stood close together, keeping watch over their cargo. The monster was behaving itself, its antennae looping in slow, lazy circles as its legless body remained perfectly still. He wasn�t sure how, but he just knew that it was paying close attention to him the moment he walked into sight. It was unnerving being around a creature whose line of sight was impossible to track.

He wove a Mind Bridge to his fellow Shaper in order to communicate privately.

[Nium, has the specimen told us where its other pet has gone?]

[Not a word about it. Denies everything. I feel like if I keep asking, he�s going to start denying even having a second pet.]

He, again? Granin grimaced.

[I know for a fact they communicated when the ape came in for healing. All I want to know is that there isn�t some creature out there plotting an ambush or some desperate rescue attempt that will get people killed.]

[Come on, Granin. He�s not that stupid. This is a highly intelligent monster we have here. He knows he isn�t getting away. He�s quite pleasant once you get to know him.]

[Right. I�m going to limit your contact with the specimen for the rest of this trip.]

[What�why!]

[You�re getting too close to the specimen!]

[To Anthony?]

[You know its name?]

[Of course, I do. Me and Anthony are buds!]

He couldn�t help but sigh and pinch his brow. Did young members of the Cult completely lack caution toward monsters these days? The idea of the Cult was to raise up a new Ancient, yes. That didn�t mean they would make nice with every monster to fall into their hands.

[That�s it! No more communicating with the monster for you! Go help the slightly more sensible member of our Triad to heal the ape pet. I�ll deal with this.]

Breaking off the connection, he re-wove the Mind Bridge toward the eerily still monster looking as innocent as a thousand-kilogram lamb.

[Trying to make my people sympathetic?]

The antennae flicked in such a way as to elicit exasperation.

[I�ve been dragged around legless for days now, you stone-headed stone head! You can hardly blame me for reaching out for a chat! How much longer until we get to this gate, anyway?]

[Two more days. You make sure you behave until then.]

[Yeah, yeah. I�ll be good.]

The pain Granin had been experiencing in his head had only grown more pronounced as they continued to travel toward the golgari gateway network. Having banned his two fellow Triad members from conversing with the specimen, he was forced to take responsibility for all communication onto his own shoulders.

This proved to be both irritating and exasperating. Being dragged, legless, through the Expanse and into the tunnels over a period of days wouldn�t do anyone�s mood any good, but Granin was starting to believe the creature was diverting its frustration into annoying him and trying to provoke Balta at every opportunity.

Like the time the leader walked behind the monster, a foolish move as it turned out. From seemingly nowhere, the creature unleashed a blast of sticky acid that etched away the Warrior�s true skin before they�d been able to remove it, an affront that had driven him almost berserk with rage.

No matter how many times he warned the monster that antagonising a powerful and connected individual like Balta was a bad idea, it didn�t seem to care. After the acid attack came more clacking laughter every time the warrior came near. Balta had attacked the monster twice more, the second time managing to cut through the carapace and draw blood. Not that the creature appeared too perturbed. The injury was healed in minutes.

During this period of observation, Granin took copious notes. His role as a member of the Circle of Shapers and member of the cult meant he was well-versed with documenting monster characteristics, not to mention his superiors in the cult would expect a full report.

Initially, he�d had doubts about the creature�s capability�an ant was historically pathetically weak by itself. Terrifying in large numbers, to be sure, but amongst the Dungeon�s most unthreatening creatures when battled alone. That this specimen had accrued such strength and powerful evolutions from such a weak base was fascinating.

Of course, the reborn monsters, those whose souls had been reincarnated, either experienced an accelerated start due to their greater than average monster intelligence, or burned out spectacularly, unable to adjust to their new existence. The Cult had found several such creatures over the centuries, not many compared to how many were created by the Dungeon, but they were documented obsessively when found. Several had been sponsored, but none were able to achieve the seat of the final Ancient.

Granin didn�t hold much hope for this particular specimen. Though, he was starting to think more of it than he had at first.

[Any chance you remember where your second servant went?]

[You know, I honestly don�t remember having a second servant� Me and Tiny, that�s the way it�s been for a long time.]

[You know, I could stop healing your ape friend. How long do you think he would last if that happened?]

[I could kill you, me, and everyone here with one spell. Let�s play nice, eh? Aren�t you trying to cooperate with me? Holy moly, there�s no need to get your knickers in a twist. Make sure you heal my ape and bring him along with us, and I�ll have another reason to go along with what you say. Accept the leverage I�m offering you!]

The blasted creature had a point.

Despite the obvious intelligence, impressive defensive ability, and magical prowess, he wasn�t sure the monster would be successful in receiving the support of the cult. They�d been cultivating monsters of their own and had prospects they�d been supporting from the shadows for a long time. It wouldn�t be easy to supplant these established prospects.

Although, something different was brewing at the cult. The air felt tense ever since the strangely extended and potent wave had occurred. Granin wasn�t close enough to the upper echelons to have an inkling of what they were thinking, but something about the atmosphere was growing colder. People were on edge, and a flurry of urgent meetings had been arranged.

That in and of itself was unusual. The Cult was a secret society, mobilising the members quickly and quietly wasn�t easy.

�Final checks! Shapers to the fore!� came a loud call.

The Triads were in a defensive position around their quarry. The creature was close to motionless as usual, the only sign it was paying any attention was its slowly waving antennae.

Five days had passed since the capture of the monster to get to this point, far longer than it would have usually taken. Forced to drag the creature through the Expanse and into the tunnels to get here, it had not been a journey anyone enjoyed. He suspected that even Balta began to regret his impulsive decision to hack off the monster�s legs.

But they�d finally made it. Before them stood a dead end, a tunnel ending in an innocuous wall like a billion other tunnels in the Dungeon.

[This is a Gate?]

[Break off this connection, I need to concentrate.]

[You�re the one who opened it. What kind of magic is this, anyway? Spatial?]

[Be quiet! This is difficult enough without your prattling!]

[Makes sense, I suppose. Puncturing a hole in space or time or whatever should be difficult.]

[I�m officially ignoring you, ant.]

[Oh, right! Gotcha! Good luck, stone man.]

Granin, Nium, and Laksham gathered together and faced the end of the tunnel, raising their hands. He focused hard and reached out to connect his mind to that of his second, Nium. What made this even more difficult was that he wouldn�t be able to draw on the assistance of Laksham, since she was occupied concealing the great ape they�d been forced to heal and keep alive in the shadows over the journey. This meant that the two of them would need to work even harder to Shape this working.

Still, Granin was an old hand. Under his guidance, they reached out to reveal and activate the runes etched into the tunnel wall. Enchanted monster cores buried into the stone came alive and began to funnel Mana from the Dungeon and fuel the Gate.

The runes formed a circle around the edges of the tunnel wall, and a pinpoint of pure light gradually appeared in the centre. Here in the second strata, such a thing was blinding, and Granin had his eyes firmly closed. He needed to work with his mind, not his sight.

With the assistance of his second, he reached through the hole with his mind and entered the between space, a blank world of white that stretched forever in all directions. He expertly oriented himself and directed his thoughts toward the direction he needed and homed in on the mind reaching back to him.

Like people clasping hands, they locked onto each other and began to solidify the link, forming a bridge of pure Mana between the two gates.

�The gate will open in five seconds,� he ground out. �We�ll hold it for twenty, no more than that.�

Balta nodded. This was Shaper business, and he had no place sticking his nose into it, not that any warrior would lower themselves to do so.

�Grab the ropes and haul!� Balta commanded, and the hunting party leapt to follow his order, hauling the monster toward the Gate, picking up speed as the tiny circle of light widened to occupy the entire circle within the runes.

The light was blinding, and the monster struggled weakly as they dragged it, unable to protect its eyes. Fortunately, it didn�t last long. In just a few seconds, the warriors had dragged it through and vanished into the light, where they would appear instantly on the other side.

All that was left were the three Shapers and their hidden guest.

�Are you ready, Torrina?�

A terse nod was all Granin got to acknowledge his words. Seconds later, she was gone, followed by Corun. The final remaining Shaper, Granin grit his teeth as he held the gate without Corun assisting and slowly walked forward so as not to break concentration.

The moment he stepped through, the Gate melted behind him, as if he�d thrown himself from a cliff that collapsed the instant his feet left the ground. A rush of adrenaline coursed through him as the pathway collapsed behind him. For a dizzying second, he felt as if he might be lost in the between space, but then he was through, and sucking in a deep breath to calm his pounding heart.

�We made it home.�

The monster watched him with glittering eyes, its thoughts inscrutable. As the members of the delve stretched and began to relax, their attention was seized by a strange popping sound.

Turning toward the creature, they saw that its legs were regenerating at a visible rate. In only a few minutes, it was able to stand on its own.

Clack.

After a single snap of the mandibles, it sat back down again.

The Gate emerged into a dark tunnel, the tell-tale black veins of Mana threaded through the walls signalled that they remained in the second stratum, but Granin was all too aware they�d travelled a great distance. Over a hundred kilometres, in fact.

The delving party were now firmly within the territory claimed by Galgarin, the empire to the east of Liria, beyond the Great Lake. They stood in a near-empty tunnel almost identical to that which they�d left on the other side�with the exception of a small outpost that hosted a team of Shapers on rotating duty.

Having connected the Gate, the Triad of Shapers responsible for this side nodded politely to the delving team, curiously eyed the enormous ant they�d dragged through, then retreated behind the outpost door to rest.

Granin heaved a breath as he let the terrible feeling of being the last through the gate to leach out of him.

Balta was having none of it.

�Let us be away. I want to arrive with the beast at the Warrior�s Circle to turn in the request and retire. Let�s move!�

After snapping out his orders, the prideful warrior began to march away, leaving the others scrambling to follow his wishes. They seized the ropes attached to the netting to drag the monster away. Granin sputtered for a moment in shock before he threw off his lethargy and raised his voice.

�Warrior Balta! The request does not require us to return the creature to the Warrior�s Circle, but to the Shaper�s outpost beyond the city!�

The moment he heard the older golgarin speak, Balta turned on his heel and strode back toward the Shaper. He slammed his fist into Granin�s stomach, grinding into the hard granite skin. Instantly overwhelmed by the warrior�s strength, Granin collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Balta looked down on him dispassionately, shaking his fist.

�Do not gainsay my orders in the field, Shaper. Thanks to your wretched circle, the city is still an hour�s march from the gate, which means I still have complete authority over this delve. If you seek to countermand my orders one more time, I�ll have you put to death for insubordination. Do you understand me?�

Mind racing, Granin tried to understand what was happening as he coughed, catching his breath on his hands and knees. To one side, Nium knelt beside him and placed a hand on his back in concern. What was Balta up to? He was within his rights to flex his authority here, and was technically correct to state they were still in the field and that he still held absolute command over the delve. But why bother?

The request required them to return the monster to the Shaper�s outpost. Why would he want to drag it all the way to the Warrior�s Circle? When he attempted to hand in the request, he would be refused and have to turn around and take the monster back out of the city and to the outpost as was required.

As Balta turned to march away, Granin saw him glance toward the monster and his heart dropped in his chest. This idiot warrior. He wanted revenge. In the Warrior�s Circle, the Shapers would have no allies, no one they could depend upon to help. Balta would have a number of ways he could delay them long enough for his clan to �invite� the warriors to rest at their compound, naturally taking the monster with them. Once it was there, it would never emerge.

They would say an accident occurred, pay reparations to the Shapers, and forget about it. If Granin tried to object inside the city, then he would be �invited� as well, along with his Triad, and they would share the fate of the creature.

The warriors hefted their ropes and began to drag the monster after the swiftly marching Balta, but the ropes became taut and they jerked to a halt. They looked back, confused, only to see the monster had dug in with its regrown legs and was refusing to move. They shared a confused look before they redoubled their effort, only to see the monster working even harder to resist, using its considerable size and strength to resist the pull.

Eight golgari warriors then began to engage in a ridiculous game of tug of war with the massive insect. The warriors were powerful, filled with the strength the golgari were famous for, and�although it was slow going�they began to make progress.

Clack!

The ant unleashed an irritated clack of its mandibles and decided to change the playing field. The ground shifted and dirt began to fly as it employed Earth Magic, digging itself into a hole in a matter of seconds, causing the warriors to curse. Balta continued to march away, confident that his arrangements would be followed and ignorant of the growing mess getting farther and farther behind him.

If the monster could hold out against the warriors, then Granin had a chance of completing his task yet. He turned to Laksham, who was clearly straining to maintain the glamour she�d cast over the ape monster.

�You won�t be able to hold on for much longer, Laksham. Run toward the outpost and try to reach the circle there. If we can get enough people here, then we can take the monster there ourselves. Go!�

Quick on the uptake, she understood what the older Shaper was trying to say and turned to run immediately. Still on the ground, Granin forced his tired mind to weave the threads of Mana required to connect his mind to the monster�s.

[You need to tell your ape to go with Torrina and cooperate.]

[What the heck is going on here, stone-face? The silver guy is being more of a douche bag than usual!]

[I told you provoking him would have consequences! He�s trying to get you taken to the Warrior�s Circle so he can have you killed off! You need to hold out until more of my people arrive to take custody of you!]

[Alright, fine. You sure I can�t just kill him?]

[If you kill him, there�s no saving you from the vengeance that will come!]

[Okay, okay. Sheesh. I�ll turtle up here.]

�Corun,� Granin whispered to his second. �Go after Torrina and help keep her safe, then return with the Shapers. Once Balta comes back, we�ll have to follow his orders, or he�ll cut us down. Better there were only one Shaper here than two.�

�Are you sure you�re alright?�

�I�ll be fine, get out of here!�

The younger golgari Shaper took off like a shot, and by the time Balta finally realised nobody was following him and returned, both he and Torrina were out of sight. Eyes filled with rage, it was clear the leader understood what happened. Granin couldn�t delay any longer; if the monster wasn�t going to cooperate, that was all the excuse Balta needed.

�The creature is attempting to fight back! Destroy it! Shaper Granin, invade the creature�s mind and annihilate it! That is an order!�

�Without the support of my Triad, it will be impossible, Warrior Balta!� Granin tried to demur.

�If it isn�t done in five minutes, I�ll declare you a traitor and put you down myself!�

Coriinam Balta was in frothing rage at this point. His eight-foot frame quivered with anger, and his sword leapt from its scabbard, flashing sword-light toward the monster before he�d even finished speaking.

[This guy has serious anger issues.]

The creature sounded wryly amused as the blows rained down on it, even cutting through the defensive layer of dirt it�d created. The other warriors joined in, surrounding the creature from all sides and hacking at it with abandon.

[If I don�t incapacitate you in five minutes, he�s going to kill me. He�s completely lost all sense of control!]

[You really are a pain in my thorax, you know that? You could have just left me chilling in the Expanse. Would that have been such a bad thing? But oh no, had to capture me and drag me back to your stupid cult. Why would I even want to be an Ancient? I was happy back with my colony. Should have stuck with them, then I wouldn�t be in this mess.]

[You would really choose to live with a collective of mindless monsters?]

[Mindless? Well� yes, mindless. But they didn�t kidnap me and get me jumped by a pack of stone-skinned sword maniacs!]

[I take your point, but how are we going to get out of here?]

The warriors poured their strikes onto the hardened carapace of the monster, sparks flying everywhere. At this range, it was difficult for the warriors to inflict real damage, especially since the monster was wily, never giving them a good angle or allowing them to close the distance. The creature defended itself as best it could without fighting back, shifting its body to deflect blows and trying to disrupt the footing of the enemy by shifting the earth beneath their feet, but it was being worn down.

[Only one thing for it, I suppose!]

That was all the warning Granin got before the ant exploded out from its hiding hole with extreme speed, rushing toward him and snatching him up in its mandibles. Bolts of purple Mana flew out from the creature to strike against the warriors repeatedly, one bolt every few seconds. Granin strangled a cry in his throat as he saw the monster fight back, but it didn�t seem as if they suffered any damage from the magic.

[I�m just slowing them down. Although�]

POW! POW! POW!

Acid flew from the creature�s bulbous backside and coated Balta from head to toe as he readied another strike against the monster. Then they were off, speeding down the tunnel as bolts of magic continued to fly back at the pursuing warriors.

[So, which way to the Cult?] the bright, positive voice of the monster rang inside Granin�s mind.

Dangling from the jaws of this giant ant, he could only think that his headache had grown significantly worse.

[Stop wriggling!] came the irritated thoughts of the monster.

Granin resolutely continued to wriggle. He wasn�t about to remain locked in the jaws of a monster that wasn�t under his direct control!

[If you don�t settle down, I�ll either drop you and leave you for the Silver Surfer back there, or I�ll start to wonder who your Cult would rather see turn up alive, me or you!]

The Shaper couldn�t help but splutter at that.

[You really think the Cult of Worm would welcome you after you killed the member sent to capture you?]

They were still speeding away, the six legs of the ant flashing with incredible speed to propel its enormous bulk. The nine warriors, led by a Balta so irate he was practically frothing at the mouth�though that might be acid�chased after them through the tunnels.

[Split up ahead! Left or right? And you know what? I bet it wouldn�t be the first time one of your people was killed by the monster they were supposed to look after. I can imagine Garralosh going through a few such as yourself�]

[Left! And I assure you that isn�t the case!]

Despite his bluster, Granin dramatically reduced the effort he put into his wiggling.

[Much as I thought� Cosying up to monsters is rather risky work, I�d imagine.]

[Do not question the sacred mission of the Cult, ant!]

[Look, I�m not questioning it. I�m just sayin� that monsters tend to want to eat things that give them experience. By the by, just out of curiosity, what Level are you?]

[Not that high�low, actually! I barely have a Class, in fact!]

[Relax, buddy. I�m not going to eat you. You do notice me carrying you to safety right now? Are you experiencing all of the not-being-eaten that is occurring at this time?]

[�I am.]

[Wonderful. Let�s remember where we are. We�re in a place tha�left or right?]

[Right!]

[Great. We�re in a place where I have no idea how to get back to where we were before. We could have travelled to the other side of the world for all I know. Not to mention, you have my ape, and let�s presume there�s a whole massive load of you stone-heads about the place right now. You understand what I�m getting at?]

[How are you casting all this magic while talking?]

[Multiple brains, my man. Divide and conquer. Why?]

[Multiple brains? You�ve evolved to have more than one brain?]

[Of course. I can devote an entire brain to thinking about how running away from you stone-folk is a massive pain in the business district at all times! Useful, no?]

[Wouldn�t it have been more productive to learn the Split Thought Skill?]

[The what now?]

Granin bit his tongue�metaphorically�at that. Naturally, the monster read into his sudden silence.

[Interesting� Wouldn�t mind telling me how to unlock that, would you?]

[I�d rather not.]

[Ohhh nooo. My mandibles are slipping.]

The powerful jaws holding him aloft flexed dangerously, pinching him around the ribs, but Granin was unmoved.

[I won�t! I�ve said too much already.]

[Tch. Cheapskate.]

[Left up here!]

[Tally-ho! Damn, these guys are persistent.]

Sword-light flashed around them as the warriors gave chase. Their powerful sword Skills required the monster to skitter from side to side with insane reaction speeds to dodge or tank hits, focusing on keeping its legs unharmed. Bolts of purple magic flew out every few seconds, disrupting the followers� formation and occasionally scoring a hit.

[Creature, what does that spell you keep employing even do?] Granin asked, bewildered.

[You want information from me but won�t hand out your own? That�s cheap, man. I�ll share; that way, at least one of us is a nice guy. It makes them heavier.]

[Makes them, heavier? Is that� what kind of magic is that?]

[I think I�ll keep that little tidbit to myself. I do need a few strong cards up my carapace, after all.]

That was fair enough. Granin honestly had no idea what the cult had planned for this monster. With the strange currents at play, it was probably for the best if this creature were careful with its secrets. It wasn�t as if everything had gone according to his own plans up to this point.

[You really are keeping ahead of them fairly well,] Granin said, quite impressed.

[If you lot hadn�t knocked me out, you really think I would have been caught so easily? I�d love to know how you did that.]

[You know Mind Magic, don�t you?] Granin said, confusion laced in his tone.

[Not as well as I thought I did, apparently.]

The pursuit was hot and dangerous, but somehow, Granin felt himself engaging almost against his will. Perhaps the threat of imminent harm was enough to lower his guard and make him open up to the creature.

[This is one of the things the Cult could help you with. Developing your Skills, teaching you secret unlocks and mutations. We have over two thousand years of history and research helping monsters become as strong as they can possibly be.]

[It�s not like I can exactly say no, can I? I have to rely on you guys now. You�ve not given me a whole lot of choice on that front.]

[I suppose not.] Granin paused to reflect, the walls of the tunnels whipping by, though inside, he was growing calm and focused. [First contact is not usually like this. You were human once, we know that. Normally, we would reach out and speak to you, negotiate, see if your goals were aligned with ours. We don�t strong-arm intelligent monsters like you.]

[Something changed, eh? We�ll find out soon enough, I suppose. Holy moly! Do these guys ever run out of stamina?]

[Not likely. Our racial bonus helps us out on that front.]

[Racial bonus? What the hell�]

[It�s not like you monsters don�t get your own perks. I have no means of getting stronger by eating, for example.]

[Apparently, you get strong just by being born.]

[Take a right here and slow down. You might start to see others of my kind, so be careful.]

[Slow down? I�ll get chopped to heck!]

[No, you won�t. We�re close now and Balta will be aware of it, he can�t keep following for long. My people will come to meet us soon. It�s over.]

[Alright then, you�re the boss. I hope my ape is okay.]

Granin trudged through the halls of the Shaper Circle outpost, still rattled by his journey pinched in the mandibles of a giant ant. Luckily, the creature had sufficient control not to pierce through his true skin. Granite may not be the most expensive material to replace, one of the reasons Granin made the practical selection, but having to walk amongst his peers with a damaged skin would be shameful, to say the least.

He could be grateful� Maybe grateful was too strong a word� He could acknowledge, that Balta had finally seen the light and backed off before he�d been confronted by the twenty Shapers who�d rushed out to meet them. He hadn�t been sure that would happen, especially after the warrior was drenched in acid. A battle in the tunnels between the Warriors and Shapers would have been a major incident.

Still, the look of poorly suppressed rage on Balta�s face as he�d been forced to back down made Granin doubt they�d heard the last of the incident. No doubt, the senior Shapers were in a tizzy over the issue, and the cult would be shaking their heads at the unwanted attention.

�Granin Lazus, here to see the Leading Triad.� He stood outside a wide and imposing pair of double doors, the dark wooden beams inlaid with strips of polished stone.

Two tall golgari Shapers dressed in ceremonial robes draped from their waists down, leaving their upper bodies bare, stood on either side of the doors. As one, they turned to open the doors, their hands latching onto the stone itself and their powerful frames shifting the weight with ease. Inside was a tasteful office, drab in many ways, except for the long stone table that held three senior Shapers, papers and open books piled high in front of them.

�Ah, Lazus. Nice to see you again,� said the woman in the centre, Irette Plamine.

�Plamine, a pleasure as always.� Try as he might, his tone came out wry and tired. He�d never done well speaking to authority. Probably the reason he remained in the middle ranks.

�You may speak freely here, Lazus. The Cult has moved decisively to ensure every post in this place is held by our people.�

Granin was impressed.

�That must have meant calling in a lot of favours.�

�Of course it did,� the surly voice of the wizened Shaper to Plamine�s left broke in. �But the leadership of the Cult has determined the time has come for bold action. What we don�t need right now is unnecessary tension with the blasted Warrior�s Circle! What were you thinking?�

Damn ant!

�I think you�ll find it wasn�t my idea to provoke or attack the Warrior leader of the delve, Gravus. The specimen we acquired made that decision all on its own.�

Oridene Gravus, so old his true skin had begun to crumble, waved a hand dismissively.

�It sounds like this creature is more trouble than it�s worth,� he declared. �We should feed it to one of our more promising specimens and be done with it!�

�No need to be hasty,� soothed the third member of the Triad. �From the intelligence we received, the creature is quite promising, also a reborn soul. Not something we should so casually toss aside.�

The youngest member of the Triad, and usually the most reasonable, Biritite Cryslas attempted to play peacemaker. A role she was well-suited to.

Gravus huffed.

�Those damned lizards wouldn�t know a good stone if we threw it up their nostrils. Tell me, Lazus, how do you think the creature holds up?�

Granin visibly hesitated and Plamine broke in to ease his mind.

�Do not worry overmuch, Shaper Lazus, the fate of the creature you captured will not rest on your words alone. We will follow the process as best we can in these trying times. It will receive an interview and assessment before this Triad makes a decision.�

Somewhat mollified, Granin gave his honest thoughts.

�The creature is difficult. Cagey, untrusting, and holds back information regularly. Much of this can be attributed to the sudden and violent manner of capture which bypassed all the normal protocols.�

A loud harrumph erupted from Gravus�it was he who authorised this mission and its conditions.

�Nevertheless, I�ve found the monster to be surprisingly capable. It�s certainly not afraid to cause a stir, has a huge variety of mutations and Skills, even a high Level of core shaping which it has used to grow two, quite formidable pets.�

�Pets? A waste of resources, surely!�

�Shaper Gravus. As the first of this Triad, I will order you to hold your tongue if you continue to interrupt.� Plasmine had run out of patience.

�As I was saying. Pets, two of them, although one has gone missing, and we are unable to determine where. The creature itself refuses to say a word on the matter.�

�Hardly relevant if it failed to get through the Gate,� Plasmine said dismissively.

�Quite so,� Granin agreed. �I merely raise the pets to indicate the wide variety of capabilities the creature has. The magical Skills it has demonstrated are quite well-developed, and I�m also aware that it has invested heavily in raising its abilities in this area. I discovered through dialogue it actually has multiple brains��

�Wouldn�t utilising the relevant Skill be more efficient?� Cryslas asked, baffled.

�It would, but it has� had, no awareness of the Skill until I asked that very same question.�

�It sounds like this monster has a range of abilities. I�ll be curious to see how it performs in the upcoming trials,� Plasmine said.

�Trials? What exactly is being planned?�

�The Cult has decided that our time is running out. A new Ancient must arise soon if we are to fulfil our destiny and reach beyond the confines of this world.�

�What? Isn�t that a little sudden?�

�We believe this to be true. All of our candidates will be put to the test. We must have a final specimen behind which we can throw all our strength!�

�And the rest?�

Plasmine�s expression was impassive, her tone neutral, when she said, �Fuel for the fire.�

Not sure what I expected. Did I think I would be confined? Yes, obviously yes. You can�t just capture a monster and let it wander around willy-nilly. A few questions are bound to be raised. �Why the hell do you have a monster walking around, please kill it until it�s dead�, for example. Particularly if you�re going to be supporting and strengthening said monster.

I can�t imagine most of these stone-people are likely to be big fans of the endeavour. The whole �Monsters vs Everyone Else� dynamic has been fairly well established by my experiences up to this point. For whatever reason, these crazy nutters want to make a new big bad monster to go to the centre of the world and hang out with the other nineteen Ancients.

I�m not keen on the idea. I want to support my family and help develop the greatest empire of ant monsters that ever existed. Other than that, I want to sleep�a lot. That�s not too much to ask, is it?

I suppose there are other things I�d like to do. I wouldn�t mind meeting up with another reincarnated human such as myself. One that isn�t completely nuts, that is. Garralosh wasn�t what I would describe as particularly stable by the time I met her. Although, you could make the argument she wasn�t all that held together when she was a human. Yikes.

It�d be nice to be able to chew the fat with someone who�s had similar experiences, is all I�m saying! I mean, they�re unlikely to be an ant, so that sucks for them. But just because they aren�t a member of the greatest species doesn�t mean we couldn�t get along and have a good chat. How�s the Dungeon been treating you? Which Biomass flavour is your favourite? How much do centipedes suck? That sort of thing.

I�m kind of hopeful they might have one here in this compound. From what I gathered, there�s a few monsters tucked away here. �Specimens�, as that stone-man would put it. Since they study individuals like me when they come across us, there�s a chance one is kicking around nearby. Maybe I should try and reach out with Mind Magic? No, shouldn�t risk it. The people around here seem strong at Mind Magic and not afraid to use it in nasty ways. Something the sophos never did since they probably never felt threatened by me.

After meeting a sortie of friendly stone-folk dressed in robes tied around their waists�what is it with these people and being bare chested? Why the shirt hate!�I was promptly surrounded and escorted with all haste toward their compound. The �outpost� is basically a fortress carved into the wall of an open section of tunnel, hardly small enough to be called a measly outpost.

Before I had too much time to take in the sights, I was bundled into a downward leading tunnel and shoved into what is essentially a cell. Don�t get me wrong, it�s quite a nice cell. Not on the level of what the sophos provided for their pets, that was practically a day spa for monsters, but it�s not bad. A little bit of space to move around in, even for me, some food and water provided, a cosy spot of soft materials to snooze on. No windows whatsoever and obviously hardened walls to repel physical attacks.

Above me on walkways that look down into my cell, three Shapers stand as still as the stone making up their skin, watching me at all times.

No privacy! Good thing I don�t need to use a toilet or shower. I�d be embarrassed! I have to say, it even makes me nervous to sleep. I�ve no doubt that all three of them are powerful mind mages, capable of launching fearsome strikes to knock me out if I�m doing something dodgy. I�ve actually attempted to speak with them a few times, but I haven�t gotten any replies. They rebuff my Mind Bridges and fray them before I can connect.

Basically, there isn�t a lot to do. If they want to win me over to their side and get me to work on their ultimate goal of raising another Ancient, they need to make a bit more effort! I�m sure they will eventually. I suppose I just need to rest until they�re good and ready.

I have considered running away. A few times, in fact. The thought of carrying Granin away as a hostage is sorely tempting, but ultimately, going along with the golgari Shapers has been the safer bet. I have no idea where I am, how to get back home, or how many hunters would chase me, or really anything about this situation.

From the moment they caught me in the Expanse, I�ve been in their power. I can only hope Crinis is able to complete her mission so that some help might be able to find me. I can�t feel anything from the colony, none of their energy is reaching me, so I know they�re some distance away.

Either I convince the golgari to let me go, which doesn�t feel likely, or I prove I can be useful in fulfilling their grand mission. The only other option is escape and I�m not certain I�ll be able to survive that�.

Haaaah. This sucks. If only I�d stuck with the colony and helped them expand, I wouldn�t be in this stupid mess! Yet another instance where avoiding my responsibilities has come back to bite me right in the profit margin.

You�d think an ant would learn.

Faintly, I can hear the sound of stone shifting above me, and a few moments later, three new Shapers enter with their rocky chests on display to look down at me.

As an insect can, I stare back without shifting my head an inch, remaining perfectly still. If it unnerves them at all, they give no visible reaction, only watching me silently.

It�s hard to tell, but I believe these newcomers are older than the other three. Something about how brittle their outer skin appears, or is it perhaps a little pale and ossified? Regardless, they feel like authority figures. Something might be happening here.

Sure enough, a Mind Bridge is formed and extended out to me. With nothing else to do, my Mana Senses are fully attuned, and for this reason, I�m able to detect something strange about the way this bridge is formed. I don�t think it�s malicious in any way, but I feel as if it�s woven between all three of them, and by all three of them at the same time. Is this the method Granin and his team used to attack me?

[We extend a greeting to you, reborn soul. We apologise for the abrupt manner of bringing you to us, but circumstances have pressed us into desperate measures.]

They�re staring down at me like hawks. The words are friendly, but those eyes of theirs certainly aren�t.

[Nice to meet you, folks! Gosh darn, I really hope I can be an Ancient one day!]

Hah! Got �em.

They seem to be the bigwigs around here, unless I�ve missed my guess. They just radiate that sort of aura. Although I can�t say I approve of the way they�re looking down on me like I�m some sort of roach they might want to squish. I�m a much more valuable sort of insect than that, thank you very much! The ant is far more noble, far more dignified than any runt that hides under your fridge!

Their cold and calculating eyes don�t fill me with warm feelings. Something tells me this conversation isn�t going to be one of my all-time favourites.

Because I�m certain they�re here to chat. They need to evaluate the merchandise, after all. Otherwise, how could they make a sound judgement as to its value? These nutters only care about one thing�making a monster as powerful as possible and launching it at the centre of the Dungeon in the hopes it breaks through all in its way to ascend to the most powerful tier of monster that apparently exists.

As much as I enjoy a good cannon, I�m not convinced I want to be a cannonball!

I�ll have to wait and see how much of a choice they give me. Rescue or following their instructions are really the only options left to me at this point.

I can�t help but curse my poor decisions that led to this outcome. Maybe if I�d been more vicious and fought to kill from the beginning, then I would have escaped, made it back to my colony and been safe there. But nooo, peaceful Anthony wanted to slip away without causing enmity. Well, where did that get me? Clutched in the palm of these cultists!

Patience, Anthony. No need to fly off the handle. Need to make a good impression on these fogeys so they don�t immediately knock me out and feed my precious Biomass to some hyena they�ve had locked up here for the last hundred years.

[Your enthusiasm at the prospect of achieving the dream of our fellowship is certainly inspiring,] came the dry tone of who I presume to be the leader of these three, the woman in the centre. [But you must understand that we can�t take your dedication at face value. A more solid contribution is required to demonstrate your sincerity.]

[But I�m so sincere. Off the scale, even. I want to be an Ancient so bad, I already defeated another candidate out of sheer jealousy!]

Anthony, you�re smoother than a greased snail! This couldn�t be going better.

[We�ve heard of your triumph over the beast known as Garralosh. I must ask, were you not perturbed to destroy another of your own kind?]

Ohh. Tricky question. Don�t want to seem too bloodthirsty, also don�t want to appear too peaceful. If I explain that she threatened my family, then I may be pressured to explain why I would step up to the plate for a colony of �brainless� ants. The less time spent discussing the colony the better. I get the feeling that the attitude Granin displayed toward my family would be a heck of a lot less flippant if he realised what I�d done to make them more intelligent.

The last thing I want to do is unleash some sort of crusade against my family!

[Garralosh threatened me directly and travelled a long way to hunt me down. I refused to hide from her forever. I don�t relish the fact I had to take her down, but I also don�t regret it. She forced the issue onto me when she could have left well enough alone.]

[You don�t take responsibility for your actions?]

[I didn�t say that.] These people are tricky! [I said I have no regrets with my choices.]

[Interesting.]

They get closed-lipped�minded?�possibly consulting amongst themselves while I internally sweat. What exactly do these people want from me? If I knew that, then I�d have a much better idea of how to answer their questions.

[Monster,] a different voice this time, gruff and full of ire, [what do you believe makes the most powerful creature?]

An odd question� I mean, how would I know? I have my own ideas, of course, but I can�t say with any kind of certainty they�d be the best possible ways. Why are you asking me, buddy? You�re the one with hundreds of years of monster rearing knowledge at your beck and call!

Maybe that�s the point, he wants me to admit they have the knowledge and expertise I don�t. An interesting play. The Shaper in question is almost glaring at me, so intense is his stare. What did I do to get you so worked up, old man? Shouldn�t I be the one who�s annoyed?

[I don�t know,] I answer honestly. [How could I? I�ve been a monster for under a year, and before that, I spent less than fifteen years as a human. I didn�t know I could get mutations until I upgraded my first body part to plus five. I didn�t know how cores worked until I had one. I didn�t know how reconstitution of cores worked until I tried it. Outside of some information and tips I picked up along the way, I�ve been flying blind ever since I was reborn here.]

[Interesting that you admit it so readily. Does that mean you would be willing to submit to our guidance?]

[Happy to take advice. You guys have a lot of information to draw on, obviously.]

The Shaper frowned.

[I did not mean advice. I mean that you would exclusively develop along the lines we prescribed for you.]

[Ah, I see. Then heck no,] I refuse firmly.

He�s clearly taken aback by my abrupt refusal. Yeah, that ice forming in your eyes hasn�t gotten past me, buddy!

[Care to elaborate on why?] The first speaker comes back into the conversation, filling the gap left by her associate.

[It�s my life, my body, and I�m the one who�ll make decisions regarding my own future. Didn�t the original Ancients develop that same way?]

[We don�t know how they developed. They grew to power in a time before the Dungeon had breached the surface of this world.] She sounds thoughtful as she considers my words. [I won�t say that your argument is without merit.]

I can tell that angry man wants to interrupt, and maybe he does on a more private line. Regardless, a few moments later, I hear the leader�s voice again.

[I would like to explain to you what is going to happen here going forward.]

[Hit me. My body is ready.]

I�m nervous. What�s the story going to be? No matter what, I don�t think it�s going to be something I like. Don�t keep me in suspense, let me hear the damage. Just how bad are things going to be?

The three guards have remained perfectly still, watchful and poised, they don�t miss a single movement I make. The three older Shapers are a little more mobile, but not by much. I get the feeling these golgari are more attached to stone than just having different varieties of it for skin. They�re unusually still when they don�t have to be moving, as if actually becoming a rock.

[You know the purpose of our Cult?]

[Absolutely. You desire for a twentieth Ancient to take its place amongst the other nineteen. Something about �closing the circle� or some such.]

She nods in agreement.

[That is correct. We seek to empower a monster in order for it to dominate the lower strata and achieve a tier of evolution on par with the existing Ancients.]

[Do you actually know what tier the Ancients are?] The theoretical maximum tier? I wonder how high it is! Ten? TWENTY!

[No, we don�t.]

Dang.

[To our knowledge, there have been only two conversations between the sapient races of the surface and the Ancients. During the Cataclysm we now refer to as the Time of Rending, the Mana level in the Dungeon rose to unprecedented heights. When the tunnels connected to the surface, Mana from the centre of Pangera flooded the skies, followed by a tidal wave of monsters that nearly washed away every remnant of civilisation on this world.]

Yikes.

[Sounds pretty bad. How long ago was this?]

[More than two thousand years ago. When the Mana reached its peak, the Ancients themselves were able to come to the surface for a time, devastating all they found. Tales of the destruction they wrought are legend to this day. Scholars debate the history of these events, for not much that was written during that time survived, but we do not believe the Ancients sought to destroy the surface world. In our Cult, we are told they devoured monsters more readily than they did us.]

[Well, why not? That�s how monsters get stronger, after all.]

[The Ancients cannot evolve, nor can they Level up. This we believe to be true. So why consume so much? Could it be they sought to help, rather than hinder?]

Giant monsters turn up and eat everything, and these people think they were trying to be helpful? Crazy talk.

[Sure�] I lamely agree.

[During this time is when those two conversations took place. The one you spoke to before spoke of the Red Truth. This is the name given to the knowledge that was passed on from a dialogue between a powerful ka�armodo Wizard and Arconidem, who rose under their lands. For us, it was Yarrum, the Eternalworm. A Shaper by the name of Igiun Farranon communed with the great worm before founding the Cult of the Worm in secret.]

[So� what did they say? The Ancients, I mean.]

All three of them snap their attention to me.

[That we will not share!] The words are sharp, cutting.

[Sure, sure. No need to get stressed!]

They relax only by about half a percent.

[Those who do not share our goals are not able to receive the words of the Ancients. It is a sacred mission.]

[Of course it is. Gotta� you just gotta love them Ancients. Worms. The whole lotta them. Great stuff.]

I think that works? There is a brief pause in the dialogue. I presume they�re discussing my incredible, sincere, and fervent love of the Ancients and worms. For my part, I continue to remain perfectly still. No need to give anything away.

[Did you notice anything odd about the last wave?] A new voice breaks into the conversation, younger, lighter than the others.

[How could I? It was the first wave I�d ever experienced.]

I honestly don�t have a point of reference. The wave was immensely dangerous to us at first, but eventually turned into a boon for the colony, enabling us to harvest experience and Biomass at an incredible speed. By the end of it, I�d started hoping it might stick around. The solid defences we encountered on the way down to the second stratum gave me pause, though. There may have been more going on beneath us than I�d assumed.

[We thought that might be the case. Compared to other recent waves, this was much longer and more intense. The Mana levels in the upper strata rose beyond what we would expect, by far. Even now, the Mana has yet to return to what we would consider normal levels.]

[I�d noticed that,] I can�t help but muse. [It started to rise not long after I was born, and it�s never gone back to the level I experienced then. I can�t say I never wondered why that might be the case.]

There is another brief pause as they confer.

[Indeed. The Cult of the Worm has decided another Cataclysm is likely coming. We never experienced the build-up to the Time of Rending, since at that time, the Dungeon had not breached the surface and was unknown. We believe the waves will start to build, as if from an ocean, each one greater than the last and receding a shorter distance before the next arrives, until Mana crashes over the surface of Pangera, perhaps for the last time.]

Why the heck would it be for the last time? They have no reason to think that. Perhaps they do, or perhaps they want me to think they do! Sneaky.

[That�s interesting,] I say, trying to stay focused.

[For us, as well as those who follow the Red Truth, this has precipitated a call to action. The time for the final Ancient to ascend is running short. We can no longer divide our efforts and resources in a dozen different directions, hoping that one of our candidates will achieve the final ascension. This approach has failed so far and there is no reason to believe it will serve for the final push. Instead, we are taking a different approach.]

[Oh?] I�m not sure I like the sound of this.

[We have gathered all of the monsters we are currently supporting here in this place. Although it is crude, the Cult has decided the best way to determine the most worthy monster is through a trial by combat.]

[Soooo� you want us to like� duel? For the right to be sponsored by you guys? What if we lose?]

[Naturally, those monsters who lose will become fuel to speed the growth of the more deserving monster who wins.]

[That�s cold. I�m a sapient creature, you know? You want me to fight to the death like a slave?]

[We understand your past, but it isn�t your present. Time is short and we have been driven to these barbaric methods. We don�t like it, but we have no choice.]

You think you have no choice, but you don�t know for sure! By the by, I think that guy is perfectly happy at this turn of events. He�s looking at me as if I�m a juicy steak for his favourite dog.

The Legion headquarters in the independent underground City State of Rylleh was a place Morrelia had never been. This deep into the first stratum, on the very border between the layers, was a dangerous place only the very powerful would tread in small numbers.

Her own small mercenary team had certainly never delved this low, choosing to hone their Skills in the Expanses they could reach. Compared to her own small team and their desperate struggles to hunt and descend the Dungeon as best they could, the extravagance of power and wealth on display in Rylleh made her sigh with irritation. All that time she�d spent battering away on her own, struggling without relying on anyone, the Legion had a fully functioning fortress down here to muster and launch delves from.

This place was connected via a functioning Gateway to boot! Even here, this view, was only a small part of the large and vibrant city that spread out beneath her.

She had to ask herself if she�d wasted all that time for nothing. Running away from the Legion when her brother died� had it been the right choice? She�d been so confused, consumed with grief and unable to believe that her brother, always so capable and strong, so personable and careful, could have failed and left this world.

Her father�s face when he�d told her had been pale, and his voice quavered ever so slightly, the only sign of weakness she�d ever seen from him. Perhaps that, more than anything, had shaken her. She wasn�t afraid to die fighting the Dungeon. She risked death every time she set foot beneath the ground. But it was crushing to see and feel what that death would mean to those left behind.

�It�s amazing, isn�t it?�

Morrelia started at the unexpected voice. Somehow, Titus snuck up on her, and she cursed under her breath. How did a man that large move so soundlessly?! Just what sort of Skills was he training? She turned as the familiar figure of the commander leaned on the stone rampart that lined the outer wall of the fortress, overlooking the city.

�The first time I saw a place like this, I couldn�t believe that such a thing was possible. So many different people, coming together to form a city in the Dungeon of all places.� Titus shook his head at the memory. �That it was so prosperous, so safe. I didn�t understand it. Of course, I went on to learn that many such places exist in Pangera. Many of them much larger and grander than Rylleh.�

�How deep are they?� Morrelia asked, taking her father by surprise.

�The cities? Depends on which ones you mean. Most of the time, the depth depends on the people who founded it. Independent cities like this one are usually in the first and second layer. There�s one in the third that I know of. I haven�t been there myself, but I know the Legion has a presence in that area.�

�Really? The third?� Morrelia was surprised. The third layer was supposed to be an inhospitable place of fire and ash, hardly the sort of place you would expect to see anyone living. �Wait a second, does that mean there are cities even deeper? Non-independent ones?�

Titus smiled at his daughter. Just talking about the depths of the Dungeon had her eyes afire with the thirst for battle and adventure. Reminiscence of his own youth swirled in his mind. He�d been much the same, hungry to push further, to delve deeper, Level up and overcome all challenges. That fire had driven him deep, as far as any human had been, alongside his brothers and sisters of the Legion.

He�d wanted to experience it all again with both of his children. The death of his eldest son had been a savage blow, but there was a chance Morrelia might come back around. He resisted the temptation to again push her to join. Her mentality was far too close to his own�pushing her hard would only make her run away. She was stubborn as a brick baked out of a stone formed in the core of another brick.

�The Dungeon has many secrets to reveal. There are great cities in the fourth and fifth strata, or, there were in the fifth. There�s an entire empire that exists in the fourth stratum. On flying islands.�

�How the heck do you have flying islands under the ground?� Morrelia was flabbergasted.

�Ha!� the commander barked out one pure laugh before he reined himself in. He snuck a quick glance at the ramparts around them to ensure he hadn�t been seen. It wouldn�t do for his reputation to crumble because he was caught laughing. He looked back toward Morrelia, her stare disbelieving. �Nobody ever believes me about the islands,� he chuckled.

Morrelia�s head was spinning. Information of the deep Dungeon was so rare in Liria, these sorts of topics were just not discussed. Anyone who had this information kept it to themselves and used it for the benefit of their own organisation. Even the Legion wouldn�t share it with mere recruits. It was beyond strange that Titus would be so talkative about the Dungeon. He�d been close lipped about it since she was an infant. No matter how much she�d begged, he wouldn�t say a word. Her eyes narrowed a little.

�What are you scheming, old man?�

Titus� expression bolstered innocence.

�Who? Me? You accuse me of scheming?�

�I know what you�re doing. Do you really want me to join the Legion again that badly? Appealing to my sense of adventure?�

�I do,� he readily admitted, eyes glittering. Now that it was in the open, he wouldn�t step down. �Not only for me, but for your mother as well. It�s not easy for us to have a life separate from our children. We wanted to share it with you, but we chose not to force you. Instead, we were delighted when both you and your brother leapt headlong into the Legion. What happened was a tragedy, but what made it worse was that you leaving made it feel as if I�d lost both of my children instead of one.�

These were dangerous topics, things they�d not spoken about, ever. Emotion surged inside Morrelia, and things she�d suppressed for years came rushing to the surface.

�And can you tell me now, what happened? I know you were there. I know that you know! Are you even aware of how hard it�s been, not being sure how your own family died?�

�He died during the delve. That was the official word of the Legion. You have reason to doubt it?� Titus demurred.

It was painful for him. So painful he felt as if his chest were being torn out, but he didn�t let any of it show on his face.

�Of course I doubt it! Do you really think he would have failed in the first stratum? He was far too strong. And you were there. How could he die? How could any of them have died!?�

This was the reason Morrelia had left the Legion and fled from her father. She simply couldn�t believe what she�d been told about her brother�s death. It just didn�t seem plausible. It didn�t even seem possible.

Titus took a deep breath. He could see the pain in his child�s eyes, and it tested him like never before. No matter how hard it was, he�d always shouldered the burden and done his duty. No matter what it cost him, he would follow through. He could only hope that his daughter was strong enough.

�If you want to know,� he spoke slowly, and Morrelia hung on his every word, �then you must re-join the Legion.�

She stared at him with a cold intensity that crackled in the air. This was the first time Titus had deviated from the official line, even in the slightest. It was the only concession she would receive, and it was confirmation that she hadn�t been told the entire truth.

This was it. She would have the answers she�d sought for so long if she signed back up. She faced her father squarely and snapped a Legion salute, fist to her heart.

�Reporting for duty, Commander.�

Titus nodded and returned her gesture.

�Welcome back, cadet.�

The agonising pain had long faded, leaving in its wake a vast lassitude, as if every cell in her body had been ripped apart and then pulled back together. Morrelia was tired on a level she hadn�t known existed. Beyond her bones and down into the deepest recesses of her marrow, exhaustion claimed her.

The spark of stubbornness in her mind refused to allow her to sink into unconsciousness, and though it was the hardest thing she�d ever done, she forced her eyes open.

She still lay in the stone basin, the hard stone unyielding beneath her. Above her, the dull light of the enchanted stone slowly faded, pitching the space into twilight. Morrelia grimaced hard and stretched out her hands. Her body screamed at her not to move, every muscle aching, but she refused to listen.

With the gradual movement of an invalid, she pulled herself upright and supported her weight against the wall. Below her, the final drops of concentrated Mana were draining away, doubtlessly to be recycled and used again to torment the next trainee to qualify for this hellish process.

Morrelia took a deep breath, her bare feet shuffling against the stone. When she finally steadied herself, she looked up to find her father there, a rare show of emotion on his face.

Pride radiated from his eyes, but also great sorrow. He mourned his son all over again in this moment.

�Congratulations, Legionary,� Titus� voice was rough and tired as she was�Morrelia swore she could see moisture in his eyes.

Morrelia could barely find the energy to smile, but she did.

�Thank you, Commander,� she said.

She couldn�t remember what happened next. Later, Titus would tell her that she�d passed out on the spot. He�d had to leap forward to stop her from smacking her stubborn head against the rock.

When she awoke, she was in a small room, on a hard bed. As she groggily took the room in, she realised the furniture was austere, basic. The bed was large enough, but unyielding. The walls were unadorned, bare, except for one thing. On a simple steel hook hung the black leathers of a full Legionary uniform, and the moment she saw it, she cried. Morrelia gave herself that moment, then gathered her wits and put it on. Leaving her chamber, she found her father leaning against the wall in the corridor.

�Come with me,� he said.

Travelling together through the fortress, neither were willing to break the companionable silence between them. Both of their lives had changed the moment she�d opened her eyes. It was hard for Morrelia to grasp that she�d achieved the dream she�d had since she was a child, the dream she�d shared with her brother.

She wasn�t sure how to feel, or what to say.

Likewise, her father didn�t trust himself to speak. His chest was full of emotions, and he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he�d no longer be able to keep them contained, so he remained silent.

Through the twisted corridors they walked, past soldiers standing tall on sentry duty, and auxiliaries working hard to fulfil the thousands of tasks the fortress needed to keep itself running. Until finally, they came to an inscribed wall covered in carved script. She threw a confused glance at her father, and he dropped his chin to his broad chest, his eyes hooded.

�Go and talk to your brother,� he instructed.

Morrelia�s heart beat faster at this command, and she turned back to the wall covered in neat rows of names. She stepped closer, her eyes trailing through the list, searching for the one that was familiar.

The closer she came to the end, the more she began to recognise. Seniors who�d gone delving when she was still a trainee, even some in the year directly above her. Then she found what she sought�Romanus Marius. Her calloused fingers trailed through the grooves that made her brother�s name.

Even now, years later, she felt as if she could never forget his face, his voice. He�d been such a presence, able to lift others up and make them want to be the best version of themselves. He�d been charismatic, charming, somebody people wanted to follow, everything she wasn�t. She�d hated him for that, even as she�d admired him. He would just laugh at her.

�Morr, you�re being ridiculous,� he would smile and say. �Don�t you think there are things you can do better than me?�

She remembered staring at him, dumbfounded. Romanus was perfect! What could she possibly do better than him? He must have read her expression, because he shook his head and placed a hand on the top of her head. �Trust me, Morr. By the time you�re done, I�ll be looking up to you.�

Lost in her memories, she didn�t hear her father step up behind her, his step heavy.

�This wall,� he stated, �carries the names of all of those trainees who didn�t survive the baptism.�

Shock and indignation filled Morrelia at this and her head flew up to stare at her father. Titus met her gaze and slowly shook his head. He wouldn�t lie to her.

�Nobody could believe it. He�d passed every trial, every test, every measurement, with flying colours. He was so far above the minimum Levels, he was practically assured to succeed. Your mother was devastated. I was lost. We just never imagined it would happen to him.�

Morrelia still refused to believe it.

�It�s not possible� How could I have succeeded where he failed? You can�t possibly explain that!�

Sorrow filled Titus� eyes and he embraced her as he hadn�t done in years. �I don�t know why he failed. I just don�t know. I wish I had an explanation� Even now, I have no words. No matter how I searched, I haven�t found anything to explain what happened. But this is something you need to understand, and something Romanus tried to tell you many times. He believed it, and I always believed it as well. You will be stronger than he was. One day, you�ll be stronger than me.�

Despite her father�s words, Morrelia refused to believe it. Though, she could no longer express such�her voice had been stolen away. Instead, she tried to digest the truth that she�d tried to find for so long. Despite finally getting those answers, all she was left with was bitterness, and determination.

Two days later, the Legion prepared to travel through the Gate. They would enter the main Legion headquarters, deep below the ground, an impregnable stronghold built during the Cataclysm thousands of years ago.

Jailhouse rocks on all sides. These people seriously love their stones. I�ve made that observation before and I probably will again, but it bears repeating. There is clearly a strong physical and spiritual connection between these, golgari? Golgarin? Gagarin? Something like that.

Any information I can gather on their customs, thoughts, patterns, history, anything at all, could prove useful. Because this situation is desperate! There�s no other way to think about it, I�m in trouble here. Fighting to the death against other powerful monsters, creatures that have been groomed for however long? Oh no. Anthony isn�t going to let anything slip on this one. My mind is laser-focused! It�s like a laser beamed through a crystal to become a smaller, more focused laser, that is then blasted through a person�s eye, corrects their vision on the way through, hits the lens and is further sharpened before melting the brain on the way out.

To that end, I�ve begun doing all I can to suss out my situation. The first key is to act natural. If the guards are suspicious of me, then they�ll watch me twice as closely as every other monster, which will make my life difficult. Far better that I appear to be the perfect candidate, cooperative and peaceful.

I�ve taken some time to engage in typical ant behaviour. I spend an inordinate amount of time grooming myself, which is admittedly a wonderfully soothing use of time. Cleaning the mandibles, picking out all the gross bits of Biomass that have gotten stuck in the barbed sections. I actually had to use Water Magic to get that done, blasting the filth off my magnificent face-hands with a concentrated water hose.

It made a tremendous mess, of course. Even the guards up above got splashed pretty bad. Another twelve guards ran in, yelling and pointing all over the place. It was quite a sight. I presume they were frustrated at the mess, but I used a little Fire Magic to dry the place out in no time. My display was so effective, another ten guards came in to admire my work. At least I presume that�s what they were doing, seeing as they kept yelling and pointing at the fires.

After that incident, my usual number of guards was doubled from three to six, but I don�t think it�s due to any negative reasons. My suspicion is that they want to make sure they catch any other brilliant ideas I have and admire my many talents and capacities.

Other than that, cleaning the antennae is always important and requires careful precision. Pulling the antennae through the elbow joints on my front legs with the utmost care, using the tiny hairs in the joint to remove dirt and detritus from the sensory organs. Usually, ants clean each other in teams to ensure each and every member of the colony is spick and span, not bringing bacteria or mould into the nest.

Mould can be a real killer to ants, since the nest is kept quite warm and damp in order to create the perfect conditions for rearing larvae. Some types of ants even have small glands that secrete an anti-bacterial they use to clean themselves. Truly, the ant is the king of the insect world!

Apart from cleaning myself, I�ve been taking care to spread pheromones around my chamber in order to make it smell a little more like a nest. It�s a small thing, but it does soothe me to have the familiar scent around me at all times. It didn�t take long to accomplish this, so I�ve once again lapsed into boredom.

Man, this is tough. Being locked up with nothing to do? It�s torture! Even as I thought that, my sub-brains started screaming in protest. With all this free time on my hands, I made sure that each of the sub-brains have been grinding hard at my magic Skills. Each of them is being pushed to the limit every second, to the point that I frequently have three pounding headaches! Of course, the main mind needs to be kept focused and clear, ready to respond to moments of crises, so I can�t use it to train magic Skills. That would be insane.

The goal is to grind away at the elemental Skills and Mana Sensing, compression, and shaping to get as close as possible to the unified elemental Skill.

I need every edge I can get for the upcoming battles. I don�t think for one second they�ll be easy. The only monster I�ve ever battled that one of these cults supported was Garralosh. I don�t want to say I�d be able to beat her again if you locked us in some weird cage and made us fight it out. That Croc was scary! So my sub-brains are on the grind twenty-four-seven. I�ll work them until they burn into sludge and leak out my ear holes! If I had any!

I hope Tiny is okay�

Granin told me he�d take care of him, and I hope I can trust the guy. The other members of his team were getting quite fond of the big lug, so perhaps I can count on them to intervene if their leader doesn�t. Whatever happens, I don�t want them to bring him in here. If he gets caught up in this stupid tournament business, I�m not sure he�d survive. Although� I wonder if they�d let him participate alongside me? He�s one of my pets, after all, a part of my strength.

No-no-no-no! Don�t be tempted. He�s better off on the outside. I�ll have to make my way out of here on my own.

After two full days have passed since my interview, I feel as if I�m going mad. I take a moment to surreptitiously try to interfere with the walls using Earth Magic. Since they�re made of rock, I presume they can be interfered with. Which, as it turns out, isn�t so simple. The second I press my Earth Magic into the stone, the walls light up with runes and a force slams into my mind like a battering ram, sending me reeling.

By the time my mind stops spinning, twelve guards are staring down at me with decidedly angry faces. I can assume they�re not too happy with my supposed escape attempt. I try to look like the most innocent ant I can be, which I think has a solid effect. I fully expect someone to connect a Mind Bridge and yell at me for a bit, but oddly enough, no one does. I�m not sure if this is a good or bad sign.

A day later, I get my answer.

The first sign that something was changing was the door to my accommodations grinding open. The door itself is an impressive piece of work, thick and banded with strange, glowing metals that are obviously heavily warded. On the other side of the door, six robed Shapers stare at me with flat, unfriendly eyes, while the six guards from above lower a ladder and climb down to take up a defensive position behind me. Still without speaking to me, they gesture for me to follow them before walking backward down the tunnel leading from my chamber, eyes on me the entire way.

This is looking ominous. Is it round one already? Do I have to fight? Are they going to execute me?

I need to be careful�

I stop my sub-minds from spinning their shapes and give them a few moments to rest. They�ve been working hard these last few days and need to recuperate before I can use them to fight. I�m tempted to use my healing gland, but that has a limited effect on easing mental fatigue. If I was in range of enough members of the colony, this issue would be resolved in just a few minutes, but sadly, I can�t sense a single ant in my vicinity.

Down the tunnel, we walk, then a right at a T-intersection that brings us to another tunnel. Every now and again, we pass doors which I give a cursory swipe with my antennae to try and get a scent of what�s on the other side. I sense heat behind a few of them, and behind others, I pick up strange smells. Definitely monsters. These must be the rooms of my fellow candidates. I�ve passed six so far. I wonder how many they have locked up here.

We come to a set of broad gates that rattle as they rise into the ceiling. This particular tunnel is quite spacious, able to fit my bulk with room to spare. Clearly, this area is designed with monsters in mind.

As the gate finishes rising, my escorts back into the open space beyond, gesturing for me to follow. Alright, brains, I hope you guys are ready to go. This might be showtime.

Inside is an open, circular area of flat ground interspersed with obstacles. Yep. This is clearly a monster coliseum. Looks like it�s time to get it on like Donkey Kong. My weary sub-minds begin to pull on my Gravitational Mana and I condense it with my main mind. Can�t risk the weaker minds losing control of the spell, I have to do the heavy lifting myself.

As I�m settling into war mode and getting my game-mandibles on, I feel a tentative and hesitant Mind Bridge reach out to me. Is this a test? The guards are still here, watching me. I�m confident it hasn�t come from them.

Warily, I allow the contact to complete and immediately hear a tentative voice echo in my mind.

[It�s okay! I-I�m not going to hurt you.]

[Not going to hurt me, eh? That sounds like something someone planning to hurt me might say!]

Aha! I�m not going to fall for your games! This is most likely to be a sneak attack. Although my escort still hasn�t moved away, standing around me in rough circle. I can�t imagine they�d be too interested in staying around in the event another monster came over and started to throw down. Perhaps they aren�t lying?

[Um. I�m not going to attack you. The Shapers wanted me to talk to you!]

[Oh really? If they wanted to talk to me, why wouldn�t they just do it themselves?]

I still can�t identify the origin of this Mind Bridge. It�s coming from somewhere either inside this circular combat space, or just outside it. There are other entrances spaced around the outside edge, so there�s a possibility the individual communicating is beyond one of these. The fact they�ve been able to disguise their Mind Bridge indicates they have a considerable amount of skill. Something to be wary of.

[I think� they mentioned that they thought you would respond better if you spoke to someone like you�]

[Someone like me? An ant! Are you a member of my colony come to rescue me and suffered capture as well? Impossible! How could you know where I was? Are you from a rival colony? Come forth and I shall exterminate you!]

[Wow, you�re an ant? They didn�t mention that. I wonder why? You aren�t disgusting, are you?]

How offensive!

[I�m an ant! Of course I�m not disgusting. I�m the most noble and incredible arthropod of them all!]

[Okay, settle down! You�re really fiery. This isn�t what I expected�]

[Don�t blame me for being tense. I get captured, locked up, told I have to fight in death matches, and then marched out here without anyone saying a word. Then someone starts trash-talking my species. I mean, how would you react?]

The distant voice doesn�t respond right away. I can almost sense the consideration it�s taking.

[You know what, Iwould be pretty mad. I�m sorry. I should have realised the Shapers would give you the silent treatment, they�re often like that. I�ve been here for a long time, so I�ve kind of gotten used to it.]

Been here a long time? In what capacity?

[Who are you, exactly? You talk about the Shapers as if you aren�t one, which makes me think you�re a monster, but you also say you don�t intend to hurt me, which doesn�t sound like something a monster can guarantee, considering the whole, �monsters will fight to the death� thing.]

[Yeah, I don�t know a whole lot about that. Look, I�m going to be straight with you, I�m a monster, like you. More than that, I�m a reincarnated human from Earth! Like you!]

Uhh� say what to the who now?

[Aren�t you excited? I know I was when I finally got a chance to talk to someone else like me.]

Whoever this is, they�re serious�

[Don�t you have anything to say?]

[Uhh, well, first of all, it�s a little odd having this conversation when I can�t see you. Second, I guess I�m a bit surprised. I really didn�t think I�d be able to meet another reincarnated monster so soon.]

[Another one? You already met one? But you�re so young! It took me decades, dammit!]

[Decades�you�ve really been here for a while, then? Yes, I met with one, she wasn�t what I would describe as� stable.]

[Ah, yes, that happens to some of us.] The voice sounded sad. [To be honest, all of the people like us that I�ve met have been a little� odd, from the beginning. Including myself.]

[Indeed, that does seem to be the case.]

Except me, obviously. My life was pretty normal, and I would have to say I�m quite well adjusted. Garralosh was crazy in the coconut, though, for real.

[Feel like stepping out and having this little chat in person?]

I�d like to clap eyes on this individual. I�m sort of curious to see what sort of monster they happen to be. I also might be able to gauge their strength, just in case their words are a pack of filthy, filthy lies, and I have to fight them in the end. In my compound vision, I make sure to pay attention to my escort in order to witness any change in their behaviour. For the moment, they appear much as they always have, with a stony demeanour�heh�keeping a watchful eye on my every twitch.

[Alright then, I�ll come out. Just give me a second.]

One of the gateways on the other side of this circular death arena jerks outward. Not a smooth glide, as would happen if people with hands were pushing it open, but a solid jump, as if an elephant just battered it with its head. A large shadow looms in the slight opening before the door jerks again, opening wider. A hulking mass of creature shoves its nose through the door and starts to squeeze through.

The head is the first thing I see, obviously. Even though the shape and colouration are quite strange, it�s quite clear what type of animal this is.

[You�re a bear!]

The pointed nose of the monster jerks up at my words, and our gazes meet.

[Oh! Ugh. You really are an ant.]

This ant-hate is really rubbing my thorax the wrong way.

[Ants are clearly incredible and amazing. Why the heck would you want to be a stupid bear?]

The massive bear monster shoulders through the door and ambles out into the open, waddling over to me. In terms of size, it�s significantly larger than I am. Bulging muscles ripple with each step of those large forelegs. At my needling, the bear peels its lips back to reveal dripping teeth.

[I cannot believe I would need to try and convince someone that bears are better than ants. Honestly, what is even with you guys? Why�d you reincarnate as such weird creatures?]

[Hold on there, Smokey. First, ants are for the win, second, what guys? Third, I kept pet ants, apparently that�s enough.]

The bear�s steps slow for just a moment, then she continues to lumber toward me.

[Pet ants? Ants? How do you even keep pet ants?]

[Don�t knock it until you�ve tried it. There�s a whole community with tons of stuff out there. Lots of stuff on YouTube as well!]

[I had no idea� As to the other guy, there�s one more of us here. James. He came in a few years ago.]

Hang on a second. I feel as if I�m neglecting something. Something about the bear� Who told me about the bear? Was it Enid? No. Someone balder� The sophos!

The huge bear�s steps slow until it�s within twenty metres of me, and somewhat comically lowers its back legs to sit up facing me, scratching at its chin with one claw.

[Sarah?] I ask.

[Hey! How�d you know my name?]

[Did you happen to spend any time with the sophos? Little bald skinny guys? Ride around on death worms?]

[I did! Wow. That was so long ago� just after I woke up in the Dungeon.]

[They told me it was fifty years ago!]

[Sounds about right.]

[But you�re still in the second stratum? I thought you�d be way deeper! They seem to think so as well.]

The big bear hesitates, paws almost fidgeting.

[Look, let�s talk. First, why don�t you tell me your name?]

I wonder what the minders are doing whilst Sarah and I engage in a mental conversation. Are they listening in? I suppose it�s possible. I can�t sense them at all, but I suppose that isn�t any sort of guarantee, considering their higher Skill Levels. Perhaps this is all just part of their research, learning about people like me and our monstrous transformations. I can�t afford to care too much about it, since this is such a rare opportunity.

Perhaps I�ve been away from the colony for too long. It�s nice to have a conversation with someone who�s able to reciprocate my human culture. I�ve still spent longer as a human than as an ant, and the humans I�ve met here on Pangera have been� a bit odd. Yeah, let�s put it that way. Sarah, on the other hand, appears quite normal, all things considered. Despite freely acknowledging being a bit unbalanced, she comes across as well spoken and measured.

[I wasn�t always this steady,] she confides. [In the first few years, it was rough, as I�m sure you know. After my� death� on Earth, and being reborn here� It�s hard at the start. You know what I mean.]

[You�re referring to the terror and existential dread of having to fight for survival in a strange world of death?]

[Exactly that.]

[Yes, I recall. I mean, I was a tiny little ant monster. Just about every monster was able to rip me apart. You started out as a bear! It can�t have been that bad.]

It�s odd to think of a bear giving you the stink eye, especially a giant, elephant-sized bear with a distended maw that houses teeth as long as a human forearm, but here we are.

[Look, Anthony, I didn�t start this size. I didn�t even start as a fully grown bear. I was a cub! A little harmless bear cub!]

I�m immediately suspicious.

[Just a cub, eh? A harmless little fuzzy ball of fluff, with the claws and the fangs. How large were you exactly? Somehow, I don�t think you were just an average, Earth sized cub�]

[I� might have been a touch larger than normal.]

[Just a touch, huh?]

[It�s not like you were a normal sized ant!]

[How the heck would I have survived if I was a regular sized ant? Not to mention, I was born outside of my colony! Without its colony, a regular ant will die in a day!]

[Is that so? I wonder why?]

I will never turn down the chance to educate someone about the glorious world of ants!

[You need to think of individual ants as cells that make up a larger organism when they work together. One ant isn�t capable of surviving, it needs its brethren to work together to provide context, decision making, and safety.]

[So� ants are weak?]

[No. Ants are sophisticated social creatures who are mutually dependent on each other!]

[But an ant on its own can�t survive�]

[Not the point!]

[You�re a bit weird, Anthony,] Sarah laughs at me.

It�s been a long time since I�ve heard such a relaxed, earnest laugh. Something about it just helps the tension to unwind a few notches in my non-existent shoulders. It also helps that Sarah is such a friendly, sociable person. It�s hard to believe she was deemed nuts enough to have her soul ripped into this planet.

[I don�t know what it is, both you and James had such weird pets. No wonder you both ended up in such odd species when you were born here.]

[Odd? He�s not another insect, is he?]

I will brook no competition for the throne of the greatest insect!

[What? Oh, no. I won�t tell you. I don�t want to ruin the surprise. They�ll probably bring him out to meet you next time. They tend to be a little precious with us. The Shapers, I mean.]

That sends my antennae into the air a little.

[Precious? I�ve been informed that I�ll be fighting to the death against other monsters that they�ve nurtured. It doesn�t seem like they�re being all that careful with me. Some might say just the opposite!]

Sarah�s big bear head slumps to the ground and huffs with irritation, sending a cloud of dust swirling from the wind of it.

[I know� Something has gotten right into their heads. They�ve been so nice to me, you know. I was half insane by the time I made it down to the second stratum. I was lonely, blood-crazed, and starving. The isolation and constant fighting starts to chip away at your mind, and before you know it, you�re a screaming loony. If I hadn�t gotten picked up by a patrol of Shapers by chance, I don�t know what would have happened to me.]

[What happened?] I was curious to know.

[It was quite surprising. At the time, I was so on edge and ready to fight, the first time they made contact through a Mind Bridge and tried to talk with me, I went completely mental. I thrashed around, trying to find them, but they just backed off and waited until I calmed down before trying again. It took them three days before I was able to talk back, then another three before I agreed to meet them. After that, I decided to take them up on their offer and came back here with them. They put me up, feed me, converse with me, taught me all sorts of stuff. It�s been great.]

[So why the death blender now? Seems like there�s been a clear shift in policy.]

[I know, and they won�t tell me anything!] Sarah huffs, clearly frustrated. [I�ve been told I won�t be part of the �selection�, but that they still consider me a strong candidate. They won�t even tell me if James will be thrown in! He better not, that would be barbaric!]

[Isn�t the whole thing barbaric? I mean, I�m in it.]

[Well, yes! Yes it is! Because we�re people, not just monsters! They can�t do this to us!]

Even after decades as a monster, Sarah is still clinging to the idea of herself as being something different. A person, a human, a creature who is valued and has worth. She might have been here being coddled by the Shapers for too long.

I�ve already had to learn the lesson�monsters are not the same as people. We�re spawned from the Dungeon and that makes all the difference. Other than the Ancients, the rest of us are just resources to the surface people. In the end, we can only count on ourselves. At least I have my family, the colony, that I can lean on. Sarah had nothing. I feel sorry for her, to be honest. Having to lean on the Shapers to stay sane. And they�ve made her lose her edge at the same time.

[They absolutely can,] I say. [I can�t break out of here on my own. I�ve tested a few things already, and now they�re watching me like a damn hawk with binoculars. They can easily force me to fight. Just knock me out, drag me out here and wait for me to wake up. Or not, just leave me here unconscious to be free experience and Biomass to their pet favourite.]

[They aren�t bad people, Anthony.]

I shrug my antennae.

[Doesn�t matter to me if they�re bad or not, I couldn�t care less. My only worry is surviving.]

[Time�s up,] a new voice breaks into our mental communication.

Clearly the Shapers have been listening the entire time if they�re able to break into our conversation so smoothly. Spying? Just keeping tabs, or were they trying to learn something? The other question, did Sarah know about it? My guards are already gesturing for me to return the way I came, the gate opening wide for me to pass through into the tunnel back to my cell.

[Nice meeting you, Sarah. Hope we get another chance to chat soon.]

[You too, Anthony. Stay safe.]

[Ha!]

I can�t help but bark out a bit of a laugh at that. Stay safe? That�s not really up to me, is it?

After my odd meeting with Sarah, I�m summarily returned to my room. As the door slams home behind me and the guards take their customary places up above, I have to wonder what the point of it was. What were they hoping I�d get out of it? Were they trying to show me they weren�t monsters? How nice and good they are? Bit of a laugh when I�m going to get wheeled out of this room and made to fight to the death at any moment!

Did they really think bringing out another reborn human to show me how benevolent and wise they are was going to be enough? Laughable! I will happily ditch the lot of them to get back to the colony. My siblings would welcome me and put me to work for the family in a heartbeat. Mother would slap me on the head for being so foolish as to leave in the first place.

Ah, I miss my mother. I was stupid for trying to run away and do my own thing. Who cares if the thoughts and desires of the colony get whispered into my head? Isn�t it a good thing? Doesn�t that mean I can be more helpful to the colony? Isn�t being helpful to the colony what an ant is supposed to do?

I hope Tiny and Crinis are alright. Perhaps my stupidity would be easier to bear if it weren�t for the fact I�ve dragged my two beloved pets into this situation with me. Tiny needs constant healing to help him survive the poisonous Mana that�s invaded his body. He needs me more than ever! He�s too stupid to survive on his own. If I hadn�t been so worried about lowering his fighting prowess, I would have boosted his intelligence ages ago. Now it�s too late.

And Crinis! Poor Crinis. Such an innocent little blob of death-murder. It was hard to give her such a dangerous task, and I know she�ll go at it with all her might. Gah! If only I was stronger, I wouldn�t have been caught and put in this stupid position!

My rage is building! Rage at the golgari! But also, rage at myself!

I sit perfectly still inside my cell and stew. There�s a large plate covered in Biomass nearby, but I�m in no mood to indulge in it. Instead, my minds are full of visions of myself battling, tunnelling, escaping, and getting the heck out of here. Of coming back with the colony and wreaking havoc amongst the golgari! Twisted dreams of tearing down their cities and plundering their wealth fill my head! Is it an overreaction? Maybe! But my heart burns at the injustice. I demand vengeance!

I sit and seethe for an hour in perfect stillness. I can even see that the guards are perturbed by my lack of action. They see nothing, not even a twitch of an antenna. It must look as if I�m a statue, something not even living. It�s quite nice, the ability of an insect to remain still.

Eventually, the situation changes, but not through any action of mine. The door is swinging open in the above area, swiftly followed by shuffling footsteps, as if whoever is entering is dragging their feet.

When the Mind Bridge reaches out to me, I feel as if I already know which voice I�m going to hear.

[How�s things, Granin, my man?]

[�I absolutely hate everything about this.]

[I missed you too, buddy.]

[Dammit it all� This whole thing is stupid. Petty as I must sound, I�m stupid for being roped into this, you especially are stupid, even the Cult is stupid!]

[Anything else?]

[Me.]

[You already said that, Granin.]

[It certainly bears repeating.]

The ladder lowers and the large, grunting form of my favourite Shaper climbs down into my cell with me, eyed watchfully by the trio of goons above.

[Uh� How�s Tiny?]

Granin fixes me with a steady glare. [That ape,] each word came with a bite at the end, [eats enough for five monsters the same size. My people can barely keep up with him.]

Typical. That fat monkey only cares about eating and fighting. If he can�t fight, he�ll eat twice as much.

[Let him out to fight every now and again and he�ll settle down. He needs some activity to distract him from eating.]

[Quite helpful of you, monster� I might do that. Thank you.]

[No worries, Granin.]

The rock-man sighs, appearing rather uncomfortable. And here I thought we were making progress in understanding each other.

[I�ve been meaning to mention this for a while now. We golgari refer to each other with our surnames, not our first names. Only good friends and family use first names.]

I pretend to be shocked.

[Why, Granin, what are you saying? Aren�t we the best of friends?]

[I�ve had just about enough of your quips, ant!]

[See what I mean? We have this great banter going on.]

Granin Lazus sits down heavily, running one tired, stone hand over his face. The poor guy, I can sympathise with him somewhat. But hey, who asked him to knock me out and drag me here?

[Why don�t you just tell me what you�re doing here, Granin? I know you didn�t come here of your own volition, so the higher-ups sent you for something. What�s the scoop?]

The Shaper releases a pained sigh.

[The people running this madhouse have given me the honour of being your sponsor for their upcoming tournament�though it may as well be called the murder fest. Before you ask, let me explain. Normally, when we bring a monster in and support it, one of the Shapers is chosen to be the sponsor. That Shaper, and by extension the other members of their Triad, are responsible for guiding the monster, securing it resources, and generally pushing it as far as it can go down the path of evolution.]

[So, you�re like� my trainer? What am I, a pocket monster?]

Granin becomes unflinchingly confused.

[How� would I fit you in a pocket? Most of us don�t even have pockets. We don�t even wear pants.]

[Why is that, by the way? Your entire race just hates clothes?]

[Our skin is made of rocks. Other than covering our genitals, what would we need clothes for?]

[�Pockets?]

Granin reaches down to indicate the sizeable satchel at his waist.

[Well, there you go. So, what comes next?]

Granin simply stares at me, and of course I remain perfectly still. The slight twitch at his eyebrow is a bonus.

[Do you ever move? You haven�t so much as shifted a leg since I came in here.]

[I�m trying to weird out the guards above us.]

[I assure you, it�s working� Look, ant, clearly this whole thing is� well, insane. If I�d known what they were planning, I never would have brought you in. I�ve spent my adult life in the Cult, and although I wouldn�t say I�m a huge fan of monsters, I believe the quest to find the next Ancient is sacred. And this blood sport they�re prattling on about? It�s a betrayal of nearly two thousand years of tradition.]

I�m actually touched.

[That�s nice to know, Granin. Sincerely.]

[I still don�t like you.]

[Aww. You just can�t admit I�ve grown on you.]

[You know what else grows on me? Rock fungus.]

[Where does that grow? Not on the�]

[Yes.] Granin nodded.

[Yikes�]

A weary sort of silence develops between us. In Granin, I have a sort of kindred spirit. A person who thought this whole thing was stupid and didn�t want to be involved, yet was forced to participate anyway. Which does beg a question.

[Why you, Granin? Why were you chosen to take on this role as my sponsor? You clearly don�t want it, yet someone felt you were the man for the job. Is it a punishment of some sort?]

[That is one, quite blunt, way of putting it.] A wide smile spreads across the Shaper�s face. [I don�t know what you did, but you�ve annoyed the leading Triad. They are not big fans of yours, even if you�re one of the rare reborn monsters. They don�t believe you have a snowball�s chance in the third stratum of surviving against their pet projects. Rather than waste any resources on you, they put me in, someone they also don�t particularly care for, thus ensuring you fail quickly and get eaten by a more deserving monster. Once that�s done, I�ll get tossed back into the refuse along with my Triad of outcasts.]

I�m kind of stunned.

[Don�t they realise I�m going to eat them all?]

Granin grins.

[Ant, I do not believe they have any idea who they�re dealing with.]

Granin and I discuss a few things before we get down to the nitty-gritty. For the most part, I want to learn about his people and what makes them tick. He�s guarded about some things and quite forthcoming about others. For instance, he�s quite happy to tell me why he�s on the outs with his cult and the Shapers in general. Supposedly, there�s been quite a lot of moving and shaking going on within the Cult of the Worm lately. Recruitment has picked up over the last fifty years, and the cult has risen to a level of prominence that it hasn�t enjoyed at any point in its history.

This influx of people, ideas, and energy was always going to cause friction. Granin fell into the �steady and cautious� camp, the group who wanted to consolidate their gains and take a measured approach, as they always had in the past. Being cautious is never a bad idea for a cult that isn�t supposed to exist in the first place, I suppose. At least until he found that the ground changed under their feet too quickly, as the �reckless moron camp��Granin�s words�pushed harder than expected and seized control of the leadership.

[Those stupid idiots are so willing to risk what has been built by painstaking effort in the shadows,] Granin bemoans bitterly. [What utterly kills me the most, is that it�s people like me out in the field, loyal to the cause and dedicated, the bedrock of this cult, that get sent out and sacrificed on poorly thought out and badly researched tasks. The mission to capture you is a perfect example of their ineptitude! No proper planning, no backup strategy, no thought of having full control of the delving party. And you can attest to how that nearly wound up�a disaster, that�s how! Back in the day, we observed, made gradual contact, felt out the situation in order to get a sense of it. There sure as hell wouldn�t have been any warriors involved! Bloody meatheads.]

A constant refrain in Granin�s whining is how much the Shapers and Warriors don�t get along.

[Tell me a story here, Granin. Why is it that your entire society glorifies the Warriors and takes a dump on the Shapers? Seems odd to me. Magic is both awesome and rad. Things like that gateway are only possible because of magic, so why the hate?]

Granin considers the implications�not wanting to give me too much information I can use against him. He�s been giving enough that I feel satisfied he�s working with me, though. I�m happy to take the trade. Getting something out of my questions is much, much better than nothing.

[It goes back to the Cataclysm,] he finally relents. [Back then, the Mana started to rise to unprecedented levels, and every society on the surface experienced a magic revolution. Mages were more powerful than they�d ever been before, or ever since. They created miracles in that time which elevated the craft to unprecedented heights.]

[But then came the monsters,] I guess.

[Quite right. The Dungeon opened up, and the world was destroyed. We golgari were a martial people to begin with. Our natural Skills and racial bonuses push us in that direction quite naturally. We�re large, as you have no doubt noticed. I myself am not even that tall�the biggest of us can get up to ten feet, heavily built, and our true skin provides us with a strong defence without having to invest in armour, allowing our fighters to focus on weapon Skills more than other races. Since the rise of the Shapers was immediately followed by the Rending, the people lay the blame at the Shapers� feet for bringing the Dungeon upon the world, and we�ve been scorned ever since.]

[But that�s stupid!] I protest. [The Mana rose due to the Dungeon reaching the surface, not the other way round! Surely, they know that!]

[They probably do, but do they care? No. It fits the narrative they want to believe, that�s all that matters. Ever since then, the Warrior�s Circle has been dominant in golgari society and the Shapers have been suppressed. I believe the Shapers as a whole have been pushed to the breaking point lately, which is why the cult was able to bring so many into the fold.]

It�s an interesting situation, one I can�t help but muse over. In my mind, the golgari empire occupies a vast amount of Dungeon territory, no doubt connected by these Gates. Without the Shapers, the whole thing would fall into a heap in mere days. Without the gates, the individual cities and outposts would need to travel between each other in order to communicate and share supplies, risking the Dungeon for days or weeks at a time to send the simplest message. Impossible, surely?

Not to mention, this kind of setup will be perfect for the colony! Satellite colonies, connected by magical gateways, would allow us to cover more ground with fewer numbers. That�ll become critical since we need to ensure we farm the Dungeon carefully. Spawn points are closely associated with monster population, if we strip the tunnels bare of monsters in our greed, then the spawn points will dry up, leading to less monsters overall and a dramatic reduction in the XP intake of the colony. We have to be smart about this and farm the right amount. Not too much, not too little.

To make this successful, we need to cover more territory. How to cover more territory without clearing out the Dungeon? Gates!

GAH! My heart is on fire! If I can learn the secret of these Gates, then the colony will have a limitless future! I must uncover the secret!

[So, Granin, tell me how the Gates work?]

[Not a chance.]

DAMMIT.

[I honestly don�t know why you would even want to learn about that. Who are you going to use it with? Besides, we�ve spent enough time on these side issues. We need to get focused on how to prep you for your first fight.]

[Fine.]

I�ll wait, but don�t you dare think I won�t keep working on this!

Granin leaned in. [Do you mind if I have a quick peek at your core?]

[Not a chance.]

Granin rubs his stony temple. [I had a feeling that might be the case.]

Poor guy must deal with a lot of headaches. As if I�m going to let him use a core manipulation Skill on me! He�d be mad to think I�d agree!

[We shall have to do this the old-fashioned way,] he grumbles. [Can you tell me what the focus of your build is?]

[Build what?]

[Please tell me you�re kidding. Your build�the focus of your Skills and mutations?]

[Oh! You mean like, what am I aiming for with my stats and stuff?]

[Correct. What�s your focus? Where are you putting in the most effort?]

[Yeah. I�m a bit of an all-rounder, I suppose.]

I mean, it�s better to cover all the bases, right? Oh, Granin�s rubbing his temples again.

[Patience� I must employ patience� Look, usually it�s more beneficial to have a general focus for your build, a specific set of Skills and mutations you stack up to become as strong as possible, then you flavour around the edges. It�s about building synergy. Do you know what synergy is?]

[Like a� related thing or opposition?]

[No, that�s syzygy.]

[Then no.]

[It�s when two or more things work together to produce an effect more powerful than the sum of its parts. Imagine a lightning monster. It develops a Lightning Mana Gland which gives it access to free, premade Lightning Mana. Then let�s say it takes a teeth mutation that lowers lightning resistance. In this way, when it bites something, its lightning becomes more effective. A basic example, but that�s synergy.]

[I think I get it.]

[Good, excellent. The same principle can be done with Skills. There are Skills that support other Skills, as well as Skills that can work together with mutations. For example, think about that teeth mutation of the lightning monster, they could take the Skill Curse Infliction, which would make applying a curse through their bite easier, further lowering the resistances of their target.

[Most people don�t know that this particular boon works with Bite mutations. It took the Cult ages to work it out. Then a toxin mutation could be taken, which applies a toxin that lowers lightning resistance, done through the bite. Then take the Toxin Mastery Skill which allows for a better injection of toxins. With a single bite, one elemental resistance could be slashed by as much as thirty percent, even at low Levels!]

[That sounds� really impressive, actually.]

This is good stuff. The sophos were never so explicit when explaining these sorts of concepts. Their focus was mainly on the techniques and mastery of manipulating cores. I think they just assumed I would know about maximising gains from appropriate builds. I�ve been so blind!

[Teach me more, Master!]

[Oh, now you�re impressed? We�ve been studying this field for over two thousand years. This is just the beginning. The unfortunate thing is, we have hardly any research on ant-type monsters. I went to the archive this morning and the results are pretty much blank.]

[What? That�s morally wrong! Discrimination!]

[Ants are considered a huge menace in the Dungeon, which can get rapidly out of control. They�re pretty much exterminated whenever they�re found. Keeping a Queen captive is too much of a risk, and keeping an individual worker isn�t worth the effort. You can understand why we have never bothered.]

[I suppose so�]

Please don�t exterminate my family!

[But that�s fine. Other insect types have been researched to death. I have full lists of Skills and mutations for most of your body types, so we can work through that.]

[Okay then.]

Granin Lazus looked around the room with thinly veiled contempt. He didn�t recognise most of the present Cult members. The new blood had flooded this outpost, filling it to the brim until the entire place stank of impatience, ignorance, and disregard for tried and tested methods. All these golgari, some with their true skin barely set, appeared so excited to be there. Huddled together in their Triads with their excited whispers filling the room.

�Boss, how�s our man looking? Ready to go?�

The insistent whisper of Corun Nium, second of Granin�s Triad, drew more attention to them than speaking in a regular voice would have done. The sibilant hiss cut through the hubbub and alerted more than a few curious eyes. Granin just shrugged at them and tried to insinuate through gestures that his second was suffering from a mental ailment and his medication had run out.

�Boss. Hey. Boss!� Like being prodded directly in the ear with a knife, the hissing voice practically stabbed directly into his brain.

�Dammit, Nium! Shut up, would you!� Granin bellowed.

All sound in the chamber cut off as everyone turned to look at the cause of the disturbance. All they saw was a fuming Granin, a slightly abashed Corun, and Torrina Laksham, third of the Triad, trying to shrink out of sight. Far from wanting to hide, Granin openly glared at everyone who met his eyes until he was satisfied they�d registered his anger. Gradually, the sound picked up again as the various groups resumed their chatter, and only then did he turn back to his second.

�Your damned stage whisper is the least effective possible way of hiding what you want to talk about. Just speak like a normal person.�

�Sorry, boss. I�m just worried. The Cult has never done anything like this before, have they?�

�They haven�t,� Torrina broke in quietly from the side. �At least according to all the records I can access.�

�That�s what I�m saying. Is Anthony going to be alright? How�s he feeling? I can�t imagine he�s in a good place right now.�

He did look genuinely concerned, and Granin couldn�t help but wonder again at how quickly the cursed insect won over the members of his Triad. His own conversations with the creature were irritating more than anything else.

�He�s fine,� he grunted. �I wouldn�t say he�s happy about the situation. Far from it. But he has wrapped his head around what�s going to happen to him.�

�Did you find time to talk to him about strategy? His build? What sort of Skills are we working with?� Torrina asked, her voice quiet yet intense.

Granin snorted. �First off, he wouldn�t even let me look at his core. Damned ingrate.�

The other two members of the Triad shared a glance.

�I�m not too surprised by that,� Corun said slowly.

�What�s that supposed to mean?� Granin huffed.

�Well. You haven�t exactly endeared yourself to him. I mean, your demeanour is less than friendly at the best of times, and towards Anthony, you�ve been particularly cold.�

Torrina nodded her agreement, which soured Granin�s mood.

�I haven�t been that bad,� he protested, but the prodding looks on his Triad gave him pause. �Have I?� He sounded far less convinced than a moment ago.

The two younger Shapers shared another look, which was all the confirmation Granin needed. His mounting suspicion that he�d treated the newest member of the Cult�s menagerie worse than he should have was proving to be true.

�To put your minds at ease, I did speak with him a fair bit. He was cagey, and there was a lot he didn�t want to share, but we found a few things he can work on before this circus starts. We three know he�s got a lot more going on in the core than people expect. He�s going to shock some of these morons, I have no doubt about that.�

Corun smiled�that�s exactly what he wanted to hear!

�Do you think he�s got a chance of winning? That�s his only way of getting out alive, right?�

The still expression that came over his leader�s face didn�t inspire a lot of confidence.

�Lazus?� Corun asked.

�I�m not sure he�s going to have what it takes to go all the way,� he reluctantly said. �I know there�s a few projects the Cult has squirreled away for a long time. If they�ve been brought here and dragged into this mess, then it would be hard to see the ant making it through alive.�

�Let�s hope he doesn�t get put against such a monster in the first round then,� Torrina observed quietly.

They fell into a grim silence, each contemplating the fate of their charge in the upcoming battles. All around them, the Shapers of the Cult engaged in polite small talk, animated discussion, and quiet strategising about their own prospects in the tournament. Observations, tips and pointers were exchanged as the golgari mages tried to predict the outcomes of theoretical matchups and considered the finer points of monster archetypes.

The atrium was the perfect space for this kind of thing. A wide chamber with comfortable furniture for reclining in. Sconces and columns around which small groups would form. Anytime the Shapers held some form of gathering, it would inevitably be in a space such as this.

Granin hated them, much as he hated the formal settings he was forced to endure. He would rather be in the field. Out there, he was able to make his own decisions and didn�t have to put up with others� idiocy.

A short time later, there came a single, loud chime that resounded with unnatural clarity, cutting through all conversation, and silencing any words yet to escape from lips. The note hung in the air pure and clean as the chatter ceased, as if cut by a knife. All in attendance turned toward the centre, where the leading Triad had assembled to address the gathering.

Somewhat cynically, Granin noted that it was Biritite Cryslas, the fresh-faced youngster, who stepped forward to address the gathered Shapers. Presenting the face of change, the new way, as full of promise and youthful vigour. An innocent face atop the monster beneath.

Granin inwardly cursed. Stuck here in the outpost, he didn�t have any opportunity to contact his own allies. The broader picture hovered beyond his grasp. It was possible that the insane blood sport that was about to take place here was being replicated across Cult strongholds all over the golgari empire. How many promising monsters, reared with care over the years, the culmination of all the research and effort of their forebears, would be destroyed in the pursuit of this short-sightedness?

�Welcome, all. It�s wonderful to see so many members of the Cult of the Worm able to meet in such open congress. This is certainly the first time I�ve been able to witness such a gathering, and I�m certain there will be many more in the near future.�

Warm applause greeted these words as Cryslas balanced being both abashed and pleased at the approbation of her fellows. Behind her, the two older members of her Triad looked on with approval.

�As happy as I am, as we all are, to witness the strides the Cult of the Worm has taken over the last decade, we must be sure we do not rest on our laurels. The leadership has determined that a sense of urgency must infuse our work going forward. Our purpose has remained the same over the duration of our existence. To reach that end, we have accumulated knowledge, experience, and resources through rigorous experimentation and practical application of our craft.

�Now comes the time when we must put these things to use. The pressure is building upon us, and we need to apply that pressure to our charges. In the heat of the crucible, we hope to create a perfect being. Perfect as Yarrum is perfect. A monster of indomitable strength, unyielding will, and inevitable victory. It is our hope, that through the coming contest, the final Ancient will be born.�

More applause, rapturous this time. Many voices called out to Yarrum to watch over their efforts as they struggled to fulfil his command and break the chains of this world.

Amidst all the activity, Granin and his fellow Triad members were a point of stillness. They showed no joy or acclaim, nor any response at all.

Ever watchful, Irette Plamine, first in the leading Triad in the outpost, took notice of this lack of enthusiasm, though she quickly dismissed it. The ant would be crushed underfoot soon enough. There was no need to be concerned with Lazus and his ilk.

Cryslas raised one hand, and quiet gradually descended on the gathering.

�Each Triad here represents one monster in the coming trial, one hope of the cult. I urge each and every one of you to give your all in ensuring your charge puts forward all of their strength. Only through your combined efforts will we be able to crown the most deserving candidate. We have gathered together worthy specimens from Cult strongholds across a five hundred kilometre stretch of the empire. An effort that has proven once again the growing might and influence of our cause. Each of these specimens represents the distilled wisdom of our elders, and I for one can�t wait to see which will be the most worthy!�

Shouts and cheers rose from the gathered Shapers as they called out the names of their own charges, each wanting to demonstrate their conviction that it would be their monster who would reign supreme. Granin had his reservations. If his hunch was correct, the leading Triad already had a favourite picked out. The contest was merely an excuse to feed as much experience and Biomass to their chosen monster as possible.

�The pairings for the first round have been drawn. To ensure objectivity, my Triad and I have randomised the process to the best of our ability. If you have any concerns with the draw, please don�t hesitate to speak with Oridene Gravus.�

The old golgari glared hard at the surrounding Shapers, practically daring them to bring a complaint before him. Granin doubted anyone would take them up on the offer.

Not delaying any longer, Cryslas summoned a block of stone from the floor using Earth Magic. With another wave, letters began to appear on the stone, revealing the pairings for all to see.

The eager Shapers jostled for position, pushing past each other to get a better glimpse. As though they could seize some sort of advantage by finding the name of their opponent a few seconds ahead of the enemy. Although Corun bounced on his heels, their Triad waited patiently for the frenzy to die down before they began to push their way forward.

When he finally reached the stone, Granin ran his eyes over it dispassionately until he found the name he was looking for. Seeing the opponent, his eyes flickered, then he turned to his two allies.

�Let�s go. We�ve got work to do.�

As a unit, they walked away from the excited murmurings of the gathering.

They had to trade a few favours to get the information they wanted, but in the end, it was easier than Granin thought it would be. If there was one thing Shapers were eager to blabber about, it was powerful monsters.

�What do you think, boss?� Corun asked, concern written all over his face.

In contrast, Torrina was composed. Granin eyed her appreciatively. It seemed as if she�d already reached the same conclusions he had, except with access to less information. She really was a hidden gem. He�d lucked out when the other Triads refused to take her. She was the most promising young golgari he�d seen for a long time.

�They�ve mucked up,� Granin stated confidently. �They wanted to crush Anthony early and use him as food for one of their favourites. I expected as much from the beginning. Heartless cretins. Despite the fact he�s a reincarnator, they just don�t believe the ant archetype has any hope of becoming individually strong.�

Corun couldn�t help but shrug a little sheepishly.

�I have to say, I agreed with them until recently,� he admitted. �Common wisdom in the Cult has dismissed ants as a dead end without promise.�

�I think we know that�s not true anymore,� Torrina stated.

�Don�t get ahead of yourselves,� Granin warned. �Our current charge is far stronger than I would have expected an ant to become, but he�s far from achieving the sort of level he needs. We just got lucky in the first round.�

�I don�t get it,� Corun said. �It�d be nice if someone clued me in.�

Granin slapped him on the back.

�In their hubris, they�ve played straight into our greatest strength, putting the heaviest, slowest beast they have up against the ant. All power, no brain,� he huffed with displeasure. �No elegance at all.�

�Isn�t that a bad thing? Big and strong? Sounds like Anthony is going to get crushed like a� bug?�

�Not to worry. I think we�ll get to see some interesting faces tomorrow.� Granin chuckled evilly. �I can hardly wait.�

The combat grounds had been used by the Cult of the Worm to conduct field tests and training for prospective candidates for many years. It was a wide, circular field of loose sand and obstructing stones that had been created for this purpose. It wasn�t easy to operate this kind of facility under the nose of the Shaper�s Circle, which is why the Cult strictly practised these sorts of activities in out-of-the-way outposts, away from the cities and the prying eyes of those who would obstruct them. This was, however, the first time the combat grounds would be used for such a brutal and bloody competition.

Oridene Gravus shifted in his seat as the murmur and hum of his fellow Cult members increased in pitch and intensity. Tonight, the first few battles of the contest would take place, and there were several bouts he was looking forward to. Particularly the first.

Customarily, the viewing area would be a place of silent reflection and learning as diligent members helped to train their candidates through live battle. On this night, things were a little more� energetic. Even though he was happy to acknowledge the influx of energy and enthusiasm into the Cult over the last decade, Gravus was undoubtedly not entirely comfortable with the rapid pace of change taking place.

But he would endure it, gladly. Creating and guiding the twentieth Ancient was a sacred task, bestowed upon them by the Eternal Worm itself. A being so much greater than the entire golgari empire put together. When the circle was complete and their shackles were broken, they would experience true freedom. For this, any sacrifice was worth it.

A rattling reached his ears, drawing his attention to the main gates, sitting forward in anticipation. This promised to be an interesting spectacle. On the far end of the combat grounds, the gate inched upward until it locked into position with a resounding thud. From the shadowed recesses of the tunnel, a large monster tentatively emerged.

The ant had arrived.

The tone of the watching Shapers became derisive and critical. Gravus didn�t even need to hear what they were saying to understand the sentiments they expressed. Although the ant-type monster was amongst the most feared and despised of all the different archetypes, nobody held high hopes for this creature.

It was almost ironic. Ants had caused untold amounts of devastation throughout the Dungeon over the centuries, wiping out cities, annihilating ecosystems, and cleansing vast swathes of territory in breathtakingly short spans of time. The discovery of a nest was enough to put most of the Dungeon�s civilised powers on a war footing until complete extermination had been achieved.

Yet Gravus couldn�t muster any fear of this creature. A lone ant was only fearsome because it signified the presence of a horde of similar creatures nearby. No Dungeon inhabitant throughout all of Pangera would lose to a single ant! Baseline stats were too low, offensive potential was weak, defensive prowess was below average, well below average for an invertebrate. They came from such a low base, and potential evolutions had such little promise. It was just this creature�s poor luck to be reborn as such a weak monster.

To his knowledge, this was the first and only reincarnator to be born into an ant monster, at least that had come to the attention of the Cult. In many ways, it was quite the waste. This Anthony character had an� interesting attitude. If circumstances had been different, there was a chance that cooperation between them would have been fruitful.

Alas, the unfortunate nature of his rebirth made it impossible. Reincarnated monsters were something of a special interest for the Cult, as they often provided the greatest insights. A cooperative monster like Sarah was a gold mine of information and research. What was so pitiful about Anthony�s case, was that there was simply no interest within the Cult to investigate the possibilities of an individual ant.

Gravus almost started when someone suddenly sat down heavily beside him, interrupting his musings on the unnaturally-still insect brooding in the grounds. He was quite irritated to find it was Granin Lazus.

�Do you not have somewhere to be? Like supporting your candidate alongside your Triad?� Gravus groused.

Granin responded with a wry chuckle.

�I don�t believe too much fussing is going to be necessary for this one, Gravus. Do you?�

Oridene Gravus grunted in response. At least Lazus wasn�t a complete fool, despite what his record might suggest. He�d probably seen the writing on the wall the moment the pairings were released and not bothered wasting any time on the creature.

�I�m glad to see you�ve held on to a little of your intellect,� Gravus harrumphed.

�Oh, stow it, you cantankerous old goat,� Granin said. �Always convinced you�re on the right side of everything, aren�t you? Not much has changed. If I didn�t want to see your face at the end of this, I wouldn�t have bothered sitting up here.�

Having said his piece, Granin folded both arms across his chest and stared into the pit with rapt attention as the opposing gate began to rattle open.

Somewhat taken aback by his fellow Shaper�s words, Gravus took a few seconds to process the sharp remark. Did Granin actually think the ant could win? Had he gone completely soft in the head? Too much time out in the field might have weakened his judgement, perhaps? With a contemptuous snort, the older of the two Shapers turned his attention to the field. He�d ignore this fool�s jibes for now, plenty of time to make him eat his words when his charge had been flattened and eaten.

With a resounding crash, the second gate slammed into position, and from the shadows, a massive creature shuffled forward. When it was fully revealed, gasps and a wave of excited chattering arose from the spectating Cult members. A huge, bulky frame supported on eight thick, powerful legs, the Rhinosergradon was an imposing sight. A large, brutish head that sported three gleaming horns emerged into the light. Thick bone-plating pushed through leathery skin, providing even more defence atop the rock hard skin covering the creature.

It was a slow-moving boulder of a monster, at least four times the weight of the ant that faced it from across the field. The moment it laid its eyes on its opponent, the hulking brute huffed out a blast of air, lowered its horn and charged! The ground rumbled beneath the beast�s feet; even Gravus�s seat vibrated with each step, causing an appreciative gleam to light up in his eye.

Trying to contain the smugness that arose in his heart, he glanced toward the Shaper sitting next to him. To his surprise, Granin didn�t look the least bit worried. In fact, he appeared calmer than before.

�It�s even slower than I thought it would be,� Granin observed. �This thing is so slow, no way you could trust it to hit a deadline.�

Gravus wanted to retort at the idiocy Granin was spilling, but things developed quickly on the combat grounds. The charge of the Rhinosergradon rapidly gained momentum and speed, smashing through the boulders in its way as if they were made of paper. He leaned back with satisfaction at the sight.

�An experiment from our brothers and sisters in the north of the empire. This creature represents the distilled wisdom of the Cult in the fields of strength and toughness! Not many will be able to resist its devastating charge.�

A cold snort was the only reply as Granin kept his eyes glued to the battle. The ant attempted to retaliate, firing a rapid series of dark purple bolts at the oncoming threat, as well as raising its rear-most segment to unleash several blasts of acid.

Reincarnators often presented interesting and unusual builds. Gravus was intrigued by what the ant was capable of, only to be disappointed at the total lack of effect from the strikes. The purple bolt spells struck their target with ease, the Rhinosergradon being as large as it was. Although, there was no visible effect. Some kind of curse perhaps? The acid was even more ineffectual, sizzling and bubbling away, it wasn�t able to penetrate the thick hide of the charging rhino.

What was that magic? Not being able to identify a particular spell at first glance wasn�t unusual, but the complete and utter lack of visual effect was baffling. What was the ant hoping to achieve?

When the Rhinosergradon reached halfway across the field, the ant still showed no sign of moving from its position. Blast after blast of the purple bolt flew out along with more acid strikes. The target for the acid appeared to have shifted, as it began to land lower on the body, striking the legs and shoulders of the beast, continuing to have little effect.

Undeterred, the powerful rhino monster built more speed. This was one of the key mutations incorporated into this creature�s build. An impressive innovation by the Shapers, to say the least. The longer the beast charged, the faster it would be able to go, turning itself into an unstoppable hammer of mass and power!

Though it appeared slow and overburdened by its excessive mass, the opposite was true! By standing still, the ant played directly into the strengths of the opponent. If he�d had the wit to move closer to his larger opponent and attempt to circle, it would have been harder for the beast to build up sufficient speed to achieve an unavoidable charge. By standing in one place, the Rhinosergradon was absolved of needing to turn and bleeding momentum. This battle was all but over.

�I hope you thought to reinforce the wall before you allowed that thing to come out,� Granin observed idly.

Gravus� eyes narrowed. He wasn�t sure if that work had been done. This could be bad.

�You aren�t worried that your charge is going to get splatted?� Gravus sneered.

�No. I�m worried that several of my fellow Cult members are going to experience serious injuries.�

It seemed as if the Cult members felt the same way. Those who were in line with the unstoppable beast were beginning to scramble out of the way and make a run for safer seats. They didn�t have long to execute the move, for in the final stretch of distance, the Rhinosergradon utilised the Dash Skill and transformed itself into a blurry streak that shot forward as if it were launched using Air Magic. At the same time, it lowered its horn and stabbed forward, sending a wide blast of light streaking toward the hapless ant.

BOOM!

The massive rhino slammed into the wall like a gigantic, speeding boulder, causing the entire outpost to shake. The Shapers in the viewing areas not sitting down were bowled over, and even those sitting were rocked back and forth, having to take a moment to recollect their balance. Dust and debris of what was left of the wall trailed through the air before slamming into the ground. Many onlookers were forced to employ their own magical arts to deflect the projectiles. Fortunately, nobody appeared hurt.

�As I thought�sufficient power and a well-crafted build are more than enough to overcome an insect with enhanced mental stats. Hardly a surprise,� the leading Shaper sneered.

Granin shook his head.

�This is the problem with you people. So sure of what you think you know, you can�t change your minds when reality is smacking you in the face.�

�What are you talking about? Are we even watching the same contest?�

�Apparently not. Look down, moron.�

One granite-covered arm rose to point, and Gravus turned his head almost despite himself. The dust had begun to clear and the scene that was revealed was comical. The Rhinosergradon had executed its charge splendidly, achieving an almost irresistible amount of force at the apex for creatures of the same tier. Anything struck by that blow would be annihilated. Yet that impressive attack left it lodged firmly in the reinforced stone wall. Only the back half of its body remained visible, the rear four legs scrabbling at the loose sand of the combat grounds to try and extricate itself from the predicament.

Where the ant had stood was now revealed to be a hole in the ground from which two antennae began to emerge. The two sensory organs twitched this way and that, then the mandibles and head of the ant cleared the top of the tunnel, followed by the rest of the creature. Seeing its opponent wedged into the debris, even the ant appeared stunned before it happily began to renew its barrage of purple bolt spells, again to no apparent effect.

�One dimensional monsters are wonderful thought experiments.� Derision and contempt dripped from Granin�s voice as he delighted in the sight of his candidate tormenting his opponent. �Achieving theoretical maximums of force and toughness, it�s no doubt great fun. Everyone loves to see the big numbers. But they are never and have never been viable monsters outside of a vacuum. I almost spat out my drink when I heard a Triad spent four years grooming this Rhinosergradon. A colossal waste of time and effort. Being too rigid is a tremendous weakness�something the Cult has been aware of for almost a thousand years, mind you.�

The criticism stung Gravus, just as much as his expected winner�s feeble attempts to extricate itself. He had to retort.

�It�s not over yet. The Rhinosergradon has the strongest defence of all the candidates in this experiment. An ant has only a feeble offensive base. Despite the fact that it�s buried in the wall, the rhino has yet to take any damage at all. It�s too soon to declare yourself the winner!�

Granin just shook his head as Anthony cast Gravity Bolt after Gravity Bolt into his hapless opponent. Considering the starting mass of that fat rhino, after being hit with twenty condensed Gravity Bolts, how heavy had it become?

Anthony had been prepared to share a few things with Granin, even though he�d remained guarded throughout their conversation. The revelation of Gravity Magic had been the most startling, something that surprised Anthony quite a bit.

When Granin pressed him, he�d been happy to admit it was a force quite commonly understood in his own world. It was odd that in the Cult of the Worm�s long history of cultivating relationships with reincarnators, records of this branch of magic hadn�t become widely known. The ant theorised that could be because deeper understanding of just how important and powerful Gravity could be was relatively recent on his past world, and that the time relationship between the two places was quite wibbly-wobbly. It�s possible that most of the individuals they�d interacted with in the past simply hadn�t known about it.

Regardless, the conversation had developed, and Anthony complained that he was yet to gain access to the Gravity Magic Affinity Skill, which had given Granin an opportunity to share his knowledge.

Magic, he�d explained, was divided into distinct tiers. Gaining access to the next tier required either a certain mastery of the previous one, or a powerful affinity with a particular type of Mana. A monster who chose many death-related mutations would be far more likely to gain access to that particular type of Mana earlier, even if they didn�t have a Death Mana Gland. In terms of what magic fell into which tiers, that was sometimes fuzzy.

The first and most accessible were the base elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Almost everyone was required to start with one or more of these. Some Shapers chose to spend a significant amount of time mastering two, three, or even all four of these base elements, whereas others Levelled up just one as quickly as they could in order to move on to more powerful forms of magic.

There were positives and negatives to both schools of thought, though Granin tended to think that having a strong foundation in the elements was useful, especially in the field. The spells were easier, the Mana more forgiving to work with. When you were exhausted, stressed, and mentally drained, it was far easier to draw on Air or Fire Mana than it was to try and manipulate something like Shadow, or Poison.

From those four base elements, there were plenty of places to go. At certain levels of mastery, the base elements could be fused to create more powerful varieties or ranked up to give access to more specialised or powerful forms. Water could rank up to unlock ice, fire to unlock Blue Flame. Earth and fire could be fused at rank three to form Lava Mana Affinity. Similarly, wind and water could unlock Fog Mana Affinity. Or those options could be discarded, and the practitioner could perhaps unlock the rare elements: Lightning, Wood, Metal, and Decay.

Above that, the more abstract powers began to appear: Healing, Mind, Life, Death, Doom, Fate, Space, Heart, and many others. There was a great deal of disagreement about exactly which affinity belonged in which tier, because each individual was given different options by the System depending on a myriad of factors that nobody had been able to accurately map.

Anthony himself was a perfect example, skipping ahead to Mind and Healing Mana without having to progress through the rare elements. Granin surmised this was due to his Gravity Mana Gland and regular use of that Mana type, combined with his generally weak base element Skills, causing the System to shunt him higher up.

Exactly where Gravity Mana fell into the tier ratings, Granin couldn�t be certain. From what he�d been able to understand from the ant�s somewhat rambling explanations, it was probably on par with Space, or even above it.

Granin had cautioned him not to be too flagrant with the more powerful aspects of this Mana type. If he were to pull off something too crazy, then he�d be set upon by the Cult in their desperation to unlock the secrets of this new magic. At that point, he would never have any semblance of freedom.

Still, judging by the reactions of the spectators, quite a few were growing curious about the strange purple Mana the giant ant seemed to be happily pelting at his opponent. The more the Rhinosergradon was hit, the slower and more lethargic it became. Its originally vigorous and powerful movements had become increasingly sluggish and pained, as if the creature had the weight of a mountain on its back. Which it did, in some ways.

�What is going on?� Gravus couldn�t help but ask.

Such a physically powerful monster was acting as if it had been drained of all its strength, no longer able to even support its own body! Had the ant drained its physical stats in some way? Inflicted some sort of strength-reducing curse? Such a thing usually didn�t stack well, each successive cast achieving less than the last. Such abilities weren�t capable of achieving this sort of effect!

He ground his teeth in irritation. The more lopsided the battle below became, the more satisfaction radiated from the seat beside him. The blasted fool, Granin, wasn�t even bothering to hide it, openly grinning and even chuckling as his charge fired spell after spell into the now faltering backside of its opponent.

�Such a powerful beast,� Granin happily mocked. �So strong! Look there, it can almost stand up under its own weight! Oh. No. Never mind, it collapsed. For a moment there, I thought the finest minds in the Cult had wrought a true masterpiece. The next Ancient was right before my eyes!�

�It�s not over yet!� Gravus snapped. �Whatever curses that damned ant has applied will wear off eventually. I don�t believe it has a way to break through the Rhinosergradon�s defence!�

Granin couldn�t believe what he was hearing.

�Still not giving up? The damned fatty can�t even stand! Don�t be more stubborn than the stone on your skin, Gravus!�

Indeed, even the ant seemed to think things were getting pathetic. Before the boggled eyes of the watching Shapers, the ant ceased firing its spells and climbed directly onto the back of the struggling rhino monster. Goodness knows what the team who�d designed and reared this creature thought, watching a pathetic ant of all things literally standing on top of their masterpiece.

What occurred next was even more jarring. The ant turned this way and that, its antennae tipping and tapping rapidly as it clearly tried to find a gap in the tough bone-plating that covered the rhino. When it was unable to find one, the ant almost slumped with weariness before it reared back and bared its mandibles.

CHOMP!

The bite was far more powerful than those observing expected. The dark energy that manifested bit down hard on the plating, sending chips flying into the air. One bite wasn�t nearly enough, though, and the ant continued to chomp as the creature struggled weakly beneath it.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

The gallery was then treated to the sight of an ant flopping down on its opponent�s back to rest and recover its stamina for a full five minutes. At this point, Granin was sure he heard the sound of the rhino�s Triad passing out from pure rage.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

�CHOMP!

�Uh� We have a victor! The Rhinosergradon has fallen to the� ant.�

Granin frowned. Even the adjudicator was being unprofessional. Standards in the Cult had fallen badly.

Gravus audibly ground his teeth as muttered conversations broke out amongst the stands.

Oblivious to it all, Anthony had once again slumped down to rest. After a minute or two, he shook off the lethargy and, watched by the apoplectic gaze of the Shapers who�d sacrificed years to rear the perfect rhino, he began to eat.

Hmmm�

He� hehe�

HeheHA� Hoo�

Ha! Hahahahaha!

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Victory! Sweet, sweet victory has been secured! For the colony! For all of ant-kind! I almost felt sorry for that stupid rhino monster. I rate the monster as little more than a ridiculous concept. It was too slow when it mattered, and unable to defend itself in so many situations. Hardly the kind of thing that could be depended on in any sort of situation. After battering it with a hail of condensed Gravity Bolts, it was unable to muster any sort of resistance at all!

When the monster can�t even move, surely they couldn�t have believed I wouldn�t be able to break through that tough defence eventually? Morons! Pure morons! Now they�ll be forced to bow before the mighty strength of the ant! They have no choice but to acknowledge our superiority.

GWEHEHEHEHEHEHE!

[They still think you�re useless,] Granin broke into my triumphant internal monologue.

WHAT?

After the battle, I�d eaten my fill of the rhino and been escorted back to my cell. Fortunately, the Shapers weren�t cheap enough to rob me, and my hard-won Biomass was delivered to my cell, along with the core of the slain monster. Granin appeared shortly after for a debrief, radiating smugness.

[How did you even know what I was thinking?] I demand.

[It�s not hard to work it out. You�re very prideful of your species, and your antennae do this weird twitchy-thing when you get overly happy.]

Dangit.

[Though it is nice to see you in a better mood, at any rate,] Granin continues. [You�ve been a little unsteady for a while now. If you don�t mind me saying so.]

[I wonder why that would be?]

He does have a point. Being captured and thrown into this terrible situation has thrown me off-balance. It�s been a real struggle to adapt to the rapid change in my circumstances and face being put at the mercy of others for the first time since my rebirth. My stress has been building to dangerous levels. Although it would be weird for a human to say, having the opportunity to battle and triumph has really helped me settle down. I�m thinking more clearly, and I feel calmer.

I can�t hold onto the grudge. That won�t help me get out of this situation. That�s something I need to keep on reminding myself. The time to hold tight to the grudge is after I�ve made my escape and make contact with the colony�

[See, you�re doing it again�the happy antennae wiggling-thing.]

[Ah� How curious.]

[Don�t waste the core of this beast either. It�s a tier six, and they made sure to stuff it full at every Level. Could even make an interesting pet�]

[Rejected. I already have a meathead, power pet. I don�t need another.]

[You mean the ape? This creature is far superior to that�]

[Rejected.]

[Fine.]

Granin shakes his head and dismisses the thought with a wave of his hand.

[Have you taken any time to look at your status since the fight?]

[I haven�t, actually. I know I got a few Levels�]

[May as well take a peek. Then we can work out what you need to do before the next battle. We should have a few days.]

[Right.]

I quickly bring up my menu and check out my status.

Name: Anthony

Level: 23 (Rare) (V)

Might: 91

Toughness: 79

Cunning: 64

Will: 55

HP: 158/158

MP: 280/280

Skills

General:

Expert Excavation Level 7 (III); Expert Grip Level 2 (III); Expert Stealth Level 1 (III); Tunnel Map Level 10 (II); Iron Mind Level 6 (IV); Expert Stamina Level 12 (III); Profound Meditation Level 16 (III); Flicker Dash Level 10 (III)

Mana:

Mana Transformation Level 20 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 11 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 15 (III); Mana Coveter Level 7 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Empowered Mind Magic Affinity Level 6 (III); Expanded Mana Sensing Level 8 (III); Empowered Healing Magic Affinity Level 4 (III); Advanced Fire Magic Affinity Level 5 (II); Advanced Earth Magic Affinity Level 2 (II)

Pet:

Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Core Crafting Level 2 (IV); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I)

Defensive:

Master Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 2 (IV); Advanced Dodge Level 8 (II); Advanced Endure Level 4 (II); Advanced Grace Level 3 (II)

Offensive:

Deadly Acid Shot Level 9 (III); Expert Precise Shooting Level 2 (III); Omen Chomp Level 8 (IV)

Mutations:

Senses:

Heightened Perimeter Eyes +20; Oracle Antennae +20

Defence:

Complete Diamond Carapace +25; Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating +20

Physical:

Tough Rapid Osmotic Legs +20; Bright Empowered Mandibles +20; Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20; Convincing Pheromone Gland +20; Vast Hungering Stomach +25; Blink Musculature +15; Transmission Sub-Neural Network +15

Acid:

Mana Feasting Bind Acid +20; Hyper Pressurised Acid Nozzle +10; Thickened Potent Acid Concentration Gland +10; Rapid Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +10

Mental:

Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20

Mana:

Unending Gravity Magic Gland +20; Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5

Species: Juvenile Colony Paragon (Formica Sapiens)

Skill Points: 6

Biomass: 327

A lot of progress has been made! Having my sub-brains grinding away at Skills has been worth it. My Mana Manipulation has maxed out, which is nice. I�ll rank that baby up immediately. External Mana Manipulation is climbing particularly well, this can only be a good thing. Tunnel Map has also hit the cap, but since I can�t go anywhere, I�m a little reluctant to upgrade it� The elemental magics are chugging along. I haven�t started on air yet, but I should get there at some point. Some point soon in fact, so I may as well go ahead and purchase that. After grinding for food and chomping on most of the rhino, I�ve piled up a good bank of Biomass as well, all of which needs spending!

A heck of a long way to go for my next evolution. Level eighty seems forever away. I doubt I�ll get to it during this darned competition, at any rate.

I�m not willing to reveal too much information to Granin, but I feel as though the rock-man has earned at least some degree of trust from me. Certainly, there is a lot I can learn from him. Whereas the sophos were willing to share their secrets of Core Shaping and pet rearing, they were more closed-mouthed on general System knowledge.

I was able to learn some stuff from Beyn, but his knowledge is specialised for humans. These guys, the cultists, have an incredibly in-depth understanding of the System from the monster perspective. I�m not likely to find another opportunity like this for a long time!

After I share some of my information with Granin, he thinks about the awesome specimen of ant that is me, and all of my fantastical achievements, no doubt.

[So� you have a total of four brains inside that shell of yours?]

[Yep.]

[And a coordination cortex?]

[Sure do.]

[�Why?]

Isn�t it obvious?

[You aren�t convinced of the glorious power of multiple brains after that display? The answer is simple! So I can think about multiple things at once! I can cast multiple spells at the same time, maintain multiple Mana constructs. It seemed like an inevitable choice if I wanted to use magic in fights.]

[Except you could have taken the Split Thought Skill and achieved the same result with one, powerful brain. In a way, you aren�t wrong. There is plenty of value for a monster to have multiple minds. The reason we don�t see it often in monsters that occur in the Dungeon, or even those we raise in the Cult, is that it takes a tremendous amount of evolutionary energy to develop mental stats, brain matter being as complex as it is. By investing so much into your brains, you�ve sacrificed a lot in other areas.]

[I mean, yes. I did go very much in a magic-focused direction to begin with.]

[Right, but what�s happened is that your other stats have lagged behind where they need to be in order to be competitive at your tier of evolution. I also doubt your mutations focus in one direction, but rather have all sorts of effects?]

[Maybe�]

[Mhmm� On the multiple brains, did you ever consider how the surface races raised powerful mages, seeing as we can�t develop new brains?]

[You know what, I never considered it.]

[No reason why you should, I suppose. For those of us with magic-related classes, we gain mental stats with every Level up, which can lead to some big numbers. Even so, we can�t think of multiple things at once without the Skill I mentioned, but even that has limits. If you Level up External Mana Manipulation and Mind Magic far enough, you�ll be able to use external mind constructs. Essentially, they�re constructs made from Mind Magic that simulate a brain. They still rely on the thinking power of the brain which cast it, but it allows a Shaper to think about multiple things at once.]

[Wait a second. If I have four brains, and each of them is able to create these simulated brains�]

[With high Level Skills, you could have each brain running three constructs, for a total of twelve.]

Holy moly!

[Don�t get too excited,] Granin warned. [Your brains are more than likely too weak to make effective use of the technique. A small amount of mental power divided into three means you�ll have three useless mind constructs. Having powerful minds that utilise this technique isn�t any better than simply creating more brains, but it is more efficient by a decent percentage. You�ll want to develop in this direction in the future, so you�ll have more evolutionary energy left over to supplement your other stats.]

[I thought you�d want me to pour it all into mental stats.]

[That would be better,] Granin admits. [However, you aren�t an unthinking monster I get to shape. You have your own mind, and you can do what you want.]

[I knew we were friends, Granin!]

[Oh heck, no. I hate you�deeply.]

[Still, one advantage you have over monsters of your tier is you have a fairly capable basis for multiple thought-threads, which is the optimal way to grind your mental Skills.]

[That�s what I�ve been doing. At least lately. The idea was to advance my magic as fast as possible to unlock the Gravity Magic Affinity. I have a feeling once I get it, it�ll be strong.]

[I�ve no doubt of that,] Granin says. [Space Magic is one of the most advanced forms of magic known, and only old boulders like myself have increased the Level of our Skills to the point we can unlock it. Even then, Levelling it up is extremely slow. Only the most powerful and gifted of Shapers can do more than create and open Gates with it.]

Thinking of an army of ants teleporting around through magical gateways, I mutter: [Yeah, well, gates sound pretty good.]

[You aren�t wrong. They form a huge part of every Dungeon civilisation. I�d go so far as to say colonising the Dungeon would have been impossible without it. If your Gravity Magic is as fundamental as that, it may be some time before you�re able to unlock the affinity.]

[Dammit�]

[Agreed.] Granin sighs, and I definitely don�t like how despondent it sounds. [Acquiring that Skill would be the easiest and fastest way to power you up. Since you don�t have access to it, and we don�t know when you will, there�s little point in trying to grind for it now. If we throw all our eggs in that basket and the Skill doesn�t show up, then you�ll end up in a bad way.]

[I don�t know about that,] I protest. [It�s not as if that last battle was a real struggle. I dealt with that supposedly powerful monster with ease.]

Granin gives me a long, steady look. I can almost hear his thoughts turning in his head, witnessing just how hard he�s struggling not to call me an idiot.

[Out with it, then,] I sigh.

The Shaper shrugged heavily and sat down before me.

[Anthony, that rhino was a stupid thought experiment. Had it landed that charge on you, you would have exploded into a thousand tiny pieces in an instant.]

[What about my Diamond Carapace?]

[In an instant,] he insists. [Your carapace wouldn�t count for squat. That beast was carefully raised over a period of years, fed cores and Biomass, tested in battle after battle. It took the blood, sweat, and tears of a team of three Shapers to create, and it was a certified killing machine. Luckily for you, it wasn�t that smart, and it was inflexible. I don�t think the poor creature even considered you would use Earth Magic to open a tunnel beneath you whilst casting all those other spells.]

[Sooo, you�re saying I was lucky.]

[In a way, you were very lucky. The opponent was lacking in intelligence, which is something you have an unfair advantage in, since you�re a reincarnator. Most of the monsters you�ll face will be smarter, some of them will be just as clever as the average human.]

[I thought it wasn�t popular to invest in mental stats at this tier?]

[That�s true, but creating a hulking brute without a brain is just asking for your expensive, labour-intensive project to club its own brain out with a rock. Remember, these aren�t pets. They are true, wild monsters that have undergone extensive core shaping after spawning.]

He makes a good point. Tiny has been as much a hindrance as he has a help at various points. In some ways, it just adds to his lovable charm, but in others� it�s nearly gotten us killed. It�s all trade-offs.

[What�s the play, then? What do you think I need to work on?]

Instead of answering directly, the Shaper asks, [What are your basic elemental Skills like?]

[You mean fire, water, earth, and air? I mean. I have them. None of them are past rank three, though.]

[Oh? That�s better than I thought. If you can get all of them to rank three and fuse them, you�ll have a bit more firepower in your corner.]

[Rank three? Is that all? I thought fusions would be better the higher rank the Skills were. Shouldn�t I try and hold on for rank four at least?]

Granin hesitates.

[Technically, yes. The rank four fusion is stronger than the third rank one. The fifth is even better than that. I�m not sure that anyone has done rank six. Certainly, I�ve no idea what that fusion might result in. You�d have to Level up the four Skills one hundred and fifty-five times each, which would take a heck of a long time.]

[But it would be worth it in the long run�]

[Surviving in the short-term has to trump planning for the long-term at some point�]

He may have a point� But nobody got anywhere without taking risks! I have a feeling like if I compromise too much, then my path to power in the future is going to get cut short. Compromise now, compromise in the future, when will it end? I need to push hard, right now. Also, I have an advantage Granin doesn�t know about. The Gravity Bomb. I know it�s a risk, but if I get deep enough into this tournament, then hopefully, the Cult won�t be so prepared to sacrifice me to learn about my magic, and I can snag a free win by blasting some poor monster into a compressed ball of their former selves.

[You�ve got to go big or go home, Granin! We�re shooting for a more powerful fusion�rank five! Hit me up top!]

I raise a foreleg for the inevitable five, but to my mounting shock, it appears as if Granin fully intends to leave me hanging. Perhaps he�s able to sense my mounting despair over the mental link, because he speaks up after a moment.

[I have no idea why you�re raising your leg. I need to hit you, where? And by the way, you do realise that in this case �going home� means being murdered and then eaten?]

[It�s a high five, you need to� never mind. Yes, I understand that I�m taking a significant risk. I just feel like if I can get as much strength as possible from the base elements, then I won�t need anything else to push me through until I can finally get my Gravity Affinity.]

[Ahh� I take your point. If you can get ahold of a more powerful fusion, then it may prove to be more efficient going forward. I just hope we can keep you alive up to that point.]

[If I don�t manage it, it�s not as if I�ll have to worry about what comes after.]

[True. Just what sort of life did you live on your world?]

[Pretty ordinary, I suppose. I mean, I think so? Stabbings are common, or so I believe�]

[You died from stabbing? That sounds rough.]

[What? No, no, no. A stabbing is just a hospital visit, no worries there. Got patched up a few times. No, no� I starved to death.]

[How the hell�]

[Doesn�t really matter, does it? Bug off, Granin. Time for training!]

I spent the next two days training my Skills. In order to maximise my training speed, members of Granin�s Triad came to assist me. Something I�d already noticed is that Skills train much faster in combat situations. Field practice, so to speak. But the System doesn�t actually seem too picky about what exactly counts as combat, since I can shape the earth beneath Torrina�s feet over and over again, and hey, that counts.

I�m not complaining about it, not really. My Skills are going up faster, after all. I just can�t help but feel a little put out that there are such obvious loopholes in the System�s mechanics. Surely, Gandalf could have thought of some of these exploits.

I�ve no idea where Granin has got himself off to�haven�t seen him these last two days. Torrina and Corun keep me company instead. The former doesn�t say much. Although, her quiet competence and advice with handling magic are well-received. The latter doesn�t shut up and keeps me informed of all the goings-on back in the combat area.

I can feel the battles occurring now and again. Even here in my chamber, over a hundred metres away, the floor shakes and dust comes loose as the roof and walls rattle from the force of colossal impacts.

It�s going down out there in a big way, so I�m told. Every day, multiple battles occur as these mad Cult members throw their proto-Ancients at each other to see which monster comes out alive. After every fight, Corun runs into my chamber to rave about the battle, filling me in on all the gossip. I�d prefer it if he stopped telling me about how all the Shapers were reacting to the results. What do I care if some ancient stone-person was reduced to tears and movingly eulogised his monster pupil of ten years? I don�t! I don�t at all! These people are maniacs running a death tournament!

I mean, monsters kill each other all the time, right? We fight and eat each other, it�s only natural, if you can call anything concerning monsters born out of pure magical energy to be natural. It�s being forced to fight by these Shapers for their reasons that�s really rubbing me the wrong way. However, making use of their resources and knowledge is helping me, and I can take all of this knowledge back to the colony if I ever make it out of here.

Just thinking of what the family will be able to do with all of this knowledge is enough to make my mandibles quiver. The teleporting ant empire of doom will become a reality!

After two days of grinding, I get my Earth Mana Affinity to Level eight of the second rank and my Fire Mana Affinity to Level nine. With a little more time, I�ll get both of them to rank three, then I plan to switch over and start working on Air Mana.

I also gain five Levels in Mana Moulding. I love that Skill. Every time it Levels up, the knowledge of how to handle Mana just matures in my mind and I gain a little more speed, a little more finesse, and a bit more confidence. With my multiple minds, each sunk into the blessed, tranquil sea of meditation acting as a force multiplier, I get faster and faster at weaving my spells.

Toward the end of the second day, Granin finally reappears, along with another team of three Shapers, each looking super serious. Torrina has been acting as my �opponent� for training, and she quickly stands to one side when the others enter my chamber through the above door. Very swiftly, a Mind Bridge stretches out to me, and Granin�s voice echoes in my mind.

[How is the training going?]

[Good, I suppose. Numbers are going up, still a long way from where we want to be.]

[From where you want to be, you mean.] He can�t help but throw that in, can he? [I�m pretty sure you�ll be able to reach tier three in each of those basic elements before the next bout. But no matter. Get ready to move out, these three are going to be your escorts.]

I�m a little confused.

[Uh� Why? Didn�t you just say I�m not fighting now?]

[Not a fight. The matches for the day are done. Tomorrow will mark the end of the first round, and you�ll be up fairly quickly after that, I imagine. No, I�ve gotten permission for you to meet the other reincarnator the Cult has taken under its wing.]

[Oh, right! James, I think his name was?]

[Correct. He�s also not in the tournament, mainly due to some higher-ups pulling some serious strings. Lucky for him, really. He�s not that strong in a fight.]

Poor guy. At least he�s not in this deathmatch tournament, so it�s not all bad.

Much the same as when I was brought to meet Sarah, the Shaper escorts bring me out of my cell and through the tunnels, guiding me beyond the gates and out into the combat area. The space looks a great deal different after two straight days of brutal monster combat. Chunks have been ripped out of the ground, stones are smashed to pieces, the walls are scarred or outright destroyed in a few places. Not to mention the ichor stains on the ground and about the place. Phew, this is grim stuff.

What I don�t see is a monster. Where the heck is this James guy? Is he hiding behind a gate like Sarah was? If I wasn�t scared of the huge bear of death, I�m not likely to be scared of whatever this �weak at fighting� guy has become.

After a few more moments of confusion, a Mind Bridge connects to me from somewhere in the chamber.

[Eyyy. My fellow invertebrate! How�s things?]

I still don�t see anything. My antennae twitch, but I can�t sense any heat either. Where the heck is this guy? Is he invisible?

[Uhh. Good! I guess? Not really? Where the heck are you? Hiding? There�s no shame in being a monster, man. Come out and own it!]

[Me? Ashamed? Of this glorious form? Never! I just prefer it down here is all. I think you�ll understand when you see me. I�m coming up!]

Below?

Twenty metres away, the ground begins to rumble and abruptly bursts upward to reveal a weird, pointy mash of flesh that bulges outward to reveal a giant� worm? A body divided into segments, bright pink colouration, a distinct lack of eyes. He looks nothing like the intimidating sophos made worms of death, but rather a squishy-style worm ready for the end of a hook. The only remarkable thing about him is his size, more than twice as long as myself, possibly as much as fourteen metres in length.

[Soo� you�re a worm, James?]

[Yep!] his voice rings happily in my mind. [Check out this glorious body. Have you ever seen anything like it? I mean, technically I�m not a worm, I�m a Mature Elemental Worm of Earth.]

[Earthworm James?]

[Well, I mean, most of my friends call me Jim.]

[Nice to meet you, Jim. I�m Anthony. As you can see, I�m a big �ol ant.]

[I do see! Spines are overrated!]

[Agreed!]

Finally, someone who speaks a little sense.

[Yeah, these Cultists are crazy,] Jim says. [I shouldn�t have to say that, should I? They�re Cultists. Just because they worship the biggest and baddest worm in this world doesn�t mean they get to skate on that.]

[You make a solid point. Sarah doesn�t seem to share your point of view, though. She seemed a little more forgiving of them.]

The massive worm gives a little wriggle that I can only interpret as dismissal.

[Sarah�s just too nice. They took her in when she was desperate, gave her rest and someone to talk to, and she was won over inside a year. They basically let her get out of the monster life, go back to being civilised. I can�t blame her too much.]

[What about you? You�ve been here for a few years, so I hear. Gone native? Out of the monster game?]

[Me? Hell no! This incredible specimen of a Megadrile is still in the game! I�m just taking a rest and grinding my Skills. I had it rough out there, man. You think you had it tough as an ant? Try being a worm! How am I supposed to fight?]

The man has a point. Actually, the former-man-now-worm has a point. How exactly was he meant to fight?

[How did you fight?]

[I didn�t! I hid underground and snuck up to steal scraps of Biomass like the gorgeous detritovore that I am.]

[Not too dissimilar from my own early strategy, to be honest. How long did you have to keep that up?]

[About a year.]

[A YEAR?]

[Took a long time. Food was hard to come by. I spent most of my time starving, buried under the ground in the dark. The only way I could tell when monsters were near was through the tremors they sent into the ground.]

[That sounds rough. How the hell did you even get to this point?]

This is compelling stuff. I really didn�t think I�d ever run into someone that had a harder start than I did. It seems impossible that someone would be able to go from a blind, almost completely harmless worm to evolving at least three times by the look of him.

[Once I�d gotten up a few mutations, I started to gain confidence. Defence was a little better, sneaking Skills Levelled up some, and I was able to inject a poison by biting.]

[You have a mouth?]

[Of course I have a mouth! You think worms can�t eat?]

[You�re right. Stupid question. Go on.]

[I was able to start doing a little hunting. Small creatures here and there. Took another year before I was able to evolve.]

[Wait, wait�you didn�t form your core first?]

The giant worm twists angrily.

[How the hell was I supposed to know that core first is better? I spent two years getting to Level five! You think I had the patience to wait before finally getting some safety?]

[You make a good point, again. I apologise, Elemental Worm of Earth Jim. Do go on.]

Worms can�t shrug, the lack of shoulders makes it difficult, but somehow Jim conveys the general sense of one.

[Not much more to it. Kept slithering, kept grinding. Got my core, evolved a few more times, snuck my way down here and got picked up by the Worm Cult. They like having me around. Being a worm helps with that, I suppose. Wouldn�t mind meeting the big fella one day. Yarrum? Would love to know what sort of species he is. Wonder if he�d be willing to accept a worm bro. Worm son? Mini-me? I�ll work it out.]

This guy seems to have bottomless confidence in his way of the worm. It�s kind of inspiring. Now here�s someone who�s stuck fast to the path of loving the skin he�s in, just as I have. I need to stick to my guns, not that there was much chance of me doing any different! My ant soul burns bright, too bright! James and his worm obsession have nothing on my love of ants. I literally died for ants, dammit!

[Do you plan to just keep grinding here before leaving? Do you think they�ll let you leave?]

[The Shapers? Oh yeah. They might be nuts, but they�re usually on the level. Well, except lately. This whole death tournament thing? What the hell is this? Madness! They�ve lost what little they had left of their minds. Nuts, I�m telling you, nuts.]

[And you still think they�ll let you go?]

James� next words came out slowly, as if he were explaining something to someone very young. Or very dim.

[Anthony. I�m a worm. I literally eat rocks and dirt. At this point of my evolution, I think I can melt down metals and eat that too. How would they keep me here?]

I think he�s being a little na�ve. These Shapers have a whole lot of tricks up their sleeves, even though they don�t wear shirts. The moment he tries to wriggle out of their sight, I bet they knock him senseless with Mind Magic and drag him back up. Heck, maybe Jim knows that and he�s working on his mental defence Skills. It�s not really my business, I suppose. Just like with Sarah, other than being formerly human, what do we have in common? James is living his best worm life, and I have a new family, one that actually loves me.

Goddamn, that stung me in the thorax. Something I ate?

[Well, judging by the shifting feet of my escort over here, James�]

[Please, Anthony. Call me Jim.]

[Alright, Jim. I think they�re going to drag me back to my cell where I�ll resume grinding away at my Skills in the hopes that I won�t die. Any advice before I go?]

[Yeah, I think you�re right. Their faces don�t change much, but you can tell when they get fidgety.] Jim sounds a bit depressed as he confirms my suspicion. [Look, just try to cover your bases, alright? From what I know, the members of this Cult have been trying just about everything to create a new Ancient. Which means there�s all types of crazy monsters in this place. Just be aware that they can come at you from weird angles. You�re still young on Pangera, you haven�t seen how crazy stuff can get. So just, be careful.]

[That�s� given me something to think about. Thanks, Jim.]

[Anytime.]

The giant worm coils up like a plump snake and waves a friendly tail at me. I can�t help but wave my antennae back, and with a happy little wriggle, the worm dives, literally dives, into the ground, and in a flash, he�s gone. He can seriously move through that dirt! He might actually be able to do what he says. If he ever meets up with Yarrum, I hope he doesn�t get eaten.

[Alright boys and girls. I�m ready to go back to my cell! And when�s dinner around here, anyway?]

Another march through the tunnels and back to my cell where Granin is waiting.

[Did you have a good conversation with James?]

[Oh yeah. He thinks you lot are as crazy as I do.]

Even Granin cracks a smile at that.

[He�s smart. If you survive the next fight, then I�ll try and get the three of you together. The least they can do is let you all talk. That I had to fight so hard to get you to meet James is an utter disgrace.]

Wait, what?

[They don�t want me meeting the other former humans?]

[Hmph. I get the impression they think you�re a bad influence.]

[Ah. I definitely am.]

[Yes� I know.]

Vibrant bit down hard on her prey and the System notification rang within her head a few moments later. Without pause, she flung the Biomass behind her and pressed forward, whilst a silent throng of furious monsters swarmed in her wake.

Her group was all around her, she could feel them ever since her latest evolution, sharing her strength. She�d become something between a soldier and a general now, empowering those members of the colony who were willing to join her group. Not only was their speed enhanced, but also their Skills, an increase to movement and bite-related abilities that turned them into Dashing, Dodging, and Chomping machines with boundless energy.

Vibrant pushed hard and they pushed hard alongside her. Always the vanguard. No retreat.

The eldest had called them, and the family answered. In all directions, the colony exploded outward in an aggressive expansion. Thousands of ants filled the tunnel, ripping and tearing everything in sight, and dragging it back to the Queens to fuel future expansion. The Academy had graduated many new siblings for Vibrant and her fellow council members, and all were hungry to work for the family. The colony was erupting with energy and the catalyst had been the arrival of the guardian.

�Vibrant!�

�Who�s that?�

The pheromones were thick in the air as ants battled and communicated with each other, trying to coordinate, calling for assistance�it was hard for Vibrant to make out the scent of who was trying to contact her. Frustrated, she backed out of the fight and allowed others to climb over her to reach the front.

�Over here!�

The tingle in her antennae told her what she needed to know, and she turned left to find Victor waving in her direction. At first, Vibrant didn�t recognise her sister, there had been quite a change.

�You�ve evolved?�

�Just yesterday.�

�Nice. We need more tier fours in the deep,� Vibrant said.

�That�s why I have come. The soldiers have already evolved, and we�re pushing hard to evolve as many support roles as we can, but it�s going to take more time.�

�We can try and feed more experience to the healers, in particular,� Vibrant proposed. �We need them more than anything else right now. They�re keeping our momentum up.�

Victor considered for a moment before she agreed.

�You�re right. I�ll tell the scouts to get the word out. Except that�s not why I�m here, though. The guardian found something, and we need you to take a look.�

�Where?�

Vibrant wasted no time. Not a single member of the colony was willing to wait for even a second whilst the eldest languished in need of help.

�Follow me.�

As Vibrant followed closely behind the newly evolved general, a hundred other ants peeled off the fight to follow in her footsteps, quickly replaced by fresh soldiers who�d been hovering behind the front lines. Off they raced, through the dark and cold of the second stratum. All around them, the air was thick with the scent of pheromone trails. The colony was battling on many concurrent fronts in tunnels and various Expanses, and every battle was being fought with overwhelming numbers.

The colony had realised that teams of ten weren�t going to be enough in the second stratum; tier three and intelligent they may be, but the danger in this world of shadow warranted greater security. After all, wasn�t it the eldest who taught them that every death of a colony member was a waste? A waste of potential, a waste of labour, a waste of resources!

It couldn�t be borne! As new soldiers, scouts, generals, and healers poured out of the Academy, the number of ants in each conflict swelled. With hundreds of ants working together, they�d swept clean everything before them.

It didn�t take long for them to arrive. Vibrant started when she noticed the huge, menacing form of the eldest�s guardian looming in the tunnel. Powerful, writhing tentacles filled the space around the gaping mouth filled with razor teeth. It would be intimidating to any creature not of the colony. It certainly wasn�t going to cause any fear in Vibrant.

�Crinis! How�ve you been? I haven�t seen you for a few days!�

The two monsters were much larger than they�d been when they first met, but their friendship remained strong. Neither could suppress a burst of happiness at seeing the other. Vibrant bounced up to her friend full of energy, and Crinis tentacles wriggled with joy, only to return to their aggravated lashing at the air.

A nearby mage ant struggled hard, and connected the two of them with a Mind Bridge.

[I keep forgetting you can�t talk ant. What have you found, Crinis?] Vibrant asked.

[This is the place where Master vanished, I�m sure of it. At the end of the tunnel.] She used a tentacle to indicate the solid wall in front of them. [I couldn�t get close enough to see what happened, but this place is a dead end, and when I followed, after they were gone.]

[Great! We�re finally getting somewhere!]

[No, we aren�t!] That massive mouth snapped at the air in frustration. [I don�t see anything! There�s no hidden door or tunnel here, I�m sure of it!]

Already, a team of ants were combing every inch of the tunnel, their antennae rapidly tapping at every surface. If there was anything to find, they would surely find it.

�Do we have any of the mage caste coming?� Vibrant turned to Victor.

�We do! I think Propellant is coming personally.�

[The mages are on the way. There�s bound to be something here. We�ll find it,] Vibrant assured her friend.

[This is taking too long. I need to get to my Master. I feel strange, Vibrant, I�m worried.]

Agitated, the guardian of the eldest, Crinis, became more and more knotted. Her tentacles extended and split, then twisted back on themselves again and again until she�d become little more than a gigantic mass of tentacles. Vibrant could easily sympathise with the sentiment. Ever since Crinis arrived at the colony and told them the eldest had been abducted, every member of the colony felt as if their very core had been gripped by an icy pair of mandibles. The already obsessive and workaholic ants became infused with a desperate frenzy. Every project had been pushed forward and caution had been thrown to the wind.

[Don�t worry, Crinis. We�ll find the eldest and return them to the family. Anything that tries to stand between us will be annihilated. Be it the Dungeon or anything else.]

A cold fire burned in Vibrant�s eyes. The eldest had sacrificed all for the colony.

The colony was prepared to sacrifice all in return.

�Why are five of my best smiths passed out in the tunnels?� Cobalt bellowed.

The artisan in charge of the new forge was just as indignant.

�I told them to wait until the chamber was properly prepared! The air vents aren�t in yet and neither are the heat sinks. And what did they do? The second I turn my back, they rush in and start working!�

Cobalt slapped herself on the forehead with an antenna. These morons. She understood why they�d do it, the pressure piling up on the worker caste was becoming a mountain that pressed down on their backs. This was the second forge they�d constructed inside the nest in the past week, and it wasn�t finished yet. Putting in the air vents required specialised enchanted cores that drew the air in so it could be expelled on the surface, and the heat sinks were yet more enchanted cores that sucked the heat and allowed it to be dispersed into specialised cooling channels.

It was all work, work, work! The demands never stopped coming. More nesting space, more brood chambers! Construction on the new deep nest, a secure location for the three Queens and a new launching point for the offensive just inside the second stratum, had already begun. Combined with the relentless push for new territory which demanded even more time for the carvers, they were pushed to the breaking point.

And they loved it! Cobalt and Tungstant had been relentless, chewing through work faster than they chewed through dirt, and their fellow caste members had done the same. The council had to step in and send detachments of soldiers to enforce the mandatory rest periods before the carvers worked themselves to collapse. Seeing their fellow caste members being forcibly dragged away, legs kicking at the air, had only spurred the remainder of the carvers to work harder. If they were going to be forced to rest, then they needed to complete more work in less time!

�Why are five smiths lying down in the middle of this work avalanche?� the angry rush of pheromones blasted down the tunnel.

�Hey, Tungstant, what brings you down here?�

�Cobalt! I came to complete the installation of the cores for the new forge. Did these idiots try and work in there before it was ready?�

Cobalt gave a solemn nod.

�Damn fools! Everything we�ve learned about ant biology tells us how dangerous that is. Not to mention they�re losing work time!�

The colony had been furiously learning all it could in a huge number of fields, but one which had been the most impactful had been ant physiology, and beyond that, monster physiology. Things they�d known instinctively, preferred temperature, moisture levels, humidity, were now being explored to discover the reasons why. One of their primary discoveries as they�d ventured into the world of forging, was that the damp environment they enjoyed in the nest didn�t mesh very well with a blazing-hot furnace for shaping metal. For the ants to work with such tools, a specialised environment needed to be constructed. Experimentation had started immediately, the heat sinks and air vents were the early fruits of this labour.

�No help for it. Come on then, Cobalt. You and I can get this done as fast as possible, we need this forge operational.�

The two council members got right to work. Tungstant had brought the required materials in a carry bag slung over her neck, yet another creation of the carver caste, and the two began installing the precious enchanted arrays with their empowering monster cores in key locations around the forge. After an hour, they were finished and stepped back as the enchantments hummed to life. The air began to move within the chamber as the temperature dropped. Everything seemed to be working properly.

They didn�t even have time to congratulate each other before the five smiths barged into the chamber and began to fire up the forges, preparing to heat metal and shape it to suit the colony�s needs.

�Work hard to make up for the wasted time!� Cobalt berated them before the two left the chamber.

�What�s next on your agenda?� Cobalt asked as they sped away down the tunnels.

�I�m headed to the new nest to oversee construction there. Things are getting to a critical point, and we need to make sure it�s secure.�

�Isn�t the Queen already stationed there?� Cobalt asked, concerned.

�She is,� Tungstant confirmed. �The core shapers have set up their new workstation down there and are acting as defence whilst the soldiers are out. From what I hear, the entire area is crawling with their shadow pets. They perform excellently in the second stratum, I�m told.�

�Makes sense, I suppose. How about the brood transport tunnel? We don�t want to risk moving them through the regular tunnels, surely?�

�Work finished on it yesterday and the scouts have already started transporting brood. Once they�ve cleared the backlog, the Tenders should be able to handle the load. Getting carvers to learn some Earth Magic has been a great call.�

The two ants quickly reached a branch in the tunnel where they would need to part ways.

�Don�t forget to take your mandatory rest periods, Cobalt,� Tungstant warned her sister. �Think of what the eldest will do when they get back and find out you were skiving on taking breaks.�

Cobalt shuddered.

�Same goes for you. Work hard for the colony.�

�For the colony!�

I need to prepare. Granin�s gone to check my draw for the next round and time is going to be short. I was up first for the first round, the second is likely to be the same. I�ve done what training I can to improve my elemental magic, and there have been definite gains. The temptation to fuse them is real.

I�d have a weapon in my face-hands that I could employ right away. The fact that the weapon would be so flawed is what holds me back. It might be useful to me right now, might even help carry me through this tournament of death. After that? It�d fade in power and become a waste of Skill Points. I refuse to allow the effort I�ve put in to go to waste! Instead, I�ll use it as the foundation of even greater strength in the future.

All I have to do is survive.

To that end, I need to make use of the resources I have available to me, and the resource I have in greater abundance than any other is Biomass! It�s itchy time!

After the hunting I did with Tiny and Crinis, the Biomass I secured from the rhino, as well as the food Granin was able to secure for me here in my cell, I�ve piled up quite a little money-bin of points. As I�ve already begun, I�m going to push my upgrades to +25 for the maximum effect. With a little bit of time, hopefully, I can become accustomed to my new mutations before the fight begins.

Alright then, let�s see what we need to upgrade. At 115 Biomass a pop, upgrading from +20 to +25 is so costly it makes my carapace hurt, but there�s nothing for it. I want to get all my mutable organs up to +25 as soon as possible. I still have quite a few at +20 that need to be given that final push. My carapace plating, my eyes, my antennae, my legs, mandibles� GAH! So many! It�s going to take thousands of Biomass to get all this done� Luckily, I�m getting some nice and dense food from this tournament.

I think the first thing I want to upgrade is my mandibles�my primary physical attack option and certainly a powerful one. I think the best choice will be to continue the emphasis of the Mana channelling. The more types of Mana I become able to fuse into my mandibles, the more variety I�ll be able to introduce to my attacks. Being able to target an enemy�s weakness will certainly help me. When I eventually fuse the elemental Skills to create some powerful new Skill, I assume it�ll propel my bites into a new realm along with the rest of my magic.

Alright. Just to be sure, I�d better take a look at the options.

As usual, taking a glance at the menu creates a list that is far too long to handle. Scrolling through shows me so many tempting options, including a few new ones. Cursed mandibles, diamond mandibles, paralysing mandibles, extending mandibles, and so much more.

Making my mandibles as shiny as the rest of me is certainly tempting. I take a great deal of pride in my diamond exterior. The extending mandibles are pretty cool. A new part would be added to my face that essentially allows the mandibles to extend outward from my head, increasing the range by almost fifty percent. I assume it would do the same for the energy projected by my Skills, which would represent a powerful extension in my range.

Alas, I can�t allow myself to be distracted by these baubles. I have to knuckle down and get my Mana infusion on.

[Do you wish to improve Bright Empowered Mandibles to Mana Flooded Mandibles? This will cost 115 Biomass.]

Put a pin in that one. Although this means I�ll become more reliant on my Mana infusion for damage as opposed to raw physical power, I think the versatility will make it a worthy trade-off. Onto the next!

I�m anticipating a lot of pain in this tournament, so I suppose I should prioritise working on my defences. I�m not as reliant on the healing gland now that I have Healing Mana, but it does give me a massive burst of healing without requiring me to form a Mana structure in the middle of a fight, which is certainly more convenient.

What I�m longing for is the day I can pass off my healing duties to my third pet, but I still haven�t come across a creature suitable for the role. Hopefully, I�ll find one soon. In the meantime, I�ll look to upgrade both my Inner Carapace Plating and my Regeneration Gland.

First, time to dive into the carapace plating.

The list is always long, no matter how specific the body part, and some of the options are just weird, whereas others are questionable at best. My focus with the plating has been to increase its capacity to absorb damage and tack on a little healing. The idea is to increase the physical defence of my carapace to an almost unbreakable point whilst giving it some in-built healing. The trick here is, do I want more damage absorption or more healing? Hmmm. Last time, I went with healing, so this time, I think it�s time for hardening.

There are a few options that serve my purpose, the first being upgrades to my earlier defensive choice, distributive. These options give the plating more flex, which will help disperse more force and prevent the connected carapace from cracking when directly struck. After sorting through the options, I decide to take one of these. The idea behind the carapace plating was a good one. If the carapace is excellent against a blade, then it�s weak against a hammer. The plating exists to help shore up that weakness.

I lock that choice in and then move on to the next organ, the regeneration gland.

So far, my choices regarding the regeneration gland have been to allow it to regenerate faster and increase the speed of limb regeneration. Trying to cover up the weakness of my legs wasn�t the wrong choice. Although not as thin and spindly compared to the rest of my body as normal Earth ants would be, they�re still very weak and not nearly covered by the same level of protection as the rest of me.

The limb regeneration is pretty darn quick, but not quite enough for me to be able to pop out new legs in the middle of a fight. I have Healing Magic now to compensate for that, but perhaps it isn�t enough�

If I think about it, though, my Collective Will Vestibule helps to recharge and refill the gland faster when more ants are around me. This might make me look at faster recharging mutations as a waste, but instead, it makes me think of what Granin spoke to me about.

Synergy.

If I can stack recharge effects on my healing gland, won�t I be able to repeatedly heal myself throughout a single fight, thus transforming myself into some sort of unkillable juggernaut of death? If my defences continue to strengthen and my healing continues to pile up, isn�t that a powerful example of synergy right there?

I quite like it! Let�s go down that direction!

[Do you wish to improve Supportive Healing Inner Carapace Plating to Braced Healing Inner Carapace Plating +25? Do you wish to improve Potent Regrowth Regeneration Gland +20 to Frequent Potent Regeneration Gland +25? This will cost 230 Biomass.]

All up, it�s an expenditure of 345 Biomass. Ouch. That�s going to leave me with� 15. Yikes. Hopefully, my next opponent: A � is delicious, and B � doesn�t kill me.

Time to bring on the itch!

I confirm my choices and wait, tense�

SHAGGA-BAGAR-NIFLOP!

I don�t have that much time to recover before Granin returns to my cell. I suppose I should count myself lucky he didn�t walk in whilst I was mutating, that would have been embarrassing. I�m tempted to ask him about it, something I really should have asked the sophos when I had the chance. My pets don�t seem to have any issues when they mutate, and my siblings in the colony don�t seem to either.

Is this something only reincarnated Earthlings suffer from? Next time I speak to Jim and Sarah, I should bring it up. I�d rather not ask Granin and give him something to make fun of me about.

When he arrives, I can tell something isn�t right. His craggy face is even more miserable than usual, and he wastes no time in climbing down to meet me.

[Hey, Granin, you look like you were carved out of granite. Something go wrong?]

[You�re not funny.]

[You have no sense of humour, how would you know?]

Granin sighs and throws himself down onto the only suitable chair in my cell. His stone body thuds with significant weight, and he scrapes a hand across his brow. This doesn�t look good.

[That, uh� that bad?] I ask.

[It�s not great�] he admits. [They�re still looking to set you up with unfavourable matchups. After stuffing up the first round, it appears they�ve become determined to correct the mistake.]

[What have we got? Some brutal physical specimen ready to crush me beneath its iron heels?]

[Worse. They�ve gone after your strength. They already tried dumb force, so this round, they�ve gone with a highly intelligent magic-using monster. Difference being, its raw stats and Skills are far above yours. You�ll have no magical advantage in this one. In fact, you�ll be at a massive deficit.]

Yeah, that doesn�t sound good. I�ve invested a lot in my magic. If this monster is a tier higher than me and even more invested in it, then that�s going to neutralise my greatest strength. Does this mean I need to rely on my physical ability to carry me through? I may have to.

[The other thing about your opponent, is that it�s a demon.]

[Like� from hell? What does that mean? Pitchforks? Will I get pronged?]

Demons? What the heck does he mean by demons? Have they opened the gate on Mars and sprung forth beasts from the very depths of the infernal plane just to roast an ant? What am I supposed to do? Where�s DOOM guy!

[What is this hell? And pitchforks? Aren�t those for farmers? Never mind that, just� be quiet for a minute. Demons are what we call the monsters native to the third stratum. It�s a place of ash, fire, and nightmares, in that order. The creatures there attack the mental and emotional weakness that all mortals possess to try and demoralise us and make us weak. They are powerful, tricky, and have a distinct strata advantage over you.]

I�m not sure I�ve heard him use that terminology before.

[What do you mean by that?]

[You know how the shadow monsters, like that pet you conveniently don�t remember, are made of shadow flesh? Since it�s a substance that requires denser Mana to create, the monsters of the first stratum a don�t have access to such a thing when they�re made. In our trade, we would consider shadow monsters to have a strata advantage over monsters of the first layer. They have access to body parts and materials that are� better.]

[The same thing goes for the demons of the third stratum? They�ve got stuff that requires an even higher Mana density to spawn. Stuff that I can�t even see in the menu?]

[Precisely�] Granin says with a heavy sigh. [It�s going to be hard to overcome the gap. Now, I firmly believe you have a shot, but I�m not going to say it�ll be easy. We only have a few hours before the fight starts. We need to do all the work we can on your magical defences between now and then. If we can squeeze out even one Skill Level up, it�ll be worth it.]

For the next few hours, Granin continuously shapes Mana in the air whilst I tear it apart using External Mana Manipulation. Desperate to make gains, I use all of my brains for the task, reaching out and taking hold of the Mana outside my body before trying to unravel it. It�s gruelling work, but we�re successful in gaining another Level before my �escorts� come to take me out to the next match.

My ant-heart begins to pound as I take the now familiar march down the long tunnel, around the bends, and past those many other locked cells that house my competition. It doesn�t take long to reach the gate before the combat area, the three Shapers watching my every move.

With a slow rattle, the gate opens and I force myself to walk through into the relatively open air and wide space on the other side. Interesting, it appears as if they�ve repaired all the damage to the outer wall between the rounds. The work was way too complete to have been done by hand. Earth Magic? Stone Magic? Combination of the two? Some of the obstructions have also made a return, rocky obtrusions that burst upward from the sandy floor. Shapers watch from the viewing stands, their mutterings barely audible at this range.

Perhaps most importantly, I can see my adversary already present on the other side of the arena.

My first thought is that it�s a bat. Two leathery wings extend from its body and flap lazily to keep it midair. My second thought is that it�s small. Really small. The body of the thing is probably only as large as a watermelon, the two wings stretching out to either side of it. My third thought? That is a freaky-looking eyeball�

The �body� of the creature appears to be little more than a giant, swollen eyeball, rimmed in red flesh that is absurdly bright. The flesh doesn�t really capture my attention, though, since the eye itself is far more striking. It�s luridly, sickeningly, mind-bendingly green. To complete the picture, the last thing that comes to my attention are two thin, dangling arms that drop down from just beneath where the wings connect to the� body-eye.

All of my senses tune to their fullest. I�m tense, I�m ready. Even so, I almost miss the thread of Mind Mana that slithers toward me from the monster. I don�t even have time to take it apart before it connects and I brace myself for an onslaught.

Instead, I hear a low, sibilant voice echo in my mind.

[I see you.]

Well� yeah? When I reply, I can�t help but lower my voice and mentally �whisper� back.

[Of course you can. You�re basically just an eyeball with wings.]

[I see your family. I see your siblings. The warmth. The support. I see how nice it issssss.]

Ok, I�m seriously confused at this point.

[Yes. It�s nice. How do you see that, anyway?]

The green eye blazes brighter and the voice booms in my mind.

[I WANT IT. I WILL TAKE IT ALL!]

Seems stable.

The little winged demon continues to idly flap, hovering in place as it glares at me with its maddened eye, whilst I try to figure out exactly how this thing is higher evolved than me.

If it poured all of its evolutionary energy into mental stats and organs that enhanced its magical ability, how the heck is able to fit all of that into such a tiny body? I know for a fact my brains occupy more space than the tiny monster occupies, and it supposedly has a much bigger mind than I do! Where did all that brain matter go? Does it have access to some sort of mega compressed neurons or something? If so, that is certainly not fair! That sounds like it would be really useful!

Besides that, I need to focus. My sub-brains have already put together the Mana constructs I�m going to need for this battle.

Firstly, condensed Ice Magic Construct. Since the creature is a �demon� from the third stratum, a place of fire and ash, it stands to reason that Fire Magic won�t be too effective. Therefore, ice will be the best bet. Granin supported the decision, so I can�t be too far off the mark.

For my secondary option, I�ve gone with Healing Magic. If I�m going to get close to this nasty fellow and bite him to death, then I suspect I�m going to take an absolute battering on the way in. With my newfound regenerative abilities, combined with Healing Mana, I�m hoping I�ll have enough staying power to absorb the punishment that�s sure to come my way.

The real problem I have is that Granin wasn�t able to tell me what sort of magic this little beast might be capable of. It�s been trained by a Triad of Shapers, just like every other monster in this place, except what they decided was the most effective use of that brainpower is a mystery. I�m going to have to find out the hard way.

This is going to be rough.

I can�t believe such a small monster is giving such an intense feeling of pressure, but even beyond what I�ve been told about it, the insane-looking little bugger just creeps me out. The voice in my head sure isn�t helping.

[Ahhhhh. I know you now. I can see your tasssssste.]

[You are one weird unit, buddy. I think we�re done here.]

Before the Shaper in charge of the fight can declare it�s begun, I reach out to the Mind Bridge connecting the two of us and flex my will, tearing it to shreds. The feeling of having the mental connection cut so suddenly is jarring, but I�m certain it�s significantly worse for the mini-demon.

A moment of triumph before the start of the bout! Good start.

Before I can even finish congratulating myself, I sense another Mind Bridge worming its way to me. I don�t know how he does it, but the spell is so hard to sense, almost like he�s using some kind of stealth mode. Reaching out with my mind, I seize the threads and tear it apart once more, but before I�m even done, there�s another bridge coming, then another, and another one after that!

Holy moly!

Launching into action mode, I sink my minds into meditation and put my main mind, along with my biggest sub-brain, to work on tearing the spells apart before they reach me.

Tense seconds pass as I focus my attention on cutting apart the spells that seem to fly at me without end. Every single one of them comes from a different angle, feels slightly different, and moves at a different speed. It�s impossible to sense any sort of rhythm or pattern, and this demon is relentless.

Each moment that passes brings the bridges that little bit closer to connecting. I redouble my efforts. I�m focusing so hard on the mental battle, that I barely register the Shaper sweeping a hand to indicate the start of the fight.

Oh right! I need to atta�

BOOM!

I fly back from a tremendous impact that sends me reeling, my legs scrabbling at the air to regain my balance.

THUD.

I land heavily and try to put my feet under me as fast as I can. What the hell just happened? Am I damaged! What�s going on? That was so fast!

[I sssssee your pain. It�s sssso nice!]

When the heck? Speaking of pain, my freakin� head hurts. Just ignore it, Anthony! You need to move!

DASH!

BOOM!

Another explosion rocks the position just behind me, lifting me off the ground. That first shot hurt. Checking my HP, I�m already down 20 points�a large chunk has been taken out of my carapace right between my eyes.

Yeeouch! Don�t want to get hit with another one of those, need to keep moving!

DASH!

Collecting my thoughts as I move around the outside of the ring, I�m fairly certain this little devil battered me with Mind Bridges just so I�d be distracted. Then it bopped me right in the face with a spell the second the fight started. How dirty! This damnable demon is sneaky! I don�t think I�ve ever faced a monster this smart. This is going to be hard.

I decide not to pull the trigger on my healing gland just yet. Internal damage isn�t too bad and external damage will be healed gradually. I just need to give my plating a little time. If I get hit in the same place again, it might be lights out, but I need to risk it to win the biscuit. The biscuit in this instance being some delicious demon meat.

[Give it all to me. All your thingssss are for me!]

BOOM!

I can barely see it. The little monster hasn�t moved since the fight started, and his spells are as fast as lightning. It�s a small red orb that zaps out from the eye in a straight line and detonates when it contacts something. I�ve never even heard of that kind of magic! Dammit, Granin, what the hell is this!

No point getting mad. I just need to focus and get close enough to chomp the damn monster into shreds. Considering it hasn�t attacked me across the Mind Bridge yet, I�ll leave it alone whilst being ready to sever it at a moment�s notice. I�ll use the brainpower I have to get my own offense going. If the floaty eyeball wants to talk smack, then I�m happy to oblige.

[I�ve heard eating eyes is good for the brain. We�re going to find out if that�s true today!]

Eat ice!

Starting with the basics, I fling out a shard of ice, aiming to skewer the damned demon and pin him to the wall. Just before it reaches the target, it dissolves to nothing.

Dodge!

BOOM!

Another explosion sends sand and dirt flying in every direction, and I scrabble to keep my feet. Can�t stop moving, even for a second. The nasty little creature is clearly aiming for my head, trying to score the knockout punch.

As if I�d let you! More ice!

Weaving condensed Mana takes more effort and energy on my part, but it�s also harder for the demon to break apart, requiring more effort on his part. Judging from his earlier performance, he can shape a heck of a lot of spells at once when he wants to. If I can distract his attention even a little, that�s going to help me close in.

This time two bolts of deep blue ice fly through the air like spears. They dissolve once more, but they got much closer to landing than the single shot did. When the monster is distracted breaking down my magic, I angle my dash to reach a little closer.

I�m coming for you!

The second I put a leg within twenty metres of the demon, it acts. One of its dangling arms flicks in my direction and three of those red balls zoom at me!

BOOM!

Arrrgh! Pain blossoms along the side of my abdomen. I turned my body at the last moment, protecting my head. The unfortunate result is that my legs are exposed, and as the three balls detonate alongside me, my precious ant-legs are ravaged with pain.

That little beast has been acting weak this whole time! I should have known throwing one spell at a time was way too easy. I�ve fallen for his trap again. His stupid spells are so fast, I barely have a chance to start breaking them apart before they land. Not to mention he weaves them together with such speed that the moment I sense the Mana build-up, he�s almost ready to shoot. This little gremlin is giving me a headache!

[You have it. I will taaaake it! Give it to meeeeeee!]

[Get bent!]

I�ve no choice but to trigger the regeneration gland. Two legs on my left side are heavily crippled and are impeding my mobility. If I leave it like this, I�m only going to be food for more of those ridiculous explosion balls.

Just what sort of magic is this, anyway?

Once again on the defensive, I focus on dodging and moving in unpredictable patterns as the healing fluid rockets through my system, creating new tissues and connecting them at an absurd pace. To speed the process, I fire off my latest Ice Spears and begin to weave a healing spell to lay onto myself.

Of course, the little demon doesn�t want to make life easy for me. Now that the jig is up, he�s more than willing to toss multiple spells at the same time. Though with greater distance between us, I�ve got more time to dodge.

I watch the demon carefully each moment�he�s enjoying this. The sadistic little imp. Even now, I can�t be sure that he�s not toying with me. Regardless, I�ve survived long enough to get the healing spell off, and combined with the effect of my healing gland, my body is knitting itself together at a stupidly fast pace. Watching my HP climb so quickly is certainly a good feeling. Granin was right. Stacking effects on top of each other is the way to produce a better result!

With my legs back under me, I take my distance from the beast to prepare my next offensive. Sensing my defensive posture, the monster takes the pressure off and starts talking some smack.

[Come back to meeee. Is it better where you are? I want iiiit!]

[Oh, don�t worry, eyeball, I�m comin� back over there.]

The creature�s wings do a little wriggle of glee and the eye widens even further�if that�s at all possible. I swear that eye is darkening and it looks a little� broken. As if it were a window that was starting to crack. No matter. If it means something, I don�t know what, and there�s little point guessing. I just need to focus on my next offensive.

Keeping an eye on my opponent and making sure I never stop moving, I focus my main mind and strongest sub-mind on shaping my next offensive ice spell. Handling the condensed Ice Mana is difficult and it takes quite a bit of work to put this spell together. Hopefully, it�s strong enough to make it difficult for the mini-demon to break it apart.

I finish the spell, but don�t fire it immediately. It takes about ten seconds to ready that magic, enough time for my enemy to weave any number of hideous constructs to inflict on me. I�ve no doubt he can sense the magic I�ve built up, and he�s likely ready to retaliate the second I unleash it. Thus why I�m holding onto it, closing the distance between us bit by bit.

Dashing head-on is just asking to get a death ball to the noggin, so instead, I angle my dashes to bring me a little closer after each one as the monster and I engage in a little game of chicken. If I can bait out his counter spells whilst still being at a reasonable range, then the chances of a successful dodge are much greater.

The closer I get, the less time he�ll have to break my spell apart.

My heart is right in my mandibles as the gap between us shrinks. Sand flies out from beneath me and out behind me as my legs kick up a trail while I run.

The monster finally decides to act and flicks its hand out as I close within thirty metres. The second it does, I kick my legs hard and rise into the air, unleashing my spell.

A bright, ice blue light drops onto the ground and starts to race through the sand toward the monster. I raise my legs high to keep them from the inevitable explosion. The monster unleashes four of the deadly balls of death and throws them out in an arc that would have surely caught me had I continued to run forward. Instead, they detonate beneath me, throwing me farther into the air.

The concussive force is absorbed by my carapace plating, but even so, I take some internal damage from the blast. Those spells pack a punch! Still, my spell should distract the monster long enough for me to get back onto my feet and close in for a juicy chomp!

I reorient my body and catch sight of my opponent and my spell racing through the ground toward him. To my surprise, the imp doesn�t seem concerned with the Ice Magic, though its eye glares at me even harder.

At this range, I can see that the eye isn�t broken but filled with thick, pulsing capillaries that appear like cracks in a mirror, threading their way through the iris.

Just as I make this disgusting discovery, the air beneath the flapping eyeball ripples and seems to unfold, revealing a huge, grinning mouth suspended in midair, full of gnashing teeth. Just before my spell erupts, the mouth opens wide to reveal a bright green, fleshy tongue that unfolds to taste the air as the eye flashes dangerously.

Not good!

POW! POW! POW! POW! POW!

Angling my body, I unload a barrage of acid as the eye flares dazzlingly bright. The Ice Magic gleams in the ground and a sharp pillar of ice spears upward toward the flying monster, just as a searing beam of bright green light lances out from that eye and pierces my body. The ice pillar stabs home and scrapes the side of the monster, unleashing a spray of sizzling black blood. The shock of the strike throws the monster off-balance, and the beam sears through my body, cutting a deep gash before glancing off into the stands.

OUCH! That stings!

OOMPH!

Hitting the ground stings even worse!

Desperation ignites in my mind as I take stock. I�m hurt, I�m hurt real bad. It�s only been a minute since I last used my healing gland and there�s precious little juice recharged in there, but I fire it off anyway. Every little bit helps! My legs are weak as I push them beneath myself and start to haul my body behind a rock.

Healing Mana, do your thing!

Sunk deep into meditation, my mind is cool and composed, the pain ringing on the outside of my awareness. I can take this. I can handle it. Get that healing spell going ASAP and worry about everything else later.

Pushing my legs, I drag my damaged body to some sort of cover as my two most powerful minds cooperate to throw together some Healing Magic. It only takes a few seconds, but it feels like an eternity before the spell is complete and my flesh begins to knit back together.

It isn�t enough, though, the damage is severe. Whatever that damn eyebeam was, it was strong enough to cut through my carapace like paper. I think a piece of stomach is hanging outside of my body. Yuck. I can only hope the demon was hurt bad enough to keep it from coming over here and finishing me off. My spell definitely sliced it, hopefully my acid will help create a distraction as well.

I hunker down for a few tense moments as I spin together another healing spell to lay onto myself. The second it starts ticking, I flex my legs and Dash out from behind the rock.

BOOM!

Just before the thing explodes. Nice timing, Anthony! Shards of stone clatter off my carapace, falling like rain across the whole combat area in the wake of that explosion. The sand kicks up into a wave of precious, vision-blocking dust that allows me to jink while I reach out with my Mana Sense to grasp the location of the creature.

Every second brings me closer to full health! Hold on, ant! You can do it! Even as my health increases, there�s another problem becoming more and more urgent. My stamina is falling. I�ve been dashing about like mad ever since this fight started, and I�m getting pretty darn tired!

Although I can keep healing myself and drag the fight out, I�m pitting my own physical stamina against the little demon�s mental stamina, and I�m not confident that�s a battle I can win.

Before my situation becomes too desperate and I can no longer run, I need to heal up and bet everything on the next strike! And that last exchange gave me a hint. This is going to get crazy.

I keep dodging about to buy more time. As the dust clears, I get a clear view of my opponent. The acid does appear to have done some work, along with my ice pillar. Dark blood is dripping down the monster�s arm, and one of its leathery bat wings has a gaping hole. Oddly enough, the hole doesn�t have any effect on the creature�s ability to stay airborne. There must be some sort of trickery there. It still isn�t nimbly flying about, however, rather just hovering in one place. There must be a reason for that. At least, I hope to heck there�s a reason for that.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Seemingly enraged, the creature throws out blast after blast, forcing me to dodge and dash with all my strength. That eerie mouth that appears to be suspended in midair attached to nothing, keeps grinning, as if it were the Cheshire cat. Only the mouth is large enough to swallow a sheep whole.

It�s creepy!

No matter! I�m about as ready as I�m going to get. Dragging this out is only going to make things more disadvantageous to me.

The eye appears to be drained of energy, the green no longer as bright and glaring as it was before, but over time, it�s been recovering. This could mean that the eye can�t use its mega-beam laser continuously, having to wait for a recharge. Or it could be a trick. Either way, I still have to go for it.

Reluctantly, I let go of both the Mana constructs I�ve held onto. For the plan I have in mind, I�m not going to need them, and if it doesn�t work out, I�m still not going to need them!

With all four of my brains free and focused, I hone my senses onto the floating beast with razor-sharpness. I can see it all. The heat, the movement, the Mana, even that little whisper of the future. I�m going to need all of it for this. If things go well, this scene is going to detonate under the watching Shapers like a quake.

Breathe, Anthony. Just breathe. Focus and bring it home.

FOR THE COLONY!

[I WANT YOUR PAAAAIN. I WANT YOUR FLESSSSSH! I WANT YOUR SOUUULLL! GIVE THEM TO MEEE!]

[I hope you taste nearly as good as you fight!]

The high speed dance begins as I try to close in on the monster, dashing and dodging ever closer whilst he fires off exploding missiles of death. With all of my brains on deck, the three sub-brains cooperating with the aid of the coordination cortex, I can follow the flow of the fight much better than before. I sense the spells faster, my body reacts quicker, and those echoes of the future are more helpful when I have the available brain power to take them in.

POW! POW! POW!

I weave in acid blasts to keep the monster distracted, trying to throw the monster off its game. Every little bit of attention I can distance myself from will help in the long run!

My enhanced reactions are firing on all cylinders. Even the eyeball is getting frustrated, his eye glowing brighter and brighter, and his little gestures become angrier every time he waves his hand. Feeling pressure yet, little demon? I�m coming for you!

CLACK!

I snap my mandibles hard and the sound echoes around the combat area.

CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!

As I race from place to place, narrowly dodging and skirting around the explosions, I continue to clack my mandibles to taunt the demon. The eye bulges with rage, the worm-like capillaries swelling with fluid as the once-smiling mouth snarls.

GWEHEHEHEHE! Yesssss. Get mad, get distracted. I�m coming for you!

As I get close to within thirty metres, I can sense the time is coming and my mind sharpens to a razor�s edge. Any second now!

I�m dashing across the creature, moving from the left to its right at high speed. This manoeuvre is going to be tough as heck. Mighty Slayer, lend me your strength!

The eye starts to flare bright as the creature raises its hand. I�m so focused, the limb almost appears to move in slow motion. With a flick of that little bony wrist, six flares of Mana spark from the monster. Six, huh? You were still holding back on me. No matter, I have you now!

Before the small spheres of destruction appear, I can already see them. Little echoes of the future, almost transparent, fly outward in a broad arc, trying to entrap me in a wall of explosions.

I leap into action, every nerve in my body firing. My legs kick and dig at the dirt as I try to arrest my momentum and change direction. My body turns to face the monster as I slide. Those ghostly future-images of the deadly spells are followed by the real thing, and the six spheres materialise and blast outward. My minds are wound so tight, I can feel them screaming in pain. I can�t breathe, I can�t think. All of my focus is on those spells and the feel of my body.

The time is coming! Don�t miss it. Miss and I�m dead. Don�t die. Don�t die! DON�T DIE!

JUMP!

The moment I stop sliding across the sand and my claws dig into the ground, I calculate the angle and jump. The future echo of the spells are already right in front of my face, the real thing a mere heartbeat behind. As I leap, my legs spread wide to allow one of the spells to pass between them before it impacts the ground beneath me.

The detonation sears the underside of my body and pain ravages my minds, but more important than that, the force of the explosion, combined with the lift from my own jump, propels me straight toward the monster at impossible speed.

[IT�S A ROCKET JUMP, FOOL! DOOM GUY LIVES IN MEEEEEEEEE!]

My massive ant body hurtles through the air as if I�ve been fired out of a cannon with my mandibles open wide. The air whistles, pushing my antennae back against my head with the force. I�m seriously rocketing at top speed, I can almost taste that demon! Even as I prepare for the chomp, the monster doesn�t appear to have given up. Resentment and anger are accumulated in that eye, and it flashes blindingly green!

I knew it would come down to this. I�ve no way to dodge and no way out. Flying head on, if that laser hits me, it�ll drill straight through my head and roast my brain, I can�t allow that to happen!

All four of my brains reach out to the demon and grasp hold of the immense Mana flooding into that eye. Being so close, I can feel the weave of Mana being concentrated, and even in this situation, I can appreciate the sheer skill on display. The dense threads of Mana are being woven with such speed and precision it�s shocking. The little demon is painting a four-dimensional masterpiece with thousands of individual brushstrokes in a matter of seconds. The mastery such a feat requires is astounding!

Desperate to prevent the laser beam from firing, I use every bit of my Will to rip the Mana apart. My jaws are prepped to crunch, a contest of minds takes place, and I�m severely outmatched. As I try to wrest control of the demon�s Mana and break it, destroying the fragile work, it tries to lock the Mana in place, holding it firm and denying my attempts even as it races to finish the spell before I can bite it.

I�m left in awe at the sheer mental power of the creature. So this is what a true master of magic looks like! Even though it has evolved one more time than I have, I really didn�t expect the difference to be this severe. How the hell does it pack so much raw brain into that tiny body? It�s insane!

It might be an unfair arm wrestle, but it�s one I have no choice but to win! Victory or defeat is measured in a matter of milliseconds. In this strange, slow-motion world we occupy, I can already see the dark energy manifesting, my Omen Chomp taking shape at the edges of my mandibles. In less than a second, they�ll expand and close on the soft, squishy body of this demon�hopefully ending it.

Frantic to make that a reality, I redouble my efforts. If you build, then I�ll destroy! RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP! RIP! Every mind I possess works at maximum capacity. My entire body is screaming in pain.

To my horror, my antennae begin to tingle, and something I really don�t want to see begins to take shape in front of my eyes. From the centre of that bulging eyeball, a phantom laser lances at my head, directly between my eyes.

NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NOOOOO!

I�m so damn close!

Tear! Destroy! Demolish! Anything! Like an insane child going to town on a pi�ata, I cannot be stopped, recklessly bashing every piece of Mana I can get my mental hands on.

But it�s not enough! The Will of the demon is as solid as iron and the real laser blasts out from the eye, spearing down the trail left behind by its future echo. AHHHHH�NOOOOO!

MOTHER!

CHOMP!

Silence reigns over the combat area as the dust settles. For a brief, paralysing moment, I�m not even sure if I�m alive or dead. My body feels dead. Am I dead? Is Gandalf going to speak to me again, or will my soul just dissipate into nothing? Geez, my head hurts. The worst part of four brains means four simultaneous headaches is a real thing I have to deal with. It sucks.

But if my head hurts� then I must be alive. Surely, you don�t get afterlife headaches? I attempt to wiggle my antennae, and to my joy, I find I can still move them! Aha! I live! I�M ALIVE!

Almost unable to believe it, I start tapping my head all over with my antennae, just trying to confirm that my head still exists. I swear I saw that laser zap straight into my head�

Then I find it actually did. Right between my eye orbs, a significant hole has been drilled directly into my carapace. In a thousandth of a second, it probably would have tunnelled all the way through and into my brain. My body goes completely weak with relief. That was way too close. Holy moly, I can�t take many more of these!

At the same time, a giddy excitement wells up inside me, making me shake with silent ant-laughter.

I live! Against all the odds, I still live! Screw you, Dungeon! Get stuffed, Shapers! I roll with all the punches and I�m still kicking! This insect is here to stay! BWAHAHAHAAAAA!

Wait a second� I haven�t received the Dungeon notifications!

I roll to my feet and scrabble to turn around. Where the heck is the demon? Heart in my mouth, I rush to where I�d collided with it and breathe a sigh of relief. It might not be dead, but it�s not looking so hot. The eye has been crushed and its body is a wreck. It�s a minor miracle that it�s still alive. The tenuous connection between us still exists, and a voice whispers in my mind.

[I wanted� your everythinggg.]

I look down on the now pitifully broken body of the demon.

[You� are freakin� weird, man. I can�t lie.]

CHOMP!

[You have defeated a Level 57 Luminare Daemon Invidia (VI).]

[You have gained XP!]

[You have reached Level 24. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have reached Level 25�]

[You have reached Level 26�]

[You have reached Level 27�]

[You have reached Level 28�]

The moment the demon is confirmed dead, something bizarre happens. As if a hole connected to a world of grossness opened, a flood of brain matter and bits explode out the back of the demon�s head. The creepy mouth also materialises a connection to the main body, and launching out from behind comes a gigantic, distended stomach. In a matter of seconds, a huge pile of offal has appeared, steaming in the dim light of the combat area.

Uh� delicious?

Up in the stands, Granin couldn�t help but chuckle in relief as Anthony gingerly approached the disgusting pile of Biomass that had been seemingly vomited from thin air. Perhaps at some point, he could have told his charge that demons stored body parts in self-contained micro-dimensions, allowing large and powerful monsters to appear small and harmless, the bulk of their body mass shunted off into a pocket space.

The Shapers would dearly love to be able to control such a piece of magic, but for eons, it continued to elude them. The demons seemed to have access to it as a matter of course, simply for being born demons, as if it were a natural part of their biology. Whatever the case, it certainly made them deceptive enemies to fight against.

That had been close. Far too close. Going into the fight, he�d given Anthony a ten percent chance of coming out on top, but even he�d been shocked by the amount of power that�d been packed into that little demon. A monster fully specialised in physical stats with great speed and power would have been much better off than the ant. Not only were his stats lacking, his Skills were also weak when compared to a more specialised monster who�d spent so much time grinding their magic and mental abilities. This tournament was almost fiendishly set up to target his weakness as a generalised creature. But still, he�d been able to win.

That final manoeuvre had been dreamed up on the border between genius and insanity, Granin was sure of it. Who would think of using the blast from an explosion to propel themselves toward their enemy headfirst? It was insane, tremendously difficult to pull off, and almost certainly suicidal. And yet, Granin was now looking down at a monster cheerfully chowing down on its defeated foe, having utilised just such a move.

As the tension drained out of Granin, he couldn�t help but become increasingly aware of the shock and disappointment radiating from the Shapers around him, particularly from the figure on his left.

�Incredible. A truly brilliant tactical decision,� he mused, seemingly to himself.

Gravus immediately blew up.

�Tactical decision? It was a FLUKE! Pure luck! I�ve never seen such a disgusting display! That inferior creature had been outclassed the entire bout until that�that�idiotic display!�

The vehemence at which Gravus spat his vitriol shocked even Granin. The elderly Shaper was visibly livid, chest heaving and eyes ablaze, his hands were gripped in fists so tight his true skin was starting to crack. A sensible and sane Shaper would clearly not poke the tiger and would tastefully retreat in this situation. What profit could be had out of provoking a viper like Gravus?

Sadly, Granin had never considered himself particularly sensible.

�An idiotic display? Are you daft, blind, or both? That idiotic display secured victory from a clearly disadvantageous position. I demand you acknowledge the genius that has been displayed before you here today!�

If he was a roused tiger before, Gravus transformed into a volcano. He turned on Granin, face twisted with rage and arms flying wildly.

�Demand? DEMAND! You don�t get to demand anything from me, Granin, you half qualified excuse for a Shaper! You�re just as big a piece of TRASH as that insect you sponsor! Your very presence in this Cult makes me sick.�

A fire began to burn in Granin. The other�s words said too much that was usually left unspoken. He took a step toward the other Shaper until they were almost bumping foreheads, and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper.

�And why might that be, Gravus? Is it because we get things done? Is it because we actually achieve something, instead of sitting on our ossified asses in a tower, cowering like little grubs? Why don�t you say it? Why don�t you tell me exactly why you don�t want me and my charge here in this Cult? Hmm?�

Gravus was too lost in his rage to notice the dangerous glint in the other�s eye. Puffed up on indignation and anger, he blustered on, unafraid.

�You know exactly why you�re unworthy, Granin. Your family is a TRASH offshoot of a TRASH clan. And you, you are the perfect descendant of that line. The ultimate trash! Don�t pretend you don�t know it! Your true skin announces your status for all the world to see. Filthy base stone for a filthy base Shaper! I�m shocked you weren�t abandoned by your family in disgrace, but it goes to show how little morals they have!�

Hold onto it, Granin. Hold it in. You can�t be the first to swing, Granin thought. He took in a slow breath before he returned fire.

�Yet my achievements are piled high, whilst you have done nothing to earn your exalted position. I bet it burns you deep inside, knowing just how much a fraud you are. What do you know? Nothing. What have you done? Nothing. You aren�t wrong. That insect down there and I are very alike. We keep getting things donedespite you. Just how powerless are you, Gravus? It kills you, but you know it�s true. At the end of the day, it�s going to be that ant and I standing at the top whilst you and your vaunted clan clap from the sidelines.�

�OVER MY DEAD BODY!�

He�d achieved his goal, the old man had completely snapped. With that final roar, Gravus threw aside his dignity, drew back his fist, and incited the first brawl to have ever occurred in the viewing area of the combat arena.

The onlookers�who�d been retiring from the arena to spread the delicious gossip wrought from the display of words between their two colleagues�found themselves gobsmacked as they witnessed a full on fist fight. Even more than this, the words spoken on both sides ignited the passions of more than a few in the stands, and as the fists flew, more than a few arguments began, which quickly descended into an all-out battle that drew in everyone in attendance.

Down in the pit, the ant paused its meal for a brief moment as it watched the developing spectacle. Then it dismissed them all with a flick of its antennae and returned to its meal.

An hour later, Granin was grinning broadly as Anthony finished eating. Torrina Laksham alternated between looking at the giant ant with an approving gaze and glaring at her Triad leader with smouldering anger.

�You punched Oridene Gravus. The Oridene Gravus?� Corun asked, bewildered.

�I did more than that!� Granin boasted. �I thrashed him!�

He chortled delightedly at the memory. Gravus had never worked much in the field, he was a classic scholar, as physically weak as a golgari could get. Combined with his advanced age, it had never been close to a fair fight. Granin had beaten down on the loathsome spectre until his low-class granite fists had started to powder.

�And what are your heroics going to do for Anthony�s chances in this tournament?� Torrina asked sharply. �Gravus will stop at nothing to humiliate you now!�

Granin harrumphed.

�He was already doing everything he could to make things hard for Anthony. Nothing is going to change except that everyone now knows what�s going on since he admitted it openly. If anything, it�ll be better!�

�Do you really think so?� Corun asked.

�Of course it won�t!� Torrina snapped. �The bias is open knowledge now and so is the grudge. Gravus will pull the whole weight of his Triad behind him to settle this! We�re going to get squeezed for every resource between now and the next fight, and you better believe they�ll be pulling out all the stops to put the hardest matchup they can find in front of us!�

As if her words had punctured him, Granin slumped forward. �You�re right. I know you�re right.� He looked up at his Triad members and his charge. �I�m sorry. I let myself get carried away.�

�Don�t be sorry, be better. We�re going to have to pull in every favour and get as many eyes on our candidate as possible if we want to pull through. We need to ensure Anthony gets the best of everything from now on. We need Biomass, training, cores, and we need it yesterday!�

Granin wearily pulled himself to his feet.

�Come on, Corun. You and I need to head to the quartermaster before Gravus can wake up.�

�YOU KNOCKED HIM OUT?� Corun shrieked.

�What does it matter now? Let�s go. Torrina, you talk to Anthony and work on a plan for training.�

The Biomass left behind by the demon was even less appetising in appearance than my usual fare, but that doesn�t mean I�m going to leave a juicy pile of Biomass on the floor. I need dem points! So, I stuff my +25 stomach until the only remnant of that hideous demon is the rather large glowing core.

After I obtained the core of the rhino in my last match, I did what I usually do with such a core. I pushed my Core Surgery Skill to the limit making edits until doing any more was like shifting a brick wall with my eyeballs, then I absorbed it.

Surprisingly enough, the monster had contained a rare core, pushing my MP higher by a good chunk. I still haven�t maxed out my core for this evolution, so I�ve been spared the pain and discomfort of pushing my core beyond its limit.

But this core. This just might be what I�m looking for. The core is also rare, not surprising considering the sheer power of the monster. I could muck about with the core and then absorb it, but I feel that might be a waste of this opportunity. This monster is exactly what I want! Even the profile suggests this creature would be ideal for the type of pet I�ve been wanting!

[Luminare Daemon Invidia: Lesser Envy Demon. This Lesser Demon has shed its base demonic shell and taken on the aspect of Envy. All Envy demons are supremely jealous and covet what they perceive others to have. To that end, they are intensely insightful, able to see that which others would rather keep hidden and use powerful mental abilities to dominate their opponents through magical combat.]

Even the brutally dominant magic user I encountered was just the lesser variant? And what does it mean by �shed its base demonic shell?� Seems to be suggesting that a demon doesn�t even count as a proper demon until they reach tier six. My own colony members are considered fully fledged members when they reach tier three! And it�s not like it�s twice as tough to reach tier six as it is tier three, it�s forty Levels to get to tier three including core formation. Whereas it�s three hundred and twenty to get to tier six! Monstrous!

Putting aside what life may be like in the third stratum, the weak physical Skills, lack of mobility, and focus on pure spellcasting make this monster feel as if it doesn�t belong on its own, flying solo. As part of a group, acting as a support caster? Perfection!

Eager to investigate the possibilities to their fullest, I bring my antennae down to touch the core and activate the Core Surgery Skill. My mind is flooded with the densely encoded biology of the demon.

By the great bearded one! Granin wasn�t kidding when he said the creatures from the lower strata get access to some sweet goodies I�ve never clapped eyes on. Dimensional pocket! They get their own little bag of holding in which to store their own guts? That explains the gizzard explosion when I finished the monster off� Still, that�s only the beginning.

That sheer brainpower was entirely contained within the one mind. No multiple brain shenanigans for this guy. The Triad that managed him probably ensured he�d be able to make full use of the mind construct technique to leverage those raw stats. It goes without saying that the demon has far higher mental stats than I do, whilst its physical stats are fully in tank mode.

Some of these organs are just crazy. Eye of Envy? Allows the demon to see mental state and memories? Give me a break! That�s a thing? No wonder he was talking all that crazy talk. On the other hand, he�s able to look inside and see exactly what support someone would need the instant they need it whilst using his creepy ability to apply devastating targeted Mental Magic.

The deeper I look, the more convinced I become. This little demon will make the perfect pet to round out my little gang. Without buying more pet related Skills, I won�t be able to have any more than three, but I don�t need or want more than that. I�m starting to really feel the pinch in terms of resources to provide for the pets as is.

The number of cores, amount of experience, and weight of Biomass required to keep them as strong as possible is getting hard to find. And that situation is only going to get worse. I need to make sure that I myself continue Levelling and upgrading my mutations to keep pace with the threats I continuously run into, which naturally takes away from what I can give my pets. Once I add this little demon to the retinue, I think I�ll have to stop.

[What are you doing, Anthony? Practising your Core Surgery?] Torrina breaks into my thoughts.

[Ah, no. I�m examining the core to see if the little demon will make a good pet to round out my group. I think it will fit quite nicely! I need a support-type caster, and this guy might just fit the role admirably well once he trains up a few new Skills.]

The Shaper stares at me for a moment before breaking out into a fit of laughter.

[What�s so funny?] I ask.

[I�m just imagining the Triad who raised this monster. They must have worked so hard. The painstaking effort to capture a demon and raise it all the way to tier six, training and guiding its development, only to have it lose to an ant. And then, that ant takes all that hard work and turns it into a pet! I hope they never hear about it.]

[If anything, it�s a compliment!] I defend myself. [They did a great job on this guy, his mutations, stats, and organs work well together to create a powerful and insightful caster. He�s perfect for what I have in mind.]

[You aren�t wrong, but have you considered that passing up on absorbing this core will mean that you�ll be that little bit weaker for your next fight? Can you really afford to plan for the future in your current� predicament?]

[I still think it�s rubbish I can�t take pets into the fights,] I grumble. [I spent a lot of time and effort on my pets.]

[Whoever brought the most monsters would win. A competition of wealth is not in the interests of the Cult,] Torrina reminds me.

[I know� And yes, I�m aware the danger I�m in is very real. I only made it out of that last fight by the finest of margins. But if I throw away all of my long-term goals to survive this tournament, what will I have left in the event that I do win? Nothing! I�ll be worse off than when I started, having all my paths to advance cut off.]

[In the end, it�s up to you. We�re here to advise, nothing more. To be honest, I agree with what you�re saying. It�s one of the reasons I agree with Granin on this tournament. Pushing monsters to fight or die forces short-term thinking and corner cutting. An Ancient won�t be born in such conditions. The current Ancients spent who knows how long growing into their strength.]

[Well said. Alright then, no point holding back, let�s make this happen.]

Giving my full attention to the core, I bring my antennae forward and tap it.

[Compatible monster core detected. Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute a monster?]

Reconstitute!

Let the third and final pet be born!

The core emits a blinding light as it melts down and takes on a new form. When the process is complete, a tiny eyeball with stunted, weakened wings slowly opens and looks up at me.

[Hey there, little guy. Welcome to the team!]

A few hours later, Granin barges into the chamber and pushes past my ever-watching Triad of guards to climb down into my cell. When he reaches the bottom and sees me feeding a little mini-demon, he freezes, then promptly bursts out laughing.

[You as well?] I complain.

[I mean�I just� Can you imagine their faces if they heard?]

Not this again. I�m almost starting to feel guilty.

[He�s an incredible piece of work!] I point out defensively. [I didn�t even need to do anything to change his core, just fiddled with his evolutions a little.]

[Yes, yes, that�s all well and good.] Granin waves a hand. [I have to say, I was pretty impressed they raised a demon so well, it�s notoriously difficult to do.]

That�s intriguing. Now that I have a demon in my little group, I�m quite curious to learn more about them. The more I know about my team members, the better I�m able to support them.

[Why�s that the case? Is it something to do with the basic shell mentioned in the profile?]

[Yes. Demons are a bit of an oddity in the Dungeon. You can effectively think of them as being divided into two groups. The lower-tiered demons spawn as basically brainless, violent monsters who are even more bloodthirsty than your average beast. Sometimes, they don�t even eat what they hunt, just move onto the next battle to satisfy their bloodlust.]

[What a waste of perfectly good Biomass!]

[Quite so. As they evolve, they get stronger, but their basic instincts don�t go away. All demons are capable magic users basically from birth; even those who focus on it and evolve down the path to becoming like our little friend here,] he gestures to the Envy Demon, [get more adept with magic but are still enslaved by their instincts.]

[They get smarter, but remain mindless killing machines?]

[Basically. They become more cunning killing machines.]

[The third stratum sounds terrifying!]

[It is. But we aren�t done yet.]

[There�s more!]

[Oh, yes. As they progress, the demons begin to take on aspects�obsessions�and transition to the second group. These are the upper demons. More powerful, more specialised, and entirely in control of their instincts. Just as smart as the surface races. They have their own society down there, and believe me when I say it�s brutal.]

[Waaaaait a second. You�re telling me that when demons evolve enough, they �graduate� into a fully formed demon society?]

This is shocking news!

[Indeed. Ruled over from far below by Arconidem the Demon Lord and author of the Red Truth. The Demon Cities are a massive threat to the civilised people of Pangera.]

[You guys don�t trade or interact with them in any way?]

[With demons? That�s frowned upon. The Abyssal Legion wages a near-constant war on the Demon Cities, trying to suppress them. To any delvers, the demons are a continual menace. They don�t want us down there, and hunt down any delvers they find like animals. Thankfully, they spend far more time fighting each other than they do us.]

[Why�s that? I thought they were intelligent?]

Granin shrugs helplessly.

[Many of them just like killing. Doesn�t matter what it is. If you can�t kill the demons in your own city, then the demons in the city next door are fair game. They might be able to control their urges, but that doesn�t mean they don�t enjoy indulging them. Be careful with your new friend there. He�s not able to betray you, but you might find he�ll get a touch erratic if you don�t let him cut loose now and again.]

The mini-eyeball is quite adorable. He can�t support himself on his wings just yet and has to �walk� around on his stick-thin arms. When I feed him, a tiny mouth appears out of thin air to start nibbling on the Biomass. Obviously, I�m not feeding him the Biomass from his own former body. I don�t know if that has a bad effect, but it�s surely very weird.

[Enough about the demon, we need to work out what you are going to be doing between now and the next fight.]

[Keep grinding on my elemental Skills? The Ice Magic turned out to be quite effective.]

Granin�s rocky face turns stern.

[That might do for now, but I feel like we�re going to need something else. You�re aiming for the rank five fusion, which is unlikely to happen before the end of the tournament, so raising the elemental Skills won�t be a massive help.]

I hesitate.

[I have a� uh� special attack I can use. If the enemy is taken by surprise, it basically guarantees a win. I could use it in the next round to buy some more time.]

[Is it a Gravity spell?] Granin asks astutely.

[It is,] I confirm reluctantly.

I don�t want to spill all my secrets. I still don�t fully trust Granin and his team. More than that, I don�t trust the broader Shaper community even a little bit. Granin speaks with Torrina, and she nods, concentrates hard for a time, then confirms whatever it is he asked her to do.

[Alright, they aren�t listening in. I�ve told you already that Gravity Magic is risky, but we might have to pull the trigger on it this time. Even in this short amount of time, Gravus� allies are moving on his behalf. Things are going to get rough for us, and the next matchup is going to be a serious problem. If you blow up the next opponent with some powerful unknown spell, then they�ll be screaming to have you taken out and interrogated.]

[So� I shouldn�t use it?]

[Not necessarily. If I get to work early, we can lay the groundwork for our counter-argument. The leading Triad doesn�t have universal support in their suppression of you, and between now and then, we can stoke those attitudes and point to the numerous abuses that start popping up. With a little luck, we�ll have enough sympathy on our side that when they try to seize you, we can deny them.]

[You don�t sound completely sure that�ll work out.]

Granin sits heavily and sighs.

[I�m not. But our backs are getting pressed harder and harder against the wall. You�ve set yourself up for long-term success, but these monsters have been tuned to be super-efficient at these low tiers. It�s not a fair matchup to begin with, and the more rounds you win, the more optimised monsters you�re going to run into.]

[If I don�t make use of every trick in the arsenal, it�s going to be almost impossible to win,] I surmise for him.

[Correct. We were going to have to uncork Gravity Magic at some point. Hopefully, you�ve given me enough warning that I can protect you from the fallout.]

He leans back a touch, head tilting.

[Just how powerful is this spell? Stronger than that eye laser, perhaps?]

Oh boy.

[Granin, I don�t think you�ll believe it until you see it.]

He shakes his head.

[Alright. I�ll get to work right away. We�re going to be busy over the next two days. Get right into training and consider your next mutations. You need to get the maximum value out of whatever you choose to go with, so think carefully.]

He says a few words to Torrina before climbing the ladder and hustling out of the cell.

[Alright then, Anthony,] the younger Shaper speaks up. [You ready for elemental training?]

My brains still ache like mad, and my body is exhausted. But I stand up and shuffle my new pet back a little with one leg.

[Of course. I�m always ready.]

This isn�t the lazy holiday I had in mind.

I don�t get much time between gruelling bouts of training my elemental Skills, but the time I do get, I spend playing with my new pet, the mini-demon. He�s awkward, unable to fly on his stunted wings, and frequently tumbles over when walking about on his weak arms. Every time he falls, his big green eyeball wells up with moisture, and I have to soothe him for a while before he calms down enough to get back up.

I don�t remember Tiny or Crinis being this fragile.

Long dormant, my Pet Growth Speed Skill finally has a chance to Level up! This Skill will reduce the time it takes for the little guy to grow into his full, combat-ready form. I�d kind of hoped it would reduce the amount of Biomass he�d need to grow, making the whole process a bit cheaper, but it just seems to increase the speed he goes through food. He�s always hungry and the more he eats, the faster he grows.

Not that he�s going to get that large. Not visibly, at least. He�s probably expanding a great deal inside his little pocket dimension.

Eventually, my brains burn out and I have to beg Torrina to leave me be so I can go into some sweet, sweet torpor.

I need to rest! I�m completely drained!

The second she�s gone, I make myself comfortable and sink into blessed inactivity, my body going completely still. Sweet release! A relaxing sensation washes over me and my minds grow still, oblivion taking over.

SHABAM!

I�m back, baby! For whatever reason, there�s no slow recovery from torpor! I was never much of a morning person. I can remember many mornings riddled with low energy, but ever since my rebirth, I�m just full of beans after waking up! I�m ready! I�m ready to take on the world! I flex my legs and bounce around my cell as if I were shadowboxing, when I realise Torrina is in the room and watching me.

[You seem full of energy,] she says, sounding amused. [Ready for more training, then?]

Dammit!

This rock-woman has no mercy� Sigh� may as well get into it.

After another four hours of relentless training, with only a brief pause to eat and feed my new pet, the monotony was broken by Granin�s return. He orders Torrina to leave, and though I can�t cry, I swear real tears nearly fall when I hear his gruff voice. Getting Levels and improving my Skills is important, of course, I know that, but the training these Shapers are putting me through is truly brutal.

Compress the Mana, shape the Mana, cast the spell, tear apart my spell, start again. Over and over. Not only is it repetitive, it�s also really hard! Not to mention, I have to do this in two entirely separate elements, casting two different spells at the same time! Every one of my minds has been pushed to the limit and a painful headache multiplied by four assaults me when I stop. It�s effective training, but good grief, is it rough.

[Granin, I honestly never thought I�d be so grateful to see you.]

The big golgari Shaper looks surprised.

[What�s the matter? I never thought I�d hear such words from you. Ah, Torrina has been training you? Hehe. You have my sympathy.]

He looks at me with barely concealed happiness, as if he�s drawing great comfort from my suffering.

[She�s always like this? I thought she was only pushing me so hard because of the short timeframe!]

[Oh no, she�s crazy. You must understand that she came from low social status, like me, but was able to raise herself high through her unparalleled work ethic. She�s a well-regarded prospect amongst her peers.]

[Hold on a second. I thought you were considered to be a problematic no-hoper. How�d this bright young star end up in your Triad?] I ask pointedly.

[Well, that�s all down to social standing and politics. Enough about that.] He waves away the matter of Torrina whilst fixing me with a glare. [Through hard work and bending a few fingers, I�ve secured a meeting for you with the other reincarnators. It wasn�t easy, but I even ensured you wouldn�t be listened in on. As far as I�m aware, this is the first time that three of you have met together in the history of the golgari empire.]

[You mean, like anywhere?]

[It may have happened somewhere on Pangera, but we certainly don�t know about it. I figured this would be a good chance for you to try and make some allies. James, and more specifically, Sarah, have been here a long time. There are many Shapers who are sympathetic to them. If you can get them to put in a good word for you, it�ll have some weight around the outpost.]

Interesting! I have heard that normally, there aren�t nearly so many of us spawning into the Dungeon so close together. If there was ever going to be a time when a group of us former Earthlings were going to meet up, it was now.

A short time later, my escorts arrive and we set off on the short journey from my cell to the combat area. Nice to be making this trip secure in the knowledge that I don�t have to annihilate anything whilst risking my own annihilation when I reach the end.

After being led into the open, circular arena, I�m pleasantly surprised to see Jim and Sarah have already arrived. The giant worm is sitting in a large, coiled loop, his blind head pointing this way and that. Sarah, the immense bear monster, is sat on her hind legs, huffing with laughter. It takes me a few moments to connect up to the others with a Mind Bridge so I can join the conversation.

[What�s so funny?] I ask as I skitter up to join them.

[Ah, Anthony! Nice to see you!] Sarah sounds genuinely glad to see that I�ve survived the tournament so far. [Jim is just prattling on, as he tends to do.]

[It�s not about worms, is it?] I needle him.

[It should have been!] Jim declares proudly. [Despite being the Cult of the Worm, there�s hardly enough emphasis given to all things worm around here. Nobody seems to appreciate this noblest of all species!]

Sarah huffs out another laugh.

[The Cult doesn�t worship worms! They worship Yarrum, there�s a difference.]

Jim curls up and flicks his tail with contempt.

[What would Yarrum be without his mighty worminess?]

[An Ancient,] Sarah and I chime in together.

[Bah! Yet more unbelievers in the way of worm! Don�t worry, I�m used to it.]

Jim appears insulted by our unwillingness to fully buy into his worm enthusiasm, but I�m not certain how much of his petulance is real or performance. I can�t help but feel there�s more to Jim than meets the eye. He can�t be this upfront, can he?

[So, Anthony, how�ve you been?] Sarah is definitely sounding a touch anxious.

[Me? Competing in a tournament of death, filled with anxiety and struggle. Same as usual! Why?]

The giant bear deflates. I can tell she still feels bad about me having to risk my life on the command of the Shapers. Clearly, her loyalty to this mad cult is still strong, yet she disagrees with their actions here. Perhaps there�s a little hope for her.

[I�ve asked so many times, but they don�t want to stop the tournament. It�s not right!] Sarah says, despondent.

[Why would they listen to you?] Jim interjects. [We�re not equals in their eyes, we�re experiments. Means to an end. They don�t care that we were once people.]

[That�s not true!] Sarah protests.

[Sorry, Sarah, I have to agree with Jim,] I chime in. [My experience is a little bit more extreme than yours, but do you think if they found you when they found me, you�d be treated any differently? I don�t think so.]

I can tell Sarah wants to argue, but there isn�t much ammunition for her to use. I think I ought to take a little risk with these two. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all.

[Look. I don�t want to say too much, but there�s a slight chance I�ll break out of here before the end of the tournament. Any chance you�d want to come with?]

[Hell yes, my invertebrate brother! This is what I�m talking about! Leave the crazies to be crazy and let�s get out of here. We�ll have a way better chance of surviving together than we would on our own!]

Jim the Elemental Worm of Earth is all in. Not too surprising, considering he already wants to escape and has made no secret of it. His entire body wiggles with delight as he enthusiastically expresses his desire to get out of crazy town. Sarah is far less enthralled.

[Escape? Why!] she says, aghast. [The Shapers have taken care of you for years, Jim! You�re safe here. Going back out into the Dungeon, it�s insane!]

The giant worm doesn�t stop its dance as he replies, exasperation clear in his voice.

[I�ve been telling you I want to get out of here for more than twelve months, Sarah.]

[I didn�t think you actually wanted to leave! Why would you ever want to leave?]

[We�re prisoners here. Well-fed and well-cared for prisoners, to be sure, but prisoners all the same! Do you think just because they speak to you politely that you aren�t a captive? Can you go wherever you want? Can you do anything without their permission? You need to wake up!]

[It�s better than living like a mindless beast. You want to go back to kill or be killed? Or more likely, spending months at a time hiding beneath the dirt?]

[Whoa there,] I break in. [Let�s just chill for a moment. This is getting heated fast.]

The two monsters are staring at each other�as well as a worm can stare anyways, I really don�t think he has eyes�and Sarah is clearly agitated, her breath booming like bellows as she sucks in air. From that brief interchange, I get the feeling they might have had this sort of interaction multiple times before, with much the same conclusion. Looks like I need to play the peacemaker.

[Look. I didn�t mean to stir up any bad feelings. Yes, the Dungeon is a scary and dangerous place where you have to fight to survive,] I say to Sarah. [And yes, you are in fact prisoners here kept under the thumb of the Cult,] I say to Jim. [I think we can all agree that those things are true, right?]

The other two former humans grumble in agreeance.

[Great. Clearly, Jim is less intimidated by the thought of surviving in the Dungeon than Sarah is, that�s fine. There�s no judgement here.] I try to move my antennae in a soothing way. Calming circles, all that jazz. [And it�s clear Sarah isn�t as chafed by her restricted freedoms as Jim is, that�s also fine. Let�s just talk it out, work out where each of us stands and most importantly, not leak this idea to the Shapers and get Anthony brutally murdered, agreed?]

I give them a moment to collect themselves. Why are they getting all bent out of shape? If anyone has the right to be feeling a little tense, surely it�s me!

[Okay, how about Sarah goes first? Is that alright, Jim?]

The worm gives a languid tail wave as a reply, indicating his lack of care.

[Alright then, Sarah, tell us how you feel about the escape plan.]

Yeesh, it�s like I�m overseeing a couple�s therapy session for my parents. At least this time nobody�s screaming at me.

[Okay�] The gigantic bear nods and settles back on her hindquarters. [Obviously, it�s been a long time for me. In the Dungeon, I mean. I had an advantage over the two of you, I suppose. I was reborn as a bear, not an insect. I don�t think I was super powerful, but I was quite strong and able to defend myself pretty well. But, I wasn�t very, good� at it. Being a monster, I mean. I suppose� it must sound silly, but, fighting� and killing. I hated it. I found refuge with the sophos for a time, but I wasn�t comfortable there. They didn�t understand why I didn�t want to fight.]

I nod my antennae sympathetically. They wouldn�t make sense of that at all. A monster that wouldn�t fight? What�s the point of it?

[When the Shapers found me, I was almost mad from the fear and violence. I just� I don�t want to go back� I don�t want to be on my own again.]

And now for a purposeful pause where everyone soaks in the speaker�s words�

[Thanks for sharing, Sarah. I think we can all agree that fighting to survive is difficult and scary. I think we can also agree that not everyone is wired to thrive in that sort of environment. I just want you to consider one thing, Sarah. If you were to escape with us, you wouldn�t be on your own, but would have people to talk to, people who could help share the danger with you. Something to think about.]

This is actually super tiring. I�m not built for this.

[Jim, why don�t you tell us your thoughts about escaping?]

[Gladly! I�m more afraid of the Shapers turning on me and stuffing me into this tournament than I am of the Dungeon. Simple. Remember, my experience of the Dungeon wasn�t great. In fact, it was absolutely awful! But I�ll take that situation, which I can control, over being fed to some death weapon of a monster.]

Again, a pause.

[Great, I think that�s helped clarify everyone�s thoughts.]

Talking through this reasonably is taking a toll on me. My headache is starting to come back.

[Why do you think the Shapers would force you into the tournament, Jim?] Sarah asks her friend. [They love you here. They�ve always been good to you.]

[Things are changing, Sarah. I�ve said this before, but surely you can see it now. Look at Anthony! You never would have thought he�d be stuck where he is now, would you? He�s just like us! Why are you so sure they won�t do the same to you and me? To me, it doesn�t make any sense that you ignore this possibility. Maybe you can afford to, since you�re strong. If they put me in there, it�ll be a slaughter. I can�t afford the risk!]

[I have to agree that I don�t particularly feel the love that you allude to here, Sarah. They�ve spent a lot of time and resources on you over decades. Kinda think the new regime may want to collect at some point.]

She probably feels a little ganged up on with the two of us coordinating against her. To be honest, I don�t really care if she decides to join the escape plan or not. We�d have a higher chance of success if she was with us, I�ve no doubt, but my larger goal is to meet back up with the colony, something I�m not too sure either of these two would be enthusiastic about. Once we get away from the golgari, I�ll be striking out on my own.

[Let me think about it,] Sarah mutters.

[Sure] I say easily. [Just remember, don�t get me killed. Please. I really mean it.]

After discussing the great escape, the conversation turns to more idle topics. Where did you live on Earth? Wow, I sure didn�t live anywhere near there! How did you die? Don�t want to talk about it? I�m not surprised! It�s probably not surprising that we aren�t the type of people who�d want to excessively share about our human lives. Given what I learned from the lord of the Dungeon, Mr. Beardy Man himself, put together with the few small hints I got from the others, I understand that none of us led fantastic lives.

I mean, mine was fine, but Garralosh and these two seem to have suffered some nasty stuff.

Ah well, the past is in the past. We�re all monsters now and we need to live the best monster life we can. Which for me means getting the heck out of here without becoming some other monster�s lunch so I can reunite with my family. They must be struggling without me, desperate for my guidance and steady leadership�

Don�t become delusional, Anthony. They�re probably doing just fine without you. In fact, if anyone should be worried, it should be them worrying about me.

Our conversation plays out quite pleasantly and we go our separate ways. I notice Sarah takes a good long look at her trio of escorts before she moves off with them. Perhaps she�s actually starting to wake up to the reality of her life here. If she actually does make an escape with Jim, I think she�ll find the Dungeon far less intimidating than she did before. Company makes all the difference.

If I didn�t have the colony and Tiny, I might have ended up exactly the same as her. Going from being a human living in a society to being a monster incapable of communication is rough, to say the least. No one to talk to, even just to vent and destress, makes things mentally tough.

Jim had it even harder, slithering around in the soil, completely blind. He plays it off as if it were fine, but I think he suffered a great deal in those early days. Unable to fight, unable to see or talk. Living in a world of complete darkness whilst being so defenceless and clueless. It must have left some scars on him. It would be impossible for it not to. His willingness to throw himself back into the thick of it is admirable, but I feel he too would benefit from having a companion to share the danger with.

It�s unlikely to have anything to do with me anyway. If we get out alive, we�ll soon part ways. For now, the staying alive part is what I need to focus on. Back in my cell, I�m not too shocked to find Torrina waiting.

[Do you have to be here? Don�t you have something else to do?] I groan.

She quirks one stony eyebrow at me.

[Corun is keeping Tiny alive for the moment, so I thought I�d stay here and do the same for you. You�d prefer the alternative?]

[No, ma�am. Let�s get to it!]

As much as I whine, she is doing me a huge favour by helping in my training. I�m not too interested in dying, and this is the best way to keep myself alive. I�d be an absolute idiot to put less than every ounce of my effort into it. I�ll be thrown into another death match in two days, harder than the last one, probably. Every Level up is critical.

And I�m getting them�Level ups I mean. Grinding away at two different types of magic at the same time is progressing my Skills at a quick pace. Not only the elemental Skills, but my supplementary mental Skills as well. I�ve gained two Levels in Iron Mind and one in Profound Meditation, as well as bringing my fire and earth Skills to rank three.

The third rank is some sort of pivot for the elements, unlocking more powerful varieties of the original shape. Earth Magic unlocked Stone Magic, and Fire Magic unlocked Blue Flame. All sorts of new stuff can be done with Stone Magic, but Blue Flame just seems to be a hotter flame. Still useful, no doubt about that, just less exciting.

From what I�m told, that�s it as far as new types of elements from the base Skills, which is another reason why people don�t pursue them very far. You made it to rank three? That�s all she wrote folks, move along. For my part, I fully intend to keep pushing. Before the next fight starts, I�ll have all of them at rank three and be pushing for rank four.

[Any word on my next opponent?] I squeeze out to Torrina during training.

She whips a quick spell at me in case I become distracted, and I rip it apart at the last second.

[Not yet,] she informs me. [The second round hasn�t finished yet. I think we still have two more days, perhaps a little less.]

Another two days� ugh.

[Is there any chance you could sneak Tiny in here? I�d love to say hi to the big lug.]

[I�m keeping him as close as possible, but it might be tricky to bring him into the compound. I�ll see what I can do.]

[I appreciate it.]

And I really do. Not having Tiny and Crinis with me is causing all sorts of anxiety. They�re my closest companions! My best buds! It just doesn�t feel right when they�re not around. I know some would say they�re not �friends� as such, more �magically bound slaves�, but I hold no truck with that. I don�t even subscribe to the sophos attitude toward pets. Despite the sophos being so generous and loving to their pets, they still view them as possessions. I want to go beyond that. I will set them free one day! As soon as I work out how�

[Are you worried about your other pet?]

[Ye�err� what other pet?]

Safe! Just in time!

[Alright then, keep your secrets.]

[I shall! I mean, what secrets?]

That actually gets a laugh out of Torrina, a rare feat indeed. She�s quite taciturn, usually.

In just this manner, the training drags on until I�m forced to beg for rest. I take a little time to feed and tickle my new pet, and then straight into torpor I go. When I wake up, I have a snack of some Biomass, which I have a decent stockpile of, and then, I anxiously await the next golgari through the door. To my momentary delight, it�s not Torrina, the cold faced training torturer, but Granin who enters.

[Here we are again, Granin. Me being unquestionably happy to see you.]

He grunts.

[I think we�ll fix that in a hurry. Let�s have a chat about the next couple of rounds. We need to work out a strategy.]

Granin and I end up sitting facing each other. Though in my case, sitting is more of a comfortable crouch, which brings us reasonably close to eye level. Although again, in my case, I technically have a heck of a lot of eyes.

[There were a hundred and twenty-eight monsters at the start of this tournament. After just two rounds, we�re down to thirty-two.]

Even through the rock on his face, I can see his disgust plain and clear. He looks like he wants to spit.

[Nearly a hundred projects the Cult had invested in, gone to waste. The amount of effort, care, and expertise that has been utterly thrown away here is a travesty.]

I�m a little confused. Don�t these monsters always end up dying? What the heck do they do with them?

[Usually, we release them into the Dungeon,] he replies after I query him. [Once we�ve done everything we can, training and raising the monster to the best of our collective abilities, we let them go out to the Dungeon to seek their destiny, hoping they�ll descend to the deepest Dungeon and become the final Ancient.]

[You just let them go? Like, releasing them into the wild? Surely they all die?]

[We don�t know if they�re all dead,] he grumbles. [And that�s beside the point. Unless we let them out to fight and grow on their own, there�s no chance they�ll become an Ancient. The idea that you can keep and control a creature of that sort of power is insane.]

He makes a decent point there. Trying to hold onto a monster as it grows increasingly strong would be difficult. These aren�t pets; they have absolutely no issue biting the hand that feeds them. While many of the monsters are smart and can be reasoned with, eventually, they�ll get to tier eight or nine, and can the Cult keep them caged at that point?

Doubtful.

[Anyway, the third round is coming, after which there�ll be four more.]

[Four more rounds! Yikes�]

[Four. Round of sixteen. Round of eight, Semi-final, and Final. That�s why I wanted to talk to you. If you go ahead and use your mega spell, or whatever it�s called, in the next round, then you�ll have to contend with the knowledge of it being revealed for the remaining four. Those monsters that are left are going to be no pushovers either. Regardless of how I feel about this tournament, the winners are getting stronger as the competition goes on. Some of these beasts are powerful.]

The first fight was a piece of cake, but the last round nearly killed me. It was way too close�insanely close. If I have to go through that another four times� I really don�t want to go through that another four times.

[What are you thinking? Do I need to hold off further? Wait for another round? I barely made it past the last opponent. If the next one is going to be even worse, then will I even be able to survive without using my most powerful card?]

The crusty old Shaper leans back until his head thuds into the wall and he�s looking straight up. Having a stone head must be helpful sometimes.

[I�m not sure,] he admits. [It�s a risk, either way. I�m reasonably sure we�ll be able to protect you in the event your magic leaks out. Is this spell something you can try and whip out mid-battle?]

It takes a significant amount of time to create a Gravity Bomb. Compressing the Mana is mentally taxing and draining as hell. I was able to do it against Garralosh mainly because she was incoherent with rage. Perhaps one day, I�ll have the raw mental strength to crunch out a Gravity Bomb on the fly, but not yet.

To Granin I say, [Unlikely. I�d need to prepare it before the battle started.]

Granin sat up.

[You need to compress and prepare the spell? Are you sure it�ll hit?]

[Oh yeah. It�s hard to get away from it.]

[So it�s fast.]

[No� You�ll just have to see it for yourself, Granin. Try not to be sitting anywhere near it when it goes off.]

He�s hard to read, but I think he gets it.

[If there�s nothing else,] Granin says, standing up, [then I�ll leave you to train and prepare. There isn�t much time, try not to waste any of it.]

[What have I done except train, collapse into sleep, and feed my new pet?]

[That�s what I�m talking about.]

[Gasp! Feeding an adorable little monster is never a waste of time! Is it, little guy?]

Slowly growing every day that passes, the small demon looks up at me with its one, bulbous green eyeball and flutters its wings.

[You have food. I desire it!]

Talking already! He�s growing up so fast. In fact, my pet speed raising Skill has already grown to three also. It must be accelerating his growth speed more and more as time passes.

[Of course, little guy! Food is on the way!]

Like a doting parent, I grab some Biomass and pass to it the greedy demon who materialises his mouth and starts shovelling the food into his extra-dimensional belly.

[Anthony�]

[Huh?]

[Start training!]

[Oh, yeah.]

Back to the grind. I need to name this little dude. It�ll have to wait for another time, however. I train alone until Torrina returns to push things harder and drive my brains to their limits. In the moments where I have the energy to think, I wonder if the colony is training like this, and how well-received the methods would be by the mages. What the heck do they care about pain? That�s just how you know you�re working hard!

Energised by the thought of my siblings doing what they always do, I throw myself into practice and reap the reward of sweet, sweet Levels. Before I know it, the third round is underway, and who else would be asked to lift the curtain but the best insect in the Dungeon?

It�s not you, Jim.

It would be a lie to say that Granin wasn�t nervous. He shifted in his seat and watched the gates rise to commence the third round of competition. That damned ant had been quite adamant that his spell would be a spectacular one-hit kill for any creature that didn�t know it was coming. Granin himself knew of some fairly potent artillery-type spells that required a Triad to work together for an extended cast, compressing and shaping Mana before releasing it in a glorious burst of devastation. Still, such spells were not at all useful in a one-on-one duel.

As he tried to contain his nervousness, he also did his best to ignore the muttered whispers of the Shapers around him in the stands. Gravus was a notable absentee for this round, and not a single person in attendance had failed to notice. Since the old stone was unlikely to back down on his own accord, there was little doubt his Triad leader had forbidden him from attending. After the campaign Granin had waged bringing attention to the open bias against his sponsored monster, the leading Triad had to step a little more carefully lest they jeopardise the legitimacy of their tournament.

Having Gravus blow-up and get into another fistfight would not be a good look for them. Even as he understood their motives, Granin was a little disappointed. Baiting Gravus into another explosion would have served his purposes perfectly.

With a rattle and a crash, the gates slammed into their frames fully raised, and the gathered Shapers leaned forward in their seats as the two monsters emerged from their respective tunnels. From one side came a gleaming ant, barbed mandibles already gnashing at the air. Even from where he sat, Granin could feel the Mana concentration within Anthony growing by the second. He was already working on his spell, and everyone could sense it.

Which happened to include his opponent. A ponderous mound of dark goop, the Death Creeper was a pain of a monster to kill. Capable of rotting flesh that even approached it, the Creeper exuded a powerful aura of decay that few monsters of the second stratum could match. As it sensed the powerful build-up of Mana within Anthony, the creature wisely began to disperse its mass.

This creature was a tough opponent for Anthony in Granin�s eyes. His acid would do little to the beast since the acid itself would dissolve to nothing before doing any sort of damage, and if he tried to close in and bite, he�d be suffering damage just from being close to the thing. Magic was the best way to deal with the Creeper, and even that was hard to achieve. Without a doubt, the Triad in charge of raising this Creeper had taken the necessary precautions and built magic resistance into the monster from an early stage.

The Creeper didn�t appear overconfident at all and moved cautiously, spreading itself out and oozing its way toward its opponent. For his part, Anthony continued showboating and snapped at the air with his mandibles while his antennae swirled wildly. What the hell was he doing?

�Mind if I join you?�

Granin started when someone spoke nearby, and turned to see a smiling Shaper standing beside him. He frowned a touch: Inaron, Triad leader responsible for raising the Creeper fighting below.

�Sure. Take a seat.�

It was a little unusual for competing sponsors to be sitting next to each other during a bout, though not unheard of during this tournament. Some Shapers found the process too emotional, whereas others remained quite detached.

�My thanks,� came the reply as Inaron took his seat. �That seems to be quite the spell your creature is working on there. The Mana feels dense, bordering on unstable.�

Granin grunted.

�His best chance of overcoming your Creeper is overwhelming it with magic. I get the feeling this fight is going to be short and decisive either way.�

�Oh, I agree. If the spell fails to do fatal damage, then I believe the ant will find itself swiftly overwhelmed.�

Inaron sounded immensely confident in his assessment, enough so that Granin turned to him curiously.

�You don�t believe the spell will be effective?�

Not wanting to appear impolite, Inaron simply nodded.

�Indeed. The weak point of the Creeper is its slow movement, combined with its poor ability to contest ranged opponents. In the Dungeon, as I�m sure you know, they are typically an ambush predator, not suited to chasing down their prey. My Triad and I have put a huge amount of effort into designing this Creeper to overcome those issues. Its ability to resist magical offense and disperse damage is first class.�

Granin had seen the Creeper�s first two fights, and they went much as Inaron said. Closing in against the monster was playing to its strengths, and it would use its liquid-like flesh to engulf its opponent and allow its death aura to do the work whilst absorbing whatever punishment its victim dealt out in its death throes. In the tournament, the opponents of the Creeper had taken the safe approach, attempting to kite the monster and punish it from range. Neither succeeded. The Creeper merely spread itself out across a disgustingly large area, cornering its foe while absorbing the damage sent its way. In both cases, the opponent had been wrapped up and succumbed.

The same scene was playing out again, except this time, the opponent hadn�t even bothered to cast a single spell, choosing instead to pose dramatically. Granin resisted the urge to slap his forehead. What was that idiot doing?

Inaron almost succeeded in keeping the pity from his voice as he observed. �I believe your monster is ready to unleash its spell. I�m most curious to see what it is.�

�You and me both,� Granin muttered.

Before they had a chance to continue their discussion, the ant ceased his antics and opened his jaws wide. The vast build-up of Mana within the creature had reached a crescendo; the spell was ready.

Granin sat forward. From what he understood, Gravity Magic was able to change weight. Useful, but not as impressive as tunnelling through space. For Gravity Magic to be as high in rank or higher than Space Magic, there had to be more to it than that, he just had no idea what it might be. Anthony repeatedly refused to tell him, and if it weren�t for the life or death situation the tournament represented, he would never have had a chance to see.

�Come on, Anthony. Show me something special��

Then it happened.

From between the open mandibles of the ant monster, a ball so dark as to appear almost black flickered into existence. After a moment that stretched out in silence, it blasted toward the Creeper. The uproar was instantaneous.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWL!

The air in the combat arena stirred to a mighty gale within a second. A piercing shriek stabbed Granin�s ears, causing sharp pain. Every Shaper stood at the same moment, their focus glued to the spell flying toward the Creeper.

Granin�s eyes bulged as he fought against the buffeting wind. All of the air in the room was being sucked toward that damned ball! What the hell was it?

Even the light around the spell faded into darkness, which made it difficult to discern the edge of the spell. Where did the sphere end and the dark begin? Nobody could say! In response to the appearance of this shrieking magic, the Creeper reacted as it had been taught to, spreading its malleable liquid-like flesh out as wide as possible. Like a wave crashing onto a beach, it covered almost half the combat area in its dark body.

It took only a few seconds for the spell to cross the distance. Powerful or not, Granin still didn�t see how such a small spell would be capable of destroying that much magic-resistant monster flesh.

The ball slammed into the soft flesh of the Creeper and vanished within. For a heartbeat, Granin feared nothing would happen, that the spell had been absorbed and destroyed just like that, but then the body of the monster expanded and that horrifying shriek stirred the air once more.

A black sphere several metres in diameter appeared, and the body of the Creeper around it was just gone, vanished. The pull of the air was even stronger now, the light dimmed even further, and Granin could feel something that stirred in him a deep fear. He was being pulled forward. His feet slid toward the edge of the stands slightly before he braced himself. Other Shapers were doing the same. The spell was trying to drag him in! If he could feel it from up here, what was it like down there?

He only had to look at the Creeper to get an idea. At first, the monster had accepted the loss of a chunk of its body, such a thing was normal, after all, but as it tried to pull away from the spell, it found that it couldn�t. In fact, it was being pulled toward it! The monster tried to pull its flesh away, only to find it was useless. With every second that passed, more and more of the Creeper was pulled into the sphere, where it simply vanished, as if it had never been.

The Shapers watched the whole process in shocked silence until the spell flickered and disappeared. The vast Creeper was nowhere to be seen. The only thing that remained in the arena was a gleaming ant, still posing up on its hind legs with the front two extended wide on either side.

The weight of the ant�s magic might have run its course, but the silence of the Shapers only grew as the ant monster relaxed its pose and made its way to its defeated foe. At first, it didn�t seem as if there was anything left after the vortex of doom vanished. When Granin looked closer, he could see a small orb the size of his own clenched fist resting in the depression left behind in the aftermath of the spell.

Anthony crawled down into the crater, and before the befuddled eyes of the spectators, drug the sphere back toward his own exit, where a very wary Triad of guards waited.

Even though he was forewarned, Granin was just as stunned as everyone else. Anthony warned him he wouldn�t believe it until he saw it, and he was right! What the hell was that? The incredible suction, that horrifying dark sphere that consumed the very air itself. The power was beyond his expectations, far beyond! Judging by the look on Inaron�s face, he was struggling to accept the turn of events.

�I have to hand it to you, Inaron,� Granin tried to play it cool, �I�m truly impressed by the defensive capabilities your monster displayed. Great work.�

So saying, he tried to escape from the spectator area by walking casually toward the exit. Unfortunately, he didn�t make it three steps before Inaron grabbed him by the arm.

�What in the name of the Worm was that? I�ve never seen that spell before, Granin!�

�Oh, that? You know, it�s a�� he groped for some excuse to play it off, �a combination of dark and Fire Magic. You felt that wind kick up? That�s from the, uh, flames.�

Granin tried to pull his arm loose, but Inaron had him in a death grip. Glancing around, other Shapers had recovered from their initial malaise and had started to move toward him. If he got stuck here, he�d be bogged down by questions until he crumbled to dust! He couldn�t allow it. If he left Anthony alone for that long, the insect would be dragged away by Gravus to a separate chamber, and he�d probably never find him again.

And Granin was a golgari of action. Make a plan, follow the plan, always deliver. So that�s what he would do. He faced Inaron head-on and placed his loose hand on the Shaper�s shoulder.

�Sorry about this, Inaron. I�ll buy you some Rock Beer next time.�

�What are you��

BAM!

With one colossal fist, Granin knocked the words straight out of his colleague�s mouth and the sense right out of his head. Out cold, the poor scholar�s grip loosened and he fell into the seats with a clatter. Finally free, Granin did what any self-respecting mage of advanced age would do�he bolted for the exit, shouldering aside all who tried to accost him on his way. Angry shouts punctuated the air in his wake, but he didn�t dare delay. The moment word of what happened got back to the Triad, things would hit the fan.

Dammit, Anthony! I know you said it was big, but I never imagined it would be like that!

It took ten minutes of dashing through the tunnels for Granin to make it to Anthony�s chamber. When he arrived, he was relieved to see Corun and Torrina already there and no sign of Gravus.

�What the hell was that spell, Lazus?� Corun nearly shouted. �I could hear it from out in the corridor!�

�You didn�t ask Anthony? He�s right there?� Confused, Granin pointed at the ant attempting to gnaw at the ball of presumably squashed Biomass.

�He won�t say anything,� Corun grumbled. �Just tells me it�s his special move and can�t be advertised.�

[Bit late for keeping it under wraps now, isn�t it?] Granin sent to the bug-brained fool. [The whole place is in an uproar! I had to knock out another Shaper just to get here!]

The ant didn�t turn its head, but Granin had grown to understand that due to his compound eyes, Anthony could still see him, shifting his head just wasn�t necessary most of the time.

[It�s pretty awesome, I have to agree. Keeping Corun in the dark is just fun. Look at him, he�s practically pouting over there! What a baby.]

[That is uproariously petty!]

[I�m trying to eat here, Granin. What do you need?]

A persistent scraping sound jarred the ears of all present as the giant ant snapped and chomped at the condensed ball, without much success.

[Is it� compressed?] Torrina broke in to ask.

[Of course, it�s compressed! It�s been smashed together by the force of gravity! With enough Mana, that spell could probably do the same thing to the planet as it did to that Creeper thing.]

Granin�s eyes bulged.

[What did you say?] he shrieked.

[Calm down. It would take, like, a lot of Mana. Way too much. What you saw is pretty much as strong as I can handle in the spell right now.]

The old Shaper tried to clear his head. Torrina filled in the silence.

[Anthony, I thought your Gravity Magic affected weight. Made things heavier or lighter. How does it produce the effect you created?]

The ant snapped its mandibles in irritation.

[Explaining gravity is so weird. It�s gravity! Besides, I don�t have any particular reason I need to share this information with you, do I?]

At that moment, the doors to the upstairs viewing were blown open, and Gravus barged in followed by six Shapers.

�Everyone out!� he bellowed. �I will be assuming the management of this creature!�

Even from below, Granin could see the greed blazing in the eyes of the old cantankerous snake. New magic was a lure Shapers found hard to resist, and Gravus wasn�t trying all that hard. Anthony�s Gravity Magic wasn�t too desirable initially, the effects were novel but hardly intimidating. After that display, the story had completely changed.

�Over my dead body, Gravus!� Granin roared as he stomped toward the ladder to climb back to the upper level.

Corun and Torrina had leapt to their feet when the invaders appeared, and when Granin charged forward, they leapt to back him up. Triads acted together in the face of outsiders, and they would do no different now when the stakes were high. Granin was like an angry bull as he surged up the ladder, curses and threats pouring out of his mouth to the extent that even those who entered behind Gravus turned a little pale. Not the fearless leader, though, his face twisted with rage as Granin, a most detested individual in his mind, flew toward him.

Before the inevitable confrontation could explode, the door was forced open once again, and the much calmer visage of Irette Plamine entered.

�That�s quite enough, I think,� she warned those present.

Gravus restrained himself with a visible effort, whilst Granin and his two Triad mates finished making their way up, where they then paused, eyeing the crowd distrustfully. The situation was tense, feelings running high on both sides. So Granin was absolutely not surprised when that stupid ant went and opened his big mouth.

[I�m happy to let you know a little about my magic,] he sent to Plamine. [IF you let me out of this stupid tournament. Good deal, no?]

The thing about golgari is that they�re totally covered in stone. It�s easy to forget it sometimes, since the rock shifts along with their movements, as if it were a part of them. Scratch that, it is a part of them, just not something they�re born with.

I�ve been able to get a little detail out of the few members of the species I�ve spent my time with, and have picked up a few other morsels of insight through observation. Essentially, they�re born without that rocky outer coating, and when they get old enough, fully grown, I assume, they choose a mineral or some type of ore and bond it onto themselves, forming a second skin.

Although the process seems to bring the stone to some sort of life, making it an actual part of their bodies, you have to remember that these are people with actual rock on the outside of their bodies. It makes reading certain social cues difficult. Males and females aren�t quite as distinctive in their body shape, for example. I suppose the rocks sort of round out the edges, making it a little harder to tell them apart.

For another thing, changes in expression are hard to read, since their faces tend to be quite immobile. A smile is easy enough, but something like a frown can be tricky, since the stone doesn�t wrinkle like a human�s skin would. Anything around the eyes is also difficult, the muscle movements are usually small and get almost completely washed out by the second skin.

I mean, this is me speaking as a former human-turned-insect. I�m sure they have no issue telling all this stuff apart, and if I mentioned it, they�d probably look at me like I was nuts. I also can�t dismiss the possibility that spending a significant amount of time around monsters and other ants my ability to discern humanoid social cues is beginning to degrade in a massive way. I mean, I can tell what an ant is feeling by the movement of their antennae, which is pretty cool. It�s all trade-offs.

Anyway, the reason my mind turns to golgari expressions is because I can easily tell that the Plamine lady is SUPER cheesed off. No doubt about it. The glare is there, the eyes are almost hot enough to burn a hole in my carapace, the brows are drawn, and her jaw is clenched like an iron vice.

Holy moly, lady, you�re going to crack a molar, ease up a little!

I�m not sure what�s got her so mad. If they�re willing to let me out of this death tournament of death, then I�m happy to trade a little knowledge. It�s not as if they�ve ever unlocked Gravity Magic in the history of their species, so they aren�t likely to get it anytime soon. For whatever reason, they�ve never been able to create pets with it either, and I seriously doubt just knowing it�s possible will cause the System to slip it into their menu.

[You seek to bargain with the Cult of the Worm?] Even her mental voice sounds as if it were pushed through gritted teeth. How does she even do that?

[Sure. Why not? I have something you want, you have something I want, why not do a trade? What I want, just in case you weren�t aware, is to leave this place alive and go back to where you, you know, abducted me, a sapient reincarnated person, against my will.]

If anything, her glare grows even hotter. Jeez. If this is getting her so mad, then imagine if I was talking to Gravus! That moron might have just popped from sheer indignant rage.

[Considering you are our captive, it would seem you have a significantly weakened bargaining position, wouldn�t you say?]

So far, this mental connection has been private, but with her last words, I feel her reaching out to Gravus to bring him into the conversation. Not to be outdone, I spin Granin into the loop as well.

[Captive. Prisoner. Slave. All great words to describe my situation. The situation you put me in. Because, you know, that�s apparently something you�re comfortable with. As for leverage, I�m not exactly sure what you think you�ve got. If I don�t give up my knowledge willingly, how are you planning on getting it out of me?]

[Oh, there are ways, insect!] Gravus kicks in as I knew he would. [I will rip it from your mind if I have to!]

Even Plamine winces at the barbarity of such a suggestion.

[You want to get in a tug of war with me, Gravus? I notice you brought six other Shapers in here with you, very brave.] I snap my mandibles with a sharp CLACK! [And if you tried it, maybe I�d turn you into a little ball of hardened mush and eat you. Did you think of that?] For emphasis, I nudge the remains of the Creeper and let it roll a little before it comes to a rest.

Granin eyes me warily, but I don�t need any reminding that I�m playing a dangerous game. The risk that they�ll simply overwhelm my mental defences and knock me out is very real. I�m gambling that they can�t get any real information out of me if I�m not conscious.

Just let me go, you stupid rock-people! I want out of here and back to my family! Why�d you idiots bring me here in the first place if all you want is me dead?

That�s actually a good question. Maybe I should ask that. After Gravus stops choking on his own spit after me threatening him, of course.

[Not only do you think you�re in a position to bargain with us, you think you can threaten us?] Plamine asks coolly. It appears she�s gotten her temper under control.

[Look, all I want is to leave. I don�t want to be here. I�m not a big fan of having to fight for my life every few days, and frankly, the hospitality has been very lacking. You want a bit of knowledge out of me? Sure. Have at it. Just let me go. I vanish into the Dungeon and you�ll never hear from me again. You seriously don�t seem like you want me here anyway. Let�s make a deal and we all get what we want. Juicy new magic for you and me out of sight.]

Granin clears his throat. [Anthony has raised a valid point, Plamine. Many have made note that Anthony has been deprived of resources, and the questionable matchups have raised more than a few brows. It was hardly necessary for Gravus to open his blowhole and confirm the leading Triad�s bias, but he went and did it anyway. Every Shaper in this facility is aware of it.]

[Do you have a point, Granin?] Plamine says. I get the feeling she�s mentally standing on Gravus� foot, otherwise there�s no way he�d have kept his mouth shut.

[My point is quite simple,] Granin replies, smooth as silk. [I have gathered the required quorum to move a motion of no confidence in your Triad�s leadership. Should you push me or Anthony to give up his secrets against his free will, or engage in any further blatant manipulation of this event, then I�ll be forced to push that motion ahead.]

A tense silence descends in each of our respective minds, which I promptly break.

[What�s this motion of no confidence? Is it bad?] I say openly, knowing Plamine and Gravus can hear me.

Granin�s lip twitches in amusement, and he responds openly as well.

[Very bad. For all of us. Remember that the Cult of the Worm is supposed to be a secret society. Not every Shaper is a member, not even close. If the motion is passed, then a high ranking Shaper would be sent to investigate and mediate. It would be rather difficult to keep what has been happening here under wraps at that point. The leading Triad would be outed as Cultists, as would I and my Triad, and we�d be put to death.]

Ouch.

This move has caught Plamine by surprise, her eyes narrow as Granin explains his ploy and her hands clench and unclench.

[Give us some time to consider,] she says coldly before turning on her heels and leaving the way she came, Gravus and his flunkies following.

Great! Now I�ve got more time to try and eat this stupid Biomass. I refuse to let it go to waste this time!

It took time and effort, but finally, I�ve been successful in my quest to consume the Biomass resulting from a Gravity Bomb! After contending with the dense ball of ex-monster with my mandibles without success, I had to apply other methods to try and soften it. Water Magic and acid had some effect on the unyielding chunk, though not much. They did provide the impetus that allowed the breakthrough!

By first cooling the sphere and then heating it with Ice and Fire Magic respectively, then biting the heck out of it, I�ve been able to crack the ball open. Once such a weakness is exposed, it�s merely a matter of persistence. And by persistence, I mean chomping on the thing over and over again, breaking off small flakes and shards that I can eat one by one.

The taste is horrendous. Unimaginably bad. But there�s little that can be done about that. The pursuit of Biomass doesn�t allow for weak stomachs! If I wasn�t willing to eat something disgusting, I would have starved to death long ago. I wouldn�t have even made it as long as I did as a human! Something like this is laughable.

Of course, my sub-brains have been continuing their brutal training regime. No rest can be allowed if I�m to survive the upcoming rounds. Despite my peace offering to the leaders of this farce of a Cult, I don�t think they�ll let me have the easy way out. Their greed for knowledge is one thing, their dedication to their idiotic vision quite another. After getting to this point and sacrificing so many of their own members� projects, would they really be willing to throw the rules out the window to let me go? I�m not sure even the lure of new magic is enough to get my deal over the line.

Even beyond their stubborn ideology is their strange and seemingly baseless dislike of me as an individual. You don�t like ant monsters, fine. We do start very weak, it�s true. I�ve been lucky to make it as far as I have. Yet there seems to be this strange insistence that I wind up dead.

Why! It can�t just be because they don�t want me wasting resources they would rather see funnelled into stronger monsters. If that was all they wanted, surely they�d just wait until I ran into another creature I couldn�t beat, and all my accumulated experience and Biomass would go toward their desired end.

It just doesn�t make sense. I feel like there�s something I�m missing, and it�s making me even more uncomfortable. I don�t want to hang around this place any longer than I have to. The sooner I can get out, the better. The next chance I get, I�ll need to talk to Jim and see how he�s going with his preparations. Relying on my fellow reincarnators to enact a daring escape before things here escalate even further is a real possibility.

I don�t dare wait and hope that the colony will find me. The distance is great and the direction unknown. Even if they�re all working hard, and I�m sure they are, it�s too much to ask that they find and set me free. No, even if they found me, I�m not sure I�d want them exposing themselves. I�ve no idea how the nutters in this cult would react to intelligent ants, and beyond that, I don�t want to bring the wrath of the golgari empire down on my family. Even with all of the promise and strength the colony has shown, I don�t think we�d be able to survive.

Granted, I haven�t seen exactly how large or powerful the supposed golgari civilisation is, but I don�t feel like taking any risks. Until I know otherwise, I need to assume it can�t be handled by us ants.

Putting all that aside, what do I need to do now? Mutate, baby! I�ve got a whole pile of Biomass stored up after two successful fights, and consuming the remains of the Creeper has given me quite a number to work with, and I intend to DO WORK.

In total, I have a whopping 515 Biomass to spend. These monsters are packed full of juicy goodness, and the further we go in this mad tournament, the juicier they get. They�re like pin�tas filled with candy that lets me improve myself. Eating through all of these monsters is netting me Levels and Biomass at a pretty hefty pace, which is good! I�d just rather get it done with less risk. Risk is bad.

Question is, what to spend it on? Excitement is real! My heart is all aflutter! Time to dig into those menus. First thing first, I need to work out what to upgrade. So far, the only things I�ve maxed out at +25 are my Carapace, Plating, Stomachs, Regeneration Gland, and my Mandibles. There�s a heck of a lot left to go.

My magic has proven to be the decisive factor so far. Perhaps I should go with my coordination cortex next? Improving the performance of my brains would also assist with my training speed, since I�d be able to cast more spells more rapidly.

That seems intelligent! Let�s go with that!

Bringing up the menu, I peruse the options as I think about the direction I�ve taken my coordination cortex so far. The first two mutations focused on improving the brain�s ability to work independently, then I improved their ability to work together and fused it. For the +20 upgrade, I took the Indomitable option, which allowed the coordination cortex to help spread the load of mental strain across my minds to prolong my ability to work for an extended time under stress. When combined with my Collective Will Vestibule, if I ever get back in range of the colony, I might be able to keep slinging spells forever.

Which has worked well, I have to say. My sub-brains get put through a lot of work, no slacking for them! Letting my coordination cortex help lighten the burden has been good, and I think I�m willing to go further down that line of mutation, especially given my current circumstances.

Perhaps in my next evolution, I need to look for something that might give me some of that synergy along these lines. If I can make my brains work harder for longer, that�ll have a tremendous increase in my magical Skills� training speed.

Browsing the menu, I can�t see anything that particularly grabs my eye. I settle on an option that extends from Indomitable�Unyielding. This option will allow me to push my minds even further.

That�s 115 Biomass down the gurgler. What�s next?

The mutation wagon stops for no ant! With one choice locked in, it�s time to go for another, and I think I have just the thing. I thought about it when I was considering my last upgrade, namely my Vestibule. I haven�t wanted to upgrade this organ since I�m out of range of the colony and it provides no benefit to me, but an idea came to me.

The first upgrade gave me extended range with the organ, which was great. What if I keep mutating it and extending the range each time? It�s only +5, and the distance it can reach is significant, beyond a kilometre. Extend the range at +10, consolidate it at +15, and then take range-extending mutations at +20 and +25�just how far will it reach? As much as ten kilometres?

If the colony does end up finding me, this will make it SO much more straightforward. I can sense them when they come in range, and although I never confirmed it, I�m pretty sure they can tell as well. Even if they can�t, being able to know when they�re close will help me time my escape and find my way back to them. It won�t help me in combat, but it could be critical when the time comes.

My heart aches a little for the other upgrades I�ll be giving up. Increased regeneration being the juiciest. I haven�t had an in-depth look through that menu, and I can�t bring myself to do it now. It�s just going to hurt me when I see options I can�t take due to my circumstances. Stupid Cultists! Just another reason to get mad at these crazy rock-people.

I smash through the menus as fast as I can and lock in the range-extending options through to +25, not allowing my eyes to take in anything else. I don�t see you, incredible options! I don�t see you at alllll!

Sob�

I hate this. But what�s done is done. It was the right thing to do. Just like that, another THREE HUNDRED AND TEN Biomass is gone. Argh! It hurts! It hurts so bad!

Dammit, Gandalf, these prices are painful. You cut me to the quick! That�s 425 gone so far. With only 90 left, I don�t have enough to take an organ to +25, so I close down the menu and confirm my options.

[Do you wish to upgrade your Indomitable Coordination Cortex +20 to Unyielding Coordination Cortex +25 and Vast Collective Will Vestibule +5 to Endless Collective Will Vestibule +25? This will cost 425 Biomass.]

Confirm it! Let me ascend to a higher plane!

�FTAGN!

Gah!

I recover from the itching after thirty minutes and give myself a shake. I have to say, the Collective Will Vestibule is a particularly itchy thing to mutate. The weird flesh-crystal just gives out a different sensation. It�s odd, I don�t know how to explain it correctly. Let�s just say I hate it and move on. What�s my reward for going through the uncomfortable sensation of mutation? More training! Whoo!

That�s not strictly true, though, because, after several more hours of pointless grinding, Corun arrives through the main doors with a welcome surprise.

[Tiny!]

[Grah!]

When the gate swings open, I�m greeted by the sight of a large, hairy gorilla with a broad grin on his bat-featured face. Not the kind of creature to hold back, Tiny runs into my small chamber and tries to pick me up in a broad hug. Sadly for him, I�m no longer that much smaller than he is, also he�s a lot taller than me, so all that happens is he squashes one of my legs with his brawny arm.

[Ouch! What are you doing, Tiny? That stings, man!]

His enthusiasm is undimmed, however, and he starts slapping me on the back with his massive hands until I shoo him off me.

[Alright, alright, you big dumb ape, I�m happy to see you too!]

It�s nice to have the big guy around again, and since his face is beaming with that broad grin, I�m guessing he reciprocates. Even after I push him off me, he doesn�t want to separate too far and keeps a hand on my shiny back.

[He�s been wanting to come in here for ages,] chuckles Corun. [He doesn�t like settling down much, does he? I had to take him out hunting yesterday just so he could blow off some stress.]

I�m immediately worried.

[Is that safe? He�s not going to get picked up by more of your helpful Cultist friends or anything is he?]

The young Shaper raises both hands, palms out, in a calming gesture.

[It�s all good, Anthony. The Cult knows he�s here. How else do you think I was able to get him in here? They aren�t interested in him. They just wanted to make sure he wasn�t causing problems, alright? It�s okay.]

Well, that�s a relief. I pat Tiny on the arm with one antenna.

[You wanted to get out and stretch your legs, Tiny? Good on you, buddy. I can�t believe you lasted as long as you did.]

He gives me a sorrowful look and grunts sadly. Looks like he had a rough time.

[Corun, could you do me a favour and take Tiny out a few more times? He needs to fight and evolve as soon as possible. I�m hoping it�ll help deal with his shadow poison trouble.]

Running my senses through Tiny, I can tell that his �issue� is still very much a reality. The Shadow Mana hasn�t worn itself out, if anything it�s grown more aggressive, wrecking its way through his body and damaging his internals everywhere it goes.

I hit him with a heal reflexively, but while it cures his injuries, it does nothing to deal with the poisonous Mana itself. Corun notices my efforts and grimaces.

[Yeah, I�ve been healing him pretty much non-stop while Torrina and Granin have been in here helping you. It�s been a massive pain in the rock, to be honest. My Healing Mana Skill is rising at a solid pace, which is nice, but I haven�t had a good night�s sleep in a week!]

[That�s rough, man. Imagine your body was being ripped up from the inside instead. I wonder how�d that go?]

[I take your point. I�ll make getting Tiny out for hunting a priority. Since we can�t solve the issue through conventional means, it might be possible that his evolution will solve the problem. I might talk to Granin about it, actually. He might know something relevant.]

The prospect of frequent hunting and evolution pushes Tiny toward a delirious level of joy. His grin looks like it�s going to split his face, and happiness radiates out of his eyes.

[Oh! Right! You still have that rare core I gave you? You should absorb it right now so you�re ready for your evolution!]

He doesn�t look quite as happy now�

There�s not a lot to do when imprisoned. It�s lucky I�m used to this sort of thing, others might have a really hard time. In fact, being confined to a small space without anything to do is almost bringing up nostalgic feelings of my human life.

Except this time, I�m brought regular meals and have pleasant, non-shouty conversations. It�s a plus.

After Tiny hung around for a little while and I forced him to absorb that rare core, he and Corun headed off for more hunting. I�m Levelling and mutating at a good pace here, and I�m keen for my first pet to keep pace with me. I�m sure Crinis is Levelling like crazy, wherever she is. When I imagine what she would do to anything that tried to prevent her from getting back to me, let�s just say I don�t picture it going well for the unfortunate creature.

Claws crossed she Levels up enough to evolve before I meet up with her again. She�s going to need at least that much power if we end up getting pursued by those damn golgari hunting parties again.

Corun did speak to Granin, and he was fairly confident Tiny�s problem could be resolved through evolution, which would be amazing. The poor dude has been getting his insides ripped up for long enough already. It can�t be pleasant. Although he puts on a brave face, I can tell it�s driving him bananas. Since he�s out hunting, and with the �joy� of having a rare core absorbed after maxing out, he�s going to be fully motivated to Level up and evolve, so it shouldn�t take long.

For me, I�m back to training and raising my newfound pet! Who I still have to name. The Envy Demon is nearly fully grown, even if he hasn�t physically changed size all that much. The floating eyeball stores 90% of its body in a separate dimension, which I�m sure is packed full of brains. Soon enough, he�ll be able to start casting magic again, and I fully intend on having him grind healing and support magic as fast as possible.

His offensive ability is already way higher than I need it to be, but after chatting with Torrina and Corun, the wide variety of support magic out there is making me drool. I had no idea this stuff was possible, nor how powerful it could be! This is going to revolutionise the colony when I get back there.

But who will cast the spells? Generals are probably too stupid� Maybe if they evolve to tier four? Mages obviously can, but they�re primarily offensive in nature� Healers, maybe?

Gah! I can�t decide. I�ll leave it to the council to work out. They can do the heavy lifting when it comes to thinking about the way the colony should operate going forward. That�s exactly why the council was formed in the first place!

Still, these different branches of support magic are interesting. Healing Magic is an obvious one, restoring health and all that. Mind Magic has applications for distracting enemies, which is also great. But Illusion Magic, an advanced form of Light Magic that can create false images, is much cheaper and easier than trying to insert thoughts into your opponent�s head. Barrier Magic exists, allowing the caster to produce actual magical shields with varying properties. Curse Magic and Necrotic Magic weaken foes or damage them over time.

The options are almost endless!

Ah, little Demon, your future will be busy indeed! So many Skills to train, so little time! I can picture Tiny leaping into battle with a powerful shield defending him from harm. Or Crinis extending tentacles through the ground, only to have a forest of illusory dark limbs spring up around the real ones.

With my plethora of defensive options and healing abilities, I�ll become truly unkillable with shields and additional healing to back me up! Gwehehehehe. It�s going to be great.

All I have to do is get out this damn hellhole.

I haven�t received any signal from the colony through the newly expanded range of my Vestibule, much to my disappointment. I�d hoped that as soon as the mutation was complete, they would be there on the edge of my awareness, but nope. Nothing. I just have to keep my claws crossed that, eventually, they�ll find their way to me.

More practice with Torrina before Granin eventually storms back in to break up the monotony.

[Granin, thank Gandalf in his shiny whiteness of beard and robe! Tell this mad woman to give me a rest!]

[Torrina, lay off the bug for a bit. You can keep torturing him in a minute.]

[Sure.]

The originator of my pain sits down, appearing not even slightly tired. Surely that�s just a ruse! I don�t care how advanced her Skills are, there�s no way she can keep casting like this when I�m putting four brains into the effort against her one.

[How is she able to do this!] I demand of Granin. [I�m putting some serious mental firepower into this. She�s what, twenty years old? How high can her Skills be!]

Granin pauses his descent down the ladder, with what I swear is curiosity on that stony face of his, before continuing to the bottom.

[Anthony, how old do you think I am?] he asks.

[I don�t know. Fifty?]

[I�m over a hundred and fifty�]

[You what, mate?]

Perfect! First the Lizard Wizard who was hundreds of years old, and now this! Is every sapient race on this damned planet able to live hundreds of years or something?

[Torrina is more than forty years old, and she�s been training in the magical arts since she was six. Yes, her Skills are higher than yours, obviously. More importantly, I�ve got word back from the leadership regarding your situation.]

[Oh! Did they take me up on my offer?]

That would be the best possible outcome if they did. Getting out of here as soon as possible is all I can think about these days.

[No.]

[Dang�]

I suppose I shouldn�t be disappointed they turned me down, but I can�t help the little pang of emotion running through my mind. Maybe just once, just ONCE, someone would accept the antenna I offered in trust and walk away. But no. It had to be this crap again.

The last time a sapient surface dweller threw my generosity in my face was the Queen of Liria. I responded to that affront in a sensible fashion. I robbed her and her kingdom blind and took every core in their treasury. I wonder what sort of goodies I�ll be able to find in the Cult�s coffers?

[I�m a bit surprised they refused your deal, to be honest,] Granin admits. [Your display of Gravity Magic has put every Shaper in the facility in a tizzy. New magic. New powerful magic. It�s a potent lure.]

[Not potent enough, apparently,] I mutter a little bitterly. [What possible reason could they have to turn it down? Honestly. I want to know what would motivate them to deny my request. It�s an obvious win-win.]

A complicated expression comes over Granin�s face. The big and apparently very old Shaper slowly paces back and forth as the little demon watches him with its piercing green eye.

[I�m not sure,] he admits. [Something strange is happening, and I don�t have any idea what it is, which bothers me.]

[Bothers you? How do you think I feel?]

[Not great, I imagine,] he chuckles. [I am sorry that I dragged you into this, you know. I had no idea it would turn out this way.]

I shrug my antennae.

[Just following orders, eh, Granin? Not much you or I could do about it. I don�t hold a grudge.]

Not against Granin, anyway. The Shapers in general are subject to my unending wrath! At least the leadership in this outpost at any rate. They�ve surely earned a place on the naughty list. Torrina and Corun had also helped out as best they could. It wasn�t their fault their Cult went down this crazy path. If I get the chance, I�ll make the Cult pay, but just getting my thorax out of their grip will be enough for me.

[I appreciate it. I mean that. You�ve been treated so badly, it�s almost comical. The question is, why?] Granin muses.

[Any thoughts?]

[I�ve been puzzling over it for the last little while,] he says, stroking his granite chin. [It doesn�t make a whole lot of sense when you look at it. They want you in the tournament badly enough that they would pass up knowledge of new magic to get it. So, they want you in their little competition, but they sure as hell don�t want you to win it, as evidenced by their repeated efforts to kill you.]

[They want me to fight, but they want me to lose�]

[That seems to have been the plan from the beginning. Even now, it feels like they�re still banking on this strategy to extract Gravity Magic from you. If they can get your core, then they can raise you as a pet and learn it that way.]

That�s horrifying!

[Would that even work?] I shriek.

[Probably not.] Granin doesn�t seem too bothered by the thought of me being raised from the dead. [Raising a creature as a pet doesn�t bring it back to life, per se, it brings the body back to life, but a new mind is in there, or the previous mind is wiped clean, we aren�t sure which.]

[And even if they did that, I wouldn�t know anything in particular about Gravity Magic since I wouldn�t have the knowledge from my own world.]

[Right. They probably assume you have the related affinity Skill, which would make all the difference, since the reborn you would know the spell shapes and such. In reality, they�d get absolutely nothing from it.]

[Why don�t you tell them that,] I point out. [Maybe they�ll come back and deal with me then.]

[They wouldn�t believe me. The only way to prove it, would be to let one of them analyse your core. Feel like doing that?]

[Not really�]

Who knows what shenanigans they might pull if I let them have access to my core? I�m way too paranoid to allow even the slightest chance that they could pull some strange ploy. These are people actively trying to make me dead, after all.

[That�s what I thought. They still appear to want to try and kill you through the tournament for the time being. The question we have is what is motivating them to want you dead. Initially, I thought it was just because they saw your species as inferior, but now, I�m starting to have doubts.]

[You mean, you don�t think my species is inferior anymore?] Haha! Is the true power of the ant being spread through my glorious actions?

[Ah, no. Ant workers are terrible. But at this point, their insistence on your death doesn�t make sense if that�s the only motivation.]

We spend fifteen minutes pondering said reasons and sharing our wild theories, but we don�t get anywhere. Granin isn�t much of a schemer, and I�m certainly not any good at it. Best to leave that sort of stuff to the council, in my opinion. And now, our strategy remains the same. Keep training my magic Skills and obliterate my opponent with maximum force!

[Remember, they�re bound to have a strategy in place to counter your spell of doom,] Granin warns. [I�m not saying don�t use it, but the next opponent will be chosen with that spell in mind. I highly doubt they�ll be as vulnerable to it as your last foe.]

[What does that look like, though?] I ask as he turns to leave. [I doubt someone can take that spell apart before it hits, or be tough enough to survive its effects. What are they going to throw at me?]

[Do not underestimate what�s possible in the Dungeon. Even something that appears overwhelming can have weaknesses. Having said that, my guess is speed. They�ll put in something capable of escaping the area of the spell before it can land. That�s what I�d do, anyway.]

Granin leaves Torrina and I behind to keep working on my base magic Skills and elemental affinities, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Granin�s words.

If they throw something fast at me, exactly how fast would it be? How would I deal with it? Some of the monsters I�ve seen have been pretty damn extreme. A monster designed from tier one to utilise speed as a weapon� Just what does that look like?

Six monstrous ants, each the size of large hounds, snapped their mandibles toward the human hunting party. The sharp clack-clack reverberated through the rock-walled tunnel, yet Isaac Bird, Chief Guard of Renewal Village, wasn�t threatened.

He raised a hand to signal the delving party behind him to halt, which they did without hesitating. A small jolt of pride welled up in his chest at his troop�s quick response, but it was followed by a more powerful pang of loss. He�d trained these men and women with Morrelia, but he hadn�t seen that glorious paragon of the female gender for weeks. If the rumours were to be believed, then she wouldn�t be coming back at all�

He couldn�t think about his bride-to-be now! There were more important things to worry about. He shook his head to refocus and sharpened his eyes on the monsters before him. A small colony hunting party, the sort the human delving parties had reported seeing more of over the last weeks.

Isaac drew a deep breath and detected a faint tang of blood in the air. The colony had been hunting and found success nearby. The ants were defending their Biomass. Isaac signalled to his people once more and began slowly backing away.

Once a respectable distance had been created, the ants relaxed their posture and skittered away, leaving a lone sentry to keep watch on the pesky humans. Seeing the de-escalation of the monstrous neighbours, Isaac was comfortable taking his eyes off them and turning to his party.

�Looks like they�re going to be blocking off this tunnel for a little while yet. May as well get cosy.�

The group agreed and settled in for a short rest, leaning against walls or sitting on the hard stone. They were becoming used to these monsters in the tunnels, as the colony appeared to be increasing its activity in the surface levels. Far from frightening them, it lifted the hearts of those from Renewal Village every time they came across the sacred monsters performing their task of cleansing the Dungeon.

To their minds, the fact that the ants would annihilate all Dungeon monsters with extreme prejudice, yet leave the humans untouched, was yet more evidence that this colony of ants was special. Sacred.

If they were to realise the aggressive expansion of the colony through the upper layers was merely the young of the colony�tier one and two ants working in groups with their academy instructors in order to obtain the Biomass and experience needed to �graduate,��then they might be a touch nervous, despite their faith. Considering they were seeing more ants than ever before, this increase of sightings would clue them into just how high the daily egg production of the colony had climbed. If they were to wonder where the more powerful ants had gone, and why, then that would lead them down some very unexpected paths before they could find an answer.

Increasingly, when the humans went delving, they would find huge stretches of tunnel had been picked clean, not even a stain remaining to show what occurred. It hadn�t taken long for them to understand this was the tell-tale sign of an ant sweep�what they�d taken to calling Biomass raids.

The humans didn�t mind too much. The tunnels were dangerous, and even though they were here to Level up, this was evidence of the safety of their homes. They may not have had a national army, or the Legion�fat lot of good they�d proven to be�guarding over their Dungeon entrances, but they had something even better!

�Should be a lucky hunt today, Captain,� one of the delvers said to Isaac.

Isaac turned to the speaker, Roy Drum, an early volunteer to the Dungeon Delving teams. The ex-farmer was a lean-faced, serious sort of person who had the characteristic tan from working in the sun most of his adult life. Didn�t do him much good down in the Dungeon, though.

�Why�s that, then?� Isaac asked.

Roy gestured down the tunnel to where the single ant still watched them warily.

�We�ve come under the eyes of the colony. �Tis a good sign.�

Isaac stifled a sigh and nodded to the man before looking away. The fervour with which the members of the village worshipped the mysterious ants remained hard for him to accept. He definitely recognised the colony was special, something perhaps entirely new in the history of the Dungeon. An entire community of intelligent monsters that didn�t exhibit any form of aggression towards people.

It was insane, unheard of. It was a fact that the ants acted to defend the people of the village when they didn�t have to. That was enough to make a believer out of him, he just wasn�t as far gone as most of the villagers.

In fact, at this moment, more than one of his party had begun to kneel and pray toward the watching ant. Exasperated by this display of piety, the guard captain could only wonder what the watching ant was thinking.

The ant in question, a Brood Tender, watched the humans with a feeling bordering on contempt. They didn�t appear to be doing anything. So lazy! Luckily, the ants would be finished soon, and this training group would move onto another section of tunnel before making their way down to the Marsh Expanse, where the newborn ants would drink their fill of aphid nectar before evolving.

The trip through the tunnels and down to the Expanse had become something of a rite of passage for new members of the colony. The aphids provided a safe and reliable source of Biomass, which the ants could use to max out the mutations of the young. Thinking about the foresight of the eldest made her antennae quiver in wonder. Despite the relative lack of Biomass available compared to the wave, the colony was thriving and graduating more new members per day than ever before. The new Queens had even begun producing young back in the original nest!

Isaac was aware of none of this. What he knew was that he had ten villagers-turned-delvers that needed experience, and they weren�t going to get any here. He gathered a few of the more experienced members of the group around him�Roy Drum, Cedric Malon, Mel Blonc�and had a brief planning session. Predictably, the others wanted to stay and observe the ants until they moved on, but Isaac wanted to move on and argued strongly to get his way.

�We�ve been down for two days already. Supplies are gonna get thin on the ground soon. We can�t afford to waste four hours for the colony to move on and then wander along in their wake not fightin�!�

After ten minutes or so, the group grudgingly agreed and began to pick themselves up, gathering gear and shouldering packs.

�Come on then, you lot!� Isaac grinned at them. �These monsters aren�t going to kill themselves. They need you to provide assistance with the end of your spear. A little gentle persuasion! Make sure you get your point across!�

�Please shut up, Captain,� Mel begged. �I can�t take another two days of this.�

�Insubordination! On my delve? Get that spear over your head and hold it till I say!�

Mel groaned and raised her hands nonetheless as the others chuckled at her expense. Isaac smiled as the mood amongst the delve became more energised. They had a lot of ground they needed to cover if they were to hit their targets, and Isaac would be damned if he was going to miss.

As they began marching again, Isaac took the forward position and watched carefully for any ambushes, but he couldn�t help his thoughts turning to a certain berserker and just how attractive her enraged glare made her look.

Enid Ruther couldn�t decide if she was more tired or invigorated. The council meeting had run late, again, until even Bertold the guild leader had been nodding in his cup. And yet, not a single member would say they�d left the gathering anything less than upbeat. Perhaps it was true what her husband used to say, and people truly did see the best of each other in the darkest of times. Unlike Derrion, she�d never been forced to confront those dark moments battling in the Dungeon. She got to see the best her people could offer now, after their homes and families had been destroyed in such a brutal manner.

To juxtapose such suffering with the incredible community that had sprung up in the middle of nowhere was at times completely jarring. Yet, unless she was thinking of it consciously, it felt natural.

Of course, the Gorion family would lend their meagre spare supplies to the Tirins who�d just arrived with nothing but the clothes on their back, why would anyone ever think they wouldn�t? And the builders would happily shove away their dinner and start levelling ground and cutting beams the second Enid knocked on their door and said new houses were needed. She didn�t say they were needed immediately and hastened to tell them so, but they just shrugged, grinned, and got to work.

She�d never seen such an unselfish work ethic in all her life. Every day, she woke up expecting to find it gone, replaced with the usual greed. But it clung to the community like a stubborn virus. By now, even the neighbours were starting to notice the unflinching generosity and dedication of the people. Enid herself had been questioned on it more than once.

[No,] she�d been forced to say, [it isn�t normal for people to work like this.]

[Curious.] The ant had stared up at her with its unblinking eyes as it pondered her words. [You wouldn�t describe humans as� lazy� would you?]

The insects were normally almost totally void of emotion, but somehow, she could sense just how repellent the concept of laziness was to the creature. Which made sense, she supposed, ants were not exactly known for being relaxed and slack creatures.

[Humans can be lazy,] she admitted, [just like any other creature�]

The ant�s unflinching stare had bore into her.

[�Almost any other creature, I meant to say. Obviously, the colony is excepted from such� weak� fleshy concerns.]

She swore the ant�s antennae wiggled a little at her acknowledgement.

Thinking back to that conversation caused a slight chuckle to break through the old woman�s gruff exterior as she walked through the cool night. In some ways, the insects of Anthony�s colony were highly intelligent and curious creatures, full of questions and an insatiable thirst to learn. In other ways, they were like children, incapable of deception and completely certain of their own point of view.

Would the monsters become old and jaded, as so many mortal species did? Or would they continue forward, forever sure in themselves?

Needless to say, Enid wouldn�t live long enough to find out. It was a miracle she was still going, all things considered. At nearly seventy years of age, she was easily the oldest survivor of the disaster. Which was surprising, since she�d not gained a whole lot of Toughness across her lifetime. Perhaps it was Will keeping her old bones moving?

She rapped at the door of the bowyer and pushed her way in without waiting for a response. A rush of warm air blew past as she stepped into the newly made workspace. Wood chips and shavings covered every surface, and the air was thick with it, causing her to cough as she waved a hand in front of her. What she didn�t see was her damn craftsman.

�Aarran Yewman! Where the hell are you? I told you I�d be here after the meeting!�

From another room came the scraping of a chair across the floor, and the overweight, balding bowmaker stumbled into the room.

�Keep it down, Enid, you old crow!� he growled in his low, rumbling, voice. �I just sat down to eat my dinner. I�ve been waiting around out here for more than an hour.�

�Hardly my fault if the meeting runs long, is it?� Enid rejoined. �Have you taken a look at it yet, or have you been slacking?�

Mumbling to himself about the apology Aarran knew he was never going to get, he limped across the room to his work bench and pulled down a long stave of wood from an overhead rack.

�Slacking? Unlike some people who sit around all day and call it work, I�ve been busy. Take a look at this.�

So saying, he tossed the stave to Enid, forcing her to catch it out of the air with a squawk. The moment she had it in her hands, though, her eyes sharpened, and her merchant�s instincts took over. The wood was smooth, the grain fine. The flex was perfect. She brought it closer to her eyes and noted with excitement the slight gleam that ran through the wood.

�This is good stuff.�

�Aye. That it is,� Aarran agreed. �Those ants have some good stuff in their mandibles there, I�d have worked with wood of that quality probably three or four times in my entire life, and I�ve been cutting bows since I was five.�

A recent addition to Renewal Village, Aarran was a master Bowyer from Holt, a kingdom neighbouring Liria.

Before she came south, the hated Garralosh wasn�t too concerned if she crossed borders, and her monsters had rampaged through many of the border kingdoms. The outriders had ranged far and fast to bring word of this refuge to everyone who could make it, and even now, more people flooded in, seemingly by the day. Enid had finally started delegating as much as she needed to, and for the moment, things were holding together.

�What sort of enchantment do you think the wood will hold?� she asked.

She had her own opinion, but Aarran would know better than her. This was his particular area of expertise, after all.

�Just about any basic enchantment of Earth, Water, or Wood affinity, I would think. Ice arrows would be a good one, there�s a heap of options. Problem is, I can�t do the enchanting myself. Have you lined up anyone to do it for you?�

His tone said he was doubtful she had. Several craftsmen were working hard to develop their enchanting Skills, but none were far enough along that she�d be willing to let them work on such a precious material as this.

�Well, that�s the thing. I think I have found someone to perform the enchanting, but they need to practise first. I�ve been asked to provide some practice staves for them to work on. Do you think you could supply them?�

�Well, sure.� Aarran folded his arms. �How many do they want?�

�A thousand��

�A THOUSAND? Where the hell do you think I�m going to find the time to make that many? And who could possibly have a thousand cores to spare making practice bows?� The irate bowyer stared at her as if she were daft, which was fair.

Enid sighed. She knew this would happen.

�I know you�ve only been here a few days, Aarran, and I appreciate everything you�ve been able to do for us��

�Aye.�

�Did you happen to talk to Priest Beyn yesterday?�

��Aye.�

�And what did you think? About what he had to say.�

The big man hesitated. �It�s� hard to take.�

�Aye, I know. By all that is holy, I know. But it�s all true. You�ve seen them around, you know the colony means us no harm. More than that, they�ve acted out to help us in a huge number of ways. This is one of them. They�ve offered to perform the enchanting for us.�

The craftsman�s eyes widened to an almost dangerous degree.

�The ants? Enchanting? In return for what?�

�That�s the thing. They just want the experience and Skill Levels. They�ve been enchanting like crazy down there. Unlike us, they have the resources to burn testing and experimenting, and they�re getting somewhere!�

�There has to be a price, Enid,� Aarran rebuffed her, not willing to trust monsters. �What could they possibly want?�

�Knowledge. Before he left, Anth�their leader, told me the ants would help us in return for access to our knowledge. If they ask a question, make sure you answer it, that�s all.�

The old man nodded slowly.

�And what happens when we have no more knowledge to give?� he asked. �Do they abandon us, or worse? I spoke to Beyn and I�ve been in that church he built. It ain�t natural, Enid. Quite a few newcomers are nervous about it. People are worried that we trust these monsters too much.�

Enid sighed. This was a recurring issue that cropped up with every new group of refugees who settled here. After some time, they would acclimate. Though, more likely, Beyn would talk them around to his way of thinking. Only for another group to come and the whisperings would start all over again.

It just felt like each time it happened, it took longer for the rumblings to settle down. Some people just flat refused to believe that an ant brought down Garralosh and saved them from the horde. Enid didn�t even blame them, it did sound crazy. Perhaps if Anthony was here, then it would be easier to convince them. Things just happened when that creature was around.

�Just think about it,� Enid said. �I have assurances that they can do what we want. I�d rather not have to order you, Aarran, but we need to make the most of this. These weapons will not only make us safe, they�ll secure us financially. For years. If you agree, then deliver whatever you can to Beyn in the morning and start working on the rest.�

Not bothering to stay and argue, Enid left. It was late and she was cold. Her own blankets awaited.

Beyn Antseeker, for that was now his name, trod forward with reverence. This was a sacred place, and one toward which he felt only the deepest respect. They were all around him now, and he did his best not to disturb their paths as they moved past him with purpose. They were always so sure of themselves. The Path was clear before their multifaceted eyes, and their many legs could not stray from it.

[Hurry your step, human. There is much work to be done.]

Ah!

[I apologise, holy one. I was distracted. Also, it is difficult for me to carry these with only one arm.]

It was true. Currently, Beyn was carrying ten unstrung bow staves in a delivery to the colony under his one good arm. There had been tremendous excitement amongst the faithful when the offer of the colony to enchant weapons for the village came. Such a thing was yet more evidence of the righteousness of their cause.

How could anyone continue to hold doubts as to the nature of this colony, to the sanctity of the Great One? Such an offer only put more fuel on the fires of faith, and Beyn had immediately held a public gathering to preach in the village square, praising this news to the heavens.

Enid had been quite annoyed with him at that, considering the transaction hadn�t been finalised and the craftsmen in particular hadn�t yet agreed to take part. Beyn scoffed at such meagre constraints. Such things would be swept away by the current of destiny that had seized them all in its waves!

She�d hit him after that, and he�d executed a tactical retreat. It was frustrating to Beyn that none in the village were closer to the ants, or the Great One, than Enid was, yet she held herself back from truly embracing the new Path. She�d never been particularly religious, and Beyn had many disagreements with her acting as her Priest, yet he believed that deep down, the faith burned strong within her.

How could it not? She�d witnessed the miracles of the colony from just as close as he!

[Are you sure I shouldn�t carry them for you?] His escort flexed her mandibles to demonstrate their willingness to help.

[I must decline,] Beyn hastened to say. [The agreement stated that we must deliver the material to you directly, and I do not intend to shirk my work.]

[That�s good, then.] The ant nodded its antennae and continued to lead the way toward the nest.

Even though this particular mage had no idea why the council agreed to let this human inside the nest, she would do her job and escort them properly. If he so much as looked at a brood chamber, he was getting chomped.

The Priest was quite aware that he was in danger. He knew a great deal about the colony, more than the ants suspected, in all likelihood. He couldn�t help it, he was endlessly curious about this manifestation of a miracle, as were his followers. Once the ants had begun to interact with the people of the village to learn what they knew of production, construction, and civilisation, the faithful had begun an earnest campaign to learn about them. There was nothing malicious in their hearts, they simply yearned to grow closer, to learn anything they could about the object of their reverence.

And so, when they were approached by the colony to share their knowledge, they did so gladly, and when they felt they could, the faithful politely, respectfully, and tactfully asked questions back. Most of the time, the ants refused to answer. They didn�t seem to particularly trust humans, and were, quite naturally, very insular.

It was to be expected. Divine monsters they may be, the nature of the colony was to be loyal to itself. Even so, every drab of information was hoarded, analysed, and ruminated on. Every utterance of an ant was taken as holy gospel, to be studied and dissected.

In this way, tidbits of information were accrued in order to paint a picture. A blurry picture, with giant gaps. But a picture nonetheless.

For instance, they learned it was the will of the Great One that directed the colony to interact so closely with the village. They also learned that the colony was actively making use of their newfound knowledge as much as possible. Enchanting, forging, building. Every day, the ants would come back with more detailed questions, as if they�d taken what they�d learned that day, tried to apply it through the night, then came back for more insights.

But the holy grail, the most coveted prize of all, besides further words with the Great One, was to have access to the nest. They craved it! Oh, how they craved it! Even though Beyn knew it was a pipe dream� As if the ants would ever let them inside their most precious abode! If there were ever to be a chance, it would be through the strengthening bonds of cooperation between the two communities. This exchange provided an in, and Beyn Antseeker was determined to seek with all his strength!

[Hold up there, human Beyn,] he was warned by his escort and he stopped.

After a few moments of silence, another, larger ant emerged from the ground to his right. He started. He hadn�t even noticed the opening, and yet a monster had just sprung from it.

[Greetings, human Beyn,] came another voice. [My name is Cobalt. Please follow me.]

A name? A named ant! They�d heard whispers of this select group of individuals, but there had been precious little information about them.

The ant�Cobalt�vanished once more beneath the ground, leaving the wary Priest little choice but to follow. It was awkward, he was unbalanced due to carrying his cargo under his one arm, and the low ceiling, clearly not made for creatures of his height, forced him to stoop.

But he persevered. Indeed, his heart was alight with joy! He would gladly walk over hot coals in order to get even a glimpse into the inner sanctum of these holy creatures! As he shuffled through the tunnels, it was clear he wasn�t being shown anything the ants were not prepared to allow him to see.

He saw no young, no sign of the Queen that had been sighted during the battle against Garralosh. Though he did witness something even more shocking. Chamber after chamber that had been shaped and purposed for crafting. Forges, complete with stone floors, magically operated bellows and ventilation. Enchanting chambers filled with cores and decorated with special, ant-comfortable stations in which the creatures could work.

[Your weapons will be enchanted here.] Cobalt stopped and indicated a chamber with his antennae. [Please leave the staves and bring another load at this time tomorrow. We�re confident we�ll have worked out the process after a week, maybe two.]

Not daring to speak, Beyn lay down his burden and bowed deeply to every ant he could see before he was escorted out. Though his face was calm, his heart burned with renewed fervour. He hadn�t dared to imagine they could come this far. What else could they be but divine?

There�s been a notable increase in spectators between rounds. When I had my first fight, there was hardly anyone about to watch the spectacle. Here in round four? Someone�s getting popular! The observation area is packed. Standing room only.

It makes sense in a morbid way. One hundred and twenty-eight Triads had an entrant in this tournament, and now only sixteen are still working. All those idle hands mean more stone-layered bums in seats. Not to mention all the Triads who look after the surviving monsters are here to scout. When there�s only eight fights, it�s not hard to make it to all of them and keep an eye on the opposition.

With this bumper audience, I�ll need to ensure I put on a show!

No, wait� why the hell would I do that? Just focus on not getting dead and surviving long enough to escape! Don�t do anything unnecessary, idiot!

Trying to snap back into focus, I shake off the surprise from the size of the crowd and worry about what�s in front of me. The gate hasn�t risen to let my opponent in yet, so I still have some time. Best get myself fully prepared.

Sink into the Meditation Skill. Get my sub-brains prepping some Mana. Our intel spoke to the speed and dexterity of this opponent, so we decided a Gravity Mana focused strategy would help even the odds. I�ve also whipped up a Fire Mana Construct just in case. The wide range of the flame thrower spell and general explodiness should help catch my more nimble opponent.

Oh-ho! Here we go.

I stretch out my six legs as the gate opposite begins to rattle open to reveal the creature behind it. It looks� just as weird as I was told. It�s tall, probably as tall as Tiny, but thin�like, really thin. This thing must not have eaten anything in its entire life! Emaciated is one thing, but this guy is pushing it to a new level.

He reminds me of a shadow beast crossed with a sloth. He has gangly arms tipped with long, curved claws that cast a wicked gleam. In fact, I suspect they�re glowing, though it�s hard to tell in this lighting. Could be an elemental mutation, or perhaps a Mana infusion that aids cutting power? Could be something new they added to help deal with my carapace. The creature has a particularly non-threatening, mole-like pointy face. Something tells me the teeth he�s packing in there are the real deal, though.

As it strolls into the arena, the creature stretches its limbs languorously in a nonchalant display. Considering those limbs are made from shadow flesh, those stretches are a little disturbing; the limbs bend too far to be normal, the flesh extending far more than it should.

Alright there, buddy. No need to put yourself on display. Oh look, the Shapers are eating it up. Chumps. So much pointing and muttering going on up there. Get with the program, guys, where�s the ant-love? I can�t help but clack my mandibles in irritation. Stupid sloth monster, stealing my limelight. I�ll get my revenge by eating him. That�ll have to do.

One final check of my Skills and constructs. Everything looks good. Time to start weaving and compressing my first spell.

As my sub-brains get busy focusing on casting, I watch the opponent like an ant-hawk. The biggest threat this monster poses is his insane speed and lightning-fast attacks. No elemental damage, no magic or super fancy tricks.

Granin speculated the Triad who created this beast designed it to make best use out of its rubbery shadow flesh by creating a beast that could push its body past the breaking point. Literally shredding its own tissues to achieve speed and power that would otherwise be impossible. The unique properties of shadow flesh mean the monster can regrow and replace the damage far more easily than I can heal. Even Crinis utilises similar mutations that allow her to just �pump� more shadow goop into damaged areas to replace what�s been lost.

It makes for an intimidating prospect. I�ll need to be careful. Well� of course I do, it�s a fight to the death.

The battle is going to start in a few seconds, so I waste no time unleashing my first spell before the Shapers declare the fight has begun. It�s a defensive spell, which is apparently allowed. Before my opponent can move a muscle, my Gravity Domain expands outward in an ever-revolving sphere centred on me. I�m not actually sure if the spell penetrates through the ground� I might need to investigate that.

In a loud voice, the Shaper announces the start of the battle, and I nearly flinch even sunk into meditation, my mind hyper-alert and focusing on my foe. I�m not sure what I expected to happen. I think deep down, I imagined him disappearing like a cartoon character, only to appear behind me looking smug, whilst I appear foolish and confused. Not that such a thing would work on me anyway, I can see behind me! MUAHAHAHA.

None of that occurs. The monster continues its casual behaviour and strolls toward me, its movements languid and relaxed. I don�t know if this guy is overconfident or if this is how he always acts. Oh well, no reason not to execute the plan. With my condensed Gravity Domain revolving around me, I engage my brains again and draw out more Gravity Mana to shape into spells. Thank goodness my Gravity Mana Gland contains so much of the precious juice. Granin and I theorised it would be a key element in slowing my speedy opponent down. My first attempt is the gravity bola, the old favourite.

I settle my feet and get low. No point trying to contest this creature in speed, I have no hope of winning such a contest, and running around is only going to open up blind spots. I�ll just force him to come to me and act like the mountain against his wind.

As the monster draws nearer, I snap my mandibles open and unleash the spear in a straight line directly into the creature�s face. See if you can act smug now! Contrary to my expectations, the creature casually leans to one side and allows the spear to brush past its lithe frame. Damn thing barely broke stride!

That spell moves pretty damn fast. Not like, a bullet fast. We aren�t talking Neo levels of dodge here, but still, fast. He just� swayed out of the way of an arrow I�d fired at his face. Maybe if I aim lower, go for the middle of his body, then he�ll have to at least move a little more.

Drawing on the combined power of my two weaker sub-brains, I throw together another spear and cast it as fast as I can. By this time, the monster is within thirty metres of me, having walked his way straight toward me from the other side of the arena. The moment the spear is unleashed, I raise up my profit margin and unleash a barrage of acid.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

The spell streaks forward whilst the acid arcs into the air before spreading and starting to fall. I tried to arrange the four shots around the monster�s current location. Let�s see how you dodge now�

Almost as if in slow motion, the monster�s eyes sharpen and it bends its legs. Then, with a flicker of light, it�s gone!

WHAM!

A tremendous impact slams into my side, but I�m ready! My legs absorb the shock and I angle my carapace to allow those long, curved claws to slide off my side with a screech. My mandibles open wide and snap shut in an instant, but the creature is already gone. With a kick of his legs, he pushes off and almost glides through the air to land more than ten metres away.

So fast! So damn fast! Without my enhanced reflexes and future sense, I�d have had no idea what even hit me! That�s how every fight has gone so far for this monster, apparently. One-hit kills. Even then, he aimed for my eye, the gap in my defences. I had to perform a tiny Dash to bring my head out from under that strike and have it clash on my carapace instead.

Now he�s just standing outside the range of my Domain, head cocked, as if he�s shocked I�m still alive. This monster is irritating in the extreme.

This cocky monster is going to catch these mandibles, just as soon as I get a hook on him. The strange thing is how he was able to enter and exit my Gravity Domain so easily� Is it a question of mass? True, he�s thin as an anorexic stick on an Atkins diet, but I�d assumed he�d be dense, like Crinis. That shadow flesh can be packed pretty darn tight.

I�m starting to suspect they may not have done that in order to avoid hampering his speed. Which means Gravity Magic may not be the answer to my problems. Or perhaps it still is? I may just need to think outside the box. Regardless, I still have tricks I haven�t shown off that I can use.

I take a moment to check on the damage to my carapace, while my opponent is no doubt pondering the meaning of my continuing existence. He gouged a chunk out of my beautiful diamond skeleton. I shouldn�t be surprised considering the strength behind that blow. If my carapace was any weaker, he might have blown a hole right through it. As it stands, the damage is already being repaired by the inner-plating below, the grooves left behind from the claws are filling up with a clear gel-like fluid that will soon harden into new carapace. It�ll take a lot more than this to break down my defence!

Carapace is love! Carapace is life! Diamonds are forever! Gwehehehehe.

Trying to catch the monster unawares, I blast off a quick Gravity Spear, but to no avail. With another seemingly casual movement, the monster steps to one side and avoids the spell, which fizzles into the ground behind him.

He must have very high Levels of the Dodge Skill, possibly even precognitive abilities similar to my own. He just makes dodging look so easy. That slight movement seems to have been the signal for him to start back up again. The monster leans to one side and begins to walk, rapidly picking up pace until he�s sprinting at an insane speed, looping around me. Sand flies up in a curtain, thrown into the air by the creature�s feet.

What is he trying to achieve? I can�t get dizzy, bud. I don�t have to turn my head to keep my eyes on you�

He is staying out of the range of my Gravity Domain, though, which is worth noting.

Not willing to wait for the enemy to make the first move, I draw out my Fire Mana and weave together a particularly nasty spell. The monster is moving almost too quickly for me to get a solid lock on it, but that shouldn�t matter for this spell. It only takes seconds for me to piece together the lines of magic and power them. Within moments, my mandibles open wide and a sizzling hose of flame erupts from in front of my face! Burn, sucka!

A hiss of pain reaches my ears before my antennae tingle once again. Acting on instinct, my nerves fire at once and my body twitches to one side.

BAM!

Another sharp impact! The beast was trying to stuff its claws straight through my eyes and into my head! Nasty! My shift was enough to cause the strike to fall on another part of my head, no major harm done.

I keep the flames going, pouring in more Mana. I�ve now got two spells of different affinities going at once, quite a difficult feat. Without the training I�ve received lately, this would be far more difficult. My brains are truly flexing their power now!

My carapace starts to warm up as I spin in place and blast my surroundings with blazing fire. The sand sounds as if it�s cooking and begins to glow a bright red as the creature leaps left and right, trying to avoid the heat.

Too hot for you, mole-face? I�ve got plenty more where this came from!

The torrent of fire continues to pour out from in front of my face as my minds strain to control the flood of Mana powering the spell. I angle my body, but the opponent is just too slippery, unleashing a hiss of rage before nimbly dodging away, jumping over or ducking beneath the spell and sprinting to find another angle to approach.

Whilst I keep the Fire Magic flowing, the monster is hesitant to approach and seems content to wait me out. Unwilling to allow my Mana reserves to fall too low, I reluctantly let the spell drop.

The Fire Magic was effective and I know for sure I scored a hit. That might not mean much, considering the creature is known to have powerful regenerative abilities, but I�ll take the minor victory.

In fact, this match is going fairly well. I might not be able to damage the monster, but he hasn�t been able to do much to me, either. All in all, I�m feeling pretty safe! Wait, don�t think that, Anthony. That�s a flag right there.

No sooner does that thought run through my mind, than the monster opposite appears to come to the same conclusion. His current tactics aren�t working, and it�s going to be a race to see if I�ll run out of Mana before he runs out of Stamina. Considering how draining it must be to move at that kind of speed, I can�t see me losing that race. In other words, the monster and I appear to decide simultaneously that it�s time to take this fight to the next level.

The monster�s eyes flicker and it leaps away from me. Once it lands, the beast opens its strange, pointed mouth and screams, then its entire body begins to turn red, as if the blood within its veins has boiled in an instant.

Is this your secret powerup moment? Are you about to unleash your final technique? I don�t think so!

Unwilling to let the monster have any time to itself, I flood my mandibles with Gravity Mana and prepare to unveil my next trick. With a mental shout of �GET OVER HERE,� I YOINK the creature with a powerful pull, and its light mass causes it to fall directly toward me. The shock in its eyes is clear as the ground no longer feels like the ground and it tumbles directly toward the eager jaws of its foe. But it�s not the face-hands I want my enemy to catch, but a bit of heat.

My mandibles open wide and fire boils out, submitting my enemy to a glorious roast, one which it doesn�t appreciate, judging by the horrific screech of pain it emits.

Then it completes its journey and slams into my head, clawing and biting like a mad thing having a bad day. As soon as it latches its hands onto me, the beast pulls itself away and starts to go to town on my back with a flurry of enraged strikes.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

With horrific, unimaginable strength far beyond what I have felt before from this thing, it batters away at my carapace with its elongated, curved claws, tearing chunks out of my diamond shell with every strike. What�s more, I can see the creature�s own body is falling apart with every movement. Ichor begins to burst out of its limbs and drip onto my exo-skeleton where it sizzles and steams.

The diamond carapace will never yield!

I hope!

In the meantime, let�s not put it to the test and get this freaky mole monster off my back! As it continues to wail on my precious shiny exterior, I try to flip him off by flinging myself left and right�sand flies as I move with vigour, all to no avail. I don�t know if he�s got glue on his feet, but he�s dug right in up there. I can�t even turn my head around to bite him since I lack a neck and all that.

The answer will have to come from private industry! Even with the monster standing on me, with my newfangled accessories back there, I�m able to lift my abdomen enough that I can get an angle on the beast.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

A rapid-fire barrage of acid! Behold the might and efficacy of my latest product!

�HSSSSSSSSSS!�

The creature sounds like steam escaping a vent as the acid clings to its body, seeping into its already open wounds and burning at its flesh. As it�s distracted, I try to fling it off, and whatever tension it was holding in its feet breaks. It flies from my back and lands heavily nearby, writhing in pain.

Chance!

I�ve been hoping for this moment! My sub-brains have been busy crafting the often-underutilised Inverse Gravity Bolts! I have two in the chamber and ready to fly, and once the monster lands, I unleash them. The two blasts of purple magic fly home and strike it right in the centre of its mass. Rather than celebrate, I take a second to inspect the damage I�ve sustained.

It�s not a great picture. The carapace across the back of my abdomen and thorax has taken a shredding. Deep gouges that cut almost the entire way through to my body cover me, each weeping the clear gel from the inner carapace plating. In terms of HP, I haven�t lost much, only twenty points so far, but if this creature cuts through my defence, I don�t think he�ll need to do it a second time. The power contained in each of those strikes is no joke!

The question I have is, do I risk using my regeneration gland to patch up my carapace or wait in case I sustain massive damage later on? I don�t want to waste usage of the organ, only to find my legs have been chopped off in the next minute. Then again, I don�t want to save it and get cut in half from one swipe of those horrible claws.

Deciding prevention is better, I trigger the gland as my sub-brains spin up another set of Inverse Bolts. I�ve had way less practice with this form of the spell, and it shows, the relatively simple magic taking up to ten seconds to form.

To save on brainpower, I drop the Gravity Domain. The low mass and high power of the monster made it ineffective anyway. Now that my strategy has flipped to less gravity rather than more, it no longer makes sense to spend resources on it.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

The acid barrage doesn�t stop for love nor money, and the creature rolls desperately away as a rain of high-quality merchandise continues to fall. The monster is still suffering the effects from overtaxing its own body, but even as I watch it stand and heave for oxygen, its wounds are starting to heal. It�s triggered whatever healing capacity it has. I�m not too worried about it. This was something I was always going to have to force out at some point, and getting it done just as I�ve used mine makes me comfortable.

It continues to roll away from my acid rain, delaying until it returns to full health, no doubt. But this presents another opportunity. Taking careful aim, I wait for my chance and fire out my second set of anti-gravity bolts just as the creature is about to finish one dodge roll. Even now, it�s still damn quick, and its high Dodge Skill allows it to evade one of my spells, but I�m delighted to see the other smack home.

After three bolts, the effect should be starting to show, surely.

The mole monster has clearly had enough. Its burning red flesh and sizzling blood demand it leap into action, and so it does! Only� it doesn�t. It tries to dash to one side and build up speed for another of its devastating killing blows, yet something is different. Its legs are spinning, but it isn�t able to get the kind of speed it expects.

Gwehehehehehe.

Are you feeling a little light-headed, maybe? Perhaps a bit light in the body? Having some issues getting your feet to stick in the sand the way you want?

MUAHAHAHAHAAAA!

No traction for you!

�HSSSSSSSS!�

Once more, the monster lets out a steam-like hiss. Not from any pain, it�s expressing pure frustration. Although still moving quickly, the creature isn�t moving at anywhere near the sort of speed it was able to achieve before. While my spell isn�t affecting it powerfully enough to lift it into the air, the Inverse Gravity Bolt has reduced the pull of gravity on it to the point where it can�t get the sort of traction required to generate that blistering pace.

Not fast enough now, monster!

I snap my mandibles with glee, and for the first time in the fight, I begin to push forward, hunting for my foe with my mandibles. Uncertain and confused, the monster darts left and right to escape, but I�m ready. My Fire Mana Construct has been humming away in the background, and drawing deeply on my Mana reserves, I pull together a demanding spell.

Right before my enemy�s eyes, a giant wall of flame erupts from the ground. The heat is oppressive, even to me. But it�s so much worse for the shadow monster. It flinches away instinctively, which is enough to grant me a brief opening.

BAM!

Another Inverted Gravity Bolt hits home as I close in with a Dash. Get ready for a chomp!

CRUNCH!

Dammit! The creature slithers away from my mandibles like an eel, its absurdly high Dodge allowing it to evade even in such dire circumstances. I don�t believe you can keep it up forever, monster! Sooner or later, I�m going to get you!

I can tell the monster understands the same. Rather than try and create distance, it closes in, angling to my side to avoid my jaws.

I�m not going to let you! The wall of fire is still burning, fuelled by a constant stream of Fire Mana pouring out of me. With my back to it, the monster can�t circle all the way around. I turn rapidly to keep it in front of me, and once it closes in on the wall, it�s forced to stop and come at me directly.

CHOMP!

I missed again! Where the heck did he go?

I look around frantically, only to see a flicker of movement above. He jumped! And he went way, way higher than he anticipated�

Using the explosive power of its legs, combined with its lightened body, the monster has flown almost thirty metres into the air, nearly high enough to touch the roof of the arena! I think he wanted to leap onto my back and try stabbing through my eyes or something, but he didn�t expect the spell to affect him in this way.

It�s a fatal mistake. I have all the time in the world to reposition myself and prepare my jaws at the point of landing. Frantic, the creature lashes at the air to change its path of descent, but nothing helps.

Omen Chomp!

CRUNCH.

It�s over.

The announcements of the Bearded One ring within my mind as my speedy foe falls to the ground, neatly bisected by the Omen Chomp.

[You have defeated a Level 42 Regulus Bestiae Saltus]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached level 36. One Skill Point awarded.]

[You have reached Level 37�]

[You have reached Level 38�]

[You have reached Level 39�]

[You have reached Level 40�]

[You have reached Level 41�]

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass.]

[Basic profile unlocked.]

[Regulus Bestiae Saltus: Clawed Leaping Beast (VI). This modified version of the Leaping Beast excels in rapid movement and decisive strikes. Unsuited to extended engagements, its preferred strategy is to kill from the shadows with a single blow. Its powerful musculature and advanced claws give it the strength and penetrating power to tear through almost any defence.]

Heh. Almost any defence. Just not the Diamond Carapace!

Still, that was scarier than the final result showed. If my carapace was weaker, or if I didn�t have the inner-plating, then there�s a good chance the monster could have pierced through and minced my insides. If I didn�t have my future sense or rapid reflexes, then my carapace wouldn�t have mattered, as the creature would have stabbed me through the eye on its first attack.

All in all, this was a bad matchup for the Leaping Beast. I was uniquely resilient against its preferred strategy and even possessed the means to slow it down long enough to damage it. Against most monsters, I wager it would be able to finish them before they could blink. The Shapers were so focused on the Gravity Bomb, they picked my opponent based on that spell alone. Foolish!

No matter. It�s done, and I survived another round. Hopefully, my enemies amongst the Shapers are grinding their teeth watching another of their precious favourites go down in flames.

More Biomass for me! And honestly, the experience is really piling up! Six entire Levels from this guy. Juicy! I�m already past the halfway mark for my next evolution, which is frankly ridiculous. It wasn�t that long ago I evolved. Am I going to get to tier six before Tiny can make it to tier five? That�ll really irritate the big ape. Hehehehe.

Pleasantly lost to my own thoughts, I begin to drag the Biomass back to my side of the Arena. Soon enough, the gates open and we�re on our way back to my own cell. This will buy me a little more time, maybe another day, possibly two. I imagine the time between rounds will shrink, since there�s far fewer fights in each round.

In fact, going into round five, how many monsters are left? If we started with one hundred and twenty-eight� there�s only eight left once this round is done? So I�m a quarter-finalist! Whoo!

Wait, I don�t care about winning this thing, get me out of here! Although, a few more Levels wouldn�t hurt�

No! Focus, Anthony! Get back to the family. You can get Levels in a heap of different ways, forget about the incredible wealth of Biomass each of these monsters represents. Speaking of which.

NOM. NOM. NOM. NOM. NOM.

[Already eating, you pig!] Torrina�s teasing mental voice connects to mine.

[I�m starving. All that training drains a ton of energy,] I reply calmly as I continue to chomp away.

[I�ve got good news for you, Anthony. Corun told me your pet evolved this morning.]

[What? Already?] There go my plans to double evolve before Tiny catches up.

Even so, this is great news! My first pet has reached my level once again!

[What about his Mana poisoning? Was that resolved?] I ask anxiously.

[Apparently so! It even appears to have had an effect on his evolution. In a positive way, mind you.]

I almost sag to the ground with relief. Tiny�s ongoing internal injuries have been a huge source of stress for me, and for him, I�m sure. To know it�s been dealt with is fantastic news.

[Things are turning up Anthony today, Torrina! When do you think I�ll get a chance to see Tiny? I�d love to see his new form. What�s his species? No, wait, let me guess� Black Mountain Storm Gorilla? Shadow Fist Electric Ape King! DARK PRIMATE OF THE STORM!]

[Settle down a little! I don�t know what it is, you�ll have to wait until Corun can bring him in. We might be able to tomorrow. I�m not sure what they�re planning with the schedule. Things might accelerate from this point on, or they might slow down. It�s all down to the whims of the leadership, and who knows what they�re thinking.]

Stupid thoughts. They�re thinking stupid thoughts. They haven�t shown they�re capable of any other kind, that lot. Their lack of capacity to understand the greatness of ants is merely the greatest and most obvious of their failings. Morons. I have no time to ponder their many flaws today. Today is a day to celebrate!

Or it would be if I could work out what this stupid itching feeling is. Am I mutating? No, that�s ridiculous, surely I�d know if I was mutating. The itch isn�t that severe, either. It�s like a tickle mixed with an itch mixed with a whisper. I can barely feel it at all, it�s so minor, but it�s persistent, as if someone�s scratching with the tip of a single nail at the edge of my consciousness. Whatever it is, it�s irritating as heck, but also strangely familiar. Have I felt this before?

I stop eating, growing still, causing Torrina to look at me curiously.

[Something wrong, Anthony?]

[Uhh�] I mumble, distracted.

That single nail has been joined by another. Then another. Then another. Then ten more. Then twenty more. Then a hundred more. Then a thousand more. Deep inside my carapace, my Vestibule sparks to life and begins to once more leak energy into my body. It starts as a trickle, then as the seconds pass, it grows to a steady flow. My entire body tingles with a new energy.

I lower my head back down to my Biomass and take a bite. In the back of my mind, I can sense a flood of connections reaching out across space to whisper in my ear, each of them saying the same thing.

�We�re coming.�

[It�s nothing.] I take a slow bite. [Nothing at all.]

Ohhhhh boy. It�s the Squad! The Team! The Gals! The Sisterhood! The Family! The Colony is coming to get me!

I�m giddy, it�s almost like I�m being broken out of prison. Wait, that�s exactly what�s happening. Need to stay cool. No need to let people know what�s happening. As far as they�re concerned, business as usual. Which means, training, eating, mutating, and getting ready to fight the next battle.

I�ll need to try and meet Jim soon and see if he�s ready to progress with his escape strategy. Should probably check in with Sarah to see if she wants to come with us. I sort of doubt it, considering how reluctant she was last time we spoke.

In my mind, the ideal scenario is that I escape and make my way out to re-join the colony. If those crazy ants bust into this place� it�ll get real messy, real quick. And not just for the Shapers. I can�t imagine an invasion by thousands of ant monsters would be swept under the rug. Once word got out, the goglari would pull together an extermination force. Hundreds, maybe thousands of those damn Warriors, with Shaper support and who knows what other tricks they�ve got stashed away under the rug.

It would be a disaster, one I�m keen to avoid.

Gotta get busy. Not wanting to waste time, I throw my brains into training even as I chomp down on the Biomass in front of me. Torrina raises an eyebrow at me.

[Eager to train today, Anthony? I can feel you working your Mana.]

[Things are only going to get tougher from this point on. Can�t afford to stuff around. Gotta train, then mutate.]

[Alright. Granin will be happy to hear it. Give me a second and I�ll help you.]

[Sure. Any chance I�ll be able to get another meeting with Jim and Sarah? I�d like to have a word with them soon if it�s at all possible.]

[I�ll talk to Granin. He�s the one who can make it happen.]

[Thanks, I appreciate it.]

After stretching her mental muscles, Torrina is ready to start sending magic my way and I fall back into the familiar patterns. Weave my spells together whilst tearing hers apart. Stretch the minds, push to the edge. After the first hour, my training partner notices something is different.

[Are you in good shape today, Anthony? You�re holding up better than usual.]

[I�m good to go for ages yet. I�m not even tired!]

[Yes� That�s what I mean.]

Oh. Of course, the Vestibule! The sweet, boundless healing energies of the colony are flooding through my system, soothing my pains and taking away my fatigue. In fact, way more energy than I�m used to. How many ants are coming?

They�ve been hatching more than before, but what the heck? How many members does the colony even have right now? Two thousand? THREE thousand? Yikes. That�s gonna be a lot of mouths to feed. I hope the council has been able to raise them all properly. I don�t want them cutting corners and not giving each ant the chance to achieve their potential!

Speaking of which. I wonder if any ants have reached tier four? That�ll be cool to see. And Crinis! Sweet Crinis, the ever faithful, over-zealous pet. She must have evolved by now, surely. What sort of cuddly eldritch horrors await?

After a few more hours of training, Torrina excuses herself to find Granin and pass on my requests. This gives me time to brush myself into tip top shape for the upcoming escape. I�ll need to arrange something with Corun for Tiny as well. Take him out for another hunting trip perhaps? Then I can meet up with him outside the facility. That could work.

Alright, time to get down to mutating.

After chowing down on my foe, I�ve got 309 Biomass to play with, which is enough to get some serious work done. After the last fight, my enhanced reflexes and rapid response musculature played a key role, alongside my antennae, of course. I think I want to focus on pushing these body parts closer to perfection.

The nerves and muscles are both at +15, and it�ll cost me 180 Biomass to push both to +20. Which will leave me just enough to push my antennae up to +25. Nice!

Let�s hit those menus!

After confirming my intentions with the System, I hit up the menu for my nerves and admire the plethora of options. The endless creativity of the options never ceases to amaze me. I mean, it�s nerves! What the heck can you do with nerves? Make them faster, right? But oh no, there�s so much more.

Broader nerve paths to allow more signal load, vastly increasing the number of sensory nerves in the extremities, regenerating nerves that reconnect themselves when damaged, memory nerve packets to pre-package muscle memories, muscle fibres along the nerve paths so they can move. What the heck is that? You can transition the nervous system to a liquid state, turn it into metal, whatever you want basically. It�s crazy.

The memory packets are tempting, but I wouldn�t know what sort of thing to chunk into that memory. Also, I�d be worried about performing actions without actually intending to. I don�t want to be involuntarily chomping things. Instead, MOAR speed is what we want. Thus, the Transmission Sub-Neural Network +15 shall become the Instant Transmission Sub-Neural Network +20. I�ll be capable of truly hair-raising speed!

Onto the musculature. My efforts so far have been to enhance the ability of my muscles to make rapid motions. An explosive release of power, rather than a sustained one. This means I can move faster and snap my mandibles quicker, which is all great.

Except, I haven�t been able to increase my staying power. The mutation wouldn�t help in a wrestling match, or any extended chomping. It�s all in the initial bite! Combined with my neural network, it�s allowed me to make very quick responses and that�s kept me alive more than once.

This is the sort of synergy Granin was talking about. Each mutation working together to create something better than the sum of its parts. No need to change gears now!

Ignoring the many tasty side options, I home in on perfecting the response time of my muscles, and thus my Blink Musculature +15 will become Hyper Twitch Musculature +20.

Now for the antennae.

That�s two of my mutations out of the way, time to bring it home with the final play.

This one�s straightforward. The infrared detection has been useful, there�s no denying that, but the future sense has been literally lifesaving. In the unfolding menu, there remains a thousand and one options of other things I can upgrade my antennae to detect. Air, electric current, Mana, life�how does that work?�amongst others.

I have to say, though, something more interesting than the literal future is unlikely to pop up. During my last mutation, I pumped up my capacity for future sensing, and I�ll do so again now. Perhaps after this mutation, I�ll entertain branching down another path, but for now, I�m pretty sold on it.

I look through the menu and select Far-sight Oracle Antennae +25, costing me another 115 Biomass. This level of expense is really painful. Confirm those mutations! Let�s get this over with!

BLAMAMATION!

Gawd almighty�why the heck! ACK!

I again dissolve into a twitching mess on the floor as my body is wracked by waves of horrific itching. My antennae in particular are the worst this time around. My head, and indeed, my brain are affected by the change, and let me tell you, having your brain start to itch is less pleasant than it sounds.

It passes as it always does, and I�m back on the go before ten minutes is up. Which is a good thing, since Granin wanders in shortly after that.

[Another round, another win, Granin. Isn�t this supposed to be hard?] I boast.

[Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let�s not worry about the myriad of factors that fell your way to help that win happen. If anything, I think that creature was one of the better designs in this tournament. Certainly better than some bug.]

�Now of all times might not be the time to be throwing shade at my species, Granin.

[Don�t go all still on me. I�m joking, you touchy insect! You did great.]

Ah.

[Compliments, Granin? You aren�t behaving like yourself.]

The big golgari reaches the bottom of the ladder and settles down in a seat for some face-to-face chat.

[Well, perhaps I�m starting to feel like we might actually win this thing. Which is good news, since I�ll feel less bad about having forced you into it when I captured you.]

[�I�ll be alive as well.]

He waves away that detail.

[That too, certainly. Torrina bumped into me and said you had a few things on the go. You want to meet with the other reincarnators? What�s brought that on?]

Need to watch my words a little here.

[Well, each round is another chance I might finally die, so it�d be nice to get a word in while I still can. There�s a lot of things I haven�t asked them yet. Like when they died on Earth. Why the heck didn�t I ask when they died?]

I can finally get confirmation of the passage of time between Earth and Pangera!

[You�re thinking about the time difference? It�s inconsistent. We�ve looked into that ages ago.]

Dammit!

[I�ll do what I can, but there�s been some strange rumblings about those two lately, especially Sarah.]

[What do you mean, rumblings? What�s going on, Granin?]

He shrugs, a look of distaste flickering over his face.

[I don�t know enough to elaborate. It�s complicated. Look, exactly who is in charge of the reincarnators is usually up for debate since they�re technically �guests� of the Shapers. As I said, working with the Shapers is usually a partnership, that�s how it�s meant to be. In our case, we haven�t pushed the reincarnators we�ve formed relationships with into becoming Ancients the way we do with other monsters.]

Seems a little odd. We start with quite an advantage over most species, after all.

[Why�s that? There must be a reason.]

[Several, in fact. First is that none of the existing Ancients are reincarnators, as far as we know. Wasn�t until several hundred years after the Cataclysm that the first reborn souls were found by the Cult in its various forms. This led us to believe the appearances of your people didn�t start until well after the Dungeon was formed.]

[How long did it exist before it broke the surface, do you think?]

I�m not sure why, but I�m curious.

Granin just shakes his head.

[You ask that question around the right scholars and you�ll start a fist fight. Short answer, nobody is sure, but ultimately, a long time. The second main reason is that nearly all of you are reborn in the first stratum, thus limiting you to basic beast-type species until you evolve to a high tier, a milestone most don�t survive to reach.]

[Nasty. Wait. So it�s possible for me to �upgrade� in some way. I might get access to the goodies that the monsters in the lower strata get their claws on?]

[Of course. How else would you have any chance of descending? The Dungeon is a real pain in the backside, but it�s scrupulously fair to monsters. Theoretically, every species has the chance to descend to the centre. It�s just harder for the upper species since they start behind the curve of the creatures below them.]

Huh. That�s interesting. I wonder what sort of options will pop up the farther I go down. Perhaps Shadow Ant? Demon Ant? Which makes me wonder�

[Hey, Granin, what sort of creatures live in the fourth stratum?]

He snorts.

[You haven�t even made it out of here, or even set foot in the third stratum, and you want to learn about the fourth?]

[Come on. I�m just curious.]

[Sure you are. The fourth stratum is a doozy. As if any of them aren�t. Mythic Beasts. Think of the sort of things you saw in the first stratum, but with the power turned up about a hundred times.]

[Like� really, really big gorillas.]

He just shakes his head at me.

[Listen, your pet? He�s not even a quarter the size of some of the things down there. Let alone you. If you want my advice? IF you manage to survive this mess, then take a little time in the second stratum to accumulate a bit of strength. The third isn�t a cake walk by any stretch, and the Demons there are smart and tough as nails. You�ll want to be as prepared as you can be.]

Wise words.

[What do you think about that, Invidia?] Honestly, the little eyeball not having a name was getting to me. I think Invidia suits him�I wasn�t at all being lazy and utilising his monster type�

[You have knowledge. I shall have it.]

[Yeah, yeah. We were just talking about your home stratum. You want to get back to Demon� Town� or whatever?]

[I will follow the Master.]

[Well, yeah. You know what? Just go back to practising healing.]

[Level ups. They will be mine!]

Going to take a little adjusting to get used to the little guy. Still, his eye is glowing with what I hope is delight as he weaves spells together with enviable ease. As long as he�s happy.

Booms and thuds shake my cell as the battles rage in the arena. With my Meditation Skill blunting outside influences, my magic practice continues smoothly as Torrina batters my mind with her expert magical handling. To make things even more rude, she suggests I order Invidia to participate in the training.

I can�t believe I�ve been talked into letting Invidia attack me with Mental Magic. After just ten minutes under their combined assault, I�m ready to beg for mercy, which Torrina doesn�t grant. After thirty minutes, I want to collapse into a puddle, which Torrina refuses to allow. I could just order Invidia to cease his Mind Magic, but somehow, I feel like if I did that, I�d lose.

[I was blinded by the sweet lure of Levels! Damn you, Torrina!]

The harridan in question frowns.

[If you still have the mental energy to whine, then we aren�t working hard enough.]

[I HAVE FOUR BRAINS, DAMMIT. It�s not that hard to think things at you!]

[Way too much energy. I�m going to increase the pressure.]

[Noooooooo!]

Me and my big� brain� The presence of the colony within the range of my Vestibule is working against me now. Even as my brains strain to their breaking point, the cursed Vestibule is refreshing them with nourishing energy from my siblings. Results of said buffering? I last another two hours before the threads of magic twist out of my grasp and collapse into nothing.

[I�m out! No more!]

Torrina nods, satisfied with my efforts.

[You�ve done well. Much better than before.]

[Guess I�m finally getting the hang of it! Ha! Ha� ha.]

[Hmm.] She eyes me suspiciously before leaving the cell to get some rest.

Speaking of which, time for me to do the same. Invidia and I snack on some Biomass, and I have to whop him with an antenna when he tries to take my food. He didn�t even bother eating his own food first. He didn�t want his food, he wanted mine! Being an Envy Demon must be a massive pain in the backside. He�s almost totally incapable of being happy with what he has. That�s rough.

Following the food, it�s time for torpor. I�m so out of it I could practically hibernate. I�m done. Time to snooze�

HAP! I�m up!

Wasn�t out for too long either. The Vestibule is still doing its work, turning me into an inexhaustible dynamo. Along with all that energy, the persistent whispers that drove me to separate myself from the colony in the first place have returned. To be honest, I�m still glad to have them back. I�ll take it over the complete silence I endured before.

Awake once more, there is precious little to do in my cell until Granin turns up. A look of surprise flashes over his face seeing me up and about before he climbs down to my level.

[I hate this stupid ladder. I�ll bet the other monsters have cells with stairs�] he grumbles, moving hand by hand down the offending contraption.

[Wait, there are better cells than this one?]

[Of course there are! This is the sort of holding area we use for dangerous, uncooperative samples. Why do you think you have those three chuckleheads up there?] He jerks a thumb at the Triad of Shaper guards, whose presence is so constant it almost doesn�t register on my mind anymore.

[Typical. There has to be some sort of phobia to explain this prejudiced treatment.]

[I didn�t expect you�d be up this quick. Thought I�d have to wake you,] Granin says, settling onto his seat.

[Oh? Something that needs attention?]

[Indeed. Managed to set up that meeting, but it�ll only be with James, I�m afraid. Sarah is off limits for the time being.]

[What? Why?]

He holds his stone covered palms toward me.

[I have no idea, officially. I haven�t been told why she�s been isolated, only that she has. I can make a few guesses, as I�m sure you can too.]

A cold fear blooms inside me as the first thought to strike is that she betrayed the escape plan, but it quickly fades. No, I don�t think she would betray us. Much more likely is that the jerks who keep jerking it up all over the place have continued their jerking ways of jerkhood.

[They�re forcing her into the tournament, aren�t they?] I say.

[I can�t be certain, but that�s what I believe as well. I don�t know if it�s because they want you dead or if this was their intention from the beginning, but I�m almost certain your opponent in the next round is going to be Sarah.]

Well, that sucks.

[What do you think my odds would be if it actually turned out to be true?]

I really want to escape before that happens, but if I have to fight her, I�d like to know where I stand.

[None,] comes the blunt reply.

[Really? What about my magic, my defence, my Gravity Bomb?]

Granin slaps a hand to his forehead and drags it down his face.

[Look, I don�t want to get into all the finer details, but yes, none. She�s way more powerful than you, with far higher Levels in her Skills, and her species is both rare and dynamic. She�s also older than you and the other monsters in the tournament. If she actually enters and decides to fight, she�ll win. It�s that simple.]

Yikes. She didn�t seem all that intimidating when I met her, but she wasn�t exactly flexing her strength or anything. Granin�s the expert on these things, I�ll just have to trust that he knows what he�s on about. Which means I need to get the heck out of here, as soon as possible!

[Alright then, off to see Jim!] I say.

With my escort leading the way, I head to the arena to find the worm wriggling his way through the sands.

[Hey, Jim!] I call out. [Have you heard what�s going down with Sarah?]

I get a nod from the tail. At least, I think it�s the tail.

[Yeah. No. Kind of? The friendly Shapers I talk to have gone quiet on her, and I�ve not been able to get into her compound to speak with her for two days now.]

[She has her own compound? What the hell, man.]

[Don�t look at me, I won�t know you�re doing it. Blind and all that.]

[I�ve been told she�s most likely been forced into the tournament and she�ll be my next opponent.]

[Ouch. You have nooo chance.]

[Thanks, worm breath. Appreciate the vote of confidence.]

The big worm slithers into a complicated knot, clearly agitated.

[She�s tough,] Jim says. [She was strong before she got here. Her problem isn�t in stats or Skills, it�s mental. She�s a freakin� beast when she wants to be.]

[Which is why I need to get out of here, stat. How are things with the plan?]

[They�ve been better. I�m being watched pretty damn closely, but I think I can finish by tomorrow.]

[That�s going to cut it mighty close there, Jim.]

[I�m doing what I can, alright? This isn�t easy work. In case you haven�t noticed, we�re literally surrounded by mages.]

[At least you won�t have to tunnel Sarah out, not much chance of being able to bring her along now.]

Jim deflates. [Yeah. She�s a good egg. She deserves better than this. I wish I could have made her listen.]

[Not your fault, Jim. And if we can get out, there�s always a chance we can come back and get her, right?]

[Right.]

The worm and ant conspiracy is ready to be launched!

It wasn�t easy to explain how they knew, but they did. A tantalising feeling, as if their minds were connected across a great space, and all those thoughts coalesced into a whirlpool of the colony�s wants and needs. The moment Vibrant placed a leg within its range, she sensed it.

�Finally!� she yelled with delight, enthusiastically slapping her followers with her antennae. �That silly eldest really went a long way, but not far enough to escape from us!�

�Please, Vibrant,� came the urgent whisper from a general within her squad. �It isn�t wise to refer to the eldest as silly! Or to suggest the eldest ran away.�

�You think weird, Emeliant,� Vibrant assured her trusted follower. �That�s why I like you.�

Still unused to having a name, Emiliant was caught between the joy of being acknowledged by her leader and the fear of getting in trouble for her irreverence.

She worried too much, something Vibrant found immensely amusing, since Vibrant didn�t worry at all.

�Stop your fussing! If you keep twitching your antenna like that, I�ll have to take your name back.�

Emeliant froze.

�C-can you do that?� she whispered.

�What? No! Geez, you need to relax a little. Let�s go kill some monsters. We�ve almost made it!�

So saying, Vibrant dashed off with incredible speed, leaving Emiliant and the rest of her squad in the dust. This was the treatment they were well used to by this point, and they rushed to catch up, the less physical castes climbing onto the backs of the tier four soldiers and scouts in order to keep up.

Knowing they were following, Vibrant didn�t go all out, choosing to comfortably rush to the front lines, her connection to the eldest growing stronger with each stride. She�d travelled a long way to take part in this conflict, and she wasn�t about to let it end before she got her slice of whatever kept the eldest from them.

She�d been in another zone entirely when word that the eldest had been detected rushed through the colony. One ant passed it onto the next and word raced hundreds of kilometres into the deepest tunnels and most defended nests. At once, without any need to consult, the colony�s entire expansion process halted as ants began to reassign themselves to this new front.

The regular business of the colony continued, of course, but every ant not dedicated to producing, raising, or feeding the young barrelled through the tunnels, moving east. Always east. As a trickle turns into a flood, so too did the movements of the colony as one group ran into the next which ran into the next.

Now, thousands of siblings poured through the tunnels within range of the eldest, each burned with an inner flame that only grew brighter the closer they got.

Thankfully, the council had stepped in and taken things in hand.

�Whoa there, Vibrant. Got a second for a chat?�

Vibrant screeched to a halt, dirt and rock flying as her claws dug in.

�Hey-hey! If it isn�t Burke! You look� different.�

The scout wiggled her elongated antennae proudly.

�Pretty good! Tier four brought a few unusual surprises. We�re still trying to work out the optimal paths for the rest to follow, it�s taking longer than we thought.�

�As long as we get it right, the colony will prosper in the future.�

�Exactly.�

The scout leader�s new form wasn�t much larger than before. She was dwarfed by some of the tier four soldiers, which were being called majors. Burke was sleeker, more streamlined, and her colours had become muted. In fact, she almost blended into the rock behind her. Her antennae were the other major change. Far longer and bristling with minute hairs, they looked as if they were several times more sensitive than they�d been before.

�I just wanted to stop you before you went barging in. Things are sensitive on the front lines, we can�t move as we want.�

�Why not?� Vibrant queried.

Moving cautiously wasn�t exactly her style, but she�d been forced to adapt as part of the council.

�We�ve found evidence of a civilised race occupying these areas.�

�Are they the ones holding the eldest?�

�Likely so.�

Vibrant fell into thought. No matter how fast she was, there was some trouble she just couldn�t outrun�exposing the colony to a group more organised and powerful than the Lirian kingdom would be a very large serving of fast-moving trouble.

�What was the decision?� she asked.

Burke relaxed slightly. It was never a sure thing that Vibrant would listen when the council asked her to do things. She was strangely� independent. Always serving the colony, but in the way she thought was best. To this point, the council never found any of her decisions to turn out poorly, but they still worried.

�We�ve sent in teams of core shapers. Their shadow beast pets can scout more openly and arouse less suspicion than we can. Tunnelling crews have also been set up, but we need more mage support. Some passages are hard to avoid, and we�re concerned our cores will be detected if we get too close.�

�That�s all great. But what do you need me to do?�

�You and your team are going to be best utilised as messengers. The tier four scouts have been allowed to go forward, they have the Skills and mutations to get away with it, we hope, which means we�re short on fast legs.�

�I�ve got plenty of those!� Vibrant declared as her weary followers rushed into view.

Just as Vibrant was about to greet her squad and cheer on their new role as hard running scouts, something else emerged from the tunnel behind them, startling every ant present with its speed and malevolent aura.

A deep pool of shadow flashed across the ground into the open space and stilled. The pool darkened, and a forest of black tentacles burst forth. They grasped and twisted through the air, gripping onto anything they could before they snapped taut and pulled.

From out of the pool emerged a horror. An amorphous blob of flesh with three mouths filled with barbed teeth that crackled with malicious energy. A terrible screech arose in the tunnel that set every ant�s antennae afire with vibrations.

�SHHHAAAAAAAAAHHH!�

Each of the mouths wailed independently in a strange cacophony that caused Burke to shiver uncontrollably, though she could not explain why.

Vibrant displayed a very different reaction.

�CRIN-CRIN!� she whooped and rushed toward her friend.

[WHERE IS THE MASTER?] Crinis roared. [TAKE ME TO THE MASTER!]

[Whoa there! Hold on! We can sense the eldest. They aren�t far away!]

[Haaaaaah�]

The giant ball seemed to deflate, the slashing, tooth covered limbs retracting into the body.

[Why can you sense them when I can�t? It�s not fair!]

Vibrant patted Crinis lightly on the head with her antenna.

[Not long now, Crin-Crin. Won�t be long now.]

[Where is the enemy, Vibrant? WHO is the enemy?]

The poor horror was clearly agitated, her tentacles writhing and twisting in knots. Every now and again, she would lose control and her ripping teeth emerged to rip great chunks out of the stone around her. Vibrant continued to soothe her friend.

[I will go and scout at the front lines,] Crinis declared. [I�m a shadow monster, so I won�t be suspected.]

Burke wasn�t too sure about that, but she wasn�t prepared to put her word against one of the eldest�s guardians. The tentacled horror slithered east down the tunnel with jaws gnashing eagerly.

The Shapers are professional monster wranglers with over a thousand years of experience in the craft. They�re smart, industrious, coordinated, and would have put an extreme amount of thought into ensuring that none of their captives escape. Which raises the question, if you are one of those captives and you do want to escape, how exactly should you be going about it?

There are a number of schools of thought on the matter. Careful planning, strategic application of force, pitting wits against wits, all classic stuff. Hard to work alone, obviously, so you might reach out to allies, put a crew together as it were. Once everyone gives you the �You daughter of a Queen, I�m in,� you start piecing together your plan bit by bit under the watchful eye of your captors. It�s exciting, riveting stuff that makes for amazing intellectual competition.

The other way to go is to acknowledge that your captors are smarter, better prepared, willing to invest a hell of a lot more energy than you are, and so you need a different approach. How do you defeat the opponent who has more wits? Don�t engage in a battle of wits! That would be freakin� stupid! No, instead you punch them in the face way harder than they think you can. Then, you leg it.

Jim and I, we may not be the sharpest set of tools in the shed, but we�re smart enough to know we aren�t that smart. Which counts for something! Therefore, our escape plan does not hinge on an elaborate scheme, meticulous timing, or coordinating watches. It involves the two of us digging our way out, faster and better than the Shapers could possibly expect us to.

Which wasn�t hard for us to set up, all things considered. They�ve never examined my core, thus they don�t truly know what I�m capable of, and my training has proceeded very quickly, especially in my particular area of focus: Earth Magic.

My worm compatriot isn�t a prisoner in the technical sense and has some limited freedoms, which he�s been using to test the boundaries of what he can get away with when tunnelling about the place. He�s also refused to have his core checked for over a year, and so far, no Shaper has pushed him on it.

What we�ve learned is that the compound does in fact have measures in place to prevent monsters from digging out. Magically hardened stone, barriers around the cells, as well as a few other nasty surprises. Combined with the constant surveillance, it�s quite enough to contend with.

The great worm of earth had already been hard at work, manipulating the ground around him to create small micro tunnels that he hoped were undetectable to the Shapers, who no doubt kept an eye on the soil and stone integrity around their facility. It was a rare feature of his earth attuned class that he was able to manipulate soil and stone at such a range, but he�d needed to be careful and work slowly. If things worked out the way he wanted them to, those micro tunnels would mean he could dig through at twice the speed compared to unprepared ground.

Which means all I need to do is dig my own way out of my cell and meet up with him. In order for that to happen, I have got to get Granin and Torrina out of my antennae.

[Corun has Tiny out on a hunting expedition? Hope that�s all going well.]

[From what I understand, it�s been good. Your pet has been eager to get back out hunting. Corun thinks he wants to test his new abilities.]

[No. He just loves punching things.]

[Ah,] Granin huffs with irritation, perched in his chair.

[What are you so mad about, Granin? In fact, why are you even here? Are you sure you don�t need to take a long walk or something?]

[No, I don�t, and I�m irritated because I don�t know what is motivating the leadership of my own Cult anymore.]

[Your cult?]

[You know what I mean!] He throws his hands into the air, frustration plain on his stone covered face. [I just can�t understand what is happening here and it�s slowly driving me mad. Why are our traditions being thrown out after so long? What exactly are we hoping to achieve?]

[We? You still put yourself on the same page as the rest of them?]

[Of course I do, you blithering insect! I don�t have to explain to an ant the idea of loyalty to the collective, do I?]

[You do not.]

Granin relapses into his muttering, pensive thinking pose, whilst Torrina watches from the side, concern marring her features. For my part, I�m having an internal debate.

Has this situation been good? No. How do I feel about the Cult of the Worm? Not great. Who was the cult member who put me in this sucky scenario? Granin. But he and his Triad have been good to me. They�ve worked harder than they could have ever been expected to, and Granin has put himself on the line to help me. If possible, I don�t want them to get caught up in any trouble on my account.

How to warn them without letting them know what I�m planning? And what if I end up coming back for Sarah? What about the colony? This could get messy.

[So, Granin. How�s things?]

[I�m trying to think over here.]

[Right. I get that. Just hear me out for a moment. If, by some strange chance, I escaped from here, what would happen to you and the gang?]

[Us? Punishment, but nothing too dramatic, why? You finally sorted out an escape plan?]

[Of course not. I�m not smart enough for that.]

[True.]

Why you� Nope, I�m calm.

[Let�s just say I did escape. All I want to say is that it�s probably not a great idea for you to stay here in this compound. Just in case.]

Granin unfolds his hands, his rocky features becoming extra serious.

[Are you honestly suggesting that you would be able to threaten this entire compound full of mages?]

I think about the number of ants I�m sensing through my Vestibule.

[No?]

He leans forward a touch, focusing that stony stare of his right into one of my eyes.

[You didn�t deserve the sort of treatment you�ve received here, Anthony. If I�d known what was going to happen to you, I�d never have brought you in.]

I�m touched.

[Thanks, Granin. That means a lot. And thanks to you, Torrina, you�ve helped me out a lot.]

The young Shaper puts one hand on my carapace, the metal in her skin shimmering in the low light.

[You are a special monster, Anthony. Perhaps one day, you�ll ascend and fulfil our dreams.]

[Yeah, unlikely.]

Granin huffs and unfolds himself from his chair. [Let�s get out of here, Torrina. I think Anthony needs a little alone time.]

Granin and Torrina climb up the ladder and exit my cell without looking back. Strange though it may seem, I hope I see them again. They�re good people.

[Alright, Invidia, are you ready?]

[Freedom. I shall have it!]

[Damn right. Get that illusion cracking.]

The plan isn�t complicated, which I hope means it�s more likely to succeed. Once I have the space to myself, Invidia begins to weave an illusion around me. The image isn�t anything too fancy, just a shell of myself cast around me. The only part of the spell that extends beyond that covers the floor for thirty centimetres beyond my feet.

The moment the image is in place, I weave together an Earth Mana construct and start pumping energy through it, taking hold of the now dark brown Mana and using it to create a spell of my own.

A spell I direct downward, into the stone beneath my feet. The Shapers above can sense the Mana being utilised, but they�ve been sensing me and Invidia cast magic down here for days on end. The only time spells aren�t being created in this cell is when I�m asleep! But I won�t be able to conceal what I�m doing for long.

In order to divert their attention, I have Invidia practice some of his louder spells. We aren�t allowed to damage the room, but he can set off some smaller explosions here and there.

As he does, I begin to tunnel, the stone and rock breaking under the strength of my earth drill spell. Earth Mana is interesting in that it allows you to move and shape soil and stone into almost any form you please. As I push open a space downward, I compact the soil to the sides as much as possible to avoid having to bring too much to the surface. The Shapers are wise to this sort of magic, though, and have packed the dirt incredibly tight around the cells. After only a minute, the dirt begins to rise and spill out around my legs.

This is going to be tougher than I thought. I�d hoped to be able to carve out a space the size of my body in order to hide myself in it before the signs of my digging became too apparent. Ah well, nothing for it, then!

I renew my magic assault on the ground, chewing away at it until chunks of stone begin to spill out between my legs. Thanks to my training and relatively high rank in Earth Mana, I�m able to make rapid progress. Of course, the stone chips appearing out of nowhere are a slight giveaway that something fishy is going on. The Triad of Shapers above step forward as one to peer intently into my cell.

Too late, fools! Muahahahaha!

Desperate joy surging in my heart, I pull my legs close to my body and drop into the widening gap in the floor, face first. Engage earth mandibles! One of my sub-brains begins to direct more Mana from my core into my earth affinity construct and then pushes it into my mandibles, which begin to glow a russet-stone colour.

Ha! The mandibles aren�t just for yoinking people across battlefields, I can infuse any type of Mana I want! Once the Mana builds up in my mandibles, I begin chomping away at the dirt like a maniac, the empowered jaws shearing through the stone as if it were butter.

Dig! Hear the roar of my soul and dig to freedom!

They aren�t going to let me do that, are they?

BOOM!

From behind, I sense the concussive release of Mana as spells begin to detonate in the cell.

[How�re you holding up, Invidia?]

[The barrier will hold, for now.]

[Nice work. Try to hold them off as long as you can.]

[Yessssss.]

[Focus, buddy.]

The eyeball is following the plan and formed a dome-shaped barrier over the entrance to our escape tunnel after following in behind me. He probably won�t be able to hold off their barrage for long, but if I can get us far enough underground, then it won�t matter.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

With relentless energy, I work my face-hands and rip into the stone even as my sub-brains direct their spells to shape and split it. Now this is digging! With my Earth Magic, I don�t even have to bother shifting the rock after I shatter it. No more trips back to the start of the tunnel for me! Dig, Anthony! Dig as if your life depends on it!

The attack on my mind comes suddenly and stabs home like the point of a knife. My consciousness rocks from the blow and darkness begins to swim on the edge of my vision. This is the exact same technique Granin used to knock me out when I was captured. Unfortunately for these suckers, I�m not going down as easy this time!

I pass control of my body over to a sub-brain and use the entirety of my main mind to focus on my mental defences. The attack they�re using is an advanced application of Mind Magic, one I can�t quite execute yet. What�s more, the three Shapers are coordinating to perform the strike. Three advanced mages focusing their minds in harmony to cast a single, powerful spell. It�s little wonder I and any monster of my tier wouldn�t be able to handle it alone. That�s just way too much mental firepower to handle.

Luckily, I�m no longer alone!

[Drop the barrier, switch to mental defence!]

[I will take their pain!]

[Stay creepy.]

As I cast my senses out to try and sense their next strike, Invidia does the same. But, since he has more than enough processing power to spare, he also goes on the offense.

[They hold me off. I WILL have their mindsssss!]

A task he throws himself into with relish. As powerful as he is, I still don�t expect Invidia to succeed in breaking down three mages. All he has to do is buy a little time. Every second, a veritable blizzard of stone chunks flies out the back of the tunnel and into my cell as I burrow free.

Here it comes!

My external Mana Senses tingle as a compact spell zips toward me through the stone. The moment I sense it, I try to take hold of the spell and break it apart with my mind, shredding the threads holding it together. Invidia does a better job than I, but between the two of us, we still aren�t able to destroy it. The spell is expertly constructed and dense with Mana. At best, we�re able to take a third of the Mana out of it before it strikes my mind.

YEEOUCH!

My brains ring as if struck like a bell. Through sheer force of will, I hold onto consciousness and continue digging. Ha! Two was enough to put me out last time, but not now! I swear, when I evolve next, I�m gonna pump my Will to an absurd level. No way I�m letting myself stay vulnerable to this sort of attack.

The next few seconds are tense as I furiously dig, sensing in all directions, trying to work out where the knife will come from.

Above me, a flurry of mental Mana lashes out as Invidia steps up his assault on the mages, trying to bring one of them down.

Dig, dig, dig! Shouldn�t be far now!

BAM!

Another blow stabs my mind, which I once again strain to break down without success. My vision swims and my mind wavers, on the verge of shutting down under the assault. My legs buckle but straighten almost as quickly as I stabilise. The energy pouring out of my Collective Will Vestibule pushes back against the pain and steadies my mind. The colony isn�t about to let me fall at the last hurdle!

With a mighty chomp, the stone crumbles away from me, starting a chain reaction that cascades the rock into an open space. When the ground beneath my claws gives way, I fall downward and land flat on the top of my head.

[You gotta be more careful when you tunnel straight down. That�s amateur hour.]

[Seriously, Jim? You�re going to critique my tunnelling technique now?]

[You�re right. Let�s go� Worms rule.]

[Dammit, Jim!]

I scramble to right myself just as Invidia drops down the tunnel and onto my back. Luckily, that extra-dimensional heft of his doesn�t translate to actual weight, otherwise, he might�ve put a crack in my carapace.

[Which way?] I say to Jim.

[Um� um� this way!]

[You don�t sound super confident.]

[It�s going to be fine!]

There�s an unusual note of panic in the worm�s thoughts as he wriggles this way and that before throwing his head into a wall and chewing through it at a ridiculous pace. In a few moments, his entire body is gone and all I have to do is squeeze into the tunnel he�s dug.

[Just stay calm, Jim. Everything�s going fine!] I try to soothe my associate.

He�s wanted this for a long time, but now that we come to it, he�s falling apart a little. As long as he can hold it together long enough for us to reach the outside tunnels, we�ll be alright.

Another mind-stab comes my way, though significantly weaker than before, and with Invidia�s help I�m able to break it down before it strikes. Perhaps we�ve put enough distance between the Shapers and ourselves to make manipulating Mana more difficult for them? Whatever the case, I�m glad for it!

With my demon pet following along behind, I start to use my Earth Mana to collapse the tunnel behind us. Don�t want those nosy Shapers following too easily. I don�t doubt they can shift the dirt using Earth Magic, same as I can, but every little bit helps. I�m not sure what the Shapers will do if they happen to catch us. Probably not anything too lethal, although I�d rather not put that thought to the test. They�ve been trying to tenderise my juicy flesh since the stupid tournament started, after all.

The going is a bit slower now as we�re well out of range of Jim�s prepared micro tunnels. Still, if I had to have anyone on my side to chew through reinforced stone, it would be Jim. He�s incredibly quick, using a combination of his own Earth Mana and raw chewing power to break down the stone.

At first, I wasn�t sure what was happening to the rock and I had to ask.

[You actually eat the stone?]

[Heck yeah. Delicious!]

[I refuse to believe that rocks are delicious.]

[You�re missing out. Also, I can break it down into Earth Mana inside my body.]

[You can what?]

Turns out that as long as he�s eating, he can keep churning out his Earth Magic. The dude turned himself into a literal digging machine in order to break out from the Shapers� control. That�s the level of dedication he has, and I respect the hell out of it.

The two of us endure some tense moments, constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop and a horde of ticked off, magical stone-people to clobber our faces in.

But� it doesn�t happen. For the next ten minutes, Jim works his magic and gobbles down stone as I trail along behind him, collapsing the tunnel and anxiously waiting for an attack that never materialises.

[We should be almost there!] Jim calls back.

[Seriously? They haven�t followed us at all!]

[Maybe they don�t want to keep us that bad?]

[They kept you locked up for freaking years, Jim! You really think they�re just going to let us walk away?]

[All I can tell you is that the stone is getting softer. We shouldn�t be far away from a Dungeon tunnel. I think we�re beneath it, I�m gonna start angling up.]

Nice. All that�s left for me to do is meet up with Tiny and then head toward the colony. The progress of my siblings has slowed over the last day, which makes sense. If they came close enough to recognise that there�s an entire golgari empire operating in this section of the Dungeon, then they�d be suicidal if they didn�t hit the brakes and start to think things through a little more carefully. Now that they can sense me moving toward them�I hope�it should be easy to reconnect with my family.

And Crinis! Hope that little bundle of existential terror has been doing well without me around. She�s a bit nervous at the best of times. Having to go it alone for such a long time is sure to put some stress on her nerves.

[BOOM BABY! We out!] Jim cries with glee.

[Seriously!]

[Let�s go! I�ve been waiting so long for this moment! Screw you, Shapers! I�m a free worm!]

[Move your slithering butt, Jim! Invidia and I want out!]

[I will takessss thissssss freedom!]

[Damn right!]

[Alright, hold your carapace.]

Jim slides his body forward and I Dash out to embrace the sweet, sweet free air. At last! I was only locked up for a period of weeks, but that was long enough to know that it sucks. Monsters were born to be free! We did it�and it was freakin� easy!

[That went way smoother than I expected,] I say.

[How could you doubt my incredible powers?] Jim scoffs, still wriggling with joy.

[Just hold on a second.]

I take a moment to check our surroundings. It�s quite a wide tunnel space we�ve broken into. The area is open to an unusual degree, no debris or columns at all. It almost looks as if the outside of the tunnel has been shaped. In fact, not far from where we broke through the floor is a wall that is elaborately carved.

[Hey, Jim, what�s up with that wall? Looks weird.]

[I�m blind� Describe whatever it is you�re talking about.]

[It�s got all these� pictures and recesses and stuff.]

[What do you mean?]

[I mean� carvings. Super elaborate carvings.]

[Of what?]

[Golgari, I think?]

Not easy to make a carving of rock-people on a rock surface I suppose.

[Oh. Now those recesses are lighting up.]

[Like how?]

[Like� with lights?]

I really don�t like how long Jim is taking to respond here. Those lights do not look friendly.

[Those wouldn�t be windows, would they?] Jim asks in a decidedly tense tone.

[You know what? I think they are. They put them in as watch areas around the gate.]

[GATE!]

[Well, it�s opening up now. Very impressive piece of stonework. Not sure how your hearing is, but I can absolutely hear shouting.]

[WE NEED TO RUN!]

[I already started, worm breath. Next time, can you not tunnel us in front of a golgari city?]

[I CAN�T HELP BEING BLIND!]

A crash resounded through the room as Irette Plamine hurled her glass across her private study. The crystal vessel struck an ornately carved stone bookshelf built into the wall and shattered, flinging shards across the room. The only other person present, the youngest member of her Triad, Biritite Cryslas, flinched as her true skin repelled the sharp slivers.

�Th-They can�t have gotten far,� she said, trying to pacify her leader. �We still have tracking spells attached to them, we�ll know where they are shortly.�

Plamine rounded on the younger Shaper in a fury, her hands slashing the air as she spoke, as though attempting to strike down the reality around her.

�Know where they are? Oh, I know where they are. I received word two minutes ago that they surfaced not a hundred metres outside the gates of Stonehall!�

�No!� Cryslas gasped.

�Oh, that�s not all! They hung around just long enough for every guard on the wall to spot them before fleeing. They�ll be having geomancers trace their tunnel straight back to us!�

Plamine�s eyes were wild with rage. The depth of the disaster that had just taken place was unparalleled. That stupid bug! All it had to do was die and their backers in the city would be happy. How could they anticipate one pitiful insect would be so difficult to kill!

�Can we insert our own people into the city�s search party? Mustn�t they be a Shaper?�

�They never use anyone who isn�t totally loyal to the Warrior�s Circle! Don�t be so stupid,� Plamine said.

She resisted the urge to strike her contemporary. She needed to be calm to find a way to salvage this.

�I-is there a chance we can count on assistance? Fr-From our� backers?� Cryslas hesitated to suggest.

Her only response was a growl that emanated from deep within her leader�s throat. Their backers had proven to be far more trouble than they were worth. The money and resources they�d provided pushed their faction to the top of the Worm Cult in only a few years, but the moment that had been achieved, the demands started to roll in. Ever since, they�d been tying themselves in knots trying to meet said outrageous demands whilst also advancing the proper agenda of the Cult, a delicate tightrope that had taken an immense amount of skill to navigate.

�They won�t help us,� Plamine said bitterly. �They�ll cut ties the moment they sense the stone is crumbling. If anything, we can expect them to be the loudest amongst those seeking to bring us down.�

Cryslas stepped forward, filled with energy.

�Then why don�t we pull them down with us?� she hissed, suddenly fierce. �We have enough compromising material to drag them through the mud for a generation. They�ll have to help us!�

Her leader slowed her pacing.

�That would be��

Dangerous. Risky. Madness. Not to mention a matter well above her station in the hierarchy of the Cult.

�I�d need to contact the leadership. But we don�t have time! DAMMIT!�

At that moment, Oridene Gravus burst into the room, rage written all across his face. Plamine pointed a sharp finger right between his eyes before he could speak.

�Not a word out of you! Not. One. If you hadn�t been so blatant, we could have moved quietly against that blasted creature a week ago! Like we�d intended!�

She turned back to Cryslas.

�Your idea has some merit. I�ll reach out to our contact and try to put pressure on. I�ll need the two of you with me to present a unified front. We�re playing a dangerous game now, and we don�t have much time.�

She strode behind her desk and pulled out a drawer filled with enchanted communication crystals, each nestled in its own pouch and clearly labelled. Gravus turned to the other member of the Triad, his brow furrowed.

�They were spotted outside the city,� Cryslas filled him in, her voice terse. �The city is likely to trace them back to us.�

His eyes grew wide.

�If they think we were raising ants in here��

�Exactly!� she snapped. �We�d be finished. The entire Worm Cult might get pulled out by the roots by the time the Warrior�s Circle is done with us!�

�But they were the ones�� he spluttered.

Cryslas leaned in and jabbed him in the chest.

�You and I know that, Oridene. But are they going to own up to their part in it?�

His expression soured as he contemplated the likelihood of that ever happening. They�d be only too happy to send their �allies� into oblivion if it kept their own noses clean.

�It�s ready,� Plamine announced. �Oridene, Biritite, come join me.�

The crystal glimmered with a bright light as it was placed into its carved holder in the centre of the quartz desk that dominated the study. The Triad took their places for the call, Gravus and Cryslas flanking Plamine, who sat in the seat of her office, staring down domineeringly at the crystal.

It wasn�t long before the matching crystal was activated and a projection of the golgari at the other end appeared in the air above the crystal. The Triad as one shrank back instinctively from the withered Warrior whose image appeared.

�This had better be important, Plamine. I�ve little to waste on the likes of you,� he sneered.

Irette Plamine swallowed and steadied herself. No matter how far she rose, or how much she detested them, a lifetime of submissiveness to the Warrior caste was difficult to overcome.

�We have an issue that will soon become yours as well.�

A frown creased the already aged face.

�Oh? This had better be interesting,� he warned.

�We�ve had two specimens escape from the outpost,� she stated. �One of which was the monster you asked us to put down.�

His eyes bulged.

�It still isn�t dead?� he raged. �You were told to kill it the moment it was in your hands!�

�It wasn�t expedient to do so.�

�Expedient! I have little care for what you consider expedient. You were told to get it done and so you should have done it! Who do you think holds your leash?�

Irrette forced her anger down and strove to remain calm.

�We are not able to act as we please here in the Cult. Certain customs still need to be observed. Just because an old family in the Warrior�s Circle wants something dead, doesn�t mean we will leap to obey! We aren�t your assassins.�

�You are our servants, bought and paid for!�

Gravus trembled with rage, and Cryslas covertly gripped his arm. If he blew up at their contact, there was little chance they would secure the assistance they needed.

�Well, this is about to become your problem,� Plamine snapped. �Since the two monsters who escaped have turned up outside the city gates!�

�They what? Ah� There will be a search for the insect. The city is going to get involved and you don�t want it being traced back to you� I see. I presume you want me and those I represent to intervene on your behalf?�

�We think it�s time for the old clans to step forward and get their hands dirty. We wouldn�t be in this situation if one of your scions didn�t lack even the slightest element of control!�

�Watch your words, Shaper. Don�t forget who you are and who you are talking to. We can make you disappear overnight with a snap of our fingers.�

�You might be getting yourself a little dirty with the blowback from such a situation. It�s so hard to stay clean these days.�

�Tsk. I�ll contact you again in an hour. If you haven�t got a lead for me by then, I�ll bury that entire outpost and leave you to the Dungeon. You hear me, Plamine?�

�Clearly.�

[Worms are stupid.]

[I said I was sorry already�]

[They look disgusting and they eat dirt.]

[I know, okay? I know.]

[They�re soft and don�t have a carapace, which makes them less shiny.]

[Not all ants are shiny! Only you are shiny!]

[Are you talking back to me?! Invidia, I think he�s talking back to me!]

[Sssstrange. It should be shame.]

[Yeah, you�re supposed to be shame! Aren�t you, Jim?]

[�Yes. I am shame. Can we PLEASE discuss this another time? Like, when we aren�t being ACTIVELY chased!]

[I suppose�]

As much as I enjoy reminding our resident worm that he and his entire species are massive failures who the world would most likely be better off without, we do have something of a situation on our claws. After we popped up outside those massive stone gates, we hightailed it back underground, but it wasn�t long before we started to sense signs we were being followed.

Luckily, Jim was able to retrace the tunnel I�d collapsed a lot faster than he could dig through solid rock, but we can�t follow that all the way back, we�d just end up in the Shaper outpost we�d started in. Which means we need to dig our way into another Dungeon tunnel, a job for which we needed Jim�s now suspect earth senses to find.

[Look, I found a tunnel, didn�t I?]

[Just not the right one�]

[I was close!]

[Close to a city full of golgari�]

[I�ll be quiet.]

Every few seconds, there are pulses of magic radiating through the ground, trying to home in on us. I�m not sure if these are some form of mental attack or if this is just a location spell of some sort. Monster detection? Perhaps trying to sense vibrations in the rock? Either way, I�m not a huge fan.

Jim and I are using every technique we can to speed up our tunnel digging. He�s biting and utilising his Earth Magic to its limits, with me doing the same from just behind. I�ve put Invidia on tunnel collapse duty so I can focus more completely on assisting the digging. It�s hard to manipulate the Mana that far ahead of myself, Jim is a long worm, so I need to put real effort in.

Another pulse! They�re coming quicker now� Does that mean they�re gaining ground on our position, or are we getting farther away? I wish I knew!

[How far, Jim? We can�t be far, surely!]

[Not far! I�ve found another tunnel, probably� twenty metres dead ahead!]

[Poor phrasing given the circumstances!]

[Agreed!]

There�s a rising panic in the worm that is worrying. The more danger we get into, the more unsettled he becomes. Being a sheltered creature, not having to fight for so long, having his meals brought to him, it must have killed his edge. Although, judging from his history, this guy was never the most aggressive of monsters since his rebirth.

[Hold it together, Jim. We�re gonna get there!]

[Right!]

Also, it would be super great if the worm-butt in my face ceased sometime soon, I�m well over it. It takes a couple of minutes to drill our way through, and with a joyous cry, Jim rushes into the dark tunnel in front, shouting with glee.

[We did it!]

[Get down, Jim!]

I blast out of the tunnel with Invidia close behind, my mandibles wide.

CHOMP!

A shadow centipede shrieks as my jaws shear it apart and it falls to one side, twitching. Stupid centipedes! They pop up every time I don�t want them to!

[What the hell was that?] Jim cries, panicking.

[Shadow centipede. They�re new. Stay alert, Jim! You�re in the Dungeon now. What do you want to do? Try and hide in the walls or are you coming with me?]

His giant worm-body twitches, the head of him shifting this way and that�he�s hesitating. Understandable.

[I don�t care if you want to go alone, I really don�t,] I assure him. [I�ve got places to be and you�d rather hide, it�s fine. I just need you to make a call very, very quickly.]

The giant worm shudders, struggling to decide.

[I�ll come with you. I�m still too close to try and hide here, they�ll be able to find me before I get too far.]

[Let�s go!]

HAZZOW! I�m off!

[Invidia! I want you to blast anything that looks like it�s going to get too close! Alright?]

[Yesssss.]

[Let�s hustle!]

When you don�t know if an angry team of eight-foot-tall rock-people are going to leap at you from the shadows, motivation to run isn�t hard to come by. Invidia isn�t the fastest, so I pile him onto my back and Dash down the tunnel. I don�t know exactly how to get to the colony, but I can sense a general direction I need to travel in.

Jim does his best to keep up, but he isn�t designed for flat-out speed. In terms of tunnelling through the earth, nobody can hope to match him. Over rock, though? He�s sluggish at best. Which isn�t the problem I thought it might have been. This is the Dungeon. You can�t get far without running into monsters, a hazard which Jim isn�t the best qualified to deal with. Thus, it falls to Invidia and I to tear into the creatures that try to prevent us from fleeing.

As we rush through the dark, cold tunnels that twist and turn, I use my Tunnel Map to ensure we�re moving away from the golgari city we stumbled into earlier. Obviously not somewhere I�m keen to return. Neither in the short-term, nor ever, to be frank. Robbing the Lirians was a laugh, but tussling with the golgari is not in the cards.

Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!

I cut through the second stratum shadow creatures inhabiting these tunnels, with Invidia casting support magic from his perch atop my carapace. The support spells make all the difference! The enemies reel from his dizzying mental attacks, are rebuffed by his shields, or straight up detonated by his explosions. The support caster I always wanted is finally here and it feels so damn good.

[This way, Jim! Keep hustling. I think we�re nearly there!]

[Where exactly is it that you think is going to be safe? I thought we were just trying to get farther away from the golgari?]

He sounds a little suspicious, which I can�t blame him for. As far as he knows, there isn�t any safe place anywhere in the Dungeon.

[Look, I�m an ant.]

[�Yes?]

[Where do you think an ant would feel safe? Supported? Enveloped in the warm love of their family?]

[You don�t mean�]

[You�re going to meet the colony, Jim!]

The shuffling worm comes to a screeching halt.

[You want to betray me! Turn me into ant food? Is that it, Anthony? I can�t believe this!]

[Wait, what?]

The worm shifts its head from side to side, as if looking for a way out.

[What do you think is going to happen to me when I get surrounded by ant monsters?]

[�There�s nothing�]

[They�ll eat me!]

[Jim, they aren�t going to eat you if I tell them not to. Trust me, they aren�t like what you�re thinking.]

[Oh, so they aren�t a ravenous horde of killing machines?]

Uhh� How exactly can I explain that being true but also not true�sort of?

[Aha!]

[Look, they might be a ravenous horde of killing machines, but they�re also intelligent and very serious about what I say to them. Perhaps to an unhealthy degree. So don�t worry about getting eaten. They�ll help you, they�ll even protect you. Protect both of us.]

He wiggles a bit, clearly unconvinced.

[If you want to head your own way, I�ll say good luck to you. But that�s where I�m going, to the colony. You make the call.]

It doesn�t take him long to make a decision. The colony is going to have a visitor!

For the next ten minutes, we make our way through curving tunnels, obliterating monsters whenever we come across them and leaving the Biomass on the ground. It hurts to leave food behind, but what can we do? The Dungeon will feast on the remains of my hard work today.

Well, I say hard work, but battling with Invidia on my side is a whole different story. The shields, the illusions, the damaging spells thrown out at the perfect timing. It�s almost rude. He�s just so damn fast with it. Having poked at his core, I know the little dude�s numbers are insane, and I�ve been on the receiving end of that processing power. I have a very deep appreciation for his strengths. When I get Tiny and Crinis back, the gang will be complete, and nothing in this stratum will be able to stand against us. We�ll mow our way through it like a plague.

Speaking of my pets, where the hell is Tiny? It�s not as if I could set up a rendezvous point with Corun, but he should be in this general area. Trying to hunt down my missing bat-gorilla, I curve our escape path to bring us a little closer to the outpost in which we were imprisoned, just trying to pick up signs of his presence. It�s not like I need to run into him directly, so long as I get close enough, I�ll be able to detect him.

Stuff like this is why I need to advance my pet Skills more! If the range on my Pet Communication Skill was higher, then I�d be able to find him so much easier.

[Tiny! Where the heck are you, you dumb gorilla! Eating. I bet you�re eating!]

That would be like him, stuffing his face whilst I�m trying to track him down. Maybe I can use that to try and find him? Considering he just evolved, he�ll be wanting to fight and eat as much as possible to improve his mutations�also because he�s a glutton�and test his new abilities. What I need to do is try to find sections of Dungeon he might have cleaned out.

Jim and I come to an intersection. We�ve been moving through a wide arterial tunnel which is typical of those I�ve seen so far in the second stratum. The dark, poisonous plant life, the stone coral, and the ambushing shadow creatures who lurk around every corner. When we come to the crossroads where the tunnel branches in three different directions, I consider my options as Jim slithers up behind me.

[What�s wrong?] he says, weary.

[Just thinking of the best path to travel. Not sure exactly which way I want to go.]

[You don�t? I thought you could sense your family or whatever.]

[I can, just trying to pick up another straggler on the way.]

[Really? Are you sure this is the time to be running around on side quests when we need to get our monstrous backsides to safety? You do realise the golgari will be hunting us by now.]

[Of course they are. Don�t worry, we�ll be fine.]

[Maybe you�ll be fine, but they�ll take me easily. I don�t want to go back, Anthony.]

[Alright already, just chill out for a second.]

I turn back to the tunnels and make a quick assessment. The branch to the right definitely seems quieter than the others. If a hungry, giant gorilla had recently run through one of them, it was likely to be that one. Problem is, that way will take us even closer to the outpost than we are now� I�ll have to risk it.

[Alright, this way,] I say to Jim, not bothering to mention the little details�like our proximity to the golgari.

We take off again and he follows behind, but I�m really feeling the pressure now. This is taking time we don�t have, and it�s with immense relief that I start to notice damaged areas on the tunnel floor and walls. Normally, this wouldn�t be much to take notice of, monsters generate damage all the time, but these crater-like indentations are suspiciously fist-shaped.

Quick! We pick up the pace, making great time since we don�t have to fight anything, but unfortunately, it�s taking us in the wrong direction.

�ROOOOOOAAAAR!�

BOOM!

A deep, primal roar echoes off the walls, followed by a resounding crash. This sounds promising!

[Full speed ahead!]

I Dash forward as another bellow shakes the stones. Something big is fighting up ahead, and judging by the sound, it isn�t being too subtle.

[Tiny!] I call through my Pet Communication Skill. [Tiny, is that you?]

[Rrr?] comes a confused reply.

[Nice! Stay put, buddy, I�m coming to find you!]

[Raaaa!] he happily responds.

After another minute of mad running in which Jim lags behind, I come across a gigantic figure munching on what appears to be some sort of spiny urchin-creature.

[Tiny? You got huge!]

He grins down at me with glee and slaps his chest proudly. It�s true, he�s grown a lot in his last evolution, and his size isn�t the only difference. His colour has changed. His fur had been turning increasingly white over his past evolutions as he turned into a kind of super-silverback, but now his hair has turned pure black, barring lightning bolt shaped streaks that run down his shoulders and back. His arms and shoulders are even thicker than before, and unless I�m mistaken, wings are poking out from behind his shoulders.

[Tiny, can you FLY?]

[HAARRRR!] he roars, standing up and flexing in a display of strength.

He does have wings! It�s just� he isn�t likely to be flying on them any time soon. When they unfold, they stretch to an impressive ten metres across, but compared to his sheer bulk, I doubt he could even glide with them. Maybe after another evolution, they�ll be fully grown and he can use them properly. For now, he seems incredibly impressed with himself and his new wings.

[Lookin� good, buddy. Great to see you out in the Dungeon again.]

[Hrrrrn,] he hums in agreement.

[Alright, we need to get going and get going fast. Are you ready to make a run for it?]

He nods and starts to lumber up, just as a tired and wheezing worm wriggles into view. Jim curls back, no doubt due to the vibrations of Tiny�s heavy steps.

[What� the heck� is that?]

[This is my pet, Tiny.]

I turn to the ape.

[This is Jim, he�s a friend and he�s coming with us. Oh, we also have a new team member! Tiny, meet Invidia, he�s fully grown now! Invidia, meet Tiny. He�s like your elder brother, I suppose.]

The little eyeball narrows as he looks up at the gigantic, five-metre-tall ape.

[I will be large one day. Larger than you!]

[Hrrn?] Tiny cocks his head to one side.

[Invidia, you should remember that you�re actually a heck of a lot larger than you look. Like, ninety percent of you is stuffed into your dimensional thingy.]

[Ah, yessss.]

The eyeball is now looking smug and turns away from Tiny on his spindly little arms and flutters back to my side.

[Alright, let�s get the heck out of here, we don�t have time to waste.]

With introductions made, we flee back in the direction we came, moving away from the goglari who are no doubt hot on our heels.

We�re making good time, with the hulking form of Tiny stomping along behind us. It�s nice to have the big guy�s powerful presence with the group once more. Sometimes, a problem just needs to be hit really hard, and while Tiny might have his faults, that is certainly something he brings to the table. In spades.

In terms of speed, he still can�t keep up with me, but at least he�s faster than before. What�s surprising is that he uses his wings when he gets the space. They flare out from his back and stretch much wider than I�d thought was possible before they push down with tremendous force, giving the giant ape a bit of lift, leading to a burst of speed. It�s quite impressive. Beyond these narrower tunnels, that will be a great boon to his repertoire.

[So, what happened to Corun?]

[Harrr?]

[Wasn�t he supposed to be with you?]

My understanding was that Corun would take Tiny out hunting in the tunnels. It�s not as if he could just let Tiny loose in the Dungeon without supervising him.

[Arrr. Bek.]

[He went back?]

[Hnn.]

Strange�

[Did he say why?]

Shake of the head. Huh. Perhaps he got a message from Granin letting him know I�d be making my great escape? Or maybe he�d just known all along? I suppose it doesn�t matter now. What happened before isn�t especially relevant. Better to focus on getting ahead of the golgari and getting back to the embrace of the family. I�m coming, colony! Just wait for me!

I can still feel them out there, pouring energy into me through the Vestibule, providing the fuel to push me farther. There are so many ants in range, I�m still not tired, despite all the running I�ve had to do. Looking at Jim, he�s struggling. He just isn�t made for long-distance travel.

[You alright there, Jim?]

[�Fine� I think� how much further?]

[Not long. Another ten minutes, I think!]

[Oh boy�]

[Come on, you overfed worm! You�ve had it too soft for too long. Time to toughen up!]

He doesn�t bother to reply, focusing on wriggling a little faster as he slithers forward. It doesn�t take long to make it back to the junction, and we branch away from the outpost toward the ever-increasing signal from the colony members nearby.

Our progress slows as we have to deal with monsters who�ve taken up residence in the tunnel, but it doesn�t have much of an impact. With Tiny along, we burn through these lower tier creatures with ease, smashing them aside and moving on without breaking a sweat. The only hold up is when I have to convince Tiny not to stop and eat.

[Let�s go!]

[Harrr!] He communicates his confusion and outrage at the mere suggestion we leave food behind with just a grunt.

[We�re being chased by the golgari! You know, those stone-people! Do you want to be caught again? I sure don�t!]

[Hrraaaa�] he sighs dejectedly, and grabs a quick chunk of Biomass to stuff into his mouth as he runs.

[Good enough!]

Even though we move as quickly as we can, I can�t shake off a growing fear that we�re going to get caught. In my opinion, the perfect result would be to escape back to the colony without seeing another golgari. If they catch up and we have to fight, then there�s a solid chance I�ll have to injure or destroy them, since I sure as heck don�t want them to capture me. If they end up losing warriors in the process of tracking me down, that�s likely to light a fire I prefer stayed unlit. The more resources they pour into getting their stony fingers on me, the higher the chance of them running into the colony and then attempting to exterminate it.

Having an entire empire of giant rock-people sending a force to squash my family would be less than ideal. If that happened� geez, I don�t even know what would need to be done. Relocate the colony? Fight back? Go deeper into the Dungeon? Go higher? Who even knows!

Focus, Anthony! Get your head in the game, man! Let�s get my big fat abdomen to safety as fast as possible and then I won�t have to worry about it!

Unfortunately, it doesn�t go that way. After five minutes of desperate running and battling, they finally catch us. The first sign is a tingle in my antennae warning me of impending danger. On reflex, I leap to one side and�

CRASH!

Narrowly dodge a figure that falls from above with the force of a collapsing building.

[Keep running!] I shout to Jim and the pets before I turn to see someone stand amidst the dust and stone.

It�s a golgari Warrior, easy enough to tell from the oversized sword and fancy-looking outer skin. As the light plays over the ore that covers him, it glitters like a rainbow. Is this another moron who chose his skin for aesthetic purposes and not for defence? I whip together a Mind Bridge and gain some advantage.

[Hey there, sparkles. Looking pretty.]

Heh. Nice start. The Warrior doesn�t respond, launching another attack that brings his enormous blade around in a circle before it slashes out toward me, exploding with sword-light that flies off the edge and cuts the stone between us. Warned by my fore-sense, I�m able to dodge and chomp with my mandibles.

SNAP!

He falls back, face settling in fierce concentration.

[No need to rush so much, sparkles. They want me alive, don�t they? Where are your buddies? Everyone knows you Warriors can�t do anything without two friends to watch and clap.]

�AAAAAHHHH!� he roars, winding up his next swing.

Maybe I touched a nerve? His blow is so telegraphed I don�t even need my mutations to dodge. As I leap clear, I make sure to leave a present behind.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

A rain of acid pours down on the Warrior, focusing on his legs. The acid sizzles away at the stone and begins to gum up, hindering his movement. At the same time, I fire off the Mind Magic package my sub-brains have cooked up across the bridge. It�s not the same as the devastating mental attacks the Shapers used against me, but it�s enough to send this Warrior reeling so I can flee.

[Later, sucker!]

Gwehehehehe. I continue to fire acid in a wide spray that not only hits the Warrior but sprays across the ground, sizzling on the rocks behind me. If I�d stayed, I might have been able to defeat that Warrior, but with the golgari, it pays to remember that they work in teams of three. If you find one, the other two surely aren�t far away. They must have spread out to cover more ground, but now that they�ve seen me, this area is sure to be crawling with Warriors and Shapers before long.

Need to cover as much ground as possible before that can happen�time to DASH.

[Haul that monkey-butt, Tiny! We need to move, move, move!] I shout as I zip after my pets.

Invidia has seized hold of the big ape with his stick-thin arms and clings to his black fur. Tiny leaps and bounds forward with all of his strength, making the little demon flap like a flag in a high wind. Lagging behind as always is Jim, and I catch up to him in no time.

[Jim! You need to pick up the pace! The Warriors have caught up to us!]

[How many?] he shrieks.

[Just the one.]

[Did you� finish it?] he asks, desperately.

[No time. Doesn�t matter anyway, there�ll be more in the area, which is why we need to move.]

[I�m trying, damn you� I�m not� built for this!]

His thoughts come with gaps as if he doesn�t have the energy to think coherently anymore. The stress of the situation is having a distinct effect on him as well. I�ll try to reassure him.

[Don�t worry, Jim. Just a few more minutes and we�ll make it to the colony. I can sense them, hundreds, maybe thousands. Just keep pushing, and we�ll get there. I won�t leave you behind. If the golgari catch up, I�ll hold them off with my pets, alright?]

[O-Okay�]

[Good worm. Keep at it!]

Contrary to my slithery associate, I�m bursting with energy. The more we flee, the more the Vestibule pays off, replenishing my energy and soothing my aches.

Running is becoming a nervous thing, though, with my antennae focusing more behind me than in front of me. Thanks to my particular brand of compound vision, it�s not a big deal to focus in all directions. It won�t take long for the Warrior I left behind to catch up. That mental barrage is something he can probably shake off in a few seconds at most, and I don�t expect the acid to be much of a hindrance. It does affect stone, but not nearly as well as it does biological matter. The amount I hit him with won�t do much damage, but it�s still a win to slow him down by any degree.

I keep the mental construct suspended in my mind in case I need a bit more of that brand of magic. It�s plenty useful for distracting and disrupting enemies without applying anything too lethal. If I�m forced to, I�ll abandon it for a more direct form of persuasive magic. Fire, maybe.

In front of us, a pack of shadow creepers poke their heads up before hissing in our direction as we rumble toward them.

[Leave them!] I shout. [I don�t care if they attack us. More chaos is better, and we can�t afford the time!]

All I get is a grunt from Tiny as we sprint past the pack who, thankfully, leave us alone. If they get tangled up with the Warriors, then I�ll be a happy little insect. Although, based on my knowledge of the monsters, they�ll probably let them through and try and tangle with all of us once things get messy. I hate those things!

A flicker of something catches my eyes and a ripple of feeling twitches in my antennae, and I throw my body to one side.

BOOM!

Where the heck are these guys coming from? I can�t even sense them until they�re almost on top of me!

[Keep running!] I holler and follow my advice, regaining my feet and Dashing, my legs a blur as they move faster than my eyes can track.

Go-go-go-go-go�WHOA!

BOOM!

Another one!

I right myself and Dash off once again just as a blade of light erupts from the shadows on my right, cutting off my path of escape. Don�t underestimate me, you punks! Do you think I�m going back to dance for your amusement? Don�t make me laugh! I throw myself directly into the line of the blade and allow it to strike my side as I pick up speed, angling myself to protect my legs.

OOF!

The strike shatters against my carapace, leaving a shallow slice, and the sheer force is enough to make me stumble, which isn�t enough for the Triad to catch up as I spin my legs and rush away.

They�re going to have to do better than that if they want to get through my diamond carapace! You want to try and cut it with a sword? Pure madness. That�s precisely the kind of attack it�s specifically designed to ward off! Muahahaha!

I like to think of my carapace as medieval armour. When a soldier or knight was properly kitted with padded wool, leather, and chainmail, it was pretty much impossible to hurt them with a sword slash, which was the entire point. To deal damage, you needed to use either massive blunt force, like a Warhammer, or massive concentrated force,like a heavy axe.

That�s precisely how my diamond carapace works, whilst also being way shinier. I�m incredibly resistant to cutting, and thanks to my inner-plating, I�m pretty damn hard to crack with blunt force. The last way to try and get through is with a powerful stabbing attack, which is something I�ll need to address at some point in my evolution.

If these guys want to fling more sword-light my way, I�m more than happy to take them. Just don�t cut off my legs, I need those.

Dash! Need to get more distance. I�m frantic for every last metre of space I can get. Each step brings me that little bit closer to safety and a little farther from not being in control of my destiny. I won�t have it again! I refuse! Damn stone-heads, just get out of my way already! Their stubborn refusal to let me go is driving my anger toward them to rise. To the point I don�t even mind if they reach the colony alongside me. That will just mean none of them will return to their stupid city!

Arrrgh! No! Bad Anthony!

I throw on the brakes and screech to a halt as I call out to my pets.

[Tiny, Invidia! With me! Let�s try and put these three down quickly! Non-lethal if we can manage it!]

[Yessss.]

[HARRRR!]

I�m not sure if Invidia is especially delighted or is just saying yes, but Tiny is clearly pleased to get a chance to punch some stone-people in the face. I just can�t let them find out about the colony. I�ve brought disaster down on their heads already, and I refuse to allow it to happen again. I�ll knock down these three and then flee to safety.

[Keep going in that direction, Jim!] I yell. [It won�t be long until you find them! Tell them I sent you and you�ll be fine!]

[�Alright� then�] he wheezes.

Hopefully, he still has the energy to whip up a Mind Bridge, the poor worm. I don�t want him to get eaten because I ran him ragged trying to find Tiny� He slithers off as my pets and I go face-to-face against the three suddenly wary golgari Warriors. The tunnel isn�t wide enough for much manoeuvring, especially with Tiny in here. There�s little choice for them but to come right at us if they want to.

But� they don�t. When we stop, ready to fight, the golgari simply stop, weapons at the ready.

What are they doing? Aren�t they trying to fight us? Or are they just�

BOOM!

Waiting for reinforcements� Dammit.

Of course they don�t want to fight, why would they want to fight? All they have to do is keep us here until more of their stupid Triads show up. If I was them, I wouldn�t fight me either! Argh! What the heck am I going to do now? My mind spins as another Triad of Warriors straightens up behind us, trying to box us in. Two Triads are here now, and I don�t doubt there are more, including Shaper Triads, on their way. I�m guessing if we fight these guys, they�ll just retreat and delay, keeping their eyes on us until enough show up that they can put us down.

I can�t afford to wait! I need to force the action to happen right now!

Gravity Mana floods my mandibles and they begin to glow an ominous purple. I turn to face the Warriors behind us, blocking us off from the passage Jim has retreated through. They brandish their weapons and ready themselves for battle, but they won�t be prepared for what comes next!

YOINK!

I pull the golgari positioned in the centre, and he falls toward me in a rush. Mandibles open wide, I prepare to �welcome� this guest to the battle, but am interrupted when the other two members of the Triad rush in to aid their ally, throwing themselves bodily at him, weighing him down.

Interesting. Perhaps they were told a few things by the Shapers before they came out? If so, they work quick. Even if they didn�t fall into my mandibles, I�ve still created an opportunity. The golgari in front are lying tangled in a heap, unable to protect themselves.

[Tiny! Keep those guys off our backs whilst I deal with these punks up here. Invidia, help me get these three out of action, but no fatalities.]

[Master, are you sssssure?]

[We don�t need to give them extra motivation to hunt us down. I want them unable to fight, but still living. That means explody magic is on the shelf.]

[�Understood.]

He does love a good explosion. Orders transmitted at the speed of thought, we pounce toward the golgari, who are leaping to their feet, but not quickly enough. My mandibles open wide, and I snap them shut without activating any Skills. Somehow, my target twists away and I follow as Inivida launches a blizzard of mental strikes. Easily spinning together three separate Mind Bridges, he packs each of them with dense blocks of Mind Mana and pummels the Warriors with them while he conjures illusions of monsters attacking from the shadows.

Under that sort of barrage, the three have little hope of organising a fighting retreat as I close in. Sorry about this, stone-people, but I can�t have you finding the colony.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

And just like that, three proud Warriors have been shortened. Their tough exteriors cause a bit of trouble, what with the stone skin and all, but ultimately, they fall prey to my mandibles. They shouldn�t be following us around any time soon.

[Heal them,] I command Invidia, [just not too much. I don�t want them to die, but I don�t want them to spring up and start dancing, either.]

The eyeball stares at me for a second.

[Isss that likely?]

[The dancing? No!]

Invidia throws his little arms up in the air and deftly weaves his magic as roars and crashes resound behind me. Tiny appears to be enjoying himself as blades of light slash at his body, and he responds with blasts of lightning and stone-shattering punches. He�s holding on well for now, this might be a good chance to disappear.

[Keep holding them off, Tiny! I�ll try and vanish and then we�ll get you and Invidia out!]

�ROOAAR!� he bellows, throwing another haymaker.

I think that means he�s got the plan. Maybe.

[Invidia, back him up, make sure he doesn�t annihilate anyone.]

Time for me to split! I�ll get myself out of here, make sure Jim is safe, then extract my pets without drawing down further heat! It�s perfect! Things could not be going better!

FWOOSH!

BOOM!

A massive fireball explodes right in front of my face, searing my antennae with heat and causing me to scuttle backward. Yeeouch! What the heck was that? I let my guard down for one second and now I�m getting bombarded with spells?

[More of them, Massster!] Invidia hisses.

Then he does a neat trick which I need to get the hang of myself, he uses our Mind Bridge to send a snippet of information, much the same way I use it against enemies to distract and deceive. Instead of working against me, however, he sends an image of what he can see, another Triad rushing down the tunnel, flinging spells at Tiny. Dammit! Those idiot Shapers have arrived! This makes things much more difficult�

My senses tingle as I detect the early signs of more magic being thrown our way.

[Snuff it out, Invidia!]

Charged balls of fire streak through the air, endangering the wounded golgari just as much as us. These idiots don�t even know they�re here! Working together, Invidia and I reach out our minds and seize hold of their magics, ripping them apart at the seams until they fail, falling to pieces and fizzling out in the air. How the heck am I supposed to escape into obscurity now? If I leave Tiny and Invidia to fight these guys on their own, there�s no way they�ll be able to hold them off, especially if they aren�t allowed to utilise lethal tactics.

This situation is rapidly turning against me, and I�m not hopeful I�ll be able to get out of here with a happy ending. It might be time to start getting rough with these dang golgari, I�m tired of messing around.

Gah! This is just getting worse and worse. I refuse to get pulled down by these damn golgari again. I can almost feel the stony morons closing in from every direction. The tunnels must be loaded with these hunting Triads, Warriors and Shapers alike. If they sent out four Triads to hunt me the first time, how many are they willing to send out now?

I�m dangerously close to not caring if they make it back to their city alive. Any outcome is better than them learning of the colony�s existence. Even more concerning, I can feel my siblings converging on this place. A thousand tiny points of light fluttering in my Vestibule, each creeping closer with resolute will. Stay away, you morons! You need to protect the family!

[Tiny! Let them have it!]

�RUAAAAAAAHHHH!�

Freed from his shackles, the giant ape freezes for a second before unleashing a shattering roar of pure savagery. His dark fur crackles to life and ribbons of electricity spark across his body, coiling and twisting around his arms like jagged snakes.

[Invidia! Back him up!]

My little Envy Demon�s eye narrows to a slit as he floats closer to the conflict, quite unimpressed at being tasked with babysitting his older brother. Tiny is certainly not prepared to wait for him, though, positively drooling at the prospect of cutting loose on these stubborn foes. The Triad of Warriors facing him sense the change in the air and brace their weapons, just as the Shapers in the distance send another wave of offensive magic over their heads.

Tiny smashes his fists against his chest and roars. The power of his bellow is enough to shake the rock above our head. His eyes blaze red with fury and the crackling lightning rises to a chittering crescendo. He hunches forward and� vanishes. Only to reappear fifteen metres away, fist poised to strike down on an unsuspecting golgari wielding a massive two-handed hammer.

What the HECK!

A sudden explosion of wind erupts a second later as Tiny�s fist lashes out, wreathed in crackling energy. That fist is twice as large as that Warrior�s head! You really aren�t holding back now, are you, Tiny?

Fortunately for the stone covered fighter, the punch never connects. His own Triad member flashes out a blade of sword-light that crunches into him, sending him crashing metres away, and Tiny�s brick of a fist slashes through the air, an explosion of electricity flaring into existence where his opponent�s head had just been.

Two fireballs arc and home in on the ape before he can reposition, but Invidia is ready. In a mind-bending display of mastery, the air warps as he grasps the ambient Mana with his Will and forges it into a barrier.

BOOM!

The sound is deafening. Dust flies and the walls shake from the force of the impact. Tiny stands unharmed as the smoke clears, fists held at the ready.

I�m still endlessly impressed by the ease with which Invidia is able to manipulate the Mana outside his body. For most mages, this is their bread and butter since, unlike monsters, they don�t have the capacity to draw in and store Mana to nearly the same extent. The ambient Mana, especially in the Dungeon, provides all the fuel they need to power their spells. Unlike most monsters, and much like myself, Invidia has been trained to use Mana the same as a sapient mage would, and his expertise in handling external Mana far exceeds my own. This Skill allows him to utilise Barrier Magic, something I haven�t even scratched the surface of.

[Nice work, Invidia. You�re the best, dammit!]

I can�t help this spurt of jealousy.

The eye gleams with an unknown emotion at my words.

[Your praissse. I will have it!]

Yep. Still creepy.

Even Tiny seems impressed by his new sibling�s ability. Where he�d expected to tank those spells head on, he now stands completely unharmed and raring to go. A devilish grin splits his face, and he launches himself into the fray, fists ablaze with light. He snaps out a sharp one-two combo, sending blasts of energy radiating toward the closest Warrior who�d just saved his ally.

Fist-light? And so fast!

His gorilla boxing has evolved to a new level, I see! All too happy to have someone else covering for him, Tiny launches a continuous, blistering offense against his hapless foes. As always, his fighting style leaves himself completely vulnerable, totally heedless of personal defence. Into this gap, Invidia seamlessly steps� floats? Barriers at clutch moments, illusions of lightning and monsters creeping out of the shadows combine with an endless mental onslaught to disorient the enemy and keep Tiny safe. Not to mention, the moment Tiny does get hurt, a wallop of Healing Magic hits him right in the face.

THIS was the reason I was so intent on securing the services of a monster like Invidia. I�m tough enough to take the hits�I designed myself for that purpose. Crinis is smart enough not to get in over her head� most of the time, anyway. But Tiny can�t. He can�t manually control his evolution, and even if he could, he�d only pack on more muscle and probably a fist on top of his existing fist for double the punching. His unstoppable offensive strength made him a powerful monster, but a vulnerable one. With Invidia here to cover for him, he can at last truly stretch his wings and fight the way he wants to.

Tiny has finally been unshackled!

The combination of the two monsters is so dominant that, even when the Shaper Triad closes the distance and joins the fight proper, they aren�t able to turn the tides. Bit by bit, my pets batter down the Warriors and fend off the Shapers, the golgari unable to suppress their rampage.

It�s enough to bring a tear to the eye of any proud ant, if one were able to cry. Unfortunately, I don�t have the time to do that, since another two Triads have looped around behind us. Don�t you guys have something better to do? Like, anything at all? Why all this fuss for an escaped ant and a useless worm?

As Tiny and Invidia hold down the fort on the other side, I posture aggressively to ward off these six. They�re hesitant to engage, perhaps happy to wait for an even greater numerical advantage?

Actually� I think I recognise that sparkly fellow� He looks more eager than the rest and possibly more stupid� I whip together a Mind Bridge and try connecting to him on a hunch.

[Balta? Is that you? Did you miss dragging me around so much you wanted a second crack at it?]

As my words meet their target, the individual in question explodes with rage and rips his oversized blade from its sheath.

[Insolent beast! This time, I�m here to rip you limb from limb! You�ll die screaming in agony before I�m done!]

[You really are stupid� I let you go last time and you come back for more? Come on then, stop hiding behind your friends and attack.]

He smirks, not rising to the bait.

[Do you really think I�m that stupid?]

[Yes.]

Ah. Now he�s attacking.

The proud golgari scion charges headfirst toward me, his fancy blade dancing in his hands. This guy really is stupid. Baited so easily, by a monster no less. I suppose I should consider myself lucky he�s diving in so recklessly, considering that�s what I wanted. What I didn�t expect was that the rest of the Triads confronting me would leap into action the moment he stuck his dumb neck out.

Don�t underestimate the power of little rich kids, Anthony! These other golgari are probably all on the payroll! A personal protection force for the �young master� as he goes out to seek retribution for the wrongs done to him. Despicable. If the colony jumps out, he�ll get to see the true meaning of borrowing the power of your family! It�s getting less likely I�m going to get the outcome I want here. Nothing for me to do but knuckle down and win this battle however I can. If I can do that much, the other ants won�t need to get involved.

[I don�t think you want to do this, pebble boy,] I warn as I flex my mandibles. [You couldn�t handle me last time, and I�m a heck of a lot better since then.]

[Taste my blade, you trash!] he roars and slashes at me with blinding speed.

Accurate and sharp, his sword-light flies toward me, cutting a line straight through the rock where it intersects the ground. Impressive, as always. Let�s see how well the �ol carapace holds up against this one? Tucking my legs and rotating my body, I present my abdomen to the blade and let it hit me as I return fire with acid!

POW! POW! POW!

A rapid-fire blast arcs out, causing the charging Warriors to dodge, losing their balance and momentum.

BAM!

The blade slams into me and I rebound through the air a little before landing comfortably on my six legs. The cut has carved a groove into my shiny diamond shell, but nothing to write home about. Even my last opponent in the tournament was able to do more damage than this.

[If I give you a hundred free strikes, you might even be able to wound me,] I mock and pump Mana into my mandibles.

His expression twists with rage, senselessly shouting and unleashing another slash, closing the distance to apply his blade to me directly.

This guy is way too easy to bait. He�s not even bothering to block or sever the Mind Bridge between us. Surely, there�s a reason for that? Or are these Warriors really so fixated on physical Skills that they don�t learn any type of Mana Manipulation at all?

In the time it takes my mandibles to charge, six blades of light are already streaking through the air toward me. The strikes are well-placed, boxing me in so I�ll have to accept the blows no matter which way I dodge. Which is fine. If they want to whittle me down one blow at a time, I�ll outpace their damage with my regeneration. If they�re after wearing me out, they�ll eventually learn it isn�t going to happen with so many colony members here.

I leap to my right and tuck my left legs to accept two blows. The blades cut deeper than junior�s but not by much. Their slashes move slower and may not be as sharp, but they have more oomph behind them. Perhaps a difference in technique, or maybe they�re simply older and have greater Might? Regardless, my defence is holding up strong. Time for a little offense.

The moment I land, another wave of slashes is on its way, but I outmanoeuvre them by turning to the wall and dashing straight up it! My claws dig into the rock, and I fly up the curved wall until I�m upside down, looking down on the bewildered faces of my foes.

I suppose I must look a little odd, hanging upside down at my size. I�m not a mini little ant like I used to be. I�m close to the size the Queen was before she evolved, so basically a minibus. Well, no need to look up here so foolishly, why don�t you Warriors come and join me?

YOINK!

I pick an isolated member of the group and drag them to me with my infused mandibles. With a cry of shock, the chosen Warrior rises from the ground as my mandibles flex in preparation. The others shout warnings and their blades simultaneously erupt in light, sending a barrage of slashes my way.

Dang it. More countermeasures?

Unable to remain in the same place, I dodge, but I�m hampered by the strain being upside down puts on my claws. My Grip Skill just hasn�t come along as fast as it needs to. I can�t shift my weight quickly and it shows as more blows slice into my carapace before I can right myself. Dang it, the ceiling may have been a tactical mistake. Nothing for it now but to try and make the best of it.

Eat fire, suckers!

My sub-brains are always busy. They�ve cooked up a juicy Fire Mana Construct and I bring it to bear in the form of a raging flamethrower that erupts from between my mandibles. Feel the heat of my wrath! As I direct the flames toward my foes, my business district, open all hours, continues to rain a barrage of acid on the golgari.

Watching them scatter beneath me as I cling to the roof is certainly gratifying. Gwehehehehe. Dance for me, you pitiful scum!

BOOM!

GAH!

THUMP!

Oof. More people want to join this dance already? Where the heck are you guys springing from? While I was enjoying myself roasting my opponents, another Triad of Shapers must have arrived and taken umbrage with my activities. Rather mean spirited of them, if you ask me. If I hadn�t reacted fast enough, I might have been slightly cooked myself. As it was, the eruption of fire they sent my way was enough to blast the rock beneath my claws, resulting in a short but painful drop.

Legs flailing in the air, I quickly right myself to see the forces arrayed against me. Holy moly, they really didn�t want to let me go! Not one, but two Triads of Shapers have joined on this front, and more Warriors have appeared from behind, putting pressure on Tiny and Invidia. If any more than this turn up, we�re going to be in serious trouble�

Each of my brains is racing, flushing hot with exertion, and my senses are strained to the limit. Even so, I almost failed to notice the concentration of Mana beneath my feet thickening.

Trying to catch me by surprise? I don�t think so! I throw myself to one side, but I�m too late. My antennae tingle in warning, but before I can move, the ground erupts in a wave of black that blooms outward in a circle around me.

What the!

In a flash, the dark substance snaps onto my carapace and wraps itself around me, binding and blinding me. No, dammit! What the hell is this? Some sort of Shadow Magic?

Wait� CRINIS?

[I�ve found you, Master! This time, I�ll NEVER let you go!]

[DAMMIT, CRINIS! I can�t see!]

[It�s fine!]

[How is it fine?]

[IT JUST IS!]

[No! How the heck can I fight if I can�t see the enemy? What is even happening?]

[I�ll fight for you! You don�t need to do anything!]

[Are you kidding me? There�s no way you can take them all on by yourself!]

[Watch me!]

[I CAN�T!]

I�m currently entombed in a shell of Crinis. Not only is she covering my eyes, she�s covering all of me! How is she even doing this? She sent her entire body through my shadow in a flash! So much faster than she was able to use the Shadows before. This can only mean one thing�

[You�ve evolved!]

[Of course, Master! Did you think I would rest before coming back to your side?]

[Well� no. I didn�t.]

My Vestibule tingles with energy, causing panic to spark inside me.

[Wait, Crinis! What�s the colony doing?]

[Oh, they�re coming! They�ll be here any minute.]

Through the liquid shadow flesh of Crinis� body, I can sense the ongoing battle. Thuds and impacts ripple through her form as she takes damage that had been directed at me.

[Why are they coming? They need to stay hidden!]

[Once they got this close, they didn�t seem to want to stop. I think they�re almost here.]

[Dammit, Crinis! At least let me see what�s happening�that�s an order!]

Reluctantly, the flesh parts, letting the light in and blinding me momentarily after the pitch-black that Crinis inflicted on me.

She appears to have gone through a few changes whilst I was gone. A writhing mass of flesh and tentacles rises from my back like a pillar, three separate mouths gaping and gnashing at the air as she sends her limbs twisting toward the golgari. For their part, the Warriors and Shapers are firing a literal barrage of strikes her way, the savage light from their weapons cutting into her flesh dozens of times.

[Crinis! Are you alright?]

[I�m fine! Don�t worry about me, Master. I�m here to keep you safe.]

[You need to get off me, Crinis. We need to end this fight before the colony arrives!]

The wall to my right crumbles and a huge pair of mandibles break through the stone.

�LEEEEEEROOOOOOY!�

The scent is so loud, it reaches my antennae despite being almost totally covered by Crinis, the war cry of the dumbest ant in the history of the species fills the tunnel as a HUGE soldier bursts through the wall and dives headfirst into combat. The golgari are dumbfounded for the smallest of windows before they move to respond.

That�s Leeroy? She�s big! Some of the colony members must have hit tier four. What an exciting development! No, wait�

�What the heck are you doing?� I scream, but since my pheromone gland is covered, they don�t smell a thing I�m saying.

[Get off, Crinis! I need to fix this! NOW!] I bark at her.

It�s already too late. Maybe it was too late the moment I was captured. Once Leeroy makes her entrance, a dozen similar holes open up from all angles of the tunnel, and hundreds of ants swarm out.

The golgari are overwhelmed in seconds, buried under an avalanche of insects. Only a few have the intelligence to flee the second an ant is seen, the rest fall victim to the relentless crush of the colony. Before I can count to ten, the tunnel is awash with ants crawling over every surface and all signs of conflict are done with.

Dammit�

�The eldest has been secured!�

�West tunnel, clear!�

�East tunnel, clear!�

�Move, move, move! Don�t stop those claws! Scouts every hundred metres for a kilometre in all tunnel branches!�

�Prepare to close the emergency tunnels! Earth mages, at the ready!�

�Has the council been notified?�

�They�re on the way!�

Why the hell are they coming here? As the tidal wave of pheromone conversations wash over my antennae, finally freed from Crinis� death grip, the welcome buzz of my family wraps around me once more. The Vestibule is completely alive now, whispering to me the needs and desires of every ant within range. It�s overwhelming at first, but when I hear the council members are coming this way, I lever myself to my feet.

Crinis has pulled back a little after I yelled at her, but she�s still clinging to my abdomen, stuck to me like putty from a hell dimension.

[Tiny, Crinis, Invidia. We need to get moving.]

[Yes, Master!]

[Harrrr.]

[Yesssss.]

They gather around me as I begin to march through the tunnel.

�Anyone tell me where my friend Jim went?� I ask the ants nearby.

�The worm? You should find him a few hundred metres down the tunnel. Take a left at the branch,� a scout replies.

�Thanks.�

At least I think that was a scout. Judging by the long antennae and sleek carapace design, it would be weird if they were a soldier. As time passes and I move farther away from the site of the battle, the number of ants congregating actually increases. More and more of them are flooding out of the nearby tunnels and climbing out of small emergency tunnels they�ve dug every second until I feel as if I�m inside the nest, rather than some tunnel goodness knows how far away.

Naturally, every ant is busy. Hustling here and there, securing their own patch of territory, covering their own personal angle, all to ensure I return to the colony safely. It�s enough to bring a lump to the throat. They sacrifice so much for me. I have to stop letting them down, or what would be the point of me? The oldest and strongest member of the colony can�t keep dragging it down like this!

I�m the Paragon, dang it!

[Master, who is this� creature?] Crinis breaks into my thoughts.

Oh, right! I didn�t make introductions.

[Crinis, this is the final member of our group, Invidia. He�s an Envy Demon from the third stratum. He�ll be in charge of support magic and eye lasers. Invidia, this is your older sister, Crinis. She�s in charge of being terrifying and tentacles.]

The little eyeball with wings looks up at the now massive Crinis who performs a truly horrifying manoeuvre. Her mouths, which had been facing forward, invert through her body and appear on the other side, opening wide to display her razor-sharp fangs. A single tentacle extends from the gelatinous blob of flesh her main body has become, and Invidia reaches out a stick-thin arm to shake it.

[Welcome, Invidia. Let�s protect the Master together.]

[It sssssshall be sssooo.]

Introductions complete, they return to their normal positions, Crinis clinging to my back and Invidia floating along behind me as Tiny brings up the rear. I notice Crinis is still yet to detach herself from me since she arrived.

[You didn�t really mean it when you said you�d never let me go, did you, Crinis?]

I swear I feel her shadow flesh tremble.

[Come on, Crinis! Was it really that bad?]

[Yes.]

[�Really?]

[Yes.]

[�Alright then.]

There�s an argument lost. Well, she did a great job getting the colony and coming back to find me. If it keeps her happy, then I can�t complain.

[You did well, Crinis. I might not have escaped if not for you. You saved me.]

Aaand she�s out.

When I finally come across Jim, he�s shivering up against the wall of the tunnel as dozens of ants keep watch on him, some literally on top of him.

[Jim! You made it out alright, I see!]

[Anthony! Thank the�WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?]

[You mean Crinis? She�s my pet.]

[THAT is your pet? SHE SMELLS LIKE MADNESS AND DEATH!]

[For sure, she�s great. Anyway, why are you shaking like a leaf in a storm? Something wrong?]

[Every cell in my body is screaming at me to escape from these ants. I swear they�re tasting me in their minds. They look hungry, Anthony!]

[You can�t tell if an ant is hungry by looking at them, Jim. And how would you even know? Blind worm and all that.]

[I can sense it.]

[No, you can�t! Besides, what would be the point? We ants are always hungry.]

[Nooooo. Don�t eat me, Anthony! I have a family! My poor worm-children!]

[You aren�t going to be eaten, Jim!] I scoff. [If the colony was going to eat you, you�d be eaten already! Just relax for a second.]

[It�s hard to relax when literal predators are climbing on you!]

He has a good point. When it comes to insects and small organisms, ants are just about kings of the hill. Worms are one of the near infinite number of things that ants will prey upon as they seek out the protein they need to raise the ravenous brood.

[Just appreciate your achievement. You�re free! You made it out! If you want to, you can slither into the wall and vanish back to the Dungeon!]

[I�m too exhausted to take it in. I think I need to rest before I can enjoy it. Besides, I can�t feel at ease knowing what Sarah is going through. If she doesn�t fight, then isn�t she just going to get eaten? It�s not right�]

He�s not wrong. He said before we left that he wanted to go back and rescue his friend. Now that the colony has exposed itself, there isn�t much reason not to go back and try to bust her out. If it�s going to happen, though, it�ll need to happen soon. The golgari will get word of an active ant colony soon and will start to mobilise their no doubt considerable resources against us. We need to get in, hit the outpost, and get out before that can happen. If we pull the colony all the way back to Liria, perhaps there�s a chance they never find us.

[I�ll let you rest here, then. I�m going to go talk to the leadership and see what we can do about getting Sarah out.]

[Leadership? What do you mean? What�s going on with these ants, Anthony?]

[It�s� a little hard to explain. Let�s just say, I made ants as smart as people?]

[You did WHAT?] the worm explodes.

Now I�m getting defensive.

[Hey! I just wanted to help out my family, you know?]

[So you made giant monstrous ants with the intelligence of humans? Do you have any idea what you�ve done?]

[�Made a super cool colony of ants?]

[Oh my god� I-I can�t take it anymore. I�m going to sleep.]

Having said so, the giant worm goes totally limp and flops on the ground under the watchful eye of his ant protectors. What�s his deal anyway? I don�t see how smart ants are any worse than smart apes or smart rock-skinned people. In fact, aren�t they better? I mean, I�ll take my current family over my old one in a heartbeat.

No time to worry about that now. I need to find whichever members of the council were foolish enough to come all the way out here. Wherever �here� is. Time to plan a quick smash-n-grab and then we�re marching home!

I find the usual suspects gathered nearby, waiting for me to turn up for a chat. They dug out a convenient meeting chamber for us to use so we don�t block off the tunnel, which still has a ton of traffic moving through it as ants go about their work.

�Eldest, it�s wonderful to see you again!� This from Burke.

�It�s pleasing to see that this operation was a success.� Sloan tips her antennae at me.

�You must have gone through a lot, eldest! You didn�t happen to pick up any new magical secrets, did you?� Propellant eagerly asks.

�I�ve learned a lot. About a heap of things, which I�m happy to share later on.�

Phew. It�s all a bit overwhelming. The situation has changed so quickly, I need a moment to adjust. The Vestibule continues to pump me full of energy and keep me fresh, but the emotional fatigue is something it can�t help me with.

�It�s great to be back with you all. Thanks for coming for me.�

�Of course we came to get you! Through great danger and GLORIOUS battle, we have made our way to sacrifice ourselves to secure your freedom!�

�Shut up, Leeroy.�

�Yes, eldest.�

�Haaah. Where even are we? How far from the nest have we come?�

�I can field that,� Burke chips in. �We�re approximately a hundred and thirty-two kilometres in a straight line across the surface from the nest. In terms of movement through the tunnels, we could probably triple that number.�

�HOLY MOLY.�

That�s a heck of a long way.

�How did you guys even find me?�

This was an impossible mission. Three hundred kilometres of tunnel? In a matter of weeks! What the heck have they had to do in order to cover that sort of ground?

�It�s not as bad as you think,� Propellant chuckles. �The colony has kicked quite a few things into overdrive since you last were in the nest. We�re covering quite a lot of Dungeon territory every day. We need to in order to keep the graduates and larvae fed and growing.�

�I suppose the two new Queens are running at capacity now?� Victoriant and Antionette will be pleased to finally be performing their role. It�s something they�ve wanted for a long time.

Leeroy twitches.

�TWO Queens? What do you mean, eldest�there�s like� six?�

SIX!

�It�s true,� Burke shrugs her antennae. �It�s been a little while since I was last home. But the Tenders were setting up a second nest for the Queen in the second layer, and a new group of less mature Queens were being raised in the original nest.�

Somehow, when she says the Queen, it�s still obvious who it is she�s talking about. I guess we have more than one nest now? And a nest in the second stratum? That�s impressive as hell!

�That�s incredible. I�m so grateful you�ve been able to do all this,� I say.

�What do you mean? We�re just working.�

Ha� Just doing their jobs, what else would they be doing? Thankfully, they consider running hundreds of kilometres to drag their troublesome elder out of trouble part of their work.

�Things are going to get dangerous here soon. An empire of people called the golgari live in this area. We�re currently on the outskirts of their territory.�

�We�ve seen the signs, even observed them a few times. They look tough,� Burke says.

�They can be very strong,� I agree. �Once word gets out that we�re here, they�ll put together some serious firepower to hunt us down and eradicate the colony. I�d rather we didn�t fight them and just retreated.�

�Sensible,� Burke agrees.

�UNACCEPTABLE!� Leeroy shouts.

�Before we do that, though, I have something I want to get done��

�How was I supposed to know he was going to escape?� Granin said. �You think he was likely to admit such a thing right before he attempted it?�

�I�ve had reports that much of the mental communication between yourself and the ant was shielded from prying. Why would that be?� Gravus rumbled, uncharacteristically keeping his temper in check.

Granin�s eyes widened.

�Because, as my charge, and as a reincarnated individual, Anthony had those rights within the Cult. I swear by the Worm, you boneheads don�t even remember what he is!�

�He was a monster under the control of the Cult,� Gravus growled.

�He was an individual under the care of the Cult,� Granin ground out.

The two old Shapers glared at each other, openly indulging in their mutual dislike. Granin�s knuckles itched with the desire to punch this sorry sack of a stone right in the face again, just to prove a point, but he restrained himself. He was being interrogated and didn�t particularly want to drag the rest of his Triad down with him.

�And I suppose the frequent meetings with the other reincarnated individuals under our care, leading to the escape of one of them, had nothing to do with your machinations?�

�Machinations?� Granin snorted. �The only plotting that�s been going on is in the vast space between your ears. It�s natural for them to want to communicate with each other, given their shared history. Each of those meetings was approved, by your Triad, and, just maybe, James was eager to escape because he feared being forced into combat to the death. You know, like you did to Anthony, and then to Sarah.�

Gravus puffed up with indignation.

�You know very well that the specimen known as Sarah volunteered for the role. She has relied on the Shapers for many years, it�s little surprise she wants to give back.�

Silence hung in the air as Granin coolly stared his adversary down. It was hard to believe the old blowhard would be able to spit those lines with a straight face. If it were Granin, he expected the shame would be enough to melt him down to slag.

�There�s a few rumours going around the outpost,� Granin said. �Ugly rumours. People are talking about Sarah, about how scared she was of returning to the Dungeon. There�s even speculation��

He leaned forward conspiratorially.

��that some disgusting piece of trash, threatened to send her to the third stratum and leave her there if she didn�t agree to participate in the Dungeon and murder one of her own kind.�

�Terrible,� Gravus said through gritted teeth.

�Shocking,� Granin forced through his own rictus grin. �It�s this kind of disgusting conduct that gives Shapers across the empire a bad name.�

They returned to their silent, hate-filled staring contest.

Behind them, Torrina and Corun rolled their eyes. He couldn�t help himself, this leader of theirs. If he wasn�t so busy sticking his nose into messes and stirring the pot, he�d have been inducted to the leadership decades ago. But, if he was able to practise that kind of restraint, he wouldn�t be Granin, and they wouldn�t respect him nearly so much.

Behind Gravus, his own Triad members were equally frustrated, though they showed greater discipline, revealing nothing on their faces. It had been a long, tiring night for them as they tried to organise the pursuit of the escapees and handle the increasingly shrill demands of the city, and of the Warriors network who supported them.

When word came back a few hours ago that the majority of the Triads sent out had been destroyed by an overwhelming force of ants, the entire city had exploded. A few things began to happen at once. Officials scrambled to put together a suppression force. Warriors rushed to insert themselves into that force in order to reap glory and rewards. Shapers fled to get out of that force in order to avoid having their study routines disturbed, not to mention all that nasty danger that would be involved.

But the fiercest and most determined competition was surely the intense round of blame shifting that occurred amongst the leadership Circles all over the city.

Warriors and Shapers were dead. An ant colony was on the city�s doorstep, and nobody knew about it. The citizens were in an uproar. Every Circle in the city from the Merchants to the Crafters were up in arms. The Noble Circle had, to this point, been mercifully silent, but for how long, nobody could guess. Yet another reason to find someone to point the finger at when things got grim.

Naturally, the leading Triad in the outpost had come to the most logical conclusion in regard to their own scapegoat. Granin and his Triad had been working closely with the specimen in question and had agitated the situation on its behalf most aggressively. It was very plausible they knew the extent of its plans.

Plamine leaned forward, her elbows on her desk and her hands laced beneath her chin.

�It�s going to be difficult to convince the city you had no knowledge of what was going to take place, Granin,� she said, managing to sound regretful. �If or when they come here asking questions, we are going to need to have some answers. What should we tell them?�

�Through your own idiotic policies, you pressed intelligent and dangerous creatures against a wall, forcing them to make desperate choices that have endangered us all?�

�I don�t think we�ll be saying that,� Plamine smiled.

�Yes, certainly. Why start being honest now?� Granin grunted.

Cryslas stepped forward and inserted herself into the dialogue.

�If you don�t want to be detained, then you are going to have to give us a compelling reason. Is there anything you can say in your own defence?�

Corun yawned widely and Torrina stifled a chuckle. Their antics drew glares from the leading Triad, but they couldn�t bring themselves to care. Not to say that the threat to their own freedom and safety wasn�t real, it absolutely was, but these individuals no longer held any awe or fear for them. They now saw them as Granin did, foolish and desperate golgari who�d made a mess and refused to clean it up.

Granin, too, was tired of playing games.

�Detained? That�s a big word to be throwing around so casually��

�Casually?� Cryslas snapped. �Do you think anything about the current situation calls for such a relaxed attitude from you? Shapers have died.�

�Yes, they have,� Granin muttered, and his eyes burned with rage, aimed at the idiots who�d caused this mess. �Let�s make something very clear. If you try to have me and my Triad detained, we are going to have a little civil war right here in this outpost.�

�What are you talking about?� Gravus spat.

�You can only be so incompetent for so long, before people start looking to kick you down a peg. You three have been so transparent with your manipulations, so brutish with your methods, that even the die-hard idiots are finding it hard to justify supporting you. I have the numbers to remove you from office right now if I wanted to.�

�You�re bluffing,� Plamine said.

�It�ll take you an hour to confirm I�m right. So why don�t you scurry off and do that. Once that�s done, you can let me and my Triad members leave this outpost while you get busy trying to pin your mess on someone else.�

Granin remained calm to the end, though his immense disdain was plain to see. He still had no idea how such fools had reached such a high post within the Cult. They�d had standards once upon a time. What happened?

Cryslas, Gravus, and Plamine shot each other a worried look. If what the crusty old fool said was true�

�We�ll have a brief recess before we reconvene this meeting,� Plamine declared, and the three of them marched out together.

The silence in the room stretched on for a few minutes before anyone spoke.

�We going to get the heck out of town, Granin?� Corun asked.

�Absolutely. I have no idea what Anthony has planned, but I have no intention of being here to see it.�

Sarah was afraid. Although, just saying that didn�t mean much. She may as well have said �Sarah was breathing,� because she was always afraid. Always. She�d been afraid for so long, she no longer remembered what first caused her to fear. She no longer remembered what it was she feared the most.

Her life, her first life, was mostly a haze of half-remembered pictures and blurred faces, but somehow, she could still remember the fear.

It had been cold, and hard. It stabbed deep into her heart when she was young and never left. Carved out a space inside and made itself at home. She�d died afraid and been reborn afraid, the Dungeon was just yet another thing for her to fear. This terror was more visceral, hot and red, and she�d nearly gone mad with it. She could remember days when she�d barely had a human thought, lost in the snarling, biting, tearing rampage that sparked when she was pushed to the edge by the things that haunted her new life.

It was strange that she�d been reborn as a bear. They were strong creatures, deadly, powerful, capable. All things that were so far from her own existence, she couldn�t imagine applying those terms to herself.

On the verge of breaking down, tilting on the last crumbling precipice of her sanity, she�d thrown herself at the mercy of the Shapers, and they�d taken her in and healed her. Fed her, talked to her, and with tender care, pieced her near-shattered mind back together. It had taken years before she could talk to them in sentences. More years before she would stop waking up roaring and snarling as she bashed down walls. She didn�t trust the Shapers on a whim, they earned that trust over decades.

Which meant it hurt even more when they�d changed. James had seen it long before she had. He was wary of the new faces, the rule changes and shifting atmosphere. He�d tried to warn her, but she�d been too scared to listen. She�d been safe here. The ever-bubbling cauldron of fright within her reduced to a simmer.

Sometimes, she was even able to pretend she wasn�t afraid at all.

That had all changed when Anthony arrived. Just an ant, but he�d been everything that she wasn�t. So sure, so confident. When she looked into those bizarre, fractured bug eyes of his, she�d not sensed the slightest fear in him. The Dungeon held so little of that sharp cold for him, it was crazy.

Sarah had begun to wonder what it was that made him so different to herself. She was stronger than he was, she thought. Probably by a lot. So, why? Why did he thrive where she didn�t? What did he have that she lacked?

She didn�t have an answer, not even now.

The gate rattled before her eyes as it raised, and she stepped into the combat arena, her head hanging low and listless. She didn�t want to be here. The sand shifted and slid beneath her paws, the glaring eyes of the Shapers seemed to burn into her fur and the charged energy in the air pressed down on her. A whine built in her throat, she couldn�t control it, and it whimpered out of her muzzle.

The scent of the bloodlust from her opponent rose sharply at the sound. It sensed weakness.

The creature was a blade beast, a rare creature found in the first stratum, usually in areas with a strong concentration of Mana. With four huge blade-arms attached to a powerfully muscled body, covered in spikes and pointy protrusions, the blade beast was a horrific opponent for most creatures. Faster than it looked, durable as all get out, and almost inexhaustible. They terrorised most monsters from the first stratum.

She didn�t want to fight it.

She didn�t want to go back to what she was when she fought things like this. Didn�t want to retreat back into the madness and savagery that protected her from her cowardice. But even that would be better than going back out there. She�d never been to the third strata, but she�d approached its edge, only once. She shivered at the memory. She couldn�t go back there. She couldn�t stand it.

In her heart, she was still confused. Still hurt by what was happening, and just unable to understand it. Why was she being made to fight? Why were the monsters fighting at all? Did Anthony and Jim escape? She hadn�t been able to see them for days�

All such thoughts were pushed rudely aside as the battle commenced. The blade beast stepped forward and she raised her head. Her sheer size and bulk gave the monster pause. It didn�t want to approach directly, wary of her claws and fangs. The beast began to circle around, huge glittering blades slicing through the air in a display of dominance.

Sarah�s heart pounded and her body trembled as the monster closed in. Her vision swam and she could barely focus as her confusion and desperation paralysed her. She didn�t notice the unease ripple through the Shapers watching from the stands. Wasn�t cognizant of the impacts shuddering through the stone around her. Nor did she hear the scraping and grinding that echoed through the walls.

She sure as hell did notice when a hole opened up in the centre of the arena and a familiar looking ant-head popped out.

[Stupid� SAND! UGH! That�ll be in my carapace for days� Hey! Found her!]

The ant was lifted into the air as a huge worm shoved its way through the hole.

[Sarah! Hey! We came back to get you! Are you alright?]

The words reverberated in her mind, again and again, but she just couldn�t process them.

[Jim? �Is that you?] she wondered.

[How many other giant worms do you know! Don�t answer that, I might get jealous. What the heck is that thing?] He screeched.

The blade beast had stepped back, cautious at the appearance of these new monsters, but now that they turned toward it, the monster prepared to assault them all at once. Sadly, it never got the chance. The sand beneath its feet sank away, a new hole opening up beneath it. Its blade-arms scrabbled at the air to no avail. A host of mandibles reached up to drag it down below sight.

[I wouldn�t worry about it,] Anthony said.

The worm turned its blind head to the unmoving bear.

[Come ON, Sarah! We need to get the heck out of here! You aren�t still planning on staying, are you?]

[No?] she muttered. [Jim, what�s happening?]

Only now did she start to notice the chaos erupting around her.

[I just brought the family in for a quick smash n� grab,] Anthony said.

Sarah latched onto one word.

[Family?]

The ant�s antennae wobbled with joy.

[Oh, I think you�re really going to like �em!]

We get in and we get out. That�s the fundamental truth of this raid, and I�m going to stick to it like a sticky substance applied to another, less sticky-thing. There must be a better analogy, but I�m too pumped up to iron it out.

It takes a little convincing, but eventually, we get Sarah down into the tunnel and fleeing with her buddy, Jim. With her mental state as muddled as it is, I don�t want her hanging around for the rest of what�s going to happen.

Namely, robbing the facility blind and running off with the loot.

We don�t plan to destroy the Shapers themselves in the process, but it�s inevitable that a few get caught up in the crossfire. I�ve made peace with that, seeing as they didn�t particularly care if I myself was broken in the course of constructing their super monster.

Leaving the arena, I crawl back under the surface and, immediately, I�m covered in a goop-like darkness that wraps itself around me.

[Master! I�ve completed my task and returned to you.]

[Yes� I noticed. Good job, Crinis. Did the other shadow monsters get out safely?]

[Most of them did, Master. I believe that between the pets and I, we were able to secure almost all of the cores.]

[Great. I�m sure you made yourself plenty distracting up there.]

[What are you saying, Master?] A dangerous note creeps into her tone as she questions me.

[Ah� Nothing! Just that you have a very striking appearance!]

[Why thank you!]

[ACK! Don�t squeeze me!]

I�m glad I sent Crinis with the core shapers as part of our distraction. Not only would she be able to support the others and make the show of force that much more terrifying, it gave me a bit of time without being choked. I quite enjoyed that time. Sadly, it�s over now, and as I make my way through the tunnel, it becomes clear that Crinis has no intention of relinquishing her grip.

The network of tunnels dug throughout the outpost are swarming with ants rushing to complete their objectives. After securing Sarah, I only have one more stop on my schedule: the leading Triad. I don�t intend to rub my freedom in their faces or anything, as nice as that would be, I just want to be present to make sure they don�t cause any problems for my siblings. As irritating as those three were, I have to respect the power and authority they possess inside the outpost. If anyone will be able to rally the shapers against us, it�s going to be them.

With Crinis attached, I rush through tunnels and burst into the corridors of the Shaper outpost, tracking my target. Pandemonium reigns everywhere. Ants are ransacking rooms and herding shellshocked Shapers into corners, keeping them isolated and confused.

Nice to see my instructions being followed, not that I doubted it. If we can avoid heating up the inevitable golgari counterstrike any more than we already have, then I�ll be pleased. No need to throw more fuel onto that fire. I instructed the colony to put them down with a vengeance if they tried to fight back, though. With the element of surprise on our side, not to mention a rather ridiculous numbers advantage, it was never going to be hard for us to overwhelm the place.

[I still can�t believe these scum held you prisoner,] Crinis bristles as we barrel down corridors not quite large enough for my frame.

[Settle down, Crinis. Most of these people had nothing to do with that decision. Let�s just leave them be.]

[You�re too nice, Master. I still think you should let me spend some time with a few of them. They won�t ever come after us again!]

As she imagines getting her tentacles on the Shapers, I can feel her barbs start to form and grate against my carapace. I shudder to think what would happen to any golgari that falls into her clutches. Is there a Geneva Convention on Pangera? Any laws regarding being partially rended by a void beast from the depths of madness and despair? Probably not, now that I think about it. This world doesn�t muck around when it comes to the war between surface and Dungeon creatures.

[Do you have any idea where Tiny and Invidia wound up?] I ask.

[I haven�t seen them, but they shouldn�t be far away. Can you reach them?]

[Tiny! Invidia! Where did you guys wind up?]

[RAAAAH!]

[�Inivida, where are you right now?]

[We have found the rest of the monsssters. Sssssoon, we will take their everything.]

I�ll take that to mean they�ve broken into the monster cells and have started fighting the remaining tournament contenders. That�s some juicy experience and Biomass right there, and I don�t intend to let it go to waste. My siblings would be able to overwhelm them, of course, but the casualties would be unacceptable. Better to leave it to Tiny and Invidia. Those two working together will be able to crush any single monster, no matter how well-designed it is.

All of those precious resources, I�ll be taking them for my pets, thank you very much! Muahahahaha!

[You remember the plan, Crinis?]

[We find the leaders and give them pain.]

[�Wait� No?]

[We find the leaders and I will give them pain.]

[No!]

[You�re too nice, Master.]

[Stop choking me.]

If I didn�t have a carapace, I�d have been torn to bits by Crinis� unconscious tentacle flexing. It�s a pain that she�s like this, but I feel so bad for sending her off on her own that I can�t bring myself to say anything about it! I can only pray in my heart that she�ll get over her abandonment issues soon.

That aside�where the heck am I in this place!

�These corridors are confusing! Where�s a damn scout?�

�Right here, eldest!�

A wiry ant sticks her head out of a nearby doorway and salutes with an antenna.

�Have we located the leadership yet? I�m getting twisted about in these damn corridors.�

�We haven�t, but the only remaining pocket of resistance is up two levels. We theorise those you�re looking for are there.�

�Resistance? Still? I�m on my way.�

Don�t worry, my siblings! I�m coming! The need to protect my colony rages like a fire in my core, and I lean back on my hind-most legs to begin chomping at the ceiling.

[We�re going up, Crinis!]

[I�m with you, Master!]

[Stop choking me!]

After the reinforced rock around the outpost, chewing through the floors is nothing. A couple of bites and the rock cascades down around me, bouncing off my carapace and Crinis� exposed flesh. Reaching up, my claws grasp hold of the stone and I pull my large frame through the gap to attack the ceiling once again. I can feel it now, in my Mana Sense. There are dozens of spells being worked above my head. This won�t do!

CHOMP! CHOMP!

The ceiling collapses and the sound of battle begins to batter against my antennae.

�What the heck is going on up here?� I rage.

�Eldest!�

�The eldest is here��

The ants react with surprise as I burst my way through. Some of them even freeze, then resume their tasks. That�s unusual. For an ant to forget their work for even a second is odd.

�Eldest, glad you made it,� Burke calls from nearby. �Join me over here.�

The air is awash with pheromones as the colony battles the foe, making it difficult to pick out each particular scent. I suppose people talking over each other is much the same situation. The area is a ruin, rooms smashed apart and walls crumbling in every direction.

It appears as if the two sides are separated by a solid stone corridor, and I�ve surfaced on the ant side. Spells are constantly hurling toward the ants, who�ve bunkered down behind cover. They retaliate with acid barrages when the chance arises. Classic stalemate.

Burke is nearby, clinging to the ceiling and keeping a close eye on the enemy from behind a pillar.

�What�s going on?� I demand. �Any casualties?�

�A few,� she admits. �Those spells are no joke. The healers are doing what they can, but we lost a few in the first barrage.�

�I�LL KILL THEM!�

�Hey, eldest, remember your own plan?�

�Oh� right.�

�This is slowing us down and we need it resolved, now. Judging by the heavy resistance, we have to assume something or someone valuable is down this way. Think you can break us through?�

�Burke, you shouldn�t ask stupid questions.�

�Of course, eldest.�

Anger boils inside me at the thought that these moronic Shapers would dare kill my siblings! Outrageous! They�ve nobody to blame for their current circumstances but themselves, I�ve no pity for them at all.

My attitude toward the golgari is hardening at a frightening pace. If I hadn�t had such positive experiences with Granin and his Triad, there�s a possibility none of the Shapers would have made it out of this assault alive. I suppose that�s a dark thought, but these people are messing with my family! That�s not something I can allow.

[Crinis, do you think you could jump through the shadows into the next room?]

[I�ll need a distraction. They�ll be on the lookout for a tactic like that.]

[Not a problem. I can give you all the distraction you�ll need. Keep your senses open and wait for your chance.]

[Right, Master!]

[Eh-hem� That means you need to climb off me and move to the side.]

[�N-No it doesn�t.]

[Yes, it does! What�s the point of me drawing their fire and creating a distraction if YOU are the one being hit?]

[But�]

[No buts! Get your nightmarish gloop over in that corner and wait for a chance!]

Grumbling and full of reluctance, Crinis climbs off of me and snakes out of sight, where she huddles pitifully in a corner, small tentacles extended in my direction trying to latch onto my legs.

I avoid her feeble attempts with ruthless precision, she�ll be glued to my carapace before too long anyway, I need to enjoy this brief moment of freedom. Troublesome pet dealt with, I approach the fire zone at the end of the corridor, an area covered in ants clinging to any piece of cover they can find and blasting acid at the mages whenever they get the chance.

�No mage support?� I demand a nearby soldier.

�They got tied up on other floors keeping the peace. They�re the only ones who can talk to these people.�

Makes sense.

�Have negotiations been attempted here?� I ask.

�No. They opened fire the second they saw us!�

Hmmph.

�Well, it�s time they got what they deserved for it, don�t you think, soldier?�

�Yes, eldest!�

I hunch out of sight and wait for the next barrage of spells to fly down the corridor. It arrives after a few seconds, a wave of fireballs, bolts of ice, and other more esoteric magics that detonate, shatter, and otherwise peter out against the rubble without finding a target. In the next moment, the ants step from cover or raise their abdomens to unleash their formic acid spray.

POW! POW! POW! POW!

Solid jets of sizzling liquid streak through the air to splatter against the Shapers� barricade. The ants duck back down in anticipation of the next wave of spells. This is the time I choose to spring from my cover and unleash my own barrage of acid!

POW! POW! POW!

A rapid-fire trio of shots fly down the length of the corridor and impact against what is definitely a magical shield of some sort. The Shapers, who�d been preparing to return fire, are shocked to see their precious shield begin to bubble and steam as my acid eats into it. I follow up with a streaming flamethrower, charging headlong, my bulk taking up almost the entire space.

I�m not intending to harm the Shapers with this magic, I doubt they could be harmed by magic on this level, but I�m hoping it prevents them from seeing me coming. Flames belching out from between my mandibles, I race like a freight train, but as expected, it only takes a moment until I can feel my flames being broken apart by the highly trained mages I�m attacking.

BOOM! THUD!

Spells begin to fly through the flames in the other direction, slamming into my carapace with impressive force. The best I can do to protect my eyes is lower my rear legs as I run, creating an angle to protect the top of my head, but the damage adds up. It�s not as if they can miss me. I�m currently a giant ant-fish in a rather small barrel. Even so, unless they get lucky with their spells, it�s unlikely they�ll be able to puncture my carapace in a single shot.

SHING!

�Or not?

My momentum crumbles as an almost-clear shard of ice flies through my flames and lodges deep in my carapace. Ouch! Someone put a huge amount of Mana into that thing! But it�s only enough to slow me down for a second. The corridor is only twenty metres long, and after another two strides, I burst through the opening and slam bodily into their melting shield, mandibles snapping.

The room contains nine mages, three full Triads, not to mention the exact people I�m looking for! Gravus� face blanches as he realises exactly which ant has come to pay him a visit. Gwehehehehehe. I�ve been wanting to see you, Gravus!

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

My mandibles flex and shatter their barrier with sheer force. I use my legs to knock the mages around, disrupting their formation. With their focus on me, that�s more than enough of an opening for Crinis to work her magic.

The floor darkens to midnight-black and a forest of tendrils rises as if growing from the floor itself. In moments, they thicken into powerful tentacles, latching onto the Shapers and curling around them as the dark mass of Crinis� main body forms in the centre of the room, her mouths gnashing hungrily at the air.

I think two of the Shapers just passed out from sheer terror� The rest are tightly bound and aren�t liable to be doing much of anything until we decide to let them go.

Luckily, not the three I�m hoping to talk to!

�Get in here! Hustle, I�m doing all of your work!�

Sha-sha-sha-sha-sha.

After I call out to the colony, they flood their way to me, and in moments, the Shapers each have a set of mandibles around their neck, whilst yet more ants comb the room, a fairly plush-looking study with an impressive desk on one side. There has to be some juicy loot in here, I hope we find it.

�Get some mages up here, I want them to check for any enchanted items,� I say to a passing general and she snaps out a quick salute.

I probably didn�t need to say anything, no doubt they�d already sent for mages to sweep the area, but I like to feel as if I�m useful. With that taken care of, I gleefully spin together a Mind Bridge and prepare for a chat with some of my favourite rock covered people.

[Irette Plamine. How nice to see you!]

The leading Triad stares daggers at me as my siblings sweep through their office, crawling over the walls. They probe every surface for potential valuables, leaving no stone unturned. Already, various items have been snatched up in greedy mandibles and carted away under the disbelieving eyes of the Shapers. I doubt this is how they expected a monster invasion to go, most of them seem to scarcely believe they�re still alive. If I�m being honest, that�s not an unreasonable state of mind for them to be in.

[I don�t suppose you thought you�d wind up in a situation like this, did you Plamine?] I can�t help but taunt a little.

The once-powerful Shaper is a shadow of her former self, frazzled and worn down, as much as a person with solid rock for skin can be. She still glares fiercely, though.

[Seems we were right to treat you as a monster and not as a person. Your actions reveal the beast you are.]

Her mental communication is loaded with venom, but the sheer arrogance of her words robs me of the ability to address her tone.

[You don�t think stuffing me in a cell and trying to kill me has motivated my response in any way?]

[You should be thanking us,] she sneers. [You gained much from the Cult of the Worm, did you not? Our experience and knowledge, Levels and Biomass. You were happy to take those things from us. Look how you have rewarded our hospitality.]

[You�re out of control, lady.] I clack my mandibles. [You had so many opportunities to prevent this outcome. You could have left me alone in the Dungeon, but no. You could have treated me with dignity, but no. You could have taken my bargain when it was offered, but no. You�re going to get the bad ending you worked so hard to achieve.]

[You speak as if you are the only thing that mattered, but there are many points of view, many shifting alliances. Even if we wanted to change our policy, there were existing considerations you know nothing about.]

I shrug my antennae.

[So? I don�t have to take into account your situation, only my own. If someone else has driven you to this point, then blame them, not me.]

I give her a friendly pat on the head with one claw, and she flinches away from me. Gravus looks like he�s about ready to explode with rage, but perhaps the mandibles around his neck are helping him hold it in.

[Now that my family is here, we�re going to ransack this outpost, take everything we can use, and leave you with a smoking ruin. Them�s the breaks, I suppose.]

[My people will hunt you down, monster,] she spat. [And when we do, I�m going to be there. I�ll rip your core out myself and reincarnate your corpse just so I can desecrate it.]

Well, that�s just nasty.

[Your people are indeed going to be coming for us, which is why we�re trying to move quickly. But, you know what? I�m not that certain I want to leave you behind anymore.]

Obviously a golgari can�t really turn pale. They can turn a bit grey, though.

[You wouldn�t!]

[Why not? Like you said, Shaper knowledge is invaluable. I�m not going to arrogantly say I�ve learned everything you guys happen to know. Also, when your people come for us, they might hesitate just a little if we have some of their own held hostage.]

[And why would I cooperate?]

Plamine is attempting to appear strong, but I can tell she�s rattled. Not that I blame her. She�s facing the prospect of being dragged off by a ravenous horde of insect monsters.

[The only way you get to go back to your people alive is if you keep me happy. If you don�t, I�ll be feeding you to the larvae. They get ever so hungry.]

I can�t help but get a little overdramatic with the threats. Luckily, I think she�s buying it.

[We�ll take the younger one as well,] I add as an afterthought.

[What?] Plamine screeches in my mind, but before she can blink, I�ve tasked two soldiers with taking away her fellow Triad member, who doesn�t appear to be very amused by the situation, if the kicking and screaming is any indicator.

[I�ll kill you!] Plamine rages.

Interesting. Her emotion on this change of tactic appears genuine. We might be able to use this leverage.

[Cooperate with us and we won�t harm a single stone on her skin,] I promise. I don�t need to say what�ll happen if she doesn�t.

Plamine is dragged out of the room by another soldier, whilst being carefully watched by a mage as the rest of the Shapers nervously keep their mouths shut. Not seeing any reason to keep them in suspense, I open up communications with them.

[Hey there, folks. It�s Anthony, in case you didn�t recognise me. I�m going to take those two with me when we leave for hostage purposes. You�ll probably get them back, we�ll see how it goes.]

I let that sink in before carrying on with my speech.

[Maybe don�t kidnap and try to kill the next sapient creature you run across. Bit of advice there� What else? Ah, we�ll leave you all alive, no worries there.]

They all sag with relief.

[I should have mentioned that first. Sorry. Catch you all later then, please don�t hunt us down� Bye!]

I awkwardly cut off the communication and turn to the scout next to me.

�Burke, are we done in here?�

�Looks like it. Other floors are reporting their tasks are complete as well.�

�Great.� The tension drains out of me a little. �I�m done with this place. Let�s go home!�

[Tiny! Invidia! Finish eating in a hurry, we�re getting out of here!]

[Harr? NOM! NOM! NOM! NOM!]

[You don�t have to message me that you�re eating! Just eat!]

Damn ape! That�s a disturbing mental sound.

I mean, how do you even convey the sound of chewing through mind communication? Actually, I don�t want that question answered. As we leave the chamber, Crinis unwinds her tentacles from around the remaining Shapers and once more latches onto me, her body goopifying itself and adhering to my carapace.

[I�m back, Master!]

[�I noticed.]

[Did I do well?]

[Absolutely.]

She wriggles with glee, and by extension, my carapace crunches as she unintentionally exerts her strength. Geez. She�s a lot stronger than she was before. Quite the evolution she undertook. I�ll have to give her core a good look over once we get some breathing room and a bit of downtime. At this point, it�s hard to say when that might actually happen. Maybe we escape cleanly, maybe we get caught in a long, running battle with the golgari.

Ugh, I hope not�

As I rush back down through the holes and tunnels, an ever-increasing tide of ants joins me, legs blurring in a flurry of movement. Many carry objects in their mandibles�cores, valuable materials, a few have even got books. No idea what they intend to do with those. Can we even read? Our eyes aren�t exactly made for hyper-focus on one thing. Well, I�m sure they know what they�re doing better than I do.

I pass our two prisoners on the way, each being herded by a collection of ants, soldiers and mages for the most part. I can tell they�re trying to move slowly, but the ants are not having it, prodding and snapping at them constantly. In this manner, we retreat from the outpost and dive into the Dungeon tunnels, a very full Tiny and Invidia slotting in with the procession.

From here, it�s a long journey back to the colony. Hopefully, we figure out Spatial Magic on the way, could help the trip along.

When the colony gathers in the tunnels outside the ravaged outpost, we take stock before beginning our march. It�s quite an inspiring sight, the long column of ants pouring through the tunnels, obliterating everything they find.

My pets and I bring up the rear, and it�s great to finally get a chance to take a peek at their cores and admire the upgrades they�ve achieved. Some good evolutions for Tiny and Crinis, and I can see that both have been working hard at improving their Skills. Invidia has also been putting in work, judging by the increase to his magical abilities. Considering the short timeframe he�s had, his improvements in the magical fields I�ve instructed him to work on are impressive. Although, when you take into account the sheer grunt he�s able to put behind his spells, it shouldn�t be that surprising.

�Quite a good haul, it looks like,� I observe to Burke when she drops back to scout the rear of the column.

�Agreed. The wealth of cores we were able to obtain has got the core shapers drooling.�

�Was there anything other than cores that we got our mandibles on?�

�Oh yes. We cut apart and dragged away anything enchanted, as well as a collection of Mana empowered materials. The carvers and mages are going to be very excited. Not to mention those two prisoners you picked out. If we can extract anything useable from them, they might even prove to be the best part of the haul.�

I�m a bit doubtful.

�You really think they�re going to hand over reliable information? They aren�t exactly willing co-operators.�

�There�s a few things we can try.�

�Did I see books getting carried away? What the heck are we going to be doing with books?�

The smaller ant wiggles her antennae indecisively.

�I�m not sure on the books. You might need to talk to one of the mages about that one. If I were to take a guess, I suppose it might be for trading with the humans in the village.�

�You mean Enid and Beyn�s lot? What will they need with these books? We don�t even know if many of them can read!�

Another shrug.

�It�s worth a shot. It�s entirely possible the mages have some method in mind to read the texts themselves. I�m just guessing here. If you don�t have any more questions, eldest, then I�m going to scout. Pursuit should have started by now.�

�Good point. Stay safe.�

With a flick of an antenna to acknowledge my words, Burke vanishes into the dark shadows of the second stratum, covering our retreat and hunting for signs of the golgari. They must be out there somewhere. We exposed ourselves by going back to retrieve Sarah and raid the Shaper outpost, but I have to hope it�s going to turn out to be worth it.

Then it�s back to marching along with the column. We cover ground quickly, as a nearly tireless army of ants should. Tiny is the first of my own group to grow tired. Hardly unexpected, since Crinis is being carried by me and Invidia is hitching a ride on Tiny�s shoulder.

[Any chance you can cast something invigorating on Tiny, Invidia? Big guy�s lacking a bit of pep in his step.]

[I don�t know thisss magic. Can only heal.]

[Fair enough. Going to have to tough it out, big fella.]

[Hrrrrr,] he whines.

Despite his reluctance, Tiny keeps putting one big ape-foot in front of the other until the column is called to a halt. Hunting parties peel off to secure Biomass for the group. Energy is low and it needs recharging! Shortly after the stop, the members of the council who are present find their way back to me for a chat, minus Burke, of course, she�s still out scouting.

�How far behind do you think they are? We set a good pace. I wouldn�t think those meat-bags will be able to keep up with us,� Propellant proposes.

Bella the core shaper shakes her antennae.

�Don�t underestimate them, Propellant. They were able to capture the eldest, I think they could handle you easily enough.�

�No need to bring that up,� I groan. �But yes, they can be very capable. Especially when their Warriors and Shapers are working together. It�s possible they have other castes they can deploy in battle and I just haven�t seen them yet. So we have to be cautious.�

�Agreed,� Sloan cuts in. �The scouts have been deployed, along with a contingent of our core shapers and their pets to keep an antenna out behind us. We marched hard for the last few hours, and we need to recharge our energy before we continue. I also want to ensure we stay well-fed for the journey. If they catch us and start a fight, I don�t want a single ant to be in poor condition.�

I like the sentiment. Keep our energy up, stay alert, and push hard. Sounds like the colony�s regular attitude, to be honest.

�What about torpor? We need to rest at some point,� I point out.

All of the members of the council look uncomfortable when I mention the hated word: rest.

�Let�s think about it later,� Sloan clacks her mandibles, trying to move the conversation on.

�Sloan� There�s no point trying to keep everyone rested and then not let anyone sleep. We have to sleep if we�re going to be in fighting shape.�

Except for me, since the Vestibule kept me supplied with all the energy I can spend. I won�t need to slow down until my mental fatigue piles up to the point I pass out.

�How long do we think it�s going to take to make it back to the nest?� I ask. �Probably take a little less time than it took for you to get out to me?�

Sloan nods her antennae.

�We think it�ll take a week of hard marching, but only if we don�t get interrupted by pursuers.�

Which is likely. As if to fulfil that prophecy, Burke runs into view at the end of the tunnel and approaches us.

�They�re coming,� she announces. �An hour behind, maybe less. There�s a lot of them, and I think they mean business. They look decked out for a war.�

Not unexpected news, but still unwelcome.

�Do you think we can lose them in the tunnels?� Sloan asks.

�I�m not sure,� Burke sounds hesitant. �It�s almost as if they�re tracking us. If they keep coming straight, they�ll run right into us.�

That�s not good.

�We might have to cut this break short,� I warn the others. �I�m going to go back and take a quick look.�

�Be careful, eldest,� Propellant warns. �We only just got you back.�

�Not to worry, I�m not exactly keen to land in their hands again. Just going to have a cheeky peek and then I�ll be right back.�

Burke sends a few scouts to escort me and my pets with a flick of her antennae and we head off to see exactly what the golgari have sent after us.

The Queen almost felt young again as her mandibles crunched through a writhing shadow centipede. The experience notification rang in her mind, but she hardly listened, too eager to chomp down the waiting Biomass before moving onto the next target. There was a savage joy sparking within her at being back on the hunt, taking the risks her children were so willing to face and putting them on her own carapace.

Meal complete, she searched for another tunnel she could attack. That�s when the Brood Tender at her side spoke up.

�Mother, it�s time to head back to the nest. You should have hit your quota by now,� Theresant reminded her.

The Queen started.

�Already? How long have I been out?�

�It�s been three hours, Mother. If anything, we are past the time you were supposed to return.�

Checking her available Biomass, the Queen was surprised to find her daughter was correct. She was beyond the required number to produce her next clutch of eggs.

�I apologise, child,� she told Theresant. �Let�s return.�

The Queen turned her bulk around and began the trek to her nest within the second stratum. The colony had laboured long, battling against the shadow beasts to carve out a secure space they were comfortable placing their precious Queens in. Only to find that their mother insisted on leaving the security of the newly constructed fortress to secure her own Biomass.

The Queen couldn�t help but sigh as her escort settled in around her sides. It�s not that she minded the company when hunting, she just felt it was a waste of resources. She was perfectly capable of holding her own out in the tunnels without aid, which meant the soldiers and scouts would be free to secure territory, or gather food for the other Queens, but she�d been forced to compromise.

When she�d told Victor she would go out battling on her own, the poor girl nearly went into torpor from shock. Nothing was stopping the Queen from simply walking out anyway, her children wouldn�t stop her, though she didn�t like to worry them. A mixed escort of fifty members was agreed on to accompany her whenever she was outside of the colony.

�Did you enjoy your hunt, Mother?� Theresant asked.

�Very much, child. I feel as if I�m contributing to the colony again,� the Queen hummed.

Theresant could only shake her antennae. Giving birth to almost every living member of the colony didn�t count as a contribution? If that�s the case, every ant was being far too slack! Thankfully for the Brood Tenders, none of the other Queens showed the slightest inclination to leave the nests, happy to perform their task in the safety and security the colony was only too happy to provide.

Mother, on the other hand, had been spawned fighting and alone. The only time she�d felt as if she were fulfilling her potential was probably in those early days when the colony consisted of only a single member, and she�d had to gather Biomass and construct the first nest by herself. A monumental effort which left every one of her children in awe.

As they marched, the Queen happily watched as her escort picked off the few monsters they encountered along the way. With her Biomass quota achieved, there was no need for her to monopolise the food or experience. She had no need to evolve again in the short-term, and the colony demanded more powerful members now that they sought to control another stratum.

It was pleasing to see the number of tier four children she had now. No longer was the troublesome one the lone standout, though she felt certain that particular child was pushing close to tier six by now. Once that happened, the Queen would no longer be the highest evolution in the colony, which would certainly be strange.

Thinking of that particular ant caused her antennae to twitch. She was sure they were doing something foolish somewhere in the Dungeon�

In fact, nothing was more certain. Nonetheless, she hoped the efforts to return them safely were proceeding well. She had every faith in her children. They�d achieved so much! Not the least of which was this second nest.

Their approach was marked by elaborate carvings etched into the walls. The carvers had begun taking their caste name quite seriously once the secrets of Earth Magic had begun to be known, they never seemed to stop carving! A combination of magic and their front claws was used to create these images, and the Queen found them to be quite� nice.

Scenes of the colony at work, learning, fighting, growing, scouting, and teaching covered the walls, the troublesome child featuring prominently, as did she herself. Then the tunnel began to slope upward and they encountered the outer defences of the nest. Layers of raised walls and ambush positions were frequent for the next few hundred metres. Then they reached the first gate.

This was a concept the humans above had given to the carvers, and they�d been fascinated by the idea. A tunnel, with a door? It sounded ludicrous at first, but as the humans explained it, Tungstant had become enamoured with the concept. Not just a door, but a powerful door! Made from strong materials and designed to repel intruders.

The gate loomed before them now, a glittering construction of enchanted metal with the proud image of an ant-head carved right in the centre. From above, antennae poked out of holes as the sentries kept watch.

�I�m just coming back to lay eggs, child,� the Queen called up. �Could you open the gate please?�

�Of course, Mother!� came the call, followed quickly by, �It�s Mother! Get the gate open, quick!�

The Queen shifted her legs and tried not to chuckle at her children�s enthusiasm. They did step too carefully around her sometimes. In a trice, the gate swung outward to reveal a cluster of ants who worked the mechanism to open them. The Queen had no idea how it worked, but Tungstant assured her it was very clever.

More tunnels layered with obstacles for foes needed to be traversed before they came to another gate, this one double layered and even more impressive. Once navigated, they at last reached the inner sanctum, the nest.

The Queen welcomed the sight with a warm heart as her children bustled energetically around her. Of course, not all ants were her children, not anymore. She still thought of them that way, and they all still called her Mother, which was all that mattered really. There were many smaller tunnels within the nest, but the Queen stuck to the main, larger thoroughfares as she made her way to the brood chambers.

�Ah, hello, Mother!� came a scent she knew well from a side chamber.

�Tungstant? Still working, child?� the Queen welcomed her daughter.

�Of course! Never a slack moment, eh, Mother?� the carver twitched her antennae in amusement. �Besides that, I can�t rest until the nest is finished!�

The Queen was confused.

�I thought it was done already. You�ve done so much,� she gestured to the carvings that covered every surface.

�Not at all, Mother! There�s still so much to be done! We�re compacting the ground!�

�Compacting� whatever do you mean?�

�We�re trying to make it harder to dig through,� Tungstant explained. �If another colony wanted to invade, this will make it much harder for them to tunnel past our gates and avoid our defences. It�s tough work, though. I wish we�d thought of it before we started construction.�

�I�m sure it�ll be fine,� the Queen encouraged her. �You�ve done so well.�

The Queen continued down the chamber, leaving her busy child to her work, and soon found herself in the very heart of the second nest. Surrounded by enchanted chambers filled with brood, the laying chamber was occupied by three Queens, herself amongst them, and the Brood Tenders. Even her escort had taken up a position outside, not willing to disturb the brood in any way.

This was sacred work, the very future of the colony!

Antionette and Victoriant looked up happily when they saw the Queen return.

�Welcome home, Mother,� they chorused along with the Brood Tenders in the chamber.

�Hello again, my children. How goes the work today?�

�All done,� they both replied happily.

The two younger Queens radiated contentment and happiness with their day�s task complete. Once their quota of eggs was reached, they�d done all they could for the colony and tended to engage in idle gossip and play with the brood to while away the hours.

�How was your excursion, Mother?�

�Satisfactory, child,� the Queen replied as she began to commit her Biomass toward producing her next clutch. �You two are welcome to join me any time.�

�Oh, not for me, thanks,� Antionette shivered. �I couldn�t possibly fight like you, Mother.�

�Didn�t the troublesome one train you to fight?� the Queen asked, surprised.

At the mention of their �education� with the eldest, both young Queens froze, refusing to reply. The Queen sighed. Some trauma was difficult to overcome. It was probably the distaste for battle they experienced during their training that pushed these two into becoming Queens in the first place. Nothing to do about it now.

She shifted around the chamber as she waited for the eggs to be ready, already thinking of her next hunt.

She wasn�t sure who began it, but the new hatchling was only too willing to join in the cry along with her siblings.

�FOR THE COLONY!�

�FOR THE COLONY!�

�MY LIFE FOR THE COLONY!� She poured her heart and soul into her pheromones as she declared her willingness to sacrifice for her family.

As each ant emerged, fully formed from their cocoons, they joined the roar until the brood chamber was flooded with the scent of insect determination. It was rousing stuff, and her heart pounded with excitement. The long days and weeks as a larva and then a cocoon were fuzzy memories, but the impatience to contribute had existed even then. Now at last, she could run, and chomp, and die!

Seemingly oblivious to the righteous fury burning in the hearts of their charges, the Brood Tenders continued to pick over the new ants, ensuring they were clean and helping to cut free any that were still struggling with their string cocoons. When they were all loose, the hatchlings ceaselessly vented their excitement and dedication. It was much later when the air was finally clear enough for the Tenders to announce what would happen next.

One of the Brood Tenders crawled to the centre of the chamber and loudly clacked her mandibles to draw the new hatchling�s attention.

�Welcome to the colony, new hatchlings! You are all now precious members of our family. In accordance with the will of the eldest, you will now be taken to the Academy to be taught and trained, so that you may contribute as best you can.�

The new hatchling wiggled with glee at the thought of contributing to the colony. She had to go to this Academy place first? Not a problem! She would tear down all obstacles that would keep her from the glorious destiny that awaited.

Following the announcement, the team of Brood Tenders began to shepherd the hatchlings as a group out of the chamber and into the tunnels. The hatchling saw a few Brood Tenders remain behind and begin cleaning up the broken cocoons, probably preparing the space for the next wave of pupae to arrive.

So it was within the colony, her instincts told her. Each generation should sacrifice for the next! The new hatchlings chattered amongst themselves and gaped at the larger, more powerful ants that passed them on the way.

�New hatchlings, eh?� one passing ant called, a huge and bulky specimen of an ant with powerful mandibles. �Work hard for the colony!�

�So,� drawled another ant, this one a touch smaller, with a smooth, sloped carapace, �who�s going to die first for the colony?�

�ME! ME!� she yelled along with the rest of her siblings.

One of the Tenders marched over to the smooth ant and thwacked her sharply on the head with an antenna.

�Enough of that,� the Tender said. �Let�s keep marching! We don�t want to be late, they�ll call us lazy!�

Lazy? NEVER! The new hatchling was determined that she would never be called lazy in her entire life. Such a thing was unthinkable! She rushed to the front and started pushing her siblings along.

�Hurry up, you!� she hassled them. �Do you WANT to be called lazy?�

�NO!� they roared and matched her pace, forcing the Tenders to pick up their own speed as they chuckled at their new charges� enthusiasm.

After a few more minutes, they were guided into a small chamber that smelled different, wild and exciting. There were other scents in here, smells that were not of the colony. Would they be asked to fight? To kill? How exhilarating!

The Brood Tenders ushered them in and directed the hatchlings to settle on one side of the room, which sloped down to face a small flat space at the front. In that area, a large, powerful ant sat, watching them. Not as large as the ant they saw earlier, but still impressive, this ant gave off a feeling of control and command. Each of the hatchlings were energised and full of strength in her presence.

The hatchling was almost bursting with energy now. Surely, they would be led into glorious battle! Any moment now!

�Right!� the large ant roared, her pheromones flooding the room and battering against their antennae. �What have we got here then?�

�Hatchling class two hundred and sixteen. Twenty students await instruction, general,� replied one of the Tenders around the outside of the room.

�Good,� the general replied. �Bright, eager young ants, I see. The colony will have a sure future with this lot.�

She preened with pride at the words of the general. She was a good hatchling!

�BUT NOT YET!� came another roar, and she was smacked back into reality. �Right now, YOU ARE WEAK. STUPID. AND UNFIT TO SERVE!�

So domineering were those pheromones, she wasn�t able to muster any sort of reply, and the rest of her siblings cowered as well.

�Let me tell you what is going to happen.� The general began to march back and forth, poking any hatchling within reach with an antenna to prod them into better posture. �We are going to teach you how to fight. We are going to teach you how to work as a team and achieve maximum efficiency in battle. We�ll teach you how to secure food, how to recognise danger, we�ll teach you about the threats that abound in this place and how to keep your colony thriving!�

She nodded, eagerly. This was all great stuff!

�MORE THAN THAT! We are going to make you useful! We�ll feed you Biomass, get you mutations, help you form your core and evolve. Not once, BUT TWICE. Only then, has the eldest deemed you fit to serve!�

The hatchlings shifted uncomfortably at that. Soaking up resources they didn�t earn? That Biomass could be used to raise the next generation� Why waste it on them?

�AFTER the colony has done all that, and we�ve poured all this effort into you, you will have the opportunity to join a caste and begin to work!�

What? But she was ready to work right now!

�Please,� she raised an antenna. �Is there no work for a hatchling?�

The general marched up the slope to where she stood and�THWACK! Smacked her on the head with an antenna.

�NO! These are the arrangements the eldest has decreed will best serve the colony! Are you going to argue with the eldest? With the Queen?�

�No,� she shrank back from the omni-directional death stare of the general.

She wouldn�t dare argue against such luminaries of the colony, but at the same time, it didn�t feel right. Her instincts told her this was all wrong!

�Good,� the general snapped. �Once you�ve evolved, you�ll be able to join in battle. What are you going to do then?�

They all knew the answer to this!

�DIE FOR THE COLONY!�

�SILENCE, HATCHLINGS!� the general roared.

She stared in stunned silence along with the rest of the newborn ants. What did they say wrong?

�After we pour in our effort, pour in Biomass and experience, you�ll die? You�ll WASTE our efforts? Are you going to bring this level of INEFFICIENCY into the colony? No! The only way an ant can work, is if they are alive! Dying when you can live is nothing but skipping out on work, WHICH WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!�

It was hard to argue with that, but somehow, the hatchling still felt that it was wrong� She was to prioritise her own life?

�But� isn�t that� selfish?� she protested. �How can keeping myself alive be worth it for the colony?�

�Because�� The general loomed over her. �When you die, you rob the colony of the labour you would be able to provide for the rest of your life! We ants operate more efficiently in greater numbers. More numbers, more efficiency! If our colony members keep dying by being stupid, then we have less numbers! Less numbers, is less efficiency! AM I GETTING THROUGH TO YOU, HATCHLING?�

She stood firm in the face of the general�s overwhelming scent, but could no longer muster the will to argue with her elders.

�Yes� General.�

�GOOD!� The general marched back to the front of the chamber. �Below us is the farm. A controlled series of chambers that host several spawn points of monsters common to the first stratum of our Dungeon home. We will analyse their characteristics and discuss tactics for the next two hours. Be sure to memorise every word, as you will then break into teams of five under the guidance of the Brood Tenders to secure your first round of Biomass and experience. Then we return here to review. Let�s get started��

The training regime was brutal, and the hatchling ate it up. Lectures, followed by practice drills, followed by live practice, followed by a review. The Brood Tenders patiently explained every mistake, and stepped them through every decision, questioning the young ants� thinking and drilling their sacrificial tendencies out of them. Then more lectures, more drills, and the cycle continued. They repeated the same thing five times before they were allowed to collapse into torpor.

The moment she awoke, the hatchling was greeted by the hard stare of another large and intimidating ant. The general was gone, replaced by a similar sized, but smoother-looking ant. Its carapace was thinner and more streamlined, the mandibles not as large. When her antennae picked up the scent, she realised this was the ant who�d been thwacked by a Tender in the tunnels the previous day.

�Finally awake? Didn�t realise the colony was raising such lazy brood.�

The hatchling was still tired and hungry, but she wasn�t about to appear lazy! She sprang up and poked her nearby siblings with her legs to get them up and alert. The Brood Tenders around the sides of the chamber watched carefully as the ants came to attention.

�Good. You�ve been yelled at by a general all yesterday. That�s grand and all. Today, we�ll begin teaching you how to use the greatest weapon the eldest gave you.�

The scout bent one antenna back to indicate her head.

�The story goes that the eldest was born smart, smarter than any other ant. The rest of us, though? Stupid, regular old monsters. Then, the eldest learned a way to create a brand-new type of ant. A way to turn all of us into something like them. Just like that, this colony was born.�

The hatchling felt the stirring of awe in her thorax at these words. Able to change the entire colony? Make each and every member more powerful? Such a level of contribution was� absurd.

�If you aren�t thinking, if you aren�t using your Cunning to its fullest,� the ant continued, �then you aren�t achieving the incredible potential you�ve been gifted with. So today, we�re going to be learning about scouting. I�m a scout, another soldier caste evolution. For the next four hours, I�ll lecture you on the Dungeon, expected conditions, hazards and dangers, teamwork when moving in the tunnels. Memorise it all and then we�ll head out for a live scouting exercise. Understood?�

�Yes!� the hatchlings replied.

She listened intently to every word, devouring the knowledge just as her siblings did. When the four hours were up, her brain ached fiercely, but there was no rest. The scout led them directly out of their learning chamber, and the hatchlings were once again divided into teams with their Brood Tender mentor guiding them into the Dungeon.

Once there, they prowled the tunnels, crawling over the ceilings and walls as they practised hiding, setting ambushes, and tracking. They returned to the nest for another lengthy debrief and another round of lectures.

Then, it was back out into the tunnels. When they were done, the hatchlings collapsed into torpor after shovelling down the Biomass they were provided.

Up again, their Brood Tender teachers were still present, but a new ant replaced the scout.

�WAKE UP, YOU LAZY GRUBS!�

An explosion of flames erupted from the ant�s mouth, causing all the hatchlings to leap awake.

�You�ve got the mental stats to use magic, and every day, the colony learns new and important ways to employ it! No matter what caste you become part of, you need a basic understanding of the Skills and methods employed in the magical arts! First, we will hunt for experience and Biomass in the farm, then we�ll consume Mana-infused water. This will help you to form your core! By the time we�re done, every ant in this class must have formed their core. Then we return for eight hours of Skill training! Be prepared!�

The hatchling wasn�t sure how she felt about being able to shoot flames from her mouth, but it seemed powerful, and powerful was good for the colony. She would learn!

The mage wasted no time and led the class down into the farm, where they engaged in controlled battles against the monsters that spawned there. Consuming Biomass and raising their basic Skills. Eventually, they were led to a pool of water that was fed from above, a steady flow draining down from a gap in the ceiling.

The water tasted electrifying and the hatchling gulped it down greedily. Then more hunting, more drinking. The moment a student reached Level five, they were no longer allowed to take experience, giving the rest over to the others. The hatchling achieved Level five quickly, and continued to aggressively hunt with her team in order to secure Levels for her group.

When each ant formed their core, they returned to the lesson chamber for an extended grilling session from their mage instructor.

And on it went. The ants were given a thorough drilling in the basic Skills required for each caste. Instructed in the intricate network that made the entire colony tick. If a single member of their class failed to understand even a part of it, they were sent back for another gruelling day of training.

The hatchling worked tirelessly under the watchful gaze of the instructors, who ensured the class completed its tasks.

After a week, they were ready to evolve for the first time. There was huge excitement in the class. They were to be assigned their castes! This would determine the kind of work they would do for the colony, what could be more important? The ants eagerly leapt out of torpor to find their teachers were already in position, the general waiting in the centre of the teaching space.

�CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken the first step in not being useless! Each member of this class should have maximum mutations, a core, and have attained Level five once more. Along with a basic understanding of the roles of every caste in the colony, this is the requirement to qualify for your first evolution!�

The general and the other teachers surveyed the class with serious eyes. Their antennae monitoring every stray scent.

�In accordance with the wishes of the eldest, there is a limited amount of choice given to you. We will tell you what evolutions are needed, you will sort yourselves into groups so that the quotas are reached!�

The hatchling grew conflicted at these words. She just wanted to do what the colony told her to do. Now she had to choose?

�TEN SOLDIERS are needed! SIX ARTISANS AND FOUR WORKERS! Soldiers to the back of the chamber! Artisans on the left! Workers on the right!�

The students began to sort themselves, moving toward the direction they preferred. The hatchling was frozen in place. She didn�t know which one she wanted to do, which one was more important? What if she picked something and another hatchling wouldn�t be able to go where they felt they could best serve? Would she deny the colony access to a talented and willing member? How could she make this decision? Just tell her what to do!

With a start, she realised the rest of her siblings had sorted themselves, and only she remained standing in place. The general stood in front of her, the overwhelming scent of authority rolling off her in waves.

�What�s wrong, student?� she asked.

�Tell me what to do,� the hatchling said.

�If you don�t pick, I will pick for you. But be warned, if I have to choose for you, then your task will be more difficult and thankless than any other task. No glory will come to you, and your service will not be seen.�

The hatchling felt only relief.

�I don�t care. Please tell me how I can serve.�

�Fine. Walk out of the chamber and speak to the Brood Tender in the tunnel.�

Shock radiated through her.

�What?�

�Go.�

Without another word, the hatchling rose from her place and left the chamber. In the tunnel, she found a Brood Tender who indicated for her to follow, and then led the way toward a nearby chamber, wherein other students were being gathered, each led by a Tender.

The chamber was much like the last, sloped downward toward the front where a flat space for teaching occupied the focal point. Twenty spaces for students were crafted into the slope, but in this chamber, twenty small glittering gems rested in each space. At the urging of her teacher, the hatchling moved to one of the student spaces, eyes focusing in on the strange, spherical gem. It was a core, she knew that, but it was larger than any core she�d seen before. Besides, she�d already absorbed all of the cores she could before evolution. What could she need this one for?

She waited as the chamber filled up, and when every student seat was filled, the room became still. Shortly after, an ant with a powerful aura of authority stepped into the chamber.

�Greetings, hatchlings,� she said without any preamble. �My name is Advant. I�m a soldier, trained by the eldest and among the first twenty ants born in the new colony.�

The hatchling quivered in awe. This was a true legend of the colony!

�You are here,� she went on, �because you have displayed excellence in your classes above the expected level and exhibited the traits the colony most prizes. Selflessness, dedication, devotion, zeal, and drive. For this reason, you have been selected to become the second ever batch of special evolution hatchlings. The ants around you will be your team for the rest of your lives. The colony has need of an exceptional group of ants, and you are to become that group. Absorb the cores in front of you and evolve. After that, your training will get hard. Be prepared. But first, I will name you.�

Advant moved through the rows of students, and as she passed each one, she tapped them on the head and spoke to them their name. When the mighty soldier reached the hatchling, she felt an antenna tap her on the head.

�Your name is Protectant. Serve well.�