Chrysalis Chapter 1606: 1714 - The Shadows Are Dangerous

Being out in the tunnels in this manner felt foreign to the nameless one. While some of her sisters, those acting as scouts and soldiers during their daylight shifts, likely felt at home in these surroundings, the nameless one had not left the dark for many weeks. It was possible her identity among those who dwell in the light was entirely erased—an ant gone missing, struck from the records and presumed dead. Or, perhaps her family knew exactly where she spent her hours and simply chose to ignore it.

<Maintain focus,> the group leader signed to the others.

As if the nameless one would ever be anything less than perfect in her work. She had tracked the most lethal prey in the Colony; a few humans stumbling through the Dungeon would be no trouble at all.

Still, she never took shortcuts or dropped her guard. Perfection was the mandatory standard for the nameless, and regardless of the mission, she would meet that expectation.

Moving together like flowing water between the shadows, the nameless group acted as a single entity, sensing and pausing, only shifting their positions when they were absolutely certain. Dancing on the razor-thin line between the material realm and the shadow dimension, they stayed centered. After a time, their first mark was located.

A lone human was crouched against the tunnel wall, hidden in a concealed spot.

To be fair, it was a respectable attempt at stealth, and the nameless might have missed her if not for the constant shadow on the ground. If a thing cast a shadow, they would find it. To the nameless, shadows were windows, and they were also doors. Out of everything in existence, they were most attuned to the dark.

<Search the area,> the leader signed. <There will be more.>

The nameless one moved with intent, wasting no time as she traveled soundlessly and invisibly through the tunnel. Behind her, the others spread out, inspecting every crack and crevice. When hunting prey like this, they knew better than to rely on their antennae, their eyes, or even their sense of touch. Nothing was to be trusted; every detail had to be confirmed by observing from every possible angle.

Only due to such thoroughness did they locate the second one, who was hidden inside a hollow stalagmite and using mana sense to monitor the outside world.

<Found one,> the nameless one signaled, indicating the intruder.

In the absolute blackness, there wasn't even a shadow to detect. Only the incredibly faint brush of the delver's mind against the tunnel's mana had revealed their location.

When they struck, it was finished in a heartbeat. The nameless one claimed the second delver herself. Even though the darkness inside the stone pillar had masked her shadow, it offered no protection against the arts of the nameless. Grabbing hold of the dark, the nameless one meticulously infused it with her mana, channeling it through the shadow dimension to mask where it was coming from.

Despite her active mana sensing, the delver remained oblivious that the very darkness surrounding her was shifting and becoming physical. It was no longer merely dark; it had become a door.

When the moment was right, the nameless one pulled it wide, and the delver tumbled through the gap. With no time to scream, she was wrapped in a shroud of shadow, her consciousness forced into a deep sleep.

Flawless.

Once the prey was secured in the separate realm, others were ready to take the subdued target back to the sleeping cells. The nameless had carved numerous paths through the shadow dimension for this very task.

<Continue,> their leader signed. <Clear the path.>

And so they proceeded.

They moved through the tunnel, searching, sensing, and hunting. With as much care as if they were stalking the Council itself, they advanced with extreme caution, knowing that the smallest hint of their presence would make the job ten times more difficult.

More were discovered, some alone and others in small clusters, delvers gathered at various points to watch the tunnel for ants, never realizing they were the ones being preyed upon. One by one, they were pulled into the shadows, overtaken by sleep, and carried off to the cells.

It was obvious that so many eyes on a single tunnel meant there was a reason, and the cause was soon revealed.

<Stop,> the nameless one signaled, and the unit froze instantly. In the silence, she indicated four distinct spots. <There are many here,> she added.

A heavy concentration of delvers. With this many so close together, there were bound to be others.

<Scout ahead,> the leader gestured.

A lone nameless could go where a full group could not.

Slipping through the tightest gaps, she bypassed the first row of sentries, then the second, and finally the third. Only then was she close enough to perceive what was being concealed within the tunnel.

Leaving was far simpler than entering. After all, the humans expected threats from the front, not the rear. Those they had already seized were undoubtedly part of this group. Soon, the humans would realize people were missing and increase their guard, but for the moment, they remained unaware.

Once she had retreated to a safe distance, she returned to the waiting nameless.

<A large force is gathered,> she signed. <They are preparing to move.>

The nameless remained motionless as they weighed their next move.

<This must be reported to the Eldest,> the leader signed.

Naturally, they couldn't go to the Eldest in person; who knew where they were at this moment? Fortunately, it wasn't necessary. Hovering alongside them on the threshold of shadow and reality, a single tentacle waited, ready to receive their report.