Chrysalis Chapter 1610: 1718 - Swept Clean

Green Mountain is simultaneously more and less grand than I anticipated. Honestly, it’s difficult for these settlements to truly stand out when they are perched on the flanks of mountains so massive they defy belief.

When you factor in the ambient mana of the fourth stratum—brimming with life, light, and water—nearly every direction you look offers a breathtaking vista.

That being said, the city on this particular peak is clearly ancient and highly developed. It features towering walls, a thriving port, and thousands of houses that scale the slopes toward the cloud-shrouded summits. It isn't the Silver City by any stretch of the imagination, but its prosperity is undeniable.

It also feels quite militant.

While the Silver City was crafted to be a habitable masterpiece, Green Mountain looks as though it was designed to scowl at the horizon. Despite what the name suggests, the architecture is remarkably grey and grim. Upon closer inspection, many of the buildings appear to have been situated to serve as internal barriers and defensive nests should the city ever face an invasion.

It isn't quite a fortress, but the defensive mindset of the inhabitants is obvious. It makes sense, given that core harvesting is a primary industry here. Located close enough to catch glimpses of the Mother Tree in the distance, the locals have built a reputation for their deep-seated hatred of all things monster. It is a bit of bad luck for them that the Colony decided to appear and claim the mountain right next door.

Oh, it appears I've been spotted.

I spent a few days scouring various tunnels to reach the actual border of Green Mountain. Since I had no desire to stumble into their subterranean outposts or walls within the Dungeon, I chose to tunnel upward toward the surface. I constructed a stone path as I ascended, eventually breaking through the surface of the lake to get a good look at the city.

Faintly, the sound of alarm bells ringing from the battlements reaches me, and I can see tiny figures rushing around, shouting and pointing. They seem quite lively. I imagine standing guard on those walls all day must get incredibly dull.

Realistically, if an assault were to happen, it would come through the tunnels rather than across the water. Regardless, I flick an antenna at them in a friendly greeting. I hope they can see me.

It turns out they can; they are currently hurlng fireballs in my direction.

So many fireballs. They must have some serious siege engines mounted on those walls to spit out that much magic in such a short window. Rather than sticking around to engage in a mana war against an entire city of mages, I allow myself to drop back down the tunnel I dug. I plummet hundreds of meters before arresting my fall with a gravity well just before hitting the bottom.

That is a very handy trick. The more I practice moving myself with gravity wells, the more versatile I find them to be. Fall damage? Hah! That doesn't apply to me.

Upon reaching the ground, I find several of the nameless waiting for me, hidden within the shadows.

I don't recall being able to spot them this easily in the past. I suspect they are becoming a bit sloppy.

“Eldest, we have apprehended all the stragglers we could find,” one of them reports, emerging from the gloom.

“I appreciate the help. I didn't want to pull you away from your usual tasks for this long. I hope there aren't too many who have started neglecting their rest.”

“There are many,” the nameless one replies, clicking her mandibles as if she were disappointed by the conduct of unruly children. “The holding cells will be packed for the next few days.”

Are you serious? Sheesh. I never intended for any ants to become so obsessed with enforcing the mandatory rest periods, but it is quite irritating that my siblings decided to go wild the moment they were off the leash. Show some self-control, for goodness' sake!

“I’ll have Crinis assist you,” I inform the nameless one. “It seems my siblings aren't afraid enough of the dark yet.”

That should teach them a lesson.

The nameless one performs the eightfold genuflection before me. It’s a rare mark of respect, especially since I am not a member of their order.

“With the shadow herself aiding us, we will be back on schedule in no time.”

[Are you okay with that, Crinis?]

[As long as you do not wander too far away…]

[I’ll be fine.]

[Then I am willing.]

In the end, we managed to capture roughly half of the delvers wandering the tunnels—somewhere around twelve hundred people. Apparently, Merchant is currently back there negotiating the terms of the sale. I wonder if the Council of Green Mountain is finally going to swallow their pride and pay. A literal king’s ransom has been requested for their citizens, intended as investment funds for Merchant’s projects. I’m curious to see what she accomplishes. After all, the Colony needs cores!

But if she loses all that wealth, she’s getting a serious thwacking! I don't care how small she is!

“Well. Now that they are cowering behind their fortifications, it’s time for the next stage,” I sigh, stretching my joints and grooming my antennae.

For the moment, we will return to the nest for a brief rest. I could use a status check and perhaps a few more mutations before I proceed, and I still have new experiments to conduct.

I am certain that Green Mountain will be coughing up blood when they have to hand over all that money to a group of monsters, and they’ll likely be screaming to their allies about the unfairness of it all. They will be furious, defensive, and seeking vengeance.

That’s perfectly fine. That is exactly where I want them.

By the time the second round concludes, they will be pleading for us to leave them alone. I’m already growing weary of playing with these idiots. I want my revenge on the slugs below, and these delvers have already wasted enough of my time.