Chrysalis Chapter 1717 - Word is Out

Information has apparently trickled out from Green Mountain regarding our policy of capturing delvers alive whenever possible. Consequently, this bunch was more than willing to surrender after seeing the sheer intensity of the singularity firsthand. With their traps exposed and most of their gear wrecked, they lacked the resolve to continue the skirmish, resulting in the somewhat pitiful display I witnessed.

It is fine, I suppose, though it isn't as if I wasn't looking forward to a grand, dramatic battle or anything. Honestly.

I am mostly just annoyed because the sheer volume of these mediocre delvers means I am stuck waiting for a significant amount of time while they are gathered up and escorted back to the Colony.

That is the sole reason I am utilizing the Gravity Domain on them. I am certain of it. There was definitely no sinister laughter coming from the Great One as I watched these eager-to-surrender humans squirming in the dirt where they belong.

Once the last of them was finally out of sight and being moved, I could finally get back to business. Fortunately, the nameless managed to slip into the tunnels ahead of me to hunt the remaining delvers while I was forced to sit on my carapace playing the role of a babysitter.

A part of me wishes I could return to the nest to oversee the situation. Housing hundreds of elite, high-Level delvers cannot be easy for the family, particularly since they are currently low on antpower. I left Tiny and Invidia behind for a reason; hopefully, that provides enough raw strength to keep the prisoners under control.

I move through the tunnels now without bothering to float or hide my presence. There is no point in stealth now that the surviving delvers are fleeing back toward the mountain as fast as they can. Now that news has spread that I am out here capturing people by the dozen, the idea that I might be vulnerable enough to be killed seems to be fading. The initial greed sparked by my bounty appears to have cooled off.

I had hoped more would be brave enough to challenge me, and perhaps they will once they have had a chance to regroup. For the moment, too many of their comrades have vanished, and I suspect the leaders on Green Mountain are starting to panic.

After all, as more delvers disappear, those prices just keep climbing. I know Merchant is putting the squeeze on the mountain's representatives, and I am certain they are growing quite anxious.

Bankruptcy is coming for them. Gweheheheheh.

Sprinting through the tunnels, I continue to accelerate, putting my massive body into high gear as I attempt to close the gap with the retreating delvers. I am nearing the boundary of the Colony’s claimed territory and entering Green Mountain lands. Does that mean I will slow down or stop?

Absolutely not! We go even faster!

One interesting thing I’ve discovered while running at this size is that it is often simpler to go through an obstacle than around it. As I charge, I pulverize boulders and shatter stalagmites and stalactites, frequently tucking my legs so my torso can simply plow through the terrain instead of climbing over it.

It doesn’t feel particularly antlike to move this way, but it is much easier than constantly trying to adjust my trajectory. I refuse to yield to the environment anymore! The terrain must yield to me! Besides, I must weigh hundreds of tons at this point. I have to look out for my poor joints!

I keep sprinting, pushing my muscles and joints to see exactly how much velocity I can coax out of this frame. Quite a lot, it turns out. Swallowing up the kilometers, I begin to detect some disturbances further ahead.

If I can sense them, they can certainly sense me. They pick up the pace, desperately trying to stay ahead of me. Oho! They are still out of sight, but I am tempted to try another empowered Dash. However, being this far from the Colony, I’d rather not keep blowing my legs off. I’m not even sure if the next set of vestigial legs has finished growing yet.

So I just keep running, forcing myself to gain more speed until my legs are screaming and my joints are throbbing.

It isn't quite enough to catch them since they are using Skills, but I am staying close. I just need to wait for their stamina to fail, and then they will be mine.

Or… I could give myself a little boost….

Working rapidly, I construct a gravity well and manifest it ahead of me, triggering all of its energy in a single, violent burst.

The ground drops away as I am launched forward and upward with incredible momentum. Well, it would be eye-watering if my eyes hadn't been replaced by actual gems.

Soaring through the air at my size is a remarkable experience, I must admit. Not to mention, it is fast. I can feel myself rapidly closing in on my targets, but a thought suddenly occurs to me that I hadn't considered before.

How on earth am I supposed to land?

As it turns out, I land heavily.

CRASH!

Slamming into the earth with massive force, I don't even attempt to land on my legs, knowing they would just shatter instantly. Instead, I let my carapace grind against the stone as I skid forward, using the friction to absorb the immense impact.

Fortunately, the slide carries me right into range of the delver group that was trying so hard to escape.

Gravity Domain!

A violet sphere of super-dense energy expands outward at high speed, washing over the delvers and pinning them firmly to the ground. Another successful capture.