Chrysalis Chapter 1718 - Swept Clean

Green Mountain is simultaneously more and less grand than my expectations. Truthfully, it is difficult for any settlement here to truly impress, considering they are perched upon mountain slopes so massive they defy belief.

When you factor in the ambient mana of the fourth, which is saturated with life, light, and water, almost every vista becomes a breathtaking sight.

That being said, the city occupying this specific peak is clearly ancient and highly developed. It boasts massive walls, a thriving port, and countless thousands of homes that scale the slope toward the clouds above. Is it the Silver City? Not even close, but its prosperity is undeniable.

It also feels a bit militant.

While the Silver City was crafted to be a living masterpiece, Green Mountain seems designed to scowl at the rest of the world. Despite its lush name, the architecture is quite grey and grim. Upon closer inspection, many of the buildings appear to have been constructed to serve as internal barricades and defensive points should the city ever face an invasion.

It isn't quite a fortress, but the inhabitants clearly possess a defensive mindset. It is logical, I suppose, given that core harvesting is one of the primary industries here. Situated close enough to the Mother Tree to see her silhouette in the distance, these people have cultivated a reputation for harboring intense hatred toward all things monster. It is quite unfortunate for them that the Colony decided to settle on the mountain right next door.

Oh, it appears they have spotted me.

I spent a few days navigating a maze of tunnels to reach the very edge of Green Mountain's territory. Since I had no desire to stumble into their outposts or walls down in the Dungeon, I chose to tunnel upward to the surface. I carved a stone path as I went, eventually breaching the surface of the lake to get a direct look at the city.

I can hear the faint tolling of alarm bells from the walls and spot figures rushing around, shouting and pointing. They seem quite lively. I imagine it must get quite tedious pacing those walls all day.

In reality, if an assault were to happen, it would come from the tunnels, not across the water. Regardless, I wave an antenna at them in a friendly greeting. I hope they can see me.

It seems they can; they are currently hurling fireballs at me.

Lots of fireballs. They must have some sort of siege engines installed on the ramparts to launch so many projectiles so quickly. Rather than remaining there to start a mana war against an entire city of mages, I let myself drop back into the tunnel I excavated. I plummeted 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 use gravity wells to move myself, the more indispensable they become. Fall damage? Hah! That doesn't apply to me.

Once I reach 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 sloppy.

“Eldest, we have apprehended every straggler we could find,” one of them reports, emerging from the darkness.

“I appreciate the help. I didn't want to keep you from your usual duties for this long. I hope there aren't too many who have been 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 cells will be packed for the next several days.”

Are you serious? Sheesh. I never intended for any ants to become such fanatics about enforcing the daily rest period, but it is quite irritating that my siblings decided to act so wild the moment they were off the leash. Show some self-control, for goodness' sake!

“I’ll have Crinis assist you,” I tell the nameless one. “Clearly, my siblings aren't afraid enough of the dark.”

That should teach them a lesson.

The nameless one performs the eightfold genuflection before me, which is a rare gesture of respect since I am not a member of their order.

“With the shadow herself helping us, we shall finish our task in record time.”

[Are you okay with that, Crinis?]

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

[I’ll be on my best behavior.]

[Then I am fine with it.]

In the end, we managed to capture roughly half of the delvers present in the tunnels, totaling about twelve hundred people. Apparently, Merchant is currently back there negotiating the terms of the sale. I wonder if the Council of Green Mountain will finally bite the bullet and pay. A literal king's ransom has been requested for their citizens—investment funds for Merchant’s projects. I am curious to see what she achieves. After all, the Colony needs cores!

But if she loses all that wealth, she is going to get a serious thwacking! I don't care how tiny she is!

“Well. Now that they are cowering behind their walls, it is time for the next phase,” I sigh, stretching my joints and grooming my antennae.

For the time being, we will return to the nest for a brief rest. I could use a status check and perhaps a few mutations before proceeding further, and I still have new abilities to test out.

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

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

Once the second round is finished, they will be begging us to leave them alone. I am already weary of playing with these idiots. I want my revenge on the slugs below, and these delvers have already wasted far too much of my time.