Chrysalis Chapter 1751 - Updated Maps

It turns out Solant spoke the truth when she mentioned I wouldn’t squeeze into the coordination chamber for the campaign. The most they manage is to widen an entrance, letting me settle just outside and peek inside. Thankfully, this setup allows me a clear view of the constantly evolving model of the fifth stratum that the generals rely on. I’ve encountered it previously, figuring that after six months, they’d need to build a fresh one on a revised scale, but that’s not the case. This colossal model, roughly the scale of a tall building, occupies an expanding oval excavation right in the room’s middle.

The stratum’s every fine element stands replicated, even the narrowest tunnels depicted by threads as slender as an ant’s whisker. Upon starting to survey it, the initial sights that grab me are the chambers plainly standing for the hearts.

Evidently, the Colony has seized more than a dozen of those, dramatically boosting the extent of purified areas while shoving back the Krath. For each heart, a corresponding bastion has risen, not always matching the source’s size, yet fulfilling the core role: sheltering reservoirs of refined mana to surge through the conduits and crush Theorazzn’s foul influence.

I can hardly fathom the immense labor the Colony has invested in this feat. Securing and purifying the initial heart demanded Herculean work and almost cost me my life. They’ve pushed this far even lacking me, Tiny, Crinis, and Invidia? It’s mind-blowing!

“As you can see, we’ve been quite active while you were away,” Solant remarks, approaching the model and ascending its surface.

That’s logical, I guess—she can’t simply gesture at the sections she means to highlight, given its vastness. Her compact form makes it easy for Solant to navigate across the terrain, directing attention to the spots she wishes to stress.

“We’ve kept broadening our reach by zeroing in on hearts with careful precision. Through our linked chain of strongholds, we channel and amass liquid mana at the spots we choose. By inundating Dungeon regions, we’ve eradicated Krath holdouts and hindered their ability to form a firm front line.”

Oh, that clicks. Leveraging the might of the purified mana and its direct delivery to the forefront in huge quantities, they essentially expel the Krath, then advance to claim the ground. This approach lets them sidestep large-scale clashes with the Krath entirely. Little surprise at their triumphs.

“I suppose the Krath have devised methods to counter this tactic’s potency?”

“Indeed.”

Solant ventures to the model’s borders, indicating various critical locations.

“When it comes to broadening our front, we’ve faced less resistance than in probing deeper. The bulk of Krath defenses cluster at these spots, these, and these. To counter our flooding, they’ve reshaped passages, forming vast mucus pools to swallow our mana and redirect it from their strongpoints. Battles over the vents have escalated sharply too. They’ve grasped that we can channel mana straight into hearts via them and are pulling out all stops to keep those from our grasp, even wrecking them.

“As a result, our forward momentum has dropped off sharply in the past two months, letting the Krath drag us into a grinding war of endurance. This exact type of fight we need to evade. The strain on our soldiers, the casualty rate, proves unbearable. Plus, it grants the slug clans extra time to devise rebuttals and fortify their lines. Without a swift breakthrough, any real headway will demand a horrific toll.”

Got it. Solant needs me returning to battle as a breakthrough force. A sudden strike unit to shatter the slugs’ barriers and permit the pure mana to penetrate further before they alter the landscape. As long as we force the tribes into retreat, they lack the means to shield against the deluge. It’d also offer more shots at claiming vents before their meddling. Controlling vents lets us assault hearts head-on.

“Fine, where do I go first?” I inquire.

“To begin, target these Krath bases. This one, this, this, and… this.”

Curiously, Solant skips the model’s profoundest zones, instead selecting four sites near the midpoint’s periphery.

“These represent the primary Krath clusters blocking our lateral growth. Their collapse would let us grab at least two additional hearts and unlock fresh paths downward, especially this major vein we estimate stretches nearly eight hundred kilometers deep.”

That’s a prime route to command. No wonder Solant eyes it keenly.

“Next, I’d have you plunge into the lower levels. Speed matters greatly. Allowing the slugs time to adjust has doomed countless plans. Those beasts are cunning and shrewd. Should they learn of your approach, they’ll scheme to ensnare you like last time.”

“Well… I reckon they’ll discover it tougher now than before,” I reply, rising once more and extending my limbs.

“Say…” I muse out loud. “Have any miners… or perhaps Smithant, visited to scout the area?”

“Hunting for resources to bolster the war?” Solant affirms, dipping her head. “Yes, we have. Since the old mana and beasts returned, certain material veins have sprouted sporadically. We’re evaluating them, though progress crawls. They’re tricky to handle, from what I hear.”

“Bring Merchant here to inspect them,” I direct Solant.

“Merchant? There’s no commerce possible below,” Solant questions skeptically.

“Just believe me. She’ll figure it out. Have her examine all you’ve uncovered thus far. Something’s bound to prove valuable.”

“Very well.”

“Excellent. I’m heading off. One last stop, then I’ll depart.”

“What? Where to now?” Solant queries, concealing her annoyance.

“The tiny snails pulled me through my evolution. Without them, I’d likely be gone. At worst, far less impressive. I owe them gratitude!”