Chrysalis Chapter 1763 - Downtown

I must say, neutralizing four Krath outposts in such a short span is quite the achievement. My spirits are lifted as I reunite with my companions before descending into the abyss. After enduring so much suffering in the fifth layer previously, being able to dominate and crush my way through those plague-ridden tunnels brings a melody of joy to my soul and a metaphorical tear to my eye.

Well, my non-melting eye. I truly cannot stress enough how miserable it is to have your vision constantly liquified by acidic air while desperately trying to heal it just to, you know, see. It is not an experience I care to repeat! My diamond eyes are definitely the superior choice! Far better than diamond hands.

Crinis is once again latched onto my carapace, and I have to stop her from slipping underneath it, while Tiny and Invidia chatter away with unbridled excitement about their jolly escapades of punching enemies and causing explosions. For the most part, Invidia is content to let Tiny bask in the spotlight, but he is quick to emphasize what a valuable and excellent friend he has been—a detail he has been keen on highlighting ever since his latest evolution.

In all honesty, he has proven to be a wonderful friend to almost everyone he encounters. More power to him!

As we descend, I cannot help but be awed by the sheer magnitude of what the Colony has managed to achieve over the past half-year. The territory we have claimed is vast. Considering how little time we have held it, the infrastructure developed down here is absolutely staggering. Stretching for dozens of kilometers, long vertical tunnels have been repurposed into massive elevators. Channels connect each of our primary ant fortresses, forming a sprawling network that hums with energy whenever I navigate near it. It is difficult to fathom the sheer quantity of mana pulsing through these conduits, or even to contemplate the ridiculous volume of power contained within the fortresses themselves.

Looking back to when the family consisted only of me, the Queen, and a few hundred hatchlings, it feels surreal that we have progressed this far in such a brief amount of time. It isn't just the construction itself that is mind-boggling, but the very tunnels that house it.

These tunnels were nothing more than a toxic wasteland not so long ago! Arguably the most hostile environment in the entire Dungeon! Arriving here is an arduous task, existing here is like a dream within a dream, and constructing large-scale projects here is like something out of a fantasy novel!

Yet, here we are. I suppose I am proud. My siblings are truly incredible! Witnessing what they have accomplished without my guidance is deeply humbling. It is heartening to realize that, even in my absence, the family will thrive.

It is comforting. Perhaps a bit melancholy, but mostly comforting.

It takes several days of relentless travel to reach the deepest parts of our territory. Even utilizing the elevator shafts, we are traversing hundreds of kilometers downward, and it simply requires time. By the time we arrive, I am beginning to believe that implementing teleportation gates might be necessary. I understand the hesitation—the mages worry about background interference from the corruption and fear that if the territory between the exit and entrance is lost, the gates become lethal hazards.

When the final elevator grinds to a halt, I feel a wave of relief. Walking such long distances just to find a fight is not something I am accustomed to. I can vividly recall when battles took place just outside the anthill! Altogether, I have spent the better part of two weeks moving and waiting. I despise it!

Thousands of ants travel alongside me on this lift, primarily from the combat castes. Fresh troops are being deployed to reinforce the front line. Accompanying them are massive pallets of supplies, ready to be pushed onto the rails and transported to their final destinations.

I step off the lift, and it does not take long for the commanding ant to locate me.

“Welcome, Eldest,” Brendant says.

Now at tier six, the soldier has reached an impressive size, her carapace and mandibles reinforced by mutations and supplementary organs to serve as formidable instruments of war. Although, my assessment is that Brendant has prioritized offense far more than defense.

Her head appears slightly wider and larger than I would expect for an ant of her build, a clear indicator of the additional muscle she has developed to amplify her bite strength. Furthermore, it seems she has not only refashioned her mandibles with a fearsome, razor-sharp material but has also attached an external organ that runs along their length, connecting to her carapace beneath the head area.

“What on earth have you attached to your mandibles?” I ask, genuinely intrigued.

“These? It is a Burst Jet Cutting organ. Whenever I chomp, it discharges a pressurized blast of water through openings in my mandibles.”

“Water?”

“You would be amazed at its cutting power. I have another organ in my thorax that collects, pressurizes, and stores the water. My mandibles cut, then the water cuts again; it is quite efficient.”

That sounds… incredibly awesome. Wow.

“Well, if it works for you, that is great. What do you need me to do?”

“What do we *not* need you to do?” Brendant replied.

“Is it that dire?”

“Worse.”

That is certainly not what I wanted to hear. Leading the way, Brendant guides me through the lower levels of the Colony’s primary outpost, situated right on our frontier. As expected, the place is buzzing with activity. Entire levels serve as infirmaries dedicated to detoxifying ants returning from the front, alongside rows of wuffers, each puffing contentedly as they absorb the endless stream of corrupt mana and convert it into safe, purified power.

In this singular fortress, three hundred thousand combat troops are on duty at all times, with twice that number currently off-duty and preparing for rotation.

This is the central hub of the entire campaign, and it is failing.