Chrysalis Chapter 1764 - Boiling Corruption

With Invidia, Tiny, and Crinis present, reinforcing our defensive lines is a straightforward affair. I’ll deploy them immediately and let them set to work. Tier seven monsters are formidable assets that should not be underestimated; their presence alone is enough to shift the momentum. At the very least, they will alleviate the pressure, allowing the Colony to reorganize.

It appears that the entirety of the conflict is concentrated within the tunnels beneath this structure. The Krath are committing their most potent, highest-tier battalions to this location, and they are holding nothing back. They are determined to obstruct our progress inward, having exhausted every resource to prevent the flow of purified mana into the depths.

Truthfully, according to the reports from Brendant, they have actually succeeded in forcing us to retreat. Clearly, that is an outcome we cannot permit to continue.

Furthermore, it turns out my templar are also stationed here. They were fighting in the fifth level during my slumber, doing their utmost to ensure my family remained safe while supporting the non-ant members of the various battalions. I certainly owe them my gratitude!

Before all else, however, I need to reach the front lines to assess the situation for myself.

After the rampage I carried out in the upper tunnels, I am brimming with confidence. Having shattered four Krath outposts as if they were mere obstacles, I assumed this ordeal would be resolved with ease. Yet, upon stepping onto the front line, I am forced to reassess my outlook.

It is evident that the Colony attempted to replicate the platform system used during the initial wave, isolating the platform from the surrounding terrain to serve as an intake node for mana. The Krath, however, are vehemently opposed to this.

Stepping onto the platform, the magnitude of the issue becomes instantly apparent. We appear to be hemmed in on all sides by a gargantuan tidal wave of mucus. This isn't some minor surge, either; it is a towering, slow-moving catastrophe that creeps forward at a glacial speed while our battalions struggle desperately to push it back.

I stare at the sight, my mandibles agape in shock. How in the world did the Krath manage to conjure this? It is preposterous! If the slime manages to bridge the gap, it will consume the entire lower section of the fortress. Should that occur, it will erode the walls and ravage the interior within hours. Terrifying!

Admittedly, the mucus is not the sole threat the Colony's valiant defenders must face. Rushing through the slime is an endless procession of frenzied, berserk monsters, all striving to eradicate the purified mana and spread their vile corruption. Merely slaying them is insufficient, as parasites and other foul entities erupt from their corpses the moment they fall.

The putrid stench, the gruesome sights, and the cacophony of endless battle and desperation—it is as if I had never departed.

Behind this chaos lies the hidden influence of the Krath. I am told there are thousands of them lurking in the dark, utilizing bizarre magic to strike at our defenders whenever an opening appears, all while manipulating the terrain and guiding native beasts to swarm toward us. Apparently, there have been countless abduction attempts lately, as these slugs intensify their efforts to seize an ant for their own twisted agenda.

I suppose it is time for me to intervene. This will prove far more grueling than I initially anticipated.

Grinding my jaws, I begin to formulate a strategy. Subconsciously, I channel mana into the Everflowing Spring to initiate the conversion process; I am going to require an immense reserve of mana.

Dealing with mucus is a grueling task. It is remarkably dense, not just physically, but in terms of mana content. While contact might not be an immediate termination for me anymore, it is lethal for everyone else. Based on the virulent hue and the hissing, reactive surface, this appears to be a particularly vile variety.

Lacking a more elegant solution, I resign myself to the long, difficult path.

My minds engage, weaving together a Gravity Mana construct, while others draw power from my glands to form a dense, unstable sphere.

Once a Gravity Bomb of sufficient size is prepared, I empower it using the Altar and launch it, aiming high above the platform to ensure my allies remain out of harm's way.

It shrieks into the void. Against the backdrop of sputtering, acidic mucus, the haunting howl of the spell is barely audible, vanishing into the nightmarish distance. Upon detonation, it erupts with a thunderous bang, the rotating void visible for mere seconds before being swallowed by the sludge.

As expected, the effect is short-lived. Even if it disintegrated a significant portion of the sludge, there are millions of cubic meters surrounding us. Well, that will have to suffice for now.

I keep funneling mana back into the spring, allowing it to cycle as I extract more to begin working on the next projectile.

If necessity dictates I throw a thousand of these, so be it. Although, I suspect the Krath will attempt to stop me well before I reach that threshold.

Before long, I have another Gravity Bomb primed, and I send it screaming toward the encroaching wall of filth. As that one dissipates, I have another ready. Then another. And yet another.

It is going to be a very long day indeed.