Chrysalis Chapter 1885 - Tourist

It’s a bit weird, showing around a strange monster, but that’s what I find myself doing. For his part, Gylax is a polite guest, as polite as a giant bat-faced ape covered in metal, spiky fur that emits lightning can be, I suppose.

Seeing the original fifth stratum returning is something of a shock to his system, and he’s constantly amazed as I show him around a few tunnels and he can see the new… or monsters spawning and fighting all over the place. With the two of us together, almost all of the critters leave us alone, which is nice, though it’s a bit awkward to wander about with monsters battling each other all around us. Especially weird ones like the natives here.

[How long did it take you to do all this?] Gylax asks.

[About a year, I think? I was asleep for a part of it.]

[Storms below! A year?! I’m not sure I can believe that.]

I can’t help but chuckle.

[My family is rather industrious. We can get a lot done when we set our minds to it. Also, there’s a lot of us.]

[How many?]

[I’m not going to answer that. Let’s just say, a lot.]

[Fine.]

Hey, I’m not giving away anything I don’t have to. Gylax isn’t exactly sly about it either. After an hour or so of tromping through tunnels, he eventually makes a request.

[There’s obvious evidence what you say is true,] he says to me, gesturing around at the generally non-toxic state of the environment, [but I need a little more. This could have been anyone and you’re the only ant I’ve seen up here. I need to see more.]

[That’s…]

[Honestly, it puts me in more danger. I’m offering to be taken where there are more of you,] he points out. [But I don’t want to report back to my people that there’s a massive army of ants or something without actually seeing it.]

Well.. that’s a fair call. I can’t imagine even a cooperative group of powerful monsters in the sixth is going to believe the Krath were defeated by a colony of ants from the first without some sort of proof. As far as Gylax knows, I’m the only ant here.

[Fine, fine. I’ll take you over to the fortress. Just don’t pull any funny business.]

[Of course! You have my word as a Storm Bringer.]

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[I… don’t know if that’s worth anything. Is it?]

The big ape stares hard at me.

[I’m trying not to be offended,] he replies eventually. [It’s a reasonable question. Yes, it’s worth something. If we don’t keep our word, then there isn’t anything to separate us from the unthinking monsters who only think of fighting and eating.]

[Right this way.]

We aren’t far from the ant fortress. In fact, Gylax could probably sense the cores of my many siblings from where we were. Seeing is believing, though, so I dutifully lead the ape towards the platform.

[I’m just going to call ahead and let them know not to attack us.]

[Me, I understand, but would they attack you?]

.

[Accidents happen,] I shrug. Weaving a new mind bridge, I reach out towards the fortress. [Ahoy over there! Coming in with a guest.]

[A guest?] one of the generals in charge replies. [Isn’t that the powerful monster you were going to fight? What happened?]

[Turns out they were more of an envoy? I guess? I’m accompanying them to have a quick peek, then escorting them back to the sixth.]

Then I reach out to Tiny directly.

[Tiny, no fighting.]

[What?] he replies, shocked.

[You are not allowed to fight the monster coming to the platform with me. That’s an order.]

He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his powerful sulking through our link. He’s going to be in a mood for days.

[Alright, the way is clear. Let’s go.]

Obviously I can’t take Gylax onto the platform itself, that’s being a bit too friendly, but we get close enough to see it. The big ape looks about, staring up at the massive walls of the fortress and out over the thousands of ants deployed on the platform. When he sees Tiny, he freezes.

[Great blue bolts! What is ?]

I mean… is that would be more appropriate.

[That’s Tiny. He’s my friend.]

[He’s from the sixth? How did he get up here?]

[He’s from the first stratum, actually. I reconstituted him when I was quite young.]

In shock, the ape turns to me.

[He’s a ?]

Tiny, for his part, doesn’t appear all that shocked to see a monster that looks so similar to himself. He just looks angry that he can’t fight. He eyes Gylax’s impressive physique for a long moment, before he draws himself up to his full height, pounds his palms onto his chest and flexes.

[What… what is he doing?] Gylax asks me, confused and upset for some reason.

[He’s flexing. He likes to show off his size.]

[I can see that he’s trying to flex, but why is he doing it so ? Behold!]

Throwing off his earlier hesitation, Gylax roars, baring his fangs before he too rises to his full height, drawing his enormous arms up before lacing his fingers together and holding them behind his head. Crunching down, he flexes his chest and core, straining from the sheer power involved.

Tiny’s eyes narrow and he nods, slowly.

He loosens his stance, shakes out his arms, then breathes out through his nose heavily, gaze sharpening to a razor’s edge. With a mighty bellow, he tightens one bicep, bringing his arm across to pose side-on, showing off his arm and shoulder. He too is visibly shaking from the effort of his potent flex.

What the heck is happening here?