Chrysalis

Chapter 697 - Seizing the levels

In truth, the establishment of the Core Shapers by the Eldest proved over time to be a master stroke. At first, there were many who decried the resources being sent to the caste instead of being used to nourish the next generation. Perhaps at first, this was indeed the case. As hardworking and talented as Elegant and Bella were in those early days, they l acked Skill levels, expertise and the raw statistical power required for complex core shaping. The Core Shapers were a sinkhole of precious cores, the most important commodity to the Colony, as it was needed to fuel evolutions and there was never anywhere close to enough to satisfy the Colony's needs. Some postulate that the lasting damage done by the Shapers draining cores at this time had a much larger carry on effect than may have been seen on the surface, but I personally doubt it.

The Council was strict with resource allocation then, just as they are now. Bella and Ellie were forced to work miracles with the pittance that they were given, raising their caste up with nothing more than scraps and fumes. Eventually, the Core Shapers rose to a place of prominence and their contributions could no longer be denied by even the most strident of critics. Able to take risks with their pets that ants could not, able to adapt to any environment or conditions by changing out their followers, able to range far on their own, relying on their defenders to protect them. The number of cores brought back to the Colony through out-of-territory resource collection missions is a staggering figure, one that most Colony members are totally unaware of. Lone Core Shapers braving the dangers of the Dungeon on their own or in small teams, venturing outside of Colony territory and battling hard to bring back precious materials.

It is a lesson in long term planning that only the Eldest had the reach to see and the wisdom to undertake. No step that they undertook in the formation of the early Colony failed to bear tremendous fruit down the line.

Excerpt from 'On the castes' by Historiant

The spider was mad. Real mad. A natural response to having her secret nest invaded and subjected to repeated explosions, I have to admit. It's only going to get worse for you spider! I'm not leaving until I get that sweet, sweet experience! Gweheheheh.

According to our plan, Tiny takes his distance before blasting the spider with every ounce of lightning he has, a dissatisfied expression written plainly on his face. You want to punch the poisonous death spider that much? You idiot! Crinis extends her limbs from the shadows, making calculated strikes against the spider's legs as Invidia continues to detonate the surrounding rock, collapsing the web and diluting the home ground advantage of our adversary.

For my part, I bite, and blast with fire, and do whatever else I can to occupy the attention of this high tier beast. The spider's shrieks of rage rise to an all new crescendo and if I could stuff my antennae into my ears, I would. Instead, I bite all the harder.

DOOM CHOMP!

My muscles snap with immense power, sending the black jaws through the air so quickly I can no longer see them move. Despite her immense bulk, the spider moves with surprising grace and she manages to sway to the side, avoiding my bite by the slightest of margins before she bares her fangs at me, striking with blinding quickness. My antennae have already tingled a warning to me and my reflexes pay off, allowing me to skip backward, out of her range. Her bite Skill appears to be weaker than mine, the range and power are not nearly as devastating as my own Doom Chomp. Although… I can't rule out that it's all a bluff. This spider is sneaky and intelligent, I can't trust anything at face value. She probably wants me to think 'oh, this is a pathetic excuse of a bite, I can tank this no problem', then, when I stand in front of her, not dodging like an idiot, her true strike will reveal itself and stab through my heart in a second.

I'm on to you spider!

Maybe I'm overthinking, but somehow I don't think so. This spider is clearly capable of producing powerful poison and even an aura of death. I refuse to believe that her fangs are just for show. Remaining cautious, I snap and bite at the bulbous monster and keep her on the back foot as the rest of my team keep piling on the damage. Crinis uses her barbed limbs to twist and grab at every leg she can grasp, wrenching and biting into the armour covering the arachnid's limbs. Tiny unleashes wave after wave of electric energy on the spider, roasting the huge monster with blue lightning, his face growing more and more disgruntled each moment. Invidia keeps weaving his magical mastery, as usual, flawless execution on display as he controls his mana with perfection. Man, must be nice to be tier six, I can't wait!

Damn spider, gimme my experience!

The fight enters into a brief stalemate as the spider continues to bait and lunge whilst we maintain our vigil of wearing the creature down. Four against one, we don't need to be the ones to take any risks here. In the end, it's Tiny who breaks the deadlock by growing so impatient that he goes against the plan and decides to start swinging. I can see on his face the moment when he cracks, the irritation and anger piled up in him until he snaps and unleashes a deep bellow, cutting off the lightning and leaping forward with his fists bared.

Stupid ape! How many times are you going to try and get yourself killed?!

Tiny has gotten too comfortable getting into the thick of the fight since he got his armour, as he was no longer such a glass cannon that he'd get shattered from the slightest blow. That doesn't mean you're going to be safe you moron! Just as I suspected, the spider has clearly been hiding her strength. The moment Tiny came close enough to unleash his fist, she darts forward, her entire body suddenly blurred and hard to see, as if wreathed in illusion, as her fangs gleam with a deadly cold light. Not expecting this sudden burst of speed, Tiny's punch flies over the spider's head as her fangs reach toward him, poison dripping from the tips.

BOOM!

Invidia to the rescue. Gandalf and his luminous beard bless that little eyeball. Before the spider can close on the bat faced ape, two things happen. First, a multi-layered shield springs up between them which the monster crunches into, slowing her charge significantly as she breaks through, and second, an explosion detonates just underneath the spider, lifting her body into the air and robbing her of her grip on the floor.

Chance!

Even Tiny seizes upon this moment to deliver a devastating uppercut straight into the ominous fangs of the arachnid, shocking the monster. It's the prelude to the end as I Dash forward, my jaws at the ready.

CRUNCH!

The Doom Chomp strikes home and the giant spider simply cannot resist its penetrating power. After a few twitches, the fight is done.

[You have received experience.]

GWEHEHEHEH.