Chrysalis Chapter 1701 - Hunting

My latest stealth technique possesses a delightfully wicked quality. I can still recall the early days in the first stratum, when I would press my body against the tunnel ceiling with stealth active, terrified of being spotted. My current approach is quite different.

By utilizing Gravity Magic, I suspend myself in the air, legs tucked neatly beneath my carapace, drifting forward in absolute silence. Simultaneously, my sub-minds are focused on suppressing every bit of my mana, masking the energy within my core to ensure I remain invisible to mana sense.

I have named this "Ant Submarine Mode!" I am now a submarinant!

Gweheheheheh.

To be fair, anyone who simply looks up will see a massive floating ant; I am not hiding my physical form at all. However, by the time I am within their line of sight, it is already too late. Navigating the Dungeon this way is a fascinating experience. The local monsters go to great lengths to stay away from me. If they catch my scent or spot me, they no longer charge out of their dens in a mindless frenzy as they once did. Instead, they tuck their heads, retreat into their burrows, or vanish into the shadows, desperate to avoid my notice.

Naturally, I won’t let this success inflate my ego. Pride is dangerous and might wake the dark one. I simply permit myself a small, victorious chuckle while keeping my senses sharp for my actual targets.

After all, I am not out here hunting monsters; I am searching for far more interesting prey.

Tiny, Invidia, and Crinis have been left behind at the nest for now. There is no reason for the delvers to see them just yet, but they certainly need to see me. If I remain hidden inside the nest, no one will be tempted to try and capture me. I must be out in the open, appearing vulnerable and exposed.

Well, as "vulnerable and exposed" as a creature of my immense power can possibly be.

MUAHAHAHAHA—.

Oh? What have we here? I bring my ominous aerial glide to a halt and wait, antennae twitching. These delvers are more skilled than I assumed when I began this little venture. I hate to compliment them, but it is no wonder my siblings were having a hard time. Lacking sufficient numbers, the ants were forced into small groups, making them easy prey for the delvers. These humans are sneaky, using a vast array of methods and techniques to remain hidden as they move through the tunnels.

They are unaware, however, that they each possess a tiny, nearly nonexistent gravitational field. It is so faint that it is practically undetectable, unless you happen to be a monster specifically evolved to track it.

How many? Ten... twenty... thirty...? My, my. It appears a few ambitious individuals have formed a large team to try and seize unimaginable wealth before anyone else can get a chance.

Perfect.

I resume my forward momentum, drifting silently through the air, supported by the gravity well I maintain through sheer will.

The golgari did a better job than I expected. My sub-brains are working perfectly, weaving together mental constructs that are both more numerous and more potent than they have ever been. It has never felt this good to flex my mental strength. Even the stubborn Gravity Mana feels like soft clay in my grip.

Now... when are these cowards going to strike? I know you are there, you little rascals. Is there a trap? There has to be a trap, right? There is no way forty of you planned to face me head-on. What do you have prepared?

As I float onward, the answer arrives quickly. A series of explosions erupts above and below. Light flares, the stone groans, and the ground beneath me gives way.

Not that I care—I am flying, after all.

The thousands of tons of rock falling from the ceiling, however, are slightly more concerning.

Actually, I don't really care about that either.

My gravity well lacks the power to suspend all this stone for more than a few seconds, but that is all the time I require. I glide forward, unfold my legs, and touch down on solid ground while using the well to hold the falling debris at bay.

Once I am clear, I release the spell. A deafening roar fills the tunnel as the stone ceiling collapses behind me. Shards of rock fly in every direction, pinging off my carapace as the area fills with thick dust. I half-expected the delvers to retreat once their trap failed, but it seems their blood is up. Thank goodness.

Sword-light and spells whistle through the dust clouds toward me, and I tilt my carapace to deflect the incoming strikes.

I must admit, not having to worry about a blade going through my eye and into my brain is a massive relief. It makes defending against these attacks significantly easier than it used to be.

I have been testing these new eyes; while they aren't nearly as hard as my carapace, they are surprisingly tough.

As the first blows connect, I feel my regeneration network activate, sending a steady flow of healing fluid through my body. My antennae twitch, allowing me to track my enemies through the dust and sense their movements before they even strike.

My physical form moves on pure instinct, reacting before my mind can even process the threat. I make tiny adjustments to my posture and angle, ensuring nothing hits me directly. Every strike is angled off or deflected. I parry a massive wave of sword-light with my mandibles and launch myself forward.

My opponents retreat before me, unwilling to engage in a direct brawl. Even without sight, I know their positions—small squads of five or six arranged in a loose semicircle in front of me.

Mana surges from my left. I twist with speed that is shocking for a monster of my bulk. A beam of searing light cuts through the dust, grazing my right side.

Yeeouch! That is hot!

They attempt to sweep the beam toward my head, but my mandibles are already wide open. Sensing the impending counterattack, they cut the spell and try to back away.

I don't think that is going to save you.

Starcrusher!