Chrysalis Chapter 1715 - Escalation

[Master, the nameless have uncovered something. It is a massive ambush. Hundreds of delvers have congregated and prepared traps for your arrival. Shall I reach out and eliminate the FILTH?]

[Uh, no, that is perfectly fine. Just point out their location and I will handle the rest myself.]

[... Very well.]

I suppose I could have unleashed Crinis, but that would mean letting loose horrors beyond human comprehension upon my enemies. If I did that, I doubt there would ever be a chance for peace between the Colony and its neighbors again.

A peaceful resolution is necessary. If we cannot stop pouring our antpower into the fifth, we risk losing every gain we have made down there. Once that conflict is settled, we won't be forced to hold back or treat foes like Green Mountain with such leniency.

Until that time, these issues must be settled quietly. Dragging the Colony into another full-scale war is the worst possible outcome. Dividing our attention right now is simply not an option.

So, hundreds of delvers are waiting to meet little old me? I had a feeling they might start grouping up. Since they were scattered across so many tunnels, it took some time for them to organize properly. Many are likely beginning their retreat to Green Mountain, so this ambush will probably be the final major obstacle I face for a while.

Once this is dealt with, I can begin hunting down the stragglers and gathering as many as our mandibles can grab.

Gweheheheheh.

With the information from Crinis and the nameless, I know the exact spot of the ambush. I enter submarine mode, gliding through the tunnels as I float through the air, propelled by a gravity well.

It was surprisingly quick for my vestigial legs to reach full size after I detonated my original ones with an empowered Dash. I’ll require more mutations to ensure my tendons don't all snap at once the next time I attempt that maneuver. Still, it was a useful lesson in how those vestigial legs function. The ruined limbs were essentially discarded, much like a lizard dropping its tail, and the replacements began growing instantly. It’s a bit strange to realize I have a backup set of legs waiting inside me, but given their growth speed, the triad made a wise decision.

Once I apply mutations to them, I’m certain the regeneration time can be reduced even further. Eventually, I might be able to lose every leg and have a fresh set in less than a minute. Now wouldn't that be something?

As I drift toward the trap, I weigh my options for the best approach.

I’ve dominated every encounter with the delvers so far with ease. None have been able to withstand the empowered Gravity Domain, nor have they managed to inflict any real harm on me.

Sure, if I stood still and let them hack away, they would eventually break my carapace, but the regeneration network is proving to be… a truly ridiculous organ.

I haven't tested the wellspring extensively yet, but it will have to be something special to surpass this gift provided by Theorazzn’s mana.

Dealing with hundreds of delvers and pre-set traps won't be quite as simple, however. The way to counter a Gravity Domain isn't through raw physical strength—only monsters or monstrous humans could manage that.

Morrelia’s father might be able to pull it off. That man is terrifying.

No, the real counter is disrupting the mana through external mana manipulation. Against a magnificent creature like me, a dozen mages simply don't have the power to do it.

But a hundred? Ehhhh… maybe. If I can't just pin everyone to the floor, ending the skirmish without casualties becomes much more difficult. Of course, the Colony could easily justify making some of these delvers disappear, especially given their reasons for being here, but minimizing the body count is better for our reputation. The Church of the Path is undoubtedly out there spreading lies about us. We need to ensure they continue to look like whining losers compared to our benevolent mandibles of justice.

Stopping a few kilometers short of the ambush site, I descend to the ground and stand on my legs, still thinking.

It isn't much of a trap when I know exactly where it is… but walking straight in still exposes me to whatever they have ready. Vicious spells, pit traps, rockslides, who knows. I would feel much better if I could trigger the worst of it from a distance before moving in.

Hmmmm.

Alright, let’s try this.

I drop my concealment techniques, allowing the raw power of my core to shine outward like a blazing, tiny sun. There is no way they won't feel that. I just hope they sense what is coming next, because they are in for a world of trouble if they don't.

Bracing my feet against the stone, I accelerate my minds and seize the Gravity Mana within me. Then, I begin to pull it out. A massive amount of it.

I haven't summoned a singularity since I woke up; I wonder if I can control the spell better this time?