Chrysalis Chapter 1724 - Return of the Detail

I am not particularly thrilled about spending more time with these nuisances who are trying to abduct my siblings, but a powerful message must be delivered, and I am the perfect ant to send it.

Furthermore, I cannot descend to the fifth stratum to unleash sweet, sweet vengeance upon the Krath until I have settled the score up here. While I have thoroughly enjoyed crushing delvers into the dirt and mocking them, they are not the most significant threat my family currently faces. That particular title belongs to the slug tribes of the fifth stratum.

Consequently, the moment has come to march out and put a definitive end to this pathetic business. At least… it should be.

[Why on earth would I take you lot along with me?]

[You lack a choice, unless you intend to violate the pact established by your sibling, Solant,] Chyron informs me.

Ugghhhh. Typical Solant. Making her typical agreements.

[W-what are you even trying to accomplish out there? Do you want to sabotage my plan? Or perhaps alert Green Mountain and get me killed? I must warn you, if you attempt anything like that, I’m taking a lot of people down with me.]

Chyron directs her signature scowl at me while Morrelia and whatshisname watch from behind. They tracked me down with depressing speed once they caught wind that I was planning to head back out.

[Our orders are to observe you,] Chyron declared.

Clad in her full Legion armour, she is quite the imposing figure—or she would be, if I didn’t tower over her to a ridiculous degree. I cast a subtle look toward Morrelia, but she merely responds with a faint shrug.

[We will be marching alongside literal battalions of ants and Colony loyalists,] she remarks, speaking in her official capacity as a Legion officer. [It is highly improbable that we could do anything to you even if we desired to.]

That is true enough. Still, I can't shake the suspicion that they are actually after something else.

[Isn’t it a massive waste of resources for a Legion commander and her two top officers to follow me around? I thought we were in the middle of a global crisis or something.]

Chyron crosses her arms, appearing even more irritable than usual.

[The emergence of your family and the existence of a giant ant monster currently experiencing the Call are part of that global crisis. Monitoring the situation is the bare minimum we should do.]

[Us? We have been nothing but helpful,] I scoff.

I will conveniently ignore certain instances where the Colony, or I, have been somewhat less than helpful. Based on her expression, the commander is just as mindful of those moments as I am. Even so, she is hardly being fair. The Colony has accomplished a great deal of helpful things! Just not for the Legion.

[Fine, you can follow along, just try not to be too irritating or plot my demise. Understood?]

[No promises,] Chyron says, then turns away to coordinate with her subordinates.

Sheesh. Some people are just impossible. Well, at least that is the only group I have to worry about trailing me. It’s time to move out.

“Uh, Eldest? Is this a good time?”

Wha? Who on earth?! I whip my antennae around, wondering who on Pangera is addressing me. A second later, I recognize the scent and realize my antennae are completely useless in this situation.

“Protectant? Where on earth have you been?”

To be honest, I haven’t exactly missed my protection detail. Usually, I just end up fretting over them because they are so much weaker than me. What are they supposed to do to defend me against the threats I find dangerous? Ensuring they aren’t in danger has just become another burden for me, though I suppose it keeps the rest of the Colony at ease knowing someone is watching over me.

“Just like you, we were forced to evolve to survive our exposure to the toxin of Theorazzn. The evolution was a lengthy process, and it has taken us some time to grow accustomed to our new forms.”

Ah, that's right. They actually saved my life by absorbing some of that toxin. Perhaps I shouldn’t look down on them so much anymore.

“So you guys have reached Tier seven now? That’s impressive. What kind of evolution did you choose? Wait, were you purified like I was?”

I sincerely hope they didn't get stuck with some disgusting, slimy, toxic evolution. I would feel awful if that happened because of me.

“We were cleansed shortly after you were,” Protectant reassures me. “Naturally, the contamination still influenced our evolution, much like it did yours.”

“It actually turned out to be quite helpful, to be honest. Well, why don’t you step out so I can take a look at you?”

There is a brief pause.

“I would… rather not. I only made contact so that you would know we have returned and are ready to perform our duty once more.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t see you, does it? Unless… wait. You picked one of those incredibly weird evolutions, didn’t you?”

“We chose an evolution that fits our purpose,” Protectant answers defensively. “We are quite satisfied with it.”

Holy moly. Have they turned into formless entities, or some kind of bizarre… collective brain? I have been offered some truly strange evolutions in my time; goodness knows what they ended up with.

“I’m guessing it helps you stay hidden?”

“... In a way.”

These answers are far too cryptic for my liking. I’m starting to think I don’t even want to see what they have become.

“Alright, I’ll leave it alone for now. Welcome back to you and the crew.”