Chrysalis Chapter 1731 - The Great Commercial Empire of Our Time

Though I'm quite taken with Merchant, she pales in comparison to the industrial, financial, and commercial might I'm carrying in my rear area. It's bold, efficient, boasting a fantastic price-to-earnings ratio and wildly inventive bookkeeping. My dominance in the market is spiraling wildly, nearly a full monopoly, where I let rivals linger just to keep up appearances.

What fills my trunk isn't trash, but a top-tier weapon that the military-industrial machine could only fantasize about.

I tried it out soon after departing the nest, and the outcome was... downright startling. The poor cave I used for testing, along with its inhabitants, well, I just hope they're resting peacefully now, since they're definitely not on Pangera any longer.

Truth be told, I've felt anxious about deploying my acid as the first strike in this fight. If they're caught off guard, my enemies are headed for a truly awful ordeal. Begging for truce after dissolving thousands into trembling blobs of sludge would be a hard pitch.

But no restraint this time. After Beyn has retreated fully, I double-check my target once more, then unleash it.

POW!

Just one blast is what I release, and honestly, I'm concerned that could be excessive.

After all, the Industrial Complex exceeds the total of its components. Merging the impacts from four distinct body parts into a single unit, while drawing in the force of Theorazzn’s mana, it has become a completely different monster from its previous form.

The moment the acid surge erupts, the atmosphere echoes with a terrifying hiss, as though the liquid is devouring the fabric of existence. No longer mostly transparent, the acid shines with a toxic green hue, each droplet charged with the insatiable mana of an Ancient.

I didn't release that much acid in this single blast; actually, I could launch a dozen more immediately if I chose to, but I'm hesitant to experiment. Glancing back at the assembled forces of the army, I desperately wish they can handle what's heading their way.

Shields rise, protective barriers materializing swiftly. Abilities and incantations activate, which is encouraging—I'm relieved they're not underestimating this. Since the acid has covered roughly half the gap between us, yet its size has doubled.

Maybe detecting trouble, the army intensifies efforts. Dazzling golden wings of intense light explode from the Judgement Battalion at the formation's heart. Vast and luminous, the wings envelop the troops, shielding them like a parent guarding their young.

Holy moly, that's downright amazing! Some kind of divine spell?

Anyway, the acid is moments from impact, and it's now eight times larger than when I launched it. I can't help but cringe as it slams into the defenses the warriors have erected. I clasp my front legs in a hopeful prayer. Please endure.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Numerous traits of Theorazzn’s mana render it so powerful and dreaded. The most hazardous is its innate drive to devour other energy types to generate more of itself. I've realized that without the dividing zones between strata, it would probably have consumed every bit of mana across the world by now.

Naturally, the mana from the fifth stratum is merely a weakened version of the authentic substance, gathered in the cores. I got tainted by the genuine article, and that very energy fuels my acid complex.

The instant it connects, the sizzling escalates from a snap to an overwhelming bellow. With so much thick, vibrant energy to consume, the acid tears through it like Tiny devours nutrient-packed Biomass. Shields collapse, barriers waver and disappear. The light wings, pristine and sacred just before, are now riddled with holes, the acid gnawing through at multiple spots and multiplying relentlessly.

Indeed, the rhythm of life and demise, the balance of yin and yang, birth and ruin—all are captured in my upgraded product line. Energized, refined, and precisely deployed, it's fiercely effective.

Keeping my vantage from above, I strain to observe if the army can resist the voracious appetite of my acid. Additional shields shimmer into being, which is positive... and negative. It merely supplies the acid with more fuel to devour, but that's preferable to it gnawing at your gear, and then... whatever lies beneath the gear.

Once ignited, the growth effect dominates and won't halt. Within minutes, the whole army—and I mean the entire force—appears as if devoured by a slime. Though the acid hasn't directly contacted them, repelled by a flurry of breaking and reforming shields, it has fully encircled them, trapping them from every direction with just their dome barriers keeping it at bay.

Continuing to expand, the acid begins to trickle onto the ground and corrode it too.

Fortunately, it's not as fierce as Theorazzn’s original sludge, which retained nearly full strength after a millennium. After ten minutes, it ceases self-replication, and the corrosive power starts to fade, having devoured a massive amount of mana.

Sliding off the lingering shields, the acid spits and foams across the tunnel floor until it's entirely dissipated.

Well then.

It's tougher now to gauge facial reactions, having been human so long ago, but I reckon they're appearing... somewhat stunned? I imagine it wasn't enjoyable, encircled by greedily expanding, self-replicating acid.

Nevertheless, they made it through! That's a huge load off. I aimed to wear them down somewhat, yet ensure they ultimately endure. A plan that succeeded perfectly.

Overflowing with satisfaction and kindness, I opt to project my thoughts to them.

[You may surrender if you wish!] I proclaim.

For several moments, I linger, my arrogance seeping out as no warrior so much as twitches a toe.

What's happening? Didn't the acid show impress them? It seemed potent from my view! Fine... if they're acting stubborn, another volley won't harm.

Gradually spinning in the sky, I pivot my rear toward the army again.

“CHARGE!”

Shouts and bellows echo through the tunnel as the soldiers rush forward at me.

Aha! I knew the acid frightened you!