Chrysalis Chapter 1753 - Out Into the Slime Once More

It’s somewhat heartbreaking, yet it’s clear that Tiny and the crew won’t be able to join me when I venture back into the tunnels. Tiny and Invidia are eager to head to one of the deeper strongholds and assist in repelling the Krath raids occurring there, but persuading Crinis proves more challenging.

[Master, noooooooo!] she sobs.

[Really, Crinis. This is a bit much, even for you.]

[You’re going to get lost, or captured, or vanish into a mysterious void! Let me go too!]

[That’s… probably not going to happen! I’ll be careful. Get off my carapace, dammit!]

[Never!]

With my antennae, I attempt to pry her loose, yet she grips harder or simply oozes past them, refusing to let go. Consequently, the nearby ants witness me tumbling about in an effort to dislodge my stubborn shadow of death and destruction from my back.

In the end, I surrender and deliver a command.

[I blame you entirely,] I inform a still-squirming Crinis as she puddles on the floor, attempting to lash her tentacles at me but restrained by the directive. [If you just cooperated, we wouldn’t be in this position.]

[I can keep you safe!] she protests.

[No you can’t and you dang well know so,] I snap back. [You’re being ridiculous. Solant has already told you what you can do to help, so go and get to it.]

Another ten minutes pass before I manage to urge Crinis into action, and only afterward do I proceed toward the borders of the Colony’s fresh domain, navigating the passages restored to their primal state!

I’m thrilled to witness the fifth in its authentic form, and it truly delivers! The ambient mana appears to be a type of bio-mana or similar, evident from the vivid, organic, flesh-like setting, with creatures that match this motif flawlessly.

A good number evoke images of cells, whereas others look like tissues, composed of various cells working in unison. Almost every one is a kind of squishy, viscous, life-like being, however. Fortunately, they aren’t overly powerful, mostly having emerged not long ago.

Accompanied by a few scouts, I dash along the tunnels, pulverizing the sporadic beast that dares to confront me, though generally, they retreat as I approach, ensuring a secure and rapid traversal.

Nevertheless, arriving at our goal requires considerable time. The Colony has stretched across thousands of kilometers in the fifth. If spread flat on a chart, it would span like a modest nation by now. Traveling to its periphery is no small trek. Luckily, Colony builders have diligently carved direct pathways, sparing me from weaving through countless winding routes, which speeds things up greatly.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Ultimately, I arrive at the frontier within a single day, utterly refreshed due to the vast horde of ants still linked to the Vestibule.

Moreover, it feels like I’m drawing certain energies from the Beyn statue inside.

Which I won’t dwell on.

“Ugh, I didn’t miss this.”

Gazing beyond the purified region’s boundary into the revolting chaos of the tainted fifth, my disgust surges uncontrollably. Given the fierce struggle I faced against Theorrazn’s poisons, I’m hardly eager to face anything like it once more, even toned down. After journeying so far in the sanitized zone, I’d begun to wish this filth had vanished and that Solant was merely joking, yet alas, it persists in its slimy splendor.

Indeed, this Dungeon segment poses extra peril, as a Krath base lies nearby, housing thousands of those slimy creatures. Undoubtedly, myriad vicious snares and tricks await to halt the Colony’s growth, and clearing them all falls to me.

To thwart those cursed slugs, I’d endure almost anything.

With courage, I stretch a leg into the foulness, plant it in the muck, and stride across.

The initial and most comforting observation is that my eyes no longer dissolve. Hah! Organic matter pales; gems endure eternally! My valued crystal eyes resist the mana’s erosive force far better, sparing me perpetual semi-blindness.

Victory!

Not that venturing here feels enjoyable—it remains dreadful. The fine hairs on my antennae and limbs burn away swiftly, and toxins assault me from every direction. The pain stings fiercely, yet I can tolerate it. My mental constructs activate rapidly, prepared for extra labor to block the invasive force from entering and proliferating within me.

That represents the true threat. Being devoured internally by decay is far from enjoyable, no matter how it’s phrased. And it sounds awful.

Following a brief adjustment period, I compose myself and advance a few paces. Time to press on.

Suddenly, I halt.

An odd occurrence unfolds. Employing my substantial mental abilities, I sharpen my attention and direct it inside, scrutinizing each faint strand of mana in my expansive form.

Enlarging my size hasn’t simplified barring the contagion; in fact, my bigger physique hinders defense in this place. Despite my utmost concentration, some errant flecks of tainted mana slip through, which is unavoidable.

Previously, multiple mental constructs would vigilantly scan for such intrusions. As these mana fragments expanded, they’d be detected and obliterated eventually. A perpetual loop.

Yet now, an alteration takes place.

These minor strands lack the opportunity to develop; instead, they’re drawn in, toward the Pure Core, and then… eradicated. Utterly incinerated.

Intrigued, I ease my guard slightly, permitting additional mana entry, and observe it being siphoned off, tugged to the core and wholly obliterated.

I anticipated a reaction like this, but gosh! Just how potent is this feature?!