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Chapter 1690 - Get Ready to Rumble
🕑 Added 2025-10-06 01:00:05 +0000 UTCDelvers sniffing around the Colony’s territory, trying to capture members of my family?
Ohhhhhh no. No way, no how. This is not going to fly. I will be putting the foot down on this one, six times.
“Eldest,” Coolant says, trying to be reasonable. “We need to be careful. These delvers are very capable and are working completely legally. If you do too much, it could spark a diplomatic incident.”
“She isn’t wrong,” Sloan tells me heavily. “We’ve tried to negotiate with Green Mountain but they are very anti-monster. They barely tolerate the Folk, have no love for the Mother Tree and absolutely reject us. Operating out of there, the Church and the Union aren’t breaking any laws.”
Trying to be tricky about it, are they? Tricks are nice and all, but they tend to fall short against a direct punch to the face. Still, I understand what they’re driving at. The Colony is pouring all of its efforts and resources into battling the fifth. If we get pulled into another war, it’ll be a disaster.
Even as strong as I am, I can’t be in two places at once. Fighting against Green Mountain will also give an excuse to anyone else who wants a slice of the Colony to jump in the fray. The Church of the Path has been busy whispering and poking, promising elixir and wealth to anyone who will listen, I’m sure of it. From the sounds of things, our trade deals and the wealth being generated are enough to satisfy the greedy for the time being, but who knows how many would join in a crusade to wipe out the Colony?
“Don’t worry, I won’t cross the line. All we need to do is convince the delvers it isn’t worth their time, right? I can do that.”
Gweheheheheh.
Despite keeping my evil laughter strictly internal, the other members of the Council shoot me disbelieving and resigned looks.
Hey! I’m more reliable than you think! Probably! I’m sure I can find a way to vent my anger, keep my family safe and not start any wars. How hard could it be?
The members of the Council are busy ants, and as much as I would like to chat to them all day, they have places to be. In fact, they have a lot of places to be. Most of them moved closer to my evolution chamber so they could be around if any problems came up, which means the top three strata have been without their presence for months on end.
We talk for a few more hours, and it’s lovely to hear news on how they’ve all been going while I slept. Remembering when these whipper-snappers were just little hatchlings and I had to try and teach them not to throw their lives away gives me the warm and fuzzies. Those were simpler times. They’ve certainly come a long way since then. The whole family has come a long way since then.
Eventually they all say their farewells and head out of the chamber, leaving me, Tiny, Crinis and Invidia behind.
The Biomass has been eaten and I’m feeling fairly full, but I can’t be slobbing about and napping when there’s so much to do. I need to get the hang of my new body as soon as I can and get out there so I can fix a few things.
To do that, I’m going to need a little help.
[Alright, gang, time for the crash course. I need you guys to speed me up a bit.]
[How are we doing that, Master?] Crinis asks, while Tiny turns towards me, raising his fist.
[Yes, Tiny has the right idea. For once. The best way to get used to fighting in my new body is to start fighting in my new body. Rather than do it out in the tunnels, you guys can throw a few punches and keep things nice and safe while I get warmed up.]
I turn to Invidia.
[You can help me by fighting for control over ambient mana with me, give my brains a workout. Start slow, then ramp it up over time. Eventually I’ll get a handle on what my minds can handle now.]
[I’m… not so sure about this, Master.]
[Well, that’s too bad, Crinis. I order you to attack me! Gently.]
I’ve seen what Crinis can do when she gets serious. I do not want to see how well my carapace holds up against the buzz-saw tentacles. Not needing to be told twice, Tiny is up and bouncing on his heels, throwing a few shadow punches to warm up his arms, and there is a definite fire in his eyes.
[Go easy to start with, Tiny,] I warn him. [I’m not used to my body y–]
WHAM!
[OUCH! What the heck?!]
I don’t even see the punch coming before it slams into my carapace. Those fists are hard. Grinning ear to ear, Tiny is dancing about on his feet, ready for the next one.
Paying attention now, I notice when my antennae start tingling, my future sight giving me a warning of the coming strike. Rather than fully dodge, I angle my body just so.
Expecting to connect head on, Tiny’s fist glances off this time, causing him to frown and grunt with disappointment.
[Ha! Didn’t see that coming, did you?]
My brains are spinning up, mind constructs taking shape and starting to take hold of the mana around me. As soon as he senses it, Invidia starts to fight me for control, exerting pressure and bringing his enormously powerful mind to bear.
Meanwhile, Crinis is tickling me on the leg.
[Crinis…]
[Y-yes?]
I sigh.
[We need to work on this.]
Comments
alt31415
Hire delvers to commit assault. Yes. What could go wrong?
Ruwa
Im surprised they don't hire delvers of their own to keep the ones from green mountain away.
Crazy Abe
Honestly, add 'dealing with infringing delvers' to the Nameless's job description, don't let anyone outside them know about it, the ants can honestly say they know nothing about what happens- and when the delvers reappear rested confused and terrified Green mountains loses any excuse on the basis of looking for vanished or dead delvers in colony territory.
Navarog
It isn't outlawed if you are doing this to monsters...
Rahsheem Reid
Tickle tickle..
Dan K
I mean. Surely they can’t complain if their delving teams never return. The colony can always just say ‘oh no that’s terrible. Dungeon is a dangerous place so you guys really shouldn’t be sending them to areas filled with so many monsters. Us? We know nothing about what happened.”
Ibuks5
The long coveted Crinis tickles of doom
Jac Onue
So is Anthony going to dangle some delvers before Crinis's open maws, while explaining that delving near colony's borders is dangerous, and accidents can happen? lol
Crimson wolf
I still think my idea of brilliant making a floor wide transmitter and leaking the way to make elixir and threatening to use it on others if it isn't outlawed is the best thing to do
Anthony Romanov
Well he doesn't need to endanger scout. Anyone caught on their territory can just be yoinked, stripped naked and yeeted to their city! 🥸
Anthony Romanov
She is so adorable! Pure nightmare tickling house sized ant! 🐜🐜🐜
shawn B
Fucking tickley tentacle monster of nightmares
Gabus Deux
"I was alive, but then the eldest was born, and i woke up"
Roombot
Poor Crinis 😂
Cinnamon Toast
Out of curiosity are there any ants still alive besides the Queen from before Anthony changed their race, if so I'd love a chapter of them reflecting sometime
alt31415
"Gently", lol. Any port in a storm for her.
Brandon14754
He should let a scout get "captured" then legally immediately show up to save his family member and beat them up and strip the mercenaries of all gear and money and then send them back. How many mercenaries want to take on a job where they have to replace all their gear after every dive
blucube 14
Thanks for the chapter!
Yeslek Nnamhctits
Crinis is doing her best dammit
WRN
🤣🤣🤣
Alessandro Mattioli
If Anthony can get Green Mountain and the Church to slander Tunnel Ball, that should help with the problem
