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Chapter 1645 - The Snail Procession
🕑 Added 2025-08-04 02:00:07 +0000 UTCFor Theresant, the slow ‘march’ of the snails through the fortress was agonising. At every turn, she would fret and worry. What if they hurt themselves? What if some soldier came blundering around the corner and stood on them? What if they were getting tired?
Yet she was powerless to intervene. She knew as well as anyone that locking the chal up within the snailcare centre would only result in them staring at the door once more, putting them right back where they started.
She had no choice but to let them do whatever it was they were so determined to do. Hopefully the grubs never started acting like this, or she wouldn't be able to deal with the stress. The very thought of having to shepherd a group of stubborn grubs through a nest was enough to make her start cleaning her antennae to soothe herself.
Even more irritating, Florence, alongside her, seemed to be having a wonderful time. Clacking her mandibles enthusiastically and cheering on the chal as they slid along at their slow, dignified pace.
“Don’t encourage them,” Theresant snapped.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Florence laughed. “Whether I encourage them or not, they’re going to keep doing what they’re doing regardless. I may as well be positive about the whole thing, it’s better than hovering about bringing down the mood.”
“I’m just concerned.”
“Of course. I still don’t see what you think is going to happen to them. They’re in the middle of the fortress! We have Brood Tenders running ahead to make sure the way is clear and everyone is being very patient and respectful,” she gestured to the waiting ants watching the little procession move past with fascination.
“Yet we still don’t know what they want to do,” Theresant warned her sister. “This is the first time they ever showed any intention to leave the room, and we don’t know why.”
“I hardly think they’re going to try and fling themselves into the fifth stratum to fight,” Florence said, “and if they try to do something dangerous, we will intervene.”
What she said made perfect sense, yet Theresant still couldn’t shake the worry that nibbled at the back of her mind. Regardless, she had no choice but to follow as the chal slid through the tunnels, turning this way and that as they homed in on… something.
At their slow pace, the chal continued on their way for hours while Theresant oscillated between light worry and borderline panic. Eventually, the chal hesitated for a moment before finally committing to a direction. Only this time, there was a problem.
“Oh,” Florence said as another Tender reported back to her.
“Oh? Oh what?” Theresant asked.
“Apparently we aren’t able to clear the chamber ahead.”
“Well then, we have to stop the hatchlings,” Theresant replied immediately. “We can’t allow them to go somewhere that isn’t safe.”
Florence was only half listening, her attention focused on the Tender reporting back to her.
“The Eldest is there?! Evolution!”
Each exclamation did little to settle Theresant’s nerves, but the chal continued their resolute sliding, advancing toward the distant chamber without slowing their pace.
“The Eldest is evolving up ahead?” Theresant asked, seeking clarification, her eyes latched onto the snails. “Is there a problem?”
“Well…” Florence trailed off. “It seems as if the Eldest is also fighting off a dangerous mana infection. The healers are desperate to halt the spread, there are hundreds of them up ahead.”
That didn’t sound acceptable at all. Deadly mana? Hundreds of healers battling to save the Eldest’s life? None of this was music to Theresant’s ears. She was suddenly nervous for the Colony, for the Eldest, but also for the hatchlings. This wasn’t the sort of situation they should be heading into!
“We have to stop them, Florence,” she insisted. “We can’t let them go in there.”
“And yet… that seems to be exactly where they want to go.”
Florence watched as the little snails seemed to even accelerate slightly, as if their destination was finally in sight. They didn’t deviate in the slightest, this was definitely where they wanted to go, not even Theresant could deny it.
“I know what you want to say,” Florence said, cutting off her sibling, “but there is no danger yet. Let’s watch for a moment longer. We can gather the Tenders closer so we can scoop up the chal if anything goes wrong. If we take them back now, we’re only going to wind up here again in a few hours’ time.”
As much as she might have wished it not to be true, Theresant could only agree. If they took the little snails back, they would be staring at the door again, trying to get out. Right now, the chal were in no danger.
Heart in her mandibles, she watched as they continued to slide forward. Closer and closer, they moved towards the chamber, finally crossing the threshold and entering within.
Once she saw what was inside, Theresant almost demanded that the Tenders gather up the hatchlings and take them away. The Eldest lay within, still, slumbering, and yet, somehow wrong. Healers covered them like a blanket, pressed against their carapace, seeking to cure some deep ailment. Even the golgari were there, hands placed against the carapace, eyes closed.
As she drew nearer, she began to sense it, the corruption that lay within, a foul taint that chewed at the Eldest from the inside. Her heart broke for the Eldest, and seized with fear for the hatchlings. She lunged forward, eager to save them from the danger, but she was too late.
The little snails slid right up to the giant ant’s side, their eyes glittering with some deep sadness. As one, they drew breath, and began to sing.
Comments
Josh Turple
Skipped 44?
giann flroesca
I EFFING KNEW IT. Anthony's evolution will prob change into a "pure" version of what they picked. See guys? just trust the process and LET.HIM.COOK
Honeyman
So is Theorazzn like a corrupted Chal, or? If so, the Chal could purify it and maybe use it to bless his evolution which would make it a blessing from an Ancient. Whatever it ends up being, I'm excited! Not as excited for the pet evolutions though. What Mythic is our demolition demon gonna get? Cannot wait to see him hauling nuclear explosives at the legionnaires lol Thanks again for the chapter, Rin0z! Ever the masterchef, cooking us up those juicy, juicy chapters.
alt31415
'syndrome voice' "And when everything's a cliffhanger... hahaha, nothing will be."
Shakyamunie
I think we're so back people.
Gabus Deux
Gandalf: shit... i can't just NOT give him something cool now that he's completely cleansed...
Tyrunex
My guess: chal clean the infection. Evolution turns gravity based instead of poison. Everflow well of corruption turns to Everflow well of gravity
Vibious
THE SINGING BEGAN
Koala Man
Could the chal’s intervention somehow alter Anthony’s evolution? , perhaps add something to it?
LazyWizard
Florence and the machal (machine)
Rahsheem Reid
The colony are about to find something better than wuffers.
LUXRUS
Cliffy cliffster
TheLostGolem
A Historiant excerpt about this event would be epic.
alt31415
Not good for your heart? I think you need to listen to more singing snails.
alt31415
"None of this was music to Theresant’s ears" - Theresant, you don't have ears!
Collector of Stories
These cliffs are bad for my heart! Thanks for the chapter!
Aeseof
I love Florence for this.
Owen Kaz
The ancient of Corruption hated them for a reason. They, and their songs, were pure
Sapphire Rose
(Please don't actually make him a Bard. I'm just chanting Bard for some Chal Chaos.)
Sapphire Rose
Bard. Bard. Bard.
andwhyisit
RinoZ isn't American and as such isn't going to be writing in US English. "Stood" is correct.
Glyndon Peters
Damm just getting into the chapter now gota wait for the next. It's getting good keep up with the excellent work
Brandon14754
Ah that's sweet the chal want to sing Anthony a bedtime song
Wensber
Thanks for the chapter! Oh boy, here we go!
Shaitan
Very curious on what will happen!
shawn B
“Goodbye taint. Gooodbye taint.” - Chal hymn 1:1
Hayden Leech
🎶🐌🎶
Ether's Blessed One
Exclusive Chals Choir for The Eldest.
Salt Salesman
Thanks for chepter
Caleb Herring
Sing!!!! SING LOUDER!!!!
Buck
This should be interesting…
Tosk
"and stood on them?" Wouldn't the correct verbiage be "and stepped on them?"
