RinoZ
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Chapter 1629 - Downfall
🕑 Added 2025-07-03 00:21:46 +0000 UTC“Where is Zluth?” Soluzz bellowed.
The other Krath’lath had remained close to him, cowards and fools, all of them, but at least he had seen Zluth out fighting. That scout had shown he was a capable Krath’lath, though still young, and Soluzz had plans for him, a pawn to extend the power of the Zissth even further, but now he was nowhere to be seen.
“He ran away,” Ulizz spat, “fled to preserve himself.”
Soluzz glared at the Krath’lath of the Bulg. Useless and weak, what power he had the slug had conserved even to this point, perhaps waiting for Soluzz to grow weak so he could turn on him and try to seize control of the Zissth. A useless effort, as Soluzz could smash the weakling even if he was half dead.
“You expect me to believe he ran away while you remain?” Soluzz spat.
He turned his furious glare at the others around him, including Mulzoz, leader of the Lirz, and Puzzith of the Suggoth.
“You’re useless,” he ground out through his clenched fangs. “Cowards and traitors. You call yourselves Krath?!”
Despite the fury that burned in his veins and sizzled his flesh, Soluzz could see that the Heart was all but lost, a fact that stung him so fiercely the pain of it was greater than the acid within him. It was all he could do not to start lashing out and feasting on the weakling leaders around him. He would need them, for a little while longer. When he had led the survivors of his tribe to a new slimeground, established a new centre of power for himself, then he would turn on them.
Disgusted by the pathetic display and the possible betrayal of Zluth, Soluzz raised his voice to gather the remaining members of his tribe.
“Fall back!” he ordered. “Regroup in the upper chamber!”
Once the order had been given, he made his own move immediately. Without the slugs actively pushing back against the oncoming enemy, it wouldn’t be long before the lower chamber was lost completely and he certainly didn’t intend to be the last one in line. Clinging to the ceiling, he pushed and bullied his way forward as the Krath rushed to the relatively narrow opening.
Only for a flood of shining blue fluid to pour down from above.
Horrified, the slugs slid to a halt, though some were already too close. The blue liquid gushed through the opening, spraying drops in every direction. Those Krath closest to the opening fell back, writhing and hissing in pain and fury, their skin sizzling as even a single drop burned into them. Soluzz knew well how that pain felt, and he wasn’t eager to feel it again.
The ants must have cut them off and started flooding the upper chamber behind their backs. It was a trap all along.
A part of him could see how cunning and conniving the plan of the invaders had been, leaving them no escape. It was a very Krath thing to do. Even so, he was the leader of the Zissth tribe, Soluzz! He was as calculating and underhanded as he was powerful. There was still a way out, there had to be!
“This way!” he bellowed. “We have to blast a hole through the wall of the heart, it’s the only way out!”
He led the charge himself, but, for the first time in this desperate battle, he realised that not all of his tribe was following. Seeing the opening to the upper chamber cut off had shaken his people, and some were beginning to panic.
Pathetic fools, he sneered. How had they ever been considered worthy of the heart?
Damaging his own home seemed offensive to Soluzz. This was their Slimeground, the central hub of their territory, a sacred site that contained the pool of the Ancient. Yet, to survive, everything was on the table. As he slid across the ceiling as fast as he could, Soluzz gathered his power again. Summoning the acid from within his flesh and sucking in mana, he wove them together, not to harm the ants or drive back their assault, but to blast a way through the rotten and slime-infested wall of the heart itself.
The slugs around him gathered their strength to aid him, and Soluzz felt his confidence surge. He would survive to fight another day, and next time, he wouldn’t lose. These invaders had struck a blow, had achieved something no one else had in thousands of years, but this would be the end of it. When the tribes were united, there was nothing that could stand against them, not even the whole of Pangera.
The fist of the gorilla came from nowhere, slamming into the ceiling, the enormously thick fingers tearing into the heart. Soluzz turned and fired his magic on reflex, straight into the rage-filled face of the ape-monster. The beast slapped away the spell with its free hand, roaring defiance even as its skin bubbled and burned from the power of the Krath’s acid.
The free arm came back and swung with dizzying speed, but Soluzz was ready, sliding to the side as he hissed in defiance. What he hadn’t accounted for was the sheer power of that punch. The entire heart rocked from the force of the blow and Soluzz, so close to the point of impact, lost his grip, and began to fall.
He barely had time to realise what had happened, to come to terms with his inevitable death, before he was snatched out of the air by a writhing forest of dark limbs. He tried to expel his acid through his skin, to burn his way free, but he wasn’t fast enough.
The barbs lining the tentacles dug into him, then began to rotate.
Soluzz was no more.
Comments
Meir Banon
Tftc
Fred Bright
“Chrysalis Filk” - TLDR warning! To the tune of “Panzerkamph” by Sabaton (about the battle of Kursk, World War II, where the Russians defeated the Nazi offensive and changed the war)..was listening to Sabaton while reading Chrysalis... Into the Fifth Stratum, the Colony did March… Entrance to Fifth Stratum Before Colony year three Ants line up in thousands As far as eye can see Ready for the onslaught Ready for the fight Ready to move forward Into that toxic trap Allies come to join them Add to Family might Standing firm beside them For the cause is right Imminent invasion Imminent attack Once the battle’s started There’s no turning back The end of the Krath-lords draws near Their time has come to an end The age of the Ant-pire begins It’s time – to attack! Into the Fifth Stratum the Colony did march Allies stand by their side to face the toxic charge The Eldest is Called Below, we’ll follow Him beneath! One million ants at war Colony wrath unleashed Before the great ant fortress Where the heat of battle burned Suffered heavy losses Until the tide was turned Fighting against the stratum Holding that thin front Rescuing the Eldest Following their plan Chal now join with singing Force the Krath lords to retreat Release the pure blue mana Securing their defeat Family of the Eldest Broke the toxic spell Cleansing of a stratum Theorazzn rest in Hell! The end of the Ancients draws near Their time has come to an end The age of the Eldest begins It’s time – to attack! Into the Fifth Stratum the Colony did march Allies stand by their side to face the toxic charge The Eldest is Called Below, we’ll follow Him beneath! Ten million ants at war Colony wrath unleashed (Leeroy’s voice inserted here) Onward sisters! For the Eldest and the Colony! We seek! Follow the Eldest First of our Clan Will of our People Strong, in Command! Follow the Eldest First of our Clan One more victorious The Colony stands! Into the Deep Stratum the Colony did march Allies stand by their side to face the Ancient’s charge The Eldest is Called Below, we’ll follow Him Beneath! One billion ants at war Colony Wrath Unleashed!
Skeams
‘“Gentle” is one word for that I guess lol
Sargon Yami
Just needs hold out for 3 days after that they will be rescued and cleaned by the nameless.
Hayden Leech
Hey Rino!!! Did you know that sometimes ants accidentally get “this is a dead ant” pheromones on them and despite being clearly alive other ants will carry them to wherever the colony disposes of its dead just for the living ant to climb out, get spotted as a “dead” ant and promptly returned to the graveyard. How funny would it be if it happened to some random ant in the colony. *three ants dragging a flailing ant down a hallway* “GUYS STOP!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! IM NOT DEAD! OBVIOUSLY! IM LITERALLY YELLING AT YOU! DEAT ANTS CANT DO THAT!!!” “I don’t know what to tell ya man, the scent trail says you’re dead. You go in the pit” “WHAAT!!”
Roombot
Daaaaaaaaaaaaang.
Ruwa
Blended krath anyone?
CentaureHeart
Ya, Zluth is 100 % alive
Rahsheem Reid
Oooo that was a very delicious chap.
Brandon14754
Rinoz said on discord all the chrysalis chapters for the week have been uploaded so we'll have to 3-4 days
Grey Knight Lord
The Heart has been won. Now we just need to wait for tomorrow probably to see the Ancient Corruption Fool to get converted. I want to see how this section of the 5th changes as one of the Hearts is purified
guvvuf
“Soluzz was no more.” And none of that for Zluth. Hmmmmmm… 🤔
Mo Alawami
Reading from the perspective of getting murdered by Crinis is terrifying. I need more!!
Buck
Soluzz getting to experience the “gentle” caress of Crinis! 😂
ZaneofBane
Likely, Zluth couldn't understand anything. It was there for we, the audience.
Anthony Romanov
Delicious delicious chapter. Clack Clack Clack.
Hayden Leech
Wait hold up, did Zluth intercept Ant Pheromone communications between Solant and Leonidant last chap? They wouldn’t be using a mind bridge between ants to talk so how did Zluth tap in? No way Krath can speak ant.
alt31415
lmao get pwned Soluzz
Sneaky Duc
Ouch
DrDankness
LOL bye byeeeeeee. He got double teamed by the angry ass pets.
Pariah Devalis
Get blendered, idiot.
Brandon14754
Rinoz confirmed a while ago on discord zluth ate him in his jail cell when we saw them meet, the death was implied in that chapter but apparently a lot of people missed that, just like Jim's death
kev mil
Tyftc. Think we'll hear from Goszi again?
Isiah Debarros
Well that's one down
