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Chapter 972 - Colony vs Colony pt 12
🕑 Added 2022-04-21 08:34:29 +0000 UTCWe are consistently above 1000 patrons these days and I know that a lot of those are here for BoD, but what the hey, it's been ages.
TIME FOR ANOTHER CHRYSALIS SIDE STORY POLL! WHOOOOOO!
... next week! If you have any ideas, drop it in the comments!
The Colony really only had two speeds. Fast and breakneck, as the humans referred to it. The latter didn't make much sense to the ants at first, they didn't have necks after all, not in the traditional sense. What they could understand was the idea of moving so fast you ran a high risk of injuring yourself. The lecture the Eldest had levelled at them was a direct warning against this sort of behaviour.
The idea of breakneck pace had been rejected on a fundamental level. In its place came a new speed: slow.
Coolant liked slow. It was much more her sort of pace. Slow didn't mean taking it easy, slow didn't mean slacking, slow meant being careful, being patient, ensuring that each task was done perfectly before moving onto the next one. It appealed to an ant with a detail oriented focus like herself.
And in the end, what she found was that slow, wasn't slow at all. Slow was smooth, slow was controlled, which, as it turned out, was fast. No mistakes, no backtracking, everything progressing in its turn without clogging up the project further down the line. Coolant found that by working at a slow and deliberate pace, she got more done, not less.
It was with this spirit that the Colony reinforced its position in the fourth stratum. Lines were drawn up, tunnels allocated, formations pre-planned before a single claw touched the Mother Tree's bark. When the ants began to stream through, everything was prepared. They were directed by the squad into their allocated places. Once each formation was filled, the final ant slotted into position, the entire group would march forth along their planned path to engage in the ongoing battles already underway.
No time was lost. No waste or inefficiency dragged the operation down, despite there being no unseemly haste. To Coolant's calm and unruffled eyes, it was beautiful.
"Why are we moving so slow?!" Propellant raged.
Coolant sighed.
"You still haven't embraced the 'go slow to go fast' philosophy? You're denying the evidence of your own eyes."
"It's nonsense!" The fire mage groused. "You go fast to go fast! The very thought of going slow and steady makes my carapace itch!"
"It seems like your rotten personality is the issue at fault," Coolant observed. "With a little patience you might be able to proceed further with your fire magic."
"Bah! Patience isn't required to master fire magic! What's required is a burning hot spirit and guts!"
"If you say so…"
"Don't you two have your own places to be?" A new scent intruded on their well-worn argument. "Or do you have time to waste blowing pheromones at each other?"
"Victor?"
The general bustled up to the two mages, her antennae twitching with irritation.
"We're directing the mage battalions as they come through the gateway," Coolant assured the general. "I was mainly discussing how smoothly the deployment is going. The planning and preparation this time has been impeccable."
"When we move hundreds of thousands of troops into the area over a single day, we better be organised or everything would go to hell," Victor grumped.
"You aren't wrong," Propellant replied, "I already know exactly where I'm going once the next wave is through. I can't wait to put some fire into these termite scum."
Coolant could practically feel the heat coming off the fire mage as she imagined setting the termite world ablaze.
"I'm being deployed on the west side," Coolant told the general. "Do we know if water or ice are effective against the insects?"
"If you can harden it enough to punch through their carapace, ice spears are effective. Other than that, they don't like the cold much, just like us. Cool them enough and they get sluggish, it might not seem like much at first, but it adds up over time."
"Be better if you just set them alight," Propellant gloated, "fire is super effective against these punks."
"Some elements work better against some foes than others. That's nothing to get excited about," Coolant responded… coolly.
"Here comes the next wave!" Victor pointed to prevent another argument. "You'd better get down there and direct them."
A steady flow of mage ants marched into the staging grounds next to the Bruan'chii village and the two council members rushed down to meet them. Thanks to the detailed planning they were able to direct their fellow caste members with little effort, finally able to tag along behind them towards the front lines.
"See you when the battle is won," Propellant gave a jaunty wave of her antenna, before turning and joining the back of the departing formation.
"Don't get overexcited and set our own soldiers on fire," Coolant replied.
"Hey! That happened one time!"
She ignored her sibling and turned back to the harried looking Victor.
"I'll be on my way as well," she said.
"Good, I need to get back to Sloan once I'm done here. Directing this battle is proving to be extremely easy and absurdly difficult at the same time."
"How so?" Coolant asked, intrigued.
"We are fighting on so many fronts as once, and managing such immense numbers. This is the largest battle the Colony has ever undertaken. The logistical work is a nightmare."
"The easy part?"
The general clacked her mandibles in irritation.
"The Eldest has pulled so many termites down on their head that we're punching straight through their lines as if they weren't even there. As a diversion, we couldn't possibly ask for better."
"Sounds like the Eldest is doing great work, as usual."
"I wish I knew if they planned it that way…"
"You'll never find an answer to that," Coolant laughed before she patted her sibling on the carapace and turned to catch up to her own battalion.
The ant troops were in extremely high spirits, their eagerness for the fight brimming over into constant bursts of "FOR THE COLONY!" that quickly rose into a deafening chorus before fading. Into the twisting tunnels they marched, underneath the colossal roots of the Mother Tree and passed the myriad defensive layers that the ants deployed here had constructed.
All of that work would need to be done again once the termites were expelled from this mountain. The lines of walls and traps would have to be moved forward significantly, but that was an issue for the carvers.
Eventually, after numerous twists and turns, the column of ten thousand ants could finally hear the din of battle echoing from ahead. Immediately their pace increased as orders began to be relayed down the line. Scouts must have come back to communicate the exact situation and relay orders from the general managing this theatre.
Coolant and her mages listened intently to their instructions. As soon as they knew their role, they began to make preparations, drawing out mana and shaping it to their needs.
The moment they burst into the open ground they let their spells fly. A host of dense ice blocks arced through the air over the ant's heads before they exploded above the termite lines. Shards of hardened ice pelted the bugs, lodging into their joints and melting over their carapace.
"Freeze them all," Coolant directed, her eyes cold.
Comments
Vora_Vixen
Oh no Propellant! Those sound like red flag parting words 😱
Gonvas
@Variation In an early chapter, Aurilia (Titus tribune) says the Legion and other forces coordinate and share info regarding monsters that receive the call. So the Legion isn't the only force that hunts those who receive the call. RinoZ said in an interview the Legion isn't the only top tier sapient force. And so far no other sapient force introduced seemed to be at the same tier of power as the Legion. This new organisation would be a new from our perspective or just developing one we know (no Legion since that one appears in the main and side story several times).
Variation
You say "new" organisation as if this isn't the most closely guarded secret in the world, or if you just mean new to us. Typically that'd just be every other organisation, the Legion especially as they were intentionally blocking Godzilla back there early on, every civ just openly hunts bigger monsters, but there's no way to detect the call specifically
Gonvas
POV of a powerful monster that has received the call. We get to see his circumstances, how he deals with the call and the introduction of a new sapient organisation that hunts the ones who receive the call.
Gonvas
Cultists POV, where we get to know more about them, what they think of Anthony (if info reaches them) and some of their monster candidates and builds.
Dragon35
Definitely here for chrysalis not Bod sorry not saying its bad just that chrysalis is more enjoyable to read.
Rahsheem Reid
Definitely brilliant but it could touch on a few different colony members like smithant
Will34
The Queen and her guards POV trying to stop from her fighting (while failing)
Gonvas
Rather than a Colony POV which we've seen quite a few (soldiers, scouts, mages, ...) I prefer a SS than show us the societies of the Dungeon (sapient and/or monster). Perhaps even introducing a character than becomes relevant later on.
Nathan Quitugua
I really hope it's michaelanglant
Harris Howland
Show us the carver whose responsible for all the Anthony statues in the colony!!!
Aidan Mcarthur
Wait when did chrysalis become the side content?
Variation
Oohoohoo if even a single one of them tries to take and shape an ant. .
Tetrisman87
Thanks for the chapter!
Yuri Enoi
Oh yeah, core shapers are so ignored in this story, I feel it is unfair to them
Dan K
It’s been awhile since we saw the core shaper people. Would be cool to hear about them again and how they are fairing with the colony nearby.
Jac Onue
A PoV from a Kaarmodo lizard that had first survived the gravity bomb by Anthony and was then further traumatized by watching Crinis working the termites.
BS91
Variation makes a great point! It'd be awesome to see the perspective of some neighboring surface kingdom that survived Garrolosh's horde (or that the horde never quite reached) as they become more aware of the strange ant-human settlements springing up near their borders. ** OR, we could see what's going on back at the ruins of Liria. Maybe with someone who grew up in the city and is now rebuilding over the foundation of their childhood home. -- MAYBE we could even get some scout or surveyor for a neighboring kingdom who came to see if there would be any chance / point of expanding to include the destroyed frontier kingdom's territory!?
BS91
I'm sure more of that is on its way, regardless
BS91
Other than that, I'd like one for - Mother Tree / Grove Keeper (whichever would be easier to write for) - Brilliant, so we can see what she (and her posse) have been up to - Some arrogant ka'armodo struggling to come to terms with just how terribly they're faring against these "weak ants" - Something to do with Emilia and co abducting those silly sleepless adults
Variation
Haven't heard anything about the surface world in so long, not just the local village but the other kingdoms, I understand the real powers are underground, but the surface people are so much more relatable & familiar; It'd be nice to see what movements are going on back up topside, and if anyone nearby has thought to probe the ants, or if the ants are pressing borders themselves.
Runaway_Cactuar
1) BoD is great, but the OG Chrysalis crew is here to stay! 2) Gimme more cult shenanigans! MOAR Ancient trash-talk please <3 3) "Jeez, you set your sister on fire ONE TIME, and everyone in the family lords it over you forever..."
Nathan C
Legion is human only as far as has been mentioned. Technically they're magically altered humans, so they are their own distinct species. They also contain prisoner units that are monsterized humans, however you want to classify that.
Cindermoth
I'm very curious about Cavalant and Isaac.
BS91
There's so many side perspectives to choose from! I *would* say "more plops," but I'm sure you already plan to explore the Ant Lancer more sometime soon. Right now, I'm mostly interested in a Victor or Sloan pov (or maybe some random general). For one thing, it'd be good to see how much exp the generals are managing to rake in for themselves during this war. And ideally, I'd like to see one achieve / use that Hive General evolution from "Evolution pt 2." (Or something comparable.)
Charles Mayet
Same
Jadedknot
Yeah, we haven't had a side chapter of the Pride Demon (Brixin?) yet. Or any of the other ones.
Elijah Smith
The tier 7 conquer demon they have conquering cities with them
troy wolfe
Would be interesting to see one of the generals pov not one of the main 20 just a standard general n what they are going through.
Nathan Malek
I always love a good tolly chapter. But I love the idea of a nameless ant getting stuff done in the first or something.
Ez
Tolly meets brilliant! So future brilliant !!
Ez
BoD x chrysalis !!!!
Ez
Yes sir!!!!
Lemur420
I just want infinite chapters of the colony. I have never even glanced at bod
Greyg
I just want 2 chapters a week of BOD it’s time to grind spells and experience
sebsebs
This kind of pov is already adorable ! But for a side story, how about Brilliant and her new breakthroughs, or the Mother Tree's pov on the war, or Morellia's mom pov on the Colony/ongoing war/just a "family vacation" (read "slaughter") ? Orrr a random ant worker back in the first layer, to show us around the improved Colony management, industry and mindset ? Orrrrrr more Tolly ! You know you've come a long way when every choice sounds amazing 🥰
Anthony Romanov
I am one with a Colony. Chrysalis is what brought me here and what makes me stay. I am trying to get onto BoD now.
Sheeprat
I would like to know if the legion is human only if not where there any kamodoo in it and if so what happend to them
Sean Hibbitt
I love these perspectives, they make the story feel more alive then just the endless combat of Anthony
Jayson Legott
I like BoD but Chrysalis has come along way and has had a lot invested into it. I always look forward to new chapters. As for a side story I think a Brilliant or Invaldia story would be cool.
Joakim Berube
How about a pet perspective
Sean Hibbitt
XD a big reason I read here is definitely not BoD... Noooo.. chrysalis does have a special place in my heart though, that little ant starting out in the dungeon <3
Mokka-San
Gimme Brilliant side story!
