It took Tyron longer to implement his new methods than he expected. Devising a functioning framework that utilised the newer, thicker threads was multiple times more difficult than the usual thin ones. Even before reaching that point, he’d needed to test and evaluate half a dozen different varieties of ‘rope’ before he settled on a solution.
Most frustrating of all was that there wasn’t a clear winner out of his test versions. Some were stronger, some more flexible, some a littl...
2024-04-23 02:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The Colony possesses a trait that is uniquely ascribed to it and to it alone, among the advanced, thinking societies that have emerged on Pangera. And that is, you can almost view them as a single entity, a super-organism, so to speak, due to how united in purpose they are.
Disagreements, or different approaches, are almost absorbed as part of the process, as millions of individuals work to bring about a single outcome: the betterment of the whole. It’s almost comic...
2024-04-21 22:38:39 +0000 UTC
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It takes a little while to figure out where Solant is. Whenever I turn up in a tunnel looking for her, someone tells me she was just there, but left not long ago. Well, where was she going? She was heading over to that tunnel in order to talk to so and so. Alright, no problems, I’ll head over there.
Except, when I get there, I hear the exact same thing. A picture clearly emerges that Solant is running around from place to place, but not like a chic...
2024-04-19 02:00:03 +0000 UTC
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As much as he hated to admit it, Tyron did feel better. He disliked being mothered by Elsbeth; it was something Beory had never really done for him when he was growing up. If he associated anyone in his life with the kind of fussing and care that he considered the unique domain of mothers, it would be his aunt, Meg. She was the one who’d cared for him when he was sick, forced him to eat when she thought he was wasting away, and demanded he sleep when she f...
2024-04-18 04:22:35 +0000 UTC
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With my precious friends back by my side, I feel complete again. They fill in a hollow deep inside that not even the Vestibule can reach. With Tiny, Invidia and Crinis with me again, I can feel the confidence that was shattered by my confrontation with Rammon start to return. It was something I didn’t even realise I’d lost until it started to reform itself, deep inside, in the presence of these three.
[I can’t tell you how nice it is to see you all again,] I tell them, clacking my...
2024-04-18 02:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The gang is back together, and my goodness, they all look so different! For starters, Invidia now has a blue eye, but not in a ‘imbibed too much spice’ kind of way. Only the iris is blue, and if anything, it’s kind of soft and welcoming. His physical form hasn’t changed much, at least the part of it that isn’t tucked away into its own little pocket dimension.
He’s definitely a little bigger, a little stronger-looking, but for the most part, he’s a big ol’ eye, with...
2024-04-17 02:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Richard staggered out of the cave and into the light, blinking owlishly. It took a few seconds for his brain to register the glare of the light stabbing his brain. He closed his eyes and flinched back awkwardly, almost stumbling over his own feet. How long had it been since he’d slept? Since he’d been allowed to sleep?
“Hurry up and piss!” Tyron snapped from within the cave. “You’ve got more work to do on your threading!”
At the sound of the Necr...
2024-04-16 02:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Stepping off the ship and onto the shore is such a relief, I can barely put it into words. The Will of the Colony thrums through me once again, and I have to say, it feels right. The family is buzzing with industrious energy. Thousands of individuals are filled with the desire to work and improve the outlook for the next generation.
It’s positively motivating to get that sort of can-do attitude pumped directly into your Nave. All my negativity and self-doubt is blown away in an instan...
2024-04-16 02:00:02 +0000 UTC
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When our home mountain comes into view, I feel an upswell of emotion, stronger than I expected. We’ve been gone for a little over a month, and it’s wonderful to see the end of the journey come into sight.
Soon, I get the same feeling from all the other ants, locked away in the holds of the ships. They don’t particularly care about being packed into cramped conditions, but they are ready to be out and back amongst the family again, getting some work done.
As we draw closer, t...
2024-04-14 22:18:52 +0000 UTC
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“I’m impressed,” Tyron noted, nodding with satisfaction. “Each of you has managed to learn the ritual and reach level two. This is where the real work can finally begin.”
The three young Necromancers exchanged excited glances, pleased that he was pleased. After returning from beyond the rift, the Steelarm scion had thrown himself into private study for a few days, then emerged without warning and resumed lessons.
“I’m happy to see that Feat worked out well for...
2024-04-12 11:26:21 +0000 UTC
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Am I really going to die in here?
Once again, the thought bubbled up unbidden. It was getting harder to push it away, especially recently. Feolin didn’t try to fight it this time, just let that unsettling idea rattle around inside her head, growing louder and louder. Eventually, she realised it wasn’t going away on its own, not this time. She slammed a hand down on the table, then stared at her clenched fist in surprise.
Was she really that angry? Had it ...
2024-04-12 04:19:01 +0000 UTC
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It was a long time before my sister was out of range of the Vestibule. The last flickering embers of her Will reached me hours later. How many hours, I honestly can’t say. Unable to do anything else after my failure, all I could do was sit and listen as she Willed for freedom, Willed for escape, Willed for it all to be over.
When at last the range was too great, or her Will was too thin, or perhaps she had finally experienced release, I swear I felt something inside of me break...
2024-04-12 02:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Morrelia watched the brathian fleet sailing in the distance. She’d watched Anthony’s confrontation with the Phoenix of Light with bated breath, certain she was about to watch the bizarre monster meet his end. Fearful of invoking the Child-Emperor’s wrath, the fleet had sat at anchor, unwilling to intervene as the fight played out.
How to explain the complicated emotions she felt? Anthony was… less of a monster and… though it was difficult to admit… something of a friend. She...
2024-04-11 02:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The Seneschal was a reserved man, usually. In this particular moment, he found he was having difficulty maintaining his smooth-faced facade, such was the anger bubbling away inside him. As he stood in the antechamber within the Great Cathedral, observers noted the man was tapping on his right leg with a single finger, though he seemed unaware of it.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
A regular rhythm for a regular man. The Seneschal represented order, represented stability. ...
2024-04-10 02:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Beyn didn’t know what to think, or what to say. The Great One had risen high, taken the fight against the Phoenix of Light, although for reasons Beyn couldn’t understand.
When the Great One had launched his mighty spell and swallowed the light, Beyn had felt as if his eyes were about to leap from his head. Was this truly the declaration of war, committing the New Path against the old?! Was the famed defender of Atreum about to fall, allowing for the rise of a new power?
Vision...
2024-04-09 02:00:03 +0000 UTC
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I can't count apparently.
It’s not possible to overstate just how large an impact the incident at the Golden City had upon the Colony. For their part, the people of Atreum paid it little mind. From their point of view, the great and glorious defender of the capital had annihilated a pesky upstart, an ant gone rogue and acting alone. With the death of the offender, the empire was placated and reassured of their overwhelming power.
To the Colony, they...
2024-04-08 03:17:11 +0000 UTC
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Made a number of changes based on peoples thoughts and the good work of my editors.
The cold was even worse than Tyron remembered it, though he wasn’t sure if that was because it had gotten worse, or because he’d pushed it from his memory. Regardless, he’d come adequately prepared this time.
The wind picked up outside, sending the constant snowfall battering against the side of the tent, but Tyron paid it no mind. He’d had this specially made, and it had c...
2024-04-04 07:24:19 +0000 UTC
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Here is the last of your chaps for the week folks. Nothing until (my) monday now.
To be clear, I don't actually care about people asking for more chaps in the comments. If anything it lets me know that people are hyped for the next chapter, and usually I simply DRINK YOUR TEARS.
But sometimes I'll cave and serve them up early. I hate waiting for chapters also. Super Supportive has been KILLING me lately. Catch you Chrysalis peeps next week...
2024-04-03 06:38:14 +0000 UTC
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Okay. It’s not looking good. I can see that, big bird can see that, a blind mole in the second stratum can see that. Regenerative fluid pumps through my body, icy cold, and I feel my insides begin to un-roast themselves. Holy moly, that light attack was no joke. Not only was it scorching hot, there was a lot of force behind it, enough to blast me all the way back down to the water.
I weave the gravity mana as dense as I can, producing a powerful gravity well. I’m goi...
2024-04-03 06:35:14 +0000 UTC
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Okay, you all complained so much, so here's tomorrow's chapter delivered hot and fresh.
AND YES! I know it's a lot of cliffs, but when I'm trying to write a climactic fight scene in 1.2k word chunks, you get a lot of cliffs! That's just how it works out!
Light flashes, wind roars, but this time, I’m ready for it. The onrushing tail parts the clouds at the last possible moment, mere metres away from my eyes. With my reflex, and actually understan...
2024-04-02 07:10:48 +0000 UTC
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Look, if I’m being honest, it’s not that easy to ‘steer’ when flying via gravity well. Manipulating the thing takes a lot of energy and focus, I’m basically doing something like controlled falling. It’s hard.
Now, in my head I imagine doing a nice swoop and nimbly slipping away from the gigantic half cloud half claw coming towards me, but in practical terms, it doesn’t work out that way.
Instead, I just slam directly into it.
The claws ...
2024-04-02 06:25:58 +0000 UTC
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“Did you see his hands?”
“Yes. For the fifth time, we all saw his hands.”
“The movement was so crisp. No wasted motion. I could barely see him flip from one sigil to the next.”
“We know.”
“And he said he was working slowly. If that’s slow, then how fast can he go?”
Georg sighed and pushed away the notes he had been attempting to study for the last half an hour. In the dim light, it wasn’t that easy to see, but he f...
2024-04-02 01:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Pushing my mastery over the gravity well to its limits, I begin to rocket upwards toward the golden city. Enshrouded by luminous clouds, the city radiates a warm light, turning the mist into a halo. Somewhere beyond that obstruction, my sibling is waiting.
Frustration is boiling up inside me with every passing second. I just wish I understood what was happening. The thread of Will connecting me and the captive is thinning, growing weaker, and I have no idea why.
What the he...
2024-04-01 05:43:47 +0000 UTC
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Where is it coming from? It’s hard to tell. I dive deep into the Vestibule, following that single thread of Will, trying to trace it back to the source. The ant is in pain, wanting to be saved. Wanting me to save them.
Just what could be happening?! What is going on?!
[You have to be calm, Anthony! I don’t understand, what is the matter?] Eran tries to calm me.
[We have left an ant behind and they are being hurt! I will not wait!]
The momen...
2024-03-30 10:32:55 +0000 UTC
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Sales have gone well, or so I’m told, and by the time the market has finished and everything is getting packed up, the ‘night’ of the fourth stratum is falling. Now, in a stratum filled with water and light mana, it’s rainbows and sunshine pretty much non-stop down here, but it does wax and wane slightly. The upshot is that half the time it’s brighter, half the time it’s a bit more dim.
Aka, ‘night time’.
Standing… or flopping… on my platform, I watch as...
2024-03-29 07:59:28 +0000 UTC
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“We’re being pushed too hard. Magisters are falling over from fatigue. Mistakes are being made. You need to reconsider your timetable!”
Lady Erryn kept her expression neutral as her eyes bored into the Grand Magister’s.
“This is not my timetable, but that of the gods themselves,” she replied coolly. “If your Mages cannot keep up, then consider why they are so unfit for the purpose that has been assigned to them. Perhaps you should explain to his excel...
2024-03-28 03:43:19 +0000 UTC
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No matter how she tried, Enid couldn’t keep the smile from her face, so she eventually stopped trying. The legendary Silver City, heartbeat of the most populous stratum of the Dungeon, had turned out to see the Colony go to work, and go to work they did.
Ants were everywhere, forging, chopping, carving, shaping, using their Skills honed through evolution, mutation, and most importantly, relentless hours of experimentation and practice. Around every stall was a small crowd of fa...
2024-03-27 06:34:01 +0000 UTC
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No problem. Not even a worry. Just play it cool.
[W-w-w-w-w-w-w-why w-w-w-w-w-would you s-s-s-s-s-say that?!]
Smooth. Rathwyn holds up both palms to show he comes in peace.
[There are a few tells. First of all, you are the only ant I’ve connected minds to who has a male mental voice.] He brings up a hand to point at his own temple. [Our mental voice is essentially the same as the voice we ‘think’ in. Every member of your family is female, and they all have femal...
2024-03-26 05:49:21 +0000 UTC
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The next two weeks passed faster than Tyron had imagined they could. His days were filled with preparing and delivering lessons to the various Necromancy-related Classed that had Awakened in Cragwhistle. When he had a spare moment from that, he was directing his minions to fight kin or poking away at his own projects.
Filetta was growing frustrated with his lack of progress, but he assured her that his next status ritual would provide the levels and hopefully some clues as to how ...
2024-03-26 01:00:03 +0000 UTC
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When the customers come, they come in a flood. I want to emphasise that I don’t use that word lightly. I have no idea how many people live in the Silver City, but I’m guessing it’s something along the lines of many. Much like Freehill, home of the Folk, pretty much the entire mountain is claimed by the city, but unlike Freehill, the whole dang thing is built on. Keep in mind, these mountains make Earth mountains look like hills. Fourth stratum mountains point an...
2024-03-25 04:30:26 +0000 UTC
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