Chrysalis

Chapter 994: Beyond Projections

The Cults have competed for thousands of years, attempting to craft the most superior monster, one with the potential to become an Ancient in its own right.

Such a thing was a dream within a dream, yet it is our purpose. I myself strove for over a century at this very task. I am proud of the work that I did, and the monsters I created were strong, surprising a number of my peers with their capabilities.

A key argument, and one I have listened to and participated in many times, is which sort of monster makes the best base. Should we be using beast archetypes from the first stratum? Or taking advantage of the many special properties shadow monsters possess? Perhaps demons, with their inherent advantages and mana rich bodies, are a better starting point?

Ultimately, the discussion boils down to the simple realisation that the deeper in the Dungeon a monster starts, the stronger it is at tier one, and therefore the stronger it will become as it evolves. Therefore, if you aren’t trying to craft an Ancient from the very best materials, ie, the most powerful monster from the deepest layer of the Dungeon you can find, then you are wasting your time.

Yet I now believe we were chasing shadows. I often considered my peers to be foolish in their beliefs, but I rarely considered the same true of myself.

The ant, Anthony. From where does he gain his unique strength? What made him such an incredible specimen?

My theories to this point have been well documented in other places, but now I wonder if there is more to it. Perhaps the act of descending is a key component of his development. Would he have become as strong as he did, if he had not powered down through the layers as he had?

All monsters are compelled to descend by the increasing demands of their cores, but usually, they would do so slowly, as slowly as they could. Better to dominate the third as a tier seven or even tier eight, holding on as long as possible, only then descending to the fourth in relative safety, than rush headlong into danger.

Yet Anthony always rushed headlong into danger. He descended too fast, before he was ready.

The Dungeon rewards such actions. He soaked in more mana, and richer Biomass, at a lower point of evolution than any monster raised by the Cults. I’ve no evidence to back up this theory, but I put it forward nonetheless.

– From the writings of Granin to the Cult of the Worm.

The three golgari shapers stood in silence for a moment as the giant ant rushed into the distance, followed closely by his entourage of overly powerful pets.

It was easy to forget how large Anthony was now. He’d evolved twice since they’d first met him when he was a tier five. Back then, it had been easy for Granin to look him in the eye; the golgari was close to eight feet tall, after all. Now, the ant towered over him, not to mention his length, which vastly outstripped his height.

“Did he say what I think he said?” Corun wondered.

“He must have had help,” Torrina said hesitantly. “With Tiny and the others, he would’ve been able to fight on par with three tier sevens….”

Granin shook his head.

“Not here. Let’s get back inside and discuss in the office.”

The Colony was understandably sensitive about their Eldest. He and his triad were tolerated because Anthony confided in them and because they provided a valuable service, sharing their research and knowledge freely with the ants. But standing out in the open and running their mouths about Anthony would be a severe faux pas.

The three made their way inside in silence, moving through the wondrous, carved halls and impossibly graceful stairs until they reached their allocated rooms toward the top of the nest.

“I still don’t know why they worked so hard on this section,” Torrina shook her head, “the ants themselves basically never see it.”

Granin shrugged, but Corun agreed with her.

“I’ve seen the interior sections they use. They’re nowhere near this elaborate.”

The outer layers of this nest had been built for… non-ants. Humans and humanoids, as well as one portion designed with the ka’armodo in mind… just in case. The craftants had lavished the many floors set aside for anyone else to use with the very best of their attention. It was ridiculous that they even had artisans with the Skills to produce such works. They hadn’t even been alive that long!

They filed into their office and Granin closed the polished wooden door behind them.

“If he’d had help, or relied on the other three to help him, he would have said so straight away,” Granin declared firmly.

The other two considered for a moment, then nodded. If he could divert the attention or acclaim onto someone else, then he surely would at the very first opportunity. They’d known Anthony long enough to understand that.

“Which means….” Corun led.

“That he fought three other tier seven monsters, demons, and defeated them in battle, at the same time, by himself.”

Which was… absurd.

“That’s… not how it works,” Torrina said hesitantly.

None of them believed the giant ant had been lying to them, though, so obviously, it did work that way. They just didn’t understand how. They’d determined that ants reaching higher tiers were rewarded with powerful evolutions, but they were still handicapped. The boost they received from their above average evolutions should have helped to even the playing field, not let them blow straight past the competition.

“I’d projected Anthony to start pushing ahead of his peers in another evolution, maybe two,” Granin said slowly. “With the bonuses he’s been stacking up, and the rare mutations he’s obviously been taking, it hasn’t taken nearly that long. He’s already a powerful mythic monster and he’s not even tier eight.”

Yet.

“If he can do this now. What will he be able to do then?” Corun wondered.

The three let their imaginations run wild for a moment before Granin called their attention back.

“Things are starting to accelerate out of control,” Granin said. “Anthony is a candidate for the twentieth Ancient. He has the potential, he has the backing, and he has the approval of the Ancients themselves, evidenced by the Call. He’s already become something extraordinary.”

“We need to inform the Cult,” Torrina said.

Corun hesitated.

“Are you sure that’s wise? Wouldn’t we be betraying Anthony’s trust if we start advertising his strength all over Pangera?”

“We’re likely already too late for that,” Granin remarked drily. “Our scaly friend is likely to have informed the Red Truth the moment he got home. But that’s irrelevant,” he waved a hand to brush off that concern. “The stronger he grows, the more danger he will be in. The Cults can help alleviate that. We are all over the world, after all. A monster with this kind of potential only comes around every few hundred years. We need to ensure we put all of our resources behind him.”