Chapter 1330: Under Pressure

Chapter 1330: Under Pressure

The core shapers are absolutely delighted to get their greedy little mandibles on the core I bring back. Investigating the nature and capabilities of the fifth stratum monsters is incredibly important, especially the more highly evolved ones. Bella acted like I handed her the greatest treasure in the world when I dumped the core into her mandibles.

"Hey. The turtle wasn't that impressive. For a tier seven? Barely passable."

"Not all of the wild grown monsters are as smart as you, Eldest," she replies without even looking at me. "Most of them have less than impressive evolutions, let alone the sorts of powers that you have."

Well... I mean... I am impressive. And shiny, in my own uniquely purple way.

She rushes away, ready to study the thing, and I'm immediately beset by a very unimpressed-looking Mendant.

"Think you're all that?" she huffs, somehow reading the smug tilt to my antennae. "You ain't nothing without us to keep you alive."

That is very true.

"None of us are anything without the Colony behind us," I agree. "Without the family, I'm not anywhere near as strong."

Which is both metaphorically and literally true. The Vestibule is transferring the Will, the... I don't know... energy of the Colony, straight into me, but also, without the others, without my family, how could I possibly have made it this far? There's no chance, absolutely none, and I have zero doubt about that.

"Good that you appreciate it," Mendant snaps, already climbing over my carapace and poking at me with her sensitive antennae.

Without anything to do, I flop down on the spot and patiently wait as the medic does her work. Of course, it's never just one healer who shows up to handle my 'checkups,' and soon I'm crawling with five of them, prodding away.

It takes an hour before they're satisfied there's no remaining toxicity within me, and by that time, Invidia, Tiny and Crinis have arrived, along with the general herself.

"Bah. There's no need to be so precious about it. I'm here to take on the most dangerous tasks faced by the family. That's what I want. Load me up."

Solant considers me for a moment and I start to get uneasy.

The Colony has been more than willing to throw me at the front of this invasion, because they don't really have a choice, but more and more I feel like they're starting to look at me like they do The Queen. I have to emphasise, I do not want that. Not at all. It would drive me even more nuts than it does The Queen, and I would be completely aware of all their schemes to keep me out of danger via the Vestibule, making the entire effort a complete waste of time.

"You put me in the position I occupy because I don't operate like the others," Solent stated. "Because you needed someone who was willing to do things differently."

She waits for an answer, but I'm not sure what she's after, so I just nod.

"I want you to trust me. As long as you cooperate, I promise I will utilise your strength in the correct way."

Well, I sure as heck don't want to have to consider the grand plan. If I tried to cram everything Solant has been working on into my head, it would explode. I feel fine with her calling the shots, of course I do. I just have to confirm one thing first.

"You don't hold a grudge about our tunnel ball match, do you?"

Her antennae flick derisively.

"Of course I do. I always will."

Well, nards.