Chapter 1442 – 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.

[Hey, Invidia. I know the healers are awesome, but can you have a look, just for my peace of mind?]

His eye glitters brilliantly, and even without his mouth manifesting, I can still feel the smile.

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[Of coursssse,] he practically purrs. [You can countsssss on me.]

No need to be weird about it. Ever since he evolved, he’s way too happy when he’s asked to help, and I have no idea why. But hey, whatever, I’m happy he’s happy.

“How did your battle with the beast go?” Solant asks, wasting no time, as usual. In fact, I’m starting to feel confident she has an actual allergy to wasted time. If there’s an inefficiency anywhere near her, she starts to twitch, I’ve seen it. Nothing huge, her antennae mostly, a leg here or there, but it’s there, everytime.