Chapter 1533 – Test of Strength

It’s cool, I can do this. I can totally do this!

No I can’t. It’s a stupid idea, and all that’s going to happen is breaking my own carapace into a million pieces, then incinerating them with the power of a burning star. Why would I do that to myself? Why would anyone do that to himself?

For glory!

No, no way. That is a dangerously Leeroy-ish thought, and I won’t tolerate that sort of nonsense inside my head. Get out, neurons who cooked up that poor excuse for a thought, you aren’t welcome.

Alright, a better reason, there has to be a better reason. Think, brains!

For the family!

Well… I mean… dammit… that’s a lot harder to refute. I am willing to do very stupid things for my family; I have a proven track record for that, after all. In fact, I’ve done a heck of a lot of that since being reborn on Pangera. Maybe this is how I’ll go out, ready to be reborn again as a… chicken… or something. Or some sort of monstrous lamprey. Or.. a more monstrous lamprey. Those things are terrifying by default.

“Eldest? Are you going to help or what?”

Propellant snaps at me from nearby, breaking my concentration.

“Hey! I’m trying to pump myself up over here!”

“You need air inside you or something?” she replies, confused. “We’re ants! We don’t even have lungs! Get in the fight!”

“Alright already, sheesh!”

It’s not as if the fighting isn’t hectic. The war around the platform is an absolute mess, which is what we’ve come to expect, I suppose, but it’s especially bad on the front lines, which is where I can make the most impact.

Being more durable than any other ant in the Colony, with the possible exception of Leeroy, I can hold better and longer than most, anchoring the defensive line and keeping others safe. Which is exactly what I was going to do, once I’d sufficiently psyched myself up.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Grumbling to myself, I stand and start skittering back to the front line, still trying to summon the internal fortitude necessary for my upcoming stunt. I mean, there’s no better time to try and push the limits than now, right? Things are hard, the Colony is struggling, and it’s going to get a heck of a lot worse before it gets any better. Before we end up neck deep in sludge, I need to know if this stuff works.

Alright! It’s decided, I’m going to go for it. Let’s do this!