Chrysalis



Turns out the rules are pretty straightforward. I question the poor man for far too long, getting him to explain the foundations of the game and how it's developed over time, as well as asking him about my specific opponent.

As expected of a Champion general, it appears that Solant has already developed quite the reputation for devious strategies, trickery and ingenious tactics. The twenty members of her training group have followed her, forming the core of her following, and they rotate members in and out of the team depending on the opposition and the way they want to play.

It's hardly going to be enough against me, of course, but their undefeated streak is certainly impressive. Even as superior hatchlings, who are significantly weaker, stats-wise, than regular tier two ants, they still wouldn't lose.

In terms of the rules….

[Are you sure that only basic elemental magic is allowed?] I ask for the tenth time.

The poor chap nods wearily.

[The game has its origins as a training exercise for hatchlings. The young mages are restricted by the Colony to only the basic elements, so those are all that have ever been allowed….]

[Hmph.]

I could end the match instantly with a gravity well, flattening the Endless to the floor and walking on top of them to score at the other end. It would have been glorious! Those plans are out the window, dammit.

[Considering I'm playing as a one ant team, they really should make allowances and let me use whatever I want.]

Peter just shrugs.

[I couldn't say anything about that, I wasn't involved in organising the match. I do think it's reasonable that you are handicapped, though….]

[More like mandicapped. We don't have hands, remember?]

I clack my mandibles to demonstrate and the poor man flinches back from the sharp cracking sound that emanates from them.

[Alright. So if I'm on offence, and I drop the ball, or can no longer advance it, my turn is up and I switch to defence, right?]

[Yes.]

[And if I manage to get the ball to touch the other wall, I score a point?]

[That's right.]

[What happens if I crush the ball?]

A very real risk, considering my strength.

[You lose your turn on offence. You have to protect the ball from the opponent, that's part of the game.]

So I can successfully defend by destroying the ball while the Endless have it? That should make it easy enough.

[This was included in the training exercise to train mages about controlling mana,] Peter enthusiastically elaborates. [If you can't control the mana around your own team, then you risk being unable to advance at all. Likewise, controlling the mana around your opponent is a powerful advantage. There are several mage-heavy teams who use this as their primary strategy. In fact…]

Hmmmm. Well, if the opponent is smart, they'll bring along four mages at least if they want to contend with me. In fact, if they don't bring at least that many, I'll smash them with superior mana control. I'm no slouch at elemental magic, after all.

[Other than that, there's basic safety rules in place. No killing, removing legs, blinding or any other such shenanigans?]

[Ah… yes. Although in some training exercises, the ants were allowed to cause non-fatal damage, for the sport of Tunnel Ball, the less… violent version of the game was adopted.]

Fair enough.

[Are there limits to how much I can modify the terrain?]

[You may not exceed the height of the pit.]

[Hmmm. Well, thank you for your time. If you see priest Beyn out there, tell him I said to shut up. I know he's going nuts out there, he's bothering people.]

Peter smiles in relief, then his face takes on a slightly green shade. I guess he's happy he can tell the one-armed idiot to be quiet, but isn't too happy to be the one bearing the news.

[Ask one of the Colony to pass the message on,] I advise him.

He nods, relieved.

[I'll do that. Thank you.]

[Nono, thank you.]

As the elder farmer takes his leave, I reach out with my senses and grab hold of the thread I'm after. Here in the nest, my Vestibule is absolutely jam packed with incoming Will. An absolute ocean of the stuff, pouring into me every second. Discerning one ant from another in that tidal wave of energy isn't easy, but I've had my constructs picking through it all for ages until I managed to grab hold of the few I was looking for.

The Endless, obviously. It's not really cheating if I spy on them like this, right? I'm allowed to use my abilities, just as they are allowed to use theirs. It's not like they aren't trying to spy on me right now, after all.

She's doing a good job of it. The scout managed to sneak into the chamber while I was talking with Peter and is currently positioned in the shadows in one corner, doing her level best to remain as still as possible as she observes me.

I could try and pass on a heap of false information, but I hardly think I need to.

"Leonidant."

…

"Leonidant…."

…

No reply.

Irritated, I turn to face her directly.

"Oi. Answer me already."

…

Still nothing. Does she really think she's hidden?!

THWACK!

"Ouch!"

"How many times do I have to address you before you answer me?" I demand. "What about showing respect to your Eldest?"

"I thought you were guessing…."

The little scout rubs at her head with a foreleg as I glare down at her.

"I don't need to guess," I state haughtily. "I know where you are and what you're thinking at all times. The same is true for each and every member of the Endless. I can tell you what Solant is plotting down to the finest detail."

She stills.

"That… shouldn't be possible," she says slowly.

"You're barely hatched!" I declare incredulously. "The things you know couldn't fill a thimble! You think because no other team of newly hatched weaklings can beat you that you've achieved something special? That you have something to show me?"

I scoff.

"Run back to the others and get ready for the match. I need to try and refill my core. Shoo!"

I push her towards the exit with one antenna as I sit and begin to manipulate the mana around me, actively pulling it inward and forcing it into my core.

___

"The Eldest can read our intentions, you say?" Solant asked intently.

"That's what they seemed to suggest. They said they knew exactly what you were planning."

"It isn't necessarily true," the general pointed out, "just because the Eldest knew where you were doesn't mean they can sense our locations and intentions all the way across the nest. The one doesn't lead to the other at all. Perhaps the Eldest is simply very good at detecting stealthed monsters."

"It is possible," Leonidant said hesitantly.

To the scout, having been so close to the massive ant, it was difficult to believe there were any limits on a creature that powerful. Solant seemed to sense the scout's hesitation.

"Don't worry," she comforted her, "the Eldest is of course the mightiest of all the Colony, but they are restricted by the rules of the game. Much of their power is sealed."

"That's… true."

"The question is, what counter measures should we take if it turns out the Eldest was telling the truth? If they can read our intentions, then we'll need to prepare plans within plans. This could prove to be a most interesting distraction."