Chapter 1138 Chapter 1249 - Subsiding Tides
When the mana starts to drop, it drops fast. One second I'm up to my eyeballs in the stuff, absolutely drowning in energy, the next it's receding so quickly I feel like I'm going to get swept down a stratum if I don't hold onto the ground.
So. That's it? Just like that?
Hanging from the top of my tunnel, I feel relieved and a bit... disappointed? Look, I'm not asking for the Legion to come knocking on the Colony's door every wave, but I kind of expected something. This wave has ended with a murmur rather than a roar.
Ah well, it is what it is.
I drop off the roof, stretch out a bit, clean my antennae, then walk back into the nest. Time to go find something else to do, I suppose. Back in the central command chamber, the generals are running around like mad, as always. I find Sloan right in the middle of it all.
"Hey there, Sloan. What's happening?"
"The wave is ending," she says, obviously distracted.
I poke her on the head with an antenna.
"Yeah... so why is everyone so busy? Shouldn't you be winding down? Slowing your roll a little bit? The wave is over." The original content can be pinpointed to n0v3lbin•
She sighs and turns to face me properly.
"The wave being over means the siege has ended. It's once again safe to venture out of the fortress and into the tunnels."
"Right. So?"
It doesn't take long for my friends to gather. Crinis, Tiny and Invidia all look weary after the long weeks of fighting. The big ape is singed in places, still-healing wounds marking his enormous arms and shoulders. Crinis glomps onto me the moment she's in range, moulding herself onto my carapace and retracting all of her flesh until she's about the size of a beach ball. It's not always easy to tell how Invidia is feeling, but I can detect signs of weariness from his eye and the way he lethargically flaps over to join the group.
Nevertheless, I feel a sense of satisfaction radiating from each of them.
[So... have you guys reached the magic number?]
Tiny narrows his eyes before he slowly raises one arm and flexes it, then nods. Crinis is a little more vocal.
[Yes! Only a few days ago, Master!]
[Well done, you two! Sensational work!]
[Praiiisssssee.]
[You too, Invidia.]
Well this is great news. The whole gang is ready to evolve.
[I'll send word up to Granin and the others straight away. And I have to get the cores prepared. Taking in a mythic core is... difficult, but you'll be fine, I promise! You should start thinking about what you want from your evolution as well, build up some ideas to talk to the golgari about, then they'll be in a better position to help you.]
All three of them acknowledge me, but I can feel they're struggling to match my energy.
[Well. It'll take a few hours for the triad to make their way down, so you guys should probably just have a snooze and rest until then, alright? Great work. You've earned a break.]
In moments, the three of them are snoozing, Crinis on my carapace, Tiny leaned up against my side, and Invidia perched on one of my antennae.
The gathered priests seem to have launched into a frenzy of chanting and kneeling, but who cares? Honestly, it's been a while, I might as well grab myself a little shuteye as well.