Awwww look at our lil eldritch horror, all grown up! We're all proud of you Crincrin...just be careful with hugs pls

I love this stuff, this wonderful characterisation and worldbuilding. The in-built instinct to sacrifice for the colony, and the training to push that thought away. And although it seems a no-brainer for even the og 20 to join in the front-line fray, it's heartening to see that there's no pretension, just doing what you could for the colony.

And we're back right in the thick of it! I love the detail about the fortification and the ant plans for how they're gonna use this wave to their advantage. Great worldbuilding and well thought-out plans as usual!

$50 that although he ends up as a kinda sadistic hypercompetent asshole, he respects how Anthony does things and is either kinda like a tsundere rival dynamic or just becomes friends.

And thus comes Antony's most heinous and mortal enemy...the I T C H

ah yes, back tot he good ol' days of exploring and levelling! gotta say, even tho the story is good, it's nice to have a break of little consequences and many fights.

That final sentence gave me chills. And it's true. Who has time to mourn and grieve when those who were lost understood the chances and the cost, and still sacrificed themselves just so that their family can survive and thrive? How better to honour their memory than to make sure their sacrifice is not in vain, to ensure that there is a legacy in the colony that still is. Vale, all ye sisters of the colony. You've earned your torpor. Let's get to work.

oooh nice, setting up some scale and reminding us how big fights are from a non-anthony perspective. That being said, this arc is starting to drag. It's enjoyable, but I think I'm getting fatigued over this battle (or maybe I'm just too fatigued in general rn)

ooooh - things are getting spicy. I'm betting Dan is planning on a karma universe and ruling his own domain

ahaha the healers taunting the immortals. I am glad to see not only concern for Sarah, but Jim being assertive and caring for his friend.

And i didn't even get into how much we feel the powerlessness of Anthony...how it's been so long since they've been properly laid this low, and how much more touching it feels to know that the entire colony has not only their safety in mind, but as a major priority.

It's heartening to see that, at the end of the day, Anthony is still an ant, and just wants to protect their family. And, I know it's part of their attitude to protect the eldest, but that final line hit me like a sack of bricks. That true understanding that, just like every other ant in the colony, Anthony is willing to die, and just like every other ant, they are not allowed to throw themselves away. How beautiful and rare, that kind of understanding and cameraderie is.

And once more Anthony just straight up bodies an incredible attack. And that stubborn drive, the wilful ignorance of his instincts in order to protect the colony, man... You hit it out of the park once again, RinoZ

The centi-sludges are really interesting considering the core battle plan of the ants - they're perfect for mindlessly being thrown into the thick of it, and can (almost) always come back for more. Is this their self-sacrificial instincts manifest?

Once again, all the fun details about how the ants would approach tactics and defense, what with the ceiling sally ports and everything else. Also love the council predicting Anthony would try to skive off. We come ever closer to the big clash, and I am brimming with ANTicipation.

ngl, that was a kinda predictable result. I appreciate the fact that, like irl, people dig their heels in and don't change their minds as soon as there's evidence to the contrary. Especially since their perspective is so understandable. Given everything they know, they are currently doing the right and just thing to save the world. Good job writing complex, human(t) characters dude!

aaand heere we go! The only question is will Beyn help or harm communication?

Hey, did I miss something? Wasn't Eiro supposed to show off his magic after the students did? Or is that after alllll the showcases? I mean, either way, I love it and the obviously overprotective dad mode he's gone into. I'm interested in hearing abiut this staff situation!

It's wonderful to see all the new tricks that the pets have figured out! And even better to know that Tiny hasn't managed to lose enough IQ to be entirely braindead.

aw, yis power flexing time! looking forward to seeing these shenanigans haha