I'm not really wearing armour. It's more jewellery than anything else. Which isn't something I wanted to point out to Smithant. She takes immense pride in being a smith, specifically in being an armourer, since she doesn't make weapons. In fact, she takes an unhealthy amount of pride in that, such that pointing out how she has basically made what amount to a series of necklaces. Not that they go around my neck, instead they fit over my legs, basically tightening around the area where my legs meet my carapace, which means that I have six of them overall.

Apparently Smithant tried to create some more to attach around the base of my antennae but couldn't find a way to fit them to an ant without irritating the heck out of them. With antennae as sensitive as mine I imagine the problem would have been even more acute. Still, she was very satisfied with the work she'd been able to do, work that was only possible thanks to a breakthrough she had with her Skills. With whole teams of specialised carvers dedicated to mastering the craft of armoury and enchanting, it’s a minor miracle that Smithant still manages to be at the head of the pack.

It goes to show that individual talent is still a thing, even in a world like Pangera with a Gandalf run System in place. I have to wonder if some of my struggles developing certain Skills are simply because I'm not personally suited to them, or perhaps I just get distracted too easily… most likely the latter.

After we get the equipment from Smithant, there's nothing for it but to climb down out of the city again and make our way toward the tunnels between layers. Obviously that means running through vast fields of larval demons who continuously try to tear each other apart, even as they flow away from us as we walk past.

In a small way, my newly enchanted gear helps with this, since one of the functions provided is to reduce friction. It isn't a huge amount, I'm a heavy ant boi after all, but it's enough to make a noticeable difference. I do a few test charges as we travel and it takes a little getting used to, but the reduction in drag is certainly there. A little extra speed, a little extra lightness on my claws, certainly nothing I'm going to turn away! If this is what Smithant was planning to give to Vibrant, then I have to laugh a little. The second she finds out she could be going faster, Vibrant is going to go nuts trying to track Smithant down and beg her to hand over the rings.

Though I'm not the only one who got new stuff.

[How about it Tiny? Feeling comfortable.]

[Hmmmm,] he ponders as he continues to poke, prod and scratch at the straps that hold the new armoured plates to his body. After a few moments, he shrugs.

[Can't be that bad,] I tell him, [you managed to keep the full set on before, this isn't even close to being as restrictive.]

[Hrrn,] he grunts.

[You think so? I think you'll get a ton of use out of it. Getting cut less is a good thing, no matter how you slice it.]

He rolls his shoulders and huffs.

[Invidia is not your personal heal battery,] I scold him. [It's not his job to exclusively follow you around and stop you from getting killed. He had to do that in the past because you weren't smart enough to stay safe, and had almost no protective measures in place. With your bones being as tough as they are now, I feel a lot better about you not getting carved to pieces, but you still have to worry about blood loss, about muscle tears, about a million other things that can pull you down during a fight. You need to learn to defend yourself better and this armour can help with that.]

He's silent for a bit, pondering, before he nods a little sullenly.

[I'm not saying don't be aggressive,] I say, exasperated, [just maybe block once in a while, alright?]

[When do you think I might be given equipment, master?]

[Honestly, Crinis, I think we need to work out what would be the best way for you to wear it. Right now you're more or less whatever shape you want to be.]

[I could manifest some limbs permanently, that would be trivial.]

[I suppose so… alright then, next time we run into Smithant I'll get her onto it. I'm sure she can think of some enchantments that would be relevant to you. Goodness knows what they might be, but hey, I'm sure they exist.]

[Maybe something that enhances my shadow affinity?]

[That'd work.]

It takes a while to reach the tunnels and once we do we plunge right in. It's hunting time and there's a lot that we need to get done. I need levels and Biomass, as does Tiny, Crinis and Invidia. Most importantly, Brilliant needs levels and Biomass.

"Can I fight yet?" the hatchling asks.

"Absolutely not," I laugh at her. "Do you have any idea where we are? This is the third stratum! If we were on the FIRST you'd still be pathetically weak. Down here you might as well be a gentle breeze compared to what we're fighting. You'll need to be tier five, at least, before you can even contribute, and even then, magic only. If you get close enough to a demon to bite it, you're basically already dead."

"Damn," she kicks at the ground in frustration.

"Look, your time will come soon enough. Stuff your face with this Biomass, keep amassing experience, and before you know it you'll be evolving and ready to go. Now come on, we don't have that much free time before the assault, we need to get busy."

So saying we plunge further into the tunnels, seeking out the juicy prey that we didn't manage to get to. It's also handily filling in my tunnel map as we explore new regions of the passages. We're careful not to get too low though. Whatever is going on deeper in the third, I sure as heck do not want to be kicking that hornet nest before we are good and ready. I know my limits and I think I've made enough trouble lately.