Corun, Torrina and Granin all stare at me with glittering eyes after they reveal that it's the Ancients who've stuck this hook in me rather than the Dungeon itself. At times like this I have to remind myself that despite their intelligence, these three are cultists who essentially worship a giant worm.

[So in your opinion, the fact that the Ancients have done this to me, rather than the Dungeon itself, should change my view of it?]

[Of course,] Torrina nods seriously, [these are the oldest and most powerful creatures in this world.]

[How could it not make a difference? Are you saying you don't care that you've been called by these god-like entities?] Corun entreats me, grinning.

I stare him in the eye.

[OF COURSE I DON'T CARE! Why the hell would it make any difference to me? Are you stupid? Is your brain a worm?! I swear on the Colony, if I ever become an Ancient I'll stick a hook in your guts and haul you around the Dungeon, we'll see if your opinion changes!]

Granin raises both his hands and tries to calm the mood.

[Alright, let's settle a bit. Obviously Anthony isn't thrilled at being in pain. That's perfectly understandable. I'm sure that you can understand why we might be excited though, right? You've essentially been touched by what we would consider to be omnipotent beings.]

[Granin,] I grate out, [even if I wasn't in pain, I wouldn't care about the Ancients. All they are to me can be summed up as 'threats to my family'. Outside of that they can take a long walk on a scenic trail.]

Corun almost winces.

[You really shouldn't talk about them like that, Anthony,] he tells me.

[Or what?] I sarcastically bite back. [Will they cause me discomfort and limit my movements? Wouldn't that be awful.]

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I shift as the ache flares within my carapace.

[How are they even doing this?] I complain. [I can't detect any mana that's connecting to me. It's like this sensation comes from nowhere.]

[I can't help you with that,] Granin admits, [nobody has ever been able to figure it out, or what requirements are necessary to trigger the call. Some promising monsters begin to feel it early, perhaps even at tier four or five, but others never do, not even at tier eight. Other than a strong core, we have no idea what causes it to begin.]

Well that's something at least. Are they able to cause this sensation through the core somehow? It shouldn't be possible according to what I know, but these monsters have been alive for literally thousands of years. If they haven't figured things out better than I have in that much time, they're beyond hope.

[All right,] I finally manage to push aside my anger and try to be reasonable. [You can't help get rid of this, is there any way I can mitigate it? Reduce the effects? Right now I can barely operate on this stratum at all, I presume going to the second would be even worse. If the Colony needs help this is going to make it difficult to help them and frankly, I'm not a fan.]

Torrina nods, understanding where I'm coming from. She glances at Granin, who indicates she can answer before she speaks.

[We don't know how to lessen the effects of the call. We only know that when it is in effect, it will be constant. The only way to get rid of it that we've ever found is for the marked individual to … ] she reaches for the right words, [ … lose the interest of the Ancients. Once they no longer believe you are capable of reaching their level, the Call will vanish.]

So if I don't intentionally weaken myself during an evolution this is just going to continue? That sucks!

[They want another monster to reach their level and join their ranks, completing the circle of twenty. For that reason they've reached out and attempted to draw promising monsters to them,] Granin says directly. [It's a crude method, but they are attempting to drive you to descend further, evolve more, fight and survive in ever more difficult conditions. Only a monster who can overcome all of that will be capable of reaching them. That is what we believe.]

I'm about to tell Granin exactly what he can do with his beliefs when a familiar scent wafts against my antennae.

"You aren't being difficult are you, child?"

I turn toward the nest in shock. It can't be! But it is!

Emerging from the elaborate entrance carved into the base of the hill is a swarm of ants who posture aggressively, zipping this way and that as they rush forward to assess any threats. But underneath all of that swarming carapace is a form that I can't forget no matter how much time passes.

"Mother?" I gasp. "Weren't you in the second stratum?"

She'd been up there for ages, in the main nest! She'd even managed to get her guards to let her go out hunting and everything. I kind of thought that would end up being her retirement, in a way. She could go catch her own food, battle and lay eggs, everything she wanted in life. What the heck is she doing down here?

The giant ant steps gracefully closer to me.

THWACK!

Yeouch!

I rub my head with one antenna.

"Was that really necessary?" I ask.

"I felt that you were thinking useless thoughts," she replies calmly.

She raises her antenna again.

"Are you still thinking them?"

"No mother!"