Chapter 2814 - Chry 15

Chapter 144 Talking points

The Queen was just as mentally invested in our contest as I was. With the sudden bite of Vibrant she has completely lost her focus, freeing me from her mental assault.

I can't waste this chance!

I leap forward immediately, mandibles wide open, ready to deliver the fatal blow. I'd originally wanted to keep this Queen alive for a few reasons. Firstly, reprisals. If her death was somehow pinned on us, or if people came following her trail, we could be in big trouble. At the very least we would have to pick up and relocate the colony again, something I'd rather not do if I didn't have to. Secondly, information! If I were to take this opportunity to try and develop my mind magic skills I could communicate and exchange the safe return of this Queen for information of this world and the surrounding area.

This is critical info for me. The knowledge I could harvest from one captive human about the surface society would be worth mountains of metaphorical gold. Learning about the locations of cities, the culture, about the Dungeon, magic, weapon skills, everything!

Information is king! When an actual person I can interrogate falls into my lap, I refuse to throw away the opportunity! Well, now that I know the Queen can assault my mind directly, I'll have to give up on it. Who knows what is possible when you dominate another's mind with magic? Not this ant!

Can't take the chance! I'll have to snip the neck zone and worry about the ramifications later. Perhaps there is still a chance I could get some information from the captain up above. Unlikely he would want to share after his Queen is trimmed but it'll be worth a shot.

[Hold, monster!] a desperate voice rings within my mind.

I freeze on the spot. My mandibles are mere inches away from the royal neck. It would take me a fraction of a second to complete the motion and bring my jaws together.

An uneasy pause.

We stare at each other, eye to compound eye. Flipping on my mana sense I can see that the Queen has managed to hastily construct a similar mind magic bridge to that which Formo the Sophos used to communicate with me. However, where Formo's bridge was an immaculate golden lattice woven with exquisite, intricate care, this one looks like the technique used to darn socks. Rough!

I shouldn't be too surprised since she did manage to construct it under duress. Hopefully she managed to make it so that works both ways. What the heck do I say though? This is a ruler, used to respect and deference. I should try not to be too rude. Then again she did try to stab me in the brain with magic, it wouldn't pay to be too polite.

[Speak! Or Die!]

I think I struck the balance there quite well. Good going Anthony!

Staring into the face of a terrifying Dungeon monster the Queen is managing to keep her equilibrium quite well, all things considered. With my words ringing in her mind she seems a little taken aback and pale as she ponders her next words.

[How is it you can understand me?] she eventually asks, sounding completely bewildered.

...

What do you want me to say? That I was actually a human in the past? That I was reincarnated into this body and have been making the best of my new life as a monstrous ant?

[You tried to speak to me without knowing if I could reply?] I ask.

[When you were able to resist my mind blade, I thought it was strange that a monster would have such strong force of mind. When the alternative was having my head cut off, I thought attempting to communicate would cost me nothing]

True enough. Perhaps most monsters wouldn't have been able to fight off that mind magic attack. Not that I was able to fight it off completely, rather I managed to not die until I was saved by Vibrant.

The little worker is currently still threateningly positioned near the Queen's ankles, clicking her mandibles savagely. Clearly she isn't satisfied with Queen's current state of not dead. I have to think of something else to say now. Dammit this hard. Try to stay polite!

[Why should I let you live?]

Nailed it!

The Queen seems slightly taking aback by that statement. It takes her a few moments to reply.

[What is it that you want?]

Gah! More questions? I guess it seems reasonable that she wouldn't know exactly what a monstrous ant colony would want with a living human Queen.

[You have attacked my family, injured my Queen and killed hundreds of my siblings. The first thing I want is an explanation for this invasion]

Not sounding too pushy I hope? Even in my last life I found it a little difficult to talk to people. I think I'm managing to strike the right tone.

[My soldiers and I were fleeing the ... city, nearby] she points in the direction of the city I'd seen from the church, [we ran into your ... siblings, by chance. At first there was only one but the further we pushed forward the more there were]

No need to remind me of the battle you started which resulted in so much ant death! If you'd backed away and gone in a different direction we wouldn't have this situation!

[They were defending their home and their family. For the crimes you have committed against us we have executed all but two of you. Should you wish to survive and return to your people along with your sole remaining soldier you will cooperate and answer my questions]

[What questions?]

Oh, I've got a heck of a lot of questions. From that moment the interrogation continued for several long hours.

-x-X-x-

The energy in the village was electric.

The events of several nights ago, when Beyn had led the villagers to heroically defend themselves from the feared monstrous ant invasion had stoked the fires within the villagers hearts to unprecedented heights.

The story had grown and been embellished with every telling, from one ant, to five, to fifty! The villagers had weathered a storm of devious spells through the righteousness of their spirit! By the strength of their virtue and power of their arms they were victorious! Just like the legendary first Dungeon delvers in the time of Rending!

By the next day the word had spread to the nearby villages and farming communities of the goings on in the town of Malgate. The Dungeon had opened within the church of the Path! Monsters had emerged but not harmed the villagers! Surely this indicates that the town was chosen for great things!

The Dungeon occupies a special place in the hearts of these townspeople. Outside of the cities and far from the entrances, most people outside the cities have never set foot in that place. Asides from a few retired veterans and mercenaries, none had any firsthand experience at all. Dungeon monsters were things of myth and legend to them. More powerful than any creature on the surface, more ferocious, cunning and deadly! The riches that flowed out of the Dungeons were as rare to these farmers and shop owners as real gold and diamonds! Unheard of!

But now? To hear of an opening appearing within a small town on the outskirts of the capital? To hear of villagers battling and killing Dungeon creatures? Absorbing experience and gaining levels, changing their fate. It was surely a gift of God! The god of the System!

The morning after the victory over the ants the first pilgrims began to trickle into Malgate. By that night there was a steady stream of them, filling the town to bursting, packing the inn. When there were no more beds available they set up tents and slept under trees. Young, old, farmers and merchants, they arrived, dusty and tired, old weapons or farming tools over one shoulder and the light of belief shining in their eyes.

In the middle of it all was Beyn. The priest was indefatigable. Without sleep, without pause, he preached to the people. He never tired in his relentless energy. His gestures were fierce and his stride was long. His voice never faltered, strong and powerfully he spoke endlessly, invigorating the crowd or exhorting smaller groups with the righteousness of the cause. As time passed, the respect in the eyes of the people gradually changed to something deeper and more fervent.

Through it all the battle against the Dungeon monsters was never ending. In ones and twos they crawled out of the hole in the church like demons rising from hell. In battling the Dungeon monsters the villagers were able to reap a rich harvest of experience. To them, the monsters were not demons but oven fresh meals! Dungeon monsters gave far more experience than the surface variety, giving the villagers a chance to raise their combat skills and give them a chance to change their class, an opportunity that was as rare as hens teeth to people such as these.

"You don't look that excited Mrs Ruther. Is something worrying you?" the maid asked.

Enid Ruther turned to look at the young servant with a frown on her face. The girl was pleasant enough but a little on the dim side. Finding anyone better was probably impossible in Malgate.

Suddenly Enid was struck by a thought. "That young chap you've been hanging around with lately, what was his name?" she asked.

Her young maid Lilly blushed and turned to the side. "Why Mrs Ruther, what are you implying? There isn't anything official between me and Burton" she said.

Enid rolled her eyes. What did she care for their trysts? "Has Burton been mixing with that bunch in front of the church?"

Immediately Lilly's eyes glowed with admiration. "You mean 'The Dungeons Chosen?'" she gushed.

"The what?!" Enid burst out.

Lilly turned back to her mistress, face slack with shock. "You didn't know? Father Beyn started preaching that name this morning and the villagers have all picked it up".

Enid stared slack jawed at her ditzy maid before rolling her eyes. A few villagers were now legendary Dungeon warriors? What would Derrion say if he were still alive?

Thinking of her deceased husband filled Enid's heart with sorrow, as it always did. Leaving her still gushing maid behind her she walked to the other end of the reading room where a suit of armour was mounted on a decorative frame, a worn training sword pinned to polished wood framed on the wall behind it.

Derrion had always valued that training sword more than the expensive enchanted weapon he used when delving. When he had retired from his career as a Dungeon Mercenary it was this training blade that he wanted placed in the most prominent position on the wall. He had sold his combat blade.

Enid sighed. Those days had been the happiest of their lives. She had sold off her business in the city and they had moved here to Derrion's home town to open a market and live a quiet life. He had passed away just five years later.

"What would you say to these people to make them listen?" she whispered to his armour, "they sure as heck won't listen to an old woman like me".

Derrion had been a powerful figure in his prime. He had tirelessly practiced his blade techniques and raised his class to "Expert Swordsman" over the long years of delving. He commanded a premium price on expeditions!

When he spoke on matters concerning the Dungeon, nobody would dare say he was wrong!

Being married to a successful mercenary for so many years, how could Enid not have learned about the strength of Dungeon monsters? Her husband had never hidden anything from her, that was the mutual respect they had for each other. The danger he had experienced, the terrible beasts he had battled, she knew it all.

How could these villagers and farmers possibly have any idea of the horrors that dwelt in the world below? They may have heard the legends and stories from the old times, but that wasn't worth a pinch of salt compared to hearing it from someone who had seen it with their own eyes.

When those ants had emerged from inside the church she had thought they were all dead for sure. Instead, she had watched them heal the injury to the priests' hand and then march into the forest without even glancing at the terrified humans.

It defied belief. Even to Enid, who knew far more than most about the nature of the Dungeon, this behaviour had no explanation.

What she did know however, was that if these fools in the village tried to fight against those ants, or try to delve deeper into the Dungeon, they would all be killed so easily.

Enid wasn't a bad person, she wanted to save her neighbours if she could, but the fervour in the eyes of the villagers disturbed her deeply. What would they do if she were to speak against their new belief?

She had no confidence they would listen to her. Married to a mercenary she might have been but Enid was a merchant. Even if she had risen in class to "Prosperous Merchant" what sway did that hold?

None.

Enid let her hand trail over the cuts and grooves carved into the toughened beast hide chest plate in front of her, evidence of uncountable battles beneath the ground.

In order to save as many lives as she could, she would have to attempt the impossible.

-x-X-x-

Nothing was happening and Vibrant was getting hungry. Since she had snapped at the pink creatures ankle her senior and the creature had been very still, looking at each other for several Torpor worth of time.

The young ant worker could somehow tell that there was something happening though she couldn't say how she knew, or even what it was exactly that she did know. She simply felt that her powerful senior worker and the strange creature were engaged in some kind exchange that she had no way of participating in.

So she was bored.

At first she tried nipping at her senior, her mandibles scratching against the others tough carapace, but there was no reaction. Not to mention that the exercise probably hurt her face more than it hurt the other!

How did this ant get so strong?!

Vibrant had always been able to sense it, even as a larvae, that this individual was different, special. She could feel a powerful vibe from the other, something that made her want to follow and learn.

However, that didn't do much to alleviate the current situation. After deciding that nothing much was going to happen anytime soon, the little ant climbed up onto the seniors back in order to commune with her fellow traveller.

As a creature without any sensory input other than touch, Crinis had no idea what was happening. Everything was still and quiet, there wasn't any movement that she could sense and her master was close by. In her growth stage there wasn't anything else that the little creature could hope for.

Idly, the little monster tugged on the shining thread in her consciousness that connected her to the creature who had created her. A constant sense of distance and position came to her through this thread, alerting her about wherever her master happened to be, as well as the occasional words when she was spoken to.

Crinis felt she could probably talk back, but so far hadn't really felt any urge to. She had been tempted a few times, but eventually decided that she didn't have anything that important to say. At this stage of her life it only important that eat and grow so that she could become useful.

Suddenly the little monster felt a tugging on one of her tentacles!

What was it!? Out of reflex the Jelly like monster unfolded two more tentacles from her main body and lashed out with them. At her present stage of growth, this strike had almost no power behind it all, causing Crinis to feel a little depressed when she made contact but her opponent barely budged.

Vibrant was completely undeterred by this response. She'd worked out long ago that her blobby associate couldn't recognise what was going on, so the worker continued to extend her leg to prod at her companion, trying to get the little blob to stick onto her back.

Why? In Vibrant's mind, the two monsters spend so much time in proximity that they may as well continue to stick together. The human concept of friendship wouldn't apply to monsters, they simply didn't think that way, but comfort or companionship, these were things that they were fully capable of feeling towards a monster not of their own kind.

Eventually Crinis was able to work out who was annoying her and internally sighed. This pesky creature had interacted with Crinis before. The blob knew from experience that this irritating creature wouldn't leave her alone until she gave in. Crinis had no idea why the master tolerated this little pest to ride upon their person but who was she to argue?

After several more minutes of insistent prodding Vibrant was rewarded when the little blob reached out with its tentacles and gradually dragged itself onto her back.

Oof!

Vibrant was annoyed. Why was it that this blob was growing so quickly but she had to remain small?! Once again the worker pondered the words of her wise senior about mutation. She had frequently heard a 'voice' speaking to her when eating and she roughly grasped the idea of Biomass and spending it. Her instincts prompted her to spend her Biomass in ways without her really thinking about it and the seniors' words went against those instincts.

So the little worker had yet to spend any points on mutation at all.

As more time passed she was more and more interested in talking to the senior and asking questions. It probably wouldn't be long until she went against her instincts and purchased an upgrade.

With her passenger in position the duo set off! Scrabbling up the internal shaft of the nest and out into the forest!

Vibrant was excited but Crinis was much more subdued, after all the blob monster had no concept of where they were. She was comforted however by the faint awareness of the other like her.

Similar to the link between herself and her master but much weaker, she was able to faintly sense the other monster who shared the same kind of existence her. Right now that presence was close by.

Vibrant also naturally could see the huge monster who followed her senior around. Right now he was sitting on top of a creature who looked somewhat similar to the one inside their chamber. The smaller, pinkish creature looked extremely uncomfortable being crushed by the much larger monster but Vibrant didn't have any sympathy. She even walked closer and snipped at the creatures hand with her mandibles!

Take that!

The creature swiped at her with the hand, knocking her back, causing her to snap her mandibles angrily. The giant monster reached down with one hand and knocks the creature lying beneath it with one fist, causing it to grunt in pain.

Vibrant was delighted, take that! She bounced back and forth a few times, still clacking her mandibles and waving her antennae aggressively! This creature needs to learn its place!

Crinis was disturbed by all the sudden movement and had to reach out with a few more tentacles to grip onto the shifting ant she was stuck to. What is this crazy thing doing?!

Both of them were distracted at the same time by the alluring scent of Biomass!

Where was it?!

Crinis was able to detect the presence of food through her skin. She extended a few tentacles and wiggled them furiously in the air, trying to pick up on a direction. She was hungry!

Vibrant noticed that the giant monster was chomping on something he'd been holding in his other hand. Biomass!

Moving speedily she climbed over the squashed creatures face and up onto the monster until she was staring him right in the eye, pointing excitedly at the food in his hand.

It took the big monster a while to realise what these two irritants wanted. Eventually he realised and pointed in a direction towards the tree line and Vibrant was off and racing!

It wasn't long before she found piles of Biomass on the ground, a few workers picking over it and dragging it back to the colony.

Food!

Both monsters were incredibly excited. Crinis had cast aside her earlier reservations and was now fully prepared to leap off and eat, she practically hummed with anticipation.

Vibrant was only too happy to place her comrade down on the food, guiding with one slender antennae before she started to chow down herself.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Homo Sapien. One Biomass awarded]

[Basic profile of Homo Sapien unlocked]

Delicious!

The two small monsters continued to eat until they were full. Then Vibrant collected her associate and they slowly wobbled their way back to the nest.

-x-X-x-

It took hours to interrogate this Queen and the flow of new information left me staggering. Despite my pounding headache I pushed forward with all of my strength! Who knew what could happen in the future? This old lady might fall over from a heart attack, every ounce of knowledge must be extracted this very second!

By the end the two of us were tired beyond words. Not quite willing to trust the words of this ant killer up front I asked every question several times in different ways, attempting to catch her off guard. It's true that when communicating using mind magic, at least so far in my limited experience, it is possible to sense on a surface level the thoughts and feelings behind a persons' communication. However the quality of the connection clearly plays a part.

Formo's mind and honesty rang through like a clear bell tone as he spoke, no duplicity was hidden at all within his connection. The mind magic woven by the Queen is far from as clear, words and intentions becoming muddled or lost in translation, making me far more wary.

For her part the Queen seems to have answered everything faithfully to the best of her ability, it will impossible to know if there are any mistruths mixed in until I get the chance to ask these questions of another individual.

Even with this being the case I've been able to learn so much.

For the starters the Queen's own situation. This ruler is quite respected and admired amongst her people (so she says) and has been Queen of this small kingdom of Liria for decades, over thirty years of peace and prosperity.

Supposedly there has been a coup brewing beneath the surface, something about profit, corrupt merchants, outside forces and exploitation, I didn't really listen to this bit that carefully. The Queen got wind of the situation and attempted to bait the plotters out into the open but underestimated their strength, eventually her loyalists were defeated and she was forced to flee the city with her personal guard, moving out of the city at night before running into the colony.

I was fairly shocked at this point, this person is either not nearly as wise as they claim or just plain unlucky!

From there she told me about the class based leveling system of the surface races, what knowledge she had on the other races that inhabit the surface, she'd never heard of elves unfortunately, and some history of the kingdom

Apparently this kingdom is fairly young, less than two hundred years old. After being infested with monsters for a tremendously long time, only in relatively recent history had this area been purged (her words) and the monsters either defeated or driven into the Dungeon. So apparently this region is still considered underdeveloped and somewhat backward, a remote frontier of the surface world.

In fact, if we were to go south for a few days we would pass into lands that hadn't seen human occupation for thousands of years. Even now the people of this country battled to keep the monsters pushed back and occasionally they mounted campaigns to further push back the border.

At least there are somewhat strong monsters somewhere on the surface! I was beginning to think my surface cousins were completely useless!

Eventually I leave the Queen alone in my chamber and wander off to try and digest what I've learned. The question that sticks out the most in my mind is, what am I supposed to do now? I've got the apparently beloved Queen of the kingdom trapped inside my dirt chamber and the captain of her personal guard is....

... being sat on by my pet.

The poor fellow looks distinctly uncomfortable as Tiny has planted himself right on his back. Is that Crinis and Vibrant? The two little creatures are positioned curiously near the captains face. Vibrant appears to be attempting to snip him on the nose with her mandibles whilst Crinis is repeatedly slapping him on the head with tentacles for some reason.

When the heck did these two climb up here.

["Stop mucking around you two!"] I say to both of them.

The two young monsters twitch in surprise, not having noticed my arrival. Crinis pulls the tentacles back into the main body and manages to give the impression of guilty silence despite being a featureless blob.

Vibrant doesn't seem at all fussed and simply climbs back onto my head happily. With a mental sigh I collect Crinis onto my back and make sure that Tiny knows not to kill his prisoner as we still need him for the time being.

What to do?

Try to think it through Anthony! What are the options?

I could kill the Queen and the Guard, forget any of this ever happened and move on with my life!

...

Rejected. I'm not so far removed from my former humanity that I'm quite that comfortable with cold blooded human killing. Taking my revenge on the soldiers for the damage done to the colony was about my limit for the time being!

Not to mention the possibility of reprisals if we were to kill a Queen loved by the masses and people were to find out about it.

Next I could take the Queen and captain to the nearby town and dump them there. This idea honestly appeals to me quite a bit, I get to wash my hands of these humans and the colony can go back about its business. The problem is that no matter how benevolent the Queen may seem, or how much she may promise not to seek reprisals against us in the future, I would have to relocate the colony completely, possibly back down in the Dungeon even, in order to ensure our safety.

So this one is better but still not ideal.

The third option is my least favourite and involves trying to keep the Queen and captain with the colony semi long term. We don't kill them, but we don't release them either.

I'm not really a fan of this plan. I leave myself open to mind stabbing at any moment! How could i expect two crafty humans to behave whilst being detained indefinitely?

My mind drifts back to the last thing the Queen had to say. I had disregarded it at first but the more I think about how to move next the more this idea keeps popping into my head.

[What do you want to do next?] I'd asked her.

She'd thought about it for a moment before responding firmly. [I want my city back. I refuse to hand the throne over to those motivated by greed and self-interest. I will attempt to rally the people around my banner and wage a campaign against the usurpers].

That all sounds very aggressive.

[This is presuming I allow you to leave this place alive] I point out.

I have to say my ability to stay smooth in communication is coming a long way!

[True] the Queen chuckled.

[But you know] she went on, [there isn't anything for you to gain from killing me, but perhaps much to gain from keeping me alive. Tell me, what is it that you want? Perhaps there is something I can offer you?]

Hmmm. How about two hundred of my fellow workers back to life eh?

I wouldn't get anywhere throwing that in her face.

[Biomass, experience, monster cores. These are the only things the colony requires] I told her.

She thought about it. [Well, I'm not prepared to offer you the flesh of my people, I hope you understand. The only way I could give you experience is to let you kill us, which I also am unwilling to offer, but monster cores I can certainly give you].

That perked up my interest. I really don't know how many cores I should ask for though. What would appropriate? I had to ask her to give me a figure, nicely of course.

[How many cores is your life worth?] I ask.

The Queen shook her head with a wry smile. [The question I think you should ask, monster, is how many cores is my kingdom worth? Would you be willing to help me? For a price, of course].

-x-X-x-

One of the things I learned from the human Queen is the value of monster cores to their society. They use them for enchantments, magical engineering, powerful weapons, armour, training magicians, jewellery and more. Cores are an integral part of industry on the surface, their ability to absorb mana from the atmosphere and then channel it cannot be replicated. In wealthy circles cores could even be considered a separate form of currency, valuable everywhere civilised enough to conduct trade.

I was also disturbed to learn of the market for monster body parts, using hides, shells, claws and even organs to make equipment, potions or even building materials! Apparently the Queens throne room is buttressed by columns carved from several massive spines extracted from the monsters who dominated this region before their death.

Hearing about the incredible value attached to the body parts of my own kind made me somewhat queasy. I do have to admit that my diamond carapace would make a fairly cracking set of armour...

Don't think about it Anthony! Just because you're a monster doesn't mean you are going to wind up with your head mounted on some wall, your core hung around a duchess' neck and your carapace turned into a truly sweet set of defensive gear. They might get the Anjanath, but not this ant!

That shall not be the fate of me, or my colony!

If anything the conversation with the Queen emphasised again and again the danger of the surface people to me and my family. Truly, humanity is the real monster! I'm super reluctant to enter into any sort of deal with this kingdom. Packing up the colony and rushing into monster territory sounds like the safest and best place for us ants to go!

But... the wealth!

So... many.... CORES.

I could pump the core of all of my pets and myself to max, special cores included! I could do the same for the Queen! I could grind my core engineering to the next level easy.

Hundreds of cores are on the table here! Not two or three, hundreds!

It's almost certainly a trick in some way.

The Queen has no options available to her, that much is clear, but would a wise and savvy Queen really be prepared to hand a portion of her nations wealth to a marauding band of monsters?

Unlikely.

Is it really a betrayal if you know it is coming? Just because she'll turn on me at some point doesn't mean I won't be able to extract value. Is it risky? For sure. The reward though ..... My mandibles are twitching as I ponder that sweet, sweet largesse!

I need to control myself. I better go check on the real Queen.

Leaving Tiny to enjoy his new seat I scuttle over to the farm and head down to check things out. What meets me at the bottom is a veritable seething mass of ants. Workers are climbing all over each other in a huge pile, those on the outside twitch their antennae and constantly bare their mandibles at the surrounding walls, daring any monster to poke its head out.

Here and there I can see a separate, smaller masses of ants and just when I'm wondering what is going on I see a few workers break off from their smaller groups and walk back to the main mass with chunks of fresh Biomass in their mandibles.

Clearly the workers are piling onto every monster the second it comes out of the walls, ripping them apart in their desperation to ensure the Queen isn't threatened.

The problem I have is, how am I supposed to talk to the Queen when she is literally buried beneath a protective layer of her own children?!

I know I said to keep her safe but holy heck fam! You've really gone all out!

Descending into the farm I can see that the workers have even made a carpet layer underneath the Queen, squashing their bodies low to the ground to keep a vigilant eye on the ground. If a monster were to burst out of the ground these workers would rather place their own bodies between the ravenous claws and their Queen.

There isn't anything for me to do except push my way through the workers until I manage to come face to face with the Queen.

Even Vibrant displays some concern when she come before her mother. The little ant sits up on my head and tries to sense her parents condition with her antennae.

"How are you doing mother?" I ask anxiously.

Her antennae twitch as she detects my words and she slowly shifts her head until she spots me amongst the throng.

"I am ... better" she replies.

Her voice sounds less thin than it did, some of the warmth that I remembered has returned as well as a little of her vigour. Flicking on my mana sense momentarily I can see that her core is more energetic than in was, no longer stuttering like a candle about to be blown out.

"Is it the Dungeon" I ask hesitantly, "Do you need to absorb more mana?"

The Queen looks at me blankly for a moment.

"I do not know, child" she replies.

I'm getting a sinking feeling that I'm right though. It's possible that the monsters with advanced cores, like the Queen, need to have constant exposure to concentrated mana in order to survive?

So ever since we came to the surface the Queen has been gradually leaking strength? Growing weaker every passing day?! And of course she doesn't say anything, she's too damn selfless!

If they could my eyes would be tearing up! THIS is the sacrifice a real Queen makes! No schemes here, just loyal service. Not a kingdom, a family!

"Have you been able to cast any healing spells on yourself?" I ask.

She waggles her antennae in an ant nod. "My injuries are somewhat better".

"When you feel that you can you should cast it again to make sure you heal quickly" I urge her, "and eat plenty! It will speed up the healing".

She once again waggles her antennae to nod. I can faintly sense some amusement radiating off her tired frame, being fussed over by her children instead of the (in her mind) proper state of her fussing over us.

Satisfied that the Queen is on the mend I climb back out of the farm, letting the workforce do its thing. My mind is buzzing with thoughts and not all of them are pleasant.

I have to bear some responsibility for this situation. I couldn't have known that the Queen would suffer in this way when we came to the surface but the fact remains that we are here because of me. I also can't help a little self-recrimination. If I'd been a little more attentive to the Queen and less focused on my own growth maybe I'd have noticed that she was weakening.

Logically I know that it isn't my fault but the thoughts are hard to dismiss.

Returning to the ant hill, lost in my own head, I'm knocked out of my thoughts by a bustle amongst the workers on one side of the hill.

What the heck is happening now?!

Unbelievably, an old woman is walking slowly but purposefully out of the tree line and into the clearing, hands raised above her head and a determined expression on her face.

What.

The.

Hell?!

-x-X-x-

Is this some form of ritual suicide now?! Offering oneself up as Biomass for monsters? Or have the people decided to cast off their elderly as a sacrifice to appease the mighty ant kingdom? The older people are the most scrawny among you! If you want to offer Biomass then at least throw in some fatties!

Wait! What am I thinking...

Seeing some workers descending towards this person, ready to defend the hill, I rush down to head them off. There is something about this old woman that's making my antennae twitch. The way she has approached, so deliberately and with her hands in the air. It's clear that she came here to find the colony, otherwise she would have run away at the first sign of us, surely? Raising her hands in the air is the classic sign of intending no harm, though how she expects a colony of monsters to know that is beyond me.

So the question remains, what does this human want to find and approach us for? Try as I might I can't come up with anything at all.

As she sees me approach and warn away the approaching workers she breathes a sigh of relief and her manner becomes a little excited. She was looking for me? Does she recognise me? Perhaps she saw me in the church... I don't remember her being there but I didn't spend a whole lot of time taking in the crowd.

Her face does seem vaguely familiar though...

When I draw near and stop the old woman also ceases her steps but keeps her hands in the air.

I stand still and watch patiently.

Taking a deep breath the lady seems to settle her nerves before she squares up to me and then ... begins speaking.

....

....

I can't understand you lady! Can't you use mind magic or something!?

For several minutes the lady attempts to speak to me, earnestly pleading about something, gesturing passionately with her hands, pointing at the colony, pointing back towards the town.

...

You really came here to talk to a colony of monsters?! As in, just talk with your mouth?! Internally I'm shaking my head at this crazy behaviour. If I wasn't a reborn human this lady would have been ripped to shreds and eaten without getting her message across at all.

Thankfully I have a way to get around this.

Interrupting the monologue, I walk closer, frightening the old woman with my sudden movement such that she leaps back in fear, once again thrusting her hands high in the air.

...

I'm not going to eat you! Sheesh! People these days...

I move to her side and then use my antennae to tap the back of my carapace. She seems confused at first so I repeat the gesture. The light understanding dawns on her face and she resolutely places her hands in front of her and waves them back and forth. "No thanks!"

You don't really have any options here lady.

A little more insistently I poke the old woman with my antennae and then pat my back. When she doesn't immediately move I repeat the gesture even more forcefully.

She gets the picture this time. I'll keep going until she cooperates! So she may as well just cooperate.

Reluctance written all over her face she approaches my side and starts in fright when I lower my body down so she can climb on. At the last moment I remember to extend an antennae back for Crinis to grab and shift the little blob up to my head next to Vibrant, who chitters at my pet, unhappy with her space being cramped. Crinis simply waves a few tentacles around until she manages to thwap the ant on the head before settling in on her new real estate.

Once my new captive, I mean, guest, has been secured I head over to the ant hill, climb up the side and then descend into the main shaft. Worried that the old woman will fall as we start our vertical journey I make sure to tilt my body as much as possible and extend an antennae for her to grip, two courtesies I had neglected to offer the Queen.

I stop near the entrance to my chamber and prod the human until she climbs off and then I follow in behind her.

I'm a little curious as to how this is going to play out.

When the old woman enters my chamber and sees who is inside she goes completely still with shock seemingly not believing the evidence of her own eyes. It's a fair response really, you wouldn't expect to find your Queen inside a giant ant hill normally.

The old woman speaks hesitantly and reaches out with a trembling hand towards my prisoner who speaks warmly to our new guest and clasps the old womans' hands between her own. Having her hands gripped by her own Queen seems to overwhelm my new guest and she falls to her knees and lower hers head in respect before the protesting Queen who tries to raise her up.

Maybe she is as respected as she claims? Or maybe people just fear royalty in general in this socially primitive world.

Waving my antennae above my head to get the Queens attention I point to the old woman's head and then at my own, repeating the gesture a few times until the Queen manages to take my meaning.

I want you to connect this person and me with mind magic so we can talk.

The Queen nods to say she understands but then shakes her head.

What the heck....

She frowns for a minute before I feel the familiar and crude touch of her mind on mine.

[I lack the skill to form a bridge between two individuals in this way. Connecting others is ten times as hard as connecting oneself. If you like, I can speak to this citizen myself and then communicate her words to you].

I ponder this. At least I'll get the message but I'm a little cautious the Queen might omit some details. Trust between human and monster can't be built so easily.

[Have her speak her story to me and translate in real time. If I believe information has been kept from me you both will be eaten] I state.

The Queen looks somewhat angered by my demand. [I am not used to having my honour questioned in this way, monster] she says forcefully.

.... Ok? But what does that have to do with me?!

[I care not. Relay my instructions]

A Queen you may be, but my Queen is a giant ant and her subjects are literally her own children. What exactly do you think we owe you?!

Shaking my head internally I turn my head towards my new guest and wait for her to start speaking. Once the Queen has passed on my instructions the old lady curtsies surprisingly gracefully towards her ruler and begins to speak, shortly after a steady stream of translation echoes in my head.

[This citizen of my kingdom is named Enid Ruther's, a merchant from the nearby town of Malgate. She was witness to your arrival in the towns church over a week ago and has grown concerned over the behaviour and ideas gripping the people since that time. The local priest has whipped the townsfolk into a frenzy, leading them to fight against the Dungeon monsters and even... but that's suicide!] the Queen breaks off her translation to shout in my mind.

She rapidly speaks verbally to Enid, shock written all over her face, the former replies firmly and the Queen just shakes her head looking appalled.

I reach out with an antennae and tap the Queen on the head. Oi, translate.

[I apologise, I was so shocked. The priest has even spurred the townsfolk to descend into the Dungeon and do battle there yesterday. Several people were killed and hailed as martyrs] her emotions bleed through as she speaks, sorry and anger at this foolish waste of life.

Enid continues to speak and the Queen continues to translate.

[Enid fears that the villagers will soon raise arms and attempt to invade the forest to hunt down your colony, believing you to be a sacrifice offered up by the Dungeon for their own enrichment and glory].

...

Even the Queen seems stunned by the stupidity of it. I personally have no idea what to say. A tribute!? Are these people alright in the head!? Tribute your grandfather!

[Enid's husband was an experienced Dungeon explorer and she knows that intelligent monsters capable of communication exist in the depths. When she saw you spare the priest and even heal his arm she was convinced that you were a highly evolved species and hoped to reason with you to spare the villagers lives. She knew it was a faint hope and that she would likely be killed but she could think of no other option to prevent meaningless killing] the Queen is getting a little choked up listening of this brave citizens sense of duty.

For my part I'm still stunned by the whole sacrificial offering thing...

Just how badly do these people want to get eaten?!

-x-X-x-

I'm no longer human, I get that, but coming from my world, I understand things like the sanctity of life. Even those soldiers that were killed by Tiny, justified as I felt ordering their deaths due to the massacre of my family, my stomach still twists thinking about whether those soldiers had families themselves, children, wives, parents.

Mindless killing serves no purpose. These villagers may be misled, or just incredibly dumb, but I don't especially feel the need to massacre them because of it. They aren't a threat after all, I could probably fight a village full of farmers by myself.

Almost as if they could sense my thoughts, Enid and the Queen immediately turn to me to plead for the life of their associates.

[These villagers are misguided, monster, there is nothing to gain from their deaths. Won't you spare them?]

Well, I have no intention of killing them, but that statement isn't technically correct.

[The colony would gain Biomass and experience. Hundreds of workers have died recently, our numbers need to be replenished] I point out.

It's not like we would gain nothing, right?

The Queen's face falls and so does Enid's when my words are relayed to her. Enid looks even more despondent when she questions the Queen and her ruler has to reply, I think she's explaining just how my colony ended up losing hundreds of members. More specifically, how I lost hundreds of my siblings.

Grrrr.

Feeling crushed, the old lady falls to her knees and pleads with me, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. The Queen looks deeply moved and also kneels to plead with me.

[Enid begs you to spare the townspeople, they are ignorant but not malicious. She offers you her own flesh as payment, I too am prepared to offer my life in exchange. It is the duty of a ruler after all!]

Yikes, these two sure are keen on saving a pack of morons.

Still having humans bow down before my magnificence is refreshing, empowering even! Royalty, forced to beg me for favour is something I couldn't have dreamed of happening in my last life. What is the feeling swelling from within?! Superiority? Power?! Yes you puny humans, kneel, beg! If you wish for this great one to spare your pitiful friends then you must grovel!

Muahahahahaaaaaa!

Wait! These are the words of Dark Anthony! Down, Dark Anthony! Down, you fiend! Back to the void from which you came!

I mentally shake myself free of the influence of the dark one. I mustn't allow myself to fall down the black path, I'll end up being some cartoonish supervillain who'll no doubt be killed whilst scheming for world domination or some such.

I have no intention off massacring these villagers but if I can extract maximum value from the Queen and protect the colony at the same time.... I totally will!

[There is no failing greater than ignorance. If you wish for me to spare these people, as well as to assist you in reclaiming your city, then you will need to be prepared to make fair exchange].

Yes, I'm preparing to try and make a deal here. If I can keep the colony out of it and only expose myself to the risk then I'm prepared to take it on in order to get those cores. With so many of the precious gems in my mandibles I'll be able to strengthen my entourage to the point where we will be invincible in the top layer of the Dungeon. We could secure the colony for ages as well as accelerate the timetable for my most ambitious core modification project.

The Queen seems to sense that I'm leaning towards making an agreement. Her eyes narrow as her expression turns thoughtful. To spare the townspeople she will need to turn their fervour to a less suicidal cause. These people are afire with religious zealotry, simply saying 'no' won't be sufficient to turn them from their cause. She also needs to somehow return to the city and secure her throne.

We two start discussing ideas and eventually we hash out a plan. I'm not particularly a great fan of it, but I think it will work.

Just ... Why do I always have to get hit right in the dignity...

Two days later the preparations are nearly complete. The true Queen has almost fully recovered from her wounds and continues to rest inside the farm, defended by her loyal workers. Myself and a small taskforce have spent the majority of our time working towards the success of our plan whilst Tiny has been mostly sitting on the Queens guard captain and eating. The Queen herself spends her time with Enid, hashing out the details of what will happen in the town and then after that.

When everything is in readiness I finalise my plans, leaving behind Vibrant and Crinis, making sure they have clear instructions to stick with Tiny and not get into trouble, before collecting the Queen, then Enida and departing towards the town of Malgate.

When we finally arrive we are treated to a surprising sight. The town has become flooded with angry looking farmers, the crowd leading up the small hill to the church doors is easily ten times the size it was the last time I was here. There must be hundreds of these morons! Maybe over a thousand?! Where did they find all of this stupid?!

The pyre is still burning, even now in the early morning light. The charred remains of various monsters are scattered around the base of the roaring flames, causing me to wince. Such a waste! The priest is still there, standing before the energetic throng, his frenzied voice rising above the buzz of the people and reaching us even from the edge of the woods. This guy has some serious pipes on him. Good to know he has skills that don't rely on having two arms. Since... you know.

Mentally bracing myself, I step forward, leaving the shelter of the tree line and crossing the fields, drawing ever closer to the town. I make no attempt to hide myself this time, sneaking up isn't part of the plan. Thanks to our setup the crowd shouldn't attack me, but if they do I'm prepared to make like a tree and leave at a moments' notice! This ant knows not to overstay his welcome!

As we draw closer the tension in my chest grows tighter. Being this close to so many humans, totally exposed is super nerve wracking!

When the first person turns and notices us I physically flinch. A bearded man towards the rear of the crowd, brandishing a pitchfork in one hand, catches a glimpse of us and turns, his jaw falling completely slack at what he sees.

After a few moments he musters enough awareness to call out and point towards us. Gradually more and more people turn, disregarding the soaring voice of the priest to witness the incredible sight approaching openly and unhurriedly across the fields.

Like a ripple through a pond the whispers and calls spread through the crowd until, when I'm only ten metres away from the nearest person the entire crowd has turned its eyes towards me. People at the far side have stood on rocks and gone on their toes to try and catch a glimpse of the remarkable sight.

Eventually even the priest notices that his faithful have turned their attention elsewhere and his voice falters and fades until he too notices the focus of the crowd, then he fall completely silent, his voice stuck in his throat and eyes boggling at the sight.

My heart is pounding in my chest at this point and I watch the crowd through every one of my compound eyes but I see nobody moving. Their attention doesn't seem to be on me really, not even on Enid, their fellow townsperson walking by my side, they seem more interested in what is on my back.

Before the stunned crowd of her subjects, the human Queen rises to her feet, standing on my glittering diamond carapace and spreads her arms towards the crowd before declaring with a sonorous voice, ["Loyal and blessed people of Liria! There is evil stalking our nation, threatening our peace and committing foul deeds within the Dungeon, stirring it against us! We have been chosen, you and I, by the System itself! Graced by the presence of its holy messenger from below, to restore the balance!"]

The Queens powerful voice and imperious manner puts even the priest to shame. The people are visibly impacted by the force of her person.

Just in case, I brace my feet to run. This had better work!

-x-X-x-

There is some debate about the largest monster in the Dungeon. For me, I can't understand the obsession most scholars in this field have with labels and lists. "Dungeons most deadly monster", "Biggest monster in the Dungeon", "Top five most horrifying undead in the Dungeon". Published works such as these seem more interested in grabbing peoples' attention rather than serious academia. A blight on the profession if you were to ask me, which nobody ever does.

I myself have only been drawn into this topic since there is no clear answer, making the research at the very least interesting, if not worth public attention. I know you are something of an expert on the Time of Rending Orlus so I wanted to write this letter to consult you on a few points. In the Dungeon explorations it isn't too hard to get reliable figures on monsters in the first two strata, even if some sound exaggerated.

Among the largest of these I've been able to confirm is the "Mega Death Python Emperor" at 250 metres long with a diameter of six metres. This monster has been confirmed and documented over six times in the last century alone. If we were to say length is not equivalent to height in our search for 'largest' we could highlight the tallest monster I've been able to find on record, the "Twilight Cyclops King" which was recorded in the same expanse in the second strata three times one hundred and fifty years apart. According to those reports the monster stood no less than fifty metres tall.

Both of know that these monsters, as enormous as they may be, are nothing compared to what legend says walked the surface during the Cataclysm. In the far east they say that one monster created a mountain range simply by pushing its head up through the ground. My frustration is that no records exist of these monsters at all! As far as I can tell there hasn't been a single sighting of such a creature in the thousands of years since. You've read much more on the subject that me Orlus, if you could give me some direction I would be eternally grateful.

"A letter to Orlus on the subject of monster size" sent by Scholar Scipio of the Imperial College.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apparently the Queen has achieved the class of "Royalty". Once the restrictions have been met a person can set their class to this one, the restrictions in this case are fairly self-explanatory. First, one must be royalty, second, that's it.

Humans and the other intelligent species on the surface all use a class base system as opposed the evolution process the monsters go through. Apparently each class gives unique stat bonuses, unlocks specific skills and can even be levelled up in different ways. A [merchant] can level up through trading and making money whilst a [farmer] levels up from growing crops. As long as the pre-requisites are met then a person can change their class to whatever they want, but most of the best classes are difficult to attain.

For example, to become a swordsman a person must meet the minimum physical stat requirements as well as achieve a certain level of skill with a weapon. This means that hard physical training, lessons in weaponry and experience battling monsters are necessary to make the jump from [villager] to a base fighter class like [swordsman]. For an ordinary person to aspire to the even more powerful classes like [apprentice mage] or [soldier]? Difficult.

The Queen, given her class bonuses, enjoys incredibly high levels of oratory skill and persuasiveness. Apparently she levels up by inspiring her citizens and making the kingdom prosperous. Every year she spends four months touring her kingdom in order to give speeches to the common folk, visiting every town and village within her borders at least one every two years.

I hadn't quite believed her when she said the people would recognize her on sight but on the evidence I have to say she was right. Her punishing schedule has also allowed her to push her class level extremely high. According to her, she is fairly useless in combat but when it comes to governance and speeches her abilities really shine.

Looking at the stunned faces before me I have to agree. Her powerful words are already beginning to sway the people to our side!

The priest is too stunned by these revelations to properly react. The people in the crowd have listened to his tireless exhortations for days now, in their minds anointing him as their spiritual leader. Now their actual leader, the monarch they have lived under for decades is here before them telling them something different.

Don't kill the ants?

Let the ants assist against a different foe?

Too confusing!

At this point Enid steps forward to lend her voice to that of the Queen. Thankfully the mind magic connection is still active and the Queen passes on the gist of what is being said to me.

["Her majesty speaks truly! I went into the woods a few days ago and found her majesty living amongst these monsters as they supported her to protect our kingdom"]

The Queen once again spoke regally. ["These monsters have been delivered to us so safeguard our nation from that which currently threatens it. You are the chosen people to assist in this crusade. Will you answer the call? Will you help us?"]

On those final words the force of her presence becomes overwhelming, before they even realise the people nearby have fallen to their knees in respect. When the first few fall the rest are like dominos toppling.

The priest is the last to be on his feet. Bleary eyed he stumbles through the crowd as if in a dream, his eyes feverishly locked upon me the entire time. As he draws nearer I start to wonder if I need to book it, even if such an action would mean the Queen would fall flat on her face and ruin this moment. This crazy guy already smacked me in the head once, is he going to go nuts on me again?!

Eventually the maddened priest is standing right before me, clutching at the stump of his lost arm. Just when I think he's about to leap forward and try to do something weird like eat me, he begins to tremble and then falls to knees, openly weeping and crying out in a great voice.

Sounding somewhat stunned the Queen passes on what he says.

[Oh great one, I have sinned against the messenger of the System! Forgive me for striking you foolishly and failing to acknowledge your message of salvation!]

Ooooooookkaaaaaaay?

-x-X-x-

After that the crowd was quickly pacified and I was relieved the Queen didn't secretly sic the people on me. As we agreed she and I remained close to each other as we moved into the next phase of the plan.

With the people calmed, less suicidal and at the same time directed against her enemies, the Queen wants to turn her attention to her most potent and loyal forces. The ones she "cleverly" deployed in the Dungeon to assist other troops in a ploy to appear weakened and lure those who had been working to destabilising her rule into open rebellion. Too bad they had more backing than she had foreseen and with the soldiers she had left she had been soundly defeated.

She'd even kept her guard in the dark because they would refuse to leave her so vulnerable had they known about it. Even now those poor suckers are stuck in the top level of the Dungeon stabbing centipedes in the face whilst the Queen they swore to defend was forced to flee the city.

Honestly. All of these people are so stupid it pains me to be near them! Keep those precious cores in your mind Anthony! You'll walk out here rich and leave these morons to their own devices.

The way the people in Malgate react to me know is a little unnerving to say the least. As I pass by then back away carefully, making sure not to obstruct my path, many even bow respectfully. All of these displays of subservience are stirring Dark Anthony! Just ignore me people! I'm honestly happier sliding into the background!

It doesn't matter though. At my size it's getting hard to hide. I'm already the height and length of a desk basically. If I continue to evolve am I going to end up car size? Bus size?! Yikes. Regardless, as I move about with the Queen people are easily able to find me and continue to show their respect throughout the day.

The Queen speaks to people one on one, in small groups and addresses large crowds. Everywhere she goes the reaction is favourable and those prepared to go and fight are quickly prepared, packing supplies, clutching their crude blades and strapping into worn leather armour that probably belonged to a relative who fought in a war three generations ago.

Even the priest is fully pumped up for this. He spends most of his time following along behind me, eulogising my status as a holy messenger at the top of lungs. I had the Queen tell me what he was saying but forced her to stop about two sentences in. So embarrassing!

It's all for the money!

After one more day the people are prepared and depart the village for the forest, marching together in a spirited column. About an hour from the village, just inside the edge of the woods we find evidence of ant activity. This is where myself and a dedicated team have been labouring away in preparation!

How is the Queen going to unite with her soldiers in the Dungeon without getting into the city and putting herself at risk? What task could only a dedicated army of earth shifting experts take on?! The answer is ALWAYS more tunnels!

Heaped loose soil is everywhere throughout this area as we had to dump it somewhere that couldn't be seen from the walls. The footprints of ants are everywhere but not a single worker can be found. As the column comes to the opening of the tunnel in the ground the Queen gathers everyone around and explains what has been done. When she's finished the crowd's respectful eyes blaze with renewed fervour as they look at me and as one they bow together.

Down Dark One! These are not our slaves!

A little thanks for the hard work of digging is appreciated though. Making the tunnel took a long time since humans would need to be able to travel through it somewhat comfortably and they are a lot taller than ants. Even Tiny can move lower than them since he is almost designed to lean forward as he moves, weight on his knuckles. It's a rare moment when the ape actually stretches to his not insignificant full height.

The tunnel is damn long and we had to push fairly deep underground to ensure it wouldn't collapse. I don't know what strange physics governs tunnels in this world but they sure manage to hold up better than I expect them to. Perhaps it's the excavation skill at work that helps to avoid areas that might change the structural integrity, or maybe this world is fundamentally built to support underground spaces, the Dungeon exists here after all. Even the forest expanse we were in defies my understanding of what was possible on Earth.

Eventually we come to the final stretch of tunnel. According to my tunnel sense we have connected just to one side of the pool cavern that I first explored shortly after hatching. I made sure the workers didn't complete the tunnel since the soldiers on the other side would have surely killed them on sight. I wanted to dig the final few feet for myself and then push the Queen through first so she could explain the situation.

After shoveling away the last of the dirt, the very moment the last bit of dirt crumbles away to reveal an opening I back away hastily and place myself behind the Queen, leaning against the left side of the tunnel and trying to be inconspicuous.

Her face pinched with distaste, the Queen steps forward to push away the last of the dirt, widening the opening until she is able to squeeze herself through it. On the other side I can hear raised shouts and the Queens calming words. After a short while the Queen pokes her head through the tunnel wall and invites us forward.

I pause and allow the townsfolk who accompanied us to go first, squeezing myself to one side. Fortunately the tunnel is a little wider here and there is pace to push through. Once the last person has left our small connecting tunnel it's finally my turn.

Hesitantly, I approach the opening before suddenly poking one leg out. After a moment when nothing happens I withdraw the leg and slowly push my head through. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright mana infused light of the Dungeon. As the light washes over me a comforting feeling comes over me. Perhaps I'm slightly crazy but coming back to the Dungeon feels a little like coming home, particularly to this familiar place. I was born just near here after all.

Around the opening the townsfolk are gathered and as I emerge amongst them, my six legs taking purchase on the firm Dungeon walls they make space for me, staying close but giving me room at the same time.

At the forefront is the priest, Beyn. Wherever I go this guy is never far away. My very own human shaped pain in the gaster.

Beyond the villagers is a troop of fierce and worn looking soldier types. Their gilded armour and fine blades are quite familiar to me as was those same weapons that were turned on my colony. These must be the Queen's guard.

The Queen is amongst them now, speaking quietly and they listen intently, rage clear on their faces.

She must be explaining exactly what has happened whilst they have been down here. I step forward slowly, warily watching the soldiers as I move. They don't seem hostile, their anger and frustration appears to be directed more at the surface that towards me, most of them don't spare me a glance.

Alright... so far things are going ok.

After giving the Queen some time to inform her troops and get them planning the offensive she walks towards me and resumes our communication.

[My guards will need some time to digest this news and plan the next phase. I think we should allow the villagers a time of rest. They can gather on this side of the pool and eat. In five or so hours we'll be ready to advance].

[Very well. I'll stay on this side then. Alert me when you are ready].

As part of the agreement I am to be part of the forces to assault the surface. In order to secure my reward I'll need to liberate the castle anyway, hard to get to the treasury without first kicking out the rebels first. Since the Queen had witnessed my prowess in battle personally she was quite insistent that I be part of the attack. She also wanted Tiny to join us, not surprising after the display he put on, but I flatly refused. I was prepared to tag along myself but no way Tiny was coming too. He has other stuff I need him to do.

Returning to the tunnel entrance I settle down and prepare to rest, surrounded by my devout followers.

-x-X-x-

I took a long rest, being careful that I didn't slip into torpor. It would be a little too risky to nap here with Queen once more amongst her soldiers. After four hours the Queen once more approached me to re-establish the mind bridge.

Apparently mind magic is fairly common amongst diplomats, governors and rulers. Although most smaller states such as this one are usually unable to find someone gifted enough in this esoteric branch of magic to serve as their liaison, in this instance the Queen herself was moderately talented. Having someone capable of unlimited cross species communication was yet another factor that helped this country punch above its weight.

I'm not shocked that they can't find many people to learn this magic, the transformation is incredibly hard, even relative to other transformations that are already mind bending puzzles in their own right. I've continued to my practice but progress is slow. The day I can weave a dazzling mind bridge over thousands of metres long, like Formo, is a long way off.

Once communication is established the Queen informs me that her soldiers are ready and the time to assault the surface is fast approaching.

[Just outside the entrance is a Legion fortress that has been mostly abandoned. There is a moderate presence of my soldiers posted just around the opening and we just changed the guard so they know we are coming. Inside the fort a small force of mercenaries has been placed, probably to watch the entrance for movements from my people, once we leave the entrance they will communicate our actions to the rest of their force] she explains.

The Queen was quite cagey about these 'Legion' people when I interrogated her. I still know very little about them, but apparently I've seen some of them before.

[So we need to move quickly and aggressively. How far is it to your castle?]

[Around two kilometres. The castle is positioned defensively on a slope. We need to breach the gates quickly otherwise we risk getting locked out and surrounded. Even with the villagers to swell our numbers we are outmatched in a direct confrontation. If we can sweep into the castle and block the gate against the troops held outside we'll only have to deal with those mercenary forces who are inside the castle].

[Do you have a plan for the gate?]

She hesitates a moment. [We're still working on it].

[I'll take care of it] I say.

If I knock politely with a Gravity Bomb I'm sure the door will open for me.

Gweheheheh.

With our plans laid I gingerly walk with the Queen to the vanguard of her soldiers as they prepare to move out. Monsters are still spawning out of the walls here but the soldiers are clearly of a higher level, able to dispatch these weaker beasts with ease.

Together, with myself in the vanguard and my attendant priest behind me we begin to march up the tunnel towards the entrance. It isn't far from the pool before the familiar landmarks begin to stir my memories. Ah here is the staircase that leads downwards. Ah, here are the torchers that were lit when I was nearly chased to death. There is the side passage where I narrowly dodged an arrow and lured some centipedes to their death!

Memories...

Seriously, how desperate for human contact was I at that point? I became totally divorced from my senses. Now I have a family and followers of my own, I don't feel as lonely anymore. Not to mention I've had a belly full of interacting with humans. Nothing but headaches.

Gradually we approach the rising slope and walk past the inbuilt walls were I glimpsed my first humans. I can see as we pass them that each wall is its own little guard station, with an enclosed space inside with tables and chairs. Each one has a Queen's guard stationed there.

The walls become thicker and more frequent the closer we get to the top, the stairs more defined as well. Eventually the stairs widen out and a bright opening is revealed in front of me. The surface. Like ascending from a basement we climb the stairs and emerge into the light.

I don't wait for my eyes to adjust but charge forward, my six legs scrambling to accelerate ahead of the rest of the pack. When my blurred vision finally settles back to normal I can see I'm inside a ringed wall that surrounds the Dungeon entrance. A portcullis is cut into the wall and the gate is thankfully up. I keep charging at the gate as I hear frantic shouts from above. Soon after the pounding of feet on stone and a great roar erupt from behind as the soldiers pour out of the Dungeon entrance, followed by the villagers.

The gate twitches and begins to fall as someone frantically tries to wind it down before I can reach the opening but I'm having none of it!

Anti-Grav Bolt!

The magic I'd prepared blasts through the air and strikes against the metal gate with precision. No matter how hard the people above try they can't push it down as it continues to rise and then force against the joints that hold it in place, trying to rise into the sky.

Gleefully I charge forward through the gap and out of the ring wall. I sense heat! Ahead of me, to my left and right there are stairs from the upper level, multiple sources are rushing down to block my path!

Come to me!

When the first soldier leaps down the last few steps brandishing his sword valiantly he suddenly feels an immense pull, a force that defies the laws of physics!

YOINK!

Using my Gravity infused mandibles I grab the first soldier out of the air and he flies towards me!

Shattering Bite!

CRUNCH!

Caught completely by surprise and defenceless the soldier is completely unable to resist my shattering bite! His flimsy armour is shredded by my jaws and my mandibles bite into him.

Still alive? Have another!

Indeed, most humans are able to resist one or two bites. They are wearing monster material based equipment and have a few levels pumped into them after all. I'll use this as an opportunity to train my piercing chomp!

Chomp!

Chomp!

[You have slain level 23 Scout]

[You have gained experience]

Excellent.

This guy didn't have much in the way of levels after all. Apparently the humans level resets in some specific class changes but for most normal cases their level simply increases linearly over their lifetime. A level of twenty three is quite low from what the Queen told me, this dude must have been recently recruited.

His comrades charge down the stairs and into view just in time to see their friend being bitten to death. Imagining what this scene must look like from their perspective, it would be pretty horrifying right?

Your friend vanishes before your eyes and you leap forward to find a giant ant the size of a table, dazzling, glittering armour and impressive, large eyes, biting on your friend with long jagged mandibles. Gruesome.

They recoil in fear for a brief moment, giving me an opening to ...

YOINK!

Get over here!

Shattering Bite!

CRUNCH!

Once more I pull an unsuspecting soldier towards me and the others are terrified all over again as one of their number is pulled from his feet by an invisible force and shot towards the terrifying monster before them. Before he can even land on his feet he's been crushed by a fearsome skill!

Once again with the chomps!

Chomp!

Chomp!

[you have slain level 31 Scout]

[You have gained experience]

[Piercing Chomp has risen to level 7]

Haha nice!

Perhaps one more?

I'm denied my wish when the three remaining scouts (I assume) turn and run. Before I can think that they must have fled from my fearsome performance the Queens guards begin to charge past me, brandishing their weapons fiercely in their desire to rend the traitors.

Oh well.

According to the plan we need to rush forwards to try and reach the castle as quickly as possible. Without pausing to account for every foe our entire force rushes out of the fort and into the wide cobbled streets of the city of Liria. As we run a great plume of fire rises high into the air behind us, once, twice, thrice, before it is cut short.

That came from somewhere in the fort. The signal was sent.

Still, my first time in a fantasy city on my new world! The buildings are cramped together with tiled roofs and people are everywhere on the roads, pushing carts, shopping or riding in horse pulled carriages. I do notice the distinct lack of chimneys and smoke on the houses, no matter how poor and shabby looking. Apparently people in this world tend to use enchanted fire plates, perhaps the most common and inexpensive piece of enchanting that can be done. Drawing the mana out of the air and into a plate of metal to cook with or use as heating.

Pretty neat!

As I dash through the city there are screams of terror on all sides as the common folk catch sight of the monster rushing through their midst.

Where is the hospitality I ask you?

-x-X-x-

The Queens' Guard and I charge down the cobbled roads. I depend on the guidance of the soldiers to point me in the right direction when we occasionally have to turn. The citizens are screaming and fleeing out of our way everywhere we go. To be honest, even if there wasn't a monster here they would probably do the same thing when they saw the soldiers. The common folk don't want to be anywhere nearby if the fighting is going to start again.

They had to put up with bloody street to street fighting in this city for a week. Even now I can see burned out buildings and collapsed walls. It must have been brutal in here.

I do have to wonder what happened when a supposedly savvy Queen (not sure I'm convinced) so dramatically underestimated her foes. She'd thought that with her preparations the foe would be quickly dealt with but after an whole week of fighting in the city, the castle was breached and the Queen forced to flee! It seems unlikely a collection of Dungeon fighters were able to take it to the army to that level.

From what I've been told, those who regularly fight in the Dungeon tend to have higher levels, better equipment and greater individual strength than regular line soldiers. After all, the bad Dungeon explorers are very quickly dead, leaving the strong core behind. The army tends to have more discipline, coordination and better training. Not to mention that with the resources of a nation it isn't hard to build up a collection of elites, giving them gear and privileges that most Dungeon explorers can only dream about.

That would be the Queens Guard.

These guys and gals are packing serious heat, enchanted blades, double forged monster shell armour and each and every one of them has been on gruelling level grinding expeditions into the Dungeon. The Queen is rather confident in their strength. Still, there aren't that many of them, not enough to storm a whole city.

From a side street twenty mixed armour warriors burst forth, two mages in their midst wielding staves. When these fighters see me charging forward they aren't intimidated in the slightest, reacting only with mild surprise. These are Dungeon Mercenaries! It'll take a lot more than one ant monster to intimidate them!

After this experience that may change however....

Gravity Spear!

Expecting to be attacked at any moment I've pre-woven myself a spell and had it charged, ready to fire for a few minutes already! Holding a spell in place isn't easy and wears on my mind but it's totally worth it in these scenarios!

Before they can even prepare themselves and spread out to attack the spear slams home on a massive warrior in the middle of their formation. With a hostile spell suddenly flashing into their midst the enemy displays their experience by not panicking. They each drop into a defensive stance and try to move apart, only to find that their movement is becoming more restricted with every passing second.

Stay nice and bunched up for me folks. No need to separate. Muehehe.

Locking onto the mercenary force, the Queen's guard suddenly have a blazing light in their eyes. This is the scum they wanted to fight! Letting out a delighted roar they dash forward, several members blurring into streaks of light or vanishing entirely as they employ powerful skills to close on the clustered enemy.

Don't take all of my xp dammit!

Bracing for the sudden charge the mercenaries struggle to wield their weapons properly as the potent gravity constantly tugs at them, forcing them to divert attention and energy to resisting the pull. Despite this the mercs begin to employ their own skills to defend themselves.

A bulky mercenary, covered in scars, raises one foot high as his face twists with concentration. His foot instantly explodes with light and he slams it down into the ground! As if transformed into water, the surface of the road ripples outward from that foot, the ripples growing larger as they travel until they are over a metre tall!

When these 'waves' crash into the buildings they quickly crumble, as if their foundations were suddenly embedded in quicksand! Several of the charging soldiers have to cancel their dash skills as their footing becomes unsteady. Nimbly they reposition themselves to the sides, riding out the disturbance and waiting for the ground to settle.

The huge mercenary with my spear imbedded in his chest unlimbers a huge great sword from his back. His knuckles crack as he prepares a two handed grip before bringing it down with blinding speed. With a flash a blade of light ten metres tall rips from the tip of the blade and streaks towards me, cutting through the ground as if it were paper!

Woosh!

I leap to one side, pushing hard off the ground with my six legs and the blade flashes past me before crashing into a house. When the dust settles a huge slice has been cut into the building, collapsing one wall in.

Holy heck! I nearly lost an antenna!

Settle down big guy! Need a lift?

Internally gleeful I fire off my next spell which I have just hastily prepared.

Gravity Bolt!

Let's see how you enjoy flight! Hopefully more than you enjoy the fall.

Before I can gloat too much the two mages step forward, staves flashing with mana as they thrust them forward to block my spell. The Gravity Bolt smashes into the heads of their combines staves and my spell quickly begins to lose energy.

This technique again!

I really want to learn it, dammit!

I scuttle off to one side, not prepared to act as the vanguard and charge into the midst of these clearly experienced monster killers. Instead I take a little distance and begin to weave my next spell.

It would be so good to have Tiny here right now! He would leap right into the middle and create a huge distraction, allowing me to safely operate on the edges. Or if Crinis was grown, the havoc she could reap here, with the enemy bunched up together.... Gah! I bite back my frustration. I didn't bring them for a good reason, they have their own work to do.

The powerful skills displayed by these mercenaries has shocked me internally. I knew from the Queen that humans and other surface races were capable of some fearsome abilities, but I hadn't seen anything quite like this with my own eyes!

To my shock, the show was only just beginning.

Once my spell had completely disappeared the two mages get to work on their own magic. One of them fiercely shouts out some words and a spherical shield of fire blooms around him, the scorching heat radiating off is enough to make my antennae numb! The second mage also conjures a shield but this one is of tightly rotating wind! An air barrier!

Their defences prepared the two immediately begin their next magic, concentrating for a moment before they each extend one hand out towards me with perfectly synchronised timing.

Why me?!

From one mage, a powerful blast of wind! From the other, a jet of flame!

The two spells converge together to form a massive gout of blue fire that hungrily reaches towards me!

A combi attack! What the heck!?

It's so cool and flashy dammit!

A huge jet of flame over thirty metres long roars from those two hands and covers the open street between us in a second! Caught flat footed the best I can do is stop, drop to the ground and roll to my right as the flame washes over me.

HOT!

That's a spicy meata-ball!

Searing pain erupts through my left side as the flames wash over me, barbequing my carapace and raising my internal temperature uncomfortably.

Thankfully, as an insect, the outside of my body is essentially my skeleton and inherently less cookable than say, human flesh. Even so I've taken a decent chunk of damage from that attack.

I think about using my regeneration gland but dismiss the idea. It's too early in the assault, I need to save it for a more desperate situation. Maybe if I can get some Biomass to eat....

As the flame dissipates it seems as if the Guard is ready for their counter attack.

-x-X-x-

Having regrouped, the Queens Guard have positioned themselves to strike together. Weapons drawn they form a row ten across and as one stab forward with their swords. Instantly ten beams of sword light flash through the air, impacting against the mercenaries who are knocked off their feet by the impact. With the constant force of the Gravity Spear dragging at them they can't possibly brace themselves against this strike!

Three mercs slip and that's all it takes as they 'fall' towards their own leader, the enormous great sword wielding warrior.

Chance!

With the front line in sudden disarray I immediately activate my infused mandibles, feeding my gravitational mana into them at a furious pace. The warriors might be struggling right now but those two mages at the back have maintained their footing, thankfully the kerfuffle at the front has pulled their eyes away from my magnificence for a moment, so I have an opening!

I don't know how these guys are able to block spells but that is something I surely want to learn! I mean, it makes sense that mages would be able to defend themselves against hostile magic, otherwise a magical battle would always be decided by whoever managed to cast first. I just hope the technique doesn't rely on their staves and is something I can achieve in my mind, perhaps the neglected external mana manipulation skill holds a clue?

With no eyes on me, I stealthily scuttle to my left, circling around the mercs whilst maintaining a twenty meter distance. Soon I reach a point where the two enemy mages are lined up, fire mage in front, wind mage behind, their elemental shields flickering with power.

The fire mage recovers from his distraction and turns back towards me, eyes flicking about until he sees my position, not to mention my brightly glowing purple mandibles! He tries to shout a warning as he thrusts his staff in my direction but it's too late!

YOINK!

As my mandibles flare with power the fire mage flinches instinctively, lowering his stance to a defensive posture. Very alert these guys, I have to give them credit.

His wariness does him little good when his ally slams directly into his back!

BOOM!

As the two shields, one of swiftly rotating air and the other of mana fuelled flame collide, the air erupts with a wave of heat as fire climbs into the sky. The two mages, caught completely by surprise don't have time to react before their elemental shields begin to shred each other, the fierce wind merging with flame and shooting out amongst their own allies.

The mercenaries, grouped together and off balance, are licked by searing tongues of flame borne on sharp winds from behind. Their voices begin to take on a note of panic as the situation begins to spiral out of their control. Sensing weakness the Guards roar as one and charge again!

Now is the time!

Leaping forth I dash towards the flailing mercs.

My XP! Come to me!

If I'm going to fight here then I'm going to get my reward for it dammit! There is no chance the Queen's Guard will leave these traitors alive, if they have to die I may as well gain something from it!

After a few seconds the mages take control of themselves and shut off their shield spells before staggering back to their feet. Just in time to see the monstrous ant rushing towards them with its jaws wide and alight with power!

Shattering Bite!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Not willing to give them a moment of respite I snap down on them three times in rapid succession. The ethereal jaws crush the two mages together and they slump to the ground, reeling from the strike.

[Shattering Bite has reached level 3]

Finish them!

First on one then on the other I shower them with Piercing Chomps as they weakly try to fend me off with their staves. The traditional weakness of mages in close quarters seems to hold plenty true in this world though as their feeble efforts are unable to shake me off.

[You have slain level 36 Human Fire Mage Apprentice]

[You have slain level 34 Human Wind Mage Apprentice]

[You have gained experience]

[You have reached level 14]

Nice!

Oh crap!

Just I congratulate myself for the successful elimination of those threatening mages I notice the mercenary leader has charged towards me, massive blade poised overhead to strike!

Dodge!

Diamond carapace or no I do not want to take that thing head on!

CRASH!

The blade smashes into the stones with tremendous force, sending shards of rock flying everywhere and pinging off my carapace.

Phew!

Not wanting to draw too much heat I hit the ground running and put some distance between me and the mercs as the rest of the Queens Guard close in, continuing to launch attacks as they do.

Since my business district is facing the right way anyhow...

POW! POW! POW! POW!

[Improved Acid shot has reached level 6]

Tilting my head slightly for a clear rear view I shower the enemy from behind with my restrictive acid, giving the bulky leader two shots since he seems a little too eager to move at the moment.

I stop construction on the Gravity Domain spell I'd been working on and let it dissolve within me as it doesn't look as if I'll be needing it right now. I can see ahead of me is a massive gate sitting astride the street, blocking our way through the wall and into the inner keep.

I mean, a wall doesn't do squat to keep me out but it still serves to slow down these humans.

Seeing our target up ahead I start to pull mana out of my Gravitation Mana Gland and compress it into the fearsome Gravity Bomb. It'll take a minute or two to charge up this sucker so I may as well start now.

The mercenaries have fallen into an ever more hopeless position, assaulted from the front, shot at from behind and with their two support mages dead they have no chance of fighting their way out against the furious Queens' Guard. Knowing they are dead already the mercenaries throw caution to the wind. Finally free of my Gravity spear they are able to unleash their skills to their fullest as they desperately try to take some soldiers down with them.

I figured a few would try and surrender but I guess not.

With the two sides battling to the death and pulling out all of their strength I scuttle to one side, into the shadows and look for an opportunity as I continue to charge my bomb. If I can sneak myself a little xp then I will but I've done more work than all of these soldiers combined so far, I'm not about to stick my neck out for the cause.

As they finally begin to fall a few of the mercenaries break and run, trying to dash into nearby buildings or down side streets and hopefully keep their lives. One unfortunate sap happens to flee right towards the little alley where I've tucked myself.

HALLO!

Shattering Bite!

[You have slain level 38 Human Swordsman]

[You have gained experience]

Letting the body drop to the ground I consider the option of.... Well.... Eating him.

I mean.... I was a human before, for quite some time as well... Just. eating a human seems a little...

It's not cannibalism though, I'm not human now! Embrace the monster within, Anthony!

But... hmmmm.

Checking my HP I can see that I'm not missing too much, and I still have my regeneration gland topped off and ready to go. I don't think I need to push myself too hard here.

If only there were more mercs who utilised monsters like the Sophos did. Then I'd be able to munch on that Biomass without worry.

I'd asked the Queen about how common the technique of core reconstitution was, or if it was known at all on the surface, as I'd been so impressed by Formo I'd assume everyone who could would leap at the chance to raise such powerful monsters and have them take the risks for you.

The technique is well known apparently, and not just here but all over the place. Whilst some mercenaries do take that path, some of them even going all in and taking the [Tamer] class tree, there are a few considerations that keep it from being common. Firstly, cores are money to mercs, using even one of them to turn into a monster that you then have to feed and raise before it can fight is troublesome. Then, if you want to raise it properly you need to keep feeding meat from the Dungeon, which you either have to pay for (expensive) or constantly go into the Dungeon (dangerous).

Not to mention, to ensure it evolves well, you need to feed it even more cores! Literally throwing money into its mouth!

To the surface races, who rely on cores for enchanting, it isn't worth it except for the very wealthy, or some nations who keep guardian beasts. The practice works so well for the Sophos for a few reasons, they have such powerful minds that controlling monsters is quite easy for them, they live in the Dungeon itself so access to meat isn't hard and since they don't fight themselves they have little use for enchanted equipment, thus having reduced demand for cores.

I did notice the Queen hadn't mentioned anything about core engineering, which combined with their powerful minds, is the key reason for the Sophos' grand success in this field. I didn't ask about it though, since perhaps that particular skill may not be common knowledge.

With the mercenaries finished off the Queen herself comes forward along with the villagers. The townsfolk were looking a little wild eyed at the level of devastation wrought on the nearby houses. They might have levelled up some fighting skills but seeing giant sword cuts in the faces of buildings was a little hard for them to swallow. As they catch sight of me however their eyes light up a little. Not sure exactly why but they seem to draw comfort from my presence.

And oh great. The priest is back. He rushes right up to me and begins speaking to the other villagers, no doubt extolling my mighty powers, graced upon me by the system or some such rubbish.

As the Queen draws closer, surrounded by her Guard she reaches out with the mind bridge.

[We have reached the gate but we have to get through quickly. If we delay they will have more time to gather troops from across the city! Quickly monster, do you have a way to get through the gate?!]

I check internally on my Gravity Bomb. It's cooking along nicely.

Not bothering to reply I walk slightly towards the gates and turn my mind fully to the task of compacting the mana as tightly as possible. A few seconds later the transformation occurs and the tightly backed sphere takes on the ominous black hole like appearance.

Without hesitation I open my mouth and blast out the Gravity Bomb which shrieks into life the moment it leaves me body. The piercing howl of the wind as it is sucked towards the bomb causes all of the humans nearby to cover their ears and even shatters the windows in nearby buildings.

When it impacts the gate with a sickening thud the ball expands outwards in an instant, tearing and eating away at the gate. With a deafening shriek the gates lurch on their hinges before the protesting metal finally gives way and the gates are sucked into the bomb entirely.

When the bomb flickers out of existence the one proud metal gates are no more, torn stone and an empty swinging hinge the only evidence they were there at all.

I turn back to the Queen.

[What gate?]