Chapter 544 The long walk home
The tunnels are a complete mess. Huge cracks run through the stone and sections are collapsing all over the place. Before we even meet up with the main group, I know what's taken place. The moment I came under attack, the message was passed to enact the ambush on the Golgari in the other tunnel.
No point allowing the two groups of rock-people to reunite and fight together. Decisive action was called for. I objected to the Colony going to head to head against such a powerful enemy, but the other members of the council assured me that they had another strategy in mind. Which turned out to be collapsing the tunnel on top of the enemies' heads. Using earth mages and our natural predilection to tunnel digging, the council was able to arrange a fairly broad tunnel collapse in a matter of hours. After the stone came down, the ants moved in to fight whatever they could find, taking advantage of the less than ideal state of their opponents.
The fact that the armoured Golgari, the 'nobles', were in the center of the column would have played to our advantage. They should've taken the brunt of the fall, and been too far from the front to be in a position to fight the ants when they charged. Somehow, I doubt they died. With their Skills, armour and doubtlessly potent true skin, if anyone was going to survive a tunnel collapse it would be them. All the more reason to get ourselves out of here.
"Eldest! What a glorious injury you've received! I'm jealous..."
"Leeroy, you idiot. You're looking disappointingly healthy."
"I was unable to find an enemy during the battle. I wanted to start unearthing the Golgari but the others stopped me."
Her antennae droop sadly as she talks of saving the lives of our enemies, only so that she could end them in person.
"I'm tired, Leeroy. What did you want?"
"Right! The others were wondering if you wanted to discuss what was going to happen next? It's a little up in the air, from what I gather."
Up in the air? Why the heck would it be up in the air? Let's go home! Irritated, I drag my still regenerating backside around the tunnel until I find the other council members gathered in a huddle.
"What the heck is going on here?" I demand. "We need to get away from this place and go back to the nest! Why am I hearing about discussions regarding our 'plans'?"
The others make room for me as I barge forward, my larger frame taking up much of the room. Only the tier four soldiers can rival me for size but even they fall short of my bulk and I loom over the council. When I think about it, my eyes are probably at a similar height level to that of a tall human, my third body segment actually being the 'tallest' part of my body. It's in length that my true mass lies and I'm a fairly chunky ant at this point.
"Obviously the plan is to get back to the nest," Burke explains patiently, "but we need to do it in such a way that we don't get followed. At the very least we need to make tracking us as difficult as possible. The more time we can buy for the Colony to grow, the better."
Actually, that's a damn good point.
"Doesn't that just mean we keep going without using pheromones?" I ask.
"Look," Burke says, exasperated, "doing that isn't as simple as some of you seem to think. My scouts rely on those trails to move around and ensure that they stay on safe paths! We don't have mind magic to communicate, and it's too risky to drag a mage that far away from the main group. Long range scouting is basically impossible without pheromonal communication."
Ahh. I'm starting to see the problem.
"So that means we need to move slower in order to ensure we don't take any wrong turns and run into trouble," I say.
"Right," Burke agrees, "but we can't really afford to slow down that much."
"Not to mention," breaks in Sloan, "that we still don't know how they were tracking us once we ceased using our pheromones. Without that knowledge, it's impossible for us to be certain we can't be followed."
"Have either of the prisoners said anything?" I ask.
"Nothing!" declares Leeroy. "They won't even fight with me!"
"What about the two new Golgari you brought back with you?" Burke asks.
"How do you even know about that already?"
"I have my sources, Eldest."
"I bet. No, I'm not going to question them on anything that might be considered a betrayal of their own people. To be honest, I'm not even sure why they were sent with us. I'll have to work that out with them later. For now, let's put our antennae together and work out a plan."
The four of us rattle on for twenty minutes without coming to any conclusive path forward. It's frustrating, but we're dealing with something unknown, a Skill that we don't know about, perhaps. In the end, all we can do is try to limit our scent and move as quickly as possible. To that end, it's agreed that the main group will maintain 'radio silence' whilst the scouts roaming ahead would be able to put down a limited number of trails to mark paths. Alongside this, an extensive network of false trials would be laid by splinter groups roving away from the main group before they returned.
"If we slow ourselves down too much worrying about something we don't understand, we're only shooting ourselves in the claw," I tell them.
"Right you are, Eldest."
"Sounds good!"
"If you don't mind, I'm going to try and finish healing myself as we start marching."
They agree that seems like a good idea and I pull away from the group to go find my pets. Predictably they're hanging out with Corun and Torrina, both of whom seem a little stunned to be where they've ended up. As I painfully crawl over, I whip up a mind bridge and extend it to both of them.
[He didn't tell you what he was going to do, did he?]
Torrina starts when my mind touches hers and turns her head to find me amongst the swarming ants.
[No, he didn't. I kind of had a feeling that something like this might happen though,] she replies.
[You did?!] Corun cries. [You might have said something. I had no idea...]
I'm also a little curious.
[Why did you think he would leave you behind?] I ask. [This is hardly a wonderful place to be for you guys. Your people are about to go to war with mine, for starters.]
Torrina thinks for a moment before she replies, the gleaming metal of her skin shining softly in the dark.
[Do you remember what the Cult of the Worm is all about, Anthony?]
[Finding the twentieth ancient? Or creating the twentieth, more accurately.]
[Right,] she nods, [it's not unusual for the Cult to appoint a mentor, a steward, to prospects that come under our care, which was done for you. The Cult placed Granin and his triad in charge of you.]
[So?]
I'm struggling to see where this is going.
[So you're still our responsibility as a candidate monster.]
[This seems a little far to go just to fulfill that responsibility, Torrina. I'm not buying it.]
[We take that a little more seriously than you seem to think we do. But there is more. I think that Granin has come to believe you actually have a chance.]
...
[WOT?!]
[That makes sense,] Corun muses. [For Granin to stick his neck out like this. To put the two of us in harm's way? He must really believe in you.]
[Ah, heck.]
So the old man was loopy in the end after all. No way I want something like becoming an ancient. Sounds like way too much work. Not to mention, I have no idea what's supposed to happen when twenty of them get together. Something big apparently. I can't be bothered thinking about this. I've got about a week of marching ahead of me.
[Invidia! Get over here and help me fix my butt. We start marching soon.]
-x-X-x-
Morrelia groaned as she peeled her eyes open. Her eyelids had other ideas and refused to respond to orders. Her brain and muscles immediately fell into a battle, neither side willing to budge until at last, she triumphed and forced her eyes open. A victory, but hard fought. She was already exhausted and all she'd done was open her eyes.
She wouldn't be defeated like this, not before she'd even rolled out of bed! Slowly, she grit her teeth and began to move her arms and legs. Only slight movements, just a little twitch of a finger, or a curl of toe. Every time she made the attempt, her body would scream with protest and send jagged pokers of pain shooting down her nerves. She was nothing if not determined, or stubborn, her mother would say with a smile, so she persisted. Eventually she was able to clench her hands into fists, which was another win. Then, she was able to shift her feet without significant pain.
Sensing victory, she decided to attempt to leap from her bed in one go. She carefully gathered her strength, grit her teeth in determination and loosened her joints before she flung herself forward! Only to find she moved not a bit, since she was still strapped into the runic armour she'd had on yesterday. In fact, judging by the somewhat lowered perspective she currently enjoyed, it was entirely possible that when she collapsed into bed, the legs on it had broken.
"Crud," she muttered as her body continued to remind her of its numerous aches.
There was nothing for it. She stifled her groans and levered herself out of bed awkwardly, waddling like a turtle to shift the heavy plates of enchanted stone and metal. She might be strong, stronger than she'd ever been, but this stuff was heavy. Once she was up she was able to appreciate the areas of her skin where the leather strapping had chafed as she slept. A whole new type of pain for her to enjoy during today's training. Without much time to prepare herself, she grabbed her well-used pot of salve down from her shelf and awkwardly reached between the plates to try and cover the worst of her injuries.
All of the new Legionaries were sharing medicinal tips and this particular ointment had proven to be a boon. Cheap to requisition from the Legionary supply and effective for the price, the stuff was a godsend to Morrelia on a day like this. Ministrations complete, she stomped out of her room and into the corridor before making her way to the gathering square outside. Already, seven other newly promoted Legionaries in full armour stood to attention, watched over by a stone-still centurion. Cheering that she hadn't been the last to awake, she rushed to take her place in line, posture perfect and gaze determined.
It was another three minutes before the last unfortunates clattered out of the dorm and into the square, by which time the centurion was practically radiating his displeasure. The last to emerge took one frantic glance around the square, which only confirmed her fate. Without even being ordered, she turned toward the parade ground and started running.
"Double it," the centurion said in clipped tones.
Each of the Legionaries stood in line winced at the fate of their comrade. Double the usual run? That's ten kilometres in full armour before training even begins! As the unfortunate clanked off, the metal of her boots jarring with each step, the rest of them awaited their instructions for the day. The centurion looked over them with a critical eye, making note of their appearance, their demeanor and how willing their glares were. He firmly believed that cultivating one's glare was a critical part of Legionary training. If you couldn't stare down a tier three monster then you shouldn't be let off the base.
"There aren't many Legionaries who arrive in the here without having completed their runic armour training," the centurion began, "but those that do receive the most vigorous and punishing regime the Legion has to offer. The Iron Temple does not produce weak Legionaries."
Morrelia and the rest nodded firmly. The lot of them had been promoted from all over Pangera and not one of them had gone through anything like what they'd experienced over the last month. Brutal, unforgiving, relentless, merciless centurions had driven them to the brink of breaking down and held them there for the entire duration of their stay. If they weren't undertaking endless physical drills, they were in the Dungeon, exhausted and fighting until they dropped. Only to get a splash of water in the face and sent back in.
It was madness, but it worked. Morrelia had experienced growth incomparable to anything she'd experienced before. Her stats, her levels, her Skills. All had exploded rapidly, a testament to the quality of training given here.
"Now for today's assignment, rest!" The centurion barked.
The Legionaries flinched before the words had a chance to soak in. When they had, they only looked confused. Rest? There was never rest! What the heck was this 'rest' that he spoke of?!
"Training course is done, Legionaries. Your Classes have reached the required level and your Skills have progressed to the point that you are no longer required to report here. Your time in the Iron Temple is done."
Relief washed over the faces of most of them, but not Morrelia. The centurion was amused to note a flicker of irritation on her face before it was replaced with a decidedly false smile.
"A report on your training progress and accomplishment will be sent to your commanders. You have two hours before you are expected to report to your divisions, until then, pack and clean your armour."
"What about the rest?" One of the Legionaries protested.
The centurion shot her a glare.
"That IS your rest! Or would you rather run?" He jerked a thumb at the still running member.
"No, sir!"
"That's what I thought. Legionary Faronicus, report to me. The rest of you are dismissed."
They each crashed a fist over their heart before moving to their duty, an excited babble of chatter rising as they went. Morrelia stepped toward the centurion warily. She hadn't tried to stand out during her training, but her father's surname carried certain connotations that she'd only become aware of once she'd arrived.
"Your situation is a little unusual, Legionary, in that your training report will end up in the hands of your father. Before I submit it, I want to be sure you are comfortable with that scenario."
Morrelia breathed a sigh of relief. If that was all it was, she didn't have a problem.
"No, that's fine," she said.
The centurion looked at the fierce young woman before with approval in his gaze. Commander Titus would no doubt be pleased by the glowing report about to land in his hands. His daughter would be a rare Legionary if she were given the chance to grow.
"Dismissed, Legionary. Good luck in your division."
"Thank you, centurion."
Morrelia turned and marched back to her rooms where she began the long and painful process of peeling herself out of her runic armour and cleaning down each individual piece. Before that though, another round of salve.
-x-X-x-
Titus walked the long corridors of his new billet with a training report held in one hand, his face cast in stone as usual. It was difficult though, since the corner of his mouth kept threatening to curl up as he read of his daughter's training exploits. The centurions in charge of her training had used some interesting terms, 'manic dedication', 'boundless tolerance for bloodshed' and 'disturbing disregard for pain' where a few of his favorites.
The trainers in the Iron Temple didn't hand out praise lightly, an ornery group of veterans from the deep strata, they prided themselves on producing the best results and the most conditioned Legionaries. Judging by the numbers Morrelia had achieved in her new Class and the growth of her Skills, she'd excelled even by their standards. Pride tinged with sadness welled up within him. He was filled with joy to see Morrelia achieving her potential, but it was bittersweet that her brother would never receive the same opportunities.
He shook his head to shake off the creeping melancholy. Romanus wasn't served by him wallowing in self-pity and Titus wasn't about to allow it of himself. He finished reading the report and dropped it into the satchel by his side as he reached a door set into the stone wall. He knocked firmly and opened it without waiting for a reply.
At his entrance, three figures inside the room stood to attention once they caught sight of him. He snapped a quick salute, fist to heart, before waving for them to be at ease.
"Greetings all, just checking in with Aurillia."
The room was a typical office space in the Legion, sparse and militant, a desk, a bookshelf and a few chairs. Aurillia stood behind the desk, laden with papers whilst two of the younger Legionaries from Liria assisted with the tedious minutiae of administration. Titus had been all too willing to offload the paperwork to his long suffering adjutant, he simply didn't have the time to look after his own Legionaries since the upper brass were intent on having him run all over the temple for meeting after meeting.
"Any chance you've arrived to assist with these requisition forms, commander?" Aurillia asked with an arched brow.
"Not in a million years," he replied flatly and the faces of the two assistants fell.
Donnelan and Mirryn had been stuck in this office for days now, wading through the demanding beaurocracy of the Abyssal Legion. They'd never imagined that the Legion they'd signed up for so long ago would have such strict requirements for paperwork. When the tribune had pointed out that running an independent army on a global scale required as disciplined an approach to administration as it did to soldier training, they could only nod their heads and agree.
"How's progress rehoming our Legionaries?" Titus asked.
Aurillia sighed.
"Slow, commander. Very slow. There's hot spots flaring all over the Dungeon and every commander in the fortress is demanding supplies and reinforcements. Our request to reform our Legion has been accepted, but there seems to be an issue giving us the people we need."
Titus frowned.
"It's not unexpected," he said, "but still disappointing. We were understrength to start with, and after the defense at the Bulwark we are undermanned, but deserving."
"The last wave pushed a lot of garrisons hard, apparently. There just aren't enough recruits to go around, commander."
Titus' eyes glinted.
"I might have to make use of my connections if this thing is going to get done."
Aurillia blanched.
"You'd actually try it? With her?"
Titus nodded.
"She's not that scary," he said offhandedly, "you just have to get used to her."
"Maybe to you she's not," Aurillia shot back, "I haven't met her in ten years and she still scared me."
Donnelan and Myrrin stared at each other wide eyed. Who could the two officers possibly be talking about? Someone able to scare tribune Aurillia? Even intimidate the commander? What sort of legendary figure could this be?!
"Have you even been to see her since we arrived?" Aurillia asked.
"Of course I have," Titus said, impatient.
"How many times?" Aurillia was skeptical
"Three or four," Titus mused.
"That's all? That's your wife, Titus!"
"She's busy and so am I," he harrumphed, "you think I can just march into her office whenever I want?"
Aurillia blinked.
"You can't?"
"Of course not! If I show up there unannounced, she'd kick me out herself!"
"But now you think you can just wander in there and ask her to give us preferential treatment?"
"No. I have an appointment."
"You do?"
Titus shrugged.
"It was always going to come down to this. The Abyssal Legion has never had an abundance of resources, we squeeze every centimeter out of what we have. If nothing else, the brass know that whatever they place in my hands won't be wasted. So I planned ahead and set this up."
Aurillia ran her eyes over the stacks of paper heaped on her desk.
"Are you telling me," she said, her voice trembling with barely suppressed rage, "that I've been going to war with these damned forms for nothing?"
"No!" He hastened to assure her. "All of this stuff still needs to get done. If we don't toe the line, we won't get so much as a sword. If anything, these efforts have been central to our chances of success."
He ran an eye over his longest serving officer.
"Take a day off Aurillia. After today, our situation will change anyway. You can come back and tackle the paper once we know where we stand."
He turned to the two young Legionaries who looked as if they were trying to fade into the walls.
"I'll take these two with me. Minerva always had a soft spot for the young, up and comers. She won't get too nasty with them around. Get up you two. Time to go meet the Consul."
-x-X-x-
Even now, a month after arriving in the great fortress of the Legion, Myrrin still couldn't quite believe her eyes whenever she saw it. Along with Donnelan, she trailed behind her commander as they made their way out of the remote barracks she and her fellow refugees from Liria had been billeted in. When the commander pushed open the door and strode through, the bright light flared in her eyes and she raised a hand to provide some relief. After several days straight of being locked indoors, the outside was a little too well lit for her to handle.
It was almost like stepping out when on the surface. Overhead was a truly vast space, far larger that even Rhylleh had contained. Numerous powerful crystals dotted the ceiling, flooding the enormous expanse with light. The entire space was arranged as an impregnable fortress, walls and towers in concentric rings radiated outward from the centre, every building was designed to be as defensible as possible, whilst also contributing to the overall layout. In the distance she could see the central tower rising like a mountain from the ground. Forged completely of red iron, the impossible tower dominated the entire expanse, dyeing the skyline a blood red, along with its eight siblings. The sister towers formed a great ring around the central pillar, rising to tremendous heights and standing guard over the fortress, iron spears of unbreakable will.
As impressive as the outer towers were, hundreds of metres tall and perfectly straight, they were like nothing any of the Lirian Legionaries had ever seen before, they faded into the background when compared to the central fort. It dominated the entire, vast expanse with ease. A brooding titan of rust red metal that climbed from the floor of the expanse to close to the ceiling, more than two kilometres high. Built in layers, the tower grew thinner as it rose, each new section protected by its own wall and defences. Even from this far away they could make out the enormous siege engines that dotted the walls. This vast structure was the very heart of the Abyssal Legion, wherein the highest ranking members made decisions that would be carried out by their legionaries across Pangera.
It was difficult not to imagine what secrets were contained within, what knowledge had been hidden away since the Legion had been founded. If there wasanywhere that forbidden technologies and methods would be held, it would be there, the Red Mountain.
"I've never been in the Mountain," Myrrin muttered to Donnelan, "have you?"
His eyes were fastened on the looming fortress.
"Of course not," he rasped back, "you think they just allow anyone in there?"
She noticed her friend was unusually pale, and sweating as they walked.
"You look as if you've seen a ghost. What's wrong with you? Is the Red Mountain that intimidating?"
It certainly was to her. It's a freaking mountain made of metal! Who ever heard of such a demented thing?!
"You realise who we're going to go and see, right?" Donnelan hissed.
Myrrin's eyes widened.
"The commander's wife? I've never met her, she left Liria before I had the chance. Have you ever seen her?"
"Not that," he said, "the title. Consul. We're going to see the Consul!"
Myrrin allowed that to sink in for a moment.
"Sweet steel of home!" She suddenly cried out loud.
With a SNAP, the commander's boots halted on the road and he turned to face the two of them with a wry expression on his face.
"I can hear every word you've said back there."
Myrrin and Donnelan flushed red from embarrassment, but the commander just waved it off.
"Come walk up here next to me and we'll talk as we go. We don't want you embarrassing yourself in front of Minerva now do we?"
"Of course not, commander!" Myrrin snapped out a crisp salute.
"We wouldn't dream of it, sir!" Donnelan mirrored her movement perfectly.
Titus stared at them.
"Just relax a little," he told them, "you're making me nervous and I'm married to the woman."
He turned around and resumed walking as the two of them caught up to him.
"Look, Minerva might be one of the highest ranking members of the Legion on Pangera, sure. But she's not as terrifying as people make out."
"I don't know, commander," Donnelan said warily, "Aurillia seemed more than a little intimidated."
"Well, sure," he acknowledged, "but that's an isolated case, you'll see."
The two young legionaries weren't much mollified but they had little choice but to follow their leader as he marched onward toward the ever growing mountain in the distance. The streets of the fortress were built to the exacting standard of the Legion engineers. Straight, flat stone and wide paths allowed for the easy flow of traffic and there was plenty of that. Legionaries in armour moving goods to warehouses or delivering supplies to the innumerable barracks throughout the expanse, or moving out to the teleportation arrays for deployment. With so many soldiers and administration staff in one place, the fortress held as many civilians as any city, but here, nothing was allowed to distract from the military purpose of the fortress.
Alberton the loremaster had droned on and on about the place when they'd arrived, blinking through the teleportation gates, filling the head of every legionary who'd never been here with the history of the Abyssal Legion's seat of power.
This place had never been conquered, not even during the Cataclysm, she'd learned. This expanse had been found and claimed by the first Legion in the opening years of the Rending, and as the conflict raged on, they'd built it up to its current state and used it as a staging ground and central organising point for the entire war effort. Its location was an intensely held secret, Myrrin didn't even know what strata they were in, though from the extremely dense mana in the air, she was afraid that she could take a guess.
"Have you been to the forges yet? At the foot of the spears," Titus waved toward the great towers that pierced the sky, "that's where the best arms the Abyssal Legion has to offer are made, including my axe."
Myrrin felt her heart skip a beat with excitement at the news. She'd long admired the commander's axe, a weapon of incredible power. She'd love to see where it was made, but her enthusiasm quickly dimmed. The closer they got to the towering Mountain, the more it's sheer size loomed over them, the more their hearts quailed. The size, scope and power of it was overwhelming. Only the commander was unaffected, his step getting lighter and his stride extending the closer they came to it.
-x-X-x-
Donnelan and Myrrin struggled to breathe. They huddled together in a vain attempt to ward off the suffocating waves of pressure that emanated from the legionaries around them. There didn't seem to be a single guard standing at their post, or official running messages, who didn't seem as though they were a high level powerhouse with the stats of a top level delver. The two young legionaries felt as small as mice clinging to a toothpick in an ocean storm as they trailed in their commander's wake, desperately struggling not to succumb. For his part, Titus didn't appear to notice their plight. After they were allowed entrance through the yawning gate of the Iron Mountain they hastily made their way inside to find the interior bedecked in breathtaking marble, the wide open halls lined with incredible, life-like statues of long passed legionaries. The commander's steps only lengthened as he moved from place to place, giving his name at each checkpoint they crossed and gradually penetrating deeper into the heart of the fortress.
It took hours and by the end, Myrrin's head was spinning. She couldn't say where they were, who'd they'd met, or even why they were there anymore. Every time they moved from one chamber into the next, the strength of the legionaries on guard seemed to leap to a new tier. The soldiers standing on guard next to her were resplendent in the most impressive Legion armour that she'd ever seen. Trimmed in gold, the living rock plates wreathed precious metals and alive with veins of fire mana that seeped heat into the air as it trickled through the stone. She wasn't even able to look the man in the eye, and when she snuck a glance at Donnelan next to her, she found he was sweating profusely and shaking in his seat.
For goodness sake, commander! Why did you have to bring us with you?!
Oblivious to her suffering, Titus was talking quietly with an armoured official outside a grand set of double doors. The doors themselves were elaborately carved and decorated, set into an archway that extended fifteen metres high. A full squad of ten legionaries stood guard in formation outside the door, their dominant auras unrestrained, flooding the room with their thirst for battle. After a few moments, the official stepped through the cavernous door, leaving Titus by himself. He gazed at the door in silence before he turned back to his two, cowering young legionaries. He clicked his tongue before walking over and clapping them on the shoulder.
"Come one now, young ones. You need to show a little more mettle than this. Don't embarrass our legion."
The two of them stopped trembling and looked up at him, eyes filled with a kindling resolve.
"Don't forget," he said, "it's going to be way worse on the other side of the door."
He gave both of them a squeeze on the shoulder with his sausage fingered hands before he turned to walk back to the door, never noticing the crumbling confidence he left behind.
"I don't want to be here anymore," Donnelan moaned under his breath. "I curse the day I ever got curious about the inside of the Iron Mountain."
"Y-you're g-going to meet the c-consul! A-aren't you excited?"
"You're stuttering. I'm sweating like I've spent a day doing drills in amour. This isn't looking good."
"I-if I pass out in f-front of the consul, will I b-be discharged?" Myrrin whispered, horrified.
"Of course not. The commander will just hate you forever."
"Nooooo."
When the official stepped back through the oversized doors, they both jumped in their seats and shut their mouths, staring straight ahead. Titus exchanged a few short words before he returned to them.
"We're up. Step quickly, we don't get much of her time."
So saying he brushed down the shoulders of their uniforms with his palms as if they were unruly children before grabbing each of them by the arms and straightening their posture.
"It's going to be tough in there, show me what you're made of."
He shot each of them a hard stare, his cold blue eyes piercing through the mountainous pressure that suffocated them and stiffened their spines.
"Yes, commander!" Myrrin shouted unthinkingly and saluted him, Donnelan following suit a moment later.
A deafening silence fell in the chamber as the officials, guards and fellow waiting functionaries turned to stare at the young legionaries. The two of them froze in embarrassment, but Titus actually smiled. That rare sight was enough to focus the two and they followed at his heels as they walked up to the intimidating guards and that oversized door.
A little of the steel had leaked out of the guards as the trio walked through their ranks, the stiff youngsters trailing behind their stoic commander. They made a conscious effort to lighten the strength of their aura as they allowed them to walk through. Once they were gone, the guards resumed their full bore assault on everyone outside the door. Defending the consul was their responsibility and they would perform that duty to the death.
The moment Titus stepped through the door he felt a frozen air pierce straight through him to his bones. He braced himself against and allowed his eyes to take in this new room. The office of the consul was surprisingly small, given the door. The room was roughly ten metres wide, lined by columns decorated with mana infused gold, the stone itself seemed to glow with a soft metallic light. The ceiling was high, vaulted at the top with every inch carved with depictions of legion glory. There was the battle of Deep Field, the defeat of Galatrix, the siege at Crumbling Rock, each a legendary battle from the Rending. At the end of the room, a slight, dark haired woman sat behind a deep red, crystal desk. Every inch of the walls and floor was exposed, stone or metal, without any softening furnishings at all. She refused to use them. The room felt cold and unyielding, rigid and formal, much like the legion.
And though no expression showed on her face, she radiated an air that let Titus know she was absolutely furious.
He stepped quickly through the door to allow his dual shields to step through, wide eyed as they stepped into the sparse office and he immediately felt the pressure on him ease. He allowed himself to unknot just a little as he stepped toward the desk, his boots clacking on the polished stone floor until he stood before his wife and offered her his salute.
"Commander Titus Faronicus!" He announced himself.
Donnelan and Myrrin hastened to offer their own salute.
"Myrrin Smithson!"
"Donnelan Branger!"
Minerva shot Titus a brief glare before she stood to return their salute. Had the man gone soft? Bringing in these two to protect him from her wrath?!
"Welcome to the office of the consul, legionaries. Be at ease."
Almost unconsciously she appraised the two young soldiers in front of her. Lirian stock, young and only recently promoted, she judged. She watched as they strove to maintain their cool and decided that Titus had trained them well. As he usually did.
"What happened to Liria was a tragedy, and a failure of the Abyssal Legion. Would you not agree, Titus?"
Titus stifled a wince, the lack of title was a warning sign.
"It was," he agreed, not breaking his posture. "The legion garrison was barely able to maintain the bulwark during the wave. We were totally unable to prevent what occurred on the surface."
"I know," Minerva nodded, then sighed. "We wanted to divert reinforcements, but the wave put pressure on us everywhere. If I'd had double the reserves we still may not have been able to relieve Liria. Please, allow me to extend an apology to you, children of that kingdom and loyal soldiers of our legion."
Myrrin and Donnelan stiffened in place before they wordlessly saluted once more, unable to speak. The destruction of their homeland had cut deeply. Even though they had fought as hard as they could in the depths to defend it, it hadn't been enough.
She stood from behind her desk and walked around it to face her husband and his "shields". She was dressed in regulation legion leathers, with solid boots on her feet and her well-toned arms free, as if she expected to swing a weapon at any moment. Her short, cropped hair seemed to bristle as she glared anew at Titus, her eyes very reminiscent of her daughter's.
"Don't think that bringing these two is going to save you, Titus!"
With no warning, she blurred in place, appearing directly in front of the commander, her fist sank deep into his stomach.
"Where is Morrelia?! Do you think I wouldn't know she was here?!"
To his credit, Titus straightened instantly, no sign of pain showing on his face.
"She went straight to the Temple after she arrived, she hadn't changed her class yet."
"She couldn't drop by on the way?"
"That was up to her."
"You couldn't make her?"
"I chose not to."
BAM!
Another brutal fist to the gut, this time sending the commander sliding back three metres, his boots screeching on the marble floor. He straightened once more, his face still placid.
"When you accepted a term as consul, raising the children was my responsibility. That's what we agreed."
Minerva stared hard at him before she nodded.
"That's true. Only a few more months and I'll be free of this blasted office."
She idly shook her wrist as she looked at her husband's stomach.
"Have you levelled up a few times?" she asked.
"Three times," he admitted.
She frowned.
"Defensive skills?"
"Iron skin."
"That makes sense. You've definitely toughened up."
"Lucky me," he said wryly.
His wife had always had a temper, much like his daughter. Being separated from her family had only sharpened it. Her guilt at not being with them when Romanus died fuelled much of her anger. Once she had accepted the post of consul, she was duty-bound to remain for the full, ten year term.
"I know why you're here. You want me to reform your legion and get you back out into the fight, and you want to take Morrelia with you. Am I right?"
"Yes, consul."
Minerva leaned back against the hard crystal of her desk.
"We're being pressed everywhere, even now. Mana levels haven't fallen like they should after the wave and some outposts in the deep are reporting they might be on the rise again. Things aren't right out there Titus."
"All the more reason to have good legionaries in the field."
"Hmm."
She looked at him steadily.
"It might be your lucky day. We had a report come in from the Empire of Stone. Ants. They appear to have made their nest somewhere beneath where Liria once stood."
Titus' eyes narrowed.
"I did report that an ant nest had been located."
"But there wasn't the capacity to deal with it right away. It was a problem we'd assumed we could put off for a time, perhaps the wave might have killed the colony off. Now it seems they're raiding locations more than a hundred kilometres away from where you found them. Your legion will be reformed and you'll get your new recruits. Head back to Liria and clean up this infestation, then return. We'll have need of you down here before long."
Titus nodded, his face serious. Ants were always a problem.
"Understood, Consul." He turned to leave.
"Not so fast," Minerva cut him off. "You two head outside. I need to have a ... private word with my husband. After all, Titus, it's been so long since we've spoken."
Titus felt a heat rise in his chest. This damned woman.
-x-X-x-
It's a long 'ol march home, over a week before it's all said and done. It wasn't hard for me to find a use for the time, however, since there was the whole 'impending war of doom and death' looming over our heads. How on Pangera I manage to stumble from one of these disasters into the next I have no idea. Am I cursed by Gandalf, the almighty voice of the System? If so, please let me know! I'm worried I'm causing more harm than good by sticking around the Colony. The nagging thought that they'd be better off if I just wandered into the Dungeon and never came back pokes its way into my mind and refuses to go away.
On the other side of the coin, the endless whispers of the Colony that arrive through the Vestibule tickly at the edge of my awareness, pleading with me to stay, to help, to lead. It's so hard to refuse them, especially when there are so many of them nearby, the voices swell from a collection of whispers to a deafening chorus. What's it going to be like when we make it back to the main nest? I'm almost scared to find out.
Of course, no time can be wasted, even when marching through the Dungeon! Crinis, Invidia and myself devote our time to practicing our mana handling and developing our magic Skills. Crinis has been diligent in her Shadow Magic practice and is starting to do some interesting things. Deadly, disturbing and horrific things, for sure, but also interesting. I encourage her to pick up mind magic affinity when she can, since she has the potential to reach an advanced enough stage that she could make use of the multi-layered mind construct technique the Shapers informed me of. It's clear from her evolution into the Tri-Maw Amorphous Horror, that she will pursue a balanced stat build, at least for now, which means that she may eventually reach the point of becoming a sincere magical threat. I think it's a build that suits her role in our little team, since she isn't really needed to output damage, that's more for Tiny and me, or even Invidia to do.
Invidia continues to develop and practice his defensive shield and healing magic. Whenever he gets the chance to cure an ants wounds, he floats off shouting [give your painss to meeeeeee!] in a rather charming, yet display of care to his new insect brethren. The ants, for their part, respond with perfect calm in the face of the glowing green eyeball of doom. They don't seem to flinch no matter what pets I raise, simply accepting them as part of the Colony and moving on with life. His grotesque mental stats and potent magical Skills, coupled with his heavily caster focused collection of organs and mutations, allow him to progress rapidly as he just never seems to run out of mana, or the capacity to shape the stuff to his will.
I'm jealous dammit.
I have a long way to go before I manage to fuse my elemental casting Skills as the desired tier. I've come a long way, and learned a few new tricks, including the ability to weave the basic elements together. Pushing earth and fire together to create lava mana is way more taxing and far less efficient than simply fusing the two affinity Skills together to form Lava Magic Affinity, but right now I maintain the flexibility of using earth, fire and lava mana whenever I want. Hopefully when I eventually fuse all elements together, I'll still have access to those options. The idea is use the elemental magic as a stopgap until I get myself to the higher ranked stuff. Gravity magic is out there somewhere! I just need to keep on believing.
Invidia himself has an elemental fusion magic. Fire and Air coming together to form his combustion magic, which he can use to such devastating effect.
So I use the week to drill my weaker magic Skills, Air and Earth, successfully ranking them up to tier four and getting some decent levels towards rank five. Whenever I get a chance, I continue to grind at my Core Manipulation Skills as well. We seized quite a few valuable cores in our raid against the Shapers and I grab a couple every time we break to fiddle around with, still trying to master the fusion technique. I've no desire for more pets for myself, but the work is challenging and if I can master the technique, I'll be able to pass it on to the Core Shapers back at the nest.
Besides, if I manage to create a super cool new pet monster core, then I can just give it to another ant. Bella and Ellie back at the nest would be delighted to have a fancy new pet, I'm sure of it!
I can sense it when we begin to approach the nest. More and more ants have been flickering into existence within my Vestibule, tiny motes of energy appearing and drifting from the strange organ and into my body, nourishing me with their energy.
It's quite a thing to find that with so many ants around, I don't really get tired at all. The only fatigue build up I have to deal with is emotional, which seems fine. Even after grinding away at cores until my head aches, it's a only a short time until I feel fresh one more, ready to go again. My grind capacity is starting to get out of control!
"Eldest, we're getting close to the new nest," Sloan comes over to let me know.
"I figured as much already," I tell him, "it's been a long haul."
"That it has."
I can only imagine what a pain it's been to try and organise our path as we escape, a burden that has fallen almost entirely onto the carapace of Sloan. She's borne up well, something for which I'm extremely grateful. If they'd tried to bring me into the planning, who knows what would have happened.
"Do you think they'll be able to track us, after all the measures we took?"
Decoy paths, detours through numerous expanse' and long stretches of pheromone free travel were just a few of the tricks we attempted during the journey. Burke was going crazy running all over the place, sending groups of scouts on deep side tunnels to try and muddy our trail.
"We can hope that they can't, but we have to assume that they can," Sloan sighed, a little of her weariness showing through. "If we don't start preparing then when they get here then we'll lose too much."
I can't help but feel guilt welling up within me at those words. If only I hadn't gotten caught...
"Don't mistake me, Eldest," Sloan breaks into my thoughts. "Regardless of the outcome, we still would have gone to save you. We all know that you would have done the same for us."
My eyes would be welling up with tears if that were something I could still do.
"Thanks, Sloan. I really appreciate that."
"Not at all, Eldest."
"Now, you make sure you get a proper rest once we get in the nest, alright?"
She flinches a little at hearing the dreaded word. I double down.
"And you spread the word to every member of this expedition. I expect a full twenty hours of torpor for each and every one of you."
"TWEN-"
"You heard me Sloan."
"They may not like being punished like this, Eldest..."
"I couldn't care less. Everyone is exhausted and exhausted workers are sloppy workers. Rest!"
"... fine," she mutters, but I can tell she's still unhappy.
"Come on then, Sloan. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the carvers have been up to down here. I wonder if they've learned any more about building in the time I've been gone."
-x-X-x-
Anthony Status page:
Name: Anthony
Level: 42 (Rare) (V)
Might: 91
Toughness: 79
Cunning: 64
Will: 45
HP: 158/158
MP: 250/250
Skills:
General:
Expert Excavation (III) Level 15; Expert Grip (III) Level 4; Expert Stealth (II) Level 5; Tunnel Guide (III) Level 6; Iron Mind (IV) Level 18; Expert Stamina (III) Level 15; Profound Meditation (III) Level 19; Flicker Dash (III) Level 18;
Mana:
Mana Craft (V) Level 2; Condensed Mana (IV) Level 3; Finer External Mana Manipulation (IV) Level 5; Mana Coveter (III) Level 18; Improved Ice Magic Affinity (IV) Level 15; Expert Mind Magic Affinity (IV) Level 7; Expanded Mana Sensing (III) Level 15; Enhanced Healing Magic Affinity (II) Level 9; Blue Fire Magic Affinity (IV) Level 5; Expert Earth Magic Affinity (III) Level 19; Expert Air Magic Affinity Level (III) 18;
Pet:
Distant Pet Communication (II) Level 9; Core Crafting (IV) Level 10; Pet Growth Speed (I) Level 5;
Defensive:
Master Exo-Skeleton Defence (IV) Level 15; Expert Dodge (III) level 12; Expert Endure (III) Level 3; Advanced Grace (II) Level 9;
Offensive:
Deadly Acid Shot (III) Level 15; Master Precise Shooting (IV) Level 5; Omen Chomp (IV) Level 22;
Mutations:
Senses:
Perimeter Eyes +15, Far-sight Oracle Antennae +25;
Defence:
Complete Diamond Carapace +25, Braced Healing Inner Carapace Plating +25;
Physical:
Rapid Absorption Legs +15, Mana Flooded Mandibles +25, Frequent Potent Regeneration Gland +25, Loquacious Pheromone Gland +15, Vast Hungering Stomach + 25; Hyper-Twitch Musculature +20, Instant Transmission Sub-Neural Network +20;
Acid:
Mana Binding Acid +15, Hyper Pressurised Acid Nozzle +10; Potent Acid Concentration Gland +10, Fatiguing Acid Stimulation Gland +10;
Mental:
Unyielding Coordination Cortex +25;
Mana:
Bottomless Gravity Magic Gland +15, Endless Collective Will Vestibule +5;
Species: Juvenile Colony Paragon (Formica Sapiens)
Skill points: 19
Biomass: 258
Tiny Status Page:
Name: Tiny
Level: 5 (Rare core) (V)
Might: 267
Toughness: 51
Cunning: 11
Will: 28
HP: 102/102
MP: 262/262
Skills:
Master Ape Boxing (III) level 7; Severe Brutal Uppercut (III) level 19; Comet Leap (IV) level 1; Expert Heavy Smash level 10; Advanced Athletics (II) level 11; Expert Grappling level (III) 12; Penetrating Crushing Blows (III) level 20; Dazzling Fancy Feet (III) level 18; Flicker Dash Level 12; Advanced Kong Straight (II) Level 12; Expert Ape Jab (III) Level 3; Advanced Dodge (II) Level 6; Initial Kong Combo (II) Level 8;
Mutations:
Detonator Enhanced musculature +20, Granite Bones +20; Collapsing Starfall Legs +20; Stone Splitting Sonic Enhancer +20; Compacting Rapid Lightning Mana Affinity Gland +20, Compacting Rapid Compressing Lightning Mana Affinity Gland +20, Combusting Energy Conversion Gland +20; Elastic Shadow Wings +12; Hyper Conductive Fur +10; Regenerating Lead Fists +11;
Species: Shadow Kong Emperor
Skill points: 30
Biomass: 104
Crinis Status Page:
Name: Crinis
Level: 7 (Rare Core) (V)
Might: 130
Toughness: 110
Cunning: 86
Will: 64
HP: 180/180
MP: 260/260
Skills:
Master Shadow Flesh Manipulation (IV) Level 15 ; Master Grappling Level 5 (IV); Master Shredding (IV) Level 21; Grand Tremor Sensing (IV) Level 8 ; Barbaric Dismembering (III) Level 14 ; Deeper Fear Inspiration (III) Level 14; Mana Moulding Level (IV) 11; Slick Tentacle Walking (III) Level 16 ; Expert Tentacle Fu Level 12 (III); Further External Mana Manipulation level 4 (II); Expert Shadow Magic Affinity (III) Level 13; Advanced Stealth (II) Level 9;
Mutations:
Flexible Armoured Shadow flesh +20; Disintegrating Void Maw +20; Vast Endless Dimensional Stomach +20; Dual Legion Tentacles +20; Sharpened Razor Barbs + 20; Visceral Teeth + 20; Extended Omniscient Mana Sensory Gland +20, Deep Reservoir Shadow Magic Gland +20, Instant Shadow Flesh Generator +20; Penetrating Shadow Eye +20; Expanded Masterful Tentacle Conductor +20; Expanded Masterful Tentacle Conductor +20; Unending Light Sink +20; Rapid Shade Phase Organ+20; Void Maw +20; Void Maw +20; Dissolving Cell structure +11;
Species: Tri-Maw Amorphous Horror
Skill points: 26
Biomass: 14
Invidia Status Page
Name: Invidia
Level: 12 (Rare) (VI)
Might: 14
Toughness: 40
Cunning: 212
Will: 149
HP: 80/80
MP: 404/404
Skills:
General:
Diamond Mind (V) Level 43; Expert Stamina (III) Level 15; Zen Meditation (IV) Level 19; Expert Clumsy Flight (III) Level 12;
Mana:
Mana Weaving (VI) Level 25; Compounded Mana (V) Level 14; Gripping External Mana Manipulation (V) Level 31; Mana Hoarder (IV) Level 6; Layered Mind Magic Affinity (V) Level 7; Broad Mana Sensing (V) Level 7; Enhanced Demon Laser (III) Level 17; Level 1; Master Combustion Magic Affinity (IV) 13; Expert Shield Magic Affinity (III) Level 8; Enhanced Healing Magic Affinity (II) Level 6;
Defensive:
Master Flutter (IV) Level 11;
Offensive:
Master Precise Shooting (IV) Level 12;
Mutations:
Senses:
Penetrating Eye of Envy + 25; Grand Mana sensory Organ +25; Fine-tuned Mana filament finder +25;
Physical:
Vast Bottomless Stomach + 25; Rapid Mana Charging Wings +25, Enlarged Mana Finding Demon Pocket +25; Mana Absorbing Dimension Mouth +25;
Mental:
Omni-Divergent Thought Brain +25; Reinforced Will Barrier +25; Layered Neural Adaptor +25;
Mana:
Mana Manipulating Cortex +25;
Species: Lesser Envy Demon
Skill points: 25
Biomass: 133
-x-X-x-
As we approach the nest I find myself in a huddle with Torrina, Corun and my pet gang in the centre of our column. I'm not sure where the prisoners are being held, somewhere toward the back, I imagine. Hopefully they can adjust to their new abode. I may not like them very much, but I don't want total suffering for them. Claws crossed we use them as part of a peace negotiation or something.
My Vestibule is sparking to life as more and more ants come into range and begin to provide their own trickle of energy. Frankly, the number of ants is already out of control and I don't think I've reached them all yet. I'd estimate close to five thousand are feeding me energy and I'm starting to buzz as if I just drank ten cups of coffee and followed it with a kilogram of raw sugar. Keeping my focus is... difficult. Perhaps a higher Will stat will help me resist this effect? I'll need to test it later.
The tunnel begins to widen out and flatten itself as the rocky protrusions are suddenly gone, as if sheared away by mandibles. The roof remains a little rough though and it takes me a little while to figure out why. Behind each carefully sloped bump is a well disguised hole behind which an ant could emerge without being seen. Clever stuff! In fact, when I look closer, the tunnel ceiling has been left deliberately rough, and not smoothed out like the floor. The ground has been smoothed out so well you could play marbles on here, but the small deviations and bumps that make the stone much easier to grip remain above my head.
[This is some good work,] Corun observes as he walks.
[What do you mean?] I ask him.
He pulls a face.
[Look closely at the floor and walls. Achieving this level of smoothness isn't easy with magic. It appears to have been compressed as well. Trying to get it compacted and remain this even? I'm impressed.]
He's right. My digging Skill is telling me the soil all around has been pressed hard, making it much harder to bite into. Yet it's super smooth, with nothing to grip or hold onto. Is that to make it harder to reach the roof tunnels from the ground?
[Wait a second, what's that?] Torrina breaks in. [Further up on the wall, it doesn't look as flat.]
She's right. As we approach it becomes clear that there's an image carved into the wall. The indentation is shallow, not enough to provide a foothold, but the image is sharp nonetheless. Magically done, no doubt.
[Look at that,] Torrina gasps, [it's so well done!]
[Very lifelike!] Corun admires the image, walking closer to take it in. [Looks like it was made with a combination of magic and carving. See here? You can see the residual scrape marks, even if only barely. A lot of effort went into this!]
From behind I can see the image is of a very impressive and dignified ant, standing proud with a well-shaped carapace and powerful mandibles clacking with determination. If I was in any doubt who it was meant to be, the small ape depicted riding on the ant's back would give it away.
[Is that meant to be Tiny?] Corun wonders, looking over at the big ape.
[That's me and Tiny just after he was reconstituted,] I tell them reluctantly.
They both look at me, then back at the carving, then back at me before they both turn away. They're trying to hide it but I can see both of their shoulders are shaking as they strain to repress their laughter.
[I didn't ask for them to do that! Alright?! Let's just keep moving!]
There's heaps of great ants in this Colony, carve someone else dammit! Like the Queen! Or Vibrant! Or anybody!
Sadly, that wasn't the last time I had to put up with the Golgari laughing. Turns out that wasn't the only carving that depicted me and my pets. I'm not sure which carver was the first to work out his technique, but they sure as hell went nuts with it! Every damn inch of the walls is covered with art!
There's me arriving at the Colony for the first time. Meeting with Mother. The development of Pheromone language, using traps to feed the Colony, hunting in groups. The first war of the hill is depicted in lavish detail, a series of enormous murals dedicated to scenes of the great battle.
Torrina and Corun can't help but become curious about the evolving story so I wind up having to explain the images as we go along, despite each of them glorifying my contributions far too much, something I hasten to assure them. Our escape during the wave, meeting Crinis, running into Beyn, it's all there.
Explaining the interactions we've had with the humans of Liria is awkward to say the least. Both of the Golgari have perplexed looks on their faces when that particular saga is done. Only for it to be followed with the war against Garralosh and her spawn.
[That is one big monster,] Corun gasps. [On the surface? That's insane!]
[Oh, she had help,] I assure him, and point an antenna to the place a lizard flanked by his six servants is shown.
[A Kaarmodo! She was a candidate?]
[Yes indeed,] I confirm. [That's the damnable lizard that told you lot about me, Granin informed me. Can't say I'm grateful.]
[Aww, but then you would have never met me!] Corun protests.
[You're making it worse,] Torrina jokes with him, before turning to me. [Did you absorb the core from that creature? If not, do you still have it?]
[I ... didn't absorb it, no. But I do still have it.]
I haven't wanted to think about that core ever since the fight.
She nods.
[That's good. I'd like to see it if possible,] she holds up her hands, [I won't interfere with it in any way. A chance to peer at the details of a candidate monster is a rare blessing.]
[I suppose I can arrange that,] I sigh.
With all the trouble looming, I'll have to focus on maxing out my core, which probably means absorbing that thing as soon as I can. Not looking forward to that...
Up ahead the tunnel narrows down to a limited opening on the right hand side and as we pass through, I can see that there are numerous defensive positions carved into the back of the opening, almost like a vertical wall which would allow ants to look out when clinging to the rock. Clever idea!
Shortly after passing through we're joined by two more busybodies.
[Can't we rest! I can only slither so much!] Jim complains.
The week of travel has been especially hard on the worm and more than once I've seen him looped around Sarah like a flabby scarf whilst she marched with us.
[I could get the ants to grip you with their mandibles and drag you,] I offer him, [although they might get a taste for your tender flesh.]
The giant worm shudders and the menacing bear that looms over all of us places a gentle claw on his back.
[Don't tease him, Anthony,] she says, [Jim's having a hard enough time moving into a nest full of predators.]
[He's never been safer in his life than now,] I scoff, [but I do understand. Soon enough you'll have your own comfy space and you can work out what you want to do with yourselves. No pressure from me.]
[Thanks, Anthony. For everything. By the way, have you seen these incredible carvings?] She nudges her nose toward a three metre tall depiction of me entering the second strata. [The details are incredible! You're telling me that ants did this? What else can they do?]
As she talks we approach a gigantic bound steel gate set into the tunnel. Numerous cores and enchantments hum with power across the surface and smack in the centre stands a proud image of an ant's head.
[Apparently, anything...] I tell her.
These damn siblings of mine?! Haven't they learned a bit too much!?
-x-X-x-
As if the first gate wasn't impressive enough, the second one is even larger, thicker and more heavily enchanted than the first. Not to mention it positively bristles with ants in defended lookout posts. How anyone could possibly break through, I've no idea. If another wave happened, we'd be laughing at the monsters on the outside. Unless a battering ram made from living metal happens to spawn nearby, I don't think anything will get through.
That's not a challenge, Gandalf! Don't you dare create that frickin' creature just to spite me!
After passing through the second gate, the procession began to break up. Sarah and Jim are led to a nearby chamber to rest as the scouts, soldiers and generals break away to find their own chambers to enjoy their rest. As they march past me I don't see the grateful ants I thought I would, but tense and somewhat resentful ones. You hate rest that much?! For a brief moment I contemplate increasing their enforced break to twenty four hours, but managed to contain myself.
"I told you they wouldn't like it."
"Sloan? Bah! Who cares if they don't like it? Rest is important and we're all extremely fatigued. They need it."
She shrugs.
"You may be right about that. I know I'm exhausted."
I look at her appraisingly.
"That's not something I hear many members of the council admit to, Sloan. Is this indicative of growth?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps I've just been working harder."
"You're tier four now, so you should be."
"True."
With the soldier caste gone, the workers and crafters also peel away to find their own places to rest, making sure to give me the stink eye as they leave. I make it a point to stare them down, waving them away with my antennae. Yeah, you go rest and you freakin' like it.
Without any destination in mind, I start to wander down a branching tunnel, just taking in the design with my pets in tow. The further I go, the more of my siblings begin to cover the surface of the tunnel and I notice something different. The way the tunnel has been shaped is off. Only when I pause, causing a few hurried ants to crawl over me since I'm holding up traffic, do I realise the difference. In the first nest, tunnels were usually round and fairly narrow. Like you would imagine the inside of an ant nest to be back on Earth. Cramped, little tunnels that connect similarly cramped chambers together.
This is different. The tunnel is wide, with enough overhead space to allow 'two lanes' of traffic to exist, one on the floor and one on the ceiling. More than that, the shape of the floor and ceiling aren't flat, but rather folded into waves, like the letter 'w'. By watching the ants travelling around me, I realise that this increases the surface area that can be gripped, allowing more ants to move through at the same time. The ceiling is shaped the same way, but with the dips and valleys opposite to the floor, so the same distance is maintained from the ground and the roof at all times. It's a little thing, but it's super clever! They've really been putting those brains I gave them to good use! Chuffed, I keep moving down the tunnel, taking in the sights.
After a few dozen metres, I notice something that I haven't seen before embedded in one of the walls. Curious, I skitter over to it so I can make a more thorough inspection. It looks like a metal plate, indented with numerous grooves that form a strange pattern. I look at the thing with interest, unable to work out what it's for. Have the Carvers decided to engage in some sort of modern art project? I wouldn't call the thing objectively beautiful, but it certainly is different. Then all of a sudden the metal plate speaks at me.
"Remember, daily rest is mandatory!"
"Gah!"
I leap back in surprise when my antennae register the ant pheromones emitting from the thing. What the heck was that?! It speaks? Obviously I know that it isn't speaking as an ant would, of its own volition. This is clearly a clever invention that can store pheromonal messages and 'play' them like a recording! Astounding!
I approach it once more and start tippy tapping it with my antennae, in the hopes of detecting exactly what is happening. I can't sense a damn thing though. Once it had spread its message, all sign of pheromones have vanished without a trace. Are they magically developed? That would be nuts. Curiosity fulfilled, I continued to make my way within the nest.
When we come across a chamber, the first thing I notice is its unusual size. Much like the tunnels, it's been built wider, with a higher ceiling and the surfaces are all constructed with that same wavy rise and fall, dotted with side tunnels. My antennae tingle with a constant stream of ant communication and the persistent trails that advertise where each tunnel leads. Rather disturbingly, in the centre of the chamber, a rather elaborate looking stone statue of what appears to be me stands proudly, pointing into the distance with one leg as the antennae slope forward at a noble and confident angle. An angle you would never find my own antennae at, by the way.
These damn ants with their carvings and statues! Why? Why would ants like statues?! It makes no sense! I feel a bubbling rage building up in my carapace and for a moment I'm tempted to go down there and smack the thing down, but rather quickly I start to get noticed. Which isn't hard when Tiny, Crinis and Invidia are trailing along behind me.
It isn't much, but the ants slow down a touch when they see me, some of them muttering or whispering to each other as they rush past.
[You guys probably need a bit of rest. Find yourselves a comfortable chamber and get some sleep. We'll go out hunting tomorrow before we make any long term plans.]
[Hmm. Slip.]
[Understood, Master. You won't go far, will you?]
[No...]
[Fine.]
[Precioussss sssleep. I wantsss it!]
The three of them wander off and I'm confident it won't be long until a helpful ant leads them to a quiet spot. For myself, I want to try and find somewhere a little less crowded. Maybe I'll go play with the brood. Those little grubs are always in need of a good tickling! Putting my antennae down I start to follow the trails to the brood chambers, joining into the winding trails that flow this way and that throughout the nest. Before long I tumble into a soothing chamber filled with wiggling larvae, lovingly tended by the ever watchful brood tenders.
"Hey all," I say, "just looking for a quiet spot. Mind if I hang out here for a while?"
These grubs look criminally under-tickled! I have much work to do. Waiting for a response, I check on the ants and notice that they don't seem to be looking at me. This is something that's hard to tell amongst us members of the Colony, since we see pretty close to omni-directionally, but it's a skill I've been developing. They're watching something behind me, right in my blind spot. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Hello Mothe-"
THWACK!
Dammit! She could never have snuck up on me if I wasn't distracted by the grubs!
"Welcome home, child. It's been some time since I saw you."
-x-X-x-
"Oh! Hello there Mother... I, uh, didn't expect to see you here!"
"In the brood chambers, child? Where else would I be?"
I can almost sense another thwack coming... The first one really hurt! She's had a serious increase to her physical stats since her evolution. I rub the top of my head with an antenna as I quickly ponder my response.
"Wherever you want to be, Mother?"
THWACK!
Ouch!
"You wouldn't be suggesting I would skip out on my duty to the Colony, would you?"
"Of course not! Who would ever think of such a thing?!"
Dangit, Mother! My poor head! What did I even do? Turning around to face my overbearing parent, I take a chance to see how she's been faring. She looks fine, no wounds or scarring to mar her carapace. That ever-present twinkle in her eye is still apparent, as is the unusual level of force she's able to generate with her antennae. There must be a 'mother' perk buried in the system somewhere that grants bonus damage when disciplining children, otherwise it just doesn't make sense.
"If you're mad at me, Mother, then please just tell me what I've done," I capitulate.
I don't have the heart to try and get out of my well-earned 'thwacks'. I've once again evaded my responsibilities and brought danger down on the Colony. A few knocks on the head are the least of what I deserve. Instead, the Queen just looks down at me, curious.
"I am not mad at you, child. I am pleased to see you."
"Got a funny way of showing it..." I mutter.
"What was that? I didn't quite catch the scent."
"Ah, nothing! Well, uh. It's nice to see you in such good health! Managing to get out much?"
"Why yes. I leave the Colony for a daily hunt in order to secure my own Biomass. The prey in the nearby tunnels is becoming rather thin, however. I may need to start ranging further..."
They actually let the Queen out for hunts? Not that they could stop her, I suppose, but yikes. I'd love to have seen the council members' faces when they realised the Queen was going to leave their fortress of a nest and run around in the tunnels.
"I'm going to assume you have an escort?"
The Queen sighs.
"Yes. They insist and I don't really want to say no, even if I do think it's a bit of a waste. Those children could all be contributing in a more meaningful way. I feel bad for them."
She shouldn't.
"Mother, I think if you were to ask, you'd find that every member of your escort is more than happy to be there. I'm sure of it, in fact."
The honour of guarding the Queen? Almost every ant in the Colony would be delighted to have the chance. I've no doubt that every member of her guards was carefully chosen to be the best at what they do. No way the council would leave the health of their Mother to chance.
This chamber really is packed with brood. Dozens of brood tenders pick amongst the little grubs, ensuring that each is fed and cleaned, ready to take on the next step in their lifecycle and become a pupa. Pretty clear that the Queens have been busy down here.
"Looks like the rate of growth has exploded," I tip an antenna at the young, "are we still making sure each hatchling is educated properly?"
"Yes," she assures me. "Although the majority of the brood are born in this nest, they are transported to the first nest during the pupal stage. When they emerge they are taken through the training program before they enter service. I try to keep up with what is being done with the new children, just so I know they're being taken care of."
"Well, that's good. I was a bit worried that they'd get slack once the population started to explode. Must be hard for them to rustle up enough Biomass and XP for this many hatchlings though..."
There really are a lot. I don't even know how many eggs are being laid each day right now, could it be as many as a thousand a day?! That would be insane...
"This was mentioned to me once," the Queen informs me, "I believe that the creation of two new nests is being planned in order to extend the hunting grounds."
TWO more nests? Already?! When I left, this one hadn't even been started?! Things are really accelerating now... Things will spiral out of control pretty darn fast soon. I don't want to pretend I'll be able to manage this Colony once the population hits the millions. If we keep expanding at this rate, that'll be sooner rather than later. And what sort of effect will the Vestibule have on me with that many little voices whispering in the back of my mind? They're already so insistent, I can feel them tugging at my awareness, nudging me in different directions than I would otherwise take. The Collective Will Vestibule does exactly what it says on the tin, it feeds me the Will of all of the ants within range, telling me what they want, driving me to act as the agent of that super-mind.
And they are implacable. They want me to hunt, to battle, to dig, to build, to seek and destroy our enemies and tend the young. They want all of those with an intensity that is beyond anything a human could achieve. Even as familiar with ants as I am, even I'm a little shocked that I never seem to detect the slightest ripple of selfish desire. Always the collective, putting the Colony above themselves, never a solitary thought of indulgence or relaxation. At this point, I don't even know what I would do if one did start to think that way. Punish them? Celebrate them? Perhaps as we expand, it's only inevitable that such an individual will be born.
As I ponder the inevitable future of the Colony, the Queen looks down on me patiently.
"What are you pondering, child? Don't you have important work to be about? I know that many are waiting to speak with you."
Her words shake me out of my contemplation. I have a massive list of jobs to get done. I need to share the things I've learned about spell casting with the Mages, I have to talk to the Core Shapers and pass on the techniques and strategies I learned from the Sophos. Then I should meet with the council about our planning in regards to the coming conflict. Not to mention the expansion of our territory and how I might help with that. I should probably pay a visit to the surface (if I even can) and check in with the humans and the upper nest, just to make sure things are still peaceful up there. So much to do!
"Yes that's true," I nod my antennae, "there's a huge list of things I have to get done. Thanks for the reminder."
I turn and march toward the nearest grub.
"What are you doing, child?" The Queen asks, confused.
"I decided to start with the most important job first. Grub tickling!"
THWACK!
-x-X-x-
Despite receiving the justice of my mother, I stoically endured her disapproving gaze for as long as I could manage in order to tickle grubs. Their joyful wiggles warmed my heart even as I quailed inside, anticipating another THWACK at any moment. In the end, I could only hold out for ten minutes before I slunk from the chamber, only to find myself in even more sacred territory, the egg laying room!
Victoriant and Antionette look up at me in surprise as I crawl down through a gap in the ceiling.
"Eldest! What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know me. Just checking in on everyone and seeing how things are going."
"He's avoiding work," the Queen calls out as she enters the chamber after me.
The two younger Queens give each other a brief look.
"The Eldest? Avoiding work? Surely you jest Mother!"
"Such a thing is impossible!"
The two of them laugh together and I hasten to cut Mother off before she can destroy my reputation. What can I use to distract her?!
"Ah! Is that Aphy the aphid Queen I see? She's gotten big!"
It's true, in one corner of the egg laying chamber, a much larger than before aphid Queen is nibbling on some Biomass next to her own little pile of eggs, looking very pleased with herself.
"Yes, she evolved not that long ago," the Queen can't help but rush over to dote on her pet with pats and scritches. "I wasn't sure about bringing her down to this Strata, but in the end I felt a lot more comfortable when she's somewhere I can keep an eye on her. You do like to get up to mischief, don't you Aphy?"
"Chirrup!"
The much smaller bug monster makes a noise of delight as it leans into the Queen's antenna like some sort of cat.
"The brood tenders take care of the aphid young as well?" I ask.
"Of course!" Victoriant chips in, "they seem to get the bonus stats from their care just as well as the hatchlings do, and each aphid will pay the colony back far more Biomass that we spend on Aphy to get them hatched."
"So the feeding is going well in the marsh expanse?"
"Aphy's children are far more useful than that," the Queen tells me warmly, still radiating affection towards her pet, "they've been spread to four separate expanses in the first Strata now."
FOUR!?
"Since when did we own that much territory?" I ask, flabbergasted.
"After you left, the expansion happened pretty quickly," Antionette muses. "The Generals, Soldiers and Scouts were super excited about it. They were all fired up every time they found a new expanse. I think they sent a thousand Soldiers into the Red Woods Expanse on the first day they found it."
A thousand?! But why?!
"I heard the same," Victoriant confirms, "I think they conquered the whole thing in two hours."
Yeesh, they really were getting carried away.
"How many members of the Colony are there, right now?" I ask. "The number can't be that high, can it?"
There's a moment of reflective silence as the three gathered Queens ponder for a moment.
"You know, child, I'm not exactly sure," Mother answers me. "I haven't been keeping count... perhaps the brood tenders on the council might know?"
The two younger Queens both echo the sentiment, they've no idea. I can get a rough sense of how many are in range of the Vestibule, but I can't actually count them precisely.
"I'll ask as I move around the nest, someone must be keeping a count."
Ah well, can't put it off any longer. I limber up my legs and make my way up the wall.
"Heading out, child?" The Queen asks, barely concealed amusement peppering her scent.
"Yes, Mother. The work never ends, as well you know."
"An end to work? What a terrible thought," she muses before turning back to pat Aphy some more.
Hah. I've only just gotten back and already a vacation is starting to sound nice. No! Bad Anthony! Stay firm! Alright then, time to head over to the core shapers, then I'll check in with the mages and teach them a few things. I need to catch up with the carvers, talk about their plans. Maybe there's some engineering or building knowledge tucked away in my head somewhere... Unlikely, but maybe I can describe a few cool buildings and see if it inspires them?
I need to find who's making all these carvings of me as well. And the statues! Enough is enough already!
After that... council I suppose, then surface. Yeesh, so much to do. I might need to try and slip some torpor in there somewhere, just in case I need a mental break. Full of determination, I follow the scent trails to the core shaper workshop and find both Bella and Ellie hard at work. It takes a few hours but I'm able to demonstrate the new techniques I've learned and share all the knowledge of monster builds that I picked up from the Shapers. The two council members seem giddy with delight at these gifts and declare that they must be committed to the library immediately!
"Library?" I ask, puzzled.
"Of course!" Ellie proclaims, "we need to preserve this information for further study."
"Yeah, but how? Since when do you have a library?"
"Oh! You haven't seen one yet? The carvers got the idea from the humans, I think. A way to store information. Check it out!"
She rushes over the one side of the busy chamber and returns with a metal plate grasped gently in her mandibles.
She places it on the table and I peer at the thing closely. It looks like a page, but instead of lines of text, it has grooves filled with a clear, gel like substance. I'm a little nervous that it's going to shout something at me like the one I found in the tunnel, but I bring an antenna down to smell it.
"Core experiment #424. Attempting to make something useful out of the centipede variety of monster has proven to be impossible. A more hopeless, failed concept of a monster is yet to be -."
"You've found a way to preserve pheromones?!"
"Indeed! It's very useful being able to 'read'. Saves a lot of time around here, let me tell you." Ellie assures me.
"Efficiency is way up," Bella confirms.
The rate these ants are developing is out of control.
"Well, good luck with what I told you. I hope it helps out a bit."
I make a hasty farewell and totter off to my next meeting. Books? Ants with books. I guess it makes sense in a way, I just didn't think they'd get going this fast. How long until they put an ant on the moon? Neil Antstrong may be just a few generations away!
-x-X-x-