Chapter 654 - Daughter's fear
The Legion war machine had swung into motion. Warriors of the Abyss, the Legion had been in a constant state of war for over a thousand years. The struggle against the Dungeon did not end with the Cataclysm, it had merely changed, and over all that time they had become very good at what they did. That machinery was now within Titus' hands and he directed with precision and confidence towards meeting his ends. From his side, Morrelia watched with mounting dread as her father drew the noose tighter around the neck of the Colony. In her heart, a storm had been brewing as the conflict had drawn on and she felt her emotions boiling to the bursting point without having any solid idea of what would happen after.
She had finally reconnected with her Father, with her Mother. The pain and hurt she had felt after the death of her brother had finally begun to heal. Even as she had rebelled against her family and the Legion, she had hoped for this feeling of resolution. She had the answers she'd wanted all along. Slipping back into her place amongst the family she had grown up with, not just her parents but the army that they served, had felt like such a homecoming. She felt whole once more, no longer angry at the world with nowhere to direct her rage.
But now that comfort had been stripped away by harsh reality. Where once she had been convinced that killing monsters was always the correct decision, she was no longer so sure. The Colony had done no harm in her eyes, yet had done so much good. They had protected the lives of the Liria refugees when the Legion itself had failed. Not only had they saved those people, they had assisted them, helped them to thrive where normal monsters would have only killed and eaten. It was something that had fundamentally challenged her understanding of monsters and the Dungeon forever, yet now she stood on the brink of participating in an assault to kill those very saviours.
It wasn't right. It couldn't be right. The only question that was left to answer was if she was willing to throw away what she had regained in order to stand up for it. She didn't have an answer to that question yet, but she was running out of time. The pressure had built within her to a point where she feared to move, lest she explode and lash out at those she cared about. So it was a subdued Morrelia who checked over her armour, once more surrendering to the familiar routine. The Legion camp had been moved forward over the previous day with the help of the reinforcements that had arrived. Not an hours march away, the great nest of the Colony awaited them. Titus had ordered the assault and informed his guard that he would participate on the frontline, personally. There was nothing left for her to do but prepare to take the field. Desperate to avoid her traitorous thoughts, she was all too happy to engage in a mindless task.
Her check complete, she began to put the armour on. Piece by piece she strapped it over the thick padding she already wore, ensuring that each section clicked into place, locked in with its neighbours. Her two weapons found their sheaths and she placed her helmet on her head. She was ready. For what, she wasn't sure, but she was ready.
She left her tent to find the camp alive with activity. All around her Legionaries rushed to complete the final preparations for what was sure to be a difficult battle. Orders were being relayed, scout reports continued to flow in constantly, necessitating last minute changes in strategy. Centurions argued loudly in corners as soldiers assembled their armour and honed their weapons in groups. Despite the frenetic action, the mood was subdued, grim. The faces she saw were focused and ready, determined and unflinching. Many of the Legionaries in the camp were fairly green, much as she was, yet over such a short time they had become inured to the grind of war.
She found her father in his customary place, in the command tent surrounded by the tribunes and other senior officers of their Legion. The new addition, the leader of the auxiliary force was a seven foot giant of a man covered in thick reptilian scales. His name was Charles, apparently. A former convict sent to the Legion and force fed Biomass in order to turn him into a serviceable weapon. He had served with distinction and risen to command his own company which had been attached to Titus' force for this mission. She herself felt slightly uncomfortable in the man's presence. He was a living reminder of just how far the Legion was willing to push in order to see the spawn of the Dungeon die. When she arrived, her father spotted her almost instantly and waved the officers away as he strode out of the tent to meet her.
"Don't you have work to do?" she asked him.
"Indeed. Making sure my daughter survives is my most important duty."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're laying it on a bit thick, commander."
Titus' expression didn't change in the slightest, his seriousness carved into the planes of his face as if sculpted from stone.
"I don't joke, child. Your mother gave me official orders to ensure that you didn't die during this extermination."
Morrelia stumbled.
"You're kidding!" Would her mother really bend the rules to issue an order like that?!
"Sign and sealed," Titus nodded, "I never kid about orders."
The berserker felt lucky she had put her helmet on already since nobody could tell her face had flushed bright red. The Consul of the Legion issuing official orders to keep her child alive! It was a scandal! It was nepotism! It was... very like her.
"Come on now," her father patted her on the shoulder, "let's get moving. It's time."
Only then did she realise her father had already suited up, his massive, bulky armour appeared to weigh a ton, yet he moved as if he didn't notice he was wearing it. Even his great axe was already strapped into position on his shoulder. Morrelia fell into place with her fellow guards and marched in precise order, her mind once more falling into chaos. What was the right thing to do? How was she supposed to save this situation?!
That long march toward the nest was special hell for Titus' daughter. With every step she thought about talking to the commander, yet every other step she reminded herself it would do no good. She felt confident that even if the Colony had done miraculous things, the Legion would still want them dead. They were monsters and that was enough. If she spoke up, all she would accomplish would be to disgrace her family and get locked up in the camp as a traitor to the Legion her parent's had served their entire lives. The Legion her brother had died attempting to serve. She couldn't do it.
Suddenly, she noticed her father had stopped marching and she stilled her feet, looking about it confusion. They stood at the head of the Legion column and behind her the thousands of soldiers ground to a halt as they waited. What had stopped them? She strained her neck to try and see. What she saw caused her heart to leap into her throat.
"Welcome, fellow humans," Enid called to them. "Welcome to the nest of the Colony."
In the centre of the tunnel stood a lone, old woman, garbed in simple robes and bearing a solid stick of oak to assist her walking. There was no fear on her face, in fact, she was smiling at them. From Enid's point of view the approaching Legion was almost entirely shrouded in darkness, the thick mana of the second strata meant that all but the first few rows of soldiers were blurred to nothing in her eyes. Old age probably played its own part in that.
"I see you, commander Titus. I have never met you, but I've heard many stories of the man who came to Liria to raise his family. Would you be willing to speak with me?"
Titus turned back to the rest of them.
"Wait here," he said and strode forward.
-x-X-x-
The Colony had been clever with its strategy so far, if a little naive. The inexperience in fighting sapient enemies was likely the reason for their relatively direct approach. If they were allowed to grow, that would change. Yet another reason to excise this problem before it grew too severe. Still, Titus felt compelled to keep his eyes wide open as he approached the elderly woman who stood alone in the tunnel before him.
"I am Titus," he confirmed, "commander of the Legionem Abyssi. I have to say I did not expect to find a Lirian in this place. May I know your name?"
The old soldier stood straight and tall, not bothering to try and appear unthreatening. How could he? He was wearing a full set of heavy Abyssal armour with a demonic axe on his back. In truth, he was threatening. Not that Enid seemed to mind.
"My name is Enid Ruther, commander. You might have known my husband."
Titus frowned.
"Derrion? The mercenary?"
The mayor smiled, pleased to see her dearest husband was still remembered.
"That's right," she nodded, "he spoke highly of you."
"He was one of the good ones. The dark blade of Arranyss. I seldom have respect for mercs, but your husband was very capable and stuck to the rules. I was saddened to hear of his death."
"He had no time for union politics. He always saw the Dungeon as his place of work and had no interest in jostling for control."
The commander grunted.
"Good thing too. As much as I would like to take the time to pay the proper respect to your husband, Ms Ruther, I am sure you are aware of what is happening in this place and that my time is limited. I can guess why you are here, but I'm prepared to listen to what you have to say."
"I agree. It's unpleasant that we find ourselves in this position." Enid smoothed her skirt as she gathered her courage. "I don't know what happened in the Dungeon during the wave, commander, but I imagine it wasn't easy for you. I presume you were occupied when Garralosh rose to the surface."
"We held the line and prevented the lower monsters surging into Liria. We couldn't predict that Garralosh would be able to do what it did."
She only shook her head.
"I don't blame you, or the Legion, for what happened during the wave. None of us could have known that a beast like that would be able to survive on the surface. But I must inform you that the beast Garralosh you once fought, was defeated by the Colony you now seek to destroy."
Titus only shrugged.
"Monsters kill monsters all the time. I deeply regret I wasn't able to finish the vile creature when I had the chance, but I do not intend to spare these monsters because they rid the world of an evil."
"They did more than just that," she insisted, "they saved us. They scoured the countryside and dug survivors out of the ruins. They built us homes, irrigated our fields, fed us, defended us and brought us together. It is no exaggeration to say that without the support of these monsters, there likely would be no survivors of Liria or the frontier kingdoms at all. We owe the ants our lives and have lived in harmony with them for months. You seek to destroy them simply because they are monsters and were created by the Dungeon. We have decided that this is wrong."
"You intend to defend these creatures against my Legionaries? There are many in my ranks to were born in Liria. Are you really willing to fight against your own people?"
"I can say the same to you, commander," Enid's eyes hardened. "You have brought war and destruction down on this Colony who has done nothing but help me and my people. How can you be seen as anything but an enemy?"
"And what of the people of Rylleh?" Titus demanded. "The city was overrun weeks ago, have they too been spared the creatures hunger?"
"There a number of people from that city amongst our ranks today," Enid returned, "it seems that many consider the arrival of the Colony a liberation, rather than a death sentence. That city has not been harmed by the Colony, far from it."
The commander frowned. It was beyond his expectations that this colony would act in such a way, but it wasn't totally unheard of. The abomination had clearly influenced the ants not to predate on the human population, but for how long would that last? If that creature born of another world were to perish, how long before the ants would revert to their true nature? For that matter, how long until the abomination itself would lose its sense of self and sink into the murderous carnage that claimed them all in the end?
This changed nothing in the end. The hard lines of Titus' face didn't budge.
"The Legion has given its orders and I do not intend to debate the righteousness of them here. We will destroy these creatures and stamp them from the Dungeon so that not a single one remains. If you choose to take the field against us then I must warn you that we will not show mercy to those who side with the creatures of the Dungeon against their own kind. I will give you four hours to talk to your people and inform them of our position. During that time, should anyone approach our lines, they will be let through and given safe passage to wherever they want to go. Should they remain, they will die alongside the insects."
So saying, the commander snapped out a crisp salute and turned back towards his people. Enid only sighed. This was the outcome she expected, but it still lay heavy on her heart. To the Legion, the people of Renewal were now traitors who had abandoned the Sapient races to side with the ancient enemy. It was inevitable once they had made the decision to stand with the Colony.
"Would you think we did the right thing, Derrion?" she wondered out loud.
The discussions were over. She turned and began the walk back to the nest where an open gate awaited her. She had much to discuss with her people.
Titus have orders to have the Legion pull back and widen the tunnel to allow for a temporary camp to be created. The Legionaries rested and conversed in quiet voices as Titus and the tribunes moved from group to group and informed them of what awaited them in the battle ahead. Some expressed sadness, others anger, most felt a level of disbelief that their own people would stand against them on the side of monsters, but none were unwilling to fight. They made war on the Dungeon. Always.
Enid moved amongst the people inside the gate. Farmers, traders, crafters and town guards before the last wave, now they stood firm in their resolution to defend those that had saved their lives and given them hope. Some were dismayed to find that their own kind would fail to see the goodness of the Colony (let alone its holiness), but their resolve was unflinching. When the four hours had elapsed, not a single person had abandoned the Colony.
Disappointed, but not surprised, Titus once more formed up the Legion and they once again began their simultaneous approaches toward the gates of the nest. It wasn't long until they were able to look up and see the huge metal gates ahead of them. The giant ant head carved into the centre stared down at them indifferently, projecting an alien aura that seemed to say what lay beyond did not belong to human kind. But it would soon, Titus promised himself.
The mighty Legionary gripped the haft of his axe tight in both hands as he stoked the demon within. The gate loomed large in his eyes. Come what may, he would crush that thing beneath his boot before the day was done.
-x-X-x-
Gweheheheh. I have succeeded in dodging the meeting! Once my mutation was complete, I used all of my guile and cunning to slip away. Of course, I needed to find a place to wait out the time before the battle started where the council wouldn't disturb me, so I naturally made straight for the gates in order to while away the time with the ants and humans stationed there.
When I poked my head out of the tunnels and the great outer gate of the nest loomed before me, I was more than a little surprised to find the entire council gathered and waiting for me.
"Ah, the Eldest has arrived at last," Advant observed with a perfectly flat scent, "now we can start the meeting."
You smug little...
"How did you even know which gate I would go to?" I demanded. "I could've gone to the other side of the nest for all you knew!"
"The assault is expected to be concentrated on this side of the nest," the soldier responds without acknowledging my question, "how are our preparations looking at this point?"
Defeated, I had no choice but to sit in and listen to the council go over many of the details we had already expected. We were cut off from the other nests who had dug themselves in to the greatest possible extent in preparation. The Legion and golgari had loosely cooperated to form a wide net that locked us off from the Dungeon and had since established defensive positions at every exit. The Colony had effectively become boxed inside three separate cages. From our scouting we'd determined that the enemy had concentrated their forces here, at the main nest. Clearly they intend to deal as powerful a blow against the Colony as possible in the time they have. Makes sense, considering the rising threat of a wave. If they can cripple us enough, then they may not even have to lift a finger to destroy the rest of us as the other nests may be too weakened to survive the wave on their own.
Meanwhile, the Legion and golgari could just clean this nest out, re-establish the gates and wait out the storm. I've no doubt they would be able to manage their own defence against the monsters that will come.
By the end of the meeting, I almost fell into torpor. It's important stuff, obviously, but there really isn't anything to go over that we didn't already know, or didn't suspect would happen. All that was left to do was hold the gates. If we could do that, we would survive, if not, not. When the discussion finally wraps up, someone pokes me back to my senses and I notice Propellant shaking Vibrant out of torpor. Then it's off to the gates to prepare.
Once there I learn that things are already well under way. Enid steps out for our agreed on appeal for sanity, only for it to unsurprisingly fall on deaf ears. The Legion was never likely to back down, but I kind of hoped they would. To my surprise, not a single one of the villagers or folks from Rylleh decide to cross the fence, despite making it perfectly clear they could if they wanted to. The humans give off a determined and solid air, as if they are enduring a trial that they cannot contemplate failing. At least, that's the sort of thing Beyn has been shouting for the last hour. The man is a preaching machine and has put his Skills on full display here today. It's a while before the battle is expected to begin, and he's out here pumping people up with fiery words and blazing passion. How he keeps going without tearing his throat apart, I have no idea, but he does. The people are loving it and their energy is quickly raised to fever pitch even as more sensible people like Enid and Isaac look on from the side, bemused.
The ants, for their part, pay no mind to the spectacle at all. Instead, the thousands of members of the Colony stationed here spend their time making last second preparations, checking every tunnel, every trap, every mechanism for the umpteenth time to ensure that it will perform as expected.
When the time finally comes, I make my way up the gate along with a smattering of humans and ants. My pets come along for the ride also. Sally ports are a fairly standard feature of a defensive wall or gate, a small opening that a group can exit from without having to open the gate proper. In constructing the great gates of the nest the carvers were sure to include these smaller doors but in a very ant way. The sally ports on our gates are all attached to the roof. So it is that Tiny, Crinis, Invidia and my very own honour guard exit through the hatch at the top of the gate and position ourselves to meet the enemy as they approach. At first glance it may seem as if this is an exposed location and a suicidal place to be, nothing could be further from the truth. The walls around us bristle with tunnels filled to the brim with ants. The whole point of the gate is so that we can harass and attack the enemy from relative safety, in order to do that we need to poke our noses out from behind it.
Normally this would involve soldiers standing on top of a wall in which the gate was placed, but the Colony didn't want a wall. Ants can crawl straight up the things, so why bother? Instead, the gate covers the entire tunnel, a barrier between the inside and out. May it stand forever!
We don't have long to position our battle line before the sound of fighting begins to make its way up the tunnel towards us. The crash and boom of spells, the crunch of stone and the acrid sting of acid fill the air and echo off the stone walls before us. After a few more minutes I can feel the ebb and flow of the magical warfare that's taking place as the ants try to collapse boulders onto the heads of the Legion, throw fireballs, ice shards and everything else as the enemy deflects, disrupts and shields in order to push forward. Indeed, the Legion mages have become more ruthless and cunning over time as they reach out with their minds to attempt to crush the tunnels around the ants, forcing the Colony's mages to enter a defensive battle to maintain the shape of the stone around them.
A running force of scouts keeps far ahead of the closest soldiers as they unleash a continuous barrage of acid. The specialised artillery ants are a sight to behold as they unleash litres and litres of sizzling acid with every blast, literally making it rain flesh dissolving liquid on the tightly packed ranks of our foes. As the legionaries advance towards us, they retreat a little more, never ceasing in their firing patterns.
Before long, the first ranks of the enemy come into sight and I can only sigh at the appearance of the hulking brute in the lead. That dreadful axe is already gleaming with energy, ready to unleash death upon us at any moment. In fact, behind the armoured demon I can even see an old friend, Morrelia. Despite wearing her helmet, I can tell from the colour and shape of the armour that it's her inside there. I'd dearly love to ask her a question or two about this whole situation, but I sincerely doubt I'm likely to get a chance. After the time we spent together, I can't say it doesn't hurt to see her appear on the field of battle against us. Though she did save us the last time I saw her so ...
Who knows?
At any rate, it's time to get this show on the road.
"Anyone else think our guests look thirsty?" I ask nobody in particular. "Let's give them a drink."
A moment of silence.
"Should we release the acid?" comes a hesitant scent from behind the ceiling above me.
"Yes. That's what I meant when I said give them a drink. I don't mean for them to actually drink the acid, but rather insinuating... never mind. Just tip it out."
"Got it, Eldest," comes the reply.
I thought that whole process was going to be so much cooler than it turned out. I had the line prepared and everything.
At this stage the Legion are only a hundred metres from the gate itself, still engaged in the slowly moving running battle as they advance step by step toward our gate. Packed ranks of hundreds of Legionaries make a hell of a turtle formation, their defensive Skills overlapping to form an impregnable barrier. Sure would be hard to crack through that. I can't even imagine how much acid it would take to chew through their stamina.
From the holes in the ceiling I hear the screech of metal as a large mechanism is pulled to one side, followed quickly by the slosh, then the roar, of a massive amount of fluid.
Maybe twenty million litres will do the job?
-x-X-x-
Turns out that acid that can propagate itself almost infinitely can pile up if you give it enough time. After I chose and began to use the multiplicative acid mutation, more than a few of the scouts took a solid look at it and liked what they saw. If I were to try and produce twenty mega-litres on my own it would take far too long. The acid is able to replicate itself, sure, but with only one mutation dedicated to the effect, it isn't that powerful yet. A hundred ants working together was required to build up this tidal wave of delight.
The moment the flood begins I can no longer see the reaction of the Legion forces which only a moment ago had dominated the approach to the gate. The downward sloping tunnel works perfectly to direct the absurd rush of acid as if foams and froths before my eyes and pours toward the approaching army. The sound is horrendous as the acid crashes into the hard stone of the tunnel and reaches out from there, hungry for flesh and metal. It might be unfortunate for them, but the Legion provides both.
There isn't much I can do to further enhance the damage of this particular strike, so I prepare for the next stage as we wait to see how effective this tactic is. My inner minds focus as I bring forth the power of the gravitation mana, crunching it down and compressing it in on itself again and again as I mould a tiny ball of screaming death within myself. Even though I shouldn't be distracted whilst attempting to do this, I can't help but extend my main mind forward to get some sense of what is happening.
What I detect immediately is the titanic battle taking place between the Legion mages and the spell weavers of the Colony. Hundreds of minds warring against each other as they attempt to seize control of the ground around them. The flow of mana is hectic in my eyes, swirls, gusts and ripples have been replaced by tears, whirlpools and hurricanes as each side tries to wrench the flow into their control. The Legion has drawn on their mastery of earth to modify the shape of the tunnel, blunting the force of the river of acid and diverting it to the sides, though my siblings have resisted their efforts at every turn. In enacting these changes however, the mages of the enemy have been forced to abandon their efforts to stymie the ants attempting to collapse the roof down on their heads. Even as the torrent of acid slides down the side of their barriers, eating into their shields of light as it continues to propagate itself, the battle of minds surges overhead.
If the humans falter even for a moment, they'll be in for a nasty surprise. There are metal spikes that weigh tons each lodged into the stone up there. If they are allowed to fall it's going to be a bad day for whoever gets hit.
This is the strategy of the Colony when it comes to this defence. One attack isn't going to be enough to divert the power of these soldiers, they're too strong, too experienced and more than we can deal with at our current level of strength. Since one strike won't defeat them, we'll hit them a hundred times. A hundred times a hundred. However many it takes until they fall. So we strike from multiple directions at once, the acid tanks, the mages in the stone and more.
Never the kind of creatures to let something go to waste, I know that the acid is going to be collected in special holding tanks carved out of the stone deep below the tunnel. The Legion may never have noticed the holes in the stone beneath their feet when they began their ascent towards the gate, but they are certainly there. A hundred metres below the tanks await, from which the acid can be pumped back to the top of the tunnel. An ingenious system that hundreds of carvers spent a week carving out. Sadly, it'll take hours to refill so we can only deploy the acid again if we manage to repel this first approach from our enemies.
"How did it go, Eldest?"
It's Ellie, hiding in a chamber on the other side of the wall to my right.
"I think we got their feet wet at the least, but it hasn't stopped them. On the plus side, they aren't coming any closer right now."
It took over a minute for the tanks to fully empty themselves, dumping out acid at a shocking pace. As the deafening roar fades away I can finally hear myself think and more than one ant clicks their mandibles in shock at the ferocious display.
"In other words, they're right in position?"
"Yep. Think you're pets are going to be up to the task?"
"They'll make you proud, Eldest."
"Let's see it."
[Is it possible that I can join them, Master?] Crinis asks me.
[No, Crinis. We've gone over this. I need you here with me. Let's watch and see how they do.]
The blob attached to my carapace wiggles in a mix of frustration and happiness as I turn my attention back to the ever hungering ball of mana spiralling in power within my mind. The bomb is reaching the critical point of overload and I need to devote all of my attention to it but I can't help but keep my eyes peeled for the attack of the core shapers.
The moment the Legion becomes visible again behind the haze of acid mist in the air it's clear to see how they were able to survive. Deep gouges have been carved into the ground on either side of their formation. From the ruined appearance of the tunnel floor, it looks as if a combination of magic and sheer physical strength was used to create these gashes, which means they must have directed weapon strikes at the stone to help break it up. More than that, their soldiers have tightly packed together in a narrow column, shields pressed against each other with their defensive abilities activated. From my position near the gate they present a layered wall of golden light which patches of acid still cling too, sizzling away.
It might be a pain, but I can't help but be impressed that they survived. Sorry Morrelia, but that's not the only trick we have up our sleeves.
It only takes seconds for the order to slip down the chain and I see something that most people would rather not see in their lifetimes. The furious acid has burned away the thin coating that once covered the floor to reveal a narrow gap in the tunnel walls, close to the floor. If I weren't looking for it, there's almost no chance I could see it at all, it's so narrow. From that narrow gap on both sides a darkness wells up and then begins to pour out onto the floor. All the way up and down on both sides of the Legion column a tide of pure black is massing. From out of the shadows, slowly at first but quickly gathering speed, extends a forest of tentacles, hundreds, thousands of them, as the darkness moulds itself to reveal its true form.
Centipedes.
The hated foe, the reviled enemy. My hatred of the centipede knows almost no bounds! Long did they torment me in my youth, only for me to turn the tables on them and use the foul creatures as fuel for my own growth. Once the table flipped, I refuse to allow it to flip back again, no matter how much the Dungeon seems to like the putrid things. Naturally my own predisposition against the centipedes was passed onto the Colony which led to an aggressive campaign to delete them from the Dungeon. Wherever the Colony has been, war against the many-legs has been waged. Their nests have been expunged, their spawn points camped until the mana dissipated and no more of them appeared. It's safe to say that whilst we ants have left most spawn points alone in order to have monsters to hunt, the centipede no longer exists within our territory. They have been deleted.
As a result of this extensive activity, a tremendous number of centipede cores has flooded into the claws of the core shapers. Interestingly enough, it was found that the centipede core is a remarkably mouldable one. It's as if the 'genetic' code of the many-legs is so basic and primitive that the shapers had great success utilising the Sophos' 'folding' technique, fusing the centipede together with other creatures. After experimenting with various forms of the omni-present shadow beasts, this variant was created.
The Centi-sludge!
At least, that's what I call them. I think that Ellie told me their name but I forget already.
Utilising advanced shadow flesh technology, these centi-sludges are able to mould themselves into a goop-like state in much the same way that Crinis does. Similarly, they have the ability to extend a tendril of dark flesh filled with the same potent toxin that filled the centipede stingers. A devious creation that represents the dedication and hard work of the Colony Core Shaper caste, the centi-sludge is a nasty little package on its own, but when multiplied by thousands can create all sorts of problems.
The Legion doesn't hold back and displays the rapid response expected from soldiers with such high levels of discipline and training. The moment the tendrils start to reach for them the flash of blade light explodes as hundreds of swords and axes strike out, cutting swathes into the slithering pile of centipedes reaching for them. From where I hang on the roof, packing more and more gravity mana into my bomb I can see the light carve into the centipedes, bisecting many of them, but even so they don't stop moving.
In truth, these pets have almost no defensive capabilities. The strikes cut straight through them without resistance, splitting hundreds of them apart at a time. But that just doesn't do the job. The pieces of the monsters that have been cut away return to goop which is then claimed by any of the centi-sludges nearby, claiming the precious shadow flesh as part of their own body. Unless the core itself is damaged, or the Legion is able to cut away at them fast enough that they don't get a chance to reform themselves before the flesh is dissolved into the Dungeon, they won't stop coming!
Gweheheheh.
Although, to pay for this roach-like level of survivability, not only did the centi-sludges lack in toughness, but their offense was low. The purpose of this tactic is not to defeat the Legion, but rather to wear them down. If some of them get poisoned while we are at it, all the better! As the Legion engages with the pets, turning their attention from one crisis to the next, a sortie of ants emerge from the gate. A mixed force of mages and scouts, they begin to rain down ranged firepower toward the leading Legion figures in order to amp up the pressure. The Legion's shields have formed a wall of light that now flickers and flashes with each new impact as the Colony ups their offense, trying to batter through the attacker's stamina.
We don't need to win, we only need to hold. As long as we make the Legion go back to their camp and try again another day, that's a victory.
With a mental command I send Invidia to join in the barrage, lighting up the tunnel with his detonations. I warn him not to go too hard yet. Our part in this defence is not yet done. I don't have the spare mental energy to reach out and keep an eye on the ongoing mental warfare taking place in the tunnel but I wager it's ramped up another notch. Attacking the mages by putting them under constant pressure to defend their comrades is a lynchpin of our strategy. Even if the individual Legionaries prove to be indefatigable monsters, the minds of the spellcasters can't be. Even if they have hundreds of super wizards in their ranks, the Colony is able to throw literally thousands of ant mages at them until they crack.
Compress, compress, compress!
In the final stages of preparation, the only thing that exists in my consciousness is the gravity bomb. It grows darker and darker as the crushing force begins to take on a life of its own. Even so I continue to force more of the purple gravity mana into it until the pressure of holding the sphere of pure magic together starts to push back against my mind. Working with mana in this way is always headache inducing and each of my four brains is pounding by the time I cut off the supply of mana and prepare the spell for launch.
"I'm ready to throw out the bomb. Clear the deck!" I call out a warning to the ants in the area.
The word is passed along rapidly and the core shapers coordinate to clear their centipedes out of the danger zone as quickly as possible.
[Invidia, are you clear?]
[Yessssss.]
Nice.
"Black hole in the hole!"
HHHHOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWLLLLLL!!!
As ever, the gravity bomb announces its presence in spectacular fashion, causing a storm of wind and filling the tunnel with the now familiar shriek the moment I release it. The sound is deafening, as if the air itself were screaming as the near black sphere devoured it. It's a terror inducing effect that's only magnified by the spell swallowing all light as it travels. The ants around me know what's coming and dig their claws into the walls of the tunnel even as I do the same. The Legion too is familiar with this scene now and their response hasn't changed, only grown stronger over time.
Shields and barriers spring to life by the dozens the moment I unleash the spell and a host of minds reach out to rip the gravity bomb apart before it can land. At the same time the ants launch a new offensive, hundreds of mages that had remained hidden until now throw their Will into the contest. Once again the battle to control the rock of the tunnel is pushed to the brink as the Colony attempts to drop tons of stone and pointed slabs of pure iron onto the heads of the attackers. Invidia himself goes to work batting away the mages who try to unmake the gravity bomb, pitting his own considerable prowess against the Legion in an attempt to preserve the power I packed into the spell.
The bomb strikes home as it always does, flickering into its final form, the slowly rotating sphere of pure destruction. The pull is immediate and dreadful. Hanging from the roof, I dig in as hard as I can to resist being a victim of my own spell. It's a risk, casting this spell whilst hanging here, since my weight is so much higher than my grip has been able to sustain, but where there is a Will, there is a way and I hold on fiercely as the bomb ravages all it can touch.
-x-X-x-
Bwahahahaha! Behold my power! I have to say, watching the devastation unleashed by the gravity bomb never fails to elicit an exaggerated sense of achievement in me. Look at what I have wrought! In reality, the bomb is structurally the simplest piece of magic I've ever attempted on Pangera, a blob of pure gravitational mana crushed into itself as hard as I can manage before being flung out into the world. Far more than Cunning, Will is the stat that determines the strength of this spell since my ability to force and compact mana is dependent on my willpower. The current rendition of my most destructive spell can only be called an unqualified success by my own standards. The potent drag of the expanded gravity bomb threatens to pull me from my perch on the ceiling and I see many ants fighting to maintain their position on the walls.
What it feels like closer to the epicentre, I can only imagine. Unpleasant, I'm sure. Although all of my brains are exhausted so soon after releasing the gravity mana, I extend my senses out towards the Legion in order to get a sense of how the struggle is going. Thankfully, they're struggling. Although they have expertly layered their defensive abilities with magical shields and ripped away at my spell, they've not been able to do the work that they have previously to mitigate the spell before it was able to land. The many pronged attack of the Colony has done its work in forcing our opponents into having to make difficult decisions. Do they try and hold the ceiling together and strike back at the ants positioned in the tunnels there? Do they fend off the limitless poisoned tentacles of the centi-sludge, or do they commit everything to limiting the impact of the gravity bomb?
It feels as if they chose to do all of the above and as a result they've lost some ground on each front. Sections of the tunnel roof are starting to slip even as the shadow pets begin to close on their lines, reaching out to spread their toxic blessing and the bomb is shattering the protections they put in place just as quickly as they put them up. It's clear that the Legion didn't expect us to be able to bring the number of mages to bear that we have, expecting that they would retain their comfortable superiority in this regard. The fools!
From my perspective, all action in the tunnel has come to a stop as the screaming sphere of black death slowly rotates in place as it consumes everything that falls into its maw. The air, the dirt, the light, nothing is safe from its insatiable hunger and all we can do is hold on until it peters out. After hurling this spell into the teeth of the Legion so many times without breaking through, it's almost a shock when a notification from Gandalf comes through,
[You have defeated level 53 Abyssal Legion Scout]
[You have gained XP]
[You achieved Level 63, One skill point awarded]
Holy moly! I actually got one? Take that! Wait... it wasn't Morrelia was it? Ugh, can I really afford to worry about that right now? I force all thoughts of the dark haired berserker from my mind and focus on the task at hand. The Legion is under extreme pressure right now and if we're going to win we can't allow it to stop. The second the spell runs out of power it flickers and then fades to nothing. The silence and stillness that hangs in the air is profound after the cacophony of shrieking wind that had felt so oppressive just a moment ago. The Legion is still there, ranked up together with shields to the front, but it's clear that those in the vanguard have suffered under the effects of my spell. Many are showing injuries, some have collapsed to the ground, one knee in the dirt as they breathe heavily. Tanking the brunt of my strike for their fellows has cost these Legionaries dearly and for many of them they will have no further part in this battle. I notice Morrelia is not among the wounded which gives me mixed feelings. On the other hand, I know how to feel about the hulking, axe wielding form in front of the column. That massive chap appears almost totally unharmed, with barely a scuff in his armour. Judging by the positioning of the other soldiers, it appears as if the nearby Legionaries stepped forward to protect their leader from the worst of it, taking the wrath of the gravity bomb onto their own shoulders. An action that caused one of them to pay the ultimate price.
Unwilling to let this chance slip, the ants dash forward to renew their bombardment, with Tiny, Invidia and Crinis joining in from a safe distance. Wearing down the opponent before the final clash is still the name of the game and I refuse to let Tiny leap into the ranks of the enemy and get himself filleted by the axe guy before he manages to land a single punch. Instead, I have him throwing boulders using his considerable arm strength and blasting out with lightning when he gets a chance. Just as the long range strike begins once more, the Legion appears to make a decisive move, advancing rapidly toward the wall. I can see the wounded and exhausted warriors being picked up and moved to the rear of the column which flows around them like water even as the axe wielding hulk bullies his way forward at their head. The imposing soldier batters aside the projectiles directed at him, or just plain ignores them, allowing the acid and spells to smack into his crackling armour as if uncaring of his own safety. With each step, he gathers momentum and I begin to sense an ominous energy building within the head of the axe. Wild, brutal and hungry for violence, that's the sense I get. An unrestrained thirst for blood and vengeance emanates from the weapon and many ants within range of the baleful aura react with insectile rage. The energy contained within the weapon grows and grows as the figure draws closer, climbing to unbelievable heights but even so the strike isn't unleashed. What the heck are they aiming for?
Then it hits me.
[He's going for the gate!] I roar at Invidia, [Shield now!]
The demon has nothing if not a quick mind and before I even finish the thought the flow of mana around the gate behind me has begun to swirl and shift and the little eyeball shapes it into barriers.
"He's going to try and bring down the gate! Hit him! Defend the Nest!" I blast the entire tunnel with pheromones, snapping every ant within range to attention.
"FOR THE COLONY!" they roar as they rush into battle.
This guy wants to bring down the gates himself? He's either mad or far more powerful than we expected and I'm terrified that it's the latter. Even so, what can we do? If we must fall to preserve the Colony, then that's exactly what we are going to do. Filled with this resolution, I drop from the tunnel roof and position myself between the lone Legionary and the gate, putting my exquisite diamond form in the firing line. Come on then you stupid spectre of death. Let's see if you can charge into the mandibles of the Colony and walk away unscathed!
-x-X-x-
I regret my choices. Many of them. How did this situation wind up with me facing down this inhuman axe-maniac whilst he charged his weapon with what feels like enough energy to cut a mountain in half? The things that people do for their families, that's all I can say. I can feel the Colony and Invidia working overtime to establish all the shields they can as quickly as possible, layering the protections across the already potent enchantments of the gate. Hopefully it's going to be enough.
[Crinis, get off me.]
[NO!]
[IT'S AN ORDER! GET OUT OF THE WAY!]
I refuse to let her get caught up in the fallout here. Her Skills and mutations are totally unsuited to facing down this kind of situation, all that will happen is she'll get herself killed for nothing. That's an outcome I won't allow. I barely register as my loyal friend peels herself off my carapace and disappears into the shadows along the side of the tunnel, all of my focus is on that dreaded axe. My minds churn as I try to think of anything I can do to help mitigate this attack. Sinking into the depths of meditation, time almost seems to slow as I process everything as fast as I can. Do I have enough time to whip together a spell? Probably not, judging by the speed the axe strike is gathering energy, it's almost ready to go. Can I create a physical barrier somehow? Digging maybe? Unlikely to help. This guy is trying to cut down solid steel gates with an axe. If I put a few rocks in the way it isn't going to make a difference.
There has to be something, think!
As I try to come up with ideas, the lone Legionary continues to sprint forward under the combined bombardment of everything the Colony can throw at him. Tiny is blasting with lightning. Acid is raining from the openings in the gate and walls. Spells fall like rain as the mages spit out fireballs, ice shards and everything else they can muster. Maybe I can use a little gravity magic? I don't need to spin a construct for it and I'm well practiced at the basic forms, my main mind doesn't even need to get involved.
Quick as a thought, my sub-brains begin to form and throw out basic gravity bolts at the onrushing juggernaut in the hopes that it does something. All I can really do beyond that is try and get up in this guy's face. I dig my claws in the stone to get a firm grip and take a moment to steady my nerves.
DASH!
As fast as I can, dash!
Right into the jaws of death!
Because that's exactly what it feels like. My senses are going crazy at the sheer amount of energy pouring off that demonic weapon, so much that the very air itself seems to warp with it. An aura of bloodlust and violence permeates the air around the charging figure, leaking from the axe itself, saturating the minds of everyone who draws too close. Even sunk into meditation with all of my emotions pushed to one side I can feel it. A rage that seems to bubble up from within and eat away at my thoughts. I don't let it. Even the cold logical thoughts of my own brain, severed from my emotions, tell me that this course of action is illogical. I don't listen. Even the Vestibule, the gateway through which the Will of the Colony leaks into my being is begging me to turn aside and allow others to go in my place. But I won't.
I don't know why. I can't explain it, but something deep within my carapace is telling me that this is a pivotal moment. He cannot be allowed to sunder the gate. I won't let him.
The figure looms large in my vision as we close on one another at hectic speeds. My mandibles stretch open wide, the dark energy of the doom chomp manifesting around me as I approach. More and more gravity bolts fly forward, peppering the figure all over without slowing his seemingly unstoppable momentum. Just before I reach him my mandibles begin to snap shut as every cell in my body screams for me to flee this danger, to get out of the way and preserve myself because this is something that is way out of my league.
I don't listen.
I was never very good at being what other people expected of me. Not in this life, or the last.
With a shout that impacts the air, the lone Legionary stretches back his arms that tiny bit more, like an elastic band stretched right to the breaking point, before unleashing his strike. It's so fast I don't even see the axe move. One minute it's over his shoulder, the gauntlets gripped tight around the haft, the next the axe is buried in the stone at his feet, all the way up to those same gauntlets. My mandibles strain for a final second as the world flickers before me and I feel a tidal wave of energy explode in the air in front of my face. It's a blade of axe light like none I've ever seen before. Instead of the normal soft glow of white light, this arc of power is blood red. Rather than the size of a blade, it stretches from the ceiling to the floor in a vertical line of pure destruction.
Too late to prevent the strike from being unleashed, I try to pull myself to one side but in a flash the strike is upon me. Then it's gone. One of my sub-brains triggers my healing gland without my conscious thought and a feeling of almost puzzlement flutters in me. Why do that? But then the pain comes. Searing agony explodes down the right side of my body as I struggle to comprehend what just happened.
[Master! I'm here!]
My thoughts are sluggish, what's going on?
The darkness around me is pitch black and a forest of tentacles explode around me, enveloping my entire body in their embrace. Before my eyes are covered, I can see the sole Legionary in front of me on one knee, his weapon still buried in the ground as he draws deep, shuddering breaths. Despite being so vulnerable, no attacks fall on him. Why isn't the Colony attacking?
I feel myself sink and I can't even process the sensation as Crinis pulls me into the shadow, dragging my body through the darkness and out the other side. Where am I? The pain is intense.
"Healing! The Eldest needs healing!"
"Move aside!"
As the tentacles unwrap from around me I realise where I am. Crinis has brought me right in front of the gate, the gigantic steel barriers tower above me as my siblings swarm around me, desperate to heal my injuries. I don't have eyes for them. Instead, my addled mind tries to take in the jagged rent that has been carved into the left gate. The metal is twisted and warped where that horrific axe blow impacted and then cut through. It's strange, why would he only target one side of the gate? Come to think of it, why can't I see out of my right eye?
Or feel my right legs?
Ah. I think I get it. With the healing energies of my regeneration gland flooding through my body, Invidia's healing magic and the ministrations of the Colony, I can feel my flesh knitting itself back together and regrowing the part of my body that has been sheared completely off. Who needed a right side of the body anyway? Unfortunately it doesn't seem as if I'm going to get much time to pull myself together (heh).
Further down the tunnel, the Legion leader has managed to stand and his soldiers have surged forward to encompass him within their ranks once more. Having secured their leader, they've resumed their purposeful march toward the now damaged gates and the Colony is scrambling to resume the defence. No chance you punks are getting through this damn gate today!
"Get me back on my feet dammit," I manage to say, "we aren't done here yet."
-x-X-x-
The Legion advances to where I lie convalescent, still recovering from my grievous injuries. The only blessing I can see is that the one man army who cut through half of the gate is no longer in the frontlines, replaced by a wall of armoured bodies that hold their weapons and shields with perfect discipline. Once Crinis has pulled me clear, the Colony continues their barrage and a horde of my siblings sally forth from the gate to surround me.
"Get me back behind the gate," I squeeze out, "we didn't plan to take a stand here."
The ants around me don't respond at all and I wonder if they smelled what I had to say at all.
"H-hello? You need to either move me behind the gate or leave me here. What the heck are you doing?"
"Eldest, I mean this with all my respect, but please shut your pheromone hole. We're trying to heal you and you need to stop moving."
Who was that?! Mendant?! Where the heck do you get the nerve to speak to me like that?! The healer looks completely unperturbed, as if an enemy army wasn't closing on her position with each passing moment. Are these ants crazy or what? We can't fight here, we'll get slaughtered! If I can't be moved, then just retreat to safety, I'll fight my way out! This won't be the last you see of me! Before I get the chance to insist, the ants have already formed ranks around me, hundreds turning into thousands in mere seconds. I quickly realise that they aren't going to give me up.
[Crinis! Can you move me again? Through the shadows?]
[I can't master, I'm sorry. It took almost all of my shadow mana to get you this far,] she sounds panicked.
[It's going to be fine,] I reassure her, [my face is almost back together, see? I'll be in biting shape again in no time.]
She doesn't seem to be encouraged by my words. I see her twisting herself into mind bending, non-Euclidian shapes that I'm certain are formed of more dimensions than there should be in her anxiety.
[Invidia, get the buffs onto Tiny. I get the feeling there's going to be a scrap in here shortly! Tiny, you are NOT allowed to die! That's an order!]
I can't see much now, the ants are swarming over me as the healers continue to administer their healing fluid to help regenerate my flesh, but I can sense something I never expected and moments later, I see one. What the hell are the humans doing out here?!?!? Led by that manic priest, at least a hundred humans have marched forth from the gate to squeeze in amongst the much larger bodies of the soldiers and scouts in the front ranks between me and the Legion. The priest himself has a short spear gripped in his one good hand which he waves back and forth with frantic energy as he bellows words I can't quite make out to the gathered humans. His voice rolls like thunder with the power of a war drum as he urges his fellows to battle.
When the Antmancers activate their Skill, their bodies ignite and begin to spread an aura that envelops every ant and human within reach. Even I can feel it, giving strength to the limbs I still possess and filling my heart with courage. It doesn't help that the Vestibule continues to whisper of the ant's desire for battle, to make the enemy pay for the damage they've done. It's difficult for me to ignore them in the heat of the battle. I feel the urge to scurry forward on my three remaining legs and try to stab the Legionaries to death with my one remaining mandible.
I don't think that will go too well.
"Can I be moved yet?" I whine to Mendant.
Her antennae twitch and I swear by my Mother that she almost thwacked me.
"Any other member of the Colony would be dead right now. No, you can't be moved," she tells me as she continues to work.
Dammit. This is going to get ugly.
From where I lie, I only get flashes of vision from the front lines, but I can tell the two forces are closing together as the Colony and its allies press forward to allow more room between the fighting and me. Are you kidding me?! The battle right in front of the gates and I'm not even going to be able to participate?! This must be some sort of joke. I'm tempted to ask if I can move yet but there's something in Mendant's eye that causes me to hesitate.
[Crinis, go support the Colony,] I ask her, [they're going to need your help.]
[You are heavily injured, Master. You need me here to protect you!]
[I need you to protect my family more. Go on, Crinis. Do this for me.]
The amorphous blob of immitigable darkness shudders once before lashing out with tentacles that drag her deep into the shadows of the tunnel roof. Before long she has vanished from sight as she slithers closer to the enemy. All I can do now is lie still and wait for the healing to complete as the sounds and vibrations of battle rise to a fever pitch moments before the two armies crash. Even now reinforcements pour out from behind the gate, piling up on top of each other until the tunnel is almost filled to capacity from bottom to top with a writhing mass of furious monsters, with me buried somewhere at the bottom.
With a colossal THUD that rumbles through the stone on which I lie the two opposing armies clash for the first time. There is little yelling or talking (with the exception of Beyn), the ants communicating in perfect silence whilst the Legion are too disciplined for random noise, yet the sound is still deafening. The clash of steel on carapace, the vibration and detonation of activated Skills and spells fill the air until I can't tell what is happening anymore. All the while my antennae are battered with a flood of pheromones from my siblings.
"FOR THE COLONY!"
"FOR THE ELDEST!"
"STRIKE FOR THE BROOD!"
"FORWARD SISTERS!"
"FOR THE COLONY!"
Infused with aura of the antmancers and their own generals, the soldiers, scouts, mages and every other caste in the fighting are driven to the peak of their fighting abilities as they throw themselves against the Legion army in an endless tide of fury. A deafening screech erupts from a distance away, piercing through the sounds like a knife and I know that Tiny has entered the fray, using his scream to distract and stun to buy enough time for his fists to come to bear. On the edges of my mana sense I can feel the centi-sludges and other pets creeping out from gaps in the wall, pressuring the Legion line all the way back down the tunnel in an attempt to sow chaos in the enemy lines.
Shortly after I see the mad priest once more, standing upon a rock dislodged in the fighting, his face is a twisted mask of ecstasy and rage as he bellows, his words pounding into my ears like waves on rocks. How the man isn't dead yet stood up like he is, I have no idea, but there he remains, preaching with righteous fury as the battle rages around him. The knowledge that my siblings are fighting and dying so close and being unable to help them tears me apart inside. I have always wanted to fight for my family, but so often they are the ones who fight for me. Having them fight on my behalf is something so precious, I didn't even realise how much I needed it in my past life, but now that I have it I refuse to let it go. I will take hold of this family with my mandibles and they will never be able to dislodge me.
"Please," I beg Mendant, "let me go fight."
The healer looks down on me once more and this time I see no irritation or anger in her, only acceptance, patience and love.
"Don't worry, Eldest," she tells me, "we will protect you."
-x-X-x-
The battle raged around Isaac Bird and in the brief moments where he wasn't desperately trying to keep himself from getting skewered or sliced in half he had to wonder why he was even here. Peer pressure was part of it, he could admit that to himself. When three quarters of the guards under him had volunteered to go down and aid in the defence it would have looked a little ridiculous if he, their leader, didn't go with them. There was an element of pride, also. The ants had done much to help the refugees and now when a chance came for the people to return the favour it would be churlish to turn it down. Another part of him, a more honest part, was willing to admit that he'd hoped to see Morrelia here. When she'd left, all those weeks ago, he regretted not going with her, and now that she'd returned with the Legion, how could he not take this chance? What exactly he hoped to accomplish in wooing the woman who captured his heart with her fierce and headstrong ways from the opposite side of a battlefield, he wasn't sure, but it was worth a go! He hoped it was worth a go.
"SPEARS UP LADS!" he roared into the din and hoped his people could hear him as the Legionaries surged forward for another clash.
CLICKCLICKCLACKCLIK!
A chorus of snapped mandibles rang out as the ants issues their own warcry. Isaac held his ground and tried not to get buffeted by the huge monsters around him as they crawled over each other and clung to the ceiling to try and get at the enemy.
"FOR THE COLONY!" Roared the priest from behind him. "DELIVER VENGEANCE UPON THE INFIDEL WHO REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT WHICH HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR TO US! FIGHT! FIGHT FOR THE COLONY!"
"I'm fightin', I'm fightin'!" Isaac grumbled as he activated his shield wall Skill and deflected a blast of sword light upwards.
The ant above him angled its carapace to absorb the diminished blow before it lunged forward to try and snap the sword of the offending soldier but the enemy was too crafty and snatched the weapon back just in time.
"Try this on!" He roared and executed a perfect micro-dash as he ignited his spear with energy and used Expert Thrust.
A pure beam of light shot forward from the weapon and caught the enemy unawares, hitting them full in the chest. Other than knocking the wind out of them, the strike didn't appear to do much to the foe. The ranks closed around the soldier who was back in the fight a few moments later after collecting their breath.
"Their armour is too damn tough. What the hell is tha' stuff even made of?" Even exhausted in the midst of battle, Isaac couldn't help but complain to himself about how unfair life was.
Whilst it was true that the Colony had provided the guards with brand new arms and armour, far better quality than anything they'd been able to lay their hands on before, it felt a little inadequate when they were put against the bloody Abyssal Legion. Still, beggars couldn't be choosers. If he was here in his old gear he had no doubt his head would have left his shoulders behind some time ago.
"DO NOT YIELD TO THE HERETIC. DEFEND THE PATH WHICH WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH TRIAL AND SUFFERING. DO NOT FORGET THOSE THAT SAVED US! DO NOT ABANDON THE ONE WHO LIBERATED YOU FROM FEAR!"
How the damned priest didn't detonate at the neck projecting that level of volume, Isaac would never know. It was inhuman as far as he was concerned. Not that he had much time to worry about it.
"SPEARS UP!" He roared again as the two sides surged toward each other once more.
The clash and ring of steel filled his ears as the flash and flicker of light blasted his eyes. There were hundreds of beings fighting at once, each employing their Skills, equipment and natural gifts to the limit as both sides struggled to hold on. Isaac snarled and bellowed as he dipped low before executing a sneaky shield charge. He clipped his opponent's weapon at a different angle than was expected which caused the soldier to lurch backwards before he was disarmed. Not willing to let go of this chance, Isaac lashed his spear through a tight sweep that clipped the left foot of the Legionary and caused him to crash to the ground.
The moment the man fell, his allies on either side leapt to defend the breach and protect their comrade as those behind pushed forward to cover the gaps. The ants refused to let it happen so easily and dove forward, hurling their bodies into the swords of the enemy to try and widen the break in the line.
"RALLY TO ME!" Isaac called, hoping someone could hear him above the clamour.
If the ants were going to push, he sure as hell wasn't going to let them do it alone! He cursed and spat with wild abandon as he lashed out with his spear, desperate to widen the gap and take the pressure off the monsters who absorbed insane amounts of punishment without taking a backward step. It wouldn't be possible for Isaac to perform half of these heroics without the boost he was receiving from Beyn and his kin. The more humans and ants gathered together, the greater the strength of the buff and right now Isaac was riding high, his stats pushed to levels he'd never experienced in his life.
"DEFEND THIS HOLY GROUND WITH EVERY FIBRE OF YOUR BEING! LET YOUR VERY SOUL SHAKE WITH THE POWER OF YOUR EFFORTS AS WE DRIVE AWAY THESE LOST ONES. DO NOT BLAME THEM CHILDREN, FOR THEY TREAD THE FALSE PATH, COLD AND ALONE WITHOUT THE LIGHT OF THE GREAT ONE TO ALLEVIATE THEIR FEAR!"
Does he ever shut up?! Isaac shoved all thoughts of the priest from his mind as he frantically battled in the front lines. The fighting had reached a fever pitch as both sides jumped on the tiny, infinitesimal edge he had created for the Colony and he was finding it harder and harder to hold his ground. Sweat poured into his eyes, his shield was battered and rent, and his spear arm shook from pure exhaustion. He refused to quit. So long as the ants kept fighting, so would he.
"Come an' get it you shiny bastards!" he grimaced his challenge as he forced himself to keep fighting.
Then she was there. For the rest of his life, he would fail to explain how he recognised her so quickly, but the instant that red armoured figure, a brutal short sword in either hand stepped into view, he knew it was her. His heart froze in his chest and a foolish smile broke out on his face. It was wildly not the time for it, he knew that, but somehow he just couldn't help it.
"Hey Morr. How've you been?" he grinned.
He didn't get a reply before Morrelia charged forward, her twin weapons a blur as she struck at him from both sides. Somehow he managed to parry the first attack with the shaft of his spear and catch the second square on his shield. The weight from that blow nearly caved his shield in completely and he suspected his arm may have been fractured but he didn't have time to worry about it. Still with a stupid grin on his face he struck back, spear lancing out only to find empty air as she brought both her weapons up in a perfectly timed cross block. She didn't give him time to recover, snapping out a quick kick that threw him back a few feet. God's she was strong!
He set his feet quickly and brought his weapon up once more, eager for the fight to continue.
"That all you got?" he laughed, "and here'n I thought you was supposed to be strong!"
It was a complete bluff and both of them knew it, but he wasn't going to back down, and neither was she.
"HAAAAAA!" Morrelia bellowed and Isaac could see her eyes blaze with red light through her helmet as her berserker Skill ignited.
Isaac watched as she charged forward, heedless of the danger, like a stone from a siege engine right into the ant lines. Her weapons smashed his spear and shield aside with ease as she crunched straight into his chest and just kept going. He felt his feet lift from the ground as her shoulder bore his weight deeper amongst the swarming Colony. When she finally stopped running she collapsed on top of him, causing him to cough out a mouthful of bright red blood.
"Nice ta see you too," he said.
"You're an idiot," came back her distraught reply. As the ants and humans descended on the top of them she dropped her weapons and ripped off her helmet, exposing her midnight black hair to the light.
"Capture me, Isaac," she said.
Was it the chest injury, or those magnificent words that finally drove him over the edge? A few seconds later, as Morrelia raised her hands in surrender and was taken away under guard, the ants would find Isaac passed out, blood leaking from numerous wounds. What they couldn't explain was the copious flow from his nose that continued long after they had already healed him. A quirk of human physiology, they decided, and promptly forgot about it.
-x-X-x-
"THE SEARCH GOES ON, SISTERS!"
"WE SEEK!"
"Oh no you don't! Retreat now! That's an order!"
Brendant waved her antennae threateningly at the 'Immortals' and their reckless leader.
"Leeroy! Get your metal covered carapace back to the gate! The enemy has pulled back and so are you!"
It was never a good idea to give the misguided armoured soldier a chance to 'misinterpret' her orders. Brendant watched like a hawk as the heavy assault ants begrudgingly turned themselves around, putting their backs to the retreating enemy and dragging themselves back to the gate. Healers swarmed over the ants already, tending to the numerous, near fatal wounds that covered them.
Even from where she stood, Brendant could hear the medics taunting the survivors.
"Ooo. That's a rough wound, nearly enough to kill you, wasn't it? Good thing you survived!"
"Just a few centimetres to the left and you'd have been done. Look at the scoring in the carapace next to your eye! Punched right through the armour it did. Not a problem though, you'll be back to full health in just a few hours."
The healers continued to bait and mock their charges all the way back to the gates where the immortals moved toward the foundries established just inside where their armour could undergo an emergency refit. No doubt Smithant was already bashing the exhausted soldiers over the head with her hammer, lamenting the damage done to her precious armour. The moniker 'immortals' had run amazingly true over the duration of the siege, only a single member had perished in the fighting so far. The others had been unsure whether to curse or praise their sister for her misfortune, but they had gathered for a solemn vigil as the soldier had been peeled from her armour and laid to rest.
Though the tunnel before the gate was now almost totally bare, still, the council member did not turn back. There was still one more warrior of the Colony yet to return.
"How is she?" the soldier asked one of the nearby mages.
The two of them watched the great bear as it drew deep, measured breaths. Each exhalation sounded like a gale and blew dust and earth into a small whirlwind in front of the huge monster's face.
"She is coming back to herself more slowly after each battle. We are growing concerned for her wellbeing."
Sarah, the friend of the Colony had been instrumental in holding back the golgari on this side of the nest, but more and more the ants were becoming worried for her state of mind. A team of ants combed over her frame, cleaning and soothing her as she slowly reclaimed her sense of self from the fury that seized her during battle.
"She must not participate in the next clash, preferably the next two. Tell her the council has ordered that she rest herself."
The mage twitched her antennae.
"I will tell her, but she we will not like it. She wants to help," the mage hesitated, "and I believe that part of her yearns for this state. She wants to fight."
"But we cannot allow her back into a state she once rejected fighting on our behalf. Be sure to tell her what I said."
Without the bear on their side, the next clashes would be far more difficult, but it was necessary. The other side was holding against the more powerful Legion without the assistance of a tier six behemoth like Sarah, though they did have the Eldest, they would have to make do here. Weary and filled with a thousand worries, Brendant finally retreated behind the gate and returned to the embrace of the nest once more.
Thousands of ants swarmed here, each with a specific job to do. Triage was taking place in the field hospital as the many wounded were tended to. The most grievously injured would be shifted to the dedicated facilities as soon as they were able to be moved, whereas the others would heal on the spot. A bit of Biomass, magic and regeneration fluid all they needed to repair their wounds.
"How goes it?" came a scent from the left.
"Wills? It goes as it goes, I'm afraid."
The scout, clung to the roof, nodded her antennae in acknowledgement. The enemy had been repelled four times from the gate so far, but the cost was higher than they would like. Still, they were holding, which was all they needed to do. So far the foe had managed to reach the gate twice and inflict significant damage to the metal before they had been pushed back. Eventually they would smash through and the Colony would be forced to retreat to the second, and final layer of defence.
"We'll have to make the next defence without the help of Sarah. She needs to rest to regain her sense of self."
The scout hesitated for a moment.
"That's going to make things ... more interesting."
"We don't have a choice. It may finally be time to commit the humans to the front."
The Colony had hesitated to send out the humans so far, a decision that hadn't gone down too well with the people themselves. The general feeling amongst the ants was that they should be responsible for defending their own nest and didn't want to depend on assistance from others. The mayor Enid had rightly pointed out that the Colony had helped defend the human homes, so why shouldn't they return the favour? It looked as though they were about to get their chance.
"They'll be happy about that," Wills said. "I wanted to pass on that the scouts haven't managed to break through to the satellite nests. We'll keep trying, but it looks as though we're still ringed in."
The nest itself was a massive area. How the enemy had managed to contain them in all directions and detect every attempt to tunnel out was something beyond the ant's understanding. There was still so much they had to learn before they could compete on equal footing with enemies like these. Given enough time, Brendant knew that the Colony would not only match their opponents, but exceed them in all aspects, but that day was far off yet.
Numbers and hard work were what they could depend on for now, it was their only chance.
[Where is she?!] a voice broke into her thoughts.
[Friend Jim?] Brendant asked.
[Obviously it's me!] came the irritated reply of the large worm, [where the hell is Sarah?]
[She is still recovering outside the gate. She is being watched by a team of ants as she gathers herself, worry not.]
[Oh, I'm worried. I'm massively worried. Do you even realise what she's doing to herself for you? You should tell her to step back from the battle before it's too late for her!]
[We have.]
[And... what?]
[We have noticed her struggles and I have asked the mages to tell her to rest for the next two clashes. After that she will be able to choose whether to re-join the fight or not.]
[That's not good enough. If you give her a chance to fight, she will. Tell her to step back completely.]
Brendant paused for a moment.
[We will not take away her autonomy without good reason.]
[You mean you can't win without her.]
[It will be more difficult,] the soldier readily admitted, [but we will still win.]
The worm went silent and Brendant felt him tunnel away through the soil, no doubt returning to the chamber set aside for himself and Sarah to which his friend would soon return. Before long, the council member had pushed the interaction from her mind. The battle went on and there was much to do.
-x-X-x-
Having to wait for your legs to regrow sucks. Even if it only takes an hour considering all the healing that the Colony, my pets and I can pour into it. I even mutated these legs so that they grow back faster. An ant without legs is like... pretty much anything without its legs. Not particularly mobile. By the time I have my claws back under me enough that I can walk, the battle is over. After a bruising and bloody exchange, the Legion pulled back and gave the Colony the room it needed to make an orderly retreat. Obviously that also included dragging my sorry carapace inside where far too many medics fussed over me whilst others waited for their wounds to be tended.
"I'm fine!" I told them. "Go bother someone else! Look, you can't even see my insides anymore!"
It's true, the muscle has mostly regrown to cover the organs which have been plainly visible not so long ago. The carapace which had been sheared off has also begun to reform at the edges, which is nice to see. Reforging the diamond carapace from nothing can take some time, so it's nice to see it making a swift recovery. Thanks to the Vestibule, I've already been able to unload another full blast from the regeneration gland which, combined with the ministrations of Invidia, have gone a long way to speeding up my recovery. What I've found though, is that coming back from heavy injuries like this has a minimum time frame. No matter how much healing magic and regeneration fluid you pump into yourself, there's a hard cap to how fast my cells will regenerate themselves. Some things just take longer than others, like the carapace for example. With the organs and muscles regrown, the only thing I can do now is wait.
"There are plenty of ants and humans who need caring for, there's nothing else you can do for me now," I assure the fussy healers.
"Are you sure about that Eldest?" Mendant asks. "You aren't exactly... all the way back together."
"I'm sure. Go tend to our new allies. They look like they need some care."
"Are you sure you don't want to just go talk to the prisoner?" The healer asks me, he antennae looming dangerously.
"Not at all!" I protest. "The energy of the healers is a precious resource and I would hate for it to be wasted when it could be better spent elsewhere. Please. Tend to the humans and the ants in need. I will heal given enough time."
There were indeed plenty of humans and other ants in need of care. Despite the Colony going all in to try and protect their human allies, not all of them had made it back, and many were injured. The number of injured and fallen on the part of the Colony numbered in the thousands, yet another wrong to lay at the feet of the Legion. It would be days before some of them were back to combat readiness, and all would need to draw from the limited supply of Biomass stored in the nest.
After giving me a couple hundred side-eyes (compound eyes and all that), Mendant finally gives in and waves away the swarming healers, directing them to the many others who need their help. Once the council member herself moves away, I take it upon myself to mosey over to where the crowd has gathered. I say mosey. My legs aren't fully regrown yet, so it's a bit more of a 'drag' but I get over there in the end.
Morellia has, as far as I know, turned herself in to our custody, or something along those lines. Isaac hasn't been able to communicate all that well since the battle for some reason and Beyn can't bring himself to talk to her, given that she's a 'heretic betrayer' or some such. Without Enid being here, it's been hard to find someone to communicate with the berserker, so things have been at a bit of a standstill as far as I can see.
The Legionary is sitting on the ground with her arms raised in the air, her weapons having been taken long ago. With her helmet off, it's clear to see that she isn't afraid of what may occur here. Whether that's because she doesn't think we'll hurt her or she doesn't care, I'll have to find out. Damn I need some torpor. Hopefully I don't get dragged away or anything before I talk to Morrelia.
"By the by Protectant, I didn't see you in the battle," I say to the empty air.
After a brief silence, I get a near undetectable reply brush against my antennae.
"Please don't address me when there are so many around. We want to remain secret, remember?"
I tap my antennae together in acknowledgement and wait.
"We could do nothing to prevent you leaping in front of the strike that nearly killed you, unfortunately. Once the guardian pulled you back to the gate, we were positioned around you the whole time."
"You didn't show yourselves, even then?" I ask, a touch incredulous.
"It wasn't necessary. Should any of the enemy have reached us, we would have fought them, to the death if needed."
I sigh. So many of our siblings made that sacrifice in the battle. Having such potent defenders is nice, but I'll always feel the council wasted resources that could have been better spent protecting others. Ah well, it's all water under the bridge now I suppose. I push my tired brains to whip up a mind bridge and I extend it out towards Morrelia as she watches me approach.
[Hey there, Morrelia,] I greet her with a wave of an antenna, [how've you been?]
Her face twists with an unknown emotion before she finally smiles, her shoulders sagging.
[I didn't know what you would say to me when we met again, but I should never have had any doubt.]
I honestly don't know what she means.
[Thanks for saving me, by the way,] I tell her. [If you hadn't told me to run, things would have gone sideways pretty fast. That dude with the axe is something else. Look at what he did to my carapace, dammit!]
She takes a good look at the still healing (and completely disgusting) wound.
[A foot to the left and he might have carved me clean in half!] I complain. [Is someone like that even human anymore?]
[That's my father] she says quietly.
[Lovely guy. Charming even. I mean, so human. Such a warm personality and totally regular level of strength.]
She bursts out laughing.