Chapter 665 - The Siege pt 10
Despite being surrounded by hostile monsters who, quite rightly, were more than a little suspicious of her, Morrelia felt more at peace than she had in a long time. The Colony weren't in the wrong, she'd known that all along. The problem was, she wasn't sure that her father was wrong either. In the end, she decided her conscience would not abide sentencing Anthony and his family to death on the grounds that they might do something in the future. So far, they had only been a force for good and until that changed, they did not deserve to be exterminated.
She knew what this would mean should the Colony turn against the Sapient races in the future. Given enough time, the ants would amass unfathomable strength and should they attack, Pangea would be devastated before they could be stopped. In the end, she had decided it was a risk she was willing to take.
[You really don't seem to care,] she said to Anthony, [it doesn't bother you that I betrayed your trust and joined an army that was fighting against you?]
The giant ant looked at her quizzically, his antennae twitching in the random way they did whenever he was confused.
[No?] came his voice in her mind. [Should I be? I mean, from what you've said, you haven't personally fought us, didn't pass on any intelligence about us and have given us a potential key to survival in this conflict. Rather than be mad, I think I ought to thank you.]
Those jagged mandibles clacked happily and Morrelia knew he was about to do just what he'd said he would and thank her. For some reason, she was unwilling to hear that.
[I didn't even tell you I was going!] she burst out. [I just straight up abandoned the village and the Colony! And for what? To turn around and attack the people I had wanted to save?]
All the guilt that the proud soldier had been suppressing came flooding out, surprising her with the intensity of the emotion. She seethed with rage and self-loathing that had piled up over the weeks as she'd supressed her doubts and fears about her chosen course of action. She felt so stupid now. The indecision and hesitation that plagued her seemed so foolish now, as if those feelings had belonged to another person. She realised her hands had clenched into fists that shook with the strength of her anger and she struggled to release the tension in her body.
[Sigh. Let me just roll over here a bit ... Ahhh. That's a bit better.]
The giant ant in front of her scrabbled in the dirt with his still undeveloped right side legs until he'd managed to tilt his carapace to present his wounded side to the roof.
[You gotta keep the dirt out of it, you know what I mean? Clean wound is a healthy wound. I mean, not healthy, but better. Actually, can monsters even get infections? Is their bacteria in the Dungeon? I've never thought of that. Is there monstrous bacteria?! That would terrifying, holy moly!]
...
[What were you saying again?]
It was infuriating, the way he always turned the conversation away from the darker paths. It was particularly maddening because even now she couldn't be sure he was doing it on purpose. He was so young. It was easy to forget that some times. The voice that echoed in her mind whenever they spoke belonged to a boy not yet in his full growth. She didn't know why she always forgot that about him.
[Oh, right. I remember now, the abandonment thing. Look, I really think if you want to make that argument, you're talking to the wrong species, if you take my meaning.]
He gestured to himself with all six legs, though three of them were smaller than the others, making the motion rather lopsided.
[I'm an ant. Well, I'm an ant now, I suppose. Family is everything to us. I mean, everything. If you told any ant here that you walked out on the village in order to be with your family and you felt bad about it, they'd look at you like you were defective. Then they'd probably insist that you get some sleep. We're big on that here. Which reminds me.]
There was a brief pause in the conversation as Anthony grew still, his antennae sweeping around the swarming ants around them. Then each of those ants froze in place for a fraction of second before resuming what they were doing, except now with a good dose of nervous energy added into the mix. After spending enough time amongst the ants, it wasn't too hard to pick up on a few of their emotional tells. The erratic, soft clacks of the mandibles, the incessant antennae cleaning and frequent flexing of the legs were all tells of a nervous ant.
[What did you say to them?] she asked.
[Just reminded them that rest is mandatory.]
Morrelia felt a laugh bubble up in her chest.
[You have to mandate rest periods?]
[Absolutely. Even then we get rebels who try and skip it sometimes.]
[What happens to them?]
[Dark things. I would rather not speak of it. Let us get back to your problems. You went to be with your father and mother. That's fine and totally the right thing to do. Could you have asked your dad to not almost cut me in half? Sure, I'd have liked it if you did. But you've done the next best thing by the sounds of it. You're absolutely sure he won't take the field if you're our prisoner?]
[So long as you get the message out that I'll be killed should he do so. My mother ordered that he bring me back alive, which means he can't take any action that would get me killed.]
[Because it's an order? You don't think he'd refuse to take the field just because you're his daughter?]
She hesitated, which told Anthony what he needed to know.
[Yeouch. That's rough.]
[He might and he might not,] Morrelia slumped over. [His duty is very important to him. I'm not saying that family isn't, but he has thousands of people, thousands of families to consider when making decisions. He takes that seriously.]
The ant nodded.
[A lack of selfishness. A strong ant-like trait that we respect. I suppose that order might turn into a relief for him. Now he has no reason to refuse to accede, given that it allows him to spare his daughter as well as follow orders. Wait a second... did you say your mother gave the orders? Your mum is even stronger than your dad?! What is up with your family?!]
Morrelia could only shrug helplessly.
[I didn't even realise how strong they were growing up. It just seemed normal to my brother and I.]
[You have a brother?]
The old and familiar pain stirred up.
[I had a brother.]
An antenna came down and patted her on the head.
[I'm sorry for your loss. The loss of a sibling is a painful thing. I have lost many in this lifetime and each of them stings in their own way.]
[I suppose I never thought about that. Each of you are related, aren't you? Siblings from the same parent.]
[Technically some of the Colony members are my nieces now that we have more than one Queen, but I rather just think of them all as siblings. There's no need for a generational hierarchy in the Colony.]
Morrelia was sceptical.
[Don't they call you the 'Eldest' and listen to you because you're technically the first of them? Sounds like a hierarchy already exists.]
[That's on them! I had nothing to do with that, and frankly I regret that it turned out this way. I was just a regular ant back in the day, one face in the crowd, and I liked it. Now I have all sorts of nonsense to deal with.]
For some reason he glared and snapped his mandibles at the roof as he spoke. It was a little ridiculous and Morrelia felt the tension drain out of her.
[I'm ready, you can take me to my cell now.] She levered herself to her feet.
Anthony flicked an antenna.
[Meh. We'll put you in Enid's rooms. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. She brews a good cup of tea as well, or so I'm told. Nice to catch up Morrelia. Don't be a stranger. Provided your family doesn't keep trying to kill us, I suppose.]
-x-X-x-
Alberton and Titus stood in grim silence as they awaited the emissary of the Colony to approach. The elderly woman looked the same as she had before, her expression the same resigned weariness that she had borne the first time they had met.
"I apologise for making you wait," she greeted them, "my old bones aren't as nimble as they once were."
Titus was in no mood for pleasantries.
"My daughter," he ground out, "does she still live?"
If Enid was surprised by his coarse attitude, she did not show it.
"She is still alive, of course she is. She spent many weeks with us helping the survivors of the Garralosh wave. I personally count her as a friend and would not see her come to harm."
It was such an infinitesimal change that only Alberton, through his long years working alongside his commander, saw the release of tension in Titus when he learned that Morrelia had not perished during the battle. Ever since his daughter had berserked and charged headfirst into the enemy lines he'd been wound as tight as a void-steel trap.
"What do you desire in exchange for the safe return of the prisoner?" he asked, his voice stiff.
Enid paused.
"You desire a prisoner exchange? Pardon my rudeness, but I do not believe you have captured any of our people..." she left a deliberate gap, "... alive."
It was true. On campaign against the monsters, the Legionem Abyssi did not take prisoners. Never had, never would.
"Can you offer a reprieve? Leave the Colony alone for a period of months? The ants would be more than willing to accommodate such an offer," Enid said.
Alberton grimaced, after even just two months, these ants would have multiplied into the millions. Multiple Legions would need to be deployed, probably even golems and praetorians. Such an expensive campaign would drain them of precious resources at a time when they couldn't afford it. Besides which, the Loremaster glanced at Titus.
"I will not entertain anything that goes counter to my orders," Titus stated flatly. "We have come here to exterminate this threat and that is what we intend to do."
Enid nodded in understanding.
"Although I hate to say it, that doesn't give the Colony much reason to continue to keep your daughter alive though, does it commander?" she pointed out. "There must be a point at which your duty and your familial affection can intersect, don't you think?"
"You're threatening her life?" Alberton demanded, "didn't you say moments ago that she was your friend?"
"She IS a friend," Enid insisted, "to me and many others in Renewal. But the Colony will make any decisions regarding her safety. They are fighting for their existence because of you. The idea that they would baulk at them killing a prisoner when you slaughter every one of them you get your hands on is laughable."
Though she tried to hide it, the contempt she felt for their actions seeped into her voice as she spoke.
"You would weigh the lives of monsters against those of humans?" Alberton scoffed. "And then expect us to do the same?"
"You would give no weight to the lives of monsters, and then expect them to treat you differently?" Enid countered.
"Enough," Titus growled and the controlled rage in the man's voice was enough to silence the others in an instant. "No more games, Enid Ruther. You are a skilled negotiator and I have not the patience for this dance. State your terms."
When he wasn't actively holding himself back, the power of the commander rolled off him in waves and Enid needed a moment to steel herself before she spoke. With Morrelia's help, they had agreed on what the arrangement should be long before she had walked out to parley, but it was necessary that they create some form of illusion to protect the girl.
"The Colony will keep your daughter alive so long as you, commander Titus, do not take the field for the remainder of this battle. Should your forces be victorious, you find her within the nest, safely ensconced in my rooms. Should you pull back for whatever reason, send an emissary and she will be returned to you."
Alberton was troubled. This offer implied that the enemy was confident they would be able to hold the Legion at bay until circ.u.mstances forced them to fall back. This meant the Colony was as keenly aware of the approaching wave as they were. Maintaining a siege in the second strata would be impossible. Once these tunnels became flooded with demons, they would be forced to retreat. More than that, he was worried of the growing tree-kin presence in the tunnels below. Scouts reported that the forest spread further by the hour and movement had been spotted within several times. Most likely, the grove-keeper was already awake and the others wouldn't be far behind. The Loremaster inwardly cursed. That infernal tree would hound them any chance it got. How unlucky they had stumbled on a root stem out here in the middle of nowhere. The odds of it were so small he almost developed a headache just thinking about it.
"If I do not take the field, more of my soldiers will die in order to see that those living on the surface do so in peace," Titus said.
"I live on the surface, right next to the biggest anthill I've ever seen and I'm doing just fine," Enid replied.
"My people will still die."
"Not if you turn around and leave."
"You know I can't do that."
"Then you must make a choice, commander. Will you sacrifice the lives of your soldiers in order to save one of them? It's not a decision a leader would make," Enid sighed, "but it's one that a father might."
If Morrelia was right, Titus had little choice in the matter at all. His orders were clear and he had to follow them. Even if he was willing to sacrifice his daughter, which he likely wasn't, he would have to agree to their terms. The end result was that due to Morrelia's action, innocent soldiers would die who might otherwise have lived. A hard choice, but one that may have saved hundreds of thousands of Colony members.
Alberton was about to speak, but Titus cut him off.
"I agree," he rumbled.
Having said his piece, the commander nodded stiffly to Enid and turned on his heel to march back to his camp. Caught flat footed, Alberton stumbled a little before he too turned and caught up to his friend.
"Are you sure about this, old friend?" the Loremaster asked. "Do you really believe that they will hold to their end of this arrangement?"
"I believe Enid Ruther to be an honourable woman," Titus replied, "this is the best chance I have to ensure that my child is returned to me." His voice quietened. "I cannot lose her too, Alberton. I just can't."
Only when he heard those words did Alberton understand the true depth of the struggle that took place inside his commander. The loss of his first child had cut the man in a way that had never healed, though he hid it far too well. Should his daughter die, the man considered throughout the Legion to be unbreakable may crack like a fragile egg, never to come back together.
-x-X-x-
Ah! It's nice to have fully grown legs again. Like, just being able to walk normally is such a sweet thing. Only took a few hours too. There are advantages to being a monster, don't let me say that there aren't. Heck, if you ask me, I'd prefer monster every time! Which is probably exactly why the bearded bozo picked up my soul for this gig in the first place. Still, if I'd had this level of healing in my past life, I'd have missed a lot less meals. Which might have helped with the whole starvation situation.
Ah well.
No point crying over spilt... life. Got a whole new family with their lives on the line, and it's time to come good. Waving one antenna through the air I get a sense of the mood in the crowd of ants gathered outside the second gate. Despite the impending battle, or perhaps because of the impending battle, the general feeling is positive. My siblings are so packed full of fighting spirit they practically vibrate in place. I don't know why I even bother to check anymore, it's more of a reflex than something that I actually need to do. Trickling through the Vestibule, the whispered will of the Colony is always there within my thoughts, inescapable and inevitable. I know what they want. They tell me, all the time. I can hear the ants defending against the golgari just as well as the Queens deep within the nest. Sometimes I forget that it's not the normal for me to know these things and I have to consciously remind myself what it is that I'm hearing. It's a bit weird but I'm getting the hang of it. If it gets worse in my next evolution though, it'll get annoying.
The other thing that rings alarms to my senses is the concentration of mana. The speed of the rise towards the last wave was much faster in the last few days and we've hit that point already. Every hour it gets higher. The shadows are so thick you could spread them on toast. Even this high up in the strata, the stink of death is starting to creep into everything. I mean, it's not really a smell, but the sickly taint of death mana is starting to permeate the air and stick to everything it touches. I hope they're cleaning it out of the brood chambers, we don't want the young getting exposed to this stuff, it's nasty.
Before too long a full blast wave is going to kick off and the council has agreed that the Legion and golgari are unlikely to want to pursue their siege with an infinite number of crazed monsters flooding the tunnels. Heck, if we ended up holding them out of the nest, their encirclement would end up protecting us rather than hurting us. Given the time frame involved, it looks like they have enough of a window for one big push to try and crack the gates before they run out of time. Since the last attack, we've had almost six hours of tense quiet in the nest. Our enemies have all pulled back and I suspect they are gathering their strength and coordinating their plans for an all-out assault.
Naturally, the Colony has not wasted that time. If the enemy is going to give us an opportunity to get some work done, then we ants aren't going to hold back. The carvers have gone absolutely ballistic, swarming all over the place in a frenzy of mandibles and earth mana. It was quite a sight to see. One second, you'd be looking at a stretch of tunnel, the next it would be filled with ants crammed together like sardines in a can. After ten minutes of furious work they'd vanish, leaving behind a reinforced tunnel with choke points, traps, hardened walls, embedded steel stakes and pristine carvings engraved in the stone.
WHY THE CARVINGS?!
I wanted to yell at them but they were gone so quickly, I didn't get a chance! Off to their next assignment. Now I sit outside the second gate, awaiting the resumption of the fighting. I doubt it'll be long, I can already sense the mana stirring at the end of the tunnel.
"I still think we shouldn't have abandoned the first gate," Vibrant interrupts my thoughts, "it was a great gate! Very shiny and metal and it must have taken so long to build. I know that the carvers worked on it for ages! Think about all that work going to waste, it isn't right! The second gate is bigger though... and shinier! Why is it more shiny? Is it the metal? I bet it's the metal. Do you think it's the metal? Maybe they polished it. I wonder if polishing the gate makes it stronger in some way. Does magic slide off it? It probably doesn't. Do you know -"
"Gah! Vibrant! Can you hold it in for a minute or two? My antennae feel like they're about to fall off!"
"No, I can't."
... At least she's honest.
"You've been like this since you were a larvae, I can't be surprised about it now," I sigh. "Just try and not die, alright? These guys pack some serious heat, I nearly got carved in half and your carapace is weak as paper compared to mine, so be careful."
"It is not!" she protests, "I've upgraded my carapace heavily I'll have you know!"
"Didn't you get some mutation that made it lighter so you could run faster?"
"... no."
"That's what I thought. Just don't get killed, alright? It's going to be hard to make use of your speed out here in the crush."
"Kay-kay, Eldest. I'll be careful."
I still feel like I'm herding children half the time with the Colony, even if most of them are smarter than me. Good thing I'm not fighting on the same front as Leeroy. I'd have probably smashed her armour to pieces through sheer force of thwacking.
"Movement down the tunnel!" I smell someone call down the tunnel and in a moment I see Burke running back through the darkness.
"I think they're coming, Eldest."
"Of course they are," I tell her, "what the heck else were they going to do? Leave us alone?"
Around me an elite force of thousands of the Colony's finest stirs, peppered amongst them the human reinforcements of the village with their antmancers, including the stupid priest. If the Legion wants to break through here and into the nest, they're going to have to pay a heavy price. I'll make sure of it.
-x-X-x-
Granin sighed and scratched at the solid granite covering his leg. He could feel his hands against the stone as if it were a part of his own body, a product of the fusion process he'd experienced in his youth. He'd never regretted choosing the humble ore that now coated his body. Granite was common as mud, resistant to weathering and hard to grind down. It was the same kind of stubborn that he was and he liked how much it suited him just as much as he liked the message it sent.
Too many flaunted their wealth and connections, using the sacred tradition of bonding to the stone as a means to differentiate themselves from their fellow golgari. He found it distasteful. It was another sign of the degradation, the rot, that had sunk into the Empire of Stone through the centuries. Whenever they saw him, whenever those elites were forced to turn their gaze on his skin, he was slapping them in the face. He could see the distaste in their eyes, see the sneer that was born in the corner of their lips. Though he wouldn't admit it, certainly not at his advanced age, he took a childlike glee in rubbing their faces in it. In forcing them to look at how the rest of them lived.
Which was why, when summoned to stand before the High Blade, he took particular pleasure in scratching his leg and making no effort to conceal the boredom that he felt at being forced to stand and wait for his 'betters' to notice him. At least it gave him a little time to reflect.
He'd had to admit that he'd been right to trust his instincts with Anthony. That boy showed tremendous promise for a monster and had overcome everything Pangera had thrown at him so far. What he'd seen of the Colony so far from this conflict had impressed him to no end. There was clearly great potential in the ant-strain of monsters that had gone unexplored all this time. Granin couldn't fault the researchers who'd gone before him though, he himself had overlooked them despite dedicating his research within the Cult of the Worm to other sidelined species.
If Anthony managed to survive and evolve another two or three times, his true potential would be unveiled. Thinking about it, the ambitions that Granin had thought buried with his youth ignited within him once again. The dream of every cult member was to create or mentor the final ancient and complete the circle. This had been their mission since the mission had been handed down to them by the Great Worm itself. Like all new cult members, Granin had yearned for that glory and devoted long hours to scouring books and roaming the Dungeon in search of overlooked, under-researched or unseen specimens. Whilst he'd contributed well above the average for a cult member and experienced many great successes, the dream had eventually died out in him.
Only for a strange ant to stumble into his path and open his eyes to new possibilities and a future that he had given up on seeing within his lifetime. At times he regretted not going with his younger Triad members when Anthony had escaped. He had decided at the time that he would rather stand alongside his people for the trials that were to come, but every day his people seemed to find a new way to let him know that they didn't want him there.
A few metres away, the warrior caste muttered amongst themselves in a loose circle around the High Blade. Their glorious leader listened to all of it with a pensive frown on his face, as if anything that was being said was in any way relevant. Granin doubted they had anything to say that hadn't already been chewed over a hundred times. Despite spending golgari blood like water, they were no closer to achieving their goal and they were running out of time. All for the pride of the clans.
"Shaper Lazus, the High Blade wishes to speak with you."
Finally they have time for him. He still isn't sure why they insist on speaking to him at all. They have their own clan aligned Shapers, loyal to the house of Balta, why call on someone like him? Because of Anthony, obviously, but he wasn't sure what it was about his connection to Anthony that interested them so much.
"I am here," Granin announced himself, making a point of openly displaying his granite skin as he saluted. "What is your will?"
The High Blade stared hard at him, disgust and contempt clear on his face for all to see. Granin nearly laughed out loud but managed to stifle it in his chest. If he only knew Granin felt the exact same about him, how would he react? He'd probably cut off the Shaper's head, to be honest.
"It is good to see you have survived the hardsh.i.p.s of this expedition," Kooranon Balta intoned in the needlessly formal way of the nobility. "You have proven to be a survivor."
"Shapers learn to adapt and survive in situations that don't allow us control. The Dungeon does not bend to our will from birth, so we learn to manage it," Granin replied.
Muttering and growls rose from the warriors around him for the implied insult to their caste. Every citizen of the Empire hopped when the warriors said jump. They truly were coddled from the day they were born. Though usually Granin would put some effort into concealing his jabs, he must be more bored with living than he thought. Insulting warriors to their face was a quick way to get into an honour duel. Totally fair one on one combat, with no magic allowed...
Surprisingly, the High Blade raised a hand and silenced those around him in an instant.
"You are bold," he observed, "perhaps foolishly so."
"With respect," Granin nodded, "I think I'm merely getting old. One tends to lose their subtlety as one ages."
"I have found the same. Perhaps I would be able to speak with you directly then."
He waved a hand and an adjutant brought a chair over in a rush, placing it behind the noble and inviting him to sit with a quiet "by your will". With his eyes still on Granin, Kooranon sat, placing his sheathed blade across his knees. The Shaper noted wryly that no seat was offered to him. Typical bloody nobles.
"You have a relationship with the reincarnated creature, do you not? He was under your care during his stay with the Shapers?"
"He was. I wouldn't say we had a relationship, but we spoke many times."
The noble's eyes glittered.
"That is good," he said, "I had hoped for as much. You may be fit to serve the purpose I have in mind then."
Granin had a bad feeling about this.
"May I know what the nature of service will be?" he asked, not expecting an answer.
Surprisingly, the High Blade elaborated.
"I have made no secret of my desire for the creature to die by my hand. It is necessary to expunge the shame that filth has placed on my house. Sadly, breaking down this nest and slaughtering all within has proven more challenging than anticipated, and, strange as it might be, the possibility that the wave will force us to retreat before the work can be completed has become very real."
He leaned forward, his hands caressing the sheath of the blade he held unconsciously.
"This is unacceptable."
The unbridled anger that burned in the noble was intense and the power of the man began to leak out, oppressing Granin where he stood. As much as he looked down on the warrior, his level was the real deal.
"So I have been forced to consider an alternate strategy to destroy the pest. I will use you as bait and demand the beast meet me in combat outside the gate. Should it refuse, I will cut off your head in full view of the nest and the siege will resume."
Somehow, Granin doubted this was in line with what the High Blade had no doubt promised his allies in the Legion, but it wouldn't matter to him. Clan honour was the only honour that truly mattered to the Blades.
"Typical," he sighed.
A sharp blow cracked the stone on the back of his head and he knew no more.
-x-X-x-
I can already hear the fighting. The sounds of clashing steel and snapping mandibles tug at my claws and I have to force myself to resist charging blindly into the fray like a shinier, much smarter Leeroy. Keeping myself so still has never been so hard before. Then again, the only member of my family that I know was exposed to danger in my previous life was myself. In Pangera, I have thousands of siblings exposed to terrible danger almost every day. It's enough to drive a person nuts.
The Vestibule makes my situation even worse, but if I focus then I can filter out their whispers.
We have a plan and I'm going to stick to it. When the fighting gets hot here at the gate, I'm going to be right in the thick of it, which is where I want to be. At the front gate, the lead force of a few thousand is busy putting the Legion through their paces using all of the same tricks and tactics that we spent on them the first time around. River of acid, magic barrage, the works. They'll have to fight their way through all of it a second time before they even get through the first gate. By the time they reach me here, I'm hoping that they'll be all tuckered out and want to quit and go home.
More likely they'll be mad as hell and wanting to carve me into itty bitty pieces but at the very least they'll have worked to get here. The ants and humans on this side of the picture need every edge we can get.
"How confident are you, Eldest?" Advant asks.
The powerful soldier stands next to me in the dark, her antennae twitching in a rarely seen sign of nerves.
"We're going to win," I tell her with certainty, "we're ants. What can they possibly do against us?"
"They've managed to bottle us up in our nest and destroy the outer gate."
"Bah. Just a flesh wound."
"You nearly got cut in half."
"As I said, just a flesh wound."
"Getting cut in half is just a flesh wound?"
"I'm perfectly fine now aren't I?"
A beat.
"So you're saying the Colony might get cut in half but we'll heal eventually?"
"No! I'm saying we'll be fine!"
...
"I think so too."
All around us the packed ants of the Colony stir. It's not like we can keep our scent conversation private from them, not that I felt any need. I truly believe that we will win. My family has been incredible from the moment I found them in this life and I refuse to believe they won't overcome this challenge just like they have every other.
BOOM!
A thunderous impact roars down the tunnel as the gates buckle on their hinges. A moment later, a flood of ants begins to pour through the gap between the two doors, a gap that rapidly widens as more of my siblings push it open as they retreat. It looks like the line has buckled at the first gate, a bit faster than expected. No matter.
Injured soldiers and scouts supported by their still healthy allies as the retreat occurs in swift silence. When they reach us, the lines part in unison to allow the wounded through, medics already rushing forward to work their magic. The air is tense now as we watch and wait for the enemy to show their faces. It takes longer than I expect, they must be being cautious in the extreme. Understandable, considering this is their big push. If they fail on this assault, they probably won't be able to muster another before the wave hits.
After ten minutes, I see the gate buckle as armoured figures appear and begin to force them open, teams bracing their shoulders against the metal and pushing with raw physical strength. The gate Titus cut into is in particularly bad shape. That mad man managed to cut through the damn thing from a hundred metres away. I hope the Legion doesn't have many more like him tucked away somewhere, because just one is more than the entire Colony can handle at the moment.
Another ten minutes pass in tense silence as the legionaries force open gates and reassemble themselves into the disciplined, impenetrable ranks that we have come to know them for. Our side watches it all happen, unwilling to be baited into a fight other than the one we've prepared for. These buggers are crafty. They looked all disorganised as they were moving through the gate, but I wager if we'd try to charge over we'd have found them snapped into neat ranks in a matter of moments.
[How are you holding up there Priest?]
In a rare showing of charity toward the crazy, one-armed human I reach out to him with my mind and initiate a conversation. Inwardly, I brace myself for what may come of it. If he doesn't shout at me, I'll take it as a win. To my shock, the priest sounds incredibly lucid.
[I am well, Great One. My brethren and I eagerly await the coming contest. We hope that in a few hours, the Colony will be freed from this threat and able to once more pursue its grand destiny.]
I mean. He sounds calm, but the words are about as batty as I'd expected.
[Any idea what sort of destiny you have in mind?]
I'm sort of curious to learn what he thinks this rapidly swelling pile of monster ants is going to amount to.
[I have no idea,] he surprises me instead. [It is not for me to guess or influence you, or the Colony, in any direction in particular. Such a thing would be sacrilege. We will wait and watch as we tread upon the path that you set before our feet. That is our mission.]
[Fair enough I suppose. I like that you don't intend to interfere with the Colony. I don't think that would go down too well. Oh, right! I forgot you can smell our pheromone language now. How's that going for you?]
[It is wonderful. I cannot wait until I am able to communicate with a scent of my own.]
That will be... interesting. How will the scent be produced? I'm going to assume 'magic' and not some sort of extreme diet leading to eloquent flatulence.
Up ahead, the Legion has begun their advance, marching toward us with measured steps that shake the ground with their uniform tread. It's time.
[Thanks for the chat Beyn. We are counting on your guys in this battle. Do your best to keep your people alive.]
[I will, Great One. May you also fight well and survive into the new day.]
Maybe I was wrong about Beyn being a lunatic. During that conversation he was cool as a cuc.u.mber. Maybe he's turned over a new leaf and calmed himself down? That's be a welcome change, to be sure. Let's see. Interested in this 'new Beyn', I lift up my head and survey the massed forces of the Colony, scanning for a sign of the priest. I know which direction he is after the mind connection... just need to.. Ah! There he is.
He's actually a little hard to miss, standing atop a rock. I didn't notice him at first because rather than wearing his usual robes, he is almost totally n.a.k.e.d, his bare and pale skin revealed for all to see. In his one good hand he is holding a gnarled staff with an ant head carved on the top, which he is brandishing at the oncoming Legion. From his mouth, an endless stream of both vile curses and foam are directed toward the enemy as his eyes bulge with the fervour of his rage.
You know what? This makes more sense to me. This is fine.
-x-X-x-
As the approaching wall of legionaries draws closer, I perform a final check to make sure everything is ready for the battle to come. Do I have a giant ape? Check. Crazy shadow blob of unending horror? Check. Weird eyeball dude? Check. Omni-elemental construct fired up and ready to go? Check. Even my spiffy diamond carapace is back to full shininess. I couldn't possibly be more ready to deal out the pain.
[Tiny, you remember what you need to do?] I ask.
The big bat-faced gorilla turns to look down at me and nods slowly, a broad grin splitting his face.
[Tiny smash,] he declares confidently, one car tire sized paw patting himself on the chest.
With his patchwork armour and helmet strapped on, he makes quite the intimidating sight. Smithant outdid herself when slapping this stuff together, her work has kept the big fella's injuries down to an almost unheard of level. He's going to need every bit of that protection for this one, as there is simply no retreat. We fight until the fight is won.
[How about you Crinis? Are you going to be alright?]
[I would rather stay by your side, Master,] she complains yet again.
[You'll be able to inflict far more punishment on the enemy from where you are rather than hanging on the back of my carapace. There's no avoiding the danger this time, we just need to dive in and hope for the best.]
[I understand, I simply worry about you. I will do my best to bring a swift end to this conflict.]
[Make sure you stay safe in there. When your supply of shadow flesh runs out, you need to retreat. That's the agreement, remember?]
[I know!]
I've been hassling her a bit over the plan for this battle, so I understand why she might be a bit frustrated. I've been doing all I can to try and make sure that my pets will survive the fight, but in Crinis' case, all she cares about is if I survive. Fortunately, I get to make the final call.
[How about you Invidia? You ready to cut loose?]
The eyeball is hovering further back towards the gate amongst the other mages of the Colony, further back than the front-liners like myself and Tiny. Going to need to rely on his firepower pretty heavily if we want to make it through this. The Legion is going to put a big target on him for sure and I expect a ton of magic and arrow fire to go his way once the fighting gets thick.
[I am alwaysssss ready. They wantsss to take what we have? I envy their optimisssssm.]
Invida is throwing shade at the Legion now? Colour me surprised. Just goes to show that if you try hard enough, you can even tick off a greed demon. I have to give our enemies their due, they have been working hard. The massed ranks of the Legion begin to step forward with their slow, measured tread and immediately the long range acid artillery kicks into gear. Huge, dense arcing jets of sizzling acid fly overhead, the force of the shots so powerful that even the spray and drizzle lands in front of me. The artillery squad have really been amping up their Skill levels during these battles and the effects are clearly visible here. As I watch the burning liquid splash against the golden layers of the enemy shields, I nervously check my omni-elemental construct once more.
I've decided to make the decision to lean on this new-fangled piece of technology for this battle. Normally, I'd be winding up a massive gravity bomb and chucking it at the Legion, but I don't think I should in this fight. Although the bomb does a great job of causing chaos and inflicting the occasional casualty, as well as serving the intended purpose of wearing down the barriers the Legion puts up, taxing their mages and soldiers alike. It's a great plan and I loved it, but this fight isn't like the others. This is going to be a grind. This is going to be a no holds barred head-butting contest until one side blinks. The bomb is a great piece of work, but it tires out my brains to the point that even with the Vestibule refilling my tank it takes a while to get back to full strength and frankly, I wasn't sure it would be a good idea to knock myself out so hard at the beginning.
Practice with the new construct has continued whenever I have the chance and now I'm finally confident that each of my brains is prepped and knows what they are doing well enough that I can manage to use the thing effectively. My current setup is to have the main sub-brain focus on maintaining the construct whilst the two sub-brains operate the thing. The only problem with this is that none of the brains are quite up to the tasks they've been assigned on their own. Maintaining the construct and helping to create the desired mana types is too much for the larger sub-mind, which means my main mind needs to chip in and help. Similarly, the two smaller sub-minds aren't quite up to the task of producing and weaving the mana that comes out on their own, which means the main mind needs to pitch in and help.
Does it make much sense that I made the main mind the strongest and then only relied on it for biting and dodging whilst the smaller, weaker sub-minds have to do the heavy lifting magic wise? It doesn't does it? Ah well. It's not easy, but if I can maintain the delicate balance of ducking in with my main brain to help out when needed then it all comes together to a reasonable degree. It's not perfect, but it's usable. If fact, the time to put it to the test has finally arrived. I absentmindedly raise my abdomen to start aiming my own acid barrage toward the oncoming Legionaries whilst my focus turns inward. My main sub-mind is already straining under the pressure so I jump in to aid it as the two sub-minds begin to operate the construct. Raw mana flows from my core which is quickly replenished by the flow pouring up through my legs, before splitting into halves and entering the many layered sphere at two separate points. Now the magic really begins. As each segment of the construct rotates in its own direction, the sub-minds hold onto the flow of mana that they control and direct it carefully through a labyrinthine route that only they can see. As the energy traverses the construct, it begins to change, taking on the properties of the desired elements and then rising through the layers once more to exit, ready to be shaped.
My main mind leaps to work controlling the flow of mana as the two sub-minds grasp hold of the new mana and begin to shape it into spells.
Nothing too complicated to start with, this is already hard enough without getting too crazy. The two types of mana I've produced are lava (the combination of fire and earth) and air. With the lava, I'm forming a simple lava bolt, the most basic of all spells. The lava mana is tricky to work with. It's turbulent and broiling. Too hot to handle, in a way. With the air mana, I create something akin to the spear shape. Air acts very differently to the other types of mana, which makes sense as it isn't as solid as they are. The spear isn't exactly something that I'll throw at the enemy, creating a pointy tornado and flinging it about isn't really something I can do (yet). Instead, it will act more like a wind tunnel, drawing air in one side, accelerating it and then flinging it out the other side.
Think of it as a booster tunnel that I want to shoot lava through. Because... that's exactly what it is.
Let 'em fly!
The lava bolts are about the size of my eye, the molten oozing liquid burns with a fierce energy and I feel a little relief from the sub-brains as the spells are finally pulled from their grasp. Once the orbs of lava enter the wind tunnels, they shoot forward faster than I can track with my eyes, only to crack into the Legion barriers over a hundred metres away where they steam and sizzle before I realise it.
That's tasty!
-x-X-x-
Coolant looked out from her perch next to the upper sally port of the great gate and felt nothing but confusion.
"Do you want to go tell him, or should I?" she said to Sloan who was clinging to the wall next to her.
The general shook her head, bewildered.
"I mean. They have to know, right? There's no chance that they don't know."
"I assume they know. I mean, what are the odds the two forces aren't communicating to this extent?"
"Almost none, surely. Such a lack of organisation in our foes would throw our plans way out."
"Hasn't this thrown them way out anyway?"
Sloan hesitated.
"That's... true."
The two of them looked out in silence for a few more moments at the totally unexpected scene before them.
"What do you think we should do?" Coolant asked, her scent as calm and unruffled as it always was.
"I don't know!" Sloan fretted. Why would these idiots perform this sort of moronic action now of all times? It didn't make any sense!
Once again that strange, undirected mental communication washed out over them, rippling through the ambient mana in the air and into their heads.
[Bring the reincarnated one here, or this one, a friend of that creature, will die.]
Just inside the first gate, a procession of golgari stood with one of their own forced to kneel on the ground at sword point whilst an elaborately armoured figure reclined in a chair next to him, watching all that occurred with an expression of detached boredom. Next to them a trio of mages worked together, supposedly sending out the mind magic communications.
"They have to mean the Eldest... Who else could they possibly want?" Coolant wondered with some interest.
"I have no idea, but the Eldest isn't here. There is almost a zero percent chance that they don't know that! Surely!" Sloan said. "... We have to talk to them."
"What, why?" Coolant asked. In her opinion, if one of the golgari wanted to kill another golgari for some reason, why not let them do it? One less for them to fight when they made a push for the gate.
"If the Eldest is involved, there might be some element at play that we don't understand," Sloan sighed. "Anytime something weird happens, it's usually to do with the Eldest."
Coolant could only nod to that. It was true. For whatever reason, the Eldest gobbled down trouble like a Queen taking in Biomass. The end result was something good, but the appetite appeared to be endless.
"So you want me to reach out to them?" Coolant offered. "I'll need to move a little closer, I don't think I can extend a mind bridge that far."
"I'll arrange an escort."
The general scuttled away and had a thousand ants ready to escort the mage closer to the enemy in a matter of seconds. Coolant had a thought though.
"Do you think a thousand may send the wrong message?"
"What do you mean?"
"They have a total of.." she counted quickly, "eight golgari over there. If we walk closer with a thousand, might they think they are being attacked?"
"You think a thousand is too many?" Sloan rubbed the top of her head with an antennae. A thousand didn't feel like many to her. Then again, she was an ant. "I'll send a hundred."
The mage nodded. A hundred should be fine. Shortly thereafter a procession of a hundred and one ants cautiously advanced toward the golgari delegation, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Sloan had considered things carefully and the delegation contained a healthy mix of mages, for raising shields, scouts, for detecting foul play, and soldiers, to hold the line in the event the others needed to retreat. Once they had covered half the ground toward the first gate, they very obviously stopped and parked themselves for a moment. Acting with great caution, Coolant wove together a mind bridge and extended it toward the trio of mages in the golgari party.
[I greet you on behalf of the Colony,] she started off formally, [I have come to clarify exactly what it is that you want.]
The stone-people all communicated with each other for a long moment before a reply came back.
[The reincarnated ant. We want you to bring them here so that they may duel the High Blade Balta. He wishes to expunge the shame the creature has cast upon his house with his own hand.]
Coolant was rather taken aback by this. This guy came all the way out here chasing the Eldest? For what? Some imagined insult? She couldn't possibly comprehend the meaning behind such actions, but she didn't let her confusion show. True to her name, she remained calm.
[When you refer to the 'reincarnated one', you refer to the member of our family who was captured by your people? Large? Shiny carapace?] Better to be sure.
More conferring.
[That is correct.]
Nice to have that confirmed.
[You are aware that the individual you refer to is currently engaged in fighting your allies on the other side of the nest?]
[We are.]
...
[It will be difficult to bring the one you want here to this place,] Coolant said, which was putting it mildly. There was battle going on! Did they forget that?
[We believe the reincarnated one will not want this individual to perish. His name is Granin and he knew the monster we want quite well.]
In all likelihood the Eldest would not want this golgari to die. Surely not even these invaders would be so foolish as to try a gambit such as this if they weren't at least somewhat competent. On the other claw, there was precious little chance the Eldest would be able to extricate themself from the battle with the Legion. Feeling somewhat deflated, Coolant bade the enemy farewell and returned to Sloan at the gate. She rapidly explained the situation to the general who pondered for a moment.
"We will need to consult those two. They might know something that can help sort this out."
-x-X-x-
It didn't take long to locate the two golgari advisors within the Colony. Corun and Torrina were anxiously awaiting news of the outcome in Enid's rooms. The Colony had been unwilling to allow the two to fight on the frontline, despite them putting forward numerous requests. In the end it was the Eldest himself who shot them down, relegating the pair to tea and biscuits with the mayor as the fight to determine their survival went on without them.
Needless to say, they were more than a little shocked to be summoned to the gate during the battle, and even more shocked to learn of the circ.u.mstances when they got there.
"By the granite gonads of my forefathers!" Corun swore. "Is that idiot noble seriously trying to fight an honour duel against a monster here and now?! With Granin's head on the line? This is madness!"
Torrina stared hard at the gate, as if her gaze were enough to pierce the hundreds of tons of metal that stood between her and her mentor.
"We have to save him," she turned to her fellow triad member, "we can't just leave him there."
The usually cold and distant Torrina was nowhere to be seen, replaced with someone whose eyes brimmed with fear. For once, the talented Shaper appeared to have no clue how she should proceed. Seeing the change in her, Corun drew quiet as he wracked his brain trying to find a solution.
[I have to tell you,] Coolant told them, [at the moment we have no intention of bringing the Eldest here to do battle with this person.]
Corun was taken aback by how direct the mage was being with him, but he couldn't support their decision when his mentor's life was on the line.
[I assure you], he pleaded, [Anthony would not want Granin to die!]
Coolant eyed him.
[They probably wouldn't,] she admitted, [but is the Eldest willing to sacrifice hundreds of their siblings in order to come here and fight to the death against a foe of unknown strength? Indeed, it would seem to be in the best interest of the Colony to take this decision away from the Eldest, and allow them to focus on the battle in front of them.]
[Is that how the Colony treats its oldest member now?] Corun asked. [You control Anthony and make decisions for him?]
[Do not presume to judge how we treat members of our own family!] the usually placid mage displayed her rising anger in her furious tone, [the Eldest is fighting for the survival of our entire species. What is one golgari, regardless of who, against that?]
As much as he wanted to argue, Corun could not tell Coolant that she was wrong. He wrestled with himself for a moment before his shoulders slumped in defeat.
[Is there really nothing we can do?] he pleaded. [Granin has done so much for Anthony. It's not right that we would abandon him.]
He brightened as an idea struck him.
[You could let me go,] he said, [perhaps they would take me instead. I could reason with them, or fight in Anthony's place.]
Torrina had kept her mind attuned to the conversation, listening with stone faced silence as Corun tried to negotiate for the Colony to save her teacher, but she couldn't remain silent now.
[Corun, you mustn't!] she broke in, [you'd be cut down in a second!]
Her fellow triad member set his jaw.
"You can't be sure of that," he said out loud, "I'm stronger than you think."
"I know you're good, but that's a High Blade! In a one on one fight, you wouldn't stand a chance. If you get yourself killed, they'll kill Granin too, and I'll be the only one left."
The heartbreak of being the lone survivor of a triad was not something she was willing to bear, not when she could save at least one of the most important people in her life.
"Then what do you propose we do?" Corun hissed, his frustration bubbling up, "they won't get Anthony, and if nobody goes out there then Granin is as good as dead!"
"Please, calm yourselves," a new voice pierced the gloom that had descended over the two Shapers, "I may be able to assist in this matter."
Outside the gate, Balta was rapidly growing impatient.
"How much longer before they bring the beast here for me to slay?" he demanded.
"We do not know, High Blade," the leader of the Shaper triad managed to hide his exasperation and reply with proper deference. How could he possibly know?! These were ants he was negotiating with! Who knew how they would react to anything!
He was positively relieved when he realised there was movement at the gate once more, the giant, looming ant head split as one side of the gate was pushed open slightly and a figure emerged. It wasn't an ant, which was disappointing, but at least some form of response was coming their way. The mage could only hope it was enough to relieve the irritated noble's temper before he started taking it out on them.
Balta watched the distant person approach with hooded eyes, scanning for every detail his eyes could pick out. What he saw intrigued him. This was no ordinary messenger. Something about the way they moved told him that this person was high level. There was a confidence, a balance in every step that only those with true power possessed. From what the High Blade knew, there shouldn't be such a person here with these miserable ants. He resisted the urge to lean forward to see better so as not to give away his curiosity as he tried to gather more information.
There wasn't much to glean. The figure was shrouded in a dark robe and appeared to carry no weapons, with the hood pulled up to cover their face, it wasn't even possible to determine race or gender.
"Halt there," called the Shaper as the mystery person drew within twenty paces. "Reveal yourself and state your business."
The figure made no move to draw back their hood as they responded. The voice that emerged was steady and sure, confident and calm. When he heard it, the High Blade's eyes narrowed.
"I have come to negotiate, on behalf of my people."
There was a moment of pause before Balta himself replied.
"Who are 'your people'?" he demanded, "if you are an ant, you are surely a strange one. My demands are clear, bring me the abomination or this one dies."
He gestured without looking at the silent Granin who remained forced to his knees, tied and bound securely. The figure laughed quietly as they revealed their face.
"I am indeed, no member of the Colony," Grey said, "but the Folk have something to say regarding what is taking place here."
The wolf-like features of the representative struck the golgari dumb momentarily, except for Granin who chuckled through his gag. What in the name of the Great Worm is one the Folk doing here?! Not even he could have predicted this! Anthony truly did bring chaos wherever he went.
Almost against his will, Balta sat straighter when Grey revealed himself. The currents were shifting quickly beneath his feet and he struggled to hold his ground. He still needed to get what he wanted and he would not allow this turn of events to deny him!
"Your people hold no claim to this territory," he sneered, "and have no authority in these tunnels. Were I to cut you down where you stand, the Folk would have no ability to seek redress from me. You are obstructing us in prosecuting an extermination."
"Things are rarely so simple," Grey chided as he massaged his palms and forearms, "and never when the Dungeon is concerned. I have applied to have the Colony recognised as one of the New Races. The tribes deliberate as we speak."
"It will be years before they come to any sort of agreement," Balta scoffed, "why does this concern me."
"Because," Grey said, "it means I am within my rights to fight to defend this new race, according to the Laws of my people."
The wolf flexed his hands and from each finger snapped a wickedly gleaming claw several inches long.
"What are you proposing?" The High Blade asked as he eyed those edges.
"Well. I could take a position at the gate and carve your people apart by the dozens as they approach, dooming your expedition to failure..."
"Or," Balta grated.
"... or, you could accept me as a substitute for your duel," Grey smiled fiercely, his pointed teeth on display.
-x-X-x-
Spell after spell I flung toward the oncoming Legion soldiers, battering away at their layered bubbles of golden shields along with the rest of my siblings. Hundreds, thousands of projectiles and magical strikes rocket through the air, sometimes colliding before even reaching the target, to smash into the enemy defences which flash and burst with rippling waves of light with each connection. It was a dazzling sight to behold, not that I had the time to appreciate it. The return fire had begun. My sharpened reflexes and precognitive instincts keep me relatively safe from the barrage of arrows that crunch into the stone as if they've been fired out of a cannon. I am forced to constantly hop from side to side as my antennae tingled constantly, warning me of the projectiles directed at me.
I get the feeling the Legionaries are holding a grudge, or perhaps I just make too shiny of a target out here in the front of the Colony lines. My diamond carapace is so damn sparkly that the enemy just can't help but shoot at it. At least I'm serving my intended purpose and absorbing more than my fair share of the damage, keeping my siblings safer through this early part of the battle. It does throw off my concentration though, making it much harder to maintain my wind assisted lava assault. The need for my main mind to continuously pick up the slack for the other brains makes it hard to focus on dodging and casting at the same time. I decide to focus more on my spells, which means I get hit moments later.
Not a problem for the diamond carapace! Gweheheheh. Oh shoot!
Seeing me get hit with an arrow appears to have emboldened the Legion mages and snipers, at least, that's what it seems like since the wave of ordinance being sent my way has intensified. Settle down people! You need to find your chill! The carapace on the lower side of my body gets pelted with shards of stone as impacts crunch into the rock between my legs. I'm dancing the dance of my people, which turns out to be a frantic six-legged scramble back and forth whilst contorting my body into strange shapes and flinging spells. It can't look too dignified, but it's going to get the job done!
BOOM!
Aha! Invidia is finally in range to do his thing! Explosions begin to rock the tunnel, sending dust and stone flying into the air and causing trickles of loose soil to rain down from above as the impacts shake the stone itself. The balls of fire are spectacular as they blossom against the enemy shields, causing them to spark and ripple as the Legion continues their implacable advance. I can't help but be a little impressed with the indomitable and unyielding discipline of the Legion soldiers. We are pouring all the firepower that the Colony can muster down on their heads right now and they don't flinch. It must help that they're encased from head to toe in armour far better than anything we can make, but still, they're just humans. Compared to us ants, they're clearly lacking in many respects (legs) but even so they've pushed our backs to the wall.
As the Legion draws closer, it becomes harder and harder to dodge the incoming fire and I begin to take more damage than I would like as arrows and spells start to chip my precious carapace. Incremental damage will pile up over time and the closer the Legion gets, the stronger these shots are. Colony mages are doing their best to erect shields and take the sting out of our foe's magical barrage, but as the distance shortens they have much less time to work. Naturally, the same goes for us.
BOOM!
Holy smokes! The heat from that one nearly singed the hair off of my antennae. The glare of the light momentarily blinds me and I hop to one side before my vision is restored, trusting in my instincts to keep from taking an arrow through the eye. Not being able to blink really sucks at moments like this, I can't shield my vision even though I want to! I notice all around me the Soldiers are starting to loosen their joints and flex their mandibles as the ranks tighten. It won't be long now until the two sides collide for the first melee of this battle and it pays to ensure you aren't too tightly wound up before it happens. The ranks tighten and even my performative display of dodging becomes reduced in scale as I have less space to manoeuvre.
Working with the lava mana is too hard for my weary sub-brains right now, I need to switch over to something that's going to be more effective in close range. Limiting myself to the easier to work with base elements, I flip to water and fire. The two opposing elements don't play all that well together, but I suspect that they'll be more effective at impacting the battle in ways other than direct damage.
Sensing his moment is near, the armoured colossus that is Tiny draws himself up to his full height. Up to this moment he's just been parked on his backside behind me waiting impatiently for a chance to get into the action. I didn't want him to waste his charge so I ordered him to hold back in this initial phase. Rather than spend all of his fuel blasting the shields, I decided he'd be better off swinging his lightning fists in close combat and that moment has nearly arrived. Even from behind his gnarled and twisted helmet I can tell the great ape has a massive grin on his face as he clenches his hands in mighty fists and begins to punch the ground and air, eager to begin the fight.
Not much further to go now, only fifty metres between us.
The flurry of spells and projectiles is now so thick that mid-air collisions are detonating just as often as Invidia's explosions. Bright flares of light and bursts of acid fall everywhere between the two armies and dodging has become all but impossible now. With my two sub-brains having managed the process of starting to grind out the new mana forms, I squeeze myself back into formation fully, powerful soldiers on both sides, and then hunker down for the charge. Pelted by arrows and spells, our HP starts to fall immediately but none falter in their position, even for a second. Eyes as powerfully mutated as mine aren't enough to keep track of the sheer volume of firepower being thrown around and my antennae are overwhelmed with the feedback. Heat signals flare up and die every instant and the future sense is almost painful at the sheer amount of information it tries to cram into my head. The sound is deafening. Explosions crack and shake the rock, acid sizzles and arrows fizz through the air before they crunch into stone or carapace or bury themselves in soft earth.
It's overwhelming and for a few minutes is all I and my fellow front-line ants know as we sit still and wait for our moment.
I'm holding up better than most, thanks to my higher level of evolution and carapace, but even so, I'm grateful when I feel a cool healing touch spread over my back and then the rest of my exo-skeleton.
"Thanks for the heal!" I tell the medic hidden in an emergency trench just behind me, "but make sure the rest of the line gets a dose before I do!"
"No can do Eldest," the little ant tells me as she burrows herself back down to safety. "Everyone gets healed whenever we can get to them. We don't have the ability to set up a schedule."
The healers have really changed over the course of the conflict. No longer are they the timid creatures they once were. They know their job and they don't take no guff, even from me. Mother help any ant who tries to get between them and healing those that need it.
"Right you are," I say and shift my position slightly to ensure the trench is covered by my body.
That burst of healing works to counteract the damage I'd been taking and by the time it runs out I'm almost back to full again. Only thirty metres remain between the two sides. It won't be long now.
Then something unexpected happens. The ranks of the Legion, normally so uniform and unbreakable, split apart. The soldiers take brisk steps, shields and defensive formations maintained at all times as the column breaks into halves that press themselves against the wall to maximise the space between. It only makes sense if they're clearing the way for something...
"Something is coming!" I warn the ants around me and brace my legs into the ground.
"HUURAAAAAAA!!!" an inhuman bellow slices through the cacophony of sound in the tunnel and through the gap in the Legion lines storm creatures the likes of which I have never seen.
Swollen and misshapen, with no armour or weapons, but tough hides and gleaming claws, they look more like monsters than anything else. But something in their faces, something in their eyes, tells me that I'm wrong. Were these... people?!
"GRAAAAAAHHH!!"
Tiny doesn't care what they are, he's ready to fight. Unleashing his own devastating war cry, the giant ape slams his fists into the ground, shaking the stone beneath my feet. Whether it's my pet's rage or the collective instincts of the Colony, but in that one moment every one of us is up and charging, legs a blur as we pick up speed and race toward the monstrosities hurtling back at us. I can see the humans begin to emerge from their bunkers behind me, taking up positions spread throughout the second line of ants where they'll be protected from the worst of the fray, but I don't have much mind for them right now. Twin jets erupt from my mouth, one of flame and one of water, the liquid steaming and bubbling in an instant, creating a wave of searing steam in front of me. The front line of creatures screams in rage and pain before the two sides collide with an almighty CRASH.
"FOR THE COLONY!" I bellow.
"FOR THE COLONY!" comes the reply of thousands.
No more time to think. Blows crunch into my body and my mandibles open wide. Time to fight!
-x-X-x-
Whatever these things are, they're fast and they hit hard. The creature in front of me shrieks in rage as it presses through my screen of steaming hot... steam, and brings two massive hands down on my back in a devastating hammer blow. My legs buckle under the impact but barely manage to hold my body up as the diamond carapace and inner-plating does the work absorbing the blow. My mandibles are locked in position and I unleash them, feeling the coiled energy within unleash all at once in a mighty chomp!
The jagged edges of my jaws slice forward and the opponent in front of me screeches with pain. Yeah, you don't like that, do ya?! Ouch! Dammit, this guy is tougher than I gave him credit for, he recovered from the bite quickly and scr.a.p.ed his claws down my back. He was aiming for the antennae but my reflexes fired in time and I pushed forward into his chest. I don't have time to mess around with this guy! I channel my newly minted fire mana into my mandibles and they begin to glow white hot, heat rolling from them in waves as I reset the muscles in my face and lunge forward again.
CHOMP!
As strong a physical specimen as this weird hybrid is, it lacks the same level of protection that the regular Legionaries have and even without using my skill, the power of my musculature is enough to bite deep. The sizzling smell of roasting meat that fills the air is disgusting enough on its own and my opponent falls back before me. As much as I want to lunge forward for the finishing blow, I resist the urge and maintain my formation with the ants around me. If I go out too deep, I'll only get surrounded and end up needing my siblings to rush forward and bail me out, increasing the risks they have to face. Not worth it. Instead, I'll stand here and absorb my share of the punishment as we grind out this battle. This one's going in for the long haul.
The crush of bodies forces another hulking monstrosity in front of me in short enough order and I greet them with another burst of searing hot steam, which obviously goes down very well with my next customer. I follow up that opening salvo with another roasting hot chomp and get punched in the head for my trouble. Bare fists against my carapace turns out to be a bad idea though, who would have thought. The shock of the impact rattles the enemy long enough that I can lunge forward and bite down once again.
"GRUAAAAAAA!"
BOOM!
Tiny's here. Clad in his armour he looks like an unstoppable juggernaut, the sheer mass of him is intimidating enough, but then he starts to throw hands and things get really scary. Just not for us. Standing just behind the frontline of soldiers, Tiny's fists blaze with light and electricity and he uses his potent ape boxing skills to send fists of pure energy smashing into the faces of the oncoming tide of creatures. Relying on their natural toughness, they try to withstand his strength but quickly find it impossible to tank it head on. With a devastating uppercut that starts from his toes and ends with his knuckles nearly scraping the ceiling of the tunnel, Tiny sends a number of enemies flying as if a bomb had detonated beneath their feet.
But they don't stop coming, and not all of the defensive line is holding as well as this section with myself and Tiny in it.
[Invidia, I need you to support the rest of the line, don't let them buckle under the pressure. Crinis, get ready to intervene if you need to.]
[I hearssss you.]
[Yes, Master.]
Ironically, this is exactly the sort of drawn out fight that Leeroy and her group are perfectly suited to fight. Vibrant is a powerful soldier and her group are all highly evolved, but they're built for speed, not this sort of face to face slug fest. It's going to be tough going for the speedy ant so long as the battle lines remain static, she simply has no room in which to run. As the pressure increases and the packed armies smash into each other again and again it becomes harder to have the spare room for thoughts of the rest of the battle. In my face is a constant stream of these disfigured part monsters, each one quick and strong, smashing at my carapace and trying to claw my eyes before I can finish them off or drive them back. At my back, the ants hold the line and push up behind me, occasionally climbing onto my back to dart forward and provide support, shrinking my vision even further.
The heat and noise are intense to the point I'm forced to sink my mind deep into the meditation Skill just to maintain my focus. It's something that I've become reluctant to do at times. Being able to think free from distracting emotions is nice and all, but emotions can be a source of great energy and drive, pushing me past the point when my mind under the influence of the meditation skill would pull the pin. The distractions are overwhelming to the point that I don't have any choice in the end.
CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!
My mandibles reset and snap, reset and snap as fast as I can manage it until my face starts to ache. The extra penetrating power of the bites is more than welcome, allowing me to preserve stamina by holding off on using my Doom Chomp but still inflict severe damage on the foe. In the back of my mind, I'm conscious that this is merely the opening stanza of the battle. Whoever and whatever these creatures are, they are the prelude for the true fight to come. Waiting in the wings for us to tire, the Legion is still out there and they'll join in the fight the moment they feel the time is right.
[Master, I'm stepping in.]
Dammit! Surely they aren't breaking through already?!
DOOM CHOMP!
To gain space, I activate my most powerful physical Skill. The black mandibles of dark energy manifest and crunch closed on everything ten feet in front of my face, the momentum and power of my new muscular mutation translating into the Skill. Whatever is left standing after the strike I blast with steam and rear back, lowering my back legs and extending the front to lift my head high enough to see. Crinis is right, a section of the line to my right is starting to struggle. The freaks, sensing weakness, hold and scream with savage glee as they pile on the pressure, activating their Skills and slashing into the lines with wild abandon, heedless for their own safety. Crinis steps into the breach, announcing her presence in her usual insidious way as a forest of barbed limbs rise from the tunnel floor. The moment they are long enough, they begin to wind themselves around the unsuspecting forms of the attackers, binding them tight as the barbs dig into their flesh and begin to perform their dark work.
I lower myself back down, unwilling to see the rest. Hopefully she manages to trigger her fear skills and these guys back off a little. If the ant battle line is already starting to break, it's a worrying sign to say the least. Will we need to bring the humans forward and activate their buff already? I hope not, we need to hold off as long as possible before we bring the antmancers into the fray. Their buff is powerful, boosting the stats of our combatants, but the humans simply aren't trained for extended, intense fighting such as this and we don't have enough people to rotate them during the battle. No matter what, we can't bring them forward until the Legionaries themselves stand before us.
It only took a second, but the space in front of me is once again filled with opponents to fight and I feel my reflexes trigger just in time to help me avoid another strike directed toward my eyes.
Dammit! Do I need diamond eyes now?!
CHOMP!
This is going to be a long fight...