Chapter 706 - Evolution pt 3
After discussing the various benefits of the Elemental Ant, which were impressive to say the least, I was ready to move on. As cool as the evolution is, I'm not about to throw away my precious gravity mana. Powerful elemental spells? Sure, that'd be great and all, but would they really match up to what the Gravity Bomb can do? Can they match up to what the gravity bomb will be able to do in the future? The more mental strength I acc.u.mulate, the deadlier the gravity bomb will get. If I ever manage to actually snipe the Gravity Mana Affinity skill, then my proficiency will soar!
Besides, trading future growth for strength in the present is just not my style. I'd much rather go the other way!
Moving onto the next option, the Diamond Soldier. I've got a good feeling about this one!
[Rare Evolution: Diamond Soldier. +20 bonus to Cunning, +20 bonus to Will, +100 bonus to Might, +100 bonus to Toughness. The Diamond Soldier is an unbreakable frontline warrior and leader who is capable of turning the tide of battle single handed, without drawing on the support of others of its kind. The carapace and mandibles will be reforged into Fetid Diamond, a material as hard as it is toxic, enemies who draw too close, or suffer a bite, will experience the immensely powerful poison embedded within (warning, this will reset all mutations). In addition, a diamond parasite hive will be added.]
Uh... what? Granin winces.
[I was worried about this happening,] he says.
[What do you mean?]
[This is basically the option you wanted next evolution. Despite how it sounds, this is actually better than I thought you might get at this stage. Fetid Diamond is a fourth strata material, it's exceptionally powerful. Hard as nails, much more so than your current exo-skeleton, and even a touch of the stuff is capable of killing the unprepared. Your mandibles would effectively get not only a hardness upgrade, but an exceptionally potent toxin upgrade for free.]
[But what's this about a parasite hive?! I'm not sure how I feel about that!]
Torrina raises her hands in a calming gesture.
[It's a good thing, even if it sounds... a little weird. Basically a small nest of symbiotic parasites would be created within the carapace and they excrete material that hardens and toughens your shell over time. It's a powerful upgrade.]
I'm really not comfortable with voluntarily adding parasites to my carapace.
[If you'd gotten this option next time, you probably would have seen some of the diamond types from the fifth strata, like I told you about. There's still a chance you might see it, but since it came up here...]
[The odds are diminished...]
[Right,] he nods.
Well damn.
[Is Fetid Diamond even shiny?] I ask.
All three of the golgari look away.
[It's more of a dull yellow-green,] Torrina mutters.
REJECTED, DAMMIT.
I really had my hopes up for the Diamond Soldier! The stats are great, the cash-ins are good, just the material is wrong! What a waste! If this costs me my perfect diamond upgrade next time, I'm going to be super annoyed! Annoyed I say! Bah to you, Gandalf! Even if I have to pay for the cash-ins myself, I'm getting me a sweet, fifth strata diamond shell, no matter what!
Next!
[Rare Evolution: All-Seeing Scout. +40 bonus to Cunning, +30 bonus to Will, +80 bonus to Might, +80 bonus to Toughness. To see all and know all is the purpose of the All-Seeing Scout. The eyes are remade into Demonic Lenses (warning, this will reset all mutations). In addition, a Visual Array Matrix will be added to the brain, along with a Spectral Wave Eye. Together, these will eliminate the ability of the All-Seeing Scout to see, instead allowing them to view all things in the mind's eye.]
Wait... So becoming an 'All-Seeing Scout'... makes me blind?!
[Pretty much,] Granin says, [you'll be a bit like Crinis, except with much more potent non-visual 'sight'. The two Demonic Lenses don't act like eyes at all, more like receptors that will coordinate with the Spectral Wave Eye to capture signals that normal eyes just can't see. The Visual Array Matrix is pretty much a must for this sort of build since your normal brain won't be able to interpret the scope of information that you'll be getting.]
Huh. So if I think about this with an Earth analogy, the two demonic lenses are like satellite dishes, the Spectral Eye is like the antenna and the Matrix is like a computer. The eye detects the signals collected by the dishes and the matrix interprets it all. I mean, it sounds handy and all, but I'm not convinced that it's for me.
[This is actually strong,] Corun pipes up, [sensory upgrades are expensive, very much so, and a package like this is pretty much top of the line for a monster of your tier. You'd be impossible to sneak up on, and don't underestimate the benefits that these types of senses can have for mages.]
I turn to Granin.
[It's true,] he shrugs, [your sensitivity to mana will go way up. Forget Mana Sense, with this setup you'll be able to see mana. Heck, you can actually 'see' a short distance into stone if my memory serves. And this is all before mutations. You can upgrade the lenses to be more sensitive, have longer range, collect in a wider area, specialise in a certain type of input, and ditto with the Spectral Eye. A small side benefit, demonic lenses are, as I said, not eyes. They're hard, much harder than chitin. You'd effectively eliminate the weak point in your carapace with this evolution.]
That is an unexpected and potentially juicy side benefit. Initially I was quite disappointed in this evolution, but I've warmed up to it after their analysis. It's true that having better information is a key component of battle. Knowing where your opponent is at all times, finding them before they find you, it's all extremely important, especially for the stealthy, one on one style combat that scouts tend to engage in. If I spent more time roaming out on my own than I did fighting alongside the Colony, this would be a better combat evolution than even the Diamond Soldier in my opinion. I'll have to think about this one carefully if the next evolution disappoints.
I hesitate for a moment.
[I'm not sure how much I'm going to tell you about the next evolution,] I tell the triad, [it has to do with my current species and there's a few things in there I'm not sure I want to share.]
[I wondered why you wouldn't let me take a look at your core,] Granin muses, stroking his chin, [I can make a few guesses, obviously, but I was never confident I was right.]
He turns to look at his triad mates. Torrina gives him a small nod and Corun shrugs, then Granin turns back to me with a smile.
[Our advice will obviously be limited without full information, but you have every right to your secrets. I will just say this, evolutions that go in a sequence, like from minor to major or young to mature, are usually better to be seen through all the way. There's a pattern or a set of benefits that the System intends will be completed over the course of multiple evolutions. If you bail part-way through, you generally won't get the full package that the System intended. Sometimes there are perfectly good reasons to go in a different direction though, so don't feel trapped.]
I nod my antennae.
[Thanks, Granin, and you guys also. I appreciate you respecting my boundaries.]
[Hey, this is your decision,] Granin tells me, [we're just here for the ride.]
[More like you want to stuff me on a throne.]
Granin laughs.
[More like I want you to climb onto the throne on your own. But that's still a long, long way off.]
Who knows how far off, I still don't even know how deep the Dungeon is. I asked Granin and he told me that he had no idea, apparently nobody did. According to what the Cult of the Worm knew, nobody had ever encountered the Ancients on their own strata, only in higher layers during particularly powerful waves, and of course during the Cataclysm. For all I know there's thirty strata and I won't reach the strength of an ancient until I'm tier fifty!
Bah! No more stalling. I'm nervous for this one. Okay. Here we go.
[Rare Evolution: Mature Colony Paragon. +40 bonus to Cunning, +40 Bonus to Willpower, +90 bonus to Might, +90 bonus to Toughness. The Colony Paragon grows in strength and stature, pioneering in all areas in which the Colony seeks to excel. A leader, a soldier and a symbol, the Paragon is one with the Colony and the Colony is one with the Paragon. The Collective Will Vestibule (formica sapiens) will be reforged into Soul Crystal (warning, this will reset all mutations). In addition, a Communal Spirit Nave will be attached.]
Uhhh, wot?
-x-X-x-
First of all, these stats are insane. Look at these numbers! It wasn't as if the Juvenile Colony Paragon had bad bonuses to begin with, but this is taking it to another level. It feels like what Granin told me is true, but more than that, I can almost sense the System, the bearded one, urging me to stick to a path and see the evolutions through. I wonder if there's another Paragon type evolution to follow after this one? If so, how far does it go?
Questions, questions.
Beyond the mandible clacking stat gain, the Vestibule being cashed in is pretty much what I expected. It's the defining piece of the Paragon evolution and a key element of the species that clearly is going to be built on. The main issue I have is that I don't know whether or not 'soul crystal' is any good, or if I should be holding out for better. It certainly sounds good. Souls are powerful... right? I've certainly not heard of anything like it. There's no obvious demonic link to tie this to the third strata, or the fourth to be honest. Perhaps Granin can fill me in... do I ask?
I'm not sure exactly why I'm as hesitant as I am to reveal information about my species to Granin, Torrina and Corun. I trust them, and after everything that's happened, they've thrown their lot in behind me to a degree that only fanatical cultists could probably justify. On the other hand, there are aspects to the Paragon that I'm not totally comfortable with, like the Will of the Colony seeping into me constantly, a process that will probably only get worse with this new 'Spirit Nave', whatever that is.
For now, I won't ask. Perhaps if I get further into the evolution menu, I'll be able to sus something out about the crystal.
Come on then Gandalf, tell me something about this Nave. You were awfully quiet about it in the description!
[The Communal Spirit Nave acts as a channel for the energy of the Vestibule, directing and focusing it, concentrating it into a more dense and powerful energy.]
Huh. Interesting. So it's like an amplifier for the regenerative energy that the Vestibule already provides? That's nice, I can handle that. Nothing too... strange... about it. For a moment there I was worried I'd be hearing the voices of my sibling's spirits as well as their minds, and quite frankly, I think that would just about drive me nuts.
What do you have to say about the Soul Crystal then, oh beardy boy of the bristling brows?
[Soul Crystal: An exceptionally rare material of pure condensed souls. Soul Crystal is the perfect medium through which to move spiritual energy.]
Alright then. I'm going to assume that the energy gathered by the Vestibule counts as 'spiritual' energy, otherwise this upgrade would make little sense. Reading the description, there really doesn't seem to be any tie to the third or fourth strata that I can detect, which makes me wonder if this is actually a fifth strata material? If so, this is an absolute payday.
[All right, I have decided on my evolution,] I announce.
Granin smiles.
[I'm going to assume it's the last one then?] he asks.
I nod.
[Right,] he sighs, [I would love to know more about it, but I completely respect your desire for privacy. I hope you can give us some general information so we know what to expect and can offer suggestions before you go into the final phase of the menu?]
I give the triad the general information, such as the stats, and make a few allusions to the choice buffing certain advantages that I already have.
[Also, I don't want to expose too much here, but I suspect that the reset I've been offered might be from the fifth strata...]
All three of their eyes go wide at that and Granin whistles sharply.
[If that's true, it's a big deal. The types of matter found in the deeper parts of the Dungeon far outstrip anything you find higher up. Each level down is a real qualitative leap. The amount of evolutionary energy packed into that reset alone will make evolution worth the while, besides the rest of it.]
That's good to hear, makes me feel a little more comfortable and secure in my choice.
[Do you have any advice going into the next phase?] I ask.
The three of them confer for a few short minutes before they come back to me.
[Keep in mind the things we talked about and make sure you hit your stat goals. If you make it the values we talked about, you should be able to achieve what you want. The extra stats you get from this evolution help a lot and you can either put in the energy that we planned and push your numbers even higher, or you can spend that energy elsewhere, try and shore up a few weaknesses.]
[Good advice. Alright, I'm going in.]
Having confirmed my species, I'm taken deeper into the menu and the vast playground that is the manual evolution screen enfolds me within its embrace. I have quite a few decisions that need to be made at this point, but before I worry about any of that, I take a moment to admire the vast pool of evolutionary energy I have at my disposal. The core of Garralosh is paying dividends to me right now in the form of this enormous wealth, truly the most I could hope to extract from my current tier. With the bonus on top for max mutations, I have a lot of largesse to unload.
First things first, I need to spend my bonus stat points. I've spent a lot of my Might on increasing my size, getting as many stats as I could at the expense of getting larger. This time I feel comfortable concentrating more on increasing the density of my musculature. As I spend the free points, I can tell that my size is still going to increase significantly, but the overall strength I can exert skyrockets and my muscles compact and become more dense.
The Toughness I spread around fairly evenly, hardening my body overall and increasing the amount of punishment I can take. The exoskeleton thickens and hardens, the chitin on my legs grows tougher and my internal body grows ever so slightly more durable. Next is time for a big spend. The first thing I do is make all of my brains mutable, all four of them. It takes more energy to do that than I expected, I think just because brain matter and neurons are so much more complex than something like muscle fibre or chitin.
With that job done, I get to the more difficult task of allocating my bonus stats. The aim of the game here isn't to create more sub-brains, absolutely not. After chatting with Granin, I've come to understand that my earlier strategy to increase my brain power isn't the most efficient way, but with further investment, will pay off. I need each of my brains to be capable of weaving and handling mind magic constructs. This is going to take a ton of energy to achieve, even after the generous bonus stats from my evolution.
I get to work, beefing up each of my brains with additional brain matter and pumping up the Will investment in each. I decide not to hold back and push harder in this department, raising my mental power to the point where my suffering when trying to use the omni-elemental construct will be utterly scrubbed from my mind. It's not a s.e.xy spend, but I'm satisfied with it. All in all, it costs me almost half of my available energy to achieve, but with this, my days of magical dominance are just beginning.
With what remains, I need to start shopping for my cash in option. There's so much to choose from here, but after I take the mandibles and carapace off the table, there are only a few main body parts for me to play with. In the end, I decide to focus on my antennae. It might seem like nothing, but my antennae have evolved to become a key component of my build. The future sight alone pulls its weight and is something I will absolutely reinvest in once I can. I'm a bit disappointed to see that the Spectrum crystal is outside of my budget. That would have been a real nice pickup, but sadly, it isn't to be. Instead, I look through the many possible options that are within my limits, and there are many.
Most of the shiny new antennae I have available to me are clearly from the third strata, with titles like 'Infernal Lattice Antennae', or 'Weave of Greed Antennae'. As little as I like the idea of these demonic sounding names being attached to me, I'm sure there's something I can find in here that is going to serve my purpose. I'm pretty open to the benefits I get, I don't mind if it's something that helps my future sight, or something that helps my spellcasting, or even something that just improves my sense of smell to a high degree. There's a heap of options that give weird stuff, like giving my antennae the ability to blast enemies with fire, to turn any fire spell channelled through them into a more powerful infernal flame variant, even one that allows me to sense, of all things, people's inner desires. What the heck do I care about people's inner desires?! I already get the wants of my family seeping into my head through the Vestibule! People outside of the family don't matter to the point I need to peek inside their head!
Bah. There has to be something I can find in here...
Aha! What have we here?
[Twilight Filament. A material with extreme sensitivity to vibrations and reacts to sensory input of all kinds.]
All kinds, eh? Including THE ECHOES OF THE FUTURE? I'm getting the sense (heh) that it will based on that vague, all-encompassing description. I feel good about it, and I'm happy to dodge some of the more bizarre and evil sounding options. What's up with these demons?! Lock that in.
Huh, what do you know? A little more energy left over after that one, which is a happy surprise. I think I'll make use of that and bulk up my physical stats a little more. This will be the evolution where I finally stamp my authority as a physical and mental powerhouse! Muahahahahaaaa! No longer a weak little hatchling, I'm going to be so mighty!
I eagerly look over my selections. I cannot wait to evolve!
-x-X-x-
With the level milestone achieved, I take a quick break to celebrate and high five (with antennae) the team, before we begin the journey back to the nest. With the wave in full swing, we end up having to re sweep most of the tunnels that had already been cleared as the empty space was either taken up by monsters who had spawned elsewhere, or freshly spawned monsters already jumping out of the walls again. It's hard to imagine, but I think I actually was starting to forget just how tiring the wave was. Just getting through these totally normal tunnels is an exhausting slog of fight after fight. The moment we deal with one monster, another one comes screaming out of a side tunnel.
It's almost as if the heightened mana levels send the monsters nuts as well as drives the spawn rate to ridiculous levels. It could just be the fact that there's no opportunity for monsters to carve out their own space and settle into some territory which causes them to be whipped up into a mindless rage. Whatever the case, by the time we make it back to the nest the four of us, as well as my twenty unseen observers, are all thoroughly tired and done with the Dungeon for the time being. All in all it took a little over three days for us to travel and secure the levels I need to evolve. It's pretty obvious when we get back just how busy the Colony has been, the gates alone have seen a massive improvement. As we approach it's clear to see the fortifications positively bristling with ants ready to defend the entrance to the nest. If they managed to repair the acid pool, there shouldn't be too many issues holding off monsters, although if more powerful demons show up things might get hairy.
Before we enter the nest, I turn back to face the empty space above my head.
"Protectant, you need to get out here for a chat."
Silence.
"You could just talk to the air. I would rather not show myself," her scent creeps up to my antennae from nowhere.
"It's weird trying to hold a conversation with someone I can't see. Just get out here!"
With her usual sulky disposition, Protectant reveals herself and drops down from the roof to come into view.
"What can I do for you Eldest? I'd like to remind you that we are supposed to be a secret protection detail. You make our jobs harder when you constantly reveal our existence."
"Hey, I don't feel any real need to make your lives more difficult, but you need to adjust and have a little more flexibility than what the Council demanded of you. All of their nonsense went out the window the minute I worked out you exist."
I stare down at the much smaller elite ant but she makes a point of turning her head to face past me. Still don't want to give up on the mission eh? Sigh. What a pain.
"Alright, I'll get down to business then. I'm going to be spending the next few days finalising my evolution. It's going to take at least two days, maybe as much as a week. I was asleep for a long time during the last one, so who knows this time? Not me, that's for sure."
"And? We will watch over you, as always."
"Nope, not as always. I don't need protection when I'm evolving, I'll be in the middle of the nest for goodness sake! What could possibly happen to me in there? I'll have my pets watching over me just in case anything happens, having more security than that is nonsensical! You and your nineteen sisters are going to use this time to power up."
"What?!" she says, aghast. "You want us to abandon the mission, completely?! You won't keep any of us with you?"
They're dedicated, I'll give them that.
"No! After I evolve, I'm going to be tier six! We've had this conversation before, if you twenty can't keep up with me, then you can hardly protect me from something I can't defeat myself! I need every one of you to max out your cores and mutations and prepare for special evolutions. Every one of you needs to be tier five by the time this wave ends. If you want to make sure you're ready to protect me, then any tier five members can return to guard duty once I've finished evolving, but only up to a maximum of five. The rest of you stick together until every last one of you has achieved a perfect tier five, you hear me? This is an order!"
I really don't like to boss around the other ants, I'm just not comfortable with telling them what to do, but these twenty are only going to get themselves killed if they don't power up, and they won't take time to level up and mutate if I don't force them to. Even if they don't accept my logic, they can't refuse a direct command and Protectant positively wilts under my omni-directional glare.
"It will be done as you command, Eldest," she mutters before she vanishes once again.
With that unpleasant conversation dealt with, I head into the nest to find a small welcoming party waiting on the other side. Granin, Torrina and Corun are present, as well as Florence and Victor. I'm especially surprised to see the brood tender away from the young where she spends essentially all of her time when she isn't in a meeting.
["Hello all!"] I greet everyone with a combination of pheromones and mind magic, ["I didn't expect you to welcome me back at the gates. How are things in the nest?"]
"Everything is fine," Victor assures me quickly, "our plans are already well advanced and our defences here and in the satellite nests have been established."
Florence nods.
"That's right," she happily agrees, "and the hatchlings have been able to enter the Academy and begin their proper training. The school has already begun a large expansion project to accommodate the boosted numbers but we are confident we can complete the task."
Man, the brood tenders are by far the most soothing caste, always cheerful and upbeat. They work just as hard as everyone else, don't get me wrong, but they all seem to share the same calm and happy aura that Florence and Theresant have.
"Well that's great."
I switch back to speaking to everyone.
["So what brings you guys here?"]
Granin steps forward and looks at Victor for a moment. The ant nods and his voice rings out in my mind.
[The ants are getting ready to take you straight to the Biomass store they've setup for you. The council has been taking my advice about selecting a few members to nurture into high tier powerhouses to shore up your strength seriously and you are the first to get the fast road treatment. The Colony is going to provide all the Biomass and cores you need now that you've hit level eighty. I wanted to tag along with my triad so we could advise and discuss your options whilst you eat.]
["Makes sense I suppose. Lead the way."]
The nest was abuzz with activity when I left and it is completely the same now. As we move through the tunnels there are ants everywhere doing goodness knows how many different tasks. In every chamber and at regular intervals down the tunnels there are soldiers and scouts on guard, ready to leap upon every monster that spawns from the mana dense walls. Even the automated messages from the walls are on point.
"The wave is upon us!" I get blasted from a nearby unit and taken by surprise. "Work hard to secure the future of the Colony! Take regular torpor breaks!"
Nice to see that last bit hasn't been dropped. My siblings need to rest. Eventually we arrive in a smallish chamber and I immediately notice two things about it. First is the massive pile of Biomass that has Tiny instantly drooling. Second is the total lack of mana veins on the walls.
"You guys actually figured it out?!" I'm shocked and delighted.
"The mages figured it out and the inner areas of the nest have been converted. This place is close to the brood chambers and was prepared for your evolution. It wasn't much extra effort considering the work that was already being done."
Holy moly. They figured this out in the nick of time.
[All right then, Anthony,] Granin breaks in. [Get to eating, we have a lot to talk about.]
The three golgari grab a seat and make themselves comfortable whilst they watch me, somewhat impatiently as I hesitate. With a vast internal sigh, I move over to the Biomass and start to eat.
[All right,] I say, [what first?]
-x-X-x-
The nameless one idled against the side of a tunnel for a brief moment, checking her surrounds. Activity had been furious within the nest ever since the siege had lifted and opportunities to enter the Dark Passage had been harder to come across. Thankfully, the Eldest blessed her and the tunnel was, for this brief window of time, empty. She leaned against the deep shadows, ingeniously created by a collection of wrinkles that were so unobtrusive it was hard to even notice them. Even if one were to see, would they ever realise that each centimetre, every angle, was a deliberate choice designed specifically to create this convergence of shadows.
As the pressure increased, there was a small 'click', and she felt a brief sensation of falling before she landed on her feet in a tunnel shrouded in complete shadow. The Dark Passage. A feeling of comfort overtook the nameless one as she was embraced by the darkness, this was the place where she felt most at home. There were no scent trails in the Passage, a strange oddity for any place within the nest, but she wasn't surprised. She reached out with an antennae, seeking along the wall until she found what she was after, a groove, dug in a particular way, that told her just what she needed to know. Now confident, she turned and began to move, her antennae always seeking along the tunnel wall as she ran.
Before long, she began to run into others, but they did not greet each other, no scent was exchanged, for such was forbidden. Instead, they ran alongside each other, working together whenever they came across a vile Dungeon spawn infecting the tunnels. The wave had complicated things, but she had learned of the great working undertaken by the mages to peel back the Dungeon veins. It would only be a matter of time before the same method had been applied here, their work was too important to allow for distractions. As they ran, enshrouded in perfect dark, they came across more tunnels, each bringing more of her siblings into this main branch. Every tunnel was lined with the same enchantment, powered by pure back cores filled with Shadow Mana, the light eaters.
They ran together until finally, the tunnel, which had been growing wider as more branches folded into it, came to a dead end. A wall loomed before them, studded with light eaters to the point where it appeared more as a wall of pure shadow rather than stone. Without pause, the nameless one approached and extended her antennae, feeling this, then that, until she found an almost imperceptible indent. The first located, it wasn't long until she identified the second and pushed against both at the same time. She had to concentrate, if the timing was even slightly off...
'Click'.
So soft she nearly couldn't hear it, the mechanical device slotted into place and in a second, the wall that blocked the way was suddenly gone, dropped into the floor below. What lay beyond, was the sacred ground of the order, the Sanctum. Each of her siblings ducked their heads to pay their respects as they crossed the threshold, as she herself did when it came her turn to enter. If anything, the darkness was even more complete in here, not a single speck of light allowed to exist within. There was no scent either, which meant each of the order was required to rely on their other sense, that which marked them apart from the rest of the Colony.
Once inside, she found herself within the antechamber, staffed at all times with several acolytes who stood as still as statues, mimicking the state of torpor as best they could. The nameless one had intelligence to share, so she approached the acolyte of knowledge.
Greetings, Sister. You have wisdom for the Sanctum? The acolyte signed, her antennae performing an intricate dance in the air.
A test? Too obvious, the nameless one had been part of the order since its very foundation.
The Eldest rests, she signed.
Eight hours a day, the acolyte wryly signed back, before both performed the eightfold genuflection.
It was a sacred number, the ideal amount of sleep, as proscribed by the Eldest. It was central to all that the order sought to accomplish.
Yes, Sister, I bring news from the mining shafts.
The acolyte's antennae twitched in surprise.
I thought the shafts were closed for the time being. They weren't planned to be reopened for thirty-one hours.
Trust the Acolyte of knowledge to have such intricate knowledge, it was her role, after all.
Some of the workers have banded together with a team from Vibrant's army. They have arranged to reopen early, though it is only possible if they agree to work double shifts.
This cannot be borne, the acolyte showed dismay, without rest, the workers will be sloppy, the soldiers, unable to properly perform their duties. All shall suffer from their greed to work! How dare they shun the wisdom of the Eldest in so blatant a manner. She shook off her irritation. The Sanctum thanks you for this news, sister. Be welcome, and find rest within.
Her task complete, the nameless one backed respectfully away from the acolyte of knowledge, who had already turned to the acolyte of strategy, and made her way deeper within the Sanctum. Passing through the antechamber, she found the outer training grounds, where new members for the order endured the harsh training necessary to achieve full membership of the order. At the moment, it appeared as if a fresh induction group was being trained. An acolyte of instruction hung from the ceiling by a single leg, waving her antennae in slow, exaggerated motions, instructing the initiates in the hidden language of the order. Twenty young ants hung from the roof in front of her, each gripping the ceiling with only a single leg. Their weak grip Skill was evident in their wobbling and the nameless one knew from experience it was only a matter of time until one fell to the stone floor below.
In fact, before she passed by one did indeed fall. The crack of chitin on rock was impossibly loud in this silent place and the initiate lay on the floor, leg twitching in pain for only a moment. Several other acolytes of training appeared from the walls to minister to their sister. In short order, the leg was tended to, the initiate righted on her feet, and sent back to the ceiling. Now she would train the next leg until it too was no longer able to bear her weight.
The soldiers were always the first to fall, their increased strength not enough to offset their higher mass.
It was necessary though. A high rank in Grip was the foundation on which the order was built, running claw in claw with Stealth. Observing targets from above, from the side, hiding on pillars and anything else they could hang onto was a necessary part for any member of the order. The nameless one herself had spent an entire week hanging upside down once, even entering torpor whilst hidden on the ceiling.
Moving past the outer training grounds, she reached the main part of the sanctum, the most sacred of all of its many chambers. Inside she found thousands of her siblings and fellow members of the order, each engaged in their most sacred of duties: torpor.
The Eldest had decreed long ago that it was the responsibility of every member of the Colony to ensure that they rested, and from that moment on, the order had begun to take shape. Members of every caste had been welcomed, for theirs was difficult work and every advantage and strength was needed to ensure it was done perfectly. Too many within the Colony spurned the Eldest's wisdom and worked beyond their measure, but they could not escape the order for long.
The grand resting chamber was carved in the shape of a great wheel divided into eight segments. An acolyte of rest stood at silent attention on the outer area of one segment and the nameless one made her way over. Each segment of the chamber was filled with ants at rest, but soon it would be time for one segment to wake up and return to their work, then it would be time for the nameless one to sleep. She was looking forward to it, her sixteen hour shift had been all to brief, but the work had been hard. She was ready.
This nameless one greets you, one of her siblings signed to her.
I see you, she replied, this nameless one is pleased to see you once again.
Was your work fruitful?
I was able to uncover a planned breach.
Excellent! The sleep cells will once again be filled I see.
The two friends chatted for several minutes, as they tended to do whenever they met here at the end of a shift. Before long, the acolyte indicated to them that is was almost time and they readied themselves for rest. Already the deep lethargy of torpor was beginning to take its grip on the nameless one and she waited patiently for the others to wake.
Which gradually they did. Up and down the segment, hundreds of ants began to stir, jolted into wakefulness, they turned and moved to exit the outer ring of the segment and clear space for the incoming shift.
I hope you rested well, nameless ones, the acolyte signed to them as they passed.
Once the last ant had exited the segment, the acolyte turned to them.
Good work, nameless ones. Please take your deserved rest, as the Eldest intended.
They each performed the eightfold genuflection, slower now that they were each on the verge of sleep, before shuffling into the segment, ensuring that all had room. The nameless one felt her consciousness slipping and gladly let it go, surrendering herself to torpor. After all, when she woke there would be so much work to do, and only sixteen hours in which to get it done.
-x-X-x-
The nameless one came back to herself precisely eight hours later, rested and refreshed. Truly the greatest experience of torpor could only be enjoyed here, on the fulcrum of eight amongst her fellow members of the order. As the rest of those on her shift came awake and began to move off their segment they greeted each other in the hidden language, signing with their antennae and exchanging plans for the day. As they passed the acolyte on the outer edge of the fulcrum they greeted her as she did them, exchanged a few signs with the now ending shift and then they were away, ready to start the shift.
The nameless one was eager to begin. Sixteen hours of solid work lay in front of her and it was imperative that she make a fast start. They never skipped their rest in the order, which meant they had to work harder, faster and more efficient than every other member of the Colony, otherwise how could they hope to police them? So it was that all of the newly awakened broke into a sprint the moment they were clear of the inner chamber, running to their assignments as fast as they could, vanishing into the Dark Passage and emerging from hidden exits all over the nest. The nameless one did not join them immediately. Her rank was such that she needed to make an additional stop before she could begin her work.
She rushed through the sanctum, completely soundless, until she came to a small, elaborately carved chamber in which an acolyte stood completely still. She approached respectfully.
The Eldest rests, she greeted the acolyte of shadows respectfully.
Eight hours a day, came the reply and both genuflected.
What word from the shadows? The nameless one asked. Is there a task?
There is, came the solemn reply. The many-headed beast has stirred against us once more, seeking to escape their responsibilities and our notice.
Again!?
So soon? Are we sure of this intelligence?
The acolyte eyed her reproachfully.
It is not for us to question the shadow, she reprimanded.
The nameless one bowed her head in repentance.
If not for the shadow, we might not have come across this news. The many-headed beast is cunning beyond compare, it has hidden its plans deep. The acolyte waggled her antennae in a slow chuckle. Just not deep enough.
When and where do I strike? The nameless one asked.
Go to the confluence of ways, beneath the croca-star. A waypoint has been established and an acolyte of planning will meet you there. Shadows take you, sister.
I go.
So saying, the nameless one turned and ran. To tackle an enemy on this scale wasn't something that usually came up, but things had been hectic in the Colony lately, and many were beginning to push the bounds... They would learn, of course, that it was impossible to escape from the order. Though they slept the most, there were none who worked harder, of that, she was certain. Once more into the Dark Passage, the hidden way between the tunnels. Long had the carvers and mages in the order laboured on these narrow tunnels. Undetectable, devoid of light and intricate in their design, they were woven throughout the very heart of the Colony and reached nearly every part of it. Even the new satellite nests had the Dark Passage woven into their design, carvers of the order building the tunnels and establishing the secret network right under the noses of their siblings as the nests were established.
Everywhere the Colony went, so too did the order.
She ran through the still darkness, her antennae constantly moving, feeling and sensing for the hidden location markers carved into the walls. It was additionally tense in the Passage during the Wave, she had to constantly be on the lookout for monsters. Although she ran past a few, she knew that these were pets, controlled by the core shapers within the order who had tasked their charges with sweeping the tunnels clean. She gave them their space and continued to run.
After ten minutes of zig-zagging, she arrived at the confluence, a wide meeting point of many tunnels close to the heart of the Nest. Many of her siblings were here when she arrived, moving from tunnel to tunnel, gathering into teams, or meeting with the present acolytes of action to coordinate their strikes. She had other business. She turned her attention and antennae to the roof and began to feel her way amongst the descriptive carvings there. The entire ceiling was an elaborate mural, though she had met none who could claim to know who carved it, which contained many scenes radiating out from the centre of the chamber, each filled with breathtaking beauty. It was the outer edge of the chamber that contained what she sought, and she headed there directly and began moving clockwise around the edge. At various points she came across various monsters defeated by the Eldest emblazoned on a star as if they had become part of a constellation that illuminated the Eldest's strength. Eventually, she found what she was looking for, a croca beast, jaws wide open and a savage gleam in its eye, as if ready to leap off the stone and consume the ants around them.
The croca-star.
She approached the nearby acolyte and greeted her. Genuflections complete, they began to discuss the mission.
The many-headed beast has made plans to skip torpor and gather in one place, which will give us the perfect opportunity to strike, the acolyte told her.
Do we know the meeting place? The nameless one asked.
We do not, though our every effort has gone into discovering just that. From what we have been told, the location has not been shared with any not of the beast.
The beast grows ever more cautious.
Indeed.
Where can I rendezvous? I am eager to begin work.
I will lead you. There are three teams assembled for the task, with two more on the way. Find your place amongst them quickly, we cannot allow this breach to occur.
The nameless one nodded. Once one ant thought they could get away with skipping torpor, the desire seemed to spread like a contagion. Every attempted breach needed to be put down harshly. Only that would be enough to discourage infractions. It wasn't possible to get everyone, the Colony was just too large for that, but they would try, and some days, they got very, very close. She followed the acolyte as they raced down a side tunnel and it wasn't long before they entered one of the small operation chambers that dotted the Dark Passage. Small, compact spaces in which the order could gather to run localised operations, serving as a planning headquarters, gathering place and briefing room, all in one. Inside she found a full team awaiting instructions.
Welcome, nameless one, she was greeted by a general who stood over a map a carver had magically engraved on the floor, please join us.
She signed her greetings and got to work, familiarising herself with the operation further. She quickly learned that timing was of the essence, only an hour remained until the breach was expected to occur, and they still didn't know where. It was possible they could try and nab the targets separately, but that would create a logistical nightmare. And if they weren't careful, word would leak the moment the first target went down, driving the rest into hiding. They would still be caught, but only at a great cost of time and energy. The order had to be efficient, otherwise they would be ineffective.
The work quickly drew her in as they discussed theories, options and strategies. Plans were proposed, debated and discarded rapidly as the discussion evolved. In ten minutes, they had a working plan and scattered through the tunnels, ready to return forty minutes later for the final briefing.
To think she had been ready to hunt down a few miners and soldiers in this shift, now she had much bigger fish to fry.
It had been a while since the nameless one had put the Council to sleep.
-x-X-x-
"Ensure you hit your targets, here, here and here. With these junctions secured, the digging teams will be able to move relatively unhindered. That's where the difficulty comes in. You'll need to make sure that the crossroads remains blocked and sweep out spawning monsters at the same time. I know that's going to be hard, but we can't spare the antpower to send another team. The diggers will help you, all you have to do is -"
The nameless one allowed the words to wash over her as she focused her mind. This was a difficult infiltration, but nothing she hadn't done before. She knew from experience however that a lapse in concentration would be fatal, exposing her cover for all to see and forcing her to retreat, her prey alerted to her presence. Not that they didn't already know she was after them, that much was already clear.
Down below was the Dungeon Map, created in the central planning hub of the general caste. She was stuck to the roof, her claws like steel traps that wouldn't allow even a speck of dust to leak from her iron grip, overlooking Sloan as the general discussed plans for securing sections of the Dungeon for construction. Except there was a problem. She wasn't sure what it was that rubbed her senses the wrong way, but every instinct in her body was telling her something was deeply wrong.
Beneath her, Sloan waved away the general she'd been talking to and returned to perusing the map, discussing a few points with a carver representative, hammering out the finer details of their plans. Looking down at her, the nameless one saw no sign of tension or stress to indicate that this individual was planning to breach her sleeping obligations. To all intents and purposes, Sloan had the appearance of an ant coming to the end of her workday and wrapping things up so she could find a sleep chamber and enter torpor.
Could the shadow be wrong?
The nameless one drew the shadows deeper around and pulled her body flat against the ceiling. It was impossible for the shadow to be wrong, she had to push all such thoughts out of her head. So the shadow was right, a breach was happening, then what was it about Sloan that bothered her so? She focused her eyes and homed in on every detail of the general, every movement, every little tic and shift of weight, every change in her scent. No detail was too small to escape her notice, there was nowhere to hide from the eyes of the order.
Wait, what was that?
A strange flicker of the light caught her attention. It was such a minor thing that had she not been concentrating, she would have missed it entirely. Where was it again? She focused, patient as a predator as she continued to observe Sloan beneath her. There! The shadow! How could she not have seen the shadow!? As Sloan went about her business, discussing and planning, the nameless one focused instead on the play of light around her feet, and after a few moments, she realised something.
The shadow doesn't fit!
It wasn't anything major, the legs were just slightly off, the abdomen and thorax not quite the right dimensions, but you could see it if you were looking for it. The shadow that Sloan projected didn't match the shape of her body. It was a double!
She cursed admiringly in her mind as she drew the shadows around her like a cloak and began to sneak her way to the exit point. The council had replaced themselves with doubles cloaked in some kind of illusion spell! The mages within the order would need to learn of this technique as soon as possible. They needed to find a way to better break it. For now, the slight differences in shape had been enough for her to see through the ruse. She had to inform the others!
[Ghost Stealth (VI) has reached Level 94].
Not now! She focused her senses and body to the utmost, ensuring that no sight or sound would be noticed as she made her escape. She was fortunate to scuttle away without being seen and made her way back into the Dark Passage. Once inside, she urgently messaged her fellow team member who awaited her inside.
It's a body double! Sloan has been replaced by another ant cloaked in some kind of light or illusion spell!
Are you certain? The other ant signed back intently.
The shadow betrays them! It doesn't fit the body. I believe that every member of the council we are shadowing has been replaced and the real members are hidden!
Her fellow order member cursed silently.
We will need to confirm this as soon as possible. Return to the meeting place whilst I spread the message. We should have confirmation in ten minutes.
The two of them rushed to perform their tasks knowing that time was of the essence. When she arrived back at the planning chamber and relayed the news to the members gathered there, the reaction was much as she expected.
Damn this beast! Are they daring us to put them under 24/7 surveillance?
They need to put more effort into their work rather than spending all this energy trying to dodge torpor!
What is wrong with their heads?!
It was fine to be angry, but they didn't have the time to waste on such useless emotion. The nameless one stepped forward.
Your frustration is understandable, but a waste of energy. We have a task to perform, don't lose focus on the work.
With her signed message, the group quickly got back to planning how they could overcome this disaster together. They were deep in discussions when word came back from those shadowing the other members of the council. As suspected, all of them were fakes.
What do we do? One member of the group demanded. We've already lost track of the targets and we have no leads on where they might be! Regular methods have been exhausted. I suggest we appeal to the shadow.
The others paused for a moment as they contemplated that suggestion. It wasn't forbidden to ask the shadow for assistance, but it certainly wasn't encouraged. Even if they were to ask, there was no guarantee that they would get an answer. The entity known as shadow preferred to communicate through those few acolytes dedicated to receiving their messages, rather than reaching out to just anyone. The nameless one considered the suggestion and decided it might be worth a try.
We are out of time. The meeting is intended to take place in only ten minutes and we have no clues as to where. The situation has become desperate and I am unwilling to let it go. I suggest we all appeal to the shadow and see if it will intervene on our behalf. This mission was brought to us by the shadow originally, after all.
After a little more discussion the group agreed and got to work. The chamber entrance was sealed and all light in the room was suppressed as each member channelled as much shadow mana as they could, blanketing the room in utter darkness. The mana thickened gradually, seeping into the air around them and saturating all it touched as the ants bowed low in supplication, covering their eyes ceremoniously and waiting. For several long minutes, nothing except the growing density of shadow marked any change in the space as they each remained perfectly still. Then, there was a faint sound, almost like a sigh, and the gathered shadow mana scattered in an instant, bringing the light back.
The nameless one raised her head eagerly as others leapt to reopen the chamber. As sight returned to them, they found words written in pure darkness engraved on the wall and they felt joy in their hearts. There was no escape for the targets of the order.
-x-X-x-
"Where you followed?"
"I don't think so..."
"You THINK? THINKING isn't good enough!"
"Cool it! Your scent is spreading too far. Are you trying to bring them down on our heads?"
"... I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed."
"And tired? Maybe you should sleep! Torpor usually takes care of that. So I'm told, I don't do it much. I find it's too slow for my pace. So, what have you all been up to? I've been running around doing heeeaaaps of stuff. It's so busy right now! I can't believe how much stuff there is to do! Can you? And the Eldest is Evolving! That's exciting! I wonder..."
"Vibrant! I'm too tired to listen to you for too long today, can you wait a second while we try and get settled?"
The hyper-energetic soldier subsided with a sigh whilst the rest of the Council settled into the crude and cramped chamber that had been prepared for the meeting. A far cry from the luxurious carved surroundings of the normal meeting chamber, this room was intended for use as a Biomass storage chamber, recently emptied of its stockpile in order to fuel the Eldest's evolution. It was small, dark, cramped, and best of all, almost nobody in the nest knew that it was even available. Perfect for a group of ants attempting to avoid being dragged off to torpor.
They were all there, even Antionette and Victoriant. Sneaking that pair out of the nesting chamber was a feat in and of itself. It would have been impossible without the assistance of the Queen, who aided them in the interests of seeing the two younger royals get out of the egg-laying chamber more often. A sedentary life being waited on hand and foot wasn't healthy for a good Queen, in her opinion.
"You calmed down yet, Sloan?"
The general nervously rubbed her antennae through her forelegs.
"I think so. I've been so damned busy, and arranging this on top of everything else has been such a hassle..."
"I feel like those damned torpor enforcers were giving us a break during the siege. A ton of ants, including almost all of us, went well under the required amount of rest and there were hardly any dragged away. Now that the siege is over, they've been popping out of the woodwork all over the place! I lost every member of my two best teams today!" Bella complained. "They just vanished! I walked past their work area one minute, all of them where altering cores, I come back two minutes later, gone! No traces!"
They all shuddered.
"I say they've gone too far!" Advant slammed an antenna down on the rock they'd gathered around with force. "The Eldest did demand that we all sleep, but forcing us to sleep against our will? Don't they understand how much work there is to do?! There's a wave on right now!"
"They're following the commands of the Eldest," Burke wryly informed them, "are you really going to go and tell them that the Eldest was wrong and that their orders don't need to be obeyed? Or perhaps, you want to go to the Eldest and tell them that they are wrong?"
Every member of the Council felt the pain of a thousand thwacks echo from deep within their memory at those words. No. No they wouldn't be going to the Eldest and asking them to change their policy.
"Let's just focus on what we came here to do," Coolant injected wearily, "I know all of us are well past due for a rest, and we will need to enter torpor at some point. Let's make use of the time we have productively."
"Agreed!" The others chorused and they quickly settled in to conduct their business.
"First off, let's go around the table for a status update, starting with the carvers."
"Ahem. Work on the new gates has been progressing..."
The council began their deliberations, each focused on the meeting and trying to take in the overall state of the Colony during this critical time so that they might better offer their own perspective and wisdom. Underneath it all, though none would admit, there was also a slight fission of smug self-satisfaction. They'd done it. It had taken a frankly ridiculous amount of work and preparation, but they'd finally slipped the noose and left the torpor police in the dust. For that reason, the meeting progressed with a renewed sense of energy and excitement, a shared feeling of triumph surging within each member of the council.
The nameless one could almost smell it on them.
Look how happy they are, rubbing their hard work right into the Eldest's face, one of the team members signed from the roof.
Focus, the nameless one signed back in a short, sharp gesture.
She too felt irritated by such blatant disobedience beings shown by the only ants in the Colony to have received the instruction of the Eldest directly, but it was useless emotion that hindered the work. She would pay it no mind.
Be wary of your positioning, she signed again, and saw several shadows shift slightly as the others checked themselves.
The room was small, with hardly any space to operate in. If it weren't for the intervention of the Shadow, they would never have reached this place before the council arrived. Sneaking in with all twenty in the room already would have been almost impossible. As it was, they were limited in how many of the order were able to hide within the chamber, the other teams were positioned in the tunnels outside.
The nameless one looked down from her position at Vibrant in particular. The soldier looked full of energy, practically bouncing with impatience as she waited for her turn to speak. She'd checked the Vibrant board within the Sanctum before she'd left and she knew for a fact it had been three days since the last time Vibrant had rested. Even then, she'd only been in torpor for thirty minutes.
We're going to get you this time, the nameless one promised herself, there's no way out for you now...
Unaware of their surroundings, the council members attended to their business in high spirits. They were halfway through discussing the placement of the second farming expansion when their antennae reacted to a new scent at the same time.
"Working hard I see..."
Each of them froze in place at that sinister scent and slowly turned their focus to the ceiling, where they finally noticed the unnaturally dark shadow above their heads, a shadow that slowly materialised into an ant staring down at them with cold indifference.
"But work time is... OVER!"
"Oh shoot! Everyone scramble!" Sloan cried.
Bedlam erupted in an instant. The two Queens were the first to fall, two ants leapt from the corners of the room and released some sort of sleep pheromone directly onto their antennae, causing them to slump over into slumber almost immediately.
"Come and get me!" Leeroy yelled, her heavy armour clanking and screeching as she tried to manoeuvre in the narrow space.
A wall of ants leapt through the door into the room, dividing themselves instantly amongst the various council members and working to subdue them with expert precision.
Cobalt and Tungstant fell next. It was a close thing, but they were seized and rendered unconscious with strikes to the thorax, cutting off the mana supply to the brain, just as they attempted to slip into a hidden escape tunnel that they must have dug in advance. Overwhelmed, the other council members could only put up a token resistance before, with cries of dismay, they too were taken down.
All except one.
"Too slow! Too slow!" Cackling madly, Vibrant burst out of the chamber and into the tunnel, somehow sliding past the waiting mandibles of the nameless one, who had positioned herself above the door for this moment.
Dammit!
Cursing to herself, the nameless one gripped with two legs and swung her body through the entrance and into the corridor, latching onto the ceiling and sprinting in the same millisecond.
"Nap time, Vibrant!" Came an authoritative voice.
The nameless one looked up and saw that the members of her order had formed a blockade further up the tunnel, using their bodies to close off the opening.
Not enough, the nameless one sighed.
Vibrant merely laughed and accelerated even further. The wall of ants readied themselves for impact, bracing their legs, gripping with their claws and extending their mandibles. There was no way she could get past all of th-
WHOOSH!
Vibrant's entire body flickered and vanished, only to reappear on the other side of the blockade a split second later. She stood there, completely still for a moment, as the ants behind her appeared frozen in time. Then, one by one, they began to fall.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
They peeled off the wall and landed on the hard stone floor, unconscious.
"Tsk! Tsk! Need to keep up!" Vibrant laughed.
SNAP!
So close!
The nameless one had known the others would not succeed and had run straight through, trusting that Vibrant would clear the obstruction for her, which she did. Her sneak attack, launching from the wall, was so close to being a success, but she was noticed at the last second.
"That wasn't half bad," Vibrant clacked her mandibles joyfully," but you'll need to better than that to put me to sleep!"
The nameless one felt helpless as she saw the soldier set her legs. Once she dashed away, there would be no chance of catching up to her...
"See you next time!" Vibrant laughed.
DASH!
BAM!
It took a moment for the nameless one to understand what she was seeing. Instead of vanishing into the distance, Vibrant had somehow tripped herself up and landed flat and on her face! What could possibly have happened?!
"Crin-Crin? ... why ... would ... you?" Vibrant croaked, her face half buried in the stone floor.
Only then did the nameless one notice the bottomless shadow that had formed beneath the escaping soldier, and the many barbed limbs that had emerged to seize hold of her legs.
The Shadow!
Unwilling to let this chance slip the nameless one launched herself onto Vibrant's back and clamped her mandibles down just below her head.
"Don't worry, Vibrant," the nameless one couldn't resist saying, "You'll be in our care for a looong time. Rest well."
"Noooooo....ooooo....oo..."
Struggling to the end, Vibrant finally went limp, but even then the nameless one held and counted to eight before releasing her grip. Her job done, she leapt down from Vibrant's back and bowed toward the deep shadow and the tentacles that were already fading back to nothing. She imagined that one of them waved to her before it sank into the dark, but it may have been a trick of the light.
Later.
And that's how we finally caught Vibrant, the nameless one signed to her friend.
Wow! The shadow in the flesh! You've had a busy shift to say the least! Where were the council when you saw them last?
In the cells, the nameless one couldn't help but have a smug slant to her antennae as she signed her reply, they're getting the full treatment. Massage, carapace wax and shine, aromatherapy, full body clean, the works.
They'll wake up so refreshed!
Yes, the nameless one sighed in satisfaction, yes they will.
Good work, nameless ones. Please take your deserved rest, as the Eldest intended, the acolyte signed to them.
The ants shuffled onto their segment of the fulcrum, the nameless one already feeling her entire body going slack. Torpor awaited, and she readily allowed it to drag her mind to stillness. In eight hours, she would wake, and the hunt would be on once more...
-x-X-x-
Enid once again checked her appearance in the polished brass mirror that the Colony had provided for her room. It normally wasn't something she would bother with, but today's appointment was something special, after all. She knew the Queen, first of her kind amongst the Colony, wasn't exactly royalty in the technical sense, but the giant ant did possess a certain aura that demanded respect and Enid refused to give less than the proper dues as the mayor of Renewal.
The refugees who made their home above were dependent on the Colony in more ways than one. No longer did they rely on the ants for labour or materials, they had grown to the point where they could provide such things for themselves, most of the time, but their ongoing survival still rested in the mandibles of these creatures. Should Anthony and his kind ever turn on them, the town, and everyone in it, would be swept away in an instant.
The elder woman shook her head to dismiss such depressing thoughts from her head. There had been no sign that the ants would ever commit such an action and deep down, Enid herself believed the Dungeon would cease spawning monsters before Anthony turned on the people he had decided to save. Beyn might be crazy in the truest sense of the word, but he was right about one thing: Anthony was a saviour to the people she now looked after and that was unlikely to ever change.
Preparations complete, she gathered her tea pot, tray and small selection of home baked biscuits and moved out of her apartment, closing the newly installed door behind her. The door itself was an impressive piece of work, intricately carved with leaves and scrolls of ivy that framed her name placed right in the centre. A pair of smaller ants had come and placed it only yesterday, using their strangely mobile front claws to nail on the hinges to the wooden frame they glued onto the smooth stone. It didn't have a lock, the ants didn't seem to see the need for locks amongst their private chambers. She idly wondered if thieving was ever an issue amongst the members of the Colony, but quickly dismissed the thought. What would they even steal from each other? As far as she could tell, they didn't have possessions!
Fully equipped, Enid made her way through the tunnels of the Colony, many of which now featured narrow stairs for the human visitors to use. At every stretch, alert soldiers stood at attention, their antennae waving slowly as they kept watch for the ever spawning monsters of the wave. It was remarkable how well the Colony had been able to hold against the unending enemies that came with a wave, their massive numbers helping a great deal on that front, but eventually they would be hard pressed to maintain their defensive posture when the creatures of the lower strata came knocking.
Though she had little doubt they would meet that challenge. She had heard that Anthony had already begun his evolution to the sixth tier, a huge milestone for any monster. How powerful would he be when he emerged? He was likely already the strongest first strata born ant to have ever existed, with the possible exception of his mother, of course.
Enid was undisturbed as she made her way into the very heart of the nest, save for a few guards giving her the once over with their antennae before waving her through. After a short walk, she had entered the most heavily guarded chambers and tunnels the Colony possessed, the brood chambers. All around she could see the brood tenders carrying and caring for their charges, fat grubs the size of small dogs, each one only a few weeks away from emerging as a full grown hatchling, ready to take on the world alongside their siblings.
The grubs themselves were kind of cute, once you got used to them. Even so, the tenders would never allow any but themselves and a select few ants to touch them. Nothing within the nest was defended more zealously than the future generations of the Colony.
With her platter held at the ready, Enid descended into the location of her appointment, the very centre of the nest itself: the egg-laying chamber.
Their work for the day already completed, the three Queens rested in comfort, a guard detachment present even though the offending mana veins had been banished from the walls. She nodded politely to the three massive ants and received a respectful dip of the antennae in response before she sat at the prepared human sized chair and table, placed her tray in front of her and waited.
It wasn't long before a rather harried looking Coolant burst into the chamber, the normally reserved and calm mage in an uncharacteristic fl.u.s.ter as she ran through the entrance. Enid examined the ant mage as she apparently conversed with her mother, the elder Queen's antennae twitching reflexively as Coolant explained herself. There was something a little different about her, in fact, about Antionette and Victoriant as well. What was it?
Her eyes weren't what they used to be so she had to squint a little in the dim light of the chamber but eventually she realised what it was. They were practically gleaming. Their carapace had an unusually healthy shine, with not a speck of dust or dirt to be seen. When they moved, the light shifted and shimmered on the chitin as if it had been polished to a mirror shine. Enid had seen merchant princes who would pay a fortune to achieve this level polish on their furniture! How had they done it?
After a few short minutes, she felt the touch of Coolant's mind on her own.
[Welcome, friend Enid,] the mage said, [I trust you have been well?]
[Hard not to be,] she smiled, [you take such good care of us down here.]
[That is well. Your trip to the surface was without incident?]
In order to stave off mana sickness, it was necessary that she and every other human who visited the nest make regular trips to the surface in order to regulate their mana saturation. Enid herself had a mountain of work to do every time she went back, administering to the seemingly endless developments on the surface. It was almost a relief to declare the need for a diplomatic mission and return to the nest.
[It was. I hope you have also been well, Coolant. You are looking practically radiant today.]
She intended it as a compliment, but the mage practically flinched at her words.
[Yes,] she muttered, [I have... rested... recently.]
Enid laughed.
[Usually we would consider that a good thing,] she said, [yet for some reason you don't appear all too happy to feel so refreshed.]
[The issue of resting is... complicated, within the Colony. Enough of me, I will facilitate the bridge between Mother and yourself.]
A few short moments and then she felt the powerful, brooding mind of the Queen touch against her own.
[Greetings, friend Enid,] the Queen once again dipped her head in welcome, [I have been looking forward to your visit. I must apologise for my daughter,] Coolant shivered a little, [for being late. Managing themselves does not appear to be a strong point amongst some of my children.]
[You are the one who created Anthony, after all,] Enid chuckled.
The Queen's antennae wavered dangerously at the mention of the 'troublesome one' and Coolant took a discreet step backwards, putting herself out of range.
[That one has been able to achieve much,] the Queen admitted, [when not frittering about and wasting time.]
The giant ant leaned forward to inspect the things that Enid had brought with her.
[What is this you have carried here, friend Enid? I do not recall seeing such things before.]
She gestured to each item in turn.
[I have a tea pot, full of freshly brewed tea, a few biscuits that I baked on the surface before coming back down and a few cups.]
The queen poked at the crockery with one leg.
[And what is this ... tea?]
[I'm surprised you don't know, since it was your children who provided the leaves. It's a drink that humans and other races greatly enjoy, made by pouring boiling water over the dried leaves of certain plants. Sometimes it is combined with milk, though I don't much care for the stuff in my old age.]
She reached out and lifted the pot toward the giant monster.
[Would you care for a cup?]
-x-X-x-
Enid wasn't sure if the three gigantic ants were just humoring her or were in fact genuinely interested in the tea. She'd brought it along for herself, a long conversation, even a mental one, needed a good cup of tea in order to keep one's thoughts flowing smoothly. They were quite the curious trio however, so she had brought a few extra cups, the largest that she had, in the event that they might want some. Even so, she was most surprised when the Queen took up her offer, quickly followed up by the other two each requesting a cup.
So it was that Enid Ruther, retired merchant and mayor of Renewal, found herself pouring tea for three massive ants as they crowded around her table, watching her every move with agog fascination.
[After the brew has steeped for a while, the flavour seeps out of the leaves and into the water,] she explained, [usually it doesn't take long, but some plants require more steeping than others. Certain mana rich leaves might need to be soaked overnight, or so I've heard.] She shrugged as she carefully poured. [I'm not certain where your children managed to source this particular variety from, but the flavour is excellent, if I do say so myself.]
She poured a cup for each of them, ensuring that the pot didn't drip, then took a small pouch from one of her pockets.
[Would anyone care for some sugar?] she asked. [I managed to grab some from my hidden supply in my house during my last visit. It's a bit of a luxury, but an old woman needs to keep her energy up, so I say.]
The three ants looked curiously at the small pouch.
[What is this sugar that you speak of?] the Queen asked. [I do not believe I have heard of it.]
[Oh, I'm a little surprised to hear that, considering how the regular surface ants are crazy about the stuff. Though I don't know where you would find a source of sugar down here...]
Enid reached into her pouch and pinched a small amount of the tiny crystals in between her fingers and brought it out for them to see.
[It's a flavouring that we make from sugar cane, a crop that is grown in some places on the surface. It's quite rare in these parts and I brought this pouch with me when I fled my home during the last wave. There isn't much left I'm afraid, but you are certainly welcome to try it. It has a strong, sweet flavour, so rather than eat it directly, we would normally mix in other things, such as a nice cup of tea, or something like these biscuits I brought with me.]
The Queen brought her head closer in order to better inspect the contents of Enid's hand and the mayor forced herself not to flinch as the giant monster loomed over her, the hidden mouth behind the mandibles plainly visible for a rare moment. The antennae drifted over the sugar, smelling the tiny granules that she held in her hand, brushing against them.
[It smells, energizing. Like mana packed into a small space.]
[They are known to house a lot of energy, which is why I suppose most insects will go out of their way to hunt it down. I have to be very careful with my sugar, otherwise it gets stolen by ants in a heartbeat.]
The Queen jerked her head up.
[Which ants have been thieving?! My children wouldn't dare!] Her antennae swished with rage and for a moment it appeared as if she would stride over to Coolant and thwack her right there and then.
[Ah! I meant non-monstrous ants, from the surface!] Enid quickly clarified herself as she held up her finger and thumb, indicating the size of 'normal' ants, [tiny little ones. They can smell the sugar from quite far away and will hunt it down relentlessly. As far as I know, no member of your Colony has ever tasted the stuff.]
The Queen (and Coolant) relaxed.
[I see. I would like some sugar in my tea. Thank you, friend Enid.]
Victoriant and Antionette also enthusiastically requested some sugar be added, so Enid happily mixed a generous spoonful into each of their cups, and then her own.
[Please enjoy,] she said.
It took Enid a moment to realise that none of them were moving, each of the Queens watching her intently rather than making any attempt to drink. It took her another moment to realise that they had no idea how to drink, and were waiting on her to demonstrate. Chuckling to herself, she reached out and picked up her cup, gripping it by the handle and around the brim, which she brought to her lips and sipped.
"Ahhhh," she exhaled.
Where did the Colony manage to source these leaves? They were amongst the best she had ever tasted. Were they seized during the capture of Rylleh?
The three ants watched the tiny human drink from her cup before turning their attention toward their own, miniature drinking vessels. Enid had small, nimble hands, perfect for drinking from such a dainty vessel, but how were they supposed to do it? Their claws were strong, possibly too strong. If they tried to grip the cup and bring it to their mouths, they would surely break. Pick it up in their mandibles? Impossible. Their mouth was beneath the mandibles. How could they drink from the cup if they picked it up this way?
In the end, the Queen solved the issue by having the three of them take turns lowering their head down to the table and drink their tea directly from the cup without picking it up. Generously, she allowed her daughters to go first, then she drank her own. The taste was... different. Unique. She had never eaten any 'human food' before, only Biomass, so was quite unprepared for the flavour. At first she wasn't sure that she enjoyed it. The heat, the lack of meatiness, none of the tell-tale savour that Biomass provided. Yet, there was something compelling about it. The bitterness of the leaves combined with the faint sweetness that faded all too swiftly.
That flavour... it was intriguing. Enervating. She felt a slight tingle rush through each of her limbs as the sugar laced tea slid into her stomach.
[How did your majesties find it?] Enid asked, amused.
Each of them had become immediately still upon drinking the tea, even their antennae, normally constantly in motion, had become stiff with focus. It had looked so comical that she'd had to force herself not to laugh out loud. Now she wondered if she might have made a mistake. Would introducing sugar to the Colony cause some issues? Surely not, right? They were a race of giant ants that fed on mana and Biomass. They didn't have any need for an energy rich food source like sugar.
The Queen turned her attention to the biscuits.
[Friend Enid, do these also contain the sugar?]
Enid looked down at her small plate of ginger nuts, a family recipe that her husband had adored.
[Yes they do. Would you like one?]
The Queen nodded her assent, her focus intent on the bikkies. Trying to hide her smile, Enid placed three biscuits around the table and watched as the huge Queens lowered their mouths to the table and gobbled them down in half a bite.
[I apologise for their small size,] Enid said, [I had intended to eat them as we spoke as they go perfectly alongside tea. If I'd been more thoughtful I would have tried to bake some a little larger. Are you even able to taste them, given how small they are?]
[We can,] the Queen confirmed, somewhat dreamily. [The flavour is faint, but it is there, along with a slight crunch that I find appetising.]
[A good biscuit needs a good crunch,] Enid confirmed, [if they aren't baked correctly, then they're too soft. Overbake them, and they turn hard and bitter. Proper baking is all about the timing.]
[Interesting,] the Queen said. [I thank you for your gifts, friend Enid. May I enquire how your people fare on the surface?]
She wasn't especially interested in humans, but she had learned through repeated conversations with the mayor that enquiring about things the person you were 'chatting' with cared about was a common opening gambit. So she listened with interest as Enid described the goings on of the people, and answered with great detail as Enid turned the conversation back to her, enquiring about life in the Colony and how her children fared. As usual, she took great pleasure in the exchange, although this time a part of her mind lingered on something else.
That night, as Enid returned to her chamber to rest, the first of many hunting parties was launched. These ants would scour the Dungeon and surface with great zeal, for their mother had made a request, and what mother wanted, she would get!
No matter where this 'sugar-cane' hid, the Colony would find it!