I'm not sure what anyone on the other side of the gate was expecting to see, but catching a glimpse of 'the Eldest' as I soar gracelessly through the air probably wasn't it. After I hit the ground I roll several times, legs flailing wildly as I try to slow my momentum.
Dammit Tiny! Was it really necessary to put that much arm into it? That lousy ape piffed me like a baseball. Just how strong is that idiot? I weigh multiple tons at this point!
As I finally get my legs under me and manage to slow my roll I can see many ants standing guard around the gate boggling at me. I wave shakily with one antenna.
"H-hello all. Nice to see you again."
And then the hooks in my soul decide to make themselves known.
HAK! Holy moly! That suuuuuucks…
Tormented by the sudden intensification of the drag I flop onto my back and flail at the air. It hurts! Great googly-moogly that stings! I feel like a fish with a shark hook lodged in my guts. It's deeply unpleasant on a level I cannot hope to communicate.
Heedless of the damage my dignity suffers I thrash my legs like a poisoned spider and shudder in agony. Without realising it, I've actually started to drag myself back towards the gate. Is this what Garralosh put up with for all those years? HOW?! It's not possible, no way.
[Master, are you alright?] Crinis asks, her voice thick with concern once she rushes through the gate.
[No!] I yell. [Not okay! Not close to okay!]
[Should we take you back to the other side?] she asks.
[Yes! NO! Just give me a minute here… ugh.]
Tiny stomps through the gate and, seeing the situation, he rumbles over and mimes picking me up again.
[No, don't throw me again you idiot! Just… don't let me crawl over to the gate. Alright?]
The big ape nods, though he looks slightly disappointed. You enjoyed throwing me that much eh? I silently endure the horrific and persistent tugging on my soul until it eventually becomes something like bearable. Honestly, it's worse than walking around with an inflated core. It's a pain I can't adequately describe. If it's like this on the third stratum, I can't even imagine how I'd feel going back to the second.
This sucks! There are still monsters on the third that are a higher tier than me! I refuse to believe they all trundle around enduring this sort of agony! In fact, aren't there tier eight demons beneath me right now? How are they exempt from this when I'm not? According to the Tree, this sensation supposedly means I'm 'qualified' or have the 'potential' to become the final Ancient, which means all these other monsters who are stronger than me don't possess that?
It's flattering to have my awesomeness acknowledged, I just wish that appreciation manifested in a different form.
Once I'm up and walking I head away from the gate and toward Roklu. If I'm going to find Granin, I'm likely to find him there. Increasing the distance from the gate is met with a corresponding increase in the yanking I feel from the Dungeon, but I grit my mandibles and try to endure it. This is seriously awful. I don't think I'll be able to last up here all that long unless I find a better way to cope with it. Once I evolve, will it get worse? Or can I mitigate it in some way?
Gawd I hope so.
Feeling utterly miserable, I drag my sorry carcass all the way back to Roklu. Sadly, not even the sight of the utterly enormous nest the Colony has constructed is enough to shake me out of my misery. Although it's impressive as hell. I wonder how on Pangera they managed to make something that big? Surely the weight of it would be enough to collapse the foundation. Unless there's some form of superstructure inside? Scratch that, I think they did manage to distract me.
I approach the foundation of the massive anthill and park my rear outside before asking a nearby worker to see if they can fetch the golgari triad. I'd love to crawl around inside this comically impressive construction, but right now I'm just not feeling it. What I am feeling is the incessant claws of the Dungeon pulling at me, demanding I head back down to the fourth.
Get stuffed, Dungeon! If I want to stay here, I will. Maybe, I'll head back to the second stratum for a stroll while I'm at it!
Oof. Or not.
It doesn't take long for the familiar, grumpy face of Granin to appear, thankfully, and he's flanked by Corun and Torrina.
[Granin you curmudgeonly boulder wannabe. What the hell have you done to me?]
The shaper huffs and folds his arms across his granite chest.
[What have I done? Given advice. Everything else that's occurred is on you. I hear you've been mighty busy down below, risking your neck and blowing yourself up.]
[On me eh? And how the hell could you know about me blowing myself up? Wait… you're distracting me. I won't be deceived! Explain this infernal 'Call of the Dungeon' that's yanking my chain. I'm not fond of it! Not fond in the slightest!]
Probably for the first time ever I get to witness surprise on the face of Granin. It looks weird. It's like I walked past a section of stone wall, then turned back to see a shocked expression on its face.
[You feel the call?] he asks.
Even Corun and Torrina appear stunned.
[Are you referring to the immense pain I feel as a result of existing on this layer? When I tried to come through the gate I couldn't even move my body. Having my body controlled by the Dungeon isn't what I signed on for. If this is what becoming an Ancient entails, I want off the ship!]
[Anthony, this is a great honour! Do you understand what this means?] Corun implores, his face ecstatic with excitement.
[Honour my glittering, golden commercial empire! By which I mean my bum! This hurts like crazy!]
[You idiot,] Granin huffs, though I can tell he's excited. [That's not the Dungeon calling you. That's the Ancients. You've got their eye now, boy.]
-x-X-x-
Corun, Torrina and Granin all stare at me with glittering eyes after they reveal that it's the Ancients who've stuck this hook in me rather than the Dungeon itself. At times like this I have to remind myself that despite their intelligence, these three are cultists who essentially worship a giant worm.
[So in your opinion, the fact that the Ancients have done this to me, rather than the Dungeon itself, should change my view of it?]
[Of course,] Torrina nods seriously, [these are the oldest and most powerful creatures in this world.]
[How could it not make a difference? Are you saying you don't care that you've been called by these god-like entities?] Corun entreats me, grinning.
I stare him in the eye.
[OF COURSE I DON'T CARE! Why the hell would it make any difference to me? Are you stupid? Is your brain a worm?! I swear on the Colony, if I ever become an Ancient I'll stick a hook in your guts and haul you around the Dungeon, we'll see if your opinion changes!]
Granin raises both his hands and tries to calm the mood.
[Alright, let's settle a bit. Obviously Anthony isn't thrilled at being in pain. That's perfectly understandable. I'm sure that you can understand why we might be excited though, right? You've essentially been touched by what we would consider to be omnipotent beings.]
[Granin,] I grate out, [even if I wasn't in pain, I wouldn't care about the Ancients. All they are to me can be summed up as 'threats to my family'. Outside of that they can take a long walk on a scenic trail.]
Corun almost winces.
[You really shouldn't talk about them like that, Anthony,] he tells me.
[Or what?] I sarcastically bite back. [Will they cause me discomfort and limit my movements? Wouldn't that be awful.]
I shift as the ache flares within my carapace.
[How are they even doing this?] I complain. [I can't detect any mana that's connecting to me. It's like this sensation comes from nowhere.]
[I can't help you with that,] Granin admits, [nobody has ever been able to figure it out, or what requirements are necessary to trigger the call. Some promising monsters begin to feel it early, perhaps even at tier four or five, but others never do, not even at tier eight. Other than a strong core, we have no idea what causes it to begin.]
Well that's something at least. Are they able to cause this sensation through the core somehow? It shouldn't be possible according to what I know, but these monsters have been alive for literally thousands of years. If they haven't figured things out better than I have in that much time, they're beyond hope.
[All right,] I finally manage to push aside my anger and try to be reasonable. [You can't help get rid of this, is there any way I can mitigate it? Reduce the effects? Right now I can barely operate on this stratum at all, I presume going to the second would be even worse. If the Colony needs help this is going to make it difficult to help them and frankly, I'm not a fan.]
Torrina nods, understanding where I'm coming from. She glances at Granin, who indicates she can answer before she speaks.
[We don't know how to lessen the effects of the call. We only know that when it is in effect, it will be constant. The only way to get rid of it that we've ever found is for the marked individual to … ] she reaches for the right words, [ … lose the interest of the Ancients. Once they no longer believe you are capable of reaching their level, the Call will vanish.]
So if I don't intentionally weaken myself during an evolution this is just going to continue? That sucks!
[They want another monster to reach their level and join their ranks, completing the circle of twenty. For that reason they've reached out and attempted to draw promising monsters to them,] Granin says directly. [It's a crude method, but they are attempting to drive you to descend further, evolve more, fight and survive in ever more difficult conditions. Only a monster who can overcome all of that will be capable of reaching them. That is what we believe.]
I'm about to tell Granin exactly what he can do with his beliefs when a familiar scent wafts against my antennae.
"You aren't being difficult are you, child?"
I turn toward the nest in shock. It can't be! But it is!
Emerging from the elaborate entrance carved into the base of the hill is a swarm of ants who posture aggressively, zipping this way and that as they rush forward to assess any threats. But underneath all of that swarming carapace is a form that I can't forget no matter how much time passes.
"Mother?" I gasp. "Weren't you in the second stratum?"
She'd been up there for ages, in the main nest! She'd even managed to get her guards to let her go out hunting and everything. I kind of thought that would end up being her retirement, in a way. She could go catch her own food, battle and lay eggs, everything she wanted in life. What the heck is she doing down here?
The giant ant steps gracefully closer to me.
THWACK!
Yeouch!
I rub my head with one antenna.
"Was that really necessary?" I ask.
"I felt that you were thinking useless thoughts," she replies calmly.
She raises her antenna again.
"Are you still thinking them?"
"No mother!"
-x-X-x-
Mother looks at me, a twinge of amusement in her eyes as her antennae continue to hover threateningly. I swear she gets far more enjoyment than she should by whacking me on the head. I'm not sure I've ever seen her hit someone else, to be honest. It's not fair!
"Mother. It's lovely to see you as always, I'm just surprised is all. I thought you were very comfortable in the main nest."
"I experienced some issues due to a lack of mana. It was tolerable and I was happy to remain, but now that a secure nest has been constructed in this stratum, there is no reason I shouldn't move down and take up residence here."
"The fact that the Colony is at war in this layer wouldn't have anything to do with it?"
The Queen isn't fazed by my question and replies forthrightly.
"Of course if my children are fighting then I should help. Isn't that normal?"
"I suppose it is," I sigh.
Though I doubt the rest of the Colony were happy with her decision. In fact, the guards crawling all around are throwing me dirty looks for agreeing with her. What do you want me to do? Nobody is going to tell the Queen what to do, least of all me! If I suggest she try and look after herself, all that's going to happen is I get smacked in the head. Still, I suppose I should try.
"Just… try to be careful? A bit? The family would be sad if anything were to happen to you."
"Of course, child. I do not intend to needlessly throw my life away, but I have the ability to help, so I shall."
She looks at me as if I'm a touch foolish to think that she would do anything else. I stare flatly at the guards who now pretend they were never glaring at me to begin with. You morons, now mother thinks I'm an idiot. That's what I get for trying to help you.
"Well, we've had word that there are tier eight demons beneath us. So we need to be careful. If they come up here, we'll be forced into a fight that isn't likely to go well for us."
"Good thing that I'm here then," the Queen declares. "The strongest of the Colony should stand at the ready to repel this threat. Isn't that why you are here?"
"Sort of," I scratch my head with an antenna. "I've got my own thing going on. We aren't expecting them to pop up here anytime soon, but fighting them without any tier seven members is going to be tough."
"Very well, then I will return to my hunt. Be well, child. Try not to cause trouble."
"What, me? When do I eve… yes mother."
Satisfied with my reply, the Queen pats me on the head once before she walks away, trailed by as many as a thousand ants who nervously skitter around her as if expecting powerful monsters to leap out of the air to assassinate her.
The Queen is always going to do whatever she wants, which is nothing less than she deserves after the service she's done for the family, but I wish she wasn't so comfortable risking herself. I know she doesn't think of herself as irreplaceable, goodness knows how many queens we have now, but were she to actually fall in battle the entire family would be plunged into mourning.
Even the ants who've never met the Queen speak of her with such reverence. It's kind of strange to think there's so many members of the Colony who haven't laid eyes on the Queen. Or me, come to think of it. It doesn't seem all that long ago there were only a couple hundred of us and I had to shepherd my less intelligent family members to the surface to avoid the wave.
Now there's thousands and thousands. Maybe even a million? Is anyone even counting? Where's Accountant when you need her? Actually, an ant named Accountant probably does exist.
With Mother gone, I turn back to the golgari with a sigh.
[So there's nothing anyone can do about this and I just have to throw myself deeper into the Dungeon until I'm either dead or a high enough tier that the Ancients accept me as one of their own?]
[Pretty much,] Granin confirms. [There's a little more to it, I think, in terms of what evolutions you choose, and what path you emphasise. From what we understand of the Call, it won't stop until you realise your potential, 'ruin' it, or die.]
[Well that's just… great.]
This sucks. Big time. I'm not interested in being yanked about like a fish on a hook, but it doesn't seem the Ancients are interested in giving me much choice. Unless I can find a way to mitigate this effect, then I'm just going to have to learn to live with it. Learning to live with things is my speciality!
I've learned to live with being an ant just fine, and when I was a human there was that time with the legs. Those bones healed up alright, the pain when walking was less than the hunger pangs, and I dealt with those!
Actually, wait, no I didn't, I died from hunger didn't I?
[Look, kid, I'm sorry I didn't warn you about this. It's out of our hands whether or not this happens, and I won't say we didn't hope for it, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry.]
[Granin, this is too much emotion from you. Don't make it weird.]
Corun huffs a laugh behind his triad leader and even Torrina cracks a smile.
[None of this is your fault, I get that. This is largely a problem caused by me being too incredible and the ancients being gits. Hopefully at some point down the line it'll all work out in the wash. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go bite something.]
[Make sure you check back in with us before you evolve,] Granin reminds me as I turn to leave, [you're going to need a quick rundown. This one's going to be big.]
[You said that about the last one.]
I cut off contact as we get further from the hill.
[Master? Will you be able to fix this problem?] Crinis asks anxiously.
I can feel her wiggling about on my carapace back there, she must have been worried.
[No fixes in the short term, but we might be able to come up with something in the future if all goes well. Invidia, keep your eye open and see if you can find something that is causing me this pain. With your massive brain, you might be able to figure something out I've missed.]
The green eye flashes with glee.
[Your painssssss, I will take itssssss!]
[Don't take it, get rid of it, if possible,] I grumble. I wouldn't wish this suffering on one of my friends! [Make sure I check in with Brilliant when we get back down to the fourth as well. She might be able to pick up on something we can't, given that she has nine hundred different ways to sense information. She's like an ant shaped laboratory.]
Which was exactly what she wanted to be.
[Alright, let's go see if we can help the Colony and beat something up. We're fighting all over the place, so surely there's somewhere we can pitch in.]
-x-X-x-
Deep within Pangera, things were stirring. Stone cracked, ice shattered, fire roared and winds howled. The monsters of this deep darkness revelled in the flood of mana that poured from the centre of the Dungeon, eyeing the rivals with whom they had sparred for hundreds, if not thousands of years whilst younger beasts stepped lightly, desperate to avoid the eye of their elders as they squabbled amongst themselves for resources. This is the world where no naturally born creature had ever set foot.
The final Dungeon.
True horrors lurked amidst the caverns here. Monsters so powerful and ancient that simply breathing in their presence would be impossible, so suffocating was their aura. Creatures who were born of, and soaked in rivers of mana, the rules of their existence warped and twisted by energy. In this place, nothing was as it seemed. That which was solid flowed like water, that which was liquid floated like air. Forwards could be backwards, up could be down and time could be anywhere and nowhere. The concentration of mana was so thick here, reality itself groaned under the weight of it, pushed to the brink of breaking.
Any creature born of such an environment, any monster that could thrive in it, was nothing less than an apex predator and amongst the most fearsome beasts in all of existence. Demons and Gods in their own right, these mighty beings were proud existences, pushing their fiendish intellects to the limit every day over centuries to survive.
And yet.
Something greater stirred now. The truly ancient. The real Ancients. How long had it been? The monsters retreated to their dens, cast glamours and wrapped themselves in shadow as the oppressive, all-encompassing wave of dread washed over them. Had it been so long that they had forgotten? Did they grow complacent? Had they really dared to dream that perhaps now they measured up to the only beasts who still slept beneath them?
A foolish thought.
In a pocket of pure fire that burned like a sun, a being awoke. Though it possessed no limbs, no arms or legs to speak of, it stretched, and as it did so the flame grew yet more dense and hot, until the air, the stone, even the fabric of space and time began to burn. As if rising from a deep ocean, consciousness returned gradually until finally the Ancient broke the surface and awareness returned in a flood.
Fire mana boiled and condensed in the heart of the miniature sun, until it began to harden and solidify. Shards of red crystal, the most pure flame mana in all of the world, began to form. As they formed, cracked and reformed, a tinkling sound could be heard ringing out beneath the ever present roar of hungry flame, tiny flecks of crystal swirling through the inrushing air.
Old, older than the Rending itself, the creature surveyed its surroundings leisurely before expanding its mind. In an instant the monster's thoughts swept over thousands of kilometres of Dungeon, the weaker beings it sensed huddling low in their tunnels as they felt the gaze of a true apex predator touch them, ever so briefly. Fortunately for these monsters, it wasn't them that the Ancient was interested in; instead it reached out, beyond the caverns of unworldly heat that made up its domain and outwards, stretching further to circumnavigate the globe, scanning the entirety of its home stratum.
It searched for its peers.
Responses were mixed. The Demon God was close to waking, its thoughts could be sensed bubbling under the surface as it drew in the mana needed to sustain it. Hunger had awoken, unsurprising, given the way its appetite was never truly sated. The desperate need to eat would always ensure it was the first to return to being fully alert. Yet more had begun to stir, the slow eddies of their sleeping thoughts quickening as their cores basked in the rising mana.
The stench of toxins and death had begun to permeate the edges of the flaming caverns the Ancient called home. With a flex of will it sent purifying fire roaring throughout its domain, purging the corrupting mana. A necessary process when Decay's territory bordered one's own. The poison creeping beyond the boundaries was a sure sign that Decay too was rising quickly. It would not be long before almost half of them had awoken fully. How long had it been since such a thing had occurred?
Carriflare could not recall.
Another mind, terrible and great, reached out to it across the void. It was no easy thing when two Ancients connected to one another. Forces too great to exist in proximity could create unwanted effects if they were to draw close. This meant contacting each other was a delicate thing, the proper distance had to be maintained, lest their prodigious minds clash and unleash destruction across the Dungeon.
It took a moment for Carriflare to recognise the alien thoughts that had extended towards it, a being it had not spoken to for over a millennium. With care, the connection was established as Carriflare worked to withhold its power and its contemporary did the same. The tiniest thread of thought hovered between them, through which each could sense the ravenous power that lay beyond. Much of their exchange occurred as images and feelings, flashes of impression and intent. In the mix, some words were exchanged.
[What hope this cycle?] Carriflare asked.
[SOME,] Odren replied.
That was promising. Such words were seldom given from the Father of Monsters.
[Are there any that you like?]
The Ancient known as Odren was more aware of the goings on within the Dungeon than the rest of them, ever fascinated with the creatures known as Monsters in a way the others simply weren't. They cared for completing the circle, nothing more.
[SOME,] Odren replied once more, and Carriflare could feel the torrential glee roiling within the vast intellect beyond their tenuous link. [INTERESTING BREEDS THIS TIME. FRESH MEAT.]
A crude way to phrase it, but Carriflare understood the meaning. The Dungeon was producing new types of monsters, moving into a new phase in the cycle.
[Is there time?]
Nothing for a long moment. Then:
[SOME. ENOUGH.]
It would have to do.
The contact was broken and the Ancient settled once more into its own mind, its own domain. Yet more mana would be needed before it regained its strength, but for now it could engage in a simple hunt. It had been so long…
-x-X-x-
Hello my dear readers, it is wonderful to be able to share with you the next instalment of my adventures amidst the lands of the Colony! When last we spoke, I had been assured that a meeting with THE Queen was quite simply impossible, outside of a crusade of the most bloody sort to fight through tens of thousands of fanatical insect soldiers! I enjoy a good crusade as much as the next person, but I have to say that even I am not that eager to score an interview.
So with a great deal of reluctance I abandoned the idea of speaking to the Queen. I was, however, eager to continue to explore in the pursuit of finding the 'Great One', the Eldest! Exactly what had this ant done in order to secure such devotion from its Colony? Of course, my guide, Emilia, was replete with stories of this particular individual's excellence. Great battles fought, duels won, incredible feats of strength, cunning, bravery and derring-do!
I have to say, reader, that there could be a very good book in the telling of this ant's exploits. Might I suggest, this author's tenth best seller?
Naturally, I assume some level of exaggeration to be in play, but I am far too polite to push my guide for the exact details! That simply wouldn't do! It pays to be polite at all times, this has been my policy for decades.
My guards and I continued to enjoy the hospitality of the Colony within the second stratum and I must say the sights I beheld were quite beyond my expectations.
After the well regulated expanse in which vast fields of trees hosted the aphids raised by the Colony, we visited a mine. Emelia was quick to assure me that this mine was typical of those operated by the ants and I have to say it appeared to be a model of efficiency. A replenishing supply of Cold Iron, the brittle, freezing ore that can appear in the Shadow Sea, was being efficiently harvested by a rotating team of ant workers. The entire operation was conducted in perfect silence, a trait of the ants that I struggled to adapt to.
It's so strange! No matter how many of them are gathered in one place, the tikky tak of their claws is basically all that one can hear. Emilia assured me that the ants were constantly communicating and were, in fact, quite chatty, but without the ability to understand their pheromonal language, it isn't possible to partake in these conversations.
After visiting the mine, we followed the trail taken by the raw ore into Anthome itself, whereupon it was delivered into the largest foundry I have ever laid eyes on. The heat was so intense, even within this frozen stratum, that the viewing area we were taken to was lined with cooling enchantments on the walls. The air outside wavered and shimmered in the heat rising from the enormous crucibles of molten ore. At least a dozen of these literal melting pots could be seen from our position and Emilia took the time to point out the different minerals being processed and the final products they would be turned into.
Each crucible measured dozens of metres across, giant cauldrons into which tons and tons of material seemed to constantly flow, with waste product and separated liquid metals flowing from controlled outlets at the bottom. From there the precious metals were funnelled into gravity fed pipes and whisked away for further processing elsewhere.
The sheer scale of the operation opened my old eyes to just how vast the industry of the Colony truly was. How many mines like the one I saw would be necessary to feed a foundry like this? A hundred? And this was far from the only such foundry, I was assured. Hundreds of mines, thousands of tons of material that was fed to a literal army of artisans who crafted everything one could imagine, from arms and armour for ants, people or their pet monsters, to furniture, statues and kitchen implements.
The most senior and revered of all the craftsants, was Smithant, and I was especially pleased to be able to meet this individual hard at work at the forge.
"Smithant was one of the original smiths in the Colony and the first to craft armour specifically for use by ants," Emilia told me, a touch of awe evident in her voice as we stood to the side as the large ant beyond feverishly worked the tools of her trade. "It isn't often that she returns to this stratum, as she runs the Colony's largest armoury deeper in the Dungeon. She comes up to teach younger ants sometimes, or to check the quality of the more basic equipment produced here.
Nothing I saw in front of me looked basic. Even my guards were impressed as we watched the dark coloured ant shape the metal; the speed at which she worked was incredible, taking a raw ingot, firing it, and then using a strange, enchanted hammer to pound it into shape. Her six legs were constantly in motion, shifting, adjusting, firing the bellows, changing the angle, operating the hammer. It was almost dizzying to watch.
As she worked, I was able to see how she had adapted her body to her work. One leg channelled pure heat into the metal as she worked it, keeping it cherry red as she plunged one claw deep into the molten steel. In fact, she needed no equipment to touch or move her work, so heat resistant had her body become.
I was even more shocked when she leaned forward and clamped down onto a rod of glowing iron with her jaws directly! Sparks flew as she chomped several times in rapid succession, her mandibles acting as hammers to compress and fold the metal.
Nor did she stop the motion of her obviously enchanted hammer during this motion. The more I watched, the more I felt I wasn't looking at a smith, but an entity who had designed its entire being around metalwork. She had moulded every aspect of herself to better suit her chosen field.
Without a mage present, I couldn't speak directly to this remarkable individual, but Emilia offered to translate for me and I was most eager to learn more.
"Can you ask her what she's working on now?" I led with.
Always go for the safe questions first, readers!
To my eye, the ant before me didn't respond in any way, even after Emilia turned towards her and (I assume) began to speak.
"She is attempting to perfect a new archetype of heavy armour. Specifically, the Mark 10 Layered Armour, Immortal edition."
"Mark 10?"
"Yes. She has developed nine previous versions of this particular armour, I believe. I must confess, Ms Tolly, I am not too certain of the technical aspects."
"What specifically does she mean by 'Immortal edition'?"
"I can answer that. The Immortals are a particular heavy armour division of the Colony. They are famed for their durability, to the point that legend holds that only one has ever died in battle."
Every army in the world has these sorts of stories, but for some reason I always give them more weight when I hear them in the Colony. The ants do not seem to have the capacity to lie.
"Can you ask her why she decided to become an armour smith?" I ask. "I am most fascinated as to why she chose this path."
A brief pause as the two confer and then Emilia comes back to me.
"Armour is good, a carapace is also good, why not combine the two? Would it be possible to create a methodology that would make an armoured ant not a hindrance, but more than twice as durable?"
I blinked.
"Is it? Possible, I mean."
"She says, of course, that is what I did."
-x-X-x-
The first day in the third stratum was the worst. Along with Crinis, Tiny and Invidia, I rushed about trying to put out fires and help the Colony in every way that I could. We took part in the siege of a city, overrunning the defenders in spectacular style, leaping from a pillar that rose ten kilometres high. I left the duel with the city lord to our resident demon overlord though, I don't want to tangle with any more tier sevens if I can help it.
Bit of a silly thought considering there's even stronger demons running amok beneath us, but there it is.
Speaking of Brixin, I don't think I've ever seen a happier demon. With the territory that she controls expanding by the day, her smile was just as wide as her dial. The might of the colony was allowing her to indulge in her obsession for conquest and expansion to the fullest. It wouldn't last forever, or even much longer I think, but for the time being she was happy as a clam.
All well and good. With the city conquered, we didn't rest on our laurels, rushing back down and tearing off to find something else to fight. The Colony has continued to target demon cities that border along the area claimed by the Ka'armodo, which has only exacerbated tensions between us. Border skirmishes are becoming more common and both sides are exerting more pressure every day.
My family has been busy whilst I've been down below grappling with the termite menace. The number of cities seized by the Colony has reached twelve. Twelve! That represents a ridiculous amount of space within the Dungeon, a huge swathe of territory, along with the resources contained within.
The industrial arm of the Colony can be seen everywhere we go. Mines are springing up. Way stations are being constructed inside the mountain sized pillars that rise from the endless plains. Vast smelting operations are being established in the major hubs and every single city is getting its own nest constructed around the base of the pillar. None of them are quite as absurdly sized as the original around Roklu, the scale of that thing is utterly bewildering, but they are still massive.
If they actually get completed, I don't see how anyone is ever going to remove us from the land that we've taken. I mean, are you actually going to go inside those hills and fight us? You aren't coming out, I can guarantee you that!
No sooner we show our faces along the border than we run into a small patrol from the Ka'armodo side, two young lizards and their attendants marching back and forth on our side of the invisible line that separates our territory.
Obviously they would dispute that, but we've had enough of being pushed around by them. The proxy war that they've started on the fourth has put all of us ants on edge. We no longer are willing to tolerate their nonsense.
Despite posturing arrogantly, it doesn't take much for us to run this small squad off with their tails between their legs. A squad of tier six monsters is no joke. When all four of us reach tier seven, it'll take something pretty serious to prevent us from doing what we want, at least up here.
Thinking about it, will I even be able to stay up here when I evolve? I think the mana level would be fine, tier sevens are fine here after all, but what about the Call? As it is, I can't really tolerate it, not forever, but if it gets any worse… I may never be able to come back here.
BAH!
No negative thoughts allowed! The Colony has embarked on an unprecedented campaign of buttocks kicking and I shall channel that spirit! The Call shall be kicked, along with the Ka'armodo, the termites, the Ancients, and anyone else who wants a piece of this business district!
Anthony doesn't back down!
Except when the lizards come back with a patrol of ten Ka'armodo, several of them the older type with extra arms, and almost fifty Setsulah. In that case, I backed all the way down and high tailed it back to safety.
It's nice that they want to show they take me seriously, but do they need to bring out that many? That's overkill dammit! Even if I tried to nuke them with a gravity bomb, there's a chance that they'd be able to break it apart before it could detonate. Even if they couldn't, with that many mages they could shield themselves for sure.
Day one ended with me and the crew hunkering down in a still under construction nest to get some shuteye, something that was exceptionally difficult for me given the pain I'm in.
Eventually I manage to get a little open-eye, at least to refresh me a little.
When I shock myself awake, I take a moment to stretch out the kinks and clean my antennae. I really need to take a break at some point and look at my mutations and skills. I've fallen into a poor habit of not bothering to check my status page on a regular basis, but the upgrades to my important skills come so far apart these days, it's hard to work up the motivation.
I can remember a time when every skill point, every little crumb of Biomass felt like a milestone. Now I need to stack up hundreds of Biomass before I can achieve much, mutation wise.
It's depressing in a way.
But no matter! The spirit is strong and I shall overcome!
… once I get back to the fourth. Right now, I can't concentrate properly given the incessant yanking on my guts.
When we get out and about, it doesn't take long before we find some trouble to throw ourselves at. A scout returned to the nest whilst I was napping and reported suspicious movements from the lizards over the border. Perhaps they're going to pull something now that they know I'm here? A show of strength, of some sort?
Or maybe they just want to lure me out and kill me given the trouble I've caused them. I wouldn't put it past them…
Might as well go and find out.
-x-X-x-
Is the Colony evil? The monstrous ant foe poses a conundrum, as far as enemies go. It's very easy to paint such alien creatures as 'other', distinct from the sapient people of Pangera, and therefore remove sympathy. The ants do not speak, in the conventional sense; they don't even make sound. When describing them to someone with no direct experience of them or their society, depicting them as mindless, soulless and evil, is almost trivially easy.
Unspeaking, unthinking killing machines. Tunnelling through the soil to strike where they are least expected. They have no mercy in them, no kindness. All they know is hunger, all they think of is war.
And such a viewpoint will be swallowed hook line and sinker by the average citizen on the street. After all, what do they know of the Colony? Nothing at all. It isn't as if an ant is going to pop up in the street and prove me wrong. Although their diplomatic efforts have spread further than any might reasonably expect, the common person knows not of these things and has never come into contact with a sapient ant monster.
For those of us with more information, with more academic rigour, we cannot state that they are evil. Their motives may be difficult for us to comprehend, and their actions may not always make sense to us, and therefore seem barbaric and unnecessary, but theirs is a rich and layered society that, while unified far more than our own nations, is not a monolith. They have their own disagreements, negotiations, and strange manner of decision making. They have culture, art, craftsmanship and all the other trappings of intelligent civilisation.
Perhaps what they do could be considered evil, but the Colony itself is far too complex an entity for such simple labels.
Excerpt from 'Modern Morality' by Arcurion.
Well, well, well. The ol' lizards have decided to try and set a trap for little old me. Unfortunately for them, I've never seen a trap I didn't want to stick my head in!
Wait…
Anyway, I'm going for it. I won't be dissuaded! Not that the Colony makes any effort to stop me. When I tell the local generals what I intend to do, they just nod as if that's what they expected all along. In fact, when I sally forth with Crinis, Invidia and Tiny in tow, we find an army of ten thousand ants has already been deployed, waiting in neat ranks for me to leave so they can tag along as I go to confront the wizard lizards.
"Uh, you lot are all heading out to the border?" I ask them, a little surprised to see them.
"Yes, of course. We expected you would go and want to make sure that things don't escalate out of hand."
"You really think the Ka'armodo would try and pull something?"
There's a pause as the general in charge looks at me steadily.
"… yes. We were concerned the… Ka'armodo would start something."
That tone doesn't seem down the line to me…
"You… aren't implying that I'd be the one to start something… are you?"
"Nooooo," the ant drags it out for far too long.
"Fine," I huff. "Be like that."
The way they're acting you'd think that I'm gunning to start a conflict with our new neighbours. I've been so patient with them that it practically hurts! After everything that they've done, don't we deserve the chance to kick their scales in?
The answer is obviously yes! However, it can also be true that the Colony doesn't necessarily need open warfare with an ancient race of powerful mages and their bonded servant race. Let's not be silly, we were lucky to get away with ticking off the golgari, I don't think we'll get lucky a second time. If we give the Ka'armodo a reason to mobilise their real strength, they would probably smash us. We need more time. Time for more ants to be born and trained in the academies, time for the ants in the third to amass experience and Biomass, evolve to tier six.
With enough time, we will be capable of withstanding any assault. The order of the day is to delay. Which is likely why the Colony are making a show of strength alongside me. The best answer to a belligerent neighbour is a show of strength. Let them know you aren't to be messed with.
So I can understand where the Colony was coming from, even if I was secretly hoping to get something started…
Wait! Don't even admit that to yourself! Dammit!
Ten thousand strong, we march through the blasted wasteland of the third stratum, the larval demons cavorting around our legs as we pass. When we finally reach the border, the lizards have beaten us there and through my connection to the hundreds of scouts pouring all over the area I can tell that the hundred lizards in front of us are only a portion of what they've brought to the dance. Trying to hide from the Colony. Foolish!
When I get there, one of the older lizards is standing at the head of their group, so I politely march over with my squad in tow and reach out to make contact.
[Hey there, chief! Nice day to be out for a stroll. Kind of makes me want to find a hot rock and just snooze. Know what I mean?]
The Ka'armodo eyes me through narrowed eyes.
[Yes. It is a pleasant day. The heat is dry, yet the ash is a constant irritation.]
[Couldn't your servants put up a barrier to keep the ash out?]
[I would not drain the Setsulah for such a frivolous reason. Our bond is a sacred trust.]
[Then enchant something. I can't be the first person to think of this…]
[You are not. Why are we discussing sleeping conditions? I am confused.]
I can tell that the last isn't just directed to me and one of the servants steps forward.
[I believe the insect is mocking you, Master.]
[What?] the centuries old giant lizard turns its glare on me.
[What? Hey! That's an unfair characterisation. I was trying to make conversation about a topic that you would find interesting to build common ground between us. Something we're both interested in. Ants also like warmer climates, keeps us moving, keeps us energised. The brood also need to be kept at a warm temperature. Much like an egg. See? We have a lot in common. Like termites, for example.]
The great lizard continues to stare and I lean in closer.
[You wouldn't happen to know anything about termites running rampant in the fourth stratum now… would you?]
The Ka'armodo continues to glare at me, along with its servants and those of another hundred lizards.
[I wouldn't,] he grates and all of a sudden the air has gotten quite tense.
-x-X-x-
The two sides stare each other down, the tension thick in the air. Outside of myself and the elder Ka'armodo, along with his attendants, nobody is listening in on our conversation, but apparently the body language is enough to put everyone on edge. In front of me stand a hundred giant lizards and five times that many Setsulah. If that was all, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, but I know for a fact that twice that number are lurking in the area, laying low, ready to jump in case things go south.
Behind me stands an army of ten thousand ants, lined up in neat ranks, prepared to attack at a moment's notice. I don't doubt that more are mobilising in the area around us, but the Colony is spread across the stratum at the moment, making it difficult to pull massive numbers together. Given a few more hours, I'm sure we could pull ten times this number together, but we don't have the luxury.
You'd think our odds would be good with these sorts of numbers, but in all honesty, the balance of power is even. The only thing that tilts it in our favour is the presence of myself and the squad. With four powerful, tier six monsters hanging about, we have the advantage, and I think they know it. With the ant army backing us up, they don't have the ability to quickly annihilate us, the amount of shields that will appear the moment they get aggressive is absurd, so when the fight drags out we'll explode into their ranks.
So what we have here is a good ol' Mexican standoff.
The only thing I'm not sure of is whether the lizards want to rumble or not. The Colony doesn't, for the most part, but the lizards? Nobody's sure.
[Are you sure you haven't heard of the termites? Mr Ka'armodo? Causing all sorts of havoc down in the fourth stratum. Thousands of them, hundreds of thousands, hell maybe even millions. They've been attacking the Mother Tree, pushing her to the brink. She might be forced to call on her allies, maybe bring the Folk in. If that happens… who knows what'll go down.]
The giant lizard sets his jaw as he folds his arms across his chest.
They look weird, these older Ka'armodo. Their bodies are slightly elongated, the front raised up to something approximating a human chest with two arms. The rest of them is still the same, an elongated body, possibly eight metres from tip to tail, supported on four thick, sturdy legs tipped with barbed claws.
Each one of these guys is basically a monster in terms of their physical attributes. Combined with their powerful minds, it makes a hell of a combination.
[I have already told you, we don't know anything about these termites of which you speak. The Mother Tree is no friend of ours and her suffering brings me joy. She is nothing but a monster, and monsters should be destroyed, for the safety of all.]
That's a little direct. I'm fairly sure that when he was talking about monsters, he wasn't just referring to the tree.
[That's an interesting world view. I'm sure the Legion would be delighted to help you out. Why don't you call them out? Get them down here so we can all tango together.]
A long, slightly awkward silence drags out.
[You can't call them? That's weird, this is exactly their sort of thing. They'd love to be a part of some monster culling like this. Get their hands on the Mother Tree? They'd love it. Or perhaps, they don't have your back anymore, on account of some… shall we say 'toe over the line' activity. The tree hears things, you know? She's got her vines creeping all over the place.]
The Ka'armodo looks decidedly unimpressed.
[You think we need the help of the Legion to crush you? You overestimate yourself profoundly.]
[Is that so? Then why don't you step up and swing?]
A pause. Two armies, poised on a hair trigger, watch the two us. The lizard hesitates.
[… swing what? My tail?]
[No, I mean… like… throw your hands.]
[… how do I throw them? By the sands, speak some sense you absurd insect!]
[Dammit! I mean, attack! Make the first move! If you think you outmatch us so heavily, then attack us and see what happens. That's what I mean.]
[Ah. I see your meaning. These idioms do not hold any meaning for us. I am surprised that they do for you. You don't have hands.]
[That's fair. I should stop using them.]
[Indeed. This causes confusion.]
[Right… so… you want to fight?]
[Oh, no. We will return. For now.]
Before my disbelieving, and frankly, disappointed eyes, the Ka'armodo force, which had been posing so aggressively just moments before, turn tail and begin to retreat. I'm so shocked by the turn of events that I reach out to my opponent almost without thinking.
[Wait! You're just going to leave? Why the heck did you come out here in the first place?]
What's the point of mobilising all of these forces just to pose and drag us out of our nests? Isn't that a colossal waste of time?! Damn Lizards!
[Hopefully I will not see you again, insect,] he replies as he walks away, carelessly exposing his back to us, supreme in his confidence we won't launch the first strike.
The ant army behind me watches in silence as our opponents retreat, our scouts no doubt tailing them from the shadows to make sure they return to where they came from. As I watch them leave, the general who I spoke to before we left approaches from behind and I turn to her, exasperated.
"What the heck was that all about? Are they just trying to waste our time?"
The general doesn't seem nearly as irritated as I am, viewing the slowly emptying plains with calm eyes.
"This has convinced me that they are intending to invade us," she replies. "I will need to report this immediately to the council."
"Hang on, what?! They didn't even want to fight…"
"They are probing us. Measuring our reactions, holding themselves back and testing how much they can push. Eventually they will reach a point where they believe they know what we are capable of. At that time, they are likely to attack. We will need to be ready."
"Oh, we'll be ready," I huff.
But I'm nervous. If the lizards are actively looking for a war, that's another fight we have to deal with. There are tier eight demons going nuts just beneath us! How are we supposed to fight so many opponents at once?
"I don't have long left up here," I grumble to the general. "Let me know what you need done and I'll get to it."
Too many things are piling up, I think it's high time I took care of business. When I get back down below, I'm going to mutate, upgrade my skills and then tear into some termites. If I can wipe them out and get myself to level one hundred and sixty at the same time then I'll be in a prime position to take care of business.
Don't mess with the Colony!
-x-X-x-
"I'm really not sure about this," Isaac muttered under his breath.
[That makes two of us…] his new partner replied.
"I really didn't think they would go for this as enthusiastically as they did."
[It's how we are. If there's an advantage in it, we're more than happy to explore it. Even if it does prove to be… unconventional.]
Isaac felt the massive ant shift beneath him and tried to adjust his position to roll with the movement. The saddle they'd created wasn't quite the right shape, the craft ants having never made anything of this sort before, and it chafed him ever so slightly in an area he would prefer didn't see any chafing.
"I just never imagined that I'd ever be riding on the back of one of you. I mean, I didn't expect that I'd be fighting alongside any monstrous ants, but I got used to that well enough, but to be riding on one? Feels kind of weird. You aren't horses."
[What's a horse?]
"Have you seen a cow?"
[I have, in the farms around Renewal.]
"Right, so think of a cow that's prettier and faster."
[… I do not like this comparison.]
"That's what I mean!"
The once former guard captain heaved a sigh and once again fruitlessly tried to protect his most vulnerable zones from the pommel that rose too sharply between his legs. If it was made of cured leather, that'd be one thing, but that damned armour ant had decided to cover the thing in folded steel. To say he was sweating would be an understatement.
[I believe we are ready for the test. We will count you in starting in one minute's time. Prepare yourself, Isaac, Cavalant.]
"Right then, here we go."
[Make sure you don't fall off this time.]
"You are at least half responsible for that."
[That is somewhat true.]
Isaac grit his teeth and hefted his lance once more. He surveyed the course ahead again, a dizzying trail of loops and whorls that took them between pillars of rock, up the walls, across the roof and back down again. If he just had to hold on, that would be one thing, but the series of targets he was supposed to hit with the lance added another layer altogether.
In truth, it wasn't even a lance, not really, but rather an elongated spear with a slightly heavier head on it. He hadn't bothered to correct the ants about it; after all, what the hell did he know about wielding a lance? On the surface it was a noble's weapon and down below no idiot would be fighting on horseback. The very idea of mounted combat in the Dungeon seemed absurd. But if you were going to ride on something, an all terrain insect wouldn't be the worst choice.
[Focus this time,] chided Cavalant and Isaac rolled his eyes.
The most difficult aspect of his new class was definitely the new mental link he shared with his nominated partner. [Lancer's Bond] was the name of the skill, and even at rank one it provided significant bonuses. Not only were his thoughts connected to the ant he rode, to the point he didn't need to speak aloud if he didn't want to, but to an extent their senses were shared as well. Combined with a quite respectable combat buff, the Class might prove to be a powerful asset, if they could get their teamwork down.
He did his best to concentrate, his thoughts slowly starting to align with those of Cavalant as she settled beneath him, flexing her six legs as she lowered her centre of gravity. When the countdown finished, she would explode from the starting line and Isaac didn't intend to be left behind this time.
[GO!] came the call from the mage and as predicted, Cavalant launched herself forward, all six legs firing in a rapid series of dashes.
The manoeuvre pushed them from a standstill to almost top speed in a matter of seconds and this time he was sufficiently braced to hold on. Gripping with his legs, Isaac desperately clung to his partner's back, straining to hold his lance steady as they raced between jagged pillars of stone.
[We're going up,] Cavalant warned him.
"How could I forget," he growled.
There was a moment of existential terror as they raced directly for the tunnel wall. The image of himself splattered across the rock flashed into his mind, then, with a mind bending twist of perception, Cavalant placed one leg on the wall, then the next, and suddenly they were rushing up.
He had no reins to hold onto, they weren't necessary in this particular rider and mount relationship, but he did have a strap to grip to avoid falling to his death. A handy feature which he now took full advantage of.
"Bloody, plops," he swore as he struggled to keep his balance.
The ant beneath him radiated glee as she raced across the wall, zigging and zagging madly along the trail. For his part, Isaac held fast to his lance and aimed it as best he could, every day of his life spent wielding the spear being channelled into his arm.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Three targets shattered beneath the point of his spear and then, with one nauseating dash, Cavalant was up the wall and onto the roof.
[Grip!] she reprimanded him and Isaac hurried to tighten his legs, desperate to avoid falling.
"I think I'm going to be sick."
[Don't you dare!]
Crack. Crack. Crack!
Three more targets fell as Isaac unerringly pierced them, his arm burning from the strain but still holding firm. Just when he thought he might slip, they zoomed across to the wall and then back down onto the tunnel floor. Isaac gulped down a few steadying breaths, preventing the loss of lunch that had threatened to get out of hand.
[We did it!]
He couldn't tell if Cavalant was more pleased or surprised at their success. When they returned to the observers, he could tell that they too were impressed and a little shocked by what they'd seen.
Which was odd in and of itself. He hadn't been able to tell the emotions of the ants just by looking at them before. Perhaps this was Cavalant's perspective bleeding across the bond?
[At least now we won't have to do that again,] Cavalant sounded happy at the prospect.
"Is it really that annoying having to cart me around?" Isaac asked.
[Not really, I'd just rather be fighting than running tests.]
"That makes two of us."
He'd never reach the person he longed for if he wasn't advancing. He had to be patient, this was a step in the process.
[That was very impressive,] the mage who'd been watching them commented. [It seems this new Class will have direct combat applications. The generals can see a great deal of potential.]
[Well that's excellent,] Isaac replied with his thoughts. [I'm looking forward to getting back out there and seeing what we can do in a real fight.]
[A real fight?] the mage asked. [Oh no, we have long days of testing ahead of us before the two of you will be risked in real combat. We've only just begun collecting data!]
"Plops," Isaac cursed.
[Plops,] Cavalant swore.
-x-X-x-
When the light of the portal fades to nothing and I find myself standing atop the roots of the Mother Tree I practically sag with relief. The pain! It's… not gone! It's mostly gone, faded into the background to the point where I can tolerate it much more easily. And thank goodness for that. I was seriously hitting my limit up there in the third, it was absolute agony. Having that unrelenting pull on the core of my being… no rest? No pauses? Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Except Jim, that foul worm can get Called twice for all I care.
Freed from the worst of it, I take a long moment to bask in the open air of the fourth. Wide open spaces, the gigantic tree overhead, the air brimming with life mana, the fourth really is a paradise by Dungeon terms. In the distance I can see the glittering waters of the vast lakes that lie between the mountains that rise and rise until their peaks are obscured amongst the mist and clouds above. Floating islands the size of cities drift impossibly through the air, raining down water that dissolves into fine rain before it reaches the ground. Just lovely. Filled with impossible monsters of death, but still… good to look at.
One particular type of monster is occupying me right now and that's the termites.
It's time to put an end to it. Initially I wanted more time. I wanted to hold defensively until the Colony had consolidated itself, until our numbers had grown and we'd gained a more permanent foothold in the third stratum. With demon allies, with new resources and with hundreds of thousands of reinforcements, rolling over the termite menace would have been as easy as clacking my mandibles together. Alas, it hasn't worked out that way. Too many enemies loom on the horizon and a protracted fight down here is only weakening us, preventing us from properly dealing with other issues.
Issues like the Ka'armodo getting more aggressive on our borders. Or like tier eight demons causing a ruckus beneath our cities for whatever reason.
The time to mess around with these insect impostors is over! We need to get aggressive, smash their nest and annihilate their queens. Until that inferior, slave Colony has been wiped from the Dungeon, I shall not rest!
To that end, we need to arm ourselves for the final push. That means upgrading my Skills and pushing my mutations to their limits. Once I've mustered all the strength that I can, it'll be time to fight.
Obviously I push my companions to do the same. With all of us approaching the pinnacle of tier six, the amount of power we can bring to bear is nothing to sneeze at. If all goes well, we might earn enough experience through this assault to get us to the precipice of tier seven! Despite the many problems it will cause, the increased dependence on mana to sustain myself, the likelihood of suffering even further from the Call, I'm still excited to evolve. I can remember what it was like for me to go from a hatchling to a mature ant. That sudden leap in strength that allowed me to overcome challenges that had seemed insurmountable before. Ah, how I feasted on centipede tears back in those days. Good times.
Regardless, the time has come! Gimme that menu!
Usually I do the skills first, but this time I'm going to dive into the mutations before anything else. I've been fighting and eating termites for ages, so I have a ton of Biomass to spend. Let's get to it!
First off, I should see what I still have to upgrade from 25 to 30. I mean, basically the entire acid production line back in the business district is in that category, and nothing else. Aside from that, I have to take my sub-brains up from +15 to +30. After that…
Wait, that's it?
That's it! Oh ho! I'm extremely close to completing my perfect +30 across the board form. Magnificent! After that I just need to get my core to where it needs to be and I'll be good to go!
Let me see… to fully max out my mutations, I need…
Six hundred and sixty Biomass, just for the +25 to +30. Then I need another… three hundred and sixty per brain, and I have three of those, so that means another one thousand and eighty. So one thousand seven hundred and forty Biomass in total?
Sweet bearded saviour! That is a hell of a lot of Biomass! Do I even have that much?
No…
But I'm so damn close! I have one thousand five hundred and forty three… So frustrating…
I'll upgrade the brains all the way, and then save up the last little bit I need for the complete acid upgrade. A couple of battles and I'll have all the termites I need to get the food required. Then I can upgrade the commercial empire all in one go.
As far as the brains go, the mutation required is hardly worth thinking about. The sub-brains are fully dedicated mind mana engines of refined excellence! The more mind constructs they can handle, the better!
Punch it in!
Checking the menu, each of them will go from a Mind Mana Focused Sub-Brain +15, to a Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30.
That sounds impressive! With more mind constructs I can handle even more spells, or cast multiples of the bigger more destructive versions. Heck, I may even be able to run a Gravity Domain almost constantly, until my mana runs out of course. Perhaps even a compressed one! Or I can just chuck the handling of my body and spells to the sub-brains and let the main mind focus on crafting a bomb when the need arises. I'm excited for the possibilities!
Alright then. Time to let it rip!
Confirm that upgrade, Gandalf!
CHARANAZINAP! MY FREAKIN' BRAIN(S)!
-x-X-x-
Gawd. Mutating is such an itch in the thorax. Once more, only once more and I'll be done for my current evolution. Though that means I'm drawing ever nearer to the next tier, and who can say how many mutations I'll have to go through in that one? If I reset my carapace, I'll have to go through all of those again, and I have to say they were some of the worst. My entire body, more or less, is covered by the exo-skeleton, and when it changes size or shape, the sensation is truly maddening.
The equivalent for a human would be their skin changing in size or composition over the course of a few minutes.
Horrific. But that's for future Anthony to worry about. Current Anthony isn't going to waste another moment thinking about it, not even in a sub-brain.
I mean, why would I? I've got mad SKILLS to be thinking about. I've been grinding my magic hard, as always. Having multiple brains is a wonderful hack in this regard. No matter how busy I get, I can always have a couple of constructs whipping up a spell and flinging it at a nearby target, or straight up into the air, whenever it's done. This has resulted in some rather delicious gains in key skills.
The final goal is always kept in sight! Gravity Mana Specialisation!
I'm probably not there yet, but when I get through enough ranks of new mana types it'll surely open up.
All right, time to take a look at what I'm working with.
Awww snap. Finally, I've achieved the long sought after upgrade to my biting skill! I've been operating on Doom Chomp, or Doom Chomp, as I've come to think of it, for such a long time. Doesn't have the same heft without that special emphasis within my mind.
Ah yes, it feels like yesterday when I first experienced the true joy of having the energy of my body, or stamina, manifest itself as jaws of pure light that slam shut in front of me. A special moment in my history, of that there's no doubt. Then, the fusion of all of my bite skills gave me the ultimate chomp, that eventually became the pinnacle which came to be feared across the Dungeon.
What could the upgrade be?
[Doom Chomp (V) -> Void Chomp (VI) - A devastating chomp that rips into the material of existence itself.]
That's it? I mean, that's awesome, but that's short. I can't freakin' wait to take this for a test run. This is a big ticket item! A rank six skill! We are freaking flying, baby! One skill point down, let's keep the party rolling! Whoo!
Sometimes you just have to punch it with a whoo.
As I browse through the impressive list of skills that I've acquired over the journey, I can see a couple of other nice jumps that I've reached.
Expert Grip is jumping up to Master Grip, which is nice. I need all the help I can get when I'm this heavy…
Dash has reached rank five! I'm super happy about that one. Flash Dash (V). Sounds impressive! If a bit wordy…
Mana Masking can promote up to rank four, another win for the stealth approach.
Mana Sensing is promoting up to rank five. Definitely going to be helpful.
Oho! Mana Craft is punching up to rank six! Nice one! That's going to be a big deal. That skill is literally the lynchpin of all magic in this world, governing the ease and grace with which one can grasp and shape mana. I can't wait to see how it feels!
Force Magic going up to rank four is nice, without being a big deal.
Exo-Skeleton Defence is jumping up a rank! Also a big deal. Dodge is up to Grandmaster, as is Endure. An all-round increase in my defensive manoeuvring, capacity to avoid attacks and absorb impacts. Winning all around!
Acid shot is up to rank five, as is precise shooting. I'm especially happy about the second, as it affects all aiming, which includes spells.
Oh! Charge and Mandible Spear have both hit the third rank and can be fused! I wonder what the new Skill is called?
Spear Charge?
… really? Isn't that just literally combining the key words of the two skills? Such laziness, Gandalf! That's beneath you.
Chomp Combo has reached rank three as well, which is going to be even more devastating with the Void Chomp. Actually… I could hardly sustain a Doom Chomp combo… the new Void Chomp… oof. It's going to be rough.
Still, this is an incredible wealth of progress! I'm excited!
Looking over all the skills that have progressed into the higher ranks, I'm satisfied with how far I've come. I know Granin likes to say that any skills lower than rank six are basically pure garbage, but I haven't been alive that long, I can't be expected to push myself ahead that far.
In fact, I can probably thank my life of near ceaseless, desperate combat for my rapid advance up the ranks. So hey, an endless series of life and death struggles is good for something, at least.
Punch it with a whoo? Probably not the time.
After looking over all of my skills, I confirm the purchases, knocking a decent total off my skill points, but not really threatening it overmuch. I've racked up a hell of a lot of skill points. I really need to see if there's anything new to buy. Probably not right now, though. I have a lot of new abilities to get used to, so I'm going to sit on what I have for the time being.
When I hit confirm, the warm drizzle of new knowledge creeps over my brain. Then it keeps on a creepin', then some more, until my mind is literally shivering under the deluge of new information.
I probably shouldn't have done all of this at once! A single rank six skill is packed with a lot of stuff, and I just dropped like four of them on myself!
I wouldn't say the sensation is unpleasant, like the mutation itch. It's more like how a single shiver running down your spine is basically fine, but a thousand at once is a rather intense experience.
I hold still on the spot, vibrating as the intense sensation fills my brain. It eventually fades, and I take a look at my complete status, basking in my own glory.
Name: Anthony
Level: 84 (Rare) (VI)
Might: 205
Toughness: 180
Cunning: 145
Will: 100
HP: 360/360
MP: 768/768
Skills:
General:
Grandmaster Excavation (V) Level 1; Master Grip (IV) Level 1; Expert Stealth (III) Level 18; Tunnel Compass (IV) Level 17; Iron Mind (V) Level 15; Master Stamina (IV) Level 22; Still Meditation (IV) Level 39; Flash Dash (V) Level 1;
Mana:
Advanced Mana Craft (VI) Level 1; Condensed Mana (V) Level 1; Grand Finer External Mana Manipulation (V) Level 1; Mana Hoarder (V) Level 1; Layered Mind Magic Affinity (V) Level 36; Extended Directed Mana Sensing (V) Level 1; Expert Healing Magic Affinity (IV) Level 3; Advanced Omni-Elemental Affinity (VI) Level 25; Advanced Mana Masking (IV) Level 1; Wood Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Metal Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Lightning Magic Affinity (I) Level 1; Advanced Force Magic Affinity (IV) Level 1; Advanced Barrier Magic Affinity (III) Level 12;
Pet:
Further Pet Communication (III) Level 20; Core Crafting (IV) Level 18; Pet Growth Speed (I) Level 5;
Defensive:
Divine Exo-Skeleton Defence (VI) Level 1; Grandmaster Dodge (V) Level 1; Grandmaster Endure (V) Level 1; Expert Grace (IV) Level 1; Master Mandible Parry (III) Level 1;
Offensive:
Guided Acid Shot (V) Level 1; Grandmaster Precise Shooting (V) Level 1; Void Chomp (VI) Level 1; Master Chomp Combo (III) Level 1; Spear Charge (III) Level 1;
Mutations:
Senses:
Focal Compound Eyes +30; Future Wave Sight Antennae + 30 (Twilight Filament);
Defence:
Thickened Complete Diamond Carapace +30; Fortified Healing Inner Carapace Plating +30;
Physical:
Fortified Absorption Legs + 25; Mana Drenched Mandibles +30; Hastened Potent Regeneration Gland + 30; Widespread Stinking Pheromone Gland + 30; Expanding Discerning Stomach +30; Coiling Hyper-Twitch Musculature +30; Distributed Instantaneous Sub-Neural Network +30;
Acid:
Propagating Mana-Feasting Bind Acid Gland +25; Guided Hyper Pressurised Scattershot Acid Nozzle +25; Thickened Draining Acid concentration gland +25; Exhausting Thickener Acid Stimulation Gland +25;
Mental:
Indomitable Coordination Cortex + 30; Crushing Gravity Well Main Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30; Mind Mana Mastery Sub-Brain +30;
Mana:
Forceful Unending Gravity Magic Gland +30; Might Infusing Collective Will Vestibule +30 (Soul Crystal); High Purifying Communal Spirit Nave +30;
Species: Colony Paragon
Skill points: 68
Biomass: 508
Having upgraded myself to peak condition, and with my friends and allies having done the same, it's time to descend below and inflict true despair upon the termite foe!
MUAHAHAHAAA!
With my newfound abilities and near-perfect mutations, the termites won't know what hit them. As we march down the extended root system of the Mother Tree, heading towards the village of Bruan'chii in which the Colony has established its forward headquarters, I get to playing.
My mind constructs are almost always in place. By mutating my sub-brains to specialise in mind mana, they are able to handle the constructs for extended periods without rest, despite running hot from the constant activity. When I'm around the Colony, the regenerative energy I get from the Vestibule is enough to soothe the mental fatigue as it happens, meaning I never have to shut my hive mind down.
It basically is a hive mind at this point. I've got over a dozen mind constructs operating right now, each one capable of independent action. With further mutation and another evolution, that may well push to over thirty, or even fifty! Hive mind indeed.
But with my new improvements, I'm especially eager to put them to work. As we walk I spin up each of the constructs and get them working on mana, different varieties, moulding and shaping, compressing, using the omni-elemental construct to create lava, and gas, and stone. I marvel at the ease of it, the relative freedom I have to direct it and shape it as I want.
Compared to how hard it was when I started, this is a joke! Improving my fundamental mana skills is a big deal at this point. I wonder what rank seven will be like? I need to keep pushing forward, grinding and training as much as possible throughout this conflict, to proceed as fast as I can! I should prioritise my force mana also, as it's the candidate I've chosen to work toward the next tier. I won't shift to another mana type until I've gotten to rank five at least!
Except that all of my most devastating and awesome spells are still elemental, so I'll have to rely heavily on that to do most of my damage.
The village is bursting with activity, as per usual. There's thousands of ants crawling over each other in their rush to complete their tasks, a constant flow coming and going as they return from the front or head out. It doesn't take long to find the general in charge; Victor is in the middle of the action, poring over a three dimensional model of the conflict, directing messengers and generals on the path to victory.
"Victor!" I greet her with a hearty slap on the back. "How's things? War going well?"
The much smaller ant rounds on me with a huff.
"Terrible! What did you think was going to happen when you went up top?"
"What? It can't be that bad… things were pretty much on lock down when I left."
"I suppose it's not that bad, but our position is deteriorating every day. The termites, or the Ka'armodo, I should say, are cunning. They've been pushing us non-stop whilst retaining their numbers as best they can. We haven't had time to rest and our defences are constantly being pressed. There must be millions of termites out there by now. The more time passes, the worse the numbers get for us."
"Any reinforcements coming from above?"
"We've been getting a steady flow, despite the fighting above. There's a hundred thousand troops down here at the moment. Enough to hold the line, but the situation is becoming fraught. If the termites mount an all-out assault on one side of the conflict, then we might not hold."
I take a closer look at the model as the endless buzz of activity that had surrounded the general a moment ago has stilled. In my presence, my siblings are polite enough to wait patiently until I'm done barging in and wasting all their time until they go back to their no doubt urgent business. Very nice of them! Such a supportive family, this really is a first for me.
The model that the generals have created is both large and highly detailed, as is their wont. The roots of the mother tree and the various gardens that she cultivates in the area are sculpted to perfection, along with every tunnel, wall and trap that we've created. Markers indicate sightings and the likely position of termite troops, and things are looking grim. We are basically defending half of a sphere as the enemy builds up beyond our walls. It looks like the tree has stepped in to help. At the very least, she's covering some of her roots herself, freeing Colony resources for other areas. Unless something happens soon, we'll be locked into a very drawn-out defensive war.
"Well, I want this conflict done with," I declare to the shock of all around me. "We've got too many things to deal with right now and we can't have the lizards dragging this out. I'm going to make some moves and try to kill as many termites as I can. Depending on how successful I am, you can take advantage of any gaps that appear and kick them where it hurts."
Victor absorbs this information, slowly tapping on her own carapace with a single antenna as she thinks.
"Aren't you worried that this is what they want?" she asks. "If you go out there, it's almost a guarantee that they are going to collapse on you. They've tried it before. Do you really think you can fight your way out of a million termites?"
"Fight my way out? Why would I want to do something like that? The real question is… will a million termites be enough to take me down?"
"I suppose we're going to find out."
"Yes we are."
All the ants around me stare intently as I make my declaration. I can tell what they're thinking, and to be honest, it's kind of heartwarming. Each and every one of them is thinking that they won't let me die. Not to worry, everyone. I won't be the one turning into Biomass.
By the end of the week, the termite queens will have fallen to my wrath! This is my declaration!
[Crinis, Tiny, Invidia. We'll go and find Sarah, then we'll head to the front. Time to get to it.]