Tangling with the big boys, wrestling with the top dogs, that's my job as the strongest the Colony has to offer. The first time I went up against a tier seven demon, it was Grokus, and he very nearly had me for dinner. The last time I tried it, I absolutely annihilated the opponent so quickly they didn't have time to pick their nose.
In fact, it was so fast I'm not even sure they had a nose…. In that instance, I had to go all out to protect the Queen, but here, I can be a little more discerning and test my limits a little more.
I've got enough Biomass stocked away for a decent mutation session, and I'd like to have a clearer idea of just what I need before I commit. This can be my chance for data collection.
The horde we find is several thousand demons strong, and rather worryingly seems to be heading towards the pillar behind us, which leads directly into the territory of the Colony. Considering how busy they've been, I don't think there remain many cities in this area that haven't been visited by the demon hordes. Any non-demon occupants have been excised, so now they need to go looking further afield for targets.
The time when the Colony is going to clash head-on against the demon uprising is fast approaching, but if we play our cards right, we can delay it just a little bit longer.
[Get ready, gang,] I tell the others. [We're going to commit to this one. Not a single demon in that horde is allowed to survive. I want you guys to peel away the weaker demons so I can have a crack at the tougher monsters in the centre.]
The three of them nod in affirmation, pumped up and ready to fight, but someone else pops up to spoil the positive atmosphere.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Eldest?" Protectant pops into existence not far away, looking somewhat tired and bedraggled.
"Of course it's a good idea. We can deal with this threat here and now, and my comrades need precious levels to push them closer to evolution. There's so much winning involved, it almost beggars belief. What's your problem?"
The leader of operation: Silent Shield rubs at the carapace between her eyes with a foreleg, as if relieving a tension headache.
"There are multiple highly evolved demons in there, and thousands of enemies in total. Of course it's dangerous! It's also completely unnecessary. You know just as well as I do that if this demon army climbs that pillar, there is an entire fortress filled with ants waiting to greet them on the other side. They'll be annihilated! So why risk yourself?"
I mean, she raises good points, but there are other things to consider. For example: "Have all of you reached tier six yet?"
Protectant flinches slightly, giving the entire game away.
"Still?! This is getting absolutely ridiculous. I'm going to be getting up close and personal with tier eight demons soon. EIGHT. What do you think is going to happen to one of you if you're three evolutions behind? You'll be evaporated, that's what!"
"This isn't what we were discussing…" she protests lamely.
"Nonsense! We are out here strengthening ourselves for the trials to come, and that includes you twenty slackers! Get your mandibles ready, because you are charging into that horde along with the rest of us, and you're going to like it, dammit! Get all the experience, Biomass and cores you can, I'm going to be too busy to babysit you. Ready?"
"Not rea-"
"Good. Go!"
And we're off! Racing across the plains, my legs are a blur and the air pressure blows my antennae back against my carapace. Tiny whoops with joy as he rumbles forward like an avalanche, a grim-eyed Invidia latched onto his shoulder.
I can sense the twenty baby-sitters falling in behind us as we charge, forced to go along with the plan despite themselves. Gweheheheh. Masterful persuasion tactics, even if I do say so myself.
Up ahead, the demon horde is just as excited to see us as we are to see them. The lead demons go absolutely berserk, red eyed and frothing as they hurl themselves towards us. Once the front of the group gets moving, the rest soon follow, the mass of monstrous flesh soon stampeding in our direction, with those powerful demonic auras washing out from the centre.
Bring it!
The bulk of the horde are weak, mere tier four and five demons gathered from the plains, and I slam through them like they aren't even there. With every chomp of my mandibles or thrash of my head, I send the weaker monsters tumbling out of my way.
Of course, even as strong as I am, it isn't enough to let me run straight through a thousand demons, not without drawing on the Altar, at least. If I need to use it, then I will, but for now, I'll hold back.
"Get off me! I've got stuff to do!"
The moment my momentum stops, the demons pile onto me as quickly as they can, hacking and slashing, biting and punching. Thankfully, my carapace is more than up to the task of deflecting physical damage like this. Acting as the strongest possible armour, the weaker attacks simply bounce off me.
As nice as that is, I still have vulnerable points, namely my eyes and the joints between my armour segments, so I manoeuvre quickly in the confined space left to me. Guided by my brief glimpses into the future and acting with unnatural speed thanks to my enhanced reflexes, I can shift and deflect every strike that aims at my more vulnerable points.
Seriously, though, what's the most efficient way to get rid of these small fry? I can chomp them to death in an instant, but I don't want to drain my stamina. Acid? Probably not. I could use magic, I suppose, but the number of spells required. Ah, forget it, let's try this.
I draw deeply on my gravity mana, compress and form it into the spell I want before unleashing it along with a burst of energy from the Altar.
Taste my Gravity Domain!
The purple sphere of energy expands outwards with me at the centre, larger and darker than I've ever seen it. The moment it reaches full size, the air within the dome changes. All at once, hundreds of demons slam to the ground, no longer able to keep themselves upright as the tremendous force crushes them down into the ground.
All of a sudden, I find myself standing alone, surrounded by a carpet of monsters straining to rise from the floor. Empowered by my gravity mana specialisation and the energy of the Altar, the Gravity Domain has become so much stronger!
"Gweheheheh. That's right, get on the ground. You small fry don't get to stand in the presence of a king!"
-x-X-x-
Looking at all the demons slumped on the ground around me, it's a good feeling. A dangerous feeling!
The dark one is stirring… I can feel his hunger!
Yes! Kneel before me, you worms! Gweheheheheh! Hack! No… I must resist! I cannot allow the light to fall into the shadows. Not today, Dark Anthony! Your time will come, but it shall not be now!
I manage to push the glee I feel at seeing these weaker demons forced into the stone by my gravity domain to one side. There are tier seven monsters lurking about and I can't be taking them lightly. No matter how powerful I think I am, I need to remember that they're the same level of evolution as me.
Behind me, my comrades are going absolutely berserk. With the support of my twenty bodyguards adding to the chaos, the three of them are able to munch through huge numbers of monsters without being in much danger.
Protectant, Guardian and the rest are obsessed with remaining in the shadows to the point that they'd erase their existence entirely if they found a way to manage it and still hang around annoying me.
After seeing the Mythic evolution options and how crazy they got, I'm half worried that they'll all choose to turn into some sort of energy parasite and attach themselves to me. Or something even weirder, that only exists in the minds of those who wish me harm.
Shudder.
They would do it too. Like, they wouldn't even hesitate. Maybe I need to rethink whether I should push them to level up…. Some are tier six already, after all!
I know I can't, though. If even one of them dies on the job, then I'll never forgive myself. Forget bodyguards. I spend more time worrying about their well-being than I do my own.
Wait. WAS THAT THE PLAN ALL ALONG!?
Oooo that's clever. Seriously clever, dammit! I'll need to find out which of the Council came up with this idea. I'll congratulate them on the brilliant idea, right before I thwack them into oblivion.
All right, where are these demons… I've got a lot of anger to work out now.
With the domain active, draining away at my gravity mana and altar respectively, I can walk through the horde almost totally unimpeded. Some of the stronger demons can still move, though slowly. Even if they can reach me, the effort it takes to stretch an arm to hit me makes their attacks totally ineffective. A few brighter sparks start firing spells at me, but my battery of mind-constructs rip the more serious ones to pieces before they can threaten me. My efforts to beef up my defence through evolutions and Skills has brought me to this point, and experiencing the results, I have to say I've done a bang-up job.
Moving through the crowd of monsters in this way, it's easy for me to find the tier sevens, and when I do, I start to wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew.
There are three of them, and they look like a rather intimidating trio. First, there's a big chunky boy, reminiscent of Grokus, though not the same sort of demon. Huge, flabby, and with a slavering, tooth-lined maw. The second is at least a type I recognise, a War Demon. Huge, powerfully muscled, with barbs and blades aplenty for engaging in its chosen obsession. Those types are intimidating beasts, to say the least. Last is clearly a mage type, lithe, with four arms and a surprisingly eyeless head, the monster looks like it means business.
In their enraged state, the three don't waste any time on pleasantries and rush toward me. Immediately, I can feel the difference between these and the other demons. The Fatty and War demon burst into my domain and barely slow down as they reach out to crush my insect legs.
Naive! You think I can't sense these moves coming?
My attackers grasp nothing but air as I react with preternatural speed. I slide to one side and lash out with my mandibles, employing my most devastating bite attack.
VOID CHOMP!
The two monsters are sucked into the centre of the strike zone before suffering the devastating power of the manifested mandibles. These two aren't as weak as the other trash around here. Big and tough, they can take a hit or two.
Zzzzap!
Taking advantage of me being stationary during the Void Chomp, a blast of magic flies through the air and bites into my carapace. Ouch! That sizzles a bit, was that a form of laser magic? Some sort of concentrated light?
Thankfully, my carapace is thick and tough, so whatever they did wasn't able to puncture through it. I knew they'd hit me, but I was surprised they were able to throw out a spell potent enough that I couldn't tear it apart. That mage-type might be the strongest of the three….
"ROOAAAAR!" the War demon bellows in my face and I immediately have to reassess that opinion as the giant creature takes massive swipes, looking to take my head off.
Jeez. Even though I evolved, these guys are still an impressive size. I mean, it doesn't help that I'm so much longer than I am tall, meaning the War demon towers over me, despite being a similar mass. I guess I'll just have to bite your kneecaps off!
VOID CHOMP!
Another devastating bite, unleashed just after I narrowly dodge a dangerous strike.
CRUNCH!
The War demon definitely feels it, but this attack alone isn't enough to take powerful demons like these out of the picture.
Zzzzap!
Argh! Again! I was more ready for it that time. The beam moves so quickly, I have hardly any time to take it apart before it lances into me. Going to have to shift to another strategy.
Kicking my sub-brains into overdrive, I spin together an omni-elemental construct and start to pump out concentrated ice-mana. It's not at its best in this boiling hot environment, but if I condense it enough, it'll do the job. I know for a fact that demons hate the stuff.
The larger demon continually bellows in rage as it barrels towards me, gnashing at the air with its prohibitively sized jaws. I'm convinced the creature is just too damn slow to be a serious threat at this point, but of course it surprises me the exact second I start to dismiss it as a threat.
My antennae tingle with warning and I throw myself to the side in a graceless roll, flailing along the ground as something blasts past me.
What the heck was that!?
I right myself in a hurry, only to find the War demon positioned in front of me, ready to strike.
No you don't!
Dash! In fact, Charge!
Rather than move to the side, I rush full forward, slamming my carapace into the demon's legs and avoiding the worst of the strike. In the corner of my eye I can see what the Fatty had shot at me with such blinding speed. It was a tongue!
He'd shot it out like a frog and was now in the process of winding it back in. Disgusting! Even worse, I can see he's got more of the things in that maw. Who the heck needs more than one tongue?!
Mana at the ready, I unleash a blizzard of ice spears at the mage and Fatty as I untangle myself from the closest opponent. I didn't quite manage to knock the War demon down, but it was close.
These guys are a little tougher than I expected. I suppose I'll have to get serious as well!
-x-X-x-
When a monster reaches tier seven, and perhaps this is especially true for demons, they tend to get some fancy tricks up their sleeves. Grokus had that whole Biomass storage thing, which was a heck of a thing, if I'm being honest. War demons are in possession of a frightening frenzy aura, and grow even more powerful as they take damage, turning them into fearsome destruction engines when they're on the verge of death.
If I were to take a guess, I think the Fatty has something related to those tongues or his mouth. Perhaps a paralytic effect, or some special effect when he bites something? I'd best be careful and make sure I don't get hit. The Mage is a little trickier, but I wonder if she's accelerating her magic in some way. The speed her projectiles come out is way too quick, so fast I can't even dodge, and I know they're coming before she even shoots them!
With the Gravity domain running, I have a constant drain on both Altar energy and gravity mana, but I decide to keep it going. The domain is preventing the weaker monsters from piling into the fight, and it's slowing down the big hitters, even if they can mostly ignore its effects. Importantly, the drain on the Altar is barely more than the replenishment rate, so in practice, I'm still mostly full on energy. It's not like I'd be able to replenish enough during the fight to make a significant difference anyway. The longer this drags out, the more disadvantageous to me. I need to end it with what I have available to me now.
The first to go has to be the War demon, a decisive strike that finishes him in one go. Chipping away at their health is completely the wrong way to go about it.
I've already delivered a few Void chomps to this particular foe and he is loving life, raging more than ever before, limbs bursting with power. As the Fatty creeps closer, looking to fire off another tongue, and the Mage continues to lance me with lasers, the War demon stomps forward, eyes blazing with rage, slashing wildly.
This is getting intense!
So much is happening at once. My antennae buzz constantly and my muscles fire without me having to think about it. Strikes come and I slide left, or jerk to the right. Sparks fly as blades clash against my carapace, skidding off the diamond surface. My brains burn in my head as they work at full capacity, every mind-construct pushed to the limit as a torrent of condensed ice spears fly out, several every second.
Hoooooly moly!
I fling myself over the ground once again, desperately avoiding another rocket-like tongue fired from the Fatty.
That's seriously annoying! Keep your dang mouth shut for a minute yooooouuuWAYO!
A second tongue blasts from that disgusting maw just as I get my legs back under me. Forewarned by my antennae, I desperately cobble together a wall of ice in front of me as I try to push my body to the right.
Yikes and wowsers! I knew he had more than one tucked in there, but I wasn't sure he could fire both so quickly one after the other. I seriously don't want to get hit by that attack….
Might have to change my plans. I think Fatty has punched his ticket to the top of the list.
As everything spins so quickly around me, it's hard not to acknowledge just how much I'm enjoying the battle. I'd missed this! The intensity! Being pushed to the limit and beyond! My monster body is capable of so much, dozens of thoughts at once, impossible reaction speeds, the sheer size and power packed into my massive ant frame.
Flinging it all around, dialling it up to ten and fighting hard, something inside my monstrous body craves this excitement! Like a rocket engine desperate to ignite, every fibre of my ant-body is roaring at me to push them to breaking in order to smash the enemy!
Who am I to disagree?! Let's unleash everything this evolution has to offer. These demons think they can challenge me? I'm the Colony Paragon! My carapace is strong enough to bear the weight of my entire family, these punks won't even be able to scratch it!
I snap my six legs and flex them as the War demon bears down on me and the Fatty reels his two tongues in. I let my energy accumulate as I bring my mandibles back and lock them into place.
All the while, my endless barrage of ice magic continues, most of them shattering noisily against the Mage's shield. It's enough to keep her distracted, which is all I need for now.
Have a taste of the Will of the Colony!
Dash!
VOID CHOMP!
Both skills soak in the power of the Altar as I activate them. The world blurs, stretching out before me as I teleport forward, moving at such ridiculous speeds that the air feels like a wall.
The Fatty jerks back when I appear in front of him before lunging, mouth agape and ready to bite.
Too late, moron!
Activated during my dash, the void chomp is already manifested. Dark mandibles of pure energy, larger and more dense than normal, manifest alongside my own jaws, slamming shut on the void which sucks the demon into the perfect bite range.
CRUNCH!
For good measure, I shift the target of my magic forward, pounding the helpless demon trapped in my jaws with a veritable machine gun of ice.
Not enough? I've got more!
With the constant flow of gravity, my carapace is singing, enhanced by the energy that pours out of me. My whole body resonates to the strange thrum of gravitic energy. It's strangely intoxicating.
VOID CHOMP!
Unempowered this time, my jaws slam shut once more.
[You have defeated….]
One down!
The War demon slams into my side, tons of brutal monster moving at high speed. The kinetic energy would be enough to crumple a truck into a pancake, then throw that pancake into a hydraulic press until it was an atom thick, but I endure.
The carapace and inner-plating absorb the force, transferring it through my legs and into the ground. I buckle, but I don't break. The demon bellows its war cry, shockingly loud, and I snap my mandibles angrily back, the sharp SNAP sounding like a thunderbolt.
Idiot demon, I have the power of gravity at my command and you want to knock me down? There's no chance!
I stop the ice barrage and put all my minds to work on a new spell, drawing deep on my gravity mana as I spin together my latest technique: the gravity well.
Let's see how you like this!
Driven into a mindless rage by the Will of Arconidem, the hapless demon can't do anything but attack without thought, rushing forward again and again. It's all too predictable and I'm able to position him between myself and the Mage, limiting her opportunity to strike until I'm ready.
When the spell is complete, I unleash it immediately, triggering the Altar again.
To my surprise, the Altar practically empties, dumping a huge amount of energy into the spell.
Placed beneath the War demon's feet, the well is shaped to apply its field only to the demon, and he feels the effect immediately… but not for long.
Filled with all the gravity mana I could spare and empowered by the Altar, the well roars into life with dramatic effect. It reaches out, seizes hold of the War demon… and crushes it.
Yikes! That… wasn't pretty. Oof. I have to admit, that's taken my appetite for the fight and put a bit of a downer on it.
Even the Mage demon seems a little off-put by witnessing such a scene, despite the compulsion burning in her mind.
Look, I didn't know it was going to be like that, alright? I haven't tried it before. I mean… I hope there's some Biomass left…. Probably not.
[You have defeated…]
Yeah, obviously.
Well, one to go, I suppose.
-x-X-x-
I turn to the last demon, the mage, and immediately resume my icicle barrage in order to give myself a little time and space.
Holy moly! I'm tired. That took a fair bit out of me, but so long as the Colony is close enough, I will never truly tire. Sure enough, as Will continues to flow through the Vestibule, my brains are soothed, my muscles restored and my stamina replenished.
This is the power of family! Gwheheheh!
With my siblings helping me, I need never fear a tier seven demon ever again!
Having said that, the Altar is looking a little forlorn. The attacks I've used so far have taken a huge chunk out of it, and with the gravity domain active, it won't gain any power either. I'll have to finish this last tier seven without it.
I mean, I could turn off the domain spell, but then I'd be swarmed by the masses of weaker monsters. No thanks. I'd just get bogged down and lasered in the face a bunch of times. I'm not in the mood for a ranged battle against a specialist spell demon. Fighting Invidia once was enough for me to swear off that for the foreseeable future.
My ice spears rocket through the air, shattering noisily against the demon's shield and filling the air with a frozen mist that quickly burns away. Eyes burning with mindless rage, the mage hisses in agitation, returning fire with more lasers that sear across my carapace.
That spell is so damn fast!
Unfortunately for my opponent, it may be able to hit me, but it doesn't pack enough punch to inflict lasting damage to my carapace. With gravity mana constantly flowing, my body is humming at max capacity and the inner-plating is doing its job repairing my exo-skeleton before any weaknesses can really appear.
What I don't want to do is wait around and find out a more powerful version of this spell exists that melts through me, so I need to keep moving and distract the enemy.
As I start to circle around, I decide to change my magic based attack mode. Mind mana, a constant requirement to maintain my constructs, begins to flow brightly as the mana in my core is converted. Experts at handling this particular flavour of mana, the sub-brains and the constructs they work with leap on the energy and begin pumping out mental-attacks.
I've not grown to specialise in these methods, but that doesn't mean they aren't useful. Against Garralosh, the mental-attack was extremely effective, and defending against this method is also important.
Woven with incredible speed, hundreds of strands of mind magic zip through the air, rushing toward the demon. My sudden shift in tactics causes a moment of hesitation, which nearly proves disastrous, before her mind reaches out and begins to shred my mana before it can touch her.
Ooo, that was close. Still, that might keep her more busy and prevent her from firing that -
ZAP!
Yeeeouch! Apparently not. Ah well, at least if my opponent tries to go harder on the offensive, I'll immediately gain ground in the mind war, which is one that she really can't afford to lose.
I pick up speed and circle closer and closer, shortening the distance between us and increasing the pressure of my mind attack. The demon is far from helpless and fires back repeatedly with burning lasers that sear into me and at one point threaten to slice off a leg.
Thankfully, I manage to get myself out of the way before the laser can cut through.
The ol' legs are still my weakest point. I really need to chunk them up at some point, especially the joints. Now that my carapace is truly difficult to penetrate, the go-to tactic of aiming for the joints and legs is going to come back, I can already tell.
Except, it isn't enough to prevent me from descending on this hapless mage.
The pressure of my mental attack continues to build until a few different bits and pieces begin to slip through. Random thoughts, false sensory impressions, sounds and sights that bewilder and confuse. Once it begins, there's nothing the demon can do, and I arrive within chomp range quickly.
Naturally, at that distance, this type of demon is no match for the barrage of physical attacks that rain down.
Holy moly!
I jump back after delivering the final chomp as an explosion of guts and brain matter projects out from the mage.
YUCK!
I always forget that these slimmer demons, and truthfully, even some of the larger ones, are packing a heap of their organs into little pocket dimensions.
[Master, are you alright?] Crinis calls me.
[I'm fine! Just… cleaning up the mess, I suppose.]
I look around at the field of battle and sigh. I've defeated my three opponents, with surprising ease, I might add, but there are still thousands of weaker demons about.
Just so I don't have to bother with them, I let the gravity domain continue as I stomp around, kicking the demons off of my precious Biomass and dragging it all together in one pile. One of the demons is flattened into… I'm not sure what word I would use to describe it, but at least the other two left something behind that I can feast on. This is a rare treat. Tier seven monsters don't grow on trees!
I begin to stuff my face, racking up the points as the weaker demons stumble and crawl on the ground around me. Further away, the battle rages as Tiny, Crinis, Invidia and the bodyguards do their best to fight through the entire horde.
From where I sit, it looks like it's all working out splendidly. They should be finished right about the time I'm done eating!
-x-X-x-
Let it be written here and in no other volume. In these pages, find the collected wisdom of the Cults on the subjects of our reverence.
This page deals with the domains of the Ancients and what little is known. Though none have seen these hallowed places with their own eyes, shards of information have been gathered in other ways, through interrogation of monsters who may have some connection to the Great Ones, through examination of ancient documents or forensic inspection of records provided by our founders.
Despite the best efforts of our collective Cults, by far the best source is the interpretation of dreams.
Through the centuries, high ranking members across Pangera have experienced strangely detailed dreams of the Ancients and their domains. Only when networked together did we arrive at the realisation that these may be more than just figments conjured by imagination, but rather glimpses at a reality we should never see.
How or why these visions occur, there are none who can postulate a valid theory, yet it is the view of the collective Cult that they are real. Here we record for posterity and the eyes of the Hierophants what we have learned, and the holy names bestowed on the domains of the Ancients.
Yarrum the Eternal Worm
In the realm of Yarrum, there is only the worm.
Theorazzn of the Decaying World
A sense of the Decaying World can be seen in the fifth stratum, which, for unknown reasons, the Ancient coloured with its touch many years ago. That blighted place is inimical to life, yet the realm of Theorazzn is beyond even that, a nightmare realm where the air itself drips with deadly toxins. Without proper protection, living creatures are melted to nothing in seconds, decaying into bones that last less than a minute before rotting away.
Syssernix the Dark Spear
Evershade, a realm of almost total and perpetual darkness, is where Syssernix holds domain. Teeming with sightless monsters of terrible power that swim through the shadows like fish in the sea. In the deepest and darkest pools, Syssernix makes her resting place, a coral fortress that none dare enter.
Morribolg of the Fetid Earth
The Living Bog is the realm in which Morribolg makes its home. Saturated in Water and Earth mana, the Bog is bursting with life, and death. The roots of trees curl around bones of long dead monsters, locking them away from reclamation by the Dungeon. Deep in the centre, Morribolg dwells, a living mound of mud that will never let go of anything it touches. Anything that lives within this realm suffers under the suffocating pressure the Ancient exerts.
Carriflare the Hell Flame
Dreams of Carriflare are dangerous. Even in sleep, several members of the Kindling Cult have had their eyes burned out, a terrible price to pay for a glimpse of this god. Within Allfire, Carriflare holds domain. A place of eternal flame, there is nothing within the place that does not burn, even mana. All monsters in this place have adapted to be either creatures of fire, or to survive whilst perpetually being seared by their environment.
Rigorite the Mountain Breaker
A world of metal. Iron mountains, steel rivers, tungsten trees, platinum grass, and other, rarer metals infused with mana make up the realm of Rigorite. A mountainous beast of irresistible strength, the Ancient cuts through its realm like a knife. None of the monsters, the most physically resistant in all the Dungeon, can resist the power of Rigorite. Named for the material of its construction, Metalforge breaks, but is never broken.
Tarriflyx the Hunger
A brother who glimpsed the realm of Tarriflyx awoke screaming to find they had gnawed off their own arm in their sleep. The aura of dreadful starvation that emanates from the Ancient has warped reality itself in this place, creating the Crags of Famine. A blasted wasteland of rock and rent stone, no monster who dwells within can ever be sated. They must fight and eat, always, lest their own stomachs gnaw them from the inside.
Within a crack in the earth, Tarriflyx dwells, ready to drag any who come too close into its dreadful maw.
Arconidem the Demon God
Arconidem resides within the Demon Palace, a grand edifice in which he sits on his living throne, surrounded by his court. Powerful demons each and every one, his court is sustained only by their proximity to the god, for they cannot hope to contest the monsters who spawn within those hallowed halls.
Zothoth Who Feasts on Sanity
All who have dreamt of the realm of Zothoth have gone mad. What little we know has been gathered through the dedicated work of the Cult of Asylum, interpreting the gibberings of those blessed with the vision to piece together a picture of this place. Described as Mind Spike, this realm is a twisted vision of madness. Ever shifting, ever warping, nothing remains the same for long. Atop the Spike, Zothoth makes her home, causing insanity to fall like rain.
Torra the Dread Dog
Wild and unbound, Torra roams the Hunting Grounds when awakened, an oppressive aura of pure terror gripping all unfortunate enough to come near. Dreamers who glimpse the Ancient are known to live in terror for the rest of their lives, screaming and flailing their limbs at the smallest bark. Torra is a solitary hunter with no pack, for no creature can remain in its presence without succumbing to the terror. Even the Hound Cult has no real clue what Torra looks like, since none can look upon it directly.
Gon the Sightless Freak
In the presence of Gon, none may see. Not even in dreams.
Yolesh the Ever Dying
The Ancients' Graveyard is home to Yolesh. Whether the Ever Dying was once defeated and turned into the heart of Undeath it has become, or if that is how it has always been, is unknown. The Ancient's all-consuming aura of death fills the Graveyard. Nothing can die in this place. Not truly. A dreamer saw a vision of himself battling a horror, losing a hand in the combat. The hand animated itself and skittered up his leg, attempting to choke him. In the presence of Yolesh, one would die forever, without ever finding true rest.
Lerrewyn the Grasping Tree
Visions of a lush, ripe, yet rotting forest surrounding an enormous willow have haunted the dreams of the Hanging Cult for centuries. In truth, these visions are a lie. The Willow is real, for that is Lerrewyn herself, the desiccated corpses of monsters drooping down, coiled in her vines. It is the forest that is the lie, for that is also Lerrewyn, her roots having forced their way into the plant monsters of her domain and enslaved them. The Creeping Forest is not an easy place to leave.
Horgran the Butcher
Arising from an ocean of blood, Horgran has raised the Fortress of Flesh. A place of endless gore, the monsters within delight in butchery, but none so much as Horgran. When awake, the Ancient stalks the cavernous halls, hacking apart whatever crosses their path. The Butcher seldom even eats, satisfied with the slaughter alone.
Perrianon of Blood
Winding, narrow veins connected to larger, blood soaked arteries tangled together into a maddened knot form Clotted Heart, the realm of Perrianon. A place of both life and death, the monsters of this place are warped by the contradiction at the heart of the Ancient who dominates them. All bleed, at all times. No ichor, blood or life sustaining substance will remain where it should be.
Kygar the Storm Bringer
The realm of Kygar is known as Stormcloud, for that is what it is. A roiling, boiling cloud charged with such power that anything drawing too close is blasted with lightning as thick as a tree trunk.
In the depths of the cloud, Kygar drifts, surrounded by a hurricane of lightning that follows the Ancient wherever it goes. Powerful creatures hunt within the storm, able to withstand the intense strikes or so swift that they can dodge them. Yet none can approach the Storm Bringer. Even asleep, Kygar is protected.
Ruminominex Shaper of Earth
The Great Mountain claimed by Ruminominex is always in flux, the stone bones deep within shifting according to the Ancient's will.
Even when asleep, dirt and rock will mould themselves around Ruminominex, without any conscious effort on their part.
For this reason, the Great Mountain is a treacherous place to call home. There are no permanent roosts, or caves. At any moment, any tunnel can collapse upon its occupants with the force of a falling mountain. Only those who can survive the extreme pressures live here.
Braxxin who Froze the Sky
The titan known as Braxxin scrapes the roof of its own domain as it stands. From the crown of ice that rests atop the Ancient comes an aura of cold so powerful it permeates the entirety of the Ice Lands. Nothing may move within this realm, save Braxxin. There is no heat, there is no energy, even mana may freeze, falling still within the veins of the Dungeon.
What monsters live here have specialised to the environment, creatures of ice who lie dormant for centuries at a time, waking to hunt only when the Ancient sleeps.
Odren the Father of Monsters
The Cult of Odren, known as the Dungeon Cult, are responsible for the creation of this tome. It is we, who follow the Divine Call of the First, that have stitched the Cults of Pangera together into this, tenuous, cloth.
For that is His will.
To those few who Dream, Odren has appeared in many forms, no two the same. To some, he is a ravenous, enormous beast, feasting on his children through all of time. To others, he has appeared as a wise old man, exhorting them to fulfil his purpose.
The Father of Monsters dwells within the Beast Heart, from which uncounted monsters spring in a never ending tide, pouring into the higher levels of the Dungeon to fight and kill in Odren's name.
They enact his will, as will we.
Always.
- Excerpt from 'Tome of the Hierophants' by Unknown.
-x-X-x-
I really need to mutate my stomach. After powering through the remains of two tier seven demons, I'm absolutely stuffed. Without my capacity upgrades, it would have been impossible to fit them both in. It's a little saddening that my efficiency upgrades give me absolutely no benefit when eating another monster of my own tier, but such is life. Those mutations exist, but I've gotten far more value from my higher Biomass gain from lower tiered food.
As I flop on my side, still surrounded by my gravity domain, I groan and rub at my distended gaster with my back legs.
"Might have gone a little overboard there," I mumble.
With such Biomass-rich fare on the table before me, it's not like I could possibly hold back. Like a bloated uncle at Christmas time, I kept going back for more until it was all gone.
As I flop, I idly check on my mana and Altar and am delighted to find that my resources are barely going down at all. With my increased gravity mana generation while using gravity mana, I can sustain the domain almost indefinitely. I will eventually run out, but with this spell alone running, I can sustain it for hours.
There's enough of the Colony in range to keep the Altar running steady as well. The net result is that I'm able to take some time to digest, undisturbed by the rest of the horde while my three comrades battle fiercely.
It takes them over an hour to finish the fight, but eventually, Tiny, Crinis and Invidia make their way over to me when no more demons remain. Bruised, battered and low on resources, the three of them look absolutely spent.
I stretch my six legs, clean my antennae and stand up.
"Great work, you three!" I congratulate them.
Protectant materialises beside Tiny, looking similarly spent. Her antennae have a definite 'I'm annoyed at you' tilt.
"And of course, great work to you twenty as well!" I say enthusiastically. "A hard fought battle is the best way to rank up your Skills and gain experience. You guys may as well bank some Biomass, and then we'll make our way back to the Colony."
Looking at the field of carnage around us, there should be plenty for all of them to eat.
"Though, I think you need to move quickly…."
If there's one thing that isn't short on the third stratum, it's hungry mouths. Demon larvae are boiling up from beneath our feet constantly, and they aren't picky eaters.
Tiny is already shovelling food into his maw, flicking the little demons off his chosen meals with his salami-thick fingers.
After he evolves again, those fingers will need an even larger food item for comparison… ham, maybe?
All of them rush around the field, stuffing their faces as quickly as they can until they're all full and we depart the field. It's time to get ourselves back up to the Colony.
Invidia and I lift the group up, since climbing isn't all that feasible right now. I have to strain much harder than normal, due to all the extra weight we're carrying, but eventually, we reach the top and crawl into the tunnels.
All of us are feeling lethargic as we digest, so the fighting is sluggish and sloppy to say the least. Thankfully, the demons we meet aren't the strongest and I can swat them away when they get too close.
When we climb up onto the plains of Leng, I feel a sense of safety roll over me. I wasn't truly threatened on our hunt, outside of my fight against the tier sevens, but there's a vast sense of comfort that comes from being back in the lands of my people.
The scent of pheromones is everywhere, trails and markers tingling against my antennae. The Vestibule thunders with energy, the collective will of hundreds of thousands pouring into me in a constant torrent.
[Alright, gang. Let's chill here and digest for a minute. I might as well do a little mutating while I'm here. Crinis, make sure you're prepared for emergency shielding.]
[I'm ready, Master.]
[I can always count on you.]
Tiny snorts loudly.
[And you, Tiny.]
Invidia blinks, slowly.
[And you too, of course.]
Geez. Since when were they all so sensitive? Here in the safety of Colony controlled land, and with the dignity preserved by the dedication of my loyal shadow monster, I dive into the menus and see what I've got going on.
+35 is the maximum I can manage at my current evolution and I've got nothing hitting that prestigious mark at the moment. I think my first order of business should be to ramp up my stomach. After stuffing myself silly, I'm reminded of the importance of ensuring my stomach is as prepared as it can be to accept Biomass.
The question is, what do I improve? So far, I've got a combination of capacity increases and penalty reduction mutations. Either one would be an effective choice right now. I mean, it's hard to go wrong, really. Of the two, the penalty reduction is the most generally applicable, there isn't always enough food to stretch me to capacity, after all.
I flick through the menu, idly scanning for anything else that might be impactful. I mean, I've been through this list a thousand times, so I don't… really… expect to… find… anything?
What the hell is this stuff?!
There are choices here that I've never seen before, I'm sure of it! Why in the hell would new options be popping up now? Some of this stuff looks good, too.
Pocket Dimension stomach, increasing capacity whilst also tucking the stomach away out of the body and in its own space.
Chambered Blitz stomach, adjusting the digestion process to be both faster and more efficient.
Synthesising Stomach Acid, creating additional Biomass from consumed material.
I mean. What the hell?! This stuff is amazing! There's a host of new options, each with crazy, multi-part effects, or new, more potent applications.
I mean, Synthesising Acid? Does that mean I would be like… partially producing my own Biomass?
Wait. Does this mean there are other, new options for my body parts that are available to mutate to +35? Burning with curiosity, I whip open the menu for my carapace and start flicking through it.
-x-X-x-
Well…. This is going to be interesting.
As it turns out, there are new mutation options… crazy ones. Holy moly. What's this all about? Have I ascended to a new stage and at tier seven, you get funky new mutations? Is it the insane level of mana saturation I've been living in lately? Is it the Biomass rich diet of more highly evolved monsters?
A combination of all of the above?
Whatever the case, there's some seriously sweet selections, ripe and ready to be applied to my carapace.
Repelling Carapace - Projects an anti-gravity field around the carapace, pushing foreign objects away.
A literal repellant built into the carapace. It'd be cool, but would likely make it difficult for Crinis to attach herself to me. I don't think selecting that would be good for my health.
Double Carapace - Thickens the carapace. After multiple selections, this mutation will create a complete second layer of your carapace.
That's just stupid! Would anything on Pangera be able to get through that?! Not to mention the cost efficiency. This is effectively giving me an entire new carapace without having to spend evolutionary energy on it! That's just madness!
Trouble is, I'd be way too heavy with that on. My current exo-skeleton weighs tons. I don't mean 'a lot', I mean literal tons.
Mana Infused Carapace - Draws in ambient mana to reinforce and thicken the carapace over time.
That is as sweet as blueberry jam. I wouldn't even have to do anything and the carapace would just strengthen itself. Nice!
I continue to flick through the list, looking at the bevy of new choices and drooling over their incredible effects.
Which to chooooooose? Argh, they're all so good!
I could, of course, go back to my menus and focus on other things, but now that I've seen the incredible power of these new mutation options, I want to get as many as I can.
Eventually, I manage to settle on one that I really like. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it.
Light Holding Carapace - Uses the power of gravity to slow the light reflected from it.
Just delicious. First, it uses the power of gravity without me having to cast a spell, meaning my carapace will always actively be channelling gravity, secondly, the effect is way too cool.
I'll be turning myself into a mini-black hole!
What makes a black hole black? Famously, they have such powerful gravity that not even light can escape their grasp! How does an eye work? Light bounces off stuff and enters the eyeball, which the brain then interprets. What this mutation will do, is make it take longer for the light to bounce off me and enter an eye.
Meaning what people will see when they look at me, is literally an afterimage. They'll be attacking a ghost! Combined with my future-sense and reflexes, I'll be dodging so quick they won't even realise they missed before I'm running off somewhere else!
MUAHAHAHAAAAA!
It's disgusting. It's so powerful, it makes me feel a little sick inside. I love it.
Of course, with just the one mutation, I won't be holding onto that light very strongly. The afterimage effect will likely be a tenth of a second, if that. But if I make it to tier eight, or even nine? After doubling down and then enhancing this mutation, it'll increase the delay. Will it last half a second? Not being able to see me for that long would be insane. I can get a lot done in half a second these days.
Of course, it's not invincible. This is only effective against enemies with eyes, or who use sight as their primary detection method. Mana senses will still be able to pick me out, but I can influence that with my existing Skills, masking my own mana signature. Other, more esoteric methods will also still work, like heat, or heck, even my own gravity sensitive antennae.
With that selection made, I swap over to my stomach again and keep flicking through until I find an option that I like. As much as I want to muck around with other body parts, the stomach is fundamental, the engine that powers the Biomass industry. It must be next.
Grav-Compression Stomach - Uses powerful muscles infused with gravitic energy to compact food to a smaller size and density. Increases stomach capacity, increases Biomass gain, increases digestion time.
Heck yeah. Oddly enough, this mutation comes with a downside, but I don't really care about it all that much. I usually feast on the battlefield, which means packing in as much as I can and getting the heck out of dodge. This mutation allows me to pack more in and then get more out of what's in there.
It's perfect.
Of course, the next organ to get the +35 treatment is going to be my inner carapace plating. It makes sense to upgrade it and the carapace at the same time.
Just as with everything else, there's new mutation options available for it once I bring it up to +35. Never-before-seen applications and variations that all do interesting and powerful things.
But I'm not satisfied. If I want to ensure that the Colony is safe against all threats, and if I want to chomp the Ancients down there for putting this hook in me, I can't be satisfied with immediate boosts. I need something that's going to get more and more powerful as I evolve. Something that will really shine after I mutate it two or three more times.
My plating already does the job I first purchased it for exceedingly well. It absorbs shocks and impacts, making me extraordinarily resistant to slam attacks and the like, as well as healing any damage my carapace receives from the inside.
It's amazing!
In addition, it also has the new effect of compressing gravity mana around me, meaning any spell or gravity effect I create gets that little extra boost. That stuff is all amazing, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to enhance the effects of the crystal flesh that my plating is now formed from?
Poking through the list, I eventually find something that I'm happy with.
Crystal Kinetic Displacement - Allows the Crystal Flesh to absorb kinetic energy and then shunt it to a nearby space.
Basically, I can absorb kinetic energy, then blast someone else in the face with it from close range.
These mutations are the best.
-x-X-x-
Delicious, delicious mutations. Horrible, horrible itch.
How could I describe the itch I experienced when I locked those three in and confirmed them with Gandalf? I'd expected it to be bad, obviously. The moment the wizened, gruff tones of the grey one faded away, I had braced myself for the worst.
It turns out, my understanding of 'worst' was appallingly incorrect.
I felt as if my itches had itches of their own. The first itch, unaccustomed to the sensation, took out its rage and discomfort on me, by itching ever harder. My carapace and plating cover my entire body, so this feeling covered every inch of my outside.
The moment it started, Crinis shielded me from the world, and I flung myself to the ground and engaged in a vigorous rolling session. It did not help.
I tried to use mind magic on myself, to overwhelm my senses with false impressions so I couldn't feel it. That didn't work either. Ultimately, I was forced to surrender to my fate, and thrash uncontrollably until it was over.
The intensity of the itch is related to the sophistication of the mutation, I've known that for a long time. Having my antennae sense the future was a heck of a lot more itchy than having them sense heat. These new mutations are crazy, involving powerful forces and weird dimensional stuff. It stands to reason that having my body change to house these new effects would be an intense experience.
Should have thought of that before I'd done it….
Too late now! Having dealt with that, I check my remaining Biomass and find there isn't enough for much more significant mutating. I'd love to upgrade my Nave and Altar, but without enough to significantly boost the two of them, I'd run the risk of not properly considering them as a pair.
Better to wait and then mutate the two of them in tandem. The more I use the new Altar, the better I understand what it can do, and what I want it to do better. There's no rush, especially when I won't get a second shot at these mutations. The Altar is already made of a top tier material, or at least, as top tier as I can afford. It's unlikely I'll ever reset it.
With that done, I race over to the main nest beneath Roklu to have a word with my favourite three rock-coated people in the world. I really need to know what's up with these funky new options.
[You're pretty much on the right track,] Granin rumbles, scratching at his cheek with one granite covered finger. [Mana plays a part, Biomass richness plays a part. The main thing is your core. A Mythic core can sustain a more powerful and demanding body than a weaker one. Your monstrous form is constantly absorbing and draining mana in order to keep yourself… doing anything, really. Unlike a natural animal, you're totally dependent on mana to keep yourself alive. With the abundance of energy flowing through that fancy new core of yours, you can sustain much more demanding mutations.]
[Then why do they only show up at +35?] I demand. [I had the core already, so why couldn't I pick them from +0?]
[Because only a tier seven monster can get to +35,] Granin harrumphs impatiently. [I can't explain it any better than that.]
Fair enough I suppose.
[How are you finding your current evolution?] Corun asks, eager, like an eight foot tall, ore covered puppy. [You're a mythic monster now, so you should notice a significant jump in power.]
I scratch at my head with one antenna.
[I guess so. Using my new… abilities, I've been able to fight pretty evenly with the other tier sevens I've run into. Though I'm not sure if any of them were mythic.]
[They probably weren't,] Torrina shakes her head. [Basically every tier eight monster is a mythic, but not many tier sevens are. Without a strong enough core to fuel their evolutions, they end up outpaced and defeated by monsters with more concentrated cores. If they'd had the same level of evolutions as you, then I think you might have found them a little more challenging.]
[How many did you fight out there?] Granin asks, curious. [I'd heard you'd smashed one when rescuing the Queen, but what about on this trip out?]
[Three.]
Granin nods, looking a touch impressed for once.
[I'm surprised you found that many and fought them in one outing. Your evolution is paying dividends already.]
[At once.]
….
He looks up at me. I look down at him.
[What do you mean, 'at once'?] he growls in my mind.
[What do I mean? Is… is there another meaning to the phrase I'm not aware of? Where are you getting confused?]
[You're telling me that you fought three tier sevens at once?]
[Yes.]
[Tier seven demons.]
[Yup.]
[And beat them?]
[... Would I be alive if I hadn't?]
[You could have run away!]
[But then I wouldn't get to eat them!]
After a moment, Granin manages to calm himself and shares a significant look with the other two. They seem solemn all of a sudden. Dammit. I should have kept my mandibles shut.
[Nope!] I exclaim over the mental link.
[What do you mean, "nope"?] Corun asks, surprised.
[I refuse to be an Ancient, thanks, baiiiiiiiiiii!]
I turn and run. No way, no how am I getting dragged into their shenanigans. All I want to do is keep my family safe. Everything else is meaningless if you ask me.
-x-X-x-
The Cults have competed for thousands of years, attempting to craft the most superior monster, one with the potential to become an Ancient in its own right.
Such a thing was a dream within a dream, yet it is our purpose. I myself strove for over a century at this very task. I am proud of the work that I did, and the monsters I created were strong, surprising a number of my peers with their capabilities.
A key argument, and one I have listened to and participated in many times, is which sort of monster makes the best base. Should we be using beast archetypes from the first stratum? Or taking advantage of the many special properties shadow monsters possess? Perhaps demons, with their inherent advantages and mana rich bodies, are a better starting point?
Ultimately, the discussion boils down to the simple realisation that the deeper in the Dungeon a monster starts, the stronger it is at tier one, and therefore the stronger it will become as it evolves. Therefore, if you aren't trying to craft an Ancient from the very best materials, ie, the most powerful monster from the deepest layer of the Dungeon you can find, then you are wasting your time.
Yet I now believe we were chasing shadows. I often considered my peers to be foolish in their beliefs, but I rarely considered the same true of myself.
The ant, Anthony. From where does he gain his unique strength? What made him such an incredible specimen?
My theories to this point have been well documented in other places, but now I wonder if there is more to it. Perhaps the act of descending is a key component of his development. Would he have become as strong as he did, if he had not powered down through the layers as he had?
All monsters are compelled to descend by the increasing demands of their cores, but usually, they would do so slowly, as slowly as they could. Better to dominate the third as a tier seven or even tier eight, holding on as long as possible, only then descending to the fourth in relative safety, than rush headlong into danger.
Yet Anthony always rushed headlong into danger. He descended too fast, before he was ready.
The Dungeon rewards such actions. He soaked in more mana, and richer Biomass, at a lower point of evolution than any monster raised by the Cults. I've no evidence to back up this theory, but I put it forward nonetheless.
- From the writings of Granin to the Cult of the Worm.
The three golgari shapers stood in silence for a moment as the giant ant rushed into the distance, followed closely by his entourage of overly powerful pets.
It was easy to forget how large Anthony was now. He'd evolved twice since they'd first met him when he was a tier five. Back then, it had been easy for Granin to look him in the eye; the golgari was close to eight feet tall, after all. Now, the ant towered over him, not to mention his length, which vastly outstripped his height.
"Did he say what I think he said?" Corun wondered.
"He must have had help," Torrina said hesitantly. "With Tiny and the others, he would've been able to fight on par with three tier sevens…."
Granin shook his head.
"Not here. Let's get back inside and discuss in the office."
The Colony was understandably sensitive about their Eldest. He and his triad were tolerated because Anthony confided in them and because they provided a valuable service, sharing their research and knowledge freely with the ants. But standing out in the open and running their mouths about Anthony would be a severe faux pas.
The three made their way inside in silence, moving through the wondrous, carved halls and impossibly graceful stairs until they reached their allocated rooms toward the top of the nest.
"I still don't know why they worked so hard on this section," Torrina shook her head, "the ants themselves basically never see it."
Granin shrugged, but Corun agreed with her.
"I've seen the interior sections they use. They're nowhere near this elaborate."
The outer layers of this nest had been built for… non-ants. Humans and humanoids, as well as one portion designed with the ka'armodo in mind… just in case. The craftants had lavished the many floors set aside for anyone else to use with the very best of their attention. It was ridiculous that they even had artisans with the Skills to produce such works. They hadn't even been alive that long!
They filed into their office and Granin closed the polished wooden door behind them.
"If he'd had help, or relied on the other three to help him, he would have said so straight away," Granin declared firmly.
The other two considered for a moment, then nodded. If he could divert the attention or acclaim onto someone else, then he surely would at the very first opportunity. They'd known Anthony long enough to understand that.
"Which means…." Corun led.
"That he fought three other tier seven monsters, demons, and defeated them in battle, at the same time, by himself."
Which was… absurd.
"That's… not how it works," Torrina said hesitantly.
None of them believed the giant ant had been lying to them, though, so obviously, it did work that way. They just didn't understand how. They'd determined that ants reaching higher tiers were rewarded with powerful evolutions, but they were still handicapped. The boost they received from their above average evolutions should have helped to even the playing field, not let them blow straight past the competition.
"I'd projected Anthony to start pushing ahead of his peers in another evolution, maybe two," Granin said slowly. "With the bonuses he's been stacking up, and the rare mutations he's obviously been taking, it hasn't taken nearly that long. He's already a powerful mythic monster and he's not even tier eight."
Yet.
"If he can do this now. What will he be able to do then?" Corun wondered.
The three let their imaginations run wild for a moment before Granin called their attention back.
"Things are starting to accelerate out of control," Granin said. "Anthony is a candidate for the twentieth Ancient. He has the potential, he has the backing, and he has the approval of the Ancients themselves, evidenced by the Call. He's already become something extraordinary."
"We need to inform the Cult," Torrina said.
Corun hesitated.
"Are you sure that's wise? Wouldn't we be betraying Anthony's trust if we start advertising his strength all over Pangera?"
"We're likely already too late for that," Granin remarked drily. "Our scaly friend is likely to have informed the Red Truth the moment he got home. But that's irrelevant," he waved a hand to brush off that concern. "The stronger he grows, the more danger he will be in. The Cults can help alleviate that. We are all over the world, after all. A monster with this kind of potential only comes around every few hundred years. We need to ensure we put all of our resources behind him."
-x-X-x-
Odin skulked amongst the larvae that covered the ground. Now knee deep, the newborn demons were even more frenzied than normal, hacking and tearing at each other with wild abandon.
He'd been one of them not that long ago, it was difficult to remember that sometimes. Weak, having to climb up over his own kind in order to survive. Just like his life as a human.
Idly, he wondered just how many larvae were spawned across the entire stratum in an hour. Billions? Trillions? Breaking a few eggs to make an omelette was one thing, but the inefficiency in this process was almost offensive to him.
Loss of life was something Odin could relate to, given his previous line of work, but each death was supposed to be significant. It should mean something, when a creature dies. Most of these larvae wouldn't make it past tier two, and none would remember them, or even notice their passing.
Getting melancholic. Focus on the job, he admonished himself.
Lowering his frame, he turned his head from side to side, imitating the sweeping hunter's gaze that evolved demons adopted on the plain. Despite appearances, he only had eyes for the ants.
They were everywhere. Everywhere. Groups combed through the larvae like gold-hunters with metal detectors, every now and again snatching up a specimen and examining it. The lucky, or unlucky demon was either placed back with the others, or stowed carefully in a bag, thrashing like a wild… demon.
Ants travelled in huge lines, thousands of them, following trails just like an ant on Earth would, except these were even more orderly. They carried all sorts of things; metals, ores, Biomass, cores, shipping materials from distant parts of the Plains and pouring them into the gigantic nest that loomed in the distance. It was as if that immense structure were a monster itself, all the wealth and resources that could be gathered for kilometres around were flooding toward it in a ceaseless flood.
Odin was sure he could see them scuttling about on the roof overhead, though what they might be doing up there was beyond him.
Every time a group seemed as if it might come nearby, he would shift his direction, moving away from them without seeming to. A cold, tense feeling coiled around his monstrous guts, a sensation that he had felt only a few times before.
When he'd been ordered to infiltrate the Mariachi gang, he'd posed as a travelling guitarist doing roof repairs to make ends meet. With his sombrero and ladder, he'd made his way into their compound and found himself surrounded on all sides. The ranchera of death drifted from every window and each time light flashed on a sequined vest, he'd felt he had breathed his last.
That same feeling gripped him now. He was deep in ant territory, within the seat of their power. To reach even this seemingly innocuous position, he'd been required to slip past numerous patrols, several mines, six construction projects and what appeared to be a tea plantation.
All in pursuit of that ultimate power that might set him free.
To overcome the demons who had claimed him, and the grip of Arconidem on his soul, Odin needed help. He wasn't accustomed to needing help, but here, in this world, where the rules weren't fully understood, he needed to adapt. If that meant clutching onto the leg of a powerful ant, then that's exactly what he would do.
Over there!
As he swung his head in that sweeping gesture once more, he caught a glimpse of what he'd been hoping to see. Easy to pick out, even when surrounded by others of the same species, the giant ant moved over the plains like a King. Or Queen, probably, considering the norms involved.
Closely in tow were the three monsters he had seen following the creature before. Each was powerful, stronger than he, maybe, but they were nothing compared to what he saw in the one they followed.
There was a gravity to that ant that pulled him in, an unspoken authority and strength that grabbed hold and refused to let go. He could see it in the other ants as well. When the giant one passed them, they would turn, ever so subtly, to watch it go, before straightening and going about their business.
Backed by a society as powerful as this one, this was exactly what he was looking for.
Odin stalked carefully across the plains. Calculating the path of the monster, he angled himself carefully to intercept, but not too closely. This group of four had quite the appetite from what he'd seen. Every strong demon they came across was obliterated in a matter of moments. That would be his fate, if he wasn't careful.
As he moved with perfect nonchalance, every inch the prowling demon looking for prey, he watched the group's movements, and considered his next steps.
There were several ways he could play this, depending on the outcome that he wanted most. If he could devise a way to bring the ant and the demons who plagued him into a direct confrontation without revealing himself, that may be for the best. If the ant was victorious, then he would be free to go about his own business without owing favour.
He could attempt to intervene more directly, reveal himself to the ant and guide it into the conflict. Posing as the helpful messenger, he could reveal the danger and provide advice. The issue with this approach was that he lacked mastery of the magic that allowed him to converse with others. If demon speech existed, he did not know it, so how could he speak to this ant?
Would it even be interested if he did? The ants worked with some demons, that much he knew from observation, but it was a giant risk to take.
No.
Better to play it safe and remain in the shadows, that's where he, Odin the feared assassin, was most comfortable. Decision made, he nodded to himself and then glanced about.
The ant had drifted close, too close for comfort, he would need to adjust his angle. The small demon hovered over its dark carapace, along with the black blob of… something. Good, they hadn't gone far.
Wait. Where was the ape?
Odin reacted just in time to block as a lightning-covered fist smashed into his side. The electricity ripped through his body, causing his muscles to spasm and lock even as his demonic bones creaked from the force of the impact.
Too careless!
He should have been focused like a razor's edge, not considering the future! An idiotic mistake that would cost him dearly.
The giant ape looked surprised that his target hadn't evaporated after that punch. After a moment of consideration, the massive beast's expression shifted to one of eager joy as a broad grin split his features and he pounded his two fists together.
A battle fanatic. Odin had fought this type before. There was only one thing to do.
Acting swiftly, he rose up to his full height, revealing his blades, letting the shine ripple across the bone-swords. As the ape took one bold step forward, Odin gathered strength in his legs and leapt.
A mighty leap!
He flew through the air majestically, covering dozens of metres in one bound, twisting and drifting like an acrobat armed with a dozen blades.
He landed perfectly, directly in front of the giant ant, kneeling on the ground in supplication, his demonic face pressed into the burning rock.
The ant reared back slightly in surprise and Odin felt a flicker of joy as a mind reached out to his own.
[What in the heck?!] a surprisingly young voice rang in the assassin's mind.
-x-X-x-
The demon glides through the air with such exquisite grace, only to land in a perfect kneeling posture in front of me. I'm surprised, to say the least, and reflexively lash a bridge together so I can communicate with this odd specimen.
[Are you bowing?] I ask after my initial exclamation.
This seems very much an Earth thing to do. I can't recall seeing demons bow to each other, regardless of the circumstances. Unless this is some as yet unseen custom of the denizens of the third stratum, then something different is going on here.
[I wanted to speak with you, so I drew close, too close. I gathered the attention of your… associate… and have been forced to reveal myself in order to preserve my life.]
Something about the way the demon spoke, a calm, deep and somewhat quiet voice, told me that he didn't necessarily believe what he said. As if he actually thought he would have a chance against Tiny.
[You think you could take him on?] I say, flicking my antennae to the grumpy looking ape approaching from the side.
[Of course not,] comes the immediate reply.
Again, the tone I got seemed to imply something entirely different. I'm half tempted to throw the demon into a fight with Tiny right away, just to show him what for, but I decide against it. That isn't important right now.
[You are speaking only to me at the moment,] I assure the still kneeling demon, [so you can speak freely. I have to ask… this wouldn't happen to be your second life, would it?]
I watch closely for any reaction, but the demon, with his face pressed into the ground, gives nothing away. Not even a twitch. Fortunately, his body language isn't the only way for me to gain information. The mind bridge connecting us is more than just a channel for communication. As my skill at handling this particular connection and mana has grown, I've been able to glean more from even a simple bridge such as this.
What I detect in that mind is a rapid, lightning fast churning of thoughts as the demon considers how to respond. He's cycling through possible responses like a computer, weighing options, considering outcomes and trying to find the best possible course of action with least risk.
This guy is seriously working his brain right now! I'm surprised I don't see steam coming out of those ears…. I'm kind of befuddled, to be honest. What is he so worried about? I decide to make it easy on him.
[I was originally from Earth,] I confide to him in a hushed whisper, [died and was reborn here as an ant. I presume you experienced something similar? And were reborn as a demon larva?]
If anything, the bubbling churn inside that mind increases rather than the opposite. His thoughts are practically boiling in there! I goggle at the back of the demon's head as he keeps it pressed into the ground. What the heck are you thinking about in there?
Almost involuntarily, I raise an antenna high into the air and bring it down swiftly. A good THWACK will teach this demon to straighten out his mind!
Except, my blow doesn't land as I intend. As if he has eyes in the back of his head, the demon slides back rapidly, using his blade arms to get himself out of the way. A magnificent dodge, especially considering he couldn't see me, but things don't unfold quite like that.
Gifted with foresight, I know the dodge is coming and instinctively adjust my aim.
THWACK!
The demon seems stunned to have been hit, lifting his head up for the first time since that remarkable leap, but I don't give him any time to think.
[Stop twisting your thoughts around in your head and answer the question honestly! Sheesh. Your mind is so crooked, it's like you were a legendary assassin or something.]
The demon grows still.
[You… can see my thoughts?]
I realise then that it may be considered a breach of privacy to peer into the activity of another person's brain-zone. A little too late for that epiphany.
[Not really. A bit. No. Sort of.]
Silence….
[I can sorta sense how your mind is moving through the bridge that connects us. I can't see your exact thoughts or memories or anything of that sort.]
[You… can't… see my memories?]
[No! Of course not. I mean… well… I could, if I used a mind spike and invaded your brain… but I'm not going to do that! So you can relax. I shouldn't have hit you, and I apologise for that, but I could tell you were looking for the most advantageous answer. Just give me the real one, and we won't have any problems.]
The demon eyes me for a minute, and I can sense his thoughts moving in slow, deliberate circles until finally he nods.
[I was a human,] he admits, [from Earth, like you. My name is Odin Malum. I was reborn here in this place… not that long ago, I can't tell how long. I'd rather not talk about my last life if I can help it. I want to focus on this one, if possible.]
Immediately, my heart warms to the little demon and I scuttle forward to tap him on the shoulder with one supportive leg. Man, he must have had it rough on Earth. I mean, my situation wasn't ideal, but I get a feeling this Odin chap had a real hard time.
[I get you, man, I totally get you. Supposedly, the Dungeon only picks out people who had a sucky life and went a bit crazy on Earth anyway. Don't feel too bad about it. Apparently, normal people don't really cope when thrown into the Dungeon.]
[So… there are more of us? Is every monster a reborn human?]
[Heck no! We're super rare. You're like the… fifth I've met? There's me, Sarah, Jim, the Mother Tree and you. And, uh, Garralosh, I guess. I'm sure there are more of us out there, but I haven't come across them.]
There's a lot there to take in, but the demon seems to latch onto one piece of information in particular.
[How do you know the Dungeon only takes in crazy people? Where could you have learned that?]
[From Gandalf.]
He looks at me a little oddly and takes a slow step away, letting my leg fall back to the ground.
[Hey! Oi! That's what I call him since he won't give me a name. When I evolve, I get a little window of time to exchange words with him. Haven't you experienced something similar?]
Sarah hasn't evolved for literally decades, so who knows what her experience will be like the next time around. The Mother Tree sure isn't going to talk to me about her time evolving, so I'm super keen to hear what Odin's is like.
He shivers. Which isn't a good sign.
[No, I didn't speak to any… wizard. I spoke to Arconidem, the Demon God. He… took over my mind. I can feel him now, battering at me, trying to dominate my will.]
Oh. Snap.
[You spoke to Arconidem?! The Ancient?]
I better not let any of those Red Truth lizards find out about this guy. They will lose their cold-blooded minds. At least he hasn't spoken to Yarrum. Granin would be sprinting over here already, having somehow sensed the name of his great and glorious worm… god… thing.
But right now, there is something much more important. I lean forward intently.
[Odin Malum. Tell me. Did you speak to Arconidem?]
He shudders once more, but then, the demon nods. This is good.
[The next time you evolve, I need you to do a favour for me. When you come face to face with him, there's something you have to say to him for me.]
The demon looks a little bewildered by this request. I can tell going face to face with the Ancient again isn't exactly what he wants to be doing.
[W-what do you want me to say?]
I click my mandibles decisively.
[Tell him… that he's a butt.]
Odin stares at me. I stare back.
[A butt…. You want me to tell the demon god… that he's a butt.]
[Yes please.]