Point of View: Queen
Several days have passed since we finished constructing the Mother Nest. With that, the problem of shelter was resolved… but another emerged immediately.
Abominations.
These creatures stalk my children when they leave to hunt. They ambush them. Devour their bodies. And most irritating of all, upon death, they leave no corpses behind.
Perplexing beings.Useless as resources.They only take.
The only valuable thing they possess is the Origin Energy released upon death. And that energy belongs to me.
All thanks to the ability obtained after ascension.
[Will of the Swarm: Your mind is connected to that of your children, you can share senses and command them within your range. Level: Ascended 1 (Initial)]
Thanks to this ability, the entire Mother Nest and its surroundings were under my control. I saw through their eyes. I heard what they heard. I felt what they felt, when necessary.
When my children killed abominations, the system delivered the reward to me. Not to them. Because it is I who directs them.
But energy is not everything.
Food was beginning to run scarce.
This continent had never been generous to life. Even before the arrival of the abominations, animals were few. Now, with each passing day, hunting became more dangerous and less rewarding.
I was searching for a solution when one of my workers discovered something unexpected.
A structure.
I felt its connection to me weaken. That immediately drew my attention. Two days later, I understood what it was.
A dungeon.
Its name did not interest me.Nor did the system notifications.
Only one thing mattered.
Dungeons produced resources.
And I would use them.
I deployed five hundred workers and three hundred soldiers. All at mortal level. My children were physically weaker than other creatures of the same rank.
That had never been a problem.
We do not fight with strength.We fight with numbers.
I ordered a total assault.
There were no warnings. No caution. The swarm advanced like a living tide. Within minutes, several beasts fell. Something felt strange.
They did not flee.They fought.
But it did not matter.
After securing enough prey, I ordered a retreat. Night attracted too many abominations. I would not waste unnecessary effort.
Nothing was left behind.
Enemy corpses.Fallen brothers.
Everything has value.
We returned day after day. Until only one remained.
An iron bear.
Five meters tall.Far too strong for a mortal rank.
I gathered everything available.
The attack was constant. Relentless. My children died easily, but they did not stop.
Ten minutes later, it fell.
The cost was high.But acceptable.
[You have cleared a Rank Zero Dungeon][The dungeon has entered cooldown]
When the entrance vanished, I felt no sense of loss.
Next time…we will be more efficient.
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