“The Academy has been running on schedule. We should have our final class of graduates ready twelve hours before the horde arrives,” Florence chipped in.
Grant the soldier nodded. “We’ve got as many troops as possible battling and strengthening themselves in the Dungeon. Every Skill Level counts at this point.”
“How many are down there?” Sloan inquired.
“A touch over four hundred, at last count.”
“Combined with the harassing forces we have in the field, we’ve committed a lot of soldiers outside the nest. Is the queen secure?”
“Of course!” Grant huffed, her antennae twitching in irritation. “Do you think we’d leave Mother in any way vulnerable?”
Sloan raised her own antennae in a mollifying gesture.
“I apologise. Of course you wouldn’t. How goes the preparations of the Mage caste, Coolant?”
Coolant raised her head, as if she hadn’t been paying attention and only tuned in once her name was spoken.
“What’s that?” the Mage ant asked.
Sloan bit back a curse. Damn Mages, always had their heads in a cloud.
“How are the preparations going for the Mage caste?”
“Oh! Right as rain. We need a ton of Skill Levels before we can be truly useful, so the new Mage ants are in the Dungeon, assigned to teams with the soldiers. We’re hoping to have one hundred combat ready Mage ants in time for the battle.”
All the members of the council waved their antennae in approval at this. It had been a risk to produce so many this close to the arrival of the horde, but recent breakthroughs in the Academy program, as well as Coolant and Propellant nailing down their desired Skill progression path, meant the time to develop a new Mage ant had been drastically reduced. With the numerous Skills required to be effective, the Mage ants were still a long-term investment for the colony, but their help would be invaluable in distracting the enemy mages.
“We project our project should be completed in fourteen hours,” Bella the Core Shaper chipped in.
“That’s cutting it close,” Advant the soldier frowned.
“Modifying cores is exhausting and difficult work,” Bella defended her caste. “Not to mention there aren’t that many of us.” The second statement was a little cutting, since the Core Shapers had been neglected in favour of other castes.
“Considering the number of shadow beast cores we’ve handed over, the results had better be worth it,” Advant muttered.
Ellie bristled.
“You needn’t be concerned. Our early field tests have been extremely promising. The first Shaper teams with their modified beast pets will be deployed to the Dungeon in the next two hours. We think you’ll be impressed at their effectiveness.”
The council nodded soothingly toward the grumpy member. It was well known that the Shapers had a near perpetual headache due to spending every spare moment modifying cores in order to raise their Skills. Elligant and Bella had been desperate to prove the worth of their caste, and the shadow beast pet initiative had been their best chance to date.
“Has there been any word from the eldest?” Victor turned to the two scout leaders.
Burke and Wills both shook their heads.
“Not a peep. We’ve got scouts keeping an eye on the eldest, obviously, but it’s been difficult to get close. Lightning storms, fireballs, even boulders and ice spears seem to be filling the air around the eldest almost constantly.”
The council shifted uncomfortably at that. None wanted to see the eldest fall.
“From last report, the eldest is still alive and battling the mage servants to try and gain the experience required for evolution. No need to worry.”
“By distracting the mages, the eldest has ensured our advance force has been able to operate in much safer conditions,” Victor affirmed. “Casualties have dropped massively, and the damage inflicted on the horde has risen accordingly.”
The twenty fell into silent appreciation at the risks the eldest was taking on behalf of the family. All except one Soldier, who, when considering the glorious, almost suicidal fight their senior was embroiled in, couldn’t help but curse softly.
“Lucky bastard.”
112. Get ’em
Damn this horde. Damn it to its monstrous, scaly core. I’ve been at this for hours now. Engaging in an endless tug of war with Setsulah mage servants, and to a lesser extent, their hidden master who remains tucked somewhere in the centre of the slowly moving monster mass.
Thankfully, Garralosh hasn’t reared her ugly head again. When I felt that aura pressure mounting on me, my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth and into my loving face-hands. I am not ready nor willing to go face to face with that giant mega-monster yet. Hopefully after I’ve evolved, I’ll have some chance of dealing with it, though I’ve no idea how. I’ll be evolving into a tier five creature. Although I’ve been told that Garralosh may not be as highly evolved as I think, she must be tier six or seven. I refuse to believe she’s tier five. Refuse!
Given that’s the case, I do have hope. I think the queen is tier five, which means she’ll advance to tier six, with the aid of the rare core, no less. Although a lot of her evolutionary energy has been spent on her reproductive capacity, I’m hopeful that between the two of us, we’ll be able to hold off the big croc and the Ka’armodo from devastating our family members.
Claws crossed.
But to get to that point, I need to defeat some monsters and that is proving difficult.
Oh snap! Lightning!
BOOM!
Throwing myself to the side at the last moment, a jagged lance of light stabs down from above, sending a burst of soil into the air. Stupid Ka’armodo! Annoyed, I pick myself up and wave one claw at the sky.
I know you’re watching, you stupid Lizard Wizard! Too bad I don’t have any fingers, otherwise I’d give you something to look at!
I generally don’t like to be rude, but this lizard is really getting on my nerves. Every time I take a rest anywhere close to the horde, the pot shots come out. To say that it’s getting irritating would be an understatement. Without my Future Sense antennae, I’d have been thoroughly cooked by now.
Procuring raw XP is getting harder and harder the closer the horde gets to the nest. I can’t afford to wait much longer!
At least I’ve managed to gain a few Skill Levels:
Name: Anthony
Leveclass="underline" 39 (Special core) (IV)
Might: 41
Toughness: 29
Cunning: 44
Wilclass="underline" 35
HP: 58/58
MP: 186/240
Skills: Expert Excavation Level 5 (III); Deadly Acid Shot Level 7 (III); Enhanced Grip Level 6 (II); Advanced Shattering Bite Level 15 (IV); Advanced Stealth Level 9 (II); Splintering Chomp Level 2 (IV); Tunnel Map Level 7 (II); Mana Transformation Level 13 (III); Advanced Condensed Mana Level 7 (III); Finer External Mana Manipulation Level 8 (III); Empowered Mana Sensing Level 9 (II); Core Surgery Level 6 (III); Expert Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 14 (III); Distant Pet Communication Level 5 (II); Flicker Dash Level 2 (III); Expert Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (III); Expert Stamina Level 5 (III); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I); Mana Coveter Level 1 (III); Expert Cerebral Endurance Level 19 (III); Profound Meditation Level 10 (III); Advanced Precise Shooting Level 8 (II); Severing Bite Level 18 (III); Advanced Mind Magic Affinity Level 7 (II)