They both nod an antenna.
“Alright. I’m not sure exactly what the council has ordered you to do, so let me ask this: Do you have to follow me wherever I go?”
“Yes,” the two answer immediately.
“Okay. Thanks. Secondly…”
DASH!
I’m off!
[Let’s go, Tiny! Invidia! It’s time to strike a blow against the tin cans!]
Full of a desire to inflict pain on the invaders, I rush down the tunnel at top speed, my pets hot on my heels. I don’t even need to turn my head to see the two babysitters freeze in shock before chasing after me in a panic. Gwehehehe. No matter what, you’ll get dragged into my schemes! You think the council will be able to prevent me from quenching the fires of rage that burn inside my heart?
The sight of my family members broken and dying around me refuses to leave my mind. I refuse to not strike back!
I have to be careful about it, I understand that much. If I get caught by a large number of those armoured soldiers, then I’m going to get myself killed, which isn’t going to help the colony at all. The tiny voices that trickle through my Vestibule demand that I fight, though, and I’m fully inclined to listen. We make a wide loop, trying to avoid the front, and circle into position between the fort where we last fought and the camp occupied by the enemy.
I’ve spent hours running through this area and adding it to my Tunnel Map whilst they built their stupid camp. I have it well mapped out. Only a small portion of this remains dark to me, mostly around that weird root I found. I’m still interested in investigating that a bit further, but first, I must attend to my business.
Once we come close enough, I engage full stealth mode, creeping as much as possible from cover to cover and sending Crinis ahead to scout, hiding in the shadows. The soldiers are frequently sending scouts out into this area, usually in teams of five. By myself, I won’t be able to take them on, but with my full crew, I have confidence. Short of some unholy demon like that axe-wielding freak arriving, we’ll be able to win.
It’s not a fair fight—it’s an ambush!
Dishonourable? Who cares about dishonourable? My dead family members don’t care! When we come to a likely location, I carefully begin to dig a hidey hole for us whilst employing my new Skill. That’s right! The technology of the ant is always evolving! I think this Skill became unlocked when I ranked up External Mana Manipulation last, but I didn’t notice until recently.
The Skill? Mana Masking! This Skill grants knowledge of how to conceal Mana signatures of monsters and other sources from detection. Although it’s only rank one since I just bought it, this is going to come in handy. I have to dedicate a sub-brain to managing the load, but it’ll be worth it. Perhaps if the Skill was high enough, I’d be able to hide a Gravity Bomb from detection, but there’s no way it can do that now. I only hope it’ll fool the soldiers long enough for them to come close. It’s important enough to risk the Skill Point to purchase it anyway.
With our hiding place dug and my brains busily constructing a false Mana impression around us, we settle in and wait. Crinis extends tentacles into the shadows, using her advanced senses to keep watch.
Fortunately, we only have to wait an hour before Crinis passes word.
[Master, five are coming.]
94. Short… and Sharp
With Crinis’ announcement, my entire carapace tenses—metaphorically. It’s time, I’m ready for action, my entire spirit is primed and filled with ire. These tin-people have hurt my family and now I’m going to return the pain.
[Steady, Master. Control the Mana.]
My ever-faithful Crinis provides a timely warning and I check myself. My emotions had begun to get the better of me and my Mana disguise was fluctuating. Cursing myself for my carelessness, I sink deep into the Meditation Skill, pushing my distractions away and sharpening my minds to their limit. No mistakes, no emotions.
My main mind runs a quick check of preparations. Gas Mana Construct is ready to go, my first spell already constructed and held in waiting. My legs are flexed, like coiled springs, ready to leap from the hiding place in half a second. All I need is the word.
[How long, Crinis?]
[They’re coming. I don’t think they sense me, or if they have, they’re pretending. I am ready to strike at any time, Master.]
[Wait for the rest of us.]
[Yes, Master.]
A tense silence.
Then another mind intrudes on my own.
[Fight?] Tiny asks.
[Almost.]
[Fight…] he responds, despondent.
[Just wait ten seconds, you thick ape! Just how badly do you want to punch something?]
He looks at me seriously, bat-face all twisted thoughtfulness as he considers my question. Tiny holds up ten fingers and nods solemnly.
[A ten. Is that out of ten?]
He nods again.
[So you reaaaaaally want to fight?]
Another nod.
[I have just one more question. Just a quick one. If I were to ask you the same question another time, do you think you’d ever, under any circumstances, give me an answer other than ten?]
A slight pause, then a slow headshake.
This idiot.
[They are slowing down. I think they sense something, Master!]
[Attack!] I send the mental roar at my pets as my legs fire, and I rocket out of the hole.
Fifty metres away stand five heavily armoured figures, their weapons up, having sensed something was off about this stretch of tunnel. Too late!
With a thought, I unleash my prepared spell, blasting out a fierce tornado toward the soldiers. Sharp winds cut into the rocks, sending stone shards into the air and destroying visibility. Not that I mind.
[Tiny! Move it!]
The ape was slower than me at getting out of our crammed-in hole, but once he finds his feet, his wings unfurl and he bounds forward, hands outstretched, Invidia riding on his back. Barriers form around the soldiers as they raise their shields and activate their defensive Skills to fend off my spell. It’s all the time we need to close the distance.
POW! POW! POW! POW! BOOM!
Acid flies and explosions ring out the moment the wind dissipates. The noise is sure to bring swift attention down on us, but I’ve decided we’ll hold nothing back in order to achieve this victory. We close the distance in a flash, my mandibles wide open and a Doom Chomp already forming.
CRUNCH!
The soldiers are disciplined and show no fear, slashing out with their weapons and attempting to get into formation, but we don’t let them. I’ve noticed these people are far more powerful when they work effectively together, which means disrupting their teamwork is our top priority. This is the role Tiny is playing to perfection as the enraged ape lashes out with lightning-coated fists smashing everything in his way.
His absurd strength is on display, battering through the soldiers as they attempt to dodge and duck out of the way, treating him like a bull.
CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!
My sub-brains continue to pump out wind blades, firing them every moment I can find a target. The only thing I really have to be careful of is hitting Tiny. Not that he’d notice, he’s way too pumped up. In the frenzy of battle, all of my minds are razor-focused on the task of destruction.
Two soldiers have taken a position in front of me, their powerful armour deterring my mandibles, for now at least. The Doom Chomp isn’t to be underestimated! This powerful rank five Skill, along with my heavily mutated mandibles is more than capable of punching through this armour.
Eventually…
“Get in here and help already, Protectant!” I yell.