Going to grind this out the hard way.
And we do.
After a solid hour of biting, tearing, acid spraying and more biting, the ants from the colony and the human warriors meet each other in the centre of the field. All around is a carpet of ruined monsters, covering the ground with their ichor. The humans are covered in wounds. Filthy and gasping for breath, their chests heave under sweat stained clothes. The ants are fine.
I’d anticipated this moment. Since I was moving just ahead of the ants in the fray, I manage to run into the humans first. Cue me, desperately running backward and forward spraying ‘Don’t fight! Food!’ pheromones all over the place. The workers are a little confused, but by that time there are so few monsters, Tiny is able to sprint along and pound them to slag before the suddenly idle workers are attacked. Message received, their antennae flick this way and that as they begin to turn and deal with the precious Biomass.
Morrelia is there, her vicious, red-eyed rage has run its course and she appears haggard, as if her own life force had been sucked out of her. I suspect it might be a cost imposed by activating her berserk state. Still, she stands tall, shoulders square like a spartan, watching as the ants pick over the Biomass and begin dragging it back to the colony for consumption and distribution.
Hey, we’ve got some special larvae to feed over there.
Exhausted, I fumble my way into forming a mind bridge with Morrelia.
[You’d better get the humans to back off from this area,] I say wearily. [It’s only a matter of time before one of the workers bumps into a human and attacks. If your people leave, then they will focus on harvesting the food.]
Even as visibly drained as she is, she still watches me carefully.
[Why aren’t they as smart as you?] she asks, nodding toward the workers. [Why are you so different?]
[I don’t know,] I lie. [Look, there have been casualties for both my family and the village today. Let’s not complicate things. Ask your people to move away before someone gets hurt.]
Her jaw clenches stubbornly.
[Some of these monsters have useful parts. The people could use them. We should get our share.]
My temper flares hot, but I try to tamp it down.
[You aren’t wrong, but I can’t sort out a sharing arrangement right here and now. Ask your people to step aside and I can ensure your village will get a chance to harvest from the Dungeon, but if you don’t do it right now then people will die while you stand there wasting my time.]
Her eyes flash hot at being spoken to like this by a monster. All things considered, I’m right. At least she’s not so full of pride that she can’t recognise it.
Her crew stand behind her, the two female archers, the grizzled axe guy and the swordsman. They’re battered and bruised, though still trying to put up a show of force behind their leader. It’s paper thin.
For their part, the villagers are just happily staring at the workers as they go about their business, so drained and shell shocked from the battle, they seem to have forgotten not to get too close to the monstrous ants.
That changes when Morrelia turns to speak to them. Eyes widen with understanding and they begin to step back cautiously, trying not to make any sudden moves to antagonise the workforce. I can even see the priest moving amongst their ranks, his robes torn and bloody. The man is like a cockroach. I swear he’s unkillable. He might have more in common with insects than humans.
Wearily, I throw up my status to check my skill changes.
Looks like I got three Levels in Shattering Bite, two in Ripping Bite, one in Mana Miser, three in Advanced Exo-Skeleton Defence, two in Rapid Dash and two in Stamina. There are a few skill upgrades to take care of. I’ll do it later when I have a bit more peace.
A fairly good haul, I have to say. I don’t notice anything else odd about my status. Wearily, I turn to the Biomass. Better help get this stuff stowed away.
Name: Anthony
Leveclass="underline" 22 (special core) (IV)
Might: 41
Toughness: 29
Cunning: 44
Wilclass="underline" 34
HP: 58/58
MP: 220/220
Skills: Excavation Level 9 (II); Improved Acid Shot Level 6 (II); Enhanced Grip Level 4 (II); Shattering Bite Level 11 (III); Advanced Stealth Level 6 (II); Splintering Chomp Level 4 (III); Tunnel Map Level 6 (II); Mana Transformation Level 6 (III); Advanced Forceful Mana Level 8 (II); External Mana Manipulation Level 2 (I); Mana Sensing Level 5 (I); Core Surgery Level 3 (III); Advanced Exo-Skeleton Defence Level 10 (II); Pet Communication Level 3 (I); Rapid Dash Level 3 (II); Advanced Water Magic Affinity Level 3 (II); Stamina Level 4 (I); Pet Growth Speed Level 1 (I); Mana Miser Level 5 (I); Cerebral Endurance Level 4 (I); Deep Meditation Level 2 (II); Precise Shooting Level 3 (I); Ripping Bite Level 5 (I)
Mutations: Omni-Focused Eyes +10; Precognitive Infrared Antennae +10; Mana Eating Restrictive Acid +10; Rapid Absorption Legs +10; Savage Infused Mandibles +10; Hardened Diamond Carapace +10; Rapid Limb Regeneration Gland +10; Persuasive Pheromone Language Gland +10; Expanded Deep Gravity Magic Gland +10; Combined Divergent Coordination Cortex +10; Dispersive Regenerating Inner Carapace Plating +10
Species: Dispersed Mind Ant (Formica)
Skill Points: 24
Biomass: 356
132. Gathering Thoughts
All work and no play makes Anthony, something, something.
Things have been way too busy! I need some rest.
Not to mention they’re only going to get busier from this point. I need to help the humans out a little, get them up and running so they can look after themselves. Especially now that it looks like there will be more attacks from those damnable crocodiles. Over the surface this time. I need to train up my own skills and fill myself with Biomass to get to the point where I’m ready to evolve. Not to mention I need to prepare for my evolution and decide what to do with the rare core. And, all of this has to be taken care of before the next generation of workers arrives!
Almost makes me feel as if I wasted my time evicting the stupid croca-beasts from the Expanse below. I know, I know… that isn’t true. If we had to worry about attacks across the surface as well as from underneath, I’d be too stressed to let the workers out to hunt.
It’s not all doom and gloom.
I’ve got a heap of Biomass to spend, I’ve got some skills I can advance, and I’m sure the same is true for Crinis and Tiny. Vibrant is going to be super upset about missing the battle. All the action and food she missed out on? That’s gonna sting.
Thinking of Vibrant, she’s been unusually responsible and active around the colony since we got back. I might want to ask about that.
For now, though, SLEEP.
With Tiny and Crinis in tow, I depart from the scene of the battle where the workers are still picking over the last scraps of Biomass, cutting it up and carrying it in their jaws back to the anthill. I spent some time helping out, as well as snacking, which earned me another ten Biomass. Even Tiny and Crinis were helping. Tiny can carry an awful lot, and Crinis is exceptional at… separating the food into… more manageable sizes. I’ll phrase it like that.
Hopefully none of the villagers were watching or they might have been put off their lunch.