Chapter 526: 526

We get in and we get out . That’s the fundamental truth of this raid and I’m going to stick to it like a sticky substance applied to another, less sticky thing . There must be a better analogy, but I’m too pumped up to iron it out right now . It takes a little convincing but eventually we get Sarah down into the tunnel and fleeing with her buddy Jim . With her mental state as muddled as it is, I don’t want her hanging around for the rest of what’s going to happen around here . Namely, robbing the facility blind and running off with the loot .

We don’t plan to destroy the Shapers themselves in the process, but it’s inevitable that a few get caught up in the crossfire . I’ve made peace with that, seeing as they didn’t particularly care if I myself was broken in the course of constructing their super monster . Leaving the arena, I crawl back down under the surface and immediately I’m covered in a goop like darkness that wraps itself around me .

[Master! I’ve completed my task and returned to you . ]

[Yes… I noticed . Good job, Crinis . Did the other Shadow monsters get out safely?]

[Most of them did, Master . I believe that between the pets and I we were able to secure almost all of the cores . ]

[Great . I’m sure you managed to make yourself plenty distracting up there . ]

[What are you saying, Master?] A dangerous note creeps into her tone as she questions me .

[Ah… Nothing! Just that you have a very striking appearance!]

[Why thank you!]

[ACK! Don’t squeeze me!]

I’m glad I sent Crinis with the Core Shapers as part of our distraction . Not only would she be able to support the others and the show of force that much more terrifying, it gave me a bit of time without being choked . I quite enjoyed that time . Sadly, it’s over now, and as I make my way through the tunnel, it becomes clear that Crinis has no intention of relinquishing her grip .

The network of tunnels dug throughout the outpost are swarming with the Colony as ants rush to complete their objectives . After securing Sarah, I only have one more stop on my schedule: the leading triad . I don’t intend to rub my freedom in their faces or anything, as nice as that would be, I just want to be present to make sure they don’t cause any problems for my siblings . As irritating as those three were, I have to respect the power and authority that they possess inside the outpost . If anyone will be able to rally the Shapers against us, it’s going to be them .

So with Crinis attached, I rush through tunnels and burst out into the corridors of the Shaper outpost, tracking my target . Pandemonium reigns everywhere I can look as ants ransack rooms and herd shellshocked Shapers into corners, keeping them isolated and confused . Nice to see my instructions being followed, not that I doubted it . If we can avoid heating up the inevitable Golgari counterstrike any more than we already have, then I’ll be pleased . No need to throw more fuel on to that fire . I instructed the Colony to put them down with a vengeance if they tried to fight back though . With the element of surprise on our side, not to mention a rather ridiculous numbers advantage, it was never going to be hard for us to overwhelm the place .

[I still can’t believe these scum held you prisoner,] Crinis bristles as we rush through corridors not quite large enough for my frame .

[Settle down, Crinis . Most of these people had nothing to do with that decision . Let’s just leave them be . ]

[You’re too nice, Master . I still think you should let me spend some time with a few of them . They won’t ever come after us again!]

As she imagines getting her tentacles on the Shapers I can feel her barbs start to form and grate against my carapace . I shudder to think what would happen to any Golgari that falls into her clutches . Is there a Geneva convention on Pangera? Any laws regarding being partially rendered by a void beast from the depths of madness and despair? Probably not, now that I think about it . This world doesn’t muck around when it comes to the war between surface and Dungeon creatures .

[Do you have any idea where Tiny and Invidia wound up?] I ask .

[I haven’t seen them, but they shouldn’t be far away . Can you reach them?]

[Tiny! Invidia! Where did you guys wind up?]

[RAAAAH!]

[… Inivida, where are you right now?]

[We have found the rest of the monsssters . Sssssoon, we will take their everything . ]

… So I’ll take that to mean they’ve broken into the monster cells and have started fighting the remaining tournament contenders . That’s some juicy experience and biomass right there and I don’t intend to let it go to waste . My siblings would be able to overwhelm them, of course, but the casualties would be unacceptable . Better to leave it to Tiny and Invidia . Those two working together will be able to crush any one monster, no matter how well designed it is .

All of those precious resources, I’ll be taking them for my pets, thank you very much! Muahahahaha!

[You remember the plan, Crinis?]

[We find the leaders and give them pain . ]

…

[Wait . . No?]

[We find the leaders and I will give them pain . ]

[No!]

[You’re too nice, Master . ]

[Stop choking me . ]

If I didn’t have a carapace I’d have been torn to bits by Crinis’ unconscious tentacle flexing . It’s a pain that she’s like this, but I feel so bad for sending her off on her own that I can’t bring myself to say anything about it! I can only pray in my heart that she’ll get over her abandonment issues soon .

“These corridors are confusing! Where’s a damn scout?!”

“Right here, Eldest!”

A wiry ant sticks her head out of a nearby doorway and salutes with an antenna .

“Have we located the leadership yet? I’m getting twisted about in these damn corridors . “

“We haven’t, but the only remaining pocket of resistance is up two levels . We theorise that those you’re looking for are there . “

“Resistance?! Still?! I’m on my way!”

Don’t worry, my siblings! I’m on my way! The need to protect my Colony rages like a fire in my core and I lean back on my hind-most legs to begin chomping at the ceiling .

[We’re going up, Crinis!]

[I’m with you, Master!]

[Stop choking me!]

After the reinforced rock around the outpost, chewing through the floors is nothing . A couple of bites and the rock cascades down around me, bouncing off my carapace and Crinis’ exposed flesh . Reaching up, my claws grasp hold of the stone and I pull my large frame through the gap and I attack the ceiling once again . I can feel it now, in my mana sense . There are dozens of spells being worked above my head . This won’t do!

CHOMP! CHOMP!

The ceiling collapses around me and the sound of battle begins to batter against my antennae .

“What the heck is going on up here?!” I rage .

“Eldest!”

“The Eldest is here…”

The ants react with surprise as I burst my way through and some of them even freeze for a second before they resume their tasks . That’s unusual . For an ant to forget their work for even one second is odd .

“Eldest, glad you made it,” Burke calls from nearby . “Join me over here for a second . “

The air is awash with pheromones as the Colony battles the foe, making it difficult to pick out each particular scent . I suppose people talking over each other is much the same situation . The area is a ruin, rooms smashed apart and walls crumbling in every direction . It appears as if the two sides are separated by a solid stone corridor and I’ve surfaced on the ant side . Spells are being constantly hurled toward the ants, who’ve bunkered down behind cover and retaliate with acid barrages when they get the chance . Classic stalemate .

Burke is nearby, clinging to the ceiling and keeping a close eye on the enemy down the corridor from behind a pillar .

“What’s going on?” I demand . “Any casualties?”

“A few,” she admits, “those spells are no joke . The healers are doing what they can but we lost a few in the first barrage . “

“I’LL KILL THEM!”

“Hey, Eldest, remember your own plan?”

“Oh… right . “

“This is slowing us down and we need it resolved right now . Judging by the heavy resistance, we have to assume that something or someone valuable is down this way . Think you can break us through?”

“Burke, you shouldn’t ask stupid questions . “

“Of course, Eldest . “