Chapter 540: 540

A nice, light touch . That’s always the correct play . Keep it friendly, no need to shout or get angry, that stuff never defused anything . Believe me, I know . You gotta smile through the screaming, that’s how you get your bacon out of the frying pan . So far, signs are good! The powerful Golgari warrior, encased in gleaming metal, is yet to stab me through the face, so let’s call the initial salvo a victory!

[You would be Anthony, I presume?]

The mental voice that comes back to me is deep and powerfully resonant . Just by touching that mind I can tell that this guy is not ordinary . There are depths of power here that he hasn’t yet displayed . A sleeping aura that boils beneath the surface, controlled and concealed . I get the feeling that if this guy were to really cut loose, not only my pets and I, but also his allies would be impacted by it .

[That’s me . One big ‘ol ant . ]

[You were once a human, were you not?]

[That is indeed the case . ]

[Interesting . I presume you choose to surround yourself with these monsters for security, yes?]

He gestures towards the eerily still wall of ants that cover the tunnel walls and ceiling with one hand as I watch him carefully for any sign of motion . If he moves a single toe, I want to see it happening in advance . Come on antennae, don’t fail me now!

[I’m not sure what you mean . I’ve been more welcome and treated far better amongst them than with any ‘civilised’ race I’ve come across so far . With the possible exception of the Sophos . ]

[Monsters rejecting the Sapient to consort with monsters . I’m hardly surprised . ]

What?!

[That attitude may be part of the problem, uh, what was your name?]

[I do not give my name to creatures such as you . Why do you wish to talk with me, creature? We have business to be about . ]

This guy has issues . Serious problems in the upstairs department .

[You still want to fight? I think we both know that were we to continue, every Golgari behind you would die, even if you survived . ]

It’s hard to read the man’s emotions, his face being hidden behind the intricate helmet he wears along with the armour . Now that I’m close enough to get a good look, the armour is super fancy . Smooth, burnished surfaces, elegant lines and incredible fine detailing . I’ll be shocked if it isn’t enchanted . The cores must be socketed somewhere inside the suit, which makes sense . They’d create a weak point where they placed anywhere else . Such a suite must be immensely difficult to make, not to mention pricey . My estimation of this guys’ status is rising even further .

[These proud Warriors would be pleased to give their lives to achieve our mission . Which, I might add, is exterminating you and your kind . ]

[You really want to test the dedication of your members against mine? I’ll give you a hint at how that’ll go: they’re insects . ]

The figure has barely moved, and now indicates indifference with the slightest lift of his shoulders .

[You have killed my people, monster . The city has charged me and mine with the extermination of your kind, down to the last, so that no further infestation will spread to threaten the empire of stone . I know not what you seek to achieve with this banter . ]

[Preservation of life? According to your own words, more of your people will die here in this tunnel than have perished at my people’s mandibles, so far . If you actually care to keep your people alive, then turning around, and returning to your city, is by far the best choice . I have no wish to kill your people, we seek only to return to our home, far from here . ]

The ants around me maintain their eerie, inhuman stillness, all eyes locked on the gleaming figure encased in metal . Even to me, it’s a creepy scene . When I include Crinis, all three maws open and dripping with ooze as she gnaws on the air whilst staring at the Golgari, it becomes a touch unnerving .

[Just chill out, Crinis . ]

[He stabbed you, Master!]

[I’m aware…]

[Twice!]

[I was there! Just don’t attack unless I say, alright?]

[Fine…]

Phew . This situation is bad enough without Crinis going off the deep end and committing us all to battle . Even now the bulk of the Golgari force is still tracking the majority of the Colony, somewhere in the tunnels around us . My fear is that battle has already commenced over there, though I know the Colony is doing all they can to maintain the distance . There should be no chance that they are fighting, but still, I worry .

The armoured figure has remained silent for a few beats and I feel compelled to fill the silence .

[You need to make a decision, guy . Either you turn around and walk away or we fight it out to the death right here . There doesn’t appear to be any middle ground . ]

[These ants,] he muses, [they don’t behave as they should . I presume that’s because of your influence?]

[I suppose a little of my personality rubbed off on them, what can I say? On the bright side, they aren’t trying to eat you right now . ]

He nods and hefts his weapon .

[Hopefully they’ll return to their savage selves after you are dead . ]

No . C’mon, please .

My antennae flicker a warning to me and I respond on instinct, twisting to one side and the sword slides passed my face and sinks into my thorax .

[Are you serious?! Do you have any idea how many are going to die because of this?!]

Omen Chomp!

My mandibles crunch around the armour, dragging the figure closer to my face .

[There’s going to be war! None of your people will make itback to their city . ]

He wrenches his blade from my carapace and brings up his arm .

[The Empire of stone is always at war with the Dungeon, monster . ]