Lair

Chapter 001 - Birth

By Skalsar

The sun is grey.

Everything is grey. More colorless than grey.

The flames are colorless, too. But I can feel the heat.

Something in my mind is shouting: "Danger!"

A [Village], I guess? it's burning.

We destroyed it.

Something in my mind ordered us to.

I "spawned" in a house. We all "spawned" in this [Village].

We were "spawned" here by this thing in my mind.

Just a moment later, I'm in some kind of [Lair].

I am.. I don't know.

Some sort of "breeder", I guess.

I take in magic power, as a form of nutrition.

Converting it in my body, forming it into.. something. Like a "core".

The thing in my mind orders me to.

How can I describe it..?

Some kind of consciousness, overlaying my own.

Like those flying things, that sting. Bees. A "hive".

The "Hivemind" orders us to devour everything.

I don't know since when, but it isn't since long.

Like a few days, or weeks.

Something strong entered the "hive".

It rampaged through everything.

Hurting its body.

Then it died.

Somehow it just died.

The "Hivemind" leeched all the energy.

'Magical power'

A "breeder" startet to form it into "cores".

From a very strong part of the nutrition, the "breeder" created me.

Or more so, my "core".

The "core" is transported by the "Hivemind."

It has the ability to transport the "cores" inside the "hive".

Well, the "hive" seems to be the body of the "Hivemind".

Some kind of creature, that wanders the world and rests at places where it can lure in prey.

Magic power. Most of it's eaten by the "Hivemind" and it grows.

Whatever is left, is converted into "cores" and placed in the different places in the "hive".

These "cores" are like eggs. They take shape as a creature that works for the "Hivemind".

Guarding and hunting. And luring in prey.

But because that strong prey entered, the "Hivemind" was angered.

When the strong prey died, the nutrition was very powerful.

Many "cores" were created and as soon as we took shape, we were "spawned" into the [Village].

They attacked the "hive" and showed to be a threat, so the "Hivemind" destroyed the threat.

When I try to understand, everything just enters my mind somehow.

Because I'm connected to the "Hivemind", I guess.

I was spawned to the [Village], too. Because I had to collect the magic power.

When creatures kill the prey, they eat part of the magic power. They grow stronger.

But only if it's within the "hive", the "Hivemind" gets the magic power that isn't eaten.

Outside, it's lost.

That is, without a creature that can convert it.

Me.

As a "breeder", I can collect the magic power that is gained by killing prey.

I'm connected to the "cores" of all creatures born from my "hive" and it's "Hivemind".

That is why I was going back and forth.

Collecting magic power outside, till I'm full. Converting it into "cores" and nutrition.

Kind of.. a bee worker.

That's it.

The "Hivemind" and me just got a new idee.

From the knowledge of the "Hivemind" I recalled information.

I'm able to choose what "cores" I create.

Just now I gained the freedom to create new creatures.

I fiddled with the "cores". Small ones. Very small.

At least I think so.

Now that I think about it. I'm big. Large. Huge?

What is the right word? I don't know. The "Hivemind" doesn't know either.

I get the feeling that the "Hivemind" is mustering me.

Like I'm a strange breed.

Something seems to be wrong with me, but for now, it just watches me.

I "spawned" in the [Village] again, collecting more magic power.

Beeing back in the "hive" one moment later, I finish my creation.

Small creatures, not as small as bees, but still small.

After they took shape, they started to swarm around me, like waiting for my command.

I named them [Hiveworker] for now.

The "hive" then spawned them to the [Village] and they flew around as a swarm.

Collection even the smallest amount of magic power, stored into their "cores".

When they are full, they join together as a swarm and are transported back to the "hive".

Like this, I don't have to go myself.

The "Hivemind" likes it. It's easier to transport these small creatures instead of a "breeder".

Just like this, my first day ends.

Because the "hive" is going to devour the rest of the magic power and not convert it into "cores" to create creatures, I'm "shut down".

Like put to sleep, in order to not waste magic power.