Lair

Chapter 003 - Time and Consciousness

By Skalsar

I noticed just now.

While I have some sense of time, it's still twisted.

Because my counsciousness is turned on and off, it feels like day three.

Still, it isn't.

Like day two wasn't day two.

How should I describe it.

The 'Hivemind' only needs me counscious when there is magic power to be converted into "cores".

Or on special occasions.

That's why for me, it's day three. But it isn't.

For example: There are humans already.

A small settlement has been build near the hive.

I somehow.. dislike this. Shutting me on and off.

Would it be possible not to do so from now on..?

Huh?

If I go collecting nutritions myself you say?

Ah! If I send my [Hiveworkers] to collect magic power to feed me that is!

Great!

Magic power is not only in monsters, animals or humans, but also in plants and water.

Therefore they don't need to hunt, which would be too much of a risk.

Doing so, I'm allowed to stay!

This is great!

I love the "Hivemind"!

But what is love..?

Well, whatever.

For now I send out the [Hiveworkers].

Seems like I grew in the time I wasn't myself.

My height is that of a human now.

I got stronger, too.

And I can "transport" my [Hiveworkers] now. Back and forth.

I desolved them to try something out.

Creating new "cores" with a stronger bond to me.

Allowing me to know everything they do. Like the "Hivemind" knows everything we do.

The "Hivemind" likes it, because they are even better scouts now.

Because they were only somehow connected to a breeder before, the "Hivemind" and the breeder didn't really know what the [Hiveworkers] were doing.

Now it was possible to give them orders even outside of the hive, through the breeder.

I used the chance to look at the settlement.

Seems like they were getting rid of the forest around the hive.

I kind of get why.

They want to build a protective wall around the hive.

If they do so, the "Hivemind" can't transport creatures to the outside of that wall.

Like what happened to the [Village] before, transporting monsters right into a house.

Humans are weird.

Thinking a wall will make it save.

Stupid.

The hive is growing fast by the way.

Before destroying the [Village], there were only twentyone layers.

Now the hive has fourtyfour.

Well, I guess that is fast at least. When I think about it, that is the feeling I get from the "Hivemind".

Also, the place where I stay is something between the layers.

There are many small places between layers, where the "cores" stay to take shape as a creature.

Connected only from there.

Which means, the creatures can go from there to the layer, but only the "Hivemind" can "spawn" something to that place.

And my place has a special name, it's called the [Lair].

The place where "cores" are produced.

You have to kill the "Hivemind" first, to be able to reach here.

A very disturbing thought.

On the bright side, my [Hiveworkers] were doing great.

By absorbing the magic power from plants and water, they contribute greatly to the "Hivemind".

"We" learned a bit about our surroundings too.

To the west, there was the settlement. To the east, a big mountain.

In the mountain were many caves with monsters.

South was a great river, with some weird thing on it, helping humans to cross it.

Weird humans.

Lastly, north were wide plains.

The humans are currently wandering from south (over the river) to west (to the settlement).

From the "Hivemind" I got the information, that they have a strong need to stay together.

They then form bonds with each other and build [Villages] and [Cities].

The little ones seem to be the most delicious, but they don't have much nutrition.

So the "Hivemind" doesn't really care about them.

I think humans refer to them as "kids".

One day, I might try one of these. I wonder what it will be like.

Also, the humans are preparing an attack right now.

It always starts like this, the "Hivemind" explained to me.

They gather and attack with a bunch of people. Trying to see what the hive is like.

Something about getting a basic understanding of the creatures in the hive.

Afterwards there will be continuous attacks from small groups and single humans.

Trying to get treasure.

If they believe they can't handle it, they call for strong ones, to kill the "Hivemind".

But the "Hivemind" will try to decieve them better this time.

That's why I need to convert small "cores" for now, to send to the upper layers.