Lair

Chapter 012 - Under Siege

By Skalsar

The ground was shaking heavily.

"Hivemind" seemed angry about it, but didn't tell me why.

I'm a bit worried about that.

Did I do something wrong maybe?

No, he says that's not it.

But something seems to be happening to the hive.

I can feel that there is a large amount of magic power besides the hive, but I don't know what it is.

Maybe the humans are attacking us?

No, they can't attack the hive directly.

Ah! Impossible!

Something just entered the hive and is attacking creatures.

But not just that, it's trying to devour the magic power and cores!

'Just what is happening "Hivemind"?!

I want to help!'

He tells me to hatch more creatures.

Big ones.

Strong ones.

Fast ones.

I do as he says.

Just when I start, I finally understand.

Another "Hivemind" is trying to devour our hive.

Fishing through our cores and minds with its consciousness.

It tries to find us.. no.. not creatures.. the Lair!

The attacking "Hivemind" is trying to get control over a breeder!

"Hivemind" is concentrating on defending.

He has problems to fend of the corruption of our cores because of that!

'I.. feel weird.. Have to..', the breeder besides me starts talking.

He is getting won over.. How dirty! This can't be happening!

No!

'NO!'

I'm shouting, raging.

My mind expands.

For the first time I notice the hive in its entireness.

I shout back at the other "Hivemind", cutting off his connection to the other breeder.

Still I continue shouting.

'Get your hands off of our "Hiveminds" creatures you dirty bastard!'

My rage echoes throughout the hive.

The other "Hivemind" is greatly irritated.

It doesn't understand how a lowly breeder can throw him off.

Our "Hivemind" seems overjoyed with my loyalty.

I win back creatures that were corrupted one by one.

My [Drones] spread through the hive, increasing the effects of my mind.

Now the other "Hivemind" is on the defense.

His creatures are drawing back, because he has problems to keep them under control.

"Hivemind" tells me how proud he is.

I'm really special according to him.

Maybe because of the great amount of magic power I already processed.

Even through we have three breeders at the moment, most goes through my hands first.

Oh..

That is..

Our creatures get slaughtered.

The sensation of death is entering my mind.

Some of my [Drones] are ripped apart by something strong.

A magic power that is emitting danger.

Slicing through most creatures like they are weed.

A [Dungeon Lord] entered our hive.

"Hivemind" is drawing back our creatures.

He might have to step in himself.

But that would cost the hive heavily.

What to do? What can I do? How can I .. Wait?

Does that mean his [Dungeon Heart] is unprotected?

"Hivemind" says yes.

Hm.

Interesting.

Guess, I might at least take a look?

The hives are connected, that's why the [Dungeon Lord] could enter.

After opening a [Portal], I try fiddling with it, like I fiddle with cores.

I need to understand it better. What exactly is a [Portal]?

Somehow it feels kind of familiar.

Like I would open a [Portal] inside our own hive.

Shortly after I start to understand how [Dungeon Walk] works.

Folding the space. Like having two points on a piece of paper.

The shortest way would be to draw a direct line, right?

Nope. It would be folding the paper, so that the points are on top eachother.

A hive exists on another realm, normal physics doesn't apply.

My next try opens a [Portal] into some empty room of the other hive.

Another try brings me to one of the spawning zones between layers.

It got easier after reaching the other hive too.

I can already travel freely in it right now.

But the deepest layer is empty. Weird.

Shouldn't the [Dungeon Heart] be here?

This doesn't seem right.

Maybe I did a mistake?

Could it have been moved?

Is that possible? "Hivemind" has problems answering me.

I guess I should go back for now.

After opening the [Portal] and returning, "Hivemind" seems happy.

The other [Dungeon Lord] returned to his hive too for now.

Fun!

"Hivemind" is preparing an attack.

We will go over there and rampage for a bit.

Huh? We?

Seems like he wants me to lead the troops.

Alright, if he says so.

I'm curious about how it's like to fight.

But we will have to be careful. The hive is shaking every now and then.

"Hivemind" is holding up, but the other one still tries to devour our hive.

I still don't get why one of "Hiveminds" brethren is attacking him, but so be it.

Our troops attack on different layers according to their strength.

"Hivemind" keeps control through me.

If I concentrate, I can strengthen our link and therefore his link to our creatures.

'I will devour you!', the other "Hivemind" is shouting in our minds.

I chuckle.

Somehow it feels weak.

We continue to sweep through his minions.

On my left arm is a bladelike thorn, I behead a [Minotaur] with one swing.

[Blazing Hellhound] rips apart an enemy [Cyclops]. The eye seems to be tasty.

The lower layers have been empty, our lesser troops soon join us. [Goblins], [Kobolds] and some other creatures. More specific, the creature versions of these monsters.

This hive seems really weak somehow.

Maybe something happened to it?

If so, it should have talked to us, we could have helped him.

But "Hivemind" says it's too late for that now.

There is the weakening I do myself too.

Since I'm able to consume magic power, everytime we slaughter an enemy, I devour its magic power and my [Drones] and [Hiveworkers] transport the magic power back to our hive and "Hivemind".

Simple.

And as much as I enjoy fighting the other hive, "Hivemind" calls us back.

Seems like he has some plan.

My earlier attempt made him think.

Our assault is costly. He doesn't want creatures to die like this.

All creatures are going back.

Transported to some deeper layer of our hive.

Only I stay behind.

The other "Hivemind" took the bait.

He is attacking with everything he has now.

Knowing that it's his last chance.

'Go to the [Lair], I tested it out right now.

It's the only place the [Dungeon Heart] could possibly survive instead of the deepest layer.' I'm told.

Just like that, I arrive at the [Lair] of the other hive.

I behead some [Guardians]. Big, black creatures made of obsidian.

Their movement is slow but they are quite strong.

Don't want to be hit by one of them.

Too bad my thorn is made from obsidian too.

So they are still cut down by me.

My [Drones] help me with picking up the [Dungeon Heart].

As we guessed, something is wrong with it.

It has cracks all over it.

Nonetheless we return with it to our [Lair].

The shaking stopped.

The advance stopped.

The fighting stopped.

The outcry starts.

Enemy [Dungeon Lord] is shouting.

Trembling.

Crying.

Hating.

Understanding.

The emotions are flooding my mind.

'It was my last chance.. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me for it.'

He says.

Waiting for his end.

It doesn't come.

'That would be really wasteful.', I declare.

Looking at the [Dungeon Heart].

Sure, it's damaged, but not broken.

I can patch it up. Maybe.

"Hivemind" starts to devour the other hive.

I see.

There are many ways a hive can operate.

It can devour prey to grow, or take root in an area with high magic power.

There is the possibility to devour another hive as well.

Or to mate with another hive to give birth to a new hive.

And.. the possibilty to merge hives as well.

"Hivemind" explained that to me just now.

Since I took the [Dungeon Heart] and the other [Dungeon Lord] is in our hive as well, it should be alright to devour the hive.

The two "Hiveminds" are merging. Their consciousness that is.

As the [Soul] resides in the [Dungeon Heart], the other hive doesn't matter.

With the strong bond from [Dungeon Lord] and [Dungeon Heart], no damage is done.

Nearly none.

It will need time to recreate the lost creatures.

Also, because two [Dungeon Lords] are too much for the hive right now, "Hivemind" sends the second [Dungeon Lord] to the [Lair] and puts it to sleep for now.

"Hivemind" says something about choosing me over any other creature any time.

I don't really get it.