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Chapter 1490 - Unexpected Twist
🕑 Added 2024-11-18 06:38:49 +0000 UTCCommander Chyron of the Abyssal Legion stomped away from the meeting with the infuriating ant, her mind awhirl. Morrelia hurried along in her superior's wake, wondering just what was bothering the woman so much.
She didn’t get any answers until they’d made their way back to their outpost. Without a word, the Commander strode through the camp and into the command tent, taking off her helmet and sitting down with an irritated huff.
Following into the tent were her two tribunes and the Legion Dungeon Seer, each with wary expressions on their faces as they wondered just what had put Chyron in such a poor mood.
“Report,” she stated flatly and the Dungeon Seer stepped forward.
He was a man of middling age, with the short cut hair and clean shaven face expected of a Legionary. Despite his Class as a specialist form of Mage, his frame was packed with lean muscle, as even Mages in the Legion were not exempt from the hard physical training.
“Yes, Commander,” he saluted, “the inspection was carried out cleanly and without interference. It seems the ants don’t know how to interfere with the process, or aren’t trying.”
“Just give me the number, Wallace,” Chyron grimaced. “I don't think they have any interest in trying to meddle with the process.”
“The monster’s level has risen to one hundred and seventy one,” Wallace reported.
“It’s climbing rapidly,” Morrelia noted without inflection. “Fighting in the fifth has been providing a great deal of experience, it seems.”
Joshen Aurelis, her fellow tribune, looked at her askance.
“This is clearly an issue, Commander,” he said. “If the target reaches the next tier before descending to the next stratum, our task will become significantly more difficult.”
Chyron eyed the three figures in the tent with her. All of them waited on her words, though Joshen appeared somewhat impatient. He was always that way, eager for promotion, eager for advancement, eager to prove himself. Every moment was an opportunity for that young man. It was good for the young ones to have ambition, but she found his constant push to elevate himself detracted from his performance more than elevated it. Duty for duty’s sake should be enough for a Legionary.
“And what do you propose we do about it, Joshen?” she asked. “Attack the target in the middle of this enormous fortress while surrounded by hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of monstrous ants? Even if we were able to destroy the creature before we were attacked by the others, which I cannot guarantee, then our entire Legion would be annihilated. At a time like this, we need every man and woman available to fight against the Dungeon. I won’t sacrifice lives needlessly.”
Chastened, Joshen nodded his understanding, though his expression firmed. Doubtless he was already thinking of a way to put himself forward again.
“What are your thoughts?” Chyron asked Morrelia, turning toward her other tribune.
The young woman considered her words for a moment, a habit Chyron had seen from her often when it came to the ants. Normally, she was decisive and forthright, unflinching in her views and advice. The Commander still wasn’t sure what made her so hesitant to give her first thought when discussing these monsters, but she continued to ponder the reason.
“As you said, Commander,” Morrelia said slowly, “we can’t act now. Events have unfolded in such a way as to make completing our mission almost impossible. Without reinforcements or a fortuitous opportunity, it’s difficult to see how we could succeed and escape with our Legion intact.”
“So what do you advise?” Chyron prompted.
Morrelia took a breath, then spoke, and the Commander strongly suspected this was her initial thought coming to the surface.
“I believe we may need to consider the possibility that the Colony will actually succeed,” she said.
Joshen shot her an incredulous look, and opened his mouth to speak but hesitated when he saw Chyron’s expression. The Commander sighed and turned to Wallace.
“Thank you for your time, Wallace. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Commander,” the Mage replied, fist crashing to his chest in salute before he exited the tent.
Once he was gone, Chyron spoke once more.
“The ant let slip something during our… conversation. It seems that the ants have captured a Krath.”
“That’s not possible,” Joshen stated immediately. “The Krath have never allowed themselves to be captured. Not in thousands of years.”
This was true. It was difficult to even see a Krath if they didn’t want to be found. In all of their time in the fifth, the Legion had fought with the slug tribes many times, and had never taken a captive. In truth, the Legion hadn’t really been trying; they much preferred annihilation over capture, a policy the Krath were happy to oblige.
“Do you think the ant was lying?” Chyron turned to Morrelia.
Again, that slight hesitation.
“I doubt it. Anthony… that is to say, the target, is almost incapable of convincingly lying. It’s more likely they let it slip unintentionally.”
“You think the ants were trying to hide this information from us?”
“Unlikely,” Morrelia shook her head. “I think they just didn’t think we needed to be told, since it doesn’t concern us.”
Joshen looked incredulous.
“Do you really believe that they captured a Krath? The very idea is nonsense.”
“Normally, I would agree with you,” Chyron stated. “But for some reason, I think the ant might have told the truth. It’s possible these monsters have done something nobody else, in the history of Pangera, has ever done before. Actually found a Krath so cowardly they would allow themselves to be taken.”
If true, it could change everything, or nothing. Catching a Krath was one thing, getting them to spill the secrets of the fifth was another. This could also impact the deal Chyron had struck with the ant leader Solant. If the ants had another source of information, then their deal with the Legion became less important.
Chyron stood up and grabbed her helmet, placing it over her short-cut, iron-grey hair.
“I’m going to speak to the ants,” she announced. “I wonder if they’ll let me see this miracle for myself. If they really have taken one, I can only imagine what they are doing to the creature to get it to talk.”
Comments
Roombot
Have they offered Goszi an Eldest plushie yet?
Roombot
I cannot wait until tier eight, his evolution options are gonna be so hype
Roombot
“How dare you offer me tea and biscuits?!” - goszi
Victor Desantiago
Yes and that is probably considered cruel and unusual punishment
Sargon Yami
We read about one of the old races being wiped out by the fifth, maybe they were just converted into the krath?
Roombot
“What they are doing to the creature” Plying him with luxury and a comfortable retirement probably
israel valdez
She wasnt the only one that joined the legion when they found her. She was with a group or something i believe.
alt31415
No. She wasn't even in the Legion yet.
israel valdez
Don't the legion heads know that morrelia was working with the ants up top? Actually, does her dad even know or what? I feel like someone at some point should have known they hung out?
Gonvas
The T8s were only able to move at will in the 3rd during the wave. They managed to stay in the 3rd for centuries because they were in the deepest part of the 3rd in areas where the mana was specially dense. I don't see Anthony choosing to evolve mid wave, this next evolution should take around 2 weeks (my estimate) too much time to leave Colony alone. Anthony's T7 max core is too big for 3rd stratum main nest (it's on the top layer, the closest to 2nd strata). Colony would need to build a special area where the mana is more concentrated (I believe they are capable of it). Then, there's the call that has only gotten stronger and it was already extremely painful last time he was in the 3rd. In the 3rd, the Colony would miss on the protection of their strongest ally, the mother Tree. There's a chance they cannot even deploy the friendly sapients in the 4th/5th to help (e.g., Folk. Not including the ones assimilated by the Colony). I don't expect these guys to go to the 3rd just to protect Anthony. On the 3rd, the Colony’s territory is closer to hostile territory, Colony’s forces are weaker (they can't just abandon the 5th and 4th), ... IMO, it's a bad move for several reasons.
Pacnether
CompliANT
Grey Knight Lord
Another 21 levels gained leaving 149 to go. The next wave and non stop feeding by the Colony and Tier 8 is here.
Rahsheem Reid
Old man snot is doing just fine. The colony probably made him some slightly poisonous tea and biscuits.
Tag
“But for some reason, I think the ant might have told the truth." What could she possibly be referring to? Total mystery. Unsolvable. A confounding conundrum. Pickles.
alt31415
"I wonder if they’ll let me see this miracle for myself." Goszi: "Ah, finally, someone with real authority, not an ant slave."
Fabian
Looots ants looots of cookies.
evyatar
My worry is the legion feeling pressured and fielding their praetorian armours, they work well on those levels so i thought to myself it could be cunning to go to the third and start an evolution, deny strong opponents the ability to use their strongest attacks , but with the rising mana levels even the third might not be safe from them so the fifth might just be the safest bet if the fortress is good enough to stand against the legion using a few dozen suits
Ranger Dave
The colonies worst torture: tell us what we need to know or we get eldest to open a mind bridge and natter to you for half an hour. And he is suuuuuper bored.
TheLostGolem
A nice toxic slime pool jacuzzi..
mly85lc
And redoing the prisoner cell 3-5 times to suit them better. Right "slick" carpet's and table fares for quest. Firm bed/nest to sleep in. And as final nail... sleep police to poke and strop him as to find out how to give good rest for this beast.
mly85lc
Maybe even one conciliate member there's to speard head the effort.
mly85lc
Wonder what kind of nursery ants have setup? One hand it's a egg of most sadistic sentience creatures on dungeon, liability to attack it caretaker or selfexplosion. On ohter hand it's egg that is soon hatches a early stages hatsclings. A young and colony is especially proctettive of thous.
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
CentaureHeart
Chyron "Oh that's so evil they are... feeding him tea and biscuits?"
Robothaus
Have the subject establish a dependence on the elixer of hot leaf juice, then should they become less then cooperative we shall delay tea time by fifteen minutes! resistance is futile
TheLostGolem
The evolution worked fine in the fourth last time. Honestly, if the fortress in the 5th is completed that would probably be the safest place to do it. The Krath and other denizens of the fifth would be unable to do anything, so they're good on that front. Anyone else trying to attack from the 5th would be at a horrible disadvantage from the mana. And if I remember right, the base in the fifth is directly below the Ants best stronghold in the fourth?
TheLostGolem
Wait till the legion finds out about the purified Krath Eggs...
Azgaroth
Yeah, i can imagine the torture, Tea and Biscuit at will, in a room worthy of a "Noble/Wealthy", and with Anthony (during his mandated break) chattering/nagging away with a Mind Bridge until the Target breakdown and spill everything, because they can't support Anthony anymore.....
fair3238
Tis' time for torture. Would love to see a Torturant but with relaxing massage accompanied by tea and biscuit to let out "secret".
Buck
What I wouldn’t give to be present when Commander Chyron goes to discuss the captured Krath with the Colony! I feel that the Colony will start with antenna THWAPS in an effort to make the Krath talk! 😂
Navarog
Tea and biscuits? Hospitality? Maybe, but dont forget about Antony the torture master, from the first chapter after imprisonment.
Bethany Bluebird
I was literally just wistfully thinking how amazing it would be to get a chapter before bed. Thank you oh Great One. Your shiniest knows no bounds!
stubs
Probably giving it tea and biscuits knowing the Colony
Ether's Blessed One
What they Legion think the Colony do with prisoners: mind magic, excruciating torture. What the Colony actually does Tea, biscuits, immense patience, and the greatest hospitality a prisoner or "refugee" could have.
evyatar
Theoretically speaking, the smart thing to do when Antony is evolving in idk how many chapters, might be to rise to the third layer and evolve there right? In some fortress? The demons of the eight rank had been fine mana wise, they didn’t had the call, but they weren’t starved for mana either, and that was before the waves and they made the mana between the waves higher then usual as well, sure the ascending would hurt Antony, but when he gets there and immediately starts the evolution it might be safer then doing that in the fifth or fourth layer, unless the fifth banker is beyond any doubt safe, because we know that sentients and for example the legion, can’t use their suits up there and strong attacks… and no pressure from sixth or seventh layer monsters can surprise them up there. Although if the mana rise up enough it wouldn’t matter I guess?
xXChrisdogXx
They would put this creature through the nine rings of hell... that being nice to em
Brandon14754
as goszi slaps the tray away screaming "When will you stop trying to torture me"
Veracis
Perhaps hatch the uncorrupted Krath eggs in front of them
MrMarauder
Comfort, food, treating that poor old slug so nicely his paranoia is now getting paranoid. Nice
Pacnether
What they’re doing: tea and biscuits
