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Chapter 1483 - The Breach
🕑 Added 2024-11-07 01:00:05 +0000 UTCHow many of these monstrous killing machines were attached to this invasion?! Zluth could scarcely believe his eyes when, instead of the ant he’d expected, a giant bear had come waddling down the tunnel. At first, he’d seen it as a positive thing, especially so when the creature didn’t seem all that strong at first.
He had been quickly disabused of that notion. The beast was now ripping through everything it could get its hands on faster than the monsters could reach it. Even worse, ever since that flickering, ominous aura had appeared, the bear's endurance seemed to have shot through the roof.
“I’m not sure we’ll be able to achieve much here,” he muttered to himself.
They’d been working to wear down the ant monster who regularly patrolled these tunnels. The creature seemed to have inexhaustible endurance, returning to the fight time and time again, no matter how battered it became or how much toxin it absorbed. It seemed they’d finally managed to wear the cursed monster down, but now it had been replaced by another formidable beast.
A member of Zluth’s war party slid up beside him, whispering news.
“The attack in Sluzzl’s tunnel appears to be going very well. Chozth has ordered us to concentrate our forces and join in the assault.”
Although he wanted to protest, he knew it wouldn’t do any good. It wasn’t like they could just turn their attack into another tunnel. He had members of his war party working kilometres away, funnelling newly spawned creatures into this tunnel and others adjacent to it. Conditions right at the edge of the ants’ cursed blue mana were the result of days of preparation and herding from his war party. Chozth knew very well he couldn’t redirect his attack, she wanted him to abandon it and bring his war party to another tunnel.
It was frustrating, but if he tried wriggling around her orders, he was going to be eaten for sure.
“Gather the others,” he whispered back. “We’ll relocate in an hour.”
That didn’t give them much time to gather the more distant members, but Zluth wasn’t willing to push his luck. Both Krath compressed themselves and began to slide away, gaining speed the further they got from the ants and the bear currently wreaking havoc on all it could touch.
It wasn’t all bad. He hadn’t thought they were going to be all that successful already, and if Sluzzl was having some luck, Zluth would rather be there to garner some of the credit for himself. Pushing himself to a dangerous pace, he zipped through the tunnels, helping to round up his war party and gather them safely in their temporary hideout.
“What’s happening?” Thossiz grumbled. “We were just starting to get somewhere.”
“Chozth wants us in another tunnel to support the attack. You want to argue with her?” Zluth asked.
“No. No I don’t.”
“Good idea. We’re going to race over there as fast as we can, so take a brief moment to get anything you need and rest. I don’t want to give Chozth an excuse to eat one of us for being slow.”
Not one of the Krath was going to argue with that sentiment. Making a show by disciplining the regular slugs was a tried and true method among the tribes. In short order, the war party was sliding through their shortcuts, making good time.
When they finally emerged into the tunnel Krath’sizz Sluzzl was in charge of, they found quite a few Krath had already gathered. When they were spotted, Zluth and his group were led directly into the hidden command post where they found Chozth herself.
As soon as they entered, she turned her eyes toward Zluth, her amusement obvious as they curved into wicked moons.
“You made… reasonable time,” she burbled. “Tell your war party to rest for a moment. We are coordinating.”
Zluth quickly told his slugs to find a safe space to recover and rushed back to the crude table around which the other war leaders were gathered.
“Krath’sizz Sluzzl has succeeded in pushing the ants holding this tunnel to the brink. There are notable weaknesses in the line which we will look to exploit. We will look to punch through their wall of mana and chew away at their safety from the inside out. If we can reach and disable the platforms they fill with those abominable creatures who corrupt the fifth, all the better.”
Chozth grinned wickedly.
“The invaders have been more durable than we expected, but now they’ve started to crack. We’re going to show them what it looks like when the Krath go for the throat.”
All of the gathered Krath’sizz felt a thrill go through their slug flesh at their leader’s naked, savage glee. That’s right, this stratum belonged to the Krath! It was theirs by right and the invaders would finally feel their wrath.
Under the personal command of Chozth, the various war parties began to work in concert. They were spread far and wide, working throughout the tunnels to prepare for the assault to come while Sluzzl continued his push at the front.
Zluth was pleasantly surprised by the lack of infighting and bickering amongst the various leaders, but he quickly came to realise why that was the case. Chozth was a dominating presence. She stalked through the tunnels like a vicious predator, her personal guard-slugs ever by her side. Being anywhere near her felt like having fangs wrapped around his neck. There was no illusion about what the slightest insubordination would result in.
Thus in a remarkably short amount of time, the attack was prepared, and Zluth found himself amongst dozens and dozens of Krath, carefully creeping toward the ant lines as their war parties carefully herded the deadly surprises they had prepared for the cursed invaders.
Chozth herself accompanied the attack, taking personal command of the offensive. With so much at stake, he was determined to prove himself and claim his share of the rewards should this offensive work.
In the distance he began to see the cursed, shimmering glow of the blue mana. Sluzzle did indeed have a promising offensive going, a horde of monsters pressed right against the blue mana wall with Krath support close behind. When he arrived, those ants were going to crack like a slime-withered shell.
Comments
Ranger Dave
Many Brathian's died to sell us this comment
mly85lc
Actually why not go full trios merge. Tiny and Invidia playing befencse and dear maddening horror taking care of defensive action. She can both store lift heavy shields whit her boby.
mly85lc
That is indeed true. It also happens that Tinys fight style is bit reckles and leaves openings. Ones that Invidia blocks. Therefore competition armor where Invidia is in backpack mode on Tinys shoulder. Acting boht befencse and offence while powering armors blue mana field.
DrDankness
Due to the nature of her body I really feel bad for Crinis here. She cant wear armor. She gets eaten alive by the atmosphere. This place really sucks for her.
DrDankness
Everyone has a plan until they get thunder punched in the face.
DrDankness
Tiny - yes Invidia - maybe? Hes tiny and pretty physically frail.
Ruwa
This is obviously a trap set up by solant, and I can't wait for them to fall for it
atome 4 000
I feel like It's a trap from Solant
Loulatsch
According to plan 2395b you expect solant to only have one plan?
evyatar
Oh yea when they breach they would be in Tiny's range that would be a sobering surprise
mly85lc
Speaking of armor would not boht Tiny and Invidia be able to have theyry own blue mana armors by now.
mly85lc
I wonder if Odin as selth specialists have manget to tail Zluth’s war party even in his armor.
alt31415
But her mind-attacks involve getting her tentacles to stab people in the mind.
Dan K
*meanwhile in the ant camp Solant is rubbing her Antenna together.* “All according to plan”
Codered999
It was an accidental post though
Buck
Sadly, the environment of the 5th is too damaging to Crinis to allow her to accomplish much. She loses shadow flesh too quickly to toxic contamination and damage. I am surprised that she appears to not be using her mind and soul attacks more. If you can’t really attack them physically then drive them insane from a distance!
Buck
I tried to read it last night but Patreon deleted it just as I was getting started. Was a bit aggravated by that to be honest. You do NOT take away an addicts fix just as they are about to enjoy said fix!
alt31415
Admiral Slug-bar, glad you could make it.
Gokufix Murphy
This is a trap
KRY
Aint no way Solant would leave any of the ants to the brink
alt31415
How could you forget Crin-Crin?!
alt31415
The creature seemed to have inexhaustible endurance, returning to the fight time and time again, no matter how battered it became or how much toxin it absorbed. – How could they think that? Anthony’s been taking 12 hour breaks routinely. When he arrived, those ants were going to crack like a slime-withered shell. – Surprise! Here’s ANOTHER 1st-strata mythic beast in the form of Tiny!
alt31415
Solant knows herself. She knows the Krath. She need not fear a thousand battles. The Krath do not know the ants.
Grey Knight Lord
Their plan is folly since Anthony, Crinis, Tiny, and Invidia will be there. Give Anthony more levels. More.
SuperNewbie
This definitely feels like a trap
Lucius Patrick Watson
Hmmm baited trap from solant.. how much do the krath get wrecked here?
Buck
I get the feeling that Solant is luring the Krath into a trap. Let them breach the ant’s defenses, allow them to advance a bit into the ant’s fortress, surround them, and kill Krath in large numbers. Get’em, Solant!! 🎉
Codered999
You should have deleted it and waited then
Hayden Leech
Sigh. Read this last night lol.
