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Chapter 1464 - Pressure Builds in the Tunnels
🕑 Added 2024-10-11 01:00:03 +0000 UTCMorrelia looked out into the tunnel, her highly trained senses taking in every subtle shift, every tiny sound. Something was off, that much was obvious, but determining what and then acting accordingly was her responsibility as a leader.
She already knew what the problem was, the issue was finding the evidence to prove it. Chyron would not move the Legion based on a hunch, even if she shared it, not unless they had to. Finding evidence of a Krath presence was notoriously difficult, the slugs were careful and cunning opponents, unlikely to leave any sign of their passage.
They were here though, she was sure of it.
Morrelia moved up and down the line, talking to the soldiers, encouraging them with a word, a gesture, or merely her presence. It was easy for the troops to become distracted during long stints on watch as these were, but so far Chyron’s Legion had proven their professionalism. Everyone she saw was alert, their eyes sharp, weapons ready and armour polished to a shine.
It helped, being in the fifth. With the reputation that this place had, the troops were on edge merely being stationed here. Perhaps, given more time, that discipline would start to weaken, but so far it was holding strong.
As she strode down the line, Morrelia kept her senses tuned to the tunnel. She had to be patient, wait and watch. It wasn’t possible to go out and try to chase down the slugs, so her only hope was to have one of them make a mistake. When they did, she would be there to see it.
So engrossed in this activity was Morrelia that when she received a tap on the shoulder plate, she hadn’t realised anyone was even approaching. For a moment, the moustached and punchable face of Isaac popped into her head, and she turned slowly, hoping against hope it was someone else.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Commander Chyron snapped. “Is my face displeasing to you all of a sudden?”
“Not at all, Commander!” Morrelia said, snapping out a quick salute, her fist crashing into her chest as she straightened, embarrassed. “I was just focused on the tunnel…”
“Trying to spot our guests?” Chyron sneered. “The slithering scum wouldn’t dare show their faces to the Legion.”
Just as she’d suspected, Chyron was already well aware of what was happening in the tunnels.
“I was hoping to get evidence of their presence, as I believed you would be reluctant to act without it,” Morrelia said, not judging, but stating her thoughts directly.
“Normally, you’d be right,” Chyron snorted, striding through the ranks and staring out into the tunnel, grey hair swaying around her shoulders. “In this case, we will need to act without it. Though, there isn’t much we can do. They won’t attack us if they can help it. I expect every tunnel other than the ones we guard to get hit. All the Krath will do is watch us.”
Morrelia strode forward to stand alongside her Commander, frowning.
“Then what is the point of us being here? I mean, I know our primary objective is to observe the target,” she hastily corrected herself, “but if there is to be conflict with the Krath, I would rather participate than stand nearby and watch it play out.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Chyron replied dryly. “There is no such thing as a Legionary with a soft spot for the Krath, particularly among the officers.”
The experienced and weathered veteran grimaced as she looked out at the toxic mana and slime-filled environment of the fifth.
“In this instance, there’s no going around it. The only way to ensure our troops would see action would be to fully integrate them with the ant’s forces, which I will not allow, no matter the situation.”
Morrelia went to protest, but Chyron held up a hand to forestall her.
“In any case, I don’t think the ants would allow it either. They do not trust us, we do not trust them, that’s the end of it.”
“We expressly made it our mission to destroy their most beloved member,” Morrelia pointed out. “It’s hard for them to trust us after that.”
“They’re monsters,” Chyron stated simply. “They will turn on all of their allies, succumbing to the control of a more fearsome and hungrier beast in the end. There was never a chance we would trust them, I don’t care if the reverse is also true.”
No matter how much progress the Colony made, Morrelia continued to run into the same wall: the Legion would never ally themselves with monsters. It was a fundamental truth baked into their essence, and had been from their founding. It was deeply frustrating, because she could see just how much the Colony could accomplish, how much Anthony could do to help the people of Pangera if given the chance. She sighed and let it go for the moment, there were more immediate problems to focus on.
“What are the Krath going to do?” she asked.
“What do you think they’ll do?” Chyron shot back, one brow raised.
Always tests, always questions. The assessment of an officer was never over, not really. Morrelia dipped her head as she considered the question.
“Whatever they think will cause the most difficulty, the most pain. Fluctuations in the mana flow. Diverting rivers of slime. Unleashing waves of monster assaults. Varying the time and strength and direction of their strikes to prevent the Colony from recovering. I expect there will be many abduction attempts.”
Chyron waited for a moment.
“Is that all?” she wondered.
Morrelia thought longer, then gave up.
“I’m not sure what else they will do, though I’m sure there’s going to be more.”
“There will be,” Chyron assured her. “The slugs are bound to be riled up after all this, to say the least. They’re going to pull out all the stops. I’m not sure who I feel sorry for more though.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ants or the slugs,” Chyron said with a savage grin. “I’m sure they’re going to be absolutely horrible to each other.”
Comments
Gopard
Thanks for the chaper!
DerHochi
And even if they believed it, they would probably redouble their efforts in killing Anthony before the colony grows too large because it would make him even more of a potential ancient. And if they succeed in killing Anthony, the colony is no longer protected from ancient mind control and needs to be eradicated as well.
alt31415
Ant-existing classes existing does not, in any way, logically lead to "Therefore they are immune to being mind controlled by an Ancient"
Greyg
The legion has hints the translator told them he had an ant adjacent class they also know about ant calvary and the priests among other hints they just haven’t put 2 and 2 together yet even if they did know it wouldn’t change their mentality or goal if anything would make them more determined
alt31415
Too bad the Legion don't know that and likely wouldn't believe it if told.
Loulatsch
I think this is actually not the trope of those in power afraid of new power houses. Its the classic trope of we want protect the weak to do that we have to protect pangera. Mind controlled monster hordes are a threat to the weak and a 20th ancient is a threat to pangera staying in one peace. The legion itself cares very little about power or money since they dont raide or surpresse other societies to hinder their growth and get their goal. At most they are refusing to help in a wave
Orthes
Yeah, this is soft confirmed through Al (the knowledge demon from the third) who resisted the demon lord's influence once he showed up in anthony's vestibule.
kev mil
I believe the ants can't be mind control by the ancients because of Anthony's altar navi and cathedral.
stubs
their logic makes sense. If lesser monsters can't resist the will of much stronger monsters then that would make the Colony a ticking time bomb
Hayden Leech
That’s not mind control. That’s religion. Waaay scarier.
Cindermoth
Yeah and they don't have a way to test this really either. Hells, even we cannot be completely certain even with what happened in the third.
Cindermoth
And they've probably seen similar things happen before over the thousand plus years.
Kris Piskorski
I mean based on all available information to them the Legion is correct in what they're doing
Brandon14754
remember she was in charge of fighting of ants in the 4th before, she already didn't like monsters because she's from the legion but she dislikes ants on top of that
alt31415
(Her) And confront it how? Even if ants save Chyron's life, it changes nothing: an Ancient could still, as far as she knows, mind control them.
alt31415
No, it really isn't direct. You're just stupid. And two, I've touched more in one day than you've seen in your life. Kys, asshole.
alt31415
That's not mind control though, that's just good-old-fashioned indoctrination. Hell, it's probably not even that since, unlike the figures of modern cults, the Ancients are the real deal. Being a part of the 'Cult' is more like just being an Elon Musk fanboy or something.
Gavin Wayne Pitcher
i love the trope of those with power terrified of those rising in power surpassing them, attempting to destroy those ascendant, and inadvertently honing the blade upon which they will one day be gutted once they've thoroughly removed all thoughts of mercy from the minds of those they persecute.
Slime
I mean they kinda can, or at least heavily influenced if not outright controlled, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many cults with direct ties to them, they just probably can’t do it in mass, or heck, who knows, it’s entirely possible all the humans back then were just too weak for the ancient to want to bother with it
BelligerentGnu
OK, one, 'savage grin' and 'they're going to be horrible to each other' is pretty direct. Two, this is a weirdly specific hill to die on. Perhaps try touching some grass.
John Sanders
I hope the ants save his life big time and ge has to confront it
alt31415
W H Y
alt31415
The only 'enthusiasm toward ant suffering' in that line exists in your imagination.
BelligerentGnu
Nah, for the enthusiasm towards ant suffering embodied in the last line. If she was regretful about the necessity it'd be different. Even without that though, I've never claimed to not be biased.
Brandon14754
well the only way in the legion's mind that they wouldn't be mind controlled is if anthony becomes an ancient which is also bad as they ery much don't want a 20th ancient
Thunderhoof
So the Kraths could atleast get a W
alt31415
Why not? For not blindly assuming the Colony can't be mind-controlled by Ancients the way every other monster can?
alt31415
... why?
alt31415
That's not the point, though. Humans can't be mind-controlled by an Ancient. The Colony, so far as the Legion knows, can.
Grey Knight Lord
They’re monsters. And you are human, the race that is most cruel to it’s own
Roombot
I can’t blame the Legion for not knowing that Anthony won’t let anyone mind control the Colony, but I still dislike them for it
BelligerentGnu
I don't like you, Chyron.
Thunderhoof
I don't feel bad if Chyron happens to die in the most horrible way in this stratum.
kev mil
Tyftc
