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Chapter 1389 - The Templar Gather
🕑 Added 2024-06-14 02:00:02 +0000 UTCThe Templars of the Great One emerging among the followers of the New Path lent greater weight to their words and deeds, a manifestation of their belief and vindication for their methods.
The acknowledgement of the system had blessed the allies of the Colony in many ways. The special Classes that became available to the priests who trained under Beyn, the ant cavalry riders, the benefits provided when the Colony fought alongside their allies, all of it affirmed the burgeoning faith of the people.
When knowledge of the Templar was made public, that faith both exploded, and was cemented, as it seemed the system itself had acknowledged the divinity of the Great One.
The Templars themselves came to be revered, to which the various members of that august body had differing reactions. Some embraced their role wholeheartedly, being powerful symbols of the Great One and their divine authority amongst the people. Others rejected it, preferring their identities to remain secret, so they might continue to act to further the designs of their deity in the manner they had before being selected.
Regardless of their actions, each of the Templars proved themselves to be selfless devotees, pure of heart, thought and deed. No promise would they break. No faith would they betray. No dishonour would they leave unavenged.
- Excerpt from ‘Observations on the New Path’ by Rebecca
“Come, it isn’t far now.”
Jern, as usual, kept his sentences short and to the point, not a fan of using three words when two would do.
Alis shot him a disgruntled look, and he felt, on this occasion, it was probably justified.
“There’s no need to be afraid,” she said sweetly. “This is a dangerous place, but you will be protected. Nothing bad is going to happen to you, I promise.”
For their part, the three children didn’t seem afraid at all. They looked up at Alis and nodded, calm as napping shepherds. There was something different about these three, and that was probably why Jern hadn’t felt the need to coddle them much, but they were still very young. It didn’t hurt to make a little extra effort to ensure they were comfortable.
Alis was a lot better at that sort of thing than he was. Jern operated on a ‘I’m sure you can take care of your business just fine’, sort of policy. As a result, he wasn’t always sure if he should be lending help or not.
“Is everything alright?” the general leading the squad asked.
“Oh. Yes, everything is fine. We just wanted to make sure the children were calm.”
“You’re worried about them?”
“Shouldn’t we be? They are quite little.”
“The young must be protected at all times,” the ant declared firmly. “However, some are more capable than others.”
Jern considered that for a moment.
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“I don’t want to say too much. Just… don’t overwork yourself.”
Now this confused Jern.
“Don’t overwork? Coming from you girls? I’ve been working hard, but you soldiers have been putting in day-long shifts….”
The general was now waving her antennae wildly, swinging her head from side to side, as if afraid something would leap from the shadows at any moment.
“Don’t say that!” the general hissed. “I’m going to sleep straight after this escort mission is done,” she announced… sort of… generally.
Jern looked confused, but nodded.
“That’s probably a good idea.”
“Is it long until we reach the Great One?” he asked.
“Not long now,” a different soldier replied. “The Eldest said they would meet us beneath the nest. Luckily, they didn’t want us to go all the way down. It’s quite a trek from the nest to reach the forward operating base.”
The lower they went, the heavier the traffic, but the three children didn’t seem intimidated at all. Their eyes were tranquil as they took in the rushing columns of ants speeding about them.
“The Eldest is resting within this chamber,” the general said as they arrived outside a large opening in the wall. “A different team will arrive to escort you back to the gate, since we are all going to rest.”
“Enjoy your rest,” Alis thanked them. “I hope you have a refreshing torpor.”
The team of ants gave a quick salute, turned, and began to scuttle away. Jern watched as they turned into a shadowed area of the tunnel, and didn’t emerge again.
Odd. He didn’t think there was an opening there? He shrugged. He hadn’t spent much time in these tunnels.
“Alright then, let’s not keep the Great One waiting,” he said, and strode forward.
After a second, he remembered he was supposed to be nicer to the young ones, but when he turned around they were right on his heels, with Alis bringing up the rear.
The Eldest, as usual, was an imposing figure, even at rest. The massive ant loomed out of the darkness, its razor-sharp mandibles, deep purple crystalline carapace and overall presence overwhelming to most.
Yet Jern could feel his connection to the enormous creature before him buzzing away in the back of his head.
Anthony was tired, a bit bored, and quite curious about meeting the three individuals behind him. Even being near the most powerful ant felt invigorating to Jern, as if his own cares and worries were being melted away and his body filled with strength.
“Hello, Anthony,” he waved up at the ant.
“Managed to get the hang of the pheromones, eh?”
The scent of the ant was much the same as everything else about him, overwhelming. It blasted against Jern’s newly awakened senses and rattled him down to his toes.
“I’m getting better,” he said.
“Nice to see you again, Jern, Alis. I hope you’ve been well. Now please, introduce me to these three little Templars waiting behind you. I’ve been wanting to meet them for ages.”
Without needing to be told, the three stepped forward, then silently knelt and bowed their heads towards the Eldest.
Jern and Alis were stunned for a moment, but Alis recovered quickly.
“Anthony, this is Allison, Trean, and Emilia.”
“Oh, I know their names,” the giant ant said.
Then he did something odd, raising up onto only his back legs, he performed a complicated motion with the other four limbs.
“Nameless Ones and Templars. What interesting children you are proving to be.”
Comments
Edgar Delibo Jr.
OHHHHH SHIIIIT!!! I didn't even realise until you said it🤯
DrDankness
Interesting point. Didn't think thats how that worked for the Templars but it makes sense. Also its possible that when he expands his influence (either by choosing relevant skills or further evolving the vestibule) they probably don't have to be as close to feel the affect. I also wonder if eventually other ants start to be privy to this effect. Imagine if Vibrant, Brilliant, or Solant got added to vestibule and began to have infinite energy.
jean
all 3 are nameless ones from chap 896....
alt31415
Morellia: "MOM, DAD, DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!"
Vibious
Thanks for the chapter! Nameless and templar wow what a terrifying combination
jean
can't wait for isaac to meet morrelias parents and when they learn that he started at the surface as a guard and is fighting his way down the dungeon to continue to pursue morrelia and marry her i mean the man is a legend in my eyes he is actively getting stronger and going deeper in the dungeon like a madman with only her as his focus i mean who else on the whole of pangera can boast that claim XD and can't wait till we actually see isaac being just as or only a little less as strong as morrelia i hope she can at least give him a chance the man has stormed down to almost the fifth strata for her :D
CentaureHeart
Ahah that's fun. I can't wait for the first Legion-Templar interaction. I'm thinking they'll have less patience
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Gopard
Oh probably a sleep safely and soundly tucked in you know! Lol
Ether's Blessed One
Beny and Enis falls in their hands once. Now that they became templar, the loud priest will have to obey the Great One's commandments, unreservedly. Yeah, where's he anyways?
Runaway_Cactuar
The sleep ninjas are already OP as hell. And now there are 3 templars on top of that?!? How will anybody overwork in the Colony?
Koala Man
No you arnt allowed to apologise for not being great at English . Especially if it’s not your first language, it’s great that you have learnt it and are doing so well.
Riprexe
Holy crap the guide is also a templar!!!!
ZaneofBane
Nameless ones eh? So the human sleep police return.
alt31415
"Even being near the most powerful ant felt invigorating to Jern, as if his own cares and worries were being melted away and his body filled with strength." - OOOH, so the Templars get to share in the Vestibule effect if close to Anthony? "The scent of the ant was much the same as everything else about him, overwhelming. It blasted against Jern’s newly awakened senses and rattled him down to his toes." - Man, that persuasive pheromone he got long ago sure is subtle but strong.
DrDankness
OH! Good catch. It likely is.
MrEarthCreeper
Yes, rebecca is a known character. I believe she was one of the first human nameless ones.
kingoff00ls
Delightful, I'm seeing visions of the author reading their novel as a bedtime story to their kids and naming a nameless one after their child to give them a cool self insert hero that always goes to bed on time.
Jayson Legott
Emilia? Is this perhaps the same Emilia that is escorting Tolly? I remember in one of the earlier Tolly chapters she mentioned meeting the Great One once
Buck
Awesome! Time for Jern and Alis to find out about the Nameless Ones! TFTC!
Dailion
Is Rebecca, the author of the excerpt, a known character? it rings a bell somewhere in my brain but I can't remember
Thunderhoof
Lmao Anthony just doxxed the nameless ones
fair3238
Owh so thats why the ant are shocked when jern is worried about the children , they are basically torpor police.
Frank Moore
TFTC!
Ashborn99
Holy moly, rinoz you are a genius (Sorry for the bad English)
kev mil
I believe these are the human children way back when (forget the chapter) that answered the call of the nameless ones. They had a calling I believe
Zizawah
I’m intrigued! What is Anthony doing on two legs? Who are these children? Can’t wait to find out! Thanks for the chapter!!
kev mil
The first
