RinoZ
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Chapter 1059 - Fame and Fortune pt 6
🕑 Added 2022-10-18 13:02:56 +0000 UTCThe boys are (boy is) back in townnnnnnnnnnnn.
Hartos looked around and was satisfied with what he saw. The mercenaries had managed to penetrate the mountain in good order, and despite the intensifying attacks from the ants, they had maintained their formation.
He couldn’t help but sneer. Those fools who’d refused to join him would be crying bloody tears when they saw the haul he returned with. Thousands and thousands of ants surrounded them already, and soon enough they’d be dead, just waiting for their cores to be extracted.
But it didn’t hurt to be careful.
“Artis!” he barked.
“What?” his long-time crewmember replied, sounding harried.
“I need you for a second.”
“Make it quick,” she snapped, “this shield doesn’t maintain itself.”
He frowned, both at her tone and the implication of her words.
“Are we really being pressured that hard?”
The mage glared at him.
“Of course we are! Look around you, the bugs are endless! No matter how much firepower we pump out, they keep coming.”
“But you can hold?”
“Yes we can hold. It’s just very difficult work!”
He nodded.
“Good. I want you to check and make sure the mythic is still asleep. We don’t want to be in here when the damn thing wakes up.”
“That’s the truth,” the mage muttered.
She fumbled about in her robes and removed the array from one of her dozens of pockets. She stared at it intensely for a few moments.
“Well?” Hartos demanded.
“There’s tens of thousands of monsters in this mountain, wait a damned second.”
He turned his eyes back to the struggle along the perimeter as the mage continued to study the device.
“No,” she said finally. “It’s still asleep.”
“You’re sure.”
“It’s hard to get clear readings with so many cores between the mythic and us, but a signal that strong is hard to miss. I’m sure. Now can I get back to work?”
“Go for it.”
Satisfied the worst case scenario could be avoided, the leader let his mind dwell on the best case scenario. If they managed to dig in deep enough and snag that mythic core….
“Push harder!” he roared to the surrounding mercs. “We get a little deeper and we can set up a perimeter. Then we can start getting paid!”
The mercenaries roared back as they redoubled their efforts. The fighting was thick along the edge of the shields as the insects continued to press in on them from all sides, but so long as the mages held the barrier in place, they would hold the advantage.
As long as the ants couldn’t use the full weight of their numbers, it didn’t matter where they fought them, on the surface or in the heart of the nest. In fact, the nest was better, since that’s where most of them were.
The young lad Drake was nearby, still doing what he could to support the more experienced fighters closer to the edge. Hartos walked forward and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Ready to make a fortune?” he said.
When Drake turned around, he noted how tense he looked. The pressure was clearly getting to him.
“Y-yeah. I’m ready,” he said.
The older mercenary steadied him with a firm grip on his shoulder.
“Relax. The mythic is still sleeping and we’re holding off the insects just fine. Soon enough we’ll start pulling them into the shield and harvesting cores. You’ll be drowning in them soon enough.”
Drake’s gaze firmed and he took a deep breath to settle his nerves.
“Looking forward to it,” he grinned.
“That’s the spirit lad!” Hartos roared. “Another ten metres and we’ll start! Listen to your crew leaders and keep your eyes on the prize! Efficient killing and harvesting is what we’re here for. No screw ups!”
His words lifted the spirits of many mercenaries who were flagging under the intense pressure the insects put out. Twice the size of a human, the giant soldiers were intimidating beasts, especially when they came in large numbers. They were everywhere, climbing over the roof, on the walls, even walking on the shield itself or lunging up from beneath. Along with the rising heat the deeper they went, it was an oppressive, suffocating way to fight. It was a good thing nobody became a mercenary for an easy day’s wage.
“Why aren’t they coming with more?” Drake asked as he flung another slash through the shield. “They could hit us with ten times this many. Why don’t they?”
Hartos chuckled.
“Don’t try to understand a monster’s mind. These ants may be smarter than the average, but that doesn’t make them as clever as you and me. Perhaps they’re protecting something and don’t want to leave their posts, or they’re fighting other monsters, or a hundred other reasons. Besides, even if more came, it wouldn’t make a difference, we haven’t shown them half of what we can do yet.”
“This is the mark!” Artis called from amongst a cluster of mages.
“Time to get to work then,” Hartos said.
He drew a breath to bellow his orders to the hundreds of gathered mercenaries, but before he said a word, the world turned upside down.
Drake felt the floor shake, then it vanished, like a magic trick. He didn’t have time to be afraid, the only thing in his mind was confusion as the ground beneath his feet simply disappeared and he began to fall into the dark.
An image flashed through his thoughts of mandibles scraping and scratching at the shield below him.
“No!” he cried as he flailed wildly with his arms, trying to grab hold of something, anything.
Similar screams and cries rang out around him as the entire expedition plunged downwards. What had happened?
No sooner had it started than it finished, the mercenaries thudding to the ground heavily. Drake crashed into the stone floor, landing on his side. He managed to brace himself and prevent his head smacking into the rock just in time, a trick Rillick had taught him.
“What in the name of the Path was that?” Hartos bellowed from somewhere nearby. “Sound off! Get the shields up! Are you trying to get us killed? Artis!”
Voices rang out, harsh and authoritative, but with an undercurrent of tension that sent a chill through the young mercenary. Something had gone terribly wrong.
“Where is the light!” Hartos demanded.
A second later a dozen bright fires flared into existence, casting their surroundings into stark relief. Drake almost sagged back to the ground in relief when he didn’t see any ants nearby. His mind had conjured a thousand ravenous mouths ready to descend on him and the other members of the crew.
A moment later he realised how strange that was. Where were they? They’d been everywhere around them only a moment ago, so what had happened, did they retreat?
Something shifted behind him.
“Oh no,” he heard someone groan.
He turned and looked up at the largest ant, the largest monster, he had ever seen. The almost black carapace shimmered with a deep purple glow than ran up and down that enormous, chitin frame. It’s jaws were horrific, each as long as a full grown man and barbed, connected to a large, wide head that sported two spherical, unreadable eyes.
The antennae drifted slowly through the air, as if utterly unperturbed by the hundreds of deadly, experienced monster hunters in front of it. Each ten metres long, they glittered, like threaded gemstones as they caught the light from the fire.
“It’s supposed to be asleep,” Hartos mumbled, and Drake’s heart sank.
He’d known it the moment he’d seen it, but to have it confirmed. A mythic rank monster. Right in front of him. His eyes widened in terror.
Those massive jaws flexed and a dozen men leapt back, brandishing their weapons in shaking hands.
“It was a trap,” Artis, the mage said. “The ants weren’t trying to kill us, or stop us, they wanted to feed us to that thing!”
“It’s supposed to be asleep!” Hartos bellowed at her.
“They tricked the detector!”
“Isn’t that impossible?”
“Apparently not!” she shrieked back, near hysterical.
The ant barely reacted as they yelled back and forth, merely watching, patiently. Then it stepped forward.
Several hundred mercenaries leapt back.
[This wasn’t my idea,] a voice stabbed into Drake’s mind, pressing down on his consciousness with its size and power. [They do things like this without asking.]
“Where are the wards, damnit all?” Hartos shouted, but noone was listening, all eyes were fixed on the creature.
It stared back at them with those cold, alien eyes.
[To be honest, I would have let you go. But… you should never have killed my sisters. That is the one thing, I can never allow.]
The purple light shifting across the monster’s carapace flared, then exploded outward. Drake turned to dash away, his feet digging into the hard stone beneath his feet, except it wasn’t.
He looked down in shock to see he had risen from the ground, his feet scrabbling through nothing but air. He rose higher, along with every other mercenary in the room.
[Sorry about this. I haven’t worked out how to control it yet. In fact, why am I even apologising? Actually, the apology is fine, gotta keep it classy Anthony. Anyway, better luck next time.]
Drake’s heart dropped. Then his ascent stopped. He dangled there, along with hundreds of others for one terrifying beat.
Then they fell. Fast.
Comments
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Ladyhotcomb
Yes!!! For the colony!!
Rahsheem Reid
Not hundreds of single entities all at once.
JtheSeagull
I neeeeeed more!!! It could very well be a matter of life and death!
Koala Man
That’s about the length of a semi trailer, truck . He’d stand 2x as tall and would be almost 2x as wide as a truck .
Koala Man
About 18 mtrs long , head would be 4 long and 4 wide x 3 high. I’d guess he would stand about 8 mtrs tall to the top of his carapace .
Brandon14754
he's probably about as long as a semi with a trailer and about a little taller, idk about width though.
MrrC
@nathan - I was unclear. When I refer to wings and tail - I was referring to the airplane. I was guessing that Anthony is the size of the main body of a 747 or so since he was bus sized at tier 5 ...and now just his mandibles are man sized.
LuffyBR
But Minerva would also be limited by mana if she was on that battle instead of Titus, wouldn't change much things
Nathan Quitugua
I dont think ants have tails...?
Grey Knight Lord
He was bus sized at tier 5.
Koala Man
Easy bus sized
Greyg
Titus is likely stronger on a physical scale when geared out and determined the ants got lucky he was with recruits and newcomers mostly with Titus considering it a good opportunity for a training session instead of himself taking the lead given lack of mana at the time. Now his wife is another story and i doubt anthony could withstand her pure rage, but now the legion is under different leadership and focused elsewhere for now. I could see Titus and his wife having a discussion about the ants and the connection with their daughter but we haven’t seen much about them i think they’re off grinding experience with her powerleveling her into a juggernaut. The new legion leadership could decide to focus on the ants or even the tree now.
MrrC
Anyone have a sense of just how big Anthony is now? If his mandlibles are the size of a full grown man (e.g US six feet / 1.8 M) then we're looking at an ant the size of a Jumbo jet (excluding wings / tail )?
LuffyBR
Well, although I still slightly disagree with you because their cunning stat skyrocketed after gaining sentience, I understand your point. It was a good talk buddy, thank you 👍
Grey Knight Lord
They may have changed species to a sentient ant, but they still have the base of Formica. Weak first strata monsters. However that sentience has allowed them to rise to actual power. The ants are stronger, but they don’t have the raw starter stats of a regular First Strata beast. But they have better potential once they get some evolutions.
LuffyBR
Sure they are still ants, but don't you think that their brain should be counted as a factor of survival? As long as i know, the system is omnipresent when we are talking about dungeon. Gandalf should know the change immediately after it happened and the system should instantly adapt to this change.
Grey Knight Lord
The thing is they are still ants. The weakest of monsters on the first strata which is the weakest of them all. Only now are they being taken seriously, but it tookAnthony getting to tier 5 before his sturdy foundation paid off. Tier 4 was still weak though. Tier 6 and 7 are where the avalanche did it’s job.
LuffyBR
Exactly, although I think the ant species thing is a plot hole. Once the ants changed species after turning intelligent, they should be considered way more capable of reaching higher tiers by the sistem,no? And even so, they receive the normal ant species bonus. Really cool that you are rereading, I will do that someday.
Grey Knight Lord
Anthony’s self hurting policy of pushing his core to the limit has been the right call. He became a rare monster before he should have been able to and he kept going. For a first strata monster and a ant, the snowball effect was well worth the wait. Plus I am on my second reread to emphasize this.
LuffyBR
I know hahaha, I just wanted to seriously answer because I thought the topic to be cool to discuss. Also, about your reply, I agree with you. We know that Anthony is way above average in core strength, as evindenced when he meets Grokus at T6 and senses that Grokus core was not that far away from his own. In a prelude of some previous chapter, we also discover that peak fourth strata monsters are T8 and even at this tier, are only lesser mythic, if I am not wrong. So imagine Anthony's peak T7 form, or even his T8 form? It will be enormously powerfull, maybe powerfull enough to go toe to toe with Titus in his max, even with praetorian armour.
Anthony Romanov
Anthony is Back with a Bang
Brandon14754
I wouldn't be surprised if only a hand full of teams outside have been able to kill an ant.
Victor Desantiago
Anthony should give an ultimatum to the ones outside to return the cores of his dead sisters or else
Brandon14754
I bet on Titus being stronger, but anthony being able to kite him till he has to retreat
Grey Knight Lord
I think that his evolution was faster because of where he was. The 4th strata, more mana for him to use. Most likely sped up the time it toon to evolve as apposed to being on the third.
Grey Knight Lord
I actually agree with you. I was just saying that because of how cool it sounds. I think Anthony will have to get to at least the peak of tier 7 to go toe to toe with Titus.
LuffyBR
Remember that Titus showed almost nothing of his power because he (all classes skills, as I understand) was limited by mana. In a deeper strata with thicker mana, he is much stronger. Combine this with his title of Legion Commander (or something higher) which is 100% not just for show. I would bet him being in the same ground as a upper mythic monster, or a level slightly below that. Maybe I am overestimating him, but I really think I am not. Based on this, Anthony normally would be stomped since he is average mythic class at maximum. However, Anthony has gravity, so I don't know, maybe a tie....?
M Afxarr
Honestly wasn’t expecting Antony to wake up this fast. Very pleasantly surprised. Thanx for the chapter RinoZ
Gonvas
He could already do that, domain with inverse gravity.
Grey Knight Lord
The Colony vs The Abyssal Legion round 2. Titus Vs Anthony round two. Place your bets.
Shaitan
Still curious on why Drake decided to be stupid. Hope we find out
Rahsheem Reid
Might have unlocked new spells that encompass the whole of a object and able too slam them too the roof or wherever really..
Rahsheem Reid
Now that is a head Banger of a chap if I do say so myself!! All those who said Drake will die gets kudos from me!
thatbrodou
He got them to float... Does this mean that the gravity magic skill has finally fallen into his mandibles?
Nathan Quitugua
You know, thats one thing i'm curious about. With monsters, they get more biomass points depending on the tier difference. What happens when a monster eats something like one of the sapient races with classes? I mean, with the size of anthony as he is, is a person with more levels worth more biomass points? Are they nutrient dense? Or is it something to do with mana capacity? At this point, a single human is like a bite to anthony...but would it be worth 1 point altogether or like...100 points in one go?
Nathan Quitugua
NGL, i really really hope they make an appearance to the mercs before they die. I'd love for them to see just how outclassed they were from the get go.
Nathan Quitugua
no...thats Anthony. Brilliant is tiny
LanScaper
I cant wait to see Anthony's opinion of the evolution.
Titaniumtac
Nice to have him back
Dan K
It was in the description when he evolved so he probably knows even if he will be disappointed.
Dan K
Haha! our main character is awake! Anthony is back in business! Time for them to feel the wrath of his commercial district!
Jbb4Play
Anthony is gonna be pissed when he gets the time to inspect himself thoroughly and notice that he is not white shiny but black shiny now
due
My first thought was acid pit. I’m so glad I was wrong 😁this was much better!
MrrC
They probably have readers...the ants may allow them to see that the invader Mercs died....or they could bait a rescue mission
MrrC
All that experience and biomass just delivered itself to Anthony and the Colony.....plus the devices and weapons - all from 4th layer Mercs. I can see the mages improving the detector and the and smithant reviewing the armour and weapons for ideas
Tobias
Raw kino based
James
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Nathan C
Also, before we knew Anthony was awake, I was grinning to myself thinking Crinis, Tiny and Invidia were all sitting in the shadows just out of sight
Nathan C
Well done Brilliant
Patrick
Wonder what folks back at merc camp will think....
Frank Moore
I think the mind talk was a bigger mindf*** than the trap. Welcome back Anthony!
Khalil Redd- Gomez
Poor dumb Drake... O well 🤷🏾
Grey Knight Lord
Hahaha. THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR!
Richard Doss
Tyftc. Our Boy is Baaacccckkkk
wave_emoji
Thanks 🌊
