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Chapter 887 - Wriggle and Worm
🕑 Added 2021-10-29 10:53:44 +0000 UTCThe hot air of the third stratum burned against his skin and Jim cursed as his tender flesh seared in the open air. He wasn't built to be exposed like this which was probably why they demanded he come out of the protective soil for this discussion.
The demon city of Arkesh loomed high above them, the five tiers of plates disappearing in the smoke and ash far above. He shuddered and the rings that made up his long form coiled and twisted uncomfortably.
Now that he had revealed himself fully the three kaarmodo who awaited him at the base of the pillar stepped forward, accompanied by their attendants they approached him as he writhed slowly with pain.
Without preamble he felt the combined weight of their minds slam into him, smashing his thoughts aside in the most brutal way possible. If he had any illusions as to how high he was held in their regard, then this deliberate, crude intrusion would make them clear.
Fortunately, or perhaps not, depending on the perspective, Jim was under no illusions to what the kaarmodo thought of him. To them, he was a tool, nothing more, nothing less. He viewed them in much the same way, and if it helped him achieve his goals then he would gladly suffer some indignities. After all, hadn't he lived imprisoned by the golgari for a decade? Compared to that, rough treatment from the giant, sentient lizards was nothing.
[We have protected you, as we promised we would,] the lead kaarmodo declared, [this is evidence enough of our sincerity, I am sure?]
Jim wanted to snort and scoff at the ridiculousness of that statement. Protect him? They'd very nearly left him for dead! If he hadn't slithered directly towards their city they may well have let that idiot, Anthony catch him! But he couldn't do that. The kaarmodo were touchy when it came to questioning their morals, regardless of how questionable they were.
[I am very grateful for your protection,] he said, using the power of his mind to find a little more balance within his own head, shoving the intrusive presence back just a smidge. [I would also like to think that my efforts have also served to more clearly demonstrate the threat that the Colony represents. I hope that the old ones will be more receptive to my warnings now?]
The three lizards watch him lazily as their servants stood to attention around them. It was so difficult to try and read a kaarmodo, their faces almost never moved, if they wanted to they could stand perfectly still for days at a time, their bodies not shifting position in the slightest. It was unnerving to look at.
[We are still unconvinced that the danger is as great as you suggest,] the kaarmodo to the left told him, breaking into the conversation for the first time. [We have heard dire warnings, but until now we have seen and heard little of this 'Colony'. A single ant, no matter how powerful, is of little concern to us.]
So stupid. Despite the pain he was in, Jim was reminded of the human gesture he might have engaged in so long ago, slapping a palm against his forehead. He no longer had palms, or a forehead, but the sentiment remained. How could they be so foolish?
[If a single ant can become so powerful. Reaching tier six, with multiple tier six pets…]
He left the thought hanging, trying to allow the supposedly aged and wise kaarmodo to fill in the blanks on their own.
[Are you trying to suggest there are thousands of such creatures? All ants, with a comparable level of strength?]
The tone of the thoughts was loaded with derision.
[No,] he quickly denied, [but given enough time they will be able to amass resources at a speed that will shock you. I have been inside their nest, I know how fast they work. By now there will be tens of thousands of them, hundreds of thousands maybe. They can spread over an enormous amount of Dungeon and funnel resources to a few individuals. Surely you see the threat?]
[These are all future concerns, far off and theoretical. Little to justify our continued efforts to protect you now.]
If he had any teeth he would have grit them in frustration. These damned lizards were such an unwieldly and slow instrument to work with! When his betrayal of the Colony had failed, when the golgari and Legion had fallen short of eliminating the pest, he had despaired of ever being able to pry Sarah away from the insects who pushed her to the edge of her sanity in their own defence. They were far too on guard for him to ever be able to approach the nest again, no matter how hard he tried, so he had been forced to watch and wait, something he was well used to doing.
When the Colony had expanded to the third stratum, he felt he might finally have a chance. He knew that land in the third was more heavily contested than it was in the second, all he had to do was try and find some of the ant's new neighbours and give them a nudge. The empire of the great lizards, the Dune Kingdom, seat of the old ones, had been a perfect target. Too proud to ever settle to treat monsters as equals, a conflict with the Colony was inevitable. All he had to do was provide a spark.
[They have already conquered Orpule. That makes two cities that have fallen to the Colony in a matter of weeks. It won't be long before they come here. I predict that you will begin to see scouts poking at the edges of your territory in a few days, perhaps less.]
They certainly would be here, looking for him, but the kaarmodo didn't need to know that.
If only he hadn't reached out to Sarah in that moment, then Anthony and the Colony would still have no idea he was here and there would surely have come a better chance to reach her. He was confident that if he just had a minute to talk to her, a little time to explain himself, then she would see things as he saw them. The Colony would destroy her in the end, he was certain of it.
But with him, he could protect her, keep her safe from herself.
[Your warnings are dire, but we are yet to see sufficient evidence. If you wish to continue to enjoy our protection, then you should honour your end of the bargain. Continue to be our eyes on this 'Colony', track their movements. If they seek conflict with the kaarmodo as you claim, they will learn how foolish it is to wage war against the timeless sands.]
Sensing the dismissal, Jim gratefully rolled his lengthy form and dove once more beneath the crust of the plains. Though the rock was hot, the air was even more so and he was grateful to once more be shielded from it. He would return to the lands of the Colony, though he would have to be doubly careful for now, but he was confident that the tinder had already been lit.
All he had to do was be patient, then he would get his chance.
Comments
Aaron Connelly
Treacherous worm
Alnatura
Wow, Jim is such a cunt. It would be a perfect job for the protector ants though to hunt him down.
Dan K
Can’t wait till the lizards realize after losing countless members to the war that all the ants really wanted was to murder the worm they are keeping. Also can’t wait till the lizards give them Jim on a silver platter in exchange for peace.
Rahsheem Reid
I'm getting Joe vibes from jim. Iykyk
Adam
I agree regardless of what there short comings each reincarnated individual has at least a few screws loose and are outliers in society given each race they a put in is a mirror to there biggest flaws him being a worm makes me think of worm tongue from lord of the rings not powerful individually but able to worm his way in a twist people’s views to become twisted like his.
Runaway_Cactuar
Historiant: And the Eldest, after ordering the Colony to consolidate its defenses, purposely triggered the lizards to attack into it. The result is another efficient slaughter by the Colony, led by the infinite wisdom of the Eldest. It was after this victory that the 7th statue of the Eldest was carved... "
John Pratt
He's a worm, he's about as literally a creep as it is possible to be. Think about it. Anthony has extreme self-loathing as an abused child that led him to sacrificing himself to promote an ant colony, Gandalf made him an ant, because it's poetic. Assassin guy get turned into a demon of slaughter. Wanna bet Sarah had Bipolar Disorder with a manic rage issue before she became a bear? Jim is a worm, it doesn't speak well of his personality.
Cindermoth
We need to keep in mind that all reincarnates are messed up in some way. And not just a little. So whatever is wrong with Jim, it's probably darker even than you described.
deus vult
hahaha. Ironically, he says that the colony will be the end of her. as far as I see it, he is too shortsighted and traumatized to be a good person. he will suffocate everyone with him and lead them to death because he hadn't truly adjusted to being a monster. both emotionally and even literally - suffocate them. he cannot be someone you work with. which is funny. maybe he is projecting himself towards anthony? he is so self absorbed he cannot see his own faults, but he can see himself in the ant. so he subconciously hates him. maybe he is slightly aware, but refuses to admit it. it's fun trying to predict the psychology of an imaginary transmigrated monster. author has a sense of humor at least.
Anthony Romanov
His obsession of Sarah he thinks only he can protect and anyone that is close to her is a danger to her. He will never encourage Sarah and try to put her down so she relies only on him. He is a stalker that is convinced his victim only needs him
JC
Is he a creep? While his previous actions have been questionable, at the end of the day he's just trying to look out for himself. After so long as a prisoner, and with the shock of having to fend for himself in an incredibly harsh world, I can see why he would try to eliminate the Colony which he perceives as a threat to himself and to his friend Sarah.
Anthony Romanov
Well that established that Jim is a creep. And Colony needs to start making friends with other species.
