Antvance into the Unknown

48. Resting up

Getting back to the nest helped a lot with my physical exhaustion, washing the fatigue from my limbs and easing the pain in my muscles. Except the mental fatigue is still there weighing me down, and after five days of almost continuous fighting, even the impressive constitution of a tier six monster is barely enough to keep me going. Moreover, Tiny fought so hard that he has no fight left in him by the time we make it inside the defensive wall of the nest, stumbling like a punch-drunk boxer, the lights almost entirely out in his eyes.

Crinis has been asleep for a while now, just latching onto my carapace and nodding off the moment she can, while Invidia is having trouble keeping himself in the air, his small wings flapping with more energy than usual to correct his frequent dips and lurches as he zones in and out.

The trip to the third stratum nearly killed us a couple of times, which is less than ideal. From what I gathered from the troops stationed at the walls, our intervention was keenly felt across a wide area along the deepest edge of the Colony’s territory, which is gratifying to hear. Including all the experience, Biomass, and cores we accrued over the journey, on top of the intelligence we gathered regarding the third stratum, I would have to qualify our adventure as a rousing success.

By the time we reach our chambers inside the inner part of the nest, all four of us have had it. Collapsing into a pile of carapace, fur, and giant eyeball, we fall into slumber, the relaxing grace of torpor draping over me and dragging my mind into the void to rest. Until…

MOVSLAJAGGA!

I’m up!

Awareness rushes back to me and I spring onto my legs, my mind refreshed and my body completely awash with energy. The thoughts, hopes, and wishes of the tens of thousands of my kind in the nest pour into me and bubble up as a mass of spiritual power that, for a moment, threatens to overwhelm me. I grapple with it, my Will straining until I succeed in shoving it into the background, the roar of the Colony fading back to a dull murmur.

What the heck was that?

It’s never behaved like that before… Is it the accumulated desires of my siblings that piled up when I was resting? Are the members of the Colony just impressing more of their Will onto me than usual? Are there just more ants around than I was expecting, all reacting with my new Vestibule?

I’m tempted to ask for advice from Granin and company about the issue, but after thinking on it, I decide not to. It isn’t that I don’t trust the golgari trio, but I feel the need to keep some of my cards close to the carapace. Also, there’s just something odd about the Vestibule and Nave and the way they interact with the rest of my kind that makes me a little hesitant to spread the word. They just seem so different from anything else I’ve seen from other monsters that I sometimes wonder if I’m the only monster in the Dungeon who has an evolution like this.

Everyone I’ve ever spoken to says insect monsters tend to not reach tier five or six, so it might be entirely possible.

Ah well, something to worry about another day. I rouse Tiny, Crinis, and Invidia, who wake with some reluctance, especially Tiny. There’s so much to do, so much to see! Time to charge out of the chamber and get to work!

As always, it’s go, go, go in the nest, with ants rushing hither and thither on their innumerable tasks following the dozens of scent trails that lead to every destination in our territory. Such is the hubbub that it takes longer than usual to make our way to our destination, but we find our way to the core shapers workshop, where Bella and Ellie are busy arranging their caste in numerous teams.

There are thirty ants gathered into groups of three when we arrive, each neatly lined up and listening to Bella give a grand speech on their mission. She stumbles to a halt when I arrive, and I find myself the centre of attention as each of them turns their attention to me.

“Uh… hi. Don’t stop on account of me!” I wave an antenna awkwardly.

“Nonsense, Eldest,” Ellie rushes over to welcome me. “How nice of you to visit us when you are so busy. You haven’t stumbled across any other revolutionary core shaping techniques on your latest outing by any chance?” she gushes, stars practically gleaming in her eyes.

“No,” I crush her dreams immediately. “But I did bring you a couple of gifts.”

[Crinis?]

From my back, Crinis extends a tentacle that arches back until it plunges into her own mass, fishing around, then emerges with a small cache of cores gripped in a curl of shadow flesh.

“A small selection of demon cores fresh from the third stratum!” I proclaim as Crinis hands them over to a rather reverent Ellie, who grips the spheres in her mandibles as if they were precious diamonds. “We weren’t able to grab many, things were a little hectic down there, but this is what we got.”

“Thank you, Eldest!” Bella exclaims. “We’ve been given a few demon cores from the outer defences, but they’ve only been trickling in. To have some directly from the source will be most useful to our research!”

“Glad to see they’ve gone to a good home. All the best, you two!”

After waving goodbye to the two core shapers and their somewhat awestruck audience, we move on to another visit within the nest that needs to be checked off the list. I find Granin and his group engaged in teatime with Enid, surprisingly enough. The three oversized rock-people look a touch out of place in the neatly furnished room of the mayor, their cups of tea appearing comically small in their large hands.

[Anthony,] Granin rumbles in my mind. [Nice to see you made it back in one piece.]

[Did you know the third stratum was like that?] I demand. [It’s freakin’ hot down there!]

He raises one stone-carved eyebrow.

[People are more commonly disturbed by the idea of the entire surface of our world being supported by rocky pillars. But sure, yes, it’s very hot.]

[Also that! What the heck is going on there? You cannot possibly tell me those rocks are strong enough to hold up the gojillions of tons above them!]

[Nice to see you too, Anthony,] Enid says and takes a long sip of her tea.

Ah.

[Sorry, Enid, my manners have totally gone begging. How’s things been with you? I trust Renewal is doing well?]

She laughs. [Well enough. Don’t mind me, I’m just getting old and fussy. Although, since we’re speaking of it, is there a chance you could make an appearance on the surface? It would be wonderful to show you what we’ve achieved up there.]

Go to the surface? As tier six?

[Uh… I’m not sure⁠—]

Before I even finish the sentence, I can see the disappointment flicker in the old woman’s eyes.

[There’s a wave on, lad,] Granin reminds me.

[Oh right. Would that be enough, though?]

He shrugs.

[If the three of us tag along and help channel Mana for you, I think you’d be able to manage for a little bit. You’ll need to wait until the wave reaches its peak, though.]

It seems like a bit of a pain, but sure. Enid has done a lot for me and the Colony, I don’t mind humouring her.

[Alright then, Enid,] I say. [You heard the man. When the Mana levels peak, I’ll try to sneak up there for a tour. Sound good?]

She puts her tea down to clap her hands together, her smile wide and eyes shining.

[Wonderful! The people will be so pleased. Now please, continue your conversation.]

[Why are you interrupting me anyway?] Granin demands gruffly. [I’m trying to have some tea. Where the heck did you even get tea anyway?]

[I think we stole most of it from the golgari…] I say. [I’m actually in need of a consult. Got some time?]

[For you?]

[Obviously not.] I jerk my antennae back toward Tiny and Crinis. [For those two.]