Chapter 49 Nest Assaul (1/2)

I have high hopes for this upgrade. At the moment I can't use my mana for anything other than practice, it serves no offensive purpose, and I can't help but wonder if I'll eventually be able to manipulate my mana into different elemental types eventually. If I'm right then this could be a ma.s.sive advantage, even if it is a long way off.

For now, this upgrade will give me what I want most, which is a rounded offensive boost.

Choose Infused Mandibles!

ooooOOOOHHHHHHHH G.o.d!

MY FACE!

MY PRECIOUS FACE!

Once the mutation begins my entire face erupts with painful itching. It almost feels as if wires are tunnel through my head, connecting my mandibles and my inner body.

This is the WOOOOOOOOORST!

It takes a long time for the mutation to end. When it finally stops I feel like crying in relief and once again I'm forced to remember that ants have no tears.

But my heart, my heart is weeping.

Getting stronger is an amazing feeling but the process completely sucks. Having spent my mana and my Bioma.s.s it is time to rest up. I still have skill points to spend but I'll keep holding them for skill upgrades and potential magic skills.

Time for a nap!

Without further ado I flop onto my side and begin to drift into the dreamless state of torpor. Tiny scratches around for a while before leaning himself against my back. Before my senses finally fade away I can hear him snoring softly behind me.

Aaaand UP!

With a jolt I shake myself awake, ready to take on another day of challenges! Since there isn't really any hurry I make sure to spend the mana I acc.u.mulated whilst resting on more manipulation practice.

I try something different this time, inspired the Queen, that is to say, mother, pa.s.sing on her healing spell through her antennae. Using my mind to control the flow of energy in my core I direct it out, into my body and up through my antennae. Eventually the mana is released as a brightly glowing wisp of smoke, drifting from the tip of each antennae.

After completing my training I wake up Tiny, who is still snoring happily (is it just me or is he a bit bigger today?) and wait for him to jump on my back before heading down to the nesting chamber.

There isn't really any rush to get started quickly today so I felt like taking some time to play around with the brood.

The little white grubs don't' have much going for them at this stage in their development, no eyes or ears of any kind. They are totally dependent on the workers to care for them until they are large enough to spin a coc.o.o.n.

The little things are cute though. I try tickling them with my antennae and they start wriggling around happily, rolling away to escape. This starts a new game where Tiny and I take turns to roll the little guys back and forth as they wibble and wobble in delight.

Heheh.

Well, enough playing around, time to go and secure food for the next generation!

Wait, I smell something…

I rush out of the chamber and into the tunnel to see the workers rus.h.i.+ng about, extremely agitated. It doesn't take long for me to work out why. The scent I detect in the air is the pheromone for emergency, all the workers are rus.h.i.+ng down in response to this distress call!

What in the heck is going on down there?

Being larger and stronger than the other ants I push my way forward, Tiny in his customary saddle on my back, rus.h.i.+ng down to the Queens' chamber.

Once there I can see the Queen pacing around agitatedly, as many as thirty workers cl.u.s.tered around her defensively. There is one other tunnel leading further down in this chamber and workers are streaming down it at the moment, that is the source of the emergency.

Curious and alarmed I charge forward, bursting into the tunnel and following my fellow ants.

What the heck is going on guys? Tunnel collapse? Food located? Are we under attack?

After a few minutes of running down the tunnel I get my answer, the sounds of brutal impact and flesh being torn are ringing in my ears.

We are under attack!

Defend the colony!

Roaring in my mind I double my speed, I'll reach the front line and smash our enemies to bits! How dare they raid our colony!