Chapter 54 Back to work (1/2)

I'm quite pleased with the display of Mana Force. With a blast like that I might be able to some serious damage! With a few more levels I might be able to reduce the amount of time required to prepare such an attack to the point it becomes usable in combat.

With my mental energy largely exhausted I decide to take one more nap before diving back into productive society. The shut-in lifestyle isn't for me and no self-respecting ant could possibly be happy living that way.

We are workers! We need to work, for the glory of the colony! And in order to level up so I can evolve!

Maybe my motives are not as pure as my fellow workers but my results will be miles better. Let us see how an ant colony can prosper with a human intellect helping them out.

Tiny is starting to look a little disgruntled. His tiny bat-like face is a bit sad around the edges and he keeps looking around for something, getting and more and more dejected when his search comes up empty.

Getting hungry are you little guy?

One more sleep and then we'll be go out hunting ok?

As I settle down to nap Tiny reluctantly joins me, settling against my back as we snooze.

OK!

I shake myself awake abruptly, causing Tiny to jump awake with a small shriek and look around wildly.

Nice energy little fella, we've got a big day in front of us now!

The cosy confines of our own room surround us, the bustle of the colony largely outside our awareness here, we can rest peacefully. The soft dirt walls show the scratch or bite mark from when the workers carved out this chamber. I'm still not entirely sure why it was dug at all, considering the fact that the workers very rarely come in here.

I'm not too fussed though, since it works out to my advantage.

Blinking his eyes sleepily, Tiny climbs up onto my carapace and I rocket out of the room and into the tunnel. Workers are frantically running here and there as always and when I visit the brood chamber I see a large squad of workers fussing over the new eggs, ensuring they are kept clean and at the optimal temperature at all times.

The colony is going to need a heck of lot of food pretty darn soon in order to raise up this ma.s.sive generation and I intend to make it happen.

The larger and stronger the colony becomes, the safer and more secure I'll be in this world.

Of course, I'll secure my own fair share of experience and Bioma.s.s whilst I'm at it.

Time to get to it!

With Tiny holding on I charge up the tunnel, frequently b.u.mping other workers out of my way. I'm coming through guys, pick up the pace, we aren't driving Ms Daisy!

The closer I get to the ant hill in the forest I start to notice a change in the walls of the tunnel. The glowing threads I recall from my time in the earlier tunnels are starting to appear, thin at first but thicker and brighter the close I get to the open s.p.a.ce ahead.

Are these pulsing lines … growing down the tunnel?

I'm positive they weren't hear just a few days ago!

I'm not sure why but I find it vaguely unsettling to think of these strange, branching vines of glowing light as a growing, living thing.

What are they?

I mentally shrug my shoulders, I don't have an answer now and I don't see how I can get one in the future. All I can think of is to keep an eye on the situation and see if I can learn anything as things develop over time.

Casting aside my concerns I focus once again on the mission for today. Securing food for the colony.

Emerging out of the tunnel and into the huge open s.p.a.ce of the forest feels good. It's nice to be out and doing something again!

Holy Moly it is bright…

Significantly brighter than before…