245 Chapter 245 - Gathering Thoughts (1/2)

All work and no play makes Anthony, something, something.

Things have been way too busy! I need some rest!

Not to mention they're only going to get more busy from this point… I need to help the humans out a little, get them up and running so they can look after themselves, especially now it looks like there will be more attacks from those d.a.m.nable crocodiles, over the surface this time. I need to train up my own skills and fill myself with Bioma.s.s to get to the point where I'm ready to evolve. Not to mention I need to prepare for my evolution and decide what to do with the rare core. Not to mention, all of this has to be taken care of before the next generation of workers arrives!

Almost makes me feel as if I wasted my time evicting the stupid Croca beasts from the expanse below, but I know that isn't true. If we had to worry about attacks across the surface as well as from underneath, I'd be too stressed to let the workers out to hunt.

So it's not all doom and gloom.

I've got a heap of Bioma.s.s to spend, I've got some skills that I can advance, and I'm sure the same is true for Crinis and Tiny. Vibrant is going to be super upset about missing the battle. All the action and food she missed out on? That's gonna sting.

Thinking of Vibrant, she's been unusually responsible and active around the colony since we got back. I might want to ask about that.

For now though, SLEEP.

With Tiny and Crinis in tow, I depart from the scene of the battle where the workers are still picking over the last sc.r.a.ps of Bioma.s.s, cutting it up and carrying it in their jaws back to the anthill. I spent some time helping out, as well as snacking, which earned me another ten Bioma.s.s. Even Tiny and Crinis were helping. Tiny can carry an awful lot and Crinis is exceptional at… separating the food into … more manageable sizes. I'll phrase it like that.

Hopefully none of the villagers were watching or they might have been put off their lunch.

Down we go, into the ma.s.sive mound of earth that is our home, through the Queens chamber and into our own little nook at the very bottom of the colony. Underground where the mana is still strong enough to sustain us.

Crinis descends into the chamber as a ma.s.s of ink black tentacles that quickly withdraw until she appears as a tennis ball sitting atop a single stalk. Tiny just slumps into a corner, throwing himself onto the floor and I swear he was snoring before he hit the ground.

For my part, I find a comfy spot between them and grow very still, letting my thoughts slow until they too become frozen in place and my awareness stretches out to nothing…

HAGAH!

I'm up!

Snapping awake, the energy returns and my mind(s) snap into alertness with a suddenness that causes me to stumble slightly as my legs can't quite keep up. Whoa!

No problem!

”Senior! What happened when I was out!” Vibrant loudly exclaims.

Wazzat?!

Turning rapidly, I see Vibrant has taken up a position on the wall near the entrance to our chamber. She probably noticed me awake and immediately asked what was on her mind.

I decide to play dumb.

”What do you mean? I don't remember anything interesting happening…”

”What, what?! The entire colony stinks of Bioma.s.s and the workforce is so fat they can barely move! Somethiiiiiiiiiing must have happened!”

So full of curiosity is she that she's practically vibrating in place, her legs scritching and scrabbling against the wall so quickly she may as well be dancing.

”Okay” I relent, ”there was another ma.s.s monster attack but across the surface this time. We fought them off and the humans helped… a little.”

”Whaaaaaaaaat?!” she cries, appalled.

Heheheheh. I knew this would bug her.

”Huge battle it was. Ma.s.sive. Why, the horizon was filled enemies, from left to right, nothing but monsters, come to challenge the colony. The workers were heroic, standing tall as any ant has ever stood, why, each worker must have accounted for thirty monsters at least!”

”No way, no waaay!”