Chapter 351 The final stretch begins (1/2)

After exiting the Dungeon I was able to see that the evacuation of the forward HQ had already begun. Hundreds of ants, perhaps as many as a thousand, were rus.h.i.+ng this way and that, digging, lifting and generally getting things done everywhere he looked. A long trail had already been established and soldiers as well as workers were vanis.h.i.+ng into the distance as they marched back towards the nest and home.

They were very different ants from those who had started this fight. Thousands of Bioma.s.s had been consumed over the last five days, not to mention the experience and levels that had been gained. Mutations were evident everywhere I looked, Soldiers with glittering carapace, even a few diamond looking ones, long flowing antennae, thicker, more powerful legs.

For those who had survived, the battles had been a forge in which their strength had been tempered. They had emerged bigger and badder than before, ready to put their lives on the line in the defence of their colony and Queen in the final battle to come.

I spotted a dense cl.u.s.ter of ants communing near the main entrance and made my way over. Sure enough, the leaders.h.i.+p was grouped there, giving out instructions and consulting on last minute changes in strategy.

”Hey, Victor! Wills! Mendant! How's things going?”

The three members of the twenty turned at my call and watched silently as I approached.

'Well, ever since the er, lightning incident, things have been tense,” Victor admitted.

Yeah, I kind of had feeling that might be the case.

”Any more casualties?” I asked, nervous.

”No, Eldest,” Mendant answered me gently, ”we have simply been reluctant to engage with the horde with such an unstable element at play.”

”I can understand that. I may be able to help even.”

Wills perked up at my words.

”You've come up with a way to attack the Kaarmodo? That'll be incredible.”

”Ah, no. Nothing that grand. I still need two more levels before I can evolve right? Which means I'm going to have to go back in. I'll join up with the humans and try to hit the horde from behind, which should attract the attention of our friend the wizard lizard, since it's me that they're after.”

”Meaning the colony will be able to operate with far less risk from the front,” Victor mused.

”You're taking a lot of risk onto yourself Eldest,” Mendant worried, ”isn't there a better way that we could approach this?”

I shook my antennae in refusal.

”I won't have members of the family sacrificing themselves so I can farm experience peacefully,” I said firmly, ”I refuse. This is the way it's going to be. It'll also work to minimise the risks to the greatest number of us.”

I gave Mendant a friendly pat on the head with an antenna.

”Not to worry, I'm not easy to kill. Enough monsters have tried, but I'm still here.”

The healer s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably under my antennae as an embarra.s.sed teenager might as they suffered the affection of a parent.

”How long until you move out, Eldest?” Victor asked.

I shrugged.

”No time like the present I suppose. The humans should already be waiting close to where I left them. I'll need an hour to circle around and meet up with them, then another hour to get into position behind the enemy. I get the feeling you might notice once I get their attention.”

Victor nodded. If the sky starting sprouting lightning bolts again then it would be hard not to notice.

”How goes the evacuation?” I asked, s.h.i.+fting the topic.

”Quickly and efficiently,” Victor stated proudly.

As if it could be anything else. You're ants for goodness sake.

”Fair enough. I'd better get moving, the sooner I get to fighting the sooner I can evolve.”