Chapter 532 The next generation pt 2 (1/2)
The training regime was brutal, and the hatchling ate it up. Lectures, followed by practice drills, followed by live practice, followed by a review. The brood tenders patiently explained every mistake, and stepped them through every decision, questioning the young ants' thinking and drilling their sacrificial tendencies out of them. Then more lectures, more drills and the cycle continued. They repeated the same thing five times before they were allowed to collapse into torpor.
The moment she awoke, the hatchling was greeted by the hard stare of another, large and intimidating ant. The general was gone, replaced by a similar sized, but smoother looking ant. Its carapace was thinner and more streamlined, the mandibles not as large. When her antennae picked up the scent, she realised that this was the ant who'd been thwacked by a tender in the tunnels the previous day.
”Finally awake? Didn't realise the Colony was raising such lazy brood.”
The hatchling was still tired and hungry, but she wasn't about to appear lazy! She sprung up and poked her nearby siblings with her legs to get them up and alert. The brood tenders around the sides of the chamber watched carefully as the ants came to attention.
”Good. You've been yelled at by a general all yesterday. That's grand and all. Today we'll begin teaching you how to use the greatest weapon the Eldest gave you.”
The scout bent one antenna back to indicate her head.
”The story goes that the Eldest was born smart, smarter than any other ant. The rest of us though? Stupid, regular old monsters. Then the Eldest learned a way to create a brand new type of ant. A way to turn all of us into something like them. Just like that, this Colony was born.”
The hatchling felt the stirring of awe in her thorax at these words. Able to change the entire Colony? Make each and every member more powerful? Such a level of contribution was… absurd.
”So if you aren't thinking, if you aren't using your Cunning to its fullest,” the ant continued, ”then you aren't achieving the incredible potential you've been gifted with. So today, we're going to be learning about scouting. I'm a scout, another soldier caste evolution. For the next four hours I'll lecture you on the Dungeon, expected conditions, hazards and dangers, teamwork when moving in the tunnels. Memorise it all and then we'll head out for a live scouting exercise. Understood?”
”Yes!” The hatchlings replied.
She listened intently to every word, devouring the knowledge just as her siblings did. When the four hours were up, her brain ached fiercely but there was no rest. The scout led them directly out of their learning chamber and the hatchlings were once again divided into teams with their brood tender mentor guiding them out into the Dungeon. Once there, they prowled the tunnels, crawling over the ceilings and walls as they practiced hiding, setting ambushes and tracking, then they returned to the nest for another lengthy debrief.
Then another round of lectures.
Then back out into the tunnels. When they were done, the hatchlings collapsed into torpor after shovelling down the Bioma.s.s that they were provided. Then they were up again, their brood tender teachers still present, but a new ant had replaced the scout.
”WAKE UP YOU, LAZY GRUBS!”
An explosion of flames erupted from the ant's mouth, causing all the hatchlings to leap awake.
”You've got the mental stats to use magic and every day the Colony learns new and important ways to employ it! No matter what caste you become part of, you need a basic understanding of the Skills and methods employed in the magical arts! First we will hunt for experience and Bioma.s.s in the farm, then we will consume mana infused water. This will help you to form your core! By the time we are done, every ant in this cla.s.s must have formed their core. Then we return for eight hours of Skill training! Be prepared!”
The hatchling wasn't sure how she felt about being able to shoot flames from her mouth, but it seemed powerful, and powerful was good for the Colony! She would learn! The mage wasted no time and immediately led the cla.s.s down into the farm where they engaged in controlled battles against the monsters that sp.a.w.ned there. Consuming Bioma.s.s and raising their basic Skills. Eventually they were led to a pool of water that was fed from above, a steady flow draining down from a gap in the ceiling.
The water tasted electrifying and the hatchling gulped it down greedily. Then more hunting, then more drinking. The moment a student reached level five they were no longer allowed to take experience, giving the rest over to the others. The hatchling achieved level five quickly but continued to aggressively hunt with her team in order to secure levels for her group.
Eventually each ant formed their core and returned to the lesson chamber for an extended grilling session from their mage instructor.
And on it went. The ants were given a thorough drilling in the basic Skills required for each caste. Instructed in the intricate network that made the entire Colony tick. If a single member of their cla.s.s failed to understand even a part of it, they were sent back for another gruelling day of training. The hatchling worked tirelessly under the watchful gaze of the instructors to teach her siblings and ensure the cla.s.s completed its tasks.
After a week, they were ready to evolve for the first time. There was huge excitement in the cla.s.s. They were to be a.s.signed their caste! This would determine the kind of work they would do for the Colony, what could be more important? The ants eagerly leapt out of torpor to find their teachers were already in position, the general in the centre of the teaching s.p.a.ce.
”CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken the first step in not being useless! Each member of this cla.s.s should have maximum mutations, a core and have attained level five once more. Along with a basic understanding of the roles of every caste in the Colony, this is the requirement to qualify for your first evolution!”
The general and the other teachers surveyed the cla.s.s with serious eyes. Their antennae monitoring every stray scent.
”In accordance with the wishes of the Eldest there is a limited amount of choice given to you. We will tell you what evolutions are needed, you will sort yourself into groups so that the quotas are reached!”