Chapter 628 Growth, then growth (1/2)

As we flee from the scene of the battle with all haste, I take a moment to let the System messages from the battle roll over me.

[You have slain Level 54 Legionem s.h.i.+eldbearer (Human)]

[You have slain Level 44 Legionem Armoured Scout (Human)]

[You have slain Level 45 Legionem s.h.i.+eldbearer (Human)]

[You have slain Level 58 Legionem Swordsman (Human)]

[You have slain Level 42 Legionem Armoured Scout (Human)]

[You have gained experience]

[You have reached level 58]

A lot of experience was gained there. Also, the next evolution is getting a lot closer. Another twenty two levels and I'll reach that mythical level 80 that seemed so far away after I'd evolved. It's a shame to leave their armour and technology behind, but I don't want any delays. I believe it's likely they'll have a way to know when their people go down. All in all, this ambush was highly successful, but still, I can't shake the feeling that my mandibles are unclean.

[They have come to kill you, Master. Don't worry over them when they wouldn't do the same for you,] Crinis' voice echoes in my mind.

I twitch, startled by her sudden words. How well is she able to read my mood? I still have meditation active! I hardly even have a mood!

[What do you mean?] I ask her, [why would I be feeling anything other than triumph right now?]

A pause as Crinis considers her reply.

[I have been your servant for a long time now, Master. I have watched carefully and I see more than you think. I know that you do not want to hurt the humans. You didn't really want to hurt the golgari either. Even though they are filth that treated Master so poorly! They should be burned… burned! They should be flung into a pit of ten thousand mouths and ---]

[Crinis!]

[---ah. I'm sorry. I just felt that defeating this enemy would make you sad, so I spoke. I hope I have not disturbed you for no reason.]

I sigh.

[No, Crinis. You're totally right, as you usually are. I felt as though… I felt like we could be a bit better than this, with monsters for everyone to fight against, why would they go out of their way to fight us? I thought if the Colony was peaceful and didn't attack anyone, then we'd be left alone. At least, that's what I'd hoped. It appears as though I was just being foolish from the beginning.]

I can feel Crinis bristle on my carapace.

[Master isn't wrong! Everyone else is wrong! What reason do they have to attack your family? None! These trash have no excuse for their behaviour!]

She's riled up. I can feel the teeth of her tentacles grinding against my perfect diamond sh.e.l.l. I wince. Please don't scratch me! It heals up pretty fast, but it hurts my heart.

[I guess it doesn't matter who's wrong or right now,] I try to soothe her, [this is the situation that we're in and we're going to have to deal with it. I can't be half-a.s.sed anymore, it's them or us, and we weren't the ones to push it to that point.]

[Master?]

[Yes?]