I highly enjoyed my time on the surface with Enid, taking a look about the place, enjoying the sun on my diamond carapace and taking in the open air. It's amazing how quickly you get used to the narrow tunnels of the nest and Dungeon, although that may just be due to me being an ant monster. It reminded me of how resilient people (and ants) really are. It wasn't long ago that the Colony and every person living in Renewal was knocked down onto their knees, their backs against the wall as we fended off certain annihilation. Now look at us, thriving and surviving no matter what gets thrown our way.
The peace between the two people really has blossomed and had wonderful benefits to both sides. The booming antdustrial revolution would have taken much longer to get going without the help of the human craftspeople being so willing to share their knowledge and techniques. In return, the Colony provided the bulk of the labour required to establish the town as it exists today, clearing the fields, sourcing the wood and stone for construction. It's a partnership that continues to strengthen, with volunteers coming into the Dungeon and risking their lives to fight alongside us.
I kind of got the feeling that Enid would have liked a speech or something from me to the townsfolk whilst I was up there, something to commemorate what would likely be my last visit to the surface, but I dodged her requests. I'm not comfortable being in the spotlight at the best of times, and I have a strange feeling that no matter what I said it would be twisted into some unimaginable meaning by the fanatics listening in. Instead, I was content to roam about the place and stick my nose into everyone's business, chatting with Enid and saying hi to my many siblings on the surface.
It was a great time, and a pleasant break, but the constantly leaking energy from my core meant that it couldn't last, and after a few hours I was forced to retreat to the Dungeon. With a final wave of the antennae, I pointedly ignored the weeping antmancers who appeared to be praising the sun with their hands extended, floods of tears and snot running down their faces as I dove back into the nest.
Once inside I raced to go deeper and the moment I was back below surface level I felt the rush of mana in the air and greedily pulled it into my core, drinking it like a thirsty person in the desert handed a cool glass of water. Phew!
[That was a bit rough, eh Invidia?] I commented to the gently flapping eyeball.
[It wassssss mosssst unpleassssant] he replies.
[The next time you and me evolve we won't be able to make it to the surface even during a wave most likely,] I observe to him. [Actually, that was your first ever trip to the surface wasn't it?]
[Yesssss…]
[What did you think?]
[It wasss too bright.]
[You've spent most of your life in the second strata. A candle is probably too bright for you. Ah well, let's keep on going, I won't be able to feel comfortable until we get to the bottom of the first layer at least. Once we've recharged our cores, it'll be back to the frontlines and back into the fight. You ready Tiny? Crinis?]
[Ready, Master!]
[Hurrrrr!]
[Good replies! Let's get to it!]
The trip back into the depths is uneventful, the super highway constructed by the colony facilitating the journey wonderfully. I have to say, it's a little intimidating rushing down this wide tunnel into the darkness. They didn't muck around when they dug this thing. It's probably at least fifteen metres across, the sheer amount of rock they'd have to move to get it done boggles the mind, and the slope is probably close to seventy-five degrees. If I wasn't an ant, this would be tricky as hell. In fact, given my drastically increased size, my grip skill is having more than a little trouble holding my weight even on this slope. I'll have to make sure I put in a ton of training in order to make sure I can hold up my tons. Heh.
Once more embraced by the shadow sea, the inky black slick of dark mana that infuses the second strata, we continue our descent until we find our way back to the nest. Unsurprisingly, I find Wills waiting at the end of the highway, her antennae twitching anxiously.
"Are you kidding me Wills? I wasn't even gone half a day!" I exclaim, exasperated.
"They've already been made to retreat to the third defensive line down there," she tells me in a rush, "Sloan encouraged me to wait here so I could persuade you to go back out there the moment you got back."
"Where is Sloan, is she on the frontline?"
"Yes!"
Ah.
"Alright, fine. They aren't seriously in danger of breaking through are they?"
I really didn't think the Colony would be pressed to this extent just to hold off the wave. They've faced down greater challenges than this, surely. I knew it would be difficult, sure, but unable to cope without me there, that's not what I expected.
The scout hesitated.
"I don't … think so," she said, "but they are worried that the cost of holding out the wave will grow once ants start to fall in greater numbers. The further they get pushed back, the more desperately they are forced to fight for every inch of ground, and the more casualties there are. I think they are nervous that things will start to escalate out of control if you don't return to relieve the pressure."
So they're panicking a little.
"No problem then," I sigh, "we were going to go straight back anyway."
[Let's keep moving.]
Once again embraced by the surging mana of the wave, my core is back in top condition before too long and we make our way through the farms to the deepest point of the Colony's territory. The sound of furious battle rings from the stone and ants rush everywhere, doing a thousand different tasks. I find the general still at her post from when I left, watching over proceedings with a stern eye as she ensures her checkpoint is performing at maximum efficiency.
"Reporting for duty once more, general!" I salute.
"Nice to see you again, Eldest. We've given some ground in the last few hours as the demon concentration continues to rise. We'll be happy if you can lead the charge to retake the outer defences, we'd lose good soldiers if we had to do it without your help."
"Not a problem general, it'll be done in a jiffy."