The master was irritated. Assan’diri could feel the rising ire of his master through the bond. Like a Blackened Death Asp monster, it hissed, sibilant, at a constant measure that put all of the Setsulah on edge. “Diri!” muttered a nearby voice. He turned to see Chen’thra, his wife, approach from his left. “Master is losing his patience,” she hissed, …

Antionette and Victoriant sat in the secure chamber in which the Eldest was evolving. Soldiers and scouts lined the walls, Brood Tenders, with their soothing growth auras were in attendance and the two guardians watched all with a sharp eye from their positions on either side of their master. “How long until the Eldest wakes up do you think?” Antionette …

Electrical energy crackled over head as the ants continued to battle mindlessly on the wall. With a crack like the sound of a whip, the first strike fell directly on the Queen. Conserving her energy, the Queen was holding her section of the wall with ease when she was struck. The bolt landed on her abdomen and electricity pierced her …

When the monsters pushed forward over the lines of traps and climbed over each other to ascend the wall, they found a ravenous wall of ants waiting for them. The soldiers were desperate, frantic for the opportunity to tear their opponents apart. From a distance, the wall appeared to have gained height. Ants stood atop each other, lunging forward to …

The colony succeeded in pulling back to the second of their defensive lines with minimal losses. Each of the walls was shorter in length than the previous, allowing the ants to compress their numbers further each time they fell back. Wills was pleased with the progress of the battle so far. After her (too short) rest, she’d emerged in time …

A delivery system of flesh and bone. That’s what the horde truly was. As an instrument of the dark will that controlled it, the massive gathering of enslaved monsters had been used to scour the kingdom of Liria and possibly neighbouring kingdoms as well. Here and now? That mass of bodies served a different purpose. To deliver Garralosh and her …

“Take that!” Leeroy roared as her mandibles tore down yet another foe. The blood and mana within her body thrummed with excitement as the battle unfolded before her eyes. The ants were fighting, gloriously fighting! All along the wall the horde surged and pushed higher, bringing them within reach of the deadly jaws of the insects above. “Hahahaha! Die for …

“About time they got here,” Burke muttered to herself as the horde made its final approach to the outer layer of fortifications the colony had erected. “Everything ready?” Wills asked for the fourth time in the last five minutes. “Yes, everything is ready. You really should have rested when you were told to.” “Couldn’t,” Wills flicked her antennae, “the scouts …

In the distance, a rising tide of fangs, claws and flesh approached. When Morrelia squinted, she could make out the individual forms of the monsters as they undulated across the land and between the trees. There didn’t seem to be an end to the horde. They spread. Like water pooling over the floor from a spilled cup, until they filled …

“What do you think, Ellie?” “They’re magnificent, Bella. Works of engineering, imagination, and unyielding effort! This must be the art that the Eldest spoke of when we were in training.” “I agree! This is art!” “Do you think the other members of the council will agree with us?” Ellie asked hopefully. “Not a chance,” Bella replied. The two Core Shapers …