IMPERIUM INSECTUM

Diva pov:

<good thing I have an insurance policy> The pheromones should be in his bloodstream, making it hard for him to shake off the scent. However, it's best to keep him as unaware as possible. I looked up to one of the scouts flying above.

<Pretend to give chase. We don’t want him to suspect anything…. In around 4 hours or so, come back home> without a word, the scout took off.

<As for the rest of you. Head back home. I'll see you all there…> Suddenly, the world around me twisted into a familiar ceiling.

< Back at home, huh?> I gently sat up in my bed. A dull pain swept across my head.

<I think I need to practice a bit more before I use that technique in any sort of battle>

Merging with and controlling my children is something I suspected I could do. But boy, did I underestimate the effort it requires. Despite this, I've never been happier. Unlocking this new, no; dormant ability has opened so many doors that I didn’t have before. The possibilities are endless. The only issue is my control right now; my best is 3 at once, but this is due to a lack of skill on my part. With some practice, I will probably be able to control the whole hive. haha yes. I look forward to that

<mother. Are you available?>

A familiar voice rang through my head. azuura.

<yes, of course. What is it?>

< We've arrived at the dragon's corpse>

That was quick, azuura sure doesn’t like to waste time, does he? <Just bring it back to the hive as I stated earlier.>

<Yes, mother…..>

I guess this is a great opportunity to show Penn and Sally my new abilities…..

Sally Pov:

<This is quite the operation, isn't it…>

Penn didn’t reply, mesmerised by how the workers worked. < This isn't the first time you’ve seen them work. What's got you so excited this time?> I asked. I waited, but no response. She was still glued to the way they work.

<Penn, Penn, PENN>

She suddenly snapped her head towards me.

<huh? Did you say something?>

<yes. Why are you so fascinated? This isn't the first time you’ve seen something like this…>

<There is a difference between seeing and understanding. Before I could see what they were doing, but now I understand. So much information is transmitted between them all, you would expect there to be confusion, but there isn't. Everyone knows their jobs, no one is doing anything unnecessary…..>

<That is true! My children are amazing!> A familiar voice hit my ears. Mother. <Mother, what are you doing outside the hive again! This is how-> I stopped when in front of me wasn’t my mother, but 3 workers.

<Sally, did they just> Penn asked, confused as all hell. I guess she isn't used to her mother talking through her children, although something is different this time

<Yes>

< it is>

<Me>

The three of them said after each other. I stared at the 3 workers in front of me. They were different still workers, but they felt like mother. What is going on here…

< Fascinating> Penn said aloud as she looked over the three workers.

<You sense that, don't you, Penn?>

I nodded. Sense it. I can see it. Their eyes had a slight golden light to them. Mother isn't talking through them; she’s controlling them

<How did you do this?>

<I kinda figured out by accident. When trying to do something else, haha.> All 3 of them said in unison. I guess she still needs practice. The workers walked towards us

<How far does your control go? Like, can you control me or Sally> Penn asked

The 3 workers looked at each other for a moment as if they were thinking it through, and in a way, they were

<I’m not sure, I haven't really tried.>

Mother looked at me I instantly shook my head. <Mother. We have much bigger problems at the moment. You can puppet me later…>

<Hmmmmm. Fine. I'll wait. In other news, we have found the enemy, which means we can start our counterattack. Come home, both of you. I trust azuura can handle this fine.>

We nodded. On cue, the golden light left the 3 workers. Without skipping a beat, they turned back and got back to moving the dragon.

< She's full of surprises, isn't she?>

I let out a sigh. <I know. Which is why I have to keep her in line at times.> Honestly, mother. I shouldn’t leave you alone…

DIVA POV

I slowly moved out of bed. Slowly but surely, my body is returning to normal. I'm still mana exhausted, which is an absolutely awful debuff by the way, but whilst I lack the ability to use spells. My stamina is nearly back to normal.

I felt my tail curve around. The bed as I stood up. With the spiders located, it's time to plan my next move. I think it's time to make that unit I've had for a while

I took several steps towards my door when suddenly one of my children prodded me. However, this one shouldn’t be here….

<Mother?>

<Yes, my child. Fancy seeing you here. But why are you here? Has something happened to Apollinaris?>

<No mother. I've been sent here with something.>

<Is that so…. I'll be right up>

……

“Well, this is a fun surprise….”

“UNHAND ME, CREATURES”, a shrill, stuck-up voice yelled. Judging by her appearance and her attitude, she must be a pure spirit. She glared towards me.

“What do you want!”

A small chuckle escaped me.

“What's so funny! THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THIS. My family, friends, everything is gone. ALL because of that MUSHY and her monsters! NONE OF THIS IS FAIR. WE DID NOTHING. SO WHY DID SHE-“

<Give me strength>, I said as more tears flowed down her face. I looked towards the worker who gave me a mental shrug.

<Apollinaris said she was a gift. She said Be as rough as you like>

<Did she now.>

I looked back at her tear-laden lips and licked my lips. That girl, she knows me so well. Sally and Penn are still a ways out. I've got time for a quickie……

A short while later...

<And that’s the long and short of what happened...> Penn said, sitting at the edge of the bed

<I see, luckily they were only foxes. If it was something stronger…>

<I know…> sally cut in. I looked towards her. Her face had hardened. I guess she is still affected by what it did to me, and who can blame her? We need to get to the bottom of what that dragon's corpse did to me.

< Penn. Any leads on what happened to me?>

<Hmmm. Nothing concrete, but this is my hypothesis. Worldly mana>

Penn and I both looked at her with confusion. <Can you maybe elaborate on that> Sally asked politely.

Penn rolled here eyes. <Seriously… you two don’t know what that is. I'm pretty sure Apollinairs would have told you.>

I shook my head < Maybe, but it's been a while, refresh me…>

<I swear…. Fine, I'll give you the short explanation. Worldly mana is mana that exists out in nature. It's quite powerful but unwieldy, usually having negative effects on those who attempt to use it. My theory is that the dragon somehow tamed the use of worldly mana and used it so often that it was saturated into its own body and became part of him, and when he died, the residual mana lingered.>

<That sounds a bit outlandish, Penn.> I chimed in.

<Hence why it’s a hypothesis. But dragons are such mysterious creatures. So little information is available about them that I'm just spitballing in the dark here…>

< Let's just assume she's right. How does the worldly mana being in the dragon explain the transformations?> Sally asked eagerly.

<I won't know until I've started my research, but my guess is that the mana was a part of him so long that when you ingested the dragon meat, the mana diffused into your own body and started to mutate you into something resembling that dragon, as that’s what that particular mana is familiar with. But this is all hearsay. I have no evidence to confirm this.>

<And what would you need to confirm that?>

<A laboratory and a proving ground>

<Doable, speak to azuura and the architects and explain what you had in mind. And we can allocate space and hopefully resources.> Penn nodded.

<Good, now for the next order of business, the spiders. We found them>

<Really? Were they far?>

<far away from us, not to know they existed for a while, but within my claimed above-ground territory.>

<So when do we attack> Sally asked eagerly.

<Soon, and I already have a plan in mind, but doing it will require pretty much all the resources of the hive, so no other construction until it's complete.”

Penn nodded. <The lab can wait. What do you have in mind?>

<This>

Penn and Sally read over my screen.

<Your plan is to tunnel.>

I nodded. <This is a unit I've had for a while, but never made, as the size of it is something else; however, my hand has been forced. We will employ the same strategy they did. We will break into the heart of their hive. whilst simultaneously launching an overground assault.>

<arent you forgetting that it didn’t work for them? Shouldn’t we try something else?> Sally asked.

I shook my head. < I agree with you, we should do something else, but time isn't on our side. Like me, she’s been having to rebuild. Right now, it’s a matter of who strikes first, and it has to be us. Hence the brute force strategy. I'll have my child on the inside scout for the best entry point for us to improve our chances, but his main priority is to act like a beacon for the tunnelers to home in on. >

<i don’t know…..> Sally said.

<I know it isn't great, honestly, I would love an elaborate plan. But right now, we don’t have the capacity for that. Brute force and ignorance are the best we can muster at the moment.> Sally still didn’t look convinced.

<how about this sally> penn chimed. <to improve our odds, we educate divas' children.> I looked at her in confusion.

<What I mean is that I, or more accurately, you, diva, tell them how best to fight them. Knowing your enemy is half the battle, and nobody knows more about silkwriths than me. Doing so will allow for more effective fighting on our side.>

Sally nodded, and so did I. <I see no reason to object. Sally?>

Sally nodded. < It's better than nothing, I guess, but I have a feeling we are gonna lose so many again. Are you okay with that?>

<I have no choice but to be okay with it, Sally. Let the nurses know to get the breeding stock ready. I plan to have everything we need impregnated by the end of the day. allowing me to gestate the tunneler>

By the end of the week, those spiders will be history…

Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest…..

“Did we lose it?” I asked as I watched Vivian skid down a tree.

“Coasts clear”

“That’s gooAGHHHAAA!” I screamed as Michael attempted to remove the rock-like substance on my chest.

“Sorry, this stuff is tougher than grok shit. Seriously, what the hell is this sshit?”

“Fuck should I know Michael. Isn't that your job?” I spat back.

“I'll leave this on your chest if you don’t-“

“ENOUGH! You two. Michael, can you get that off him here, yes or no?”

He shook his head. “I need my tools back at home. nothing I have out here will make a dent in this shit.”

“Alright, that’s what we will do. Can you walk?”

I nodded and slowly stood up to my feet. “I'm not 100% but I can manage.”

“Good, we aren't too far anyway. Let's head out.”

“Viv”, I yelled. She paused. “Thank you. Truly.”

She didn’t turn around. However, I saw her raise her hand and wipe her face. “We can talk more when we get home.”

I nodded and started walking behind her. Maybe it’s the newfound freedom, but walking suddenly doesn’t feel as heavy.