Chapter 10: 9.

Several large bugs lay scattered in the field, their bodies either blown in halves from the inside or burned to a near stick-like state.

 'They are still hot, and the sheep and shit are all still here. Did they both chase after one? Both of them, no less.' 

 I checked the surrounding bugs and burn marks probably from Tom. Finally tracks became known, three lines of stab wounds in the ground like stakes were repeatedly placed and moved and two sets of boots following the line.

 'Are they trying to find the nest? But our job was just to defend and wait.'

 Following the trail two people slowly came into sight.

 "The fuck you guys doing? All the way out here!"

 They both turn to my yelling, Leonard pointing to Tom. "Great, you're here. He wants to fight the Drokel queen, I say we don't have the capability."

  "The queen is strong but we could take it. The problem is how many children it has and that it's underground and can collapse it's home. Luckily I can flush out a lot, or burn them out.

 We we're about to go and get you for the plan, but you found us. After the queen's dead we can just pretend to watch the livestock and relax." Tom smiled explaining the plan.

 "Is that their only hole out, then?"

 "Only one I've seen. But, depending on how long they were here, there should be one more."

"Will that be a problem, Drokel coming from that hole and snatching our assignment?"

 "You think they will care about food when the start popping?" Tom looked at me with bewilderment, like it's a given They'll try to protect the queen's abode. "They'll defend."

 'Is it really a good idea to put a lighter under a hornets nest?' Hedon rebuked

 "Not with that face. But carry on then." Guess that is common knowledge here.

 With my acceptance Tom buried his sword in the hole. Green fire traveled through the tunnel charring several of the bugs that tried to stop him.

 About 14 minutes passed as Tomathy pulled his sword back, sweating and gasping for breath. "I'm out!" 

The dirt in the hole was burned black. An audible kinking noise rumbled from deep within it.

 A head emerged from the hole, it was green and flat with mandibles like a fire ant but instead of antennas there were four stocks searching wildly until it landed on us, now a few meters from the hole.

 It dashed towards us dragging its large body and stinger out the hole with its six legs which were like spears with a single joint, stabbing the ground.

"Don't think I need to say this but do not get hit by their stingers, I don't know how to make antidotes."

 A vector arrow made a hole in it's head and out it's still burned thorax before it made half the distance. It still charged with its head dangling before Leon stabs it, barely getting through the exoskeleton before a blast goes off from its insides.

 "They're fast fucks despite their size." 'It doesn't need its head. Aim for the legs, three on either side.' 

 Another scurries out the hole while I strategies, then another. The holes entrance started to crumble as more exited. Two, then six, then ten, I casted two vector arrows and controlled them at the same time, making sure they are not slow enough to be dodged and sharp enough to keep form. Leonard kept them from Tom who exhausted himself already.

 The area was quickly filled with tilted over drokel as I chopped off the legs. There were several times where they surrounded or overwhelm Leon, me, and Tom, being tired and slow moving for now, but using a vector plate to throw drokel into themselves did the trick. Even if it did tire me faster.

 50 some odd later, they finally stopped coming. The only sounds were faint screeching and the clinks of 30 half legged(?)— dismembered bugs trying to drag their bodies close to us.

 Leon got to dispatching them while I fell over. The world felt far away, and numb as I stared at the sky.

 "I really hate exhaustion." 

 Tom slowly gets up and helps finish off the rest.

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 "Is there a next step to this plan, or do we go back and rest till it ends?!" I yell after sitting up.

 "It would be better to leave and rest now." Leon stated, getting Tom's attention from the hole. "We've taken out a huge amount but the queen will undoubtedly have more guard, no question. We can not deal with that right now."

 "Are these edible?" I picked up a cut off a leg. 'Good new Hedon, it was two hunted animals for a spell… here you go!'

  'I decline. It's a bug, and you just want to use me to test for poison. Extremely rude.'

Hedon, despite his words, slithered away from the distracted duo and quickly ate several legs, Immediately vomiting.

 Guess that's a no. Drokel will use them for food for their eggs, if they use eggs they are insect like so maybe. Shit they could become a cannibal rat situation though they do have a ruler so maybe not.

 *Shink*

  A thick leg of a drokel stabbed where Hedon was before he turned to smoke, once more becoming a tattoo on me.

 Four came out of their nest, they were thicker than the previous ones and hovered with six silent thin insectoid wings. Two flew to leon and tom, they were a good distance away from me and I had to shout to warn them.

 While the other two slowly started to flank me. One flew towards me, sharp legs and stinger threatening my existence. 

 Casting vector arrow it rolled to the right and continued. Seeing it nimbly dodge I use two vector plates to get out of the direct line of attack and propel myself at its side while taking out a dagger.

 It failed to extend its legs or turn to block, but the other covered it's mistake and a leg went through my arm. Before they can pierce me with the rest of their legs and stingers I pour more mana inside my dagger and slash at the leg holding me and vector plate back.

 While I feel out how much blood I'm losing and my practically empty magic reserves, the two drokel lift their stingers into the sky like they are trying to get a signal before separating and trying to flank me again.

 'Damn we should have been quicker to leave, Leonard looks like they're doing better though.'

 I dodged a stinger and slashed at its back only to have to back down from the other trying to stab me. Unlike before they didn't let up, it's sixs legs trying to stab any part of me.

 One found its way into my shoulder before I casted vector arrow using the connection as leverage through its abdomen and it's head. 

 Shrugs with one shoulder. 'A trade wasn't really what I wanted but oh well.' 

*Shink* 

 Another leg speared my gut before I vector plated back, unsticking myself with the momentum. The injured drokel flew towards the other who grabbed it and flew towards it's hole.

 'Damn, I forgot brain damage is not an immediate kill. Medusa could heal right? You can teach some healing right? I don't think I can live with a cavity in me.' I look at my stomach bleeding profusely and stumble. I really just want to cry right now.

 'Few healing spells, won't be much, just closing it.' the wound on my stomach and shoulder became like scar tissue. 'Try not to move too hard.' 

 The process took less than a few seconds but the drokel was back from dropping off the now dead one and seemed to be waiting, moving in it a threatening behavior before disengaging. It was like it was waiting for me to die of blood loss, making me move so it's faster…

 I threw my dagger which it nimbly moved away from. I expected it to go after me but it only lifted its stinger into the air again before going back to it's nest. Looking over to the noise I see two the two I came here to get barely scathed running up.

"I wish to leave, i will not be effective in the next fight." I started to talk as the distance was shortened.

"Yeah, if there's more flyers like that I want my full fire." Tom agreed.

 All in agreement, we hastily left to Izuna.

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