Chapter 36: Chapter 35: To Grow Stronger

Despite Regina’s fears, the digging seemed to work out very well. The Workers’ excavation Skill was very useful, and they had a good intuitive understanding of how far and how wide to dig to avoid a potential collapse.

She went to inspect the beginning of this more literal hive the same day she laid more normal drone eggs. She’d decided on one of each Template for now. While Workers were more useful immediately, the coming war meant she didn’t want to fall behind on Warriors, and Scouts had already proven useful.

Tia seemed proud as she showed Regina around the small cave. They’d started it on a hill at the edge of the forest, which was probably good for making the entrance. So far, there was just a dim cavern, barely big enough for a few drones together, although that was probably a good thing when it came to defending it. Then they had the beginning of one tunnel leading away from it on a curving path, and a niche where a second tunnel would start.

“We intend to dig deeper here and lead a tunnel underground towards the center of the village,” Tia explained. “But we’ll need to talk with the Warriors about where best to place that entrance so we can hide it.”

Regina nodded. “Makes sense.”

She looked around and smiled. There wasn’t much light, but she didn’t have a problem seeing in the dimness. The place felt cozy, even if the walls were just bare dirt.

“Keep up the good work,” she told Tia and the other Worker with her, Ina.

“Of course, my Queen.”

Regina blinked against the sunlight as she climbed out of the cave, but her eyes adjusted quickly. She stepped away from the entrance, looking out into the forest.

“I think we should go hunting again,” she said.

“Of course, my Queen,” Max responded. He had hung around outside, but he liked to keep an eye on her, especially if she was close to or in the forest. “Do you want me to come?”

Regina considered it for a moment. “Okay,” she said. “Just the two of us once again.” Max was the strongest drone in her hive, Tim was busy training with the other Warriors at the moment, and bringing lower-level drones probably wouldn’t help much, especially when it came to experience.

She still took along a single War Drone, just in case she needed an extra set of hands (or hand-analogues). Then they set out into the forest, heading directly away from the camp. The two of them walked quietly, trying not to spook any potential prey.

Stronger monsters had begun slowly trickling back into the area, although from the reports she got, it still wasn’t anything she’d have to worry about. Still, they had only walked for fifteen minutes before they encountered the first level 10 monster, a Flametongue Wolf that appeared to be a loner.

Regina gestured at Max, then stepped aside and crept forward. After a moment, he leaped at the monster, which was sitting in the sun in a small clearing. The wolf jumped up immediately, but Max’s Charge brought him there in an instant.

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Regina exhaled and launched a Firebolt. The attack struck the wolf in the side, just as it was ducking a swipe from Max. Its fur sizzled and it jumped aside and shook itself. There didn’t seem to be any major damage, though.

Maybe she should have expected it to be resistant to flame-based attacks. Regina narrowed her eyes and stepped closer, then dodged to the side as a tongue of flame lashed out at her. She felt the heat on her right arm and side, but she’d managed to evade most of it.

Max made the monster pay for it, cutting a deep gash into its side. The wolf started to back away, perhaps looking for an opening to retreat, but Regina stepped to the side and launched a Magic Missile at it.

The attack hit its injured side, and the force of it sent the monster stumbling and losing its footing. Max pushed it down, then cut it again. Regina approached and thrust at it with the simple spear she’d taken along, ending its life.

“That was good,” she said, grinning. “I can have the War Drone take it back to the camp and we can continue.”

“As you wish, my Queen. Perhaps you should summon a second one, then.”

Regina nodded. That would be more efficient than sending one back and forth. She focused on it and sent the commands out telepathically, which she found easier to do with the simple drones.

Then they continued on. For the next hour, they didn’t find any other monster worth a fight. They had to change course and head sideways because she didn’t want to get too far from her hive. The forest was thicker here, the underbrush making it harder to move, especially without making much noise.

Then, they finally found a level 11 Troll. They crept closer slowly, since it seemed occupied with picking bugs from under a fallen log. But then it stopped and turned towards them, growling.

Max jumped forward, capturing its attention. Regina circled to the side and did a few probing stabs with her spear. The monster wasn’t very good at evading, though it had thick skin. They settled in for a long fight, as she cut the Troll and opened several bleeding wounds while Max kept its attention and weathered several blows.

Then Regina heard a soft rustle and smelled a new scent. She broke off and turned to the side. After a moment, she lunged forward, stabbing her spear into a bundle of darkness that was just on the side of another tree.

The Shadowing Stalker hissed, its disguise fading. She hadn’t managed to score a major injury, but the Troll turned towards them, roaring. Max used the opportunity to send two swings into its neck in quick succession. The monster stumbled for a moment before falling. Regina retreated, holding the Stalker off. A moment of focus showed it was level 10.

Then Max used Charge again, appearing at its side quickly and scoring a deep gash in its flank. The monster yowled and turned at him, but he ducked its swipe. Regina focused for a moment, then launched a Magic Missile. The magical projectile hit it right in the eyes, and it shivered violently, seizing up.

But Regina’s didn’t watch its death throes, as she finally got the notification she’d been hoping for.

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