It's close now, the Tri-Ant Queen. I can tell by the suppressing aura that now infuses the air. Taking pause, I consider my options. I'll most likely have to take care of the Queen myself, but it's sure to be guarded.
The Osseous Slime hops off my shoulder and stands in front of me, jumping eagerly. In the short time since we woke up, it's already changed a bit. With the skull-like bone that encases its core complete, its begun working on a neck. Top to bottom, huh?
I read its mind, its request is clear: "Use True Raise on me like you did last time to help me become strong!" That's what they'd say if they had a voice. As they are, they're little more than a shoulder ornament, and they've observed how I prefer to let others do the fighting so I avoid gaining too much power.
"I want to be strong to protect you!" They urge me. I smile, who am I to deny them their request? Reaching out my hand, I cast True Raise on the Slime. As usual, a black aura shrouds their form, and it changes and grows. I'm guessing the Spell lets them build their bones much quicker than normal.
Once the aura fades, a proud monster stands before me. Their form now resembles a skeletal Secretary Bird coated in a grayish, slightly translucent membrane that acts as skin and muscles. They crane their neck and inspect themselves, flapping featherless wings and kicking at the ground, leaving deep grooves in the stony floor.
*The Avianoid Osseous Slime is built for speed and power, delivering kicks capable of denting heavy plate armor, and effortlessly puncturing lesser armors. It also has a basic grasp on offensive Air Magic, though it only resorts to this when unable to reach its target. Its jumping power is also quite high.*
Once content with their self-inspection, they nuzzle up to me in affection. I stroke their head, the texture feels almost like soft skin, though it gives more to pressure. Suddenly, I'm beset by my other Undead creations, clearly jealous of the affection I'm giving the Osseous Slime.
Sighing, I smile as I give in to their demands, and gently pet them as well. Who knew Undead were so affectionate? The cuddle-session is cut short, however, as the sound of buzzing wings close in on us. A winged Tri-Ant, its wasp head slightly larger than the other two, and an impressive stinger on one of its abdomens careens down the tunnel at breakneck speeds.
*Tri-Ant Royal Guard*
*Tasked with protecting the Tri-Ant Queen and her brood, this caste of Tri-Ant exhibits several unique characteristics; its ability for flight, and its incredibly aggressive demeanor. Not to say other Tri-Ant types aren't aggressive, but the Royal Guard has been observed attacking and killing others of the same colony simply because their allegiance wasn't readily obvious, such as then a Worker returns soaked in viscera from a successful hunt. Risky as it may be, the most efficient way of fighting a Royal Guard would be to remove its four antennae. This will render it unable to determine friend from foe entirely, and pit it against its fellows. Leaving it to tire or be dispatched by its own is recommended at this point. Otherwise, close combat is highly recommended to keep it from using its most dangerous Skills.
Little research has been done on the use of its parts, however the large stinger can be used to make daggers.*
*Rank: 4 Stars*
I dodge its charge, and as it turns around for another go, I block the tunnel with webs. Its description leads me to believe it's kind of mindless when it comes to dealing with threats, so I want to test if this would be a viable strategy against it.
Stepping back in case it just plows through the web, I observe as it hesitates. Only for a moment though, as it instead lands and switches its abodomens around. From the looks of it, it's the ant one it's intending on using. It raises itself up on its hind legs, with its abdomen tucked between them in the pose typical for a stinging ant.
A pulsing motion goes through the entire Royal Guard, and a spray of liquid issues from its abdomen. I'm nearly knocked to the floor by the smell of it alone, and quickly retreat out of its range. The webs are quickly eaten away by whatever that liquid is, and it's even liquefying some of the floor of the tunnel.
As I reel from the smell of the acid, the Royal Guard takes to the air again. Covering my nose with one hand, I create a Web Geyser in the other, ready to lob it at the rapidly approaching Tri-Ant. Correcting my timing via Predict Movement, I hit it right in the face. The Royal Guard is sent skidding along the ground as its wings are ensnared by the webs.
It chitters angrily with its three pairs of mandibles as it comes to a halt. Not missing a beat, the Osseous Slime rushes over and finishes it off with three well aimed stomps, one to each head. Now I understand what the description meant with close combat. Jeez.
I store the dead Royal Guard and hurry forward, hopefully away from the noxious smell that still lingers.
A routine forms. Once we hear the approaching Royal Guards, I ready Web Geysers to throw at them, and the Osseous Slime finishes them off. They're increasing in numbers as we get ever closer to the Queen.
Finally, the tunnel opens up into a chamber, the walls are slick with the acid of the Royal Guard, clearly having been used to speed up excavation. By now my sense of smell is all but gone, so the only issue this presents is how to safely traverse the equally acid-covered floor.
I end up just picking the acid up and storing it, far simpler that way, and I could always weaponize it later.
"It comes for death?"
"It's felled Our Guard."
"Beware, Usurper, We will not hold back."
The voices return, and I can now see who they belong to. She's large, bigger than me in my true form. Her three heads are equally sized, but don't seem to be able to rotate like the Workers'. She seems to have three thoraxes, each with three pair of legs matching one of her component insectoids. The foremost one is held off the ground, the limbs ending in sharp blades, her stance mimicking that of a praying mantis.
Lastly, her most impressive features must be her abdomens, the ant and wasp ones are big, but her termite abdomen is massive. I'm impressed she manages to move at all with that thing dragging behind her. As we are currently just staring each other down, I take the moment to inspect her.
Unnamed
Species: Tri-Ant Queen (Chimera) (ExRare)
Gender: Female
Status: All Clear
HP: 1250/1250
MP: 1750/1750
SP: 800/1250
Attack: 350
Armor: 250
M.Attack: 400
M.Armor: 350
Speed: 120
STR: 350 (MAX)
CON: 250 (MAX)
INT: 400 (MAX)
WIL: 350 (MAX)
DEX: 100 (MAX)
Skills:
Language Comprehension: Tri-Ant (Great) - Telepathy (Normal)
Royal Presence (Great) - Royal Grace (Normal)
Damage Resistance: Physical (Normal) - Status Resistance: Zonked Out (Normal)
Parallel Minds (Great) - Rending Scythes (Normal)
Elemental Affinity: Dark (Normal) - Elemental Affinity: Air (Normal)
Elemental Affinity: Earth (Normal) - Excavator (Lesser)
Pheromone Perception (Great) - Cellulose Digestion (Great)
Spells:
Command (Great) - Dark String (Normal)
Shadow Grasp (Normal) - Razor Wind (Lesser)
Microburst (Lesser) - Rock Formation: Wall (Normal)
Iron Spike (Normal)
Social Titles:
Tri-Ant Queen - Mother of Many
Ancient - All-War Relic
Chimera - Ruthless
Cunning - Final Form
Humanoid Hunter
She has some Spells I've not encountered yet, most likely they're greater kinds, similar to how Dark Bead becomes Dark String. Her trickiest aspect must be her ability to shift the terrain with her Rock Formation Spell.
"It hesitates?"
"It's realizing the futility of its struggle."
"Back down now, Usurper, and let me take rightful control of the resources you lay claim to."
Ah. I see. I suppose it isn't so much about revenge for killing that Cave Spider, but the fact that my Domain now offer near unlimited access to food. She waves about her blades in a clear display of threat. Though... Shouldn't this be the other way around? Her being afraid of me?
*Chimera are born without the inborn instinctual fear of those that are stronger than them.*
So... Unlike a bird that becomes scared of eye-patterns because the birds that weren't afraid of eyes got killed and couldn't pass on their genes, the Chimera have yet to learn to fear eye-patterns.
*... That's one way of putting it. The creation process rewrites much of the 'inherited knowledge' a species accumulates over the generations. Even if one of its component monsters would have feared you as a natural predator, the newly created Chimera wouldn't.*
I notice a specific sequence of nodding, and dart out of the way of a crescent-shaped blade of Air that flies towards me. As the blade hits the ground, a whirlwind of razor-sharp winds envelop the point of impact. So that's Razor Wind!
Thankful for Predict Movement, I respond with my own Wind Blade, aiming for her heads. With uncanny elegance, she dodges the Spell by dropping onto all twelve legs. The missed Spell carves out a deep gouge in the wall behind her though, sending her scampering forward to get out of the way of the rubble.
"Impressive."
She chitters her mandibles in approval of my moves. A blur of movement to her side catches her unawares though, as the Osseous Slime lands an impressive axe kick to her middle thorax. Though it hardly dents her exoskeleton, she reels from the impact, shuffling her feet as she drags her heavy abdomens across the floor to face the Slime.
I cast Quicken and Barrier on the Osseous Slime, just in case, though I suspect they should be able to dodge most anything she can throw at them without it. Once the Tri-Ant Queen has repositioned herself, she's hit in the back of her heads by small Dark Beads courtesy of my Evil Eyes.
I quickly recall them. Her Microburst will most assuredly kill them in one shot. It worked as a distraction though, and the Osseous Slime escapes her. A different sequence of nods, and a thick rod of metal erupts from the ground where I stood moments earlier. Kicking off the ground, I propel myself towards her, aiming to crush one of her heads.
My approach is too fast for her to get out of the way, and I sink my fist into her left head, the one resembling a termite. The force of the impact shatters it completely and sends chunks of gore flying. As I land, a searing pain in my side alerts me that I've traded blows with her, my silken suit quickly staining... azure?
Ah- my blood is a different color, even when transformed. I ignore the wound, as it's already closing up on its own thanks to my regeneration. Taking the moment given by the Queen recovering from the shock of losing a head, I take aim and fire off several Dark Strings.
Each cast produces a cluster of seven black orbs with a hazy white outline, moving one after the other so that when in flight, they look like a string of pearls. That's probably how it got its name. As I watch the Queen try to dodge my Spells, I get alerts from several of my Undead Servants. Seems the other Tri-Ants have noticed me fighting their Queen, and have begun moving towards my position.
Seems I have time-limit now.
"Just finish her. No need to be careful, she just barely managed to scratch you."
...
I root the Tri-Ant Queen in place with my own Shadow Grasp and move in for the kill. I ignore the hesitant feelings of the Undead present. I guess the coldness I now radiate unsettles even them. I look at the Queen. She's struggling to get free, even ripping some of her legs out of their sockets in the process.
I stop her struggle by piercing her two remaining heads with an Earth Spike each. Her body slumps over, the legs still twitching slightly. I feel the familiar warmth of Power Osmosis.
*Take Dominion over Greater Will: Tri-Ant Queen?*
Yes.
This Will feels different. As if I can't use it on just any vessel. I suppose that comes with the whole Greater Will? An Other Will born of the Soul of a Greater Being. That reminds me, what happens to the Soul? I assume I'm not sealing those away considering the whole reincarnation thing.
*As humanoids have little actual knowledge of the true nature of Souls and Other Wills, this Skill is unable to answer this properly. However, the Other Wills created by the Death Lord Skill could be said to be copies or echoes of the Soul that they were created from.*
Ah- so I'm just making a copy of the Soul, and then letting the original return to this Cycle of Life and Death...
Agh-
A tremor ripples through my body.
My vision blurs, and my body forcefully reverts to my true form. My head feels like it's going to split in two, the pain causing me to topple over as strength leaves my body. What's happening?!
*Caution, Users are resisting the effect of one of their Skills. Either disable the Skill or cease struggling.*
What do you mean?
"Let it happen. Its either this or Us not being able to deal with Our Malice properly."
I don't understand! What's happening?!
"Calm down. Let it happen."
I breathe deeply, trying to settle the building panic and ignore the concerned gathering of Undead around me. The pain eases slowly, and a new awareness descends on me. Instead of the distinct divide between me and Shadow, where I'm only able to tell state of mind when she feels strongly, I'm completely aware of her, and she of me.
"The Parallel Mind Skill is the 'good' version of Divergent Mind it seems. I believe we encountered the 'bad' version when we fought the Carrion Behemoth."
I observe Shadow moving my left hand around without taking completely over.
...
This feels weird. Is this what alien hand syndrome feels like?
"Who knows, at least now we're able to correct for the other without yanking the controls away from each other every time."
I slowly get to my feet, gently moving the wing I fell on top of to make sure it's not broken. A bit battered, but that should heal soon. I store the remains of the Tri-Ant Queen and give the order to continue hunting the remaining Chimera.
I notice the Tongue Leech chewing on the ripped remains of my silk suit. Is it trying to extract the blood that's staining it? I leave it to it and give the three other Undead an once-over to make sure they didn't get hurt in the fight.
Once that's settled, I suppose I should take a look at what I got whilst making my way back through the tunnels.
*Displaying Power Osmosis Results:*
*+360 (350+10) STR, +270 (250+20) CON, 415 (400+15) INT, 360 (350+10) WIL, 120 (100+20) DEX*
*Skills Obtained:
- Singing Voice (Normal) - A Skill that improves the Users singing, making it pleasant to listen to.
- Flight (Normal) becomes Skill Expertise. Flight (Great) becomes Flight (Grand). Skill obtained: Aerial Acrobatics (Lesser).
- Aerial Acrobatics (Lesser) - Granted to Entities skilled at flight (Skill: Flight is Grand Tier). Slightly improves Users ability to make aerial maneuvers to dodge or navigate complex routes whilst in flight.
- Language Comprehension: Tri-Ant (Great) - User is able to understand and communicate with the Tri-Ant Chimera.
- Telepathy (Normal) converts into a Tier Token.
- Royal Presence (Great) - User exudes an aura of power that suppresses the will of lesser entities, making them subservient to the User. Unlike Commanding Presence, the affected will not execute orders given to them if they'll come to harm as a direct result of following orders.
- Royal Grace (Normal) - User moves with a regal grace that is almost uncannily elegant. Increases the efficacy of the Predict Movement and Dodge Skills.
- Damage Resistance: Physical (Normal) becomes Skill Expertise.
- Status Resistance: Zonked Out (Normal) - Prevents the effect of Mesmerize (Normal) or lower from taking effect. User is also slightly more resistant to the effects of alcohol.
-Â Parallel Minds (Great) replaces Divergent Mind (Normal) - What was once a broken mind refracting facets of the whole comes together to a new enlightenment. Increases the processing power of the mind and raises reaction times in addition to greatly dampening negative emotions. User becomes immune to Frenzied (Lesser) and Enraged (Lesser).
Rending Scythes (Normal) - as this Skill and Terrible Talons (Normal) act the same, the new Skill is converted to Skill Expertise. Terrible Talons (Normal) become Terrible Talons (Great).
Elemental Affinity: Dark (Normal) becomes Skill Expertise.
Elemental Affinity: Air (Normal) becomes Skill Expertise.
Elemental Affinity: Earth (Normal) becomes Skill Expertise.
Excavator (Lesser) becomes Skill Expertise.
Pheromone Perception (Great) - Lets the User actively interpret pheromones. Used in certain languages.
Cellulose Digestion (Great) becomes Skill Expertise. Cellulose Digestion (Great) becomes Cellulose Digestion (Grand).
Spells Obtained:
Command (Great) becomes Spell Expertise. Command (Great) becomes Command (Grand). User now ignores half of targets Willpower when determining if Spell has effect or not.
Dark String (Normal) becomes Spell Expertise. Dark String (Great) becomes Dark Regalia (Lesser).
Dark Regalia (Lesser) - Summon a mass of concentrated Dark Element that fires fragments of itself at any hostile entities within range. Higher tiers improves tracking and lets the Regalia fire more fragments per cast.
-Â Shadow Grasp (Normal) becomes Spell Expertise. Shadow Grasp (Great) becomes Dark Shackles (Lesser)
- Dark Shackles (Lesser) - restrains the target entity with shackles made of pure Dark Element. Any entity other than the User is also shackled if they touch the original target.
Razor Wind (Lesser) replaces Wind Blade (Great). - Fires a tightly compressed bundle of Wind Blades that burst forth upon impact against any surface to rip apart anything within an area around the site of impact. Higher Tiers increase the area covered by the Razor Wind.
Microburst (Lesser) becomes Spell Expertise.
Rock Formation: Wall (Normal) - One of the Rock Formation Spells. Reshapes earth and stone into a solid rock wall, the height and width is determined by Spell Tier and available space and resources of which to form the wall.
Iron Spike (Normal) replaces Earth Spike (Normal). - A purified version of Earth Spike. Has higher penetrating power, and tends to break off and remain embedded in the target. Synergizes well with Lightning Skills and Spells. The Iron Spike is converted to Earth Element after an hour.*
Ah- the Skills and Stats from the Brushwarbler were also mentioned. How convenient.
"You know, I've been thinking..."
Oh dear.
"Har har. But what if we looked within our Domain for the monsters we seek?"
... That's actually a good idea. Let's hear with the Dragons once we get back, they helped with the migration, so they're sure to know if any of the ones we need are here. Once we're finished here, let's do just that.