Due to their frequent use and the related circumstances, your skills are improved:
Observation (E) (Supernatural Power) > Observation (D) (Supernatural Power)
Thought Observation (F) (Supernatural Power) > Thought Observation (E) (Supernatural Power)
“Great!” Xicackna thought sarcastically. “Just what I needed to get out of this situation. It’s so satisfying to know that you can still improve in the last minutes of your life…”
She glared at Kol-Gaar. Even though he had no solution to save her, as far as she knew, she resented him for this failure that was not his fault… And also, because he hadn’t stopped insulting her since he arrived… In fact, that was mainly why she felt angry with him.
“What are you waiting for to do something! she shouted at him.”
“Silence! I'm doing something!”
“Well, you wouldn't think so!”
Xicackna knew that this wasn't very fair criticism on her part, but she wanted to vent her frustration. Besides, didn't being in the process of dying give you the right to insult whoever you want and still be treated well? Probably not, but that’s how she felt.
She suddenly perceived a change in Kol-Gaar's thoughts: a kind of satisfaction. Was he rejoicing in her imminent death, which would relieve him of the responsibility of protecting her? No: no Zcarbb would have such evil thoughts. So, there was something else.
Suddenly, she heard noises approaching, coming from behind her. Disillusioned about her life expectancy, she chose not to worry and quietly observed what was going to happen. With a bit of luck, it would arise in less than a minute and she would therefore live long enough to satisfy her curiosity.
Immediately, five soldiers burst out between the trees, massive and armored with iron. Obeying the instructions received, they positioned themselves so as to form a semicircle, a wall of spears pointed forward that protected the two nobles. Once they were in position, they struck the enemies and these ones, freed from their paralysis, engaged their attackers in battle.
Kol-Gaar quickly moved away and leaned over her, observing the princess's serious wound. Vaguely conscious, she observed his own, noting that it was bleeding only slightly, like if it was already nearly cicatrized.
Kol-Gaar [E] Strategist Level 17
Hit Points (HP): 394(+0)/555 (+34)
Energy Points (PE): 1362 (+0) /3536 (+442)
Vigor: 255(+17)/255(+34)
Armor: 29 (+6)/31 (+7)
Opening his mouth, the prince vomited acid onto the princess's wound, who opened her eyes wide in astonishment.
Skill "Regenerating Acid [E]" used by Kol-Gaar [E] on Xicackna the Observer [F]
Kol-Gaar's Consumption: 10 Vigor
You regain 8 Hit Points and the "Hemorrhage [C]" status is removed from your attributes.
The pain finally faded and Xicackna's thoughts became clear again. She felt the prince's arms and legs encircle her as he lifted her up and flew into the air. He had a little trouble taking off but, increasing the pace of his wings, he managed it and she saw the ground move away. The five soldiers, each around level 10, were being massacred on the spot to cover their escape and prevent any enemy leaps that would have sent them back to the ground. They were quickly out of range of such danger.
Ability unlocked!
Luck
[Slightly increases chance of success]
Maximum Luck value: 1
Oh? It was true that she had been very lucky, but to unlock a new ability…
She snapped back to more material considerations as she met the ground abruptly.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Having landed in a seemingly peaceful clearing, the prince had dropped his burden without the slightest regard. She glared at him, but was destabilized by his own anger:
“No way! What are you doing here! What hive are you from? Yes, what hive is stupid enough to send a spy alone and without an escort, in our dangerous times? And a princess at that? What madness!”
“I'm not a spy! Well... probably not. I didn't even know if there were still survivors on our planet anyway! And besides, I don't even know if I'm close to my destination. What hive are you from?”
“Hey! You could talk to me with more respect, kid[1]: I'm an adult.”
“Pff! You don't look much older than me: I bet you've only been an adult for two years or less!”
She had aimed correctly because Kol-Gaar blushed but said nothing for a minute. Finally, while she was visibly savoring her triumph, he retorted:
“In any case I am mature and you owe me respect!”
“I will never respect someone who called me an idiot from the moment he saw me.”
“Because you are not one? You did not even think to use your two unassigned points on Stamina to slow down your agony!”
“I… I just forgot: I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m not an idiot!”
“Really? So, tell me again: where is your escort? I haven’t detected any pheromones or other signs that there are more Zcarbbs in the area, coming from an unknown hive. And yet I have the ‘Detection’ skill!”
“We just didn't have enough fuel to send more people here! They could have used less in the previous tests, but then I would have run greater risks... And besides, I don't have time to waste arguing with you: I have to find the hive of Xéméne, led by Queen Xèl-tar-Lomenia. I am sent by my queen, Xa-tar-Lona, from the hive of Xolona.”
The prince looked intrigued and his hostility faded immediately. He observed the princess more attentively, inhaling the pheromones she emitted, characteristic of her hive. Xicackna did the same, although she knew that it was useless: she had never listened well during the lessons of pheromonal heraldry and would be incapable of recognizing the hive of origin of her interlocutor.
“Oh?” he said in astonishment. “You come from the disappeared hive? Directly from here. We didn't think there were any survivors from your mother-colony, after the day of the Catastrophe.”
“The Catastrophe? Ah, yes, we called it the Disaster. This day, we were taken elsewhere. A sinister place called the ‘Dungeon’, where we regularly face bloodthirsty hordes of Humans.”
Oddly enough, Kol-Gaar seemed to understand what she meant. The notions of "Dungeon" and "Humans" were not foreign to him.
“I had never thought of things like this, he said. I would not have imagined that our people could end up in a Dungeon like all these monsters that have been attacking us since the day of the Catastrophe... I absolutely must bring you to my queen. In any case, you are obviously my prisoner.”
“And why?” she asked indignantly.
“Because you are alone, without an escort, in a territory of my colony.”
“Ah. You are right. I hope that your queen will free me quickly because I have a mission to accomplish. Are we far from the hive of Xéméne?”
“No: it is my hive and it is close.”
Xicackna felt relieved. If it was normal to protect princesses regardless of their colony of origin, it was also customary for them to let themselves be arrested without resistance if they found themselves captured in a territory under the control of another hive. At least, it was to her destination that he would lead her. However, she could not help a mocking comment:
“Ah, okay! You come from Xéméne; I understand your bad manners now: you couldn't expect more from salt thieves...”
“What do you mean by thieves!” exploded Kol-Gaar. “You're the ones who stole our salt mine!”
“It wasn't theft: it was underexploited! We made it profitable.”
“It was just the beginning of the exploitation! We were going to increase our efforts!”
“Well, you should have done it before! If you can't launch a project properly, then leave it to a colony that has the means!”
Clenching their mandibles, they faced each other, arguing about an old conflict that they had each only known from afar. In the end, it was Kol-Gaar who showed himself to be the least immature and interrupted the argument:
“Well, we're not going to stay here and discuss it until the salt evaporates[2]! These woods were once victims of a Dungeon Break: many monsters, often of rank "E", still roam there despite its jugulation. Now that I no longer have my escort, we have no one to sacrifice to cover our retreat...”
“There’s you…”
“As if you’d survive five minutes without my help! How do you manage to be so weak?”
She couldn’t find anything to say. Wasn’t she weak? Still unable to tip the scales towards victory in the face of adversity? Still low-level and unable to fight properly? She kept reproaching herself for it inwardly, but seeing it announced to her face was the last straw: she burst into tears.
Embarrassed, Kol-Gaar tried to redeem himself:
“Uh... Well, maybe it's not your fault. I guess with the limited means of a Dungeon, you don't have many opportunities to gain experience: it's not like us adventurers.”
“The... sniff... adventurers?”
“That's how the System designates those who will challenge the Dungeons, Towers and other monstrosities that have fallen upon us. Well, we'll talk about it later, okay?”
With that, he grabbed Xicackna by the waist and furiously flapped his wings to carry them both into the air. The exhilarating sensation of gliding through the skies soothed the princess: so, this was what she would feel when she could fly by herself? A magnificent view of the entire relief and local resources, the feeling of the wind surrounding her… And above all, rapid travel over a long distance.
Quickly, the forest gave way to a wide river, then to a long wall protecting vast fields and orchards stretching as far as the eye could see. In the distance, getting closer and closer, a large structure emerged from the ground.
Xicackna was astonished and could not suppress an exclamation of amazement: it was gigantic! Miles of mysteriously intertwined walls surrounded powerfully fortified buildings. She had never heard of a hive extending so far on the surface.
“We had to significantly strengthen our defenses, Kol-Gaar explained. Faced with the many monster incursions, especially from fallen territories, like your colony… Let’s just say that we made sure that they could no longer approach important places. The nurseries, the reserves, the essential industries, all are surrounded by labyrinths filled with deadly traps and soldiers in ambush. Ironically, we call them ‘our Dungeons’.”
He headed towards a high palace, similarly fortified, and landed on one of the lowest terraces.
Xicackna shuddered as she felt a “hive mind” very different from the one she was used to. She did not understand the meaning of most of the pheromones that were circulating, so impregnated were they with unknown odors: those specific to Xéméne.
As she passed, the soldiers turned, instinctively threatening, then lost interest in her when they saw that she was a princess: any other foreigner would have been mercilessly massacred before a noble even knew of its intrusion.
They descended like this, deeper and deeper through a network of tunnels that were unfamiliar to her. Worried for no real reason, she literally clung to Kol-Gaar, who preceded her. Even if he was unpleasant, he was a person with whom she could communicate among these unknown commoners, which reassured her.
Finally, he stopped in front of a massive half-open door, made of a mixture of finely sculpted metal alloys and over-impregnated with pheromones telling many stories. Huge guards defended the access, encased in so much metal that one did not know if they were not these automatons spoken of in legends rather than real Zcarbbs.
“Here we are,” Kol-Gaar said proudly as they entered a vast cave, “welcome to the royal chamber of Xéméne, before our illustrious sovereign Xèl-tar-Lomenia!”
----------------------------------------
[1] In French, according to Zcarbb politeness standards, Xicackna should have "vouvoyé" Kol-Gaar because he is of a higher age category; however, she "tutoies" him as if she were speaking to a Zcarbb noble of an equal or lower age category. Of course, this detail is lost in translation.
[2] Zcarbb expression indicating an unquantifiable duration.