At the queen’s lair, the flying insectoid drones zip underground. Their flapping wings are very deafening and shake the nearby surroundings. Unknown to them, the mercenaries are aiming at them. Dwarven snipers take the swarm one by one. Assassins leap from the shadows and lunge at the buzzing drones. Rez uses his explosives and newly-forged firearms to take down the flying swarm. But despite their best efforts, some insectoid drones manage to escape the surprise attack.

“Drat, they are too nimble and flighty!” A mercenary exclaims.

“No need to worry, what matters is we reach the queen’s hive alive.” Rez says to the grumbling mercenary.

“Keep it up, people. Time is of the essence!” Randor rallies the whole assassination team.

The assassination team rushed towards the moldy road. While the others tread carefully, Rez goes ahead of them to scan for any hidden traps. He finds swinging trees, flimsy triggers with spikes, pitfalls, heavy boulders, poisoned quills and other lethal traps.

“We have a problem guys.” Rez halts them before Randor and the rest could proceed.

“There are no traps that could stop me!” Randor chuckles and courageously proceeds. He elegantly dodges the swinging trees. He parries the spikes with his signature saber. He somersaults above the wide pitfalls. He overruns the rolling boulders. He even whisks the poisoned quills like it’s nothing at all. The assassins and mercenaries look in awe.

“If the prince can do it, then so can we!” One arrogant mercenary proclaims. He is about to step forward when Rez pulls him out of danger. The spikes almost impale him when he pulls a tripwire.

“Easy there, we’re not as dexterous as the prince. We proceed with caution. I’ll try to lead you to the safer route.” Rez tracks back the routes he took.

The assassination team slowly proceeds without Randor. They look terrified with the traps laid for them. Those traps won’t leave them alive if they accidentally trigger them. The rest of the assassination team take the sides of the moldy road. The road’s damp ground slows them down. On the other hand, it muffles their marching steps. The direct road to the queen’s hive is shorter but would alert the elite insectoids.

Averill and the others search for the imprisoned elves and allied forces. She takes everybody to the prison cell’s western wing. With the help of Corbin and Milas, they knock down the unsuspecting insectoid wardens. Corbin disarms them and Milas uses her grappling techniques to take them down, The elven knights meanwhile break the prison cells. They find scared villagers and disheartened adventurers.

“Don’t be afraid, we are here to rescue you!” Averill breaks open one of the prison cells. The children approach her and she comforts them. The other villagers sob out of joy for being liberated. It has been months since they were abducted by the insectoids.

Corbin forces himself inside the prison cells. Milas help the imprisoned adventurers and elves to reclaim their weapons.

“You decide, join us or escort the prisoners.” Corbin sternly commands the liberated prisoners.

Some take refuge by joining the escaping prisoners. Others decide to assist the rescue team. The rest of the adventurers snipe any insectoid grunts trying to foil their rescue mission. After liberating the western wing, Averill and the other elven knights reunite at the central courtyard.

“Averill, we have scanned every cranny of the eastern wing. We have liberated most of the villagers and allied forces.” The other elven knight coordinates.

“Good, now let’s head back to Ironthorne Kingdom and escort the prisoners.” Averill replies.

Back at the elven hall, the elven elders and Regina are plotting for the next plan of attack. At first, everything seems to work according to their plans. Regina feels a sudden dead silence from the air. Something is going wrong. The ceiling begins to shake and a few decorations break down. Then the surface tremors violently. Some of the elders lost their balance and fell. An elongated pair of antenna sprouts from the ground. It attempts to look for its prey but Regina fends them off with her massive shield.

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“You over there, help the elders escape! I’ll try to contact the adventurers for the last time.” Regina commands an elven servant to assist the elders to escape.

The captain decides to stay in the elven hall while wrestling the gigantic chilopoda. The massive insectoid coils itself around the elven hall. Everytime it attempts to grab an elf, Regina uses her spear to ward off the monstrous chilopoda. She rushes towards the central runic tablet and sends a message. The runic tablets given to Randor, Averill and Ayala begin to glow.

“Listen… adventurers… We are under… attack… You continue… to push forward… Save… the prisoners… Work with the… exiled insectoids… Slay the… queen… While I…

The message for Randor, Averill and Ayala abruptly ended.

“I see, there’s no more time left.” Upon entering the insectoid hallway, Randor receives the emergency message. He slain some of the insectoid grunts guarding the queen’s hive. But since the hive is heavily guarded, he decides to wait for the others. He sneaks around from the elite insectoids since he can’t face them alone.

The exiled insectoids join forces with the negotiation team. They are heading from the south to the queen’s hive. They finally decided to overthrow the corrupted queen. Ayala, Calma and Nia are riding atop an enormous coccinellidae. The runic tablet that Ayala carries projects Regina’s image. She is currently battling the chilopoda while speaking through the runic tablet.

“What is it, Miss Ayala?” Calma notices Ayala looking at her runic tablet.

“The elders are in danger! A massive chilopoda digs itself and invades the elven hall! But we’re too far from Ironthorne, what should we do?” Ayala can’t decide clearly.

“Try to contact Averill and Prince Randor through the runic tablet. If we try to reach Ironthorne Kingdom with the allied insectoids, we might get attacked by the guards. We haven’t reported about the allied insectoids yet.” Nia suggests to the young elf.

“I got too excited, I forgot to confirm about the exiled insectoids to Captain Regina.” Ayala immediately remembers her duty.

“Let’s believe in Captain Regina’s strength, she can overcome the invader.” Calma agrees.

“Okay then, we must travel faster!” Ayala whispers at the coccinellidae they’re riding at. She wants to approach the annelida that carries Gimbal and Hope.

“Gimbal, can we go faster? We’re in a hurry since Ironthorne Kingdom is under attack!” Ayala requests at the old aphidoidea.

“Understood, my lady.” Gimbal creaks while carrying the future queen with its appendages.

“Listen my brethren, we’re running out of time! We have save both Ironthorne Kingdom and the colony! We must mobilize quickly!” Gimbal hisses loudly and the allied insectoids hear it loudly.

The coccinellidaes and coleopteras flap their elytras furiously. The allied negotiators grasp firmly at their carapaces so that they don’t fall off. The annelidas crawl in haste while carefully carrying the rest of the negotiators. The aphidoidea and white formicidaes march faster towards their group’s destination. Some of the elven knights ride the aphidoidea and white formicidaes like warmounts.

Rez and the mercenaries arrive at the hive’s side entrance. Inside the hive, it resembles a man-made structure. It no longer looks like a tunnel. Instead, it has structured paths, patched-up walls with glowing fungi, and moving doors made out of leaves. The mercenaries take down the insectoid grunts while searching for Randor. Coming from the top floor, a massive group of elite insectoids intercept them. Unlike the exiled insectoids, the dark formicidaes have bulging muscles, overflowing elytra, thorny appendages and spiked carapaces. They hiss angrily at the intruders.

“Looks like they are not pleased with our presence.” A mercenary druid comments while trying to understand the elite insectoids’ hostile message.

“Doesn't matter, we have to take them down.” Rez hurls a cluster of explosives at the elite insectoids. The explosives make contact with the elite insectoids but it barely dazes them.

“Unbelievable!” Cried by one of the mercenaries.

“Looks like it’s going to be a tough battle, we also have to catch up with Randor.” Rez and the mercenaries reload their ranged weapons. The other assassins draw their blades. They would need more strength to take down the elite insectoids.

Upon meeting at the central courtyard, Averill receives Regina’s emergency message.

“A raid, they planned it already.” Corbin observes at Averill looking troubled.

“They’re really a step ahead of us.” Milas comments while stretching her weary arms.

“I have to decide what to do next, what would Captain do in this kind of circumstance?” After some quick thinking, Averill calls the attention of her companions who are about to return at Ironthorne.

“We await your orders, Averill.”

“The kingdom is under attack, we must split again into two groups. You head back to Ironthorne Kingdom while we proceed to the hive. We will force the invaders to retreat back to the hive.”

Averill’s companion pulls out a special warhorn. She gathers some air and toots it loudly. A thundering herd of cervidae and equidae coming from the western side of the forest. They crash at the remaining insectoid grunts who are recovering from the assault. The elven knights ride their noble steeds and first to leave. The adventurers vigilantly escort the prisoners back to Ironthorne Kingdom.

“Good luck Averill and everyone, may the spirits of the World Tree bestow its blessing upon you.” Averill’s companion and the elven knights valiantly stride towards Ironthorne Kingdom.

“My dear allies-in-arms, while the others will aid Captain Regina, we proceed to the hive and end this war once and for all!” Averill rallies the remaining adventurers and elven knights at her side. Corbin and Milas prepare for the battle against the queen.