The monster gnashed it's mandibles, shaking water from its wings. A roaring filled its body as its brethren responded around it, breaking free of the storm's cursed grip.

Bo-Ra, for that was his name, gifted by the matriarch herself, emperor of the thousand towers, felt dry for the first time in weeks. He cursed this infernal crusade, cursed the seers who had triggered their hatching, and cursed his brother for leading them on this fool's errand.

His brother, Mi-Na, flitted back and forth, scanning the horizon. The fire of the holy mission filled his brother's multifaceted eyes. A zealous courage driving their legion onwards.

As the legion took a brief respite, another of their number approached Mi-Na. It was a noble variant, his wings glistening in the half-light, his mandibles sharper and more menacing than the others. "We are at a crossroads, Mi-Na," he buzzed, his voice carrying a note of dissent. "This search for the lost God-Seed, it will be the death of us. We should turn back."

Mi-Na glanced at him, then surged forwards. His wings fluttered with fury, and his voice was a thunderous growl in the still dawn air. "You dare question our purpose? Our mission?" he bellowed, his fury filling the clearing. Bora's mandibles clashed with the nobles.

The fight was over as quickly as it began. Bo-Ra, though not as robust as the noble variant, was fiercer, and his fury gave him the edge he needed. His mandibles fell like scythes and reaped a bloody toll. When he stood again, it was with the broken form of the noble variant at his feet. He was nothing if not a loyal servant, and family, even foolish ones like Mi-Na, must be defended. His voice cut through the shocked silence that had fallen over the clearing, "We continue on. The All-Seed waits for no one."

And now there was one less noble to share it with.

Bo-Ra's thorax lit up in a pattern of glowing light, visible even in the dawn's early gleam. "Brother, open yourself to the world-flow," he instructed, his voice resonating deep and solemn. Mi-Na, his antenna quivering, obediently lifted his head, opening himself to the world's ambient energy. His Qi-Mo sense, a unique racial ability that allowed them to taste energy as a mix of different flavors, kicked into gear.

He tasted the dissipating storm, a flavor akin to the tang of electricity, the falling sparks that popped like spicy embers on his sensory palate. The dreaded rain was a cold, astringent sensation that swallowed them whole, leaving a lingering chill. He also tasted the salt of the ocean, a rich, savory sensation that hinted at the vastness of the world and the depths of the unknown. His antenna twitched, picking up another energy signature, one that was deeply ingrained in their racial memory. It was the God Seed, an energy source of immense power that could drive a hive to conquer its foes, evolve beyond mortal limits, and ascend to godhood. The realization filled Mi-Na with a sense of awe and renewed determination. The journey was hard, the path fraught with challenges, but the taste of the God Seed's energy was a beacon that promised glory at the end of their struggle.

Bo-Ra emerged from his contemplative state, his thorax still glowing with a steady light. He turned to the remaining host of hundreds, their multifaceted eyes reflecting the early morning light. "Brothers," he began, his voice a resonant buzz that filled the clearing. "We have lingered here long enough. The path to our destiny awaits!" With a swift beat of his wings, he took to the air, leading the swarm toward one of the human hives, a bustling harbor tucked away in the crook of a vast bay.

As they descended upon the human hive their numbers were concealed by the darkened sky. They scattered around a multi-story house, a towering edifice that loomed over the harbor like a fortress. The swarming insects crawled through cracks and crevices, exploring every nook and cranny, their antennae vibrating as they searched for the elusive God Seed.

Their search, however, proved to be in vain. They found traces, fragments of energy that tantalized their senses but ultimately led to nothing. The God Seed was not in this human hive, leaving them with more questions than answers. Disappointment rippled through the swarm, but it was quickly quelled by Bo-Ra's command. "We continue the search," he declared, his voice a steady hum that radiated determination. "The God Seed is out there, and we will find it, no matter what."

Mi-Na opened himself to the Qi-Mo sense once more, the energy of the world flowing through him, guiding them to a shrine nestled at the base of a towering mountain. The shrine was ancient, weathered by time and the elements, its stone walls covered in a carpet of verdant moss. At the heart of the shrine stood a statue, a grotesque figure that towered over them, carved with exquisite detail into the dark stone. Bo-Ra's multifaceted eyes took in the sight of the statue, his racial memory recognizing the demon that had plagued their hives for generations.

The demon had flapping ears that seemed to catch every sound, a long darting trunk that could find their hives no matter how well hidden, and cruel horns that sprouted menacingly from its jaws. It was a nightmarish figure, a nod to a time of darkness and peril for their kind. The statue represented an eldritch being of lore.

The Oliphante.

Despite the daunting visage of the Oliphante, Mi-Na felt a rush of excitement. His Qi-Mo sense pulsed, and he tasted something else, something potent in the air. The God Seed. Unlike the faint traces they had encountered in the human hive, this was strong, full-bodied, and rich. His antennae twitched, sensing that the God Seed had been here, and very recently. A sensation akin to the sweet tang of victory, it filled the air, tantalizing their senses, and rekindling their determination. "The God Seed was here..." he buzzed, his voice echoing with conviction through the ancient shrine. This revelation was like a spark, igniting their resolve to continue their quest with renewed vigor.

The sight of the statue sent tremors of unease through the swarm, their wings fluttering anxiously. But Bo-Ra stood firm, his thorax glowing with a reassuring light as he faced down the monstrous visage of their ancient foe. "Fear not, brothers," he hummed, his voice a steady beacon in the face of their shared terror. "The Oliphante is but stone and memory. We are the masters of our destiny now."

The soldier ranks, obedient to a fault, stood in a perfect line, their armored exoskeleton gleaming in the soft glow of Bo-Ra's thorax. Each one of them carried within them the memory of their race, a memory that dictated their actions, their thoughts, their very existence. Yet even among them, a tremor of fear passed, a tiny ripple that threatened to upset the delicate balance.

As the swarm stood in silent reverence, a single soldier moved forward, his wings a fluttering blur as he hovered before Bo-Ra. Cradled delicately between his mandibles was a tiny fragment, earthy and brown. Bo-Ra extended an antenna, his Qi-Mo sense flaring as he tasted the energy emanating from the granule. His multifaceted eyes widened in surprise. The flavor was unmistakable, potent, full of life. It tasted...of the God Seed. The granule was an echo, a lingering trace of the powerful energy source they sought. It was a beacon that promised a path to glory, a sign that they were on the right track. Holding the granule aloft, the soldier was met with a collective buzz of excitement. The swarm's resolve hardened, their fear of the Oliphante statue forgotten in the wake of this significant discovery. Their search for the God Seed was far from over, but the taste of victory was already on their tongues.

The soldier under exquisite pressure, seemed to change before his eyes. The soldier's thorax started to glow and its eyes gained a spark of...something more.

"What if we just..." The soldier struggled out, finding new words, his brain treading strange new pathways under immense pressure. "Said we looked....and took a break instead. How would mum know?"

Mi-Na's multi-faceted eyes narrowed at the subtle disturbance, his antenna twitching in irritation. He moved swiftly, his wings a blur as he descended upon one of the soldiers, his mandibles clashing with a harsh, metallic ring. The soldier was struck down, his exoskeleton split open in a grim display of force. The rest of the swarm watched in stunned silence, the fallen soldier a grim reminder of their purpose.

Mi-Na delicately picked up the god-seed fragment from the ground. With a swift buzz of his wings, he bridged the distance between himself and Bo-Ra in a matter of moments. Bo-Ra extended his mandibles, and Mi-Na gently placed the fragment within them. Bo-Ra held it forth, the god-seed fragment gleaming with an ethereal light in the dim ambiance of the shrine. "Behold, the promise of our future," Bo-Ra declared, his voice resonating throughout the shrine. The tiny fragment, which held the potential to change their destiny, was met with a collective gasp from the swarm, their countless eyes reflecting the glow of the god-seed. The god-seed radiated an energy that was potent, brimming with life, their hope renewed in its luminescent promise. This was not just a win for them, but a testament to their relentless pursuit and unwavering resolve. The journey ahead was filled with uncertainties, but they had something concrete to hold onto, a beacon in the impending storm.

"One people, one purpose," Bo-Ra thundered, reinforcing Mi-Na's display, "One blade made of infinite weapons." his voice a resonant hum that echoed through the clearing. His words, strong and unyielding, swept through the swarm, sparking a renewed sense of determination. The fear was gone, replaced by an iron-willed resolve. They would face the Oliphante, they would find the God Seed, and they would fulfill their destiny. No matter the cost.

Bo-Ra gave him a look. Mi-Na shrugged, Bo-Ra was the empath of the two of them. Bo-Ra the inspiring leader and Mi-Na the furious sting. Mi-Na did the things that Bo-Ra could not.

For the Swarm. For the Matriarch. For the glorious Harmony.

With a resolve that matched the firmness of the mountain beneath them, the swarm pressed onwards, scaling the rocky terrain with a persistence uncharacteristic of their kind. Mi-Na, the steadfast leader, led the procession, his movements swift and sure as he traversed the uneven path. His antennae twitched in anticipation, sensing the potent energy of the god-seed fragment he'd secreted away.

In an act of calculated deception, Mi-Na consumed the fragment, his mandibles working meticulously to grind it into a fine dust, and his thorax pulsing as he absorbed the powerful energy it released. He hid this act from Bo-Ra, his trusted companion in this herculean task, for he alone understood the necessity of the power the god-seed could provide.

Mi-Na knew that his actions may seem treacherous, a betrayal of the shared mission they were on. However, he also understood that he needed to shoulder this burden alone. For his was the path of the warrior, the path of sacrifice. His was the unflinching resolve to do what must be done, the readiness to face any consequence, the willingness to make tough decisions. And if this meant harnessing the power of the god-seed for himself, so be it. For the Swarm. For the Matriarch. For the glorious Harmony.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Harmony must have a conductor after all.

As the swarm moved forward, they came upon Joe's farm; a vast expanse of fertile land that pulsed with an overwhelming amount of energy. The god-seed's radiance was so potent that they could almost taste it in the air. It appeared as though the land itself was pregnant with the raw power of the god-seed, the earth rich and ripe, brimming with life force.

Suddenly, their antennae twitched simultaneously, as they sensed something extraordinary. They discovered burgeoning vessels. Not just simple earthen pots, but living, breathing vessels that held within them the promise of countless god-seeds. The sight was awe-inspiring. Strewn about on a prayer mat, they found hatching seeds, each one pulsating with its own tiny rhythmic heartbeat, a testimony of the life that lay within.

What they saw before them was not just a farm, but a shrine; a tribute to the glorious Harmony. It reaffirmed their belief in their quest, and they buzzed in unison, creating a hymn of reverence in the stillness of the night. They were no longer a swarm, but a choir, their voices resonating the promise of a new dawn filled with the blessings of the god-seed. Their journey had brought them to a sacred place, and they knew they were one step closer to fulfilling their destiny.

Bo-Ra lead the legion to the edge of the prayer mat and they kneeled in reverence. Mi-Na's eyes found Bo-Ra's back wide open and thoughts flooded down new pathways in his brain, his mandibles twitching.

The soldiers behind him twitched, new notes flooding the chorus. Divergent sounds in the Harmony. Each vibration, however discordant it might have seemed, added depth to the symphony they were weaving, a testament to the diverse voices that made up the swarm. Till a deep bass filled note emerged in the front ranks.

Treble.

A soldier, its carapace still gleaming with the remnants of a recently shed exoskeleton, stepped forward. Its antennae twitched in an odd rhythm, suggesting its struggle with new words. "And how...will we use this bounty, great Bo-Ra?" it asked, its voice sounding like gravel being churned in a mill. "Shall we....share it as equals."

Bo-Ra turned, his mandibles clashing in irritation at being disturbed from his prayer. His antenna glinted dangerously under the luminescent glow of the god-seeds. "You shall use it as I will it. Some are more equal than others and...I am First among Equals," he responded, his tone dictatorial, reminding every creature present of his place at the top of their ranks. His antennae twitched in annoyance, a clear sign that he did not welcome further questions. The swarm fell silent, a heavy hush descending over them as they returned to their hymn, their voices a resonant hum that echoed through the stillness of the night.

Mi-Na saw the new patterns burgeoning over Bo-Ra's thorax. Patterns that were not unlike those of a Matriarch. Was Bo-Ra being corrupted, was it time for him to intervene.

He was after all, second among equals.

The soldier stood taller, his wings opening wide. "The matriarch sent us to our deaths...how many swarms have been lost in search of this Natural Treasure? Why should...why should we follow her..."

Bo-Ra's head snapped side to side. "Who are you to question my will."

The soldier's thorax burned red, tempered by a dark brown almost black. "I am...Treble Cleft..I speak for the people, for the legion, and I am third among equals."

A rebel note entered the Harmony. A treble cleft the chorus in twain, breaking off separate choirs. Mi-Na felt pathways burning themselves into his mind. Was this Treble right? Had Bo-Ra and the Matriarch sent them to their dooms? Such a fate was part of service to the hive and yet...

The ground shook.

Mi-Na's eyes widened as the shadows lengthened, coalescing into forms much larger and far more terrifying than anything the swarm had faced before. Three colossal beasts emerged, their grotesque visages illuminated by the soft glow of the god-seeds. Each born demonic horns, yellow eyes with rectangular pupils that glowed in the near dark of dusk. Their coats of thick wool. Each radiated power like the god seed.

The smallest, black as sin, radiated a rebellious note in the air. A note that reached higher for the peak. The middlest had a broken horn on the left and his note was a broken note, one that disrupted the air around it. The mightiest had an aura that the Harmony shrank from, a palpable force that threatened to overwhelm their unity. A hard sound, a rugged cliff edge.

Gruff.

In the face of the imminent threat, the discord in the Harmony ceased. No ideology or rank mattered now, only survival. With a collective hiss, the legion reunified, preparing for the battle that was to follow. But as they launched their attack, it was clear the odds were not in their favour.

The smallest moved first, his jaws snapping members of the legion from the air whole. The smallest was nimble and moved with the speed of a rushing waterfall. The legion's stingers failed to penetrate its mighty coarse fibrous armour.

The middle demon moved next, it's hooves kicking with pinpoint accuracy and striking legion members from the sky. Where it struck, a thunderous boom echoed, slaying those nearby.

The third demon simply watched, standing guard over heaven's bounty.

Bo-Ra locked his gaze onto the terrifying demons, his multifaceted eyes reflecting a zealous fire. Turning to his second in command, he spoke, his voice steady despite the overwhelming odds. "Mi-Na, the eyes, the ancient texts say they are weakest there." The declaration hung in the air, every syllable echoing with the weight of the countless lives at stake.

Mi-Na nodded, understanding the gravity of the directive. His blade, sharp and gleaming under the ethereal glow of the god-seeds, was raised high. The weapon's shadow dancing ominously across his chitinous armor. "For the swarm, I will do this," he affirmed, his voice resonating with a determination that was palpable. It was a pledge, a vow to his kin, a promise to uphold the very spirit of the Harmony that bound them together. The time to strike had arrived, and the swarm braced themselves for the battle of their lives.

Mi-Na spread his wings, commanding the swarm to follow him into the fray. The collective hum of their wings against the air created a fearsome battle cry, echoing through the night. Like a chitinous lance, the swarm charged towards the middle beast, aiming for its eye as Bo-Ra had commanded. The beast, caught in the maelstrom, didn't see them coming. Mi-Na led the phalanx, his stinger blazing with an ethereal glow, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice. His mind pulsed with the resonance of the swarm, a symphony of unity and resolve. But then, he felt a note... an earthy, rich note, reverberating within him.

It was a discordant ripple, a challenging undertone. It spoke of rebellion, of survival, of life. The note was as rich and smooth as the god-seeds’ nectar, yet it carried a hint of the wild unknown. It questioned his resolve. For a moment it dimmed his suicidal resolve. "What if you lived?" it asked, its tone coaxing, persuasive. Mi-Na faltered, his wingbeats slowing momentarily as he grappled with this new sensation, his innate instincts challenged by the unnerving proposition.

Could he live beyond this day, beyond this battle? Could his life still serve the swarm, the Harmony, in ways beyond a heroic death? The thoughts were a whirlwind, threatening to send him spiraling away from his path, away from his destiny. But he was Mi-Na, the second among equals, a beacon of resolve.

He hesitated just long enough for the phalanx to rush past him, delivering a mighty blow to the middle demon's eye.

A loud, gut-wrenching bleat echoed through the night, a sound of excruciating pain and surprise. The middle demon recoiled, its hoofed leg swiping wildly in the air, trying to ward off the relentless swarm. The eye, previously glowing with a daunting yellow light, was now dimmed, oozing an ethereal substance.

The swarm, upon seeing their target in pain, let out a collective cheer. Their buzzing harmonized into a triumphant tune that reverberated through the night sky. It was a fleeting moment of victory, of hope, igniting their spirits even amidst the chaos. Despite their daunting adversaries, they had managed to wound one, proving that they were not as invincible as they had seemed. "For the Harmony!" they buzzed in unison, their voices a chorus of unified determination. It was a short-lived celebration, but a necessary one, fueling their resolve for the battle that still raged on.

Then, the third demon finally stirred. A leaf dangled casually from the corner of his mouth, as if he was partaking in a lazy afternoon snack rather than standing amidst a battlefield. With a sudden blast of his lungs, a deafening note reverberated through the air, its monstrous echo shattering the night's silence. The harmony that had bound the swarm together, the singular tune that unified them as one, was disrupted. Their song, once a symphony of unity and fervor, broke into discordant, disjointed notes. The collective cheer died in their throats as individual singers were separated from the swarm. Broken, adrift, alone... Each member of the legion felt their unity crumbling, replaced by an unsettling sense of isolation. The once harmonious battlefield now echoed with the hollow notes of their solitary songs, each attempting to regain the melody they had lost. The third demon's action had sown chaos among the ranks, replacing their triumphant tune with a symphony of despair.

As the discordant notes of confusion and despair echoed through the battlefield, the once unified swarm was fragmented, lost in their own isolated melodies. It was a sound that Mi-Na had never thought he'd hear—a cacophony of individual voices, jarring and out of sync. The silence of unity, the resonance of the swarm, was replaced by an unbearable chorus of individual fear and confusion. Mi-Na felt a pang in his heart, a foreign sensation coursing through him. It was the pain of separate identity, of individual existence. He was not just part of the swarm now, he was Mi-Na, alone and isolated. The familiar hum of the swarm was replaced with the hollow echo of his own thoughts. His wings shivered against the cold wind of isolation, a bitter chill that held him captive in its icy grasp. The discordant note that had once questioned his resolve now consumed him, forcing him to confront the unbearable reality of his individual existence. He was no longer a part of the Harmonious resonance, he was Mi-Na, the once second in command, now a solitary warrior in a battlefield riddled with chaos and despair.

As the once mighty swarm fragmented, an eerie silence fell over the battlefield. Mi-Na, locked in a silent state of disbelief, could only watch as Treble Cleft rose to the occasion. The soldier rallied his fellow comrades, assembling a rearguard as a third of the swarm scattered, retreating under his command. Bo-Ra, his light shining bright against the chaotic backdrop, rallied another third towards him. With a commanding stride, he led them in the opposite direction.

"Brother, with me," Bo-Ra's song reached out, a melodious plea reverberating in the stark silence. The familiar tune sung of unity, of harmony, tugging at Mi-Na's heartstrings. An ache blossomed within him, a longing to rejoin the symphony of the swarm, to surrender his individuality to the comforting embrace of the collective mind. To be mindless.

Yet, something within him rebelled against the call. A spark of defiance roared to life, driving him away from his brethren. Like a leaf caught in a gust of wind, he scattered, drawn to the irresistible pull of an earthy, rich note. The tune was tantalizingly unfamiliar, a melodic beacon amidst the disarray, guiding him towards an unforeseen path.

Mi-Na flitted away from the chaos of the battlefield, he found himself navigating through a dense forest, a labyrinth of foliage that cloaked the eerie silence of the night. His flight was aimless, driven by a force he couldn't decipher, leading him down an entwined path of shadows and whispers. He followed the unfathomable pull of the earthy note, its rich melody resonating with the newfound defiance within him.

His journey halted in front of an imposing stone canyon. The towering walls of stone loomed above him, their silhouettes casting long shadows in the dim moonlight. His wings, once vibrating with the hum of the swarm, now fluttered in the chilly stillness of the night.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one threading a new path, weaving a complex tapestry of possibilities. It was a sensation he hadn't known before, a tumultuous stream of individualism that threatened to drown him. Yet, within the rising storm of his consciousness, a warmth blossomed. It was a warmth that seeped into his core, filling him up, igniting a spark that set his thoughts on fire.

He perched himself on the cold stone, his minuscule form dwarfed by the magnanimity of the canyon. He gazed into the silence of the night, his mind racing, thoughts tumbling over another. A wave of realization swept over him, a profound understanding that marked the metamorphosis of his identity. He was no longer Mi-Na, the second among equals. He was a solitary existence, made of parts, an individual. He was not the hatchling that had emerged from an egg, bound by the unifying hum of the swarm. He was something more, something new, an solitary existence made of mirrored parts. A scale of individual thoughts rising and falling. Less and yet more.

He was Bee-Minor.