I was back in the dimensional shard. Seraphina and Regina Apis had been busy during my time away. There was a three dimensional map representing the surrounding areas. The map was highly detailed. There was a group of ants and bees surrounding the table, and there was a Fernando clone directing the actions of the group.

“Is this being updated in real time?” I asked, marveling at the intricate details.

Seraphina nodded, her ethereal presence shimmering slightly in the shard’s ambient light. “Indeed, Gavrin. We’ve utilized the natural abilities of the ants and the bees to gather data continuously. They report back through Fernando, allowing us to keep this map current.”

Regina Apis, with her regal demeanor, added, “It is crucial for us to stay informed about the changing environment. With the increasing mana levels and the appearance of new threats, we must remain vigilant.”

Fernando, ever the enthusiastic scout, chimed in with his Bronx accent, “Yeah, boss, it’s like having a real time surveillance systems. These little guys are everywhere, and they see everything. Ain’t nobody gonna sneak up on us.”

I smiled at the sight of Thor and Loki lounging nearby, the two dogs keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings. Loki, in particular, seemed unusually alert, her ears twitching as she listened to the buzz of activity around her.

“Impressive,” I said, turning my attention back to the map. “This level of detail will be incredibly useful for planning our defenses and anticipating any new threats.”

Seraphina’s eyes glowed with a serene confidence. “We’ve also been cataloguing the flora and fauna. The mana increase has caused some fascinating mutations. Some plants have developed new properties, and we’ve encountered several new species of creatures.”

Regina Apis pointed to a section of the map. “Here, for instance, we’ve noticed a new type of plant that seems to have an affinity for fire mana. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

I looked back at the map, my brow furrowed in concentration. “How does this work? How do you get the information back? Runners? Flyers? How does the signal get inside the shard?”

Fernando, perched nearby with his ever present Bronx accent, responded with a slight smirk. “Runners? Nah, boss, we’re a bit more advanced than that. We’ve got a network setup. Like I said, the bees and ants are out there making observations. The plants help collect information too. The Fernando clones out there act as relay stations to me and I update the display as new information is discovered. It’s pretty cool. I’ve even started to get levels in mana manipulation and magical device manipulation.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Seraphina nodded in agreement, her expression serene. “It’s a symbiotic relationship. The plants, particularly the trees, acts as conduits for information. Their roots spread far and wide, picking up on vibrations and disturbances in the mana flow. They relay this information back to us through a kind of natural mana network.”

Regina Apis added, “My bees are part of that network too. They’re in constant communication with the the flowers they pollinate, sharing information about what they encounter. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s incredibly efficient.”

I leaned closer to the map, fascinated. “So you’re telling me that every tree, every plant, and even the animals are all feeding information back into this system?”

Fernando nodded. “Exactly. The trees pick up on changes in the mana, the bees relay what they see, and my other selves, carry the info back to the central nodes. It all gets compiled here in the shard, giving us a real time update.”

I let out a low whistle, impressed. “That’s incredible. So if there’s any movement, any unusual activity, we can pick it up almost immediately.”

Thor, who had been lounging nearby, rolled over onto his back with a lazy grin. “Yeah, and it means I don’t have to run as much. I can just lie here and nap while the plants do all the work.”

Loki nudged him with her nose. “Lazy mutt. You’d be chasing your tail if you weren’t so spoiled.”

I chuckled at the banter, but my mind was still focused on the implications of what I’d just learned. “This gives us a huge advantage. We can anticipate their moves and stay one step ahead.”

“You’d think that.” Fernando complained. “But those stupid bandits are evading our detection skills. They appear and disappear with frightening ease.”

“Hmmm.” I mumbled aloud as I stretched my mana senses towards the device Fernando was using. If he had skills to use it, then I could use his bond to use the device myself. I was immediately flooded with sensations and flashes of light and sound. It stumbled as the mental assault overloaded my mind for an instant.

“Wow, that is intense.” I looked over at Fernando. “How do you do it?”

“Magic, boss.” Fernando replied. “Try not connecting so hard to it next time. Seraphina has some theories on how we could use this thing now that you are back.”

“How so?” I asked looking over at Seraphina.

“Well, as you know, all your familiars share some of your abilities to some extent or another.” Seraphina began.

I nodded my head in agreement.

“Well, we all worked together to manage the plant magic we needed to create the network, but none of us can actually control the dimensional shard, I think with proper preparation we can and I mean you, can open and close portals to different locations while you are located here. In fact, you could open a portal out there.” Seraphina pointed to the edge of the map, “And then open a portal here, you could either use the dimensional shard as a transit point or as a storage area.” Seraphina continued.

“I mean,” I could I began. “But that seems tedious. That would be the only thing I would be doing.”

“Not necessarily.” Seraphina countered. “I think with your help, I could grow and develop a class of ants that could help you with this task.”

Not to be outdone, Regina Apis butted in. “I can help too. My worker bees are intelligent and would love to help.”

Seraphina continued after a pause by Regina Apis. “I have conversed and compared skills with Regina Apis. We both have a Hive Mind ability we use to communicate with and control our swarms. We both believe you can use this ability to turn this dimensional shard into the most amazing hive in the world.”