As Adam exited the room, Zara's eyes opened to follow his exit, observing his impeccable about-face maneuver that even her most seasoned general couldn't criticize. The numerous hours he had invested in training exercises with other hive units were evident, pushing himself to the brink of death during sparring sessions with formidable warriors.
Zara vividly recalled Adam's first death, which she discovered after sensing alarm among her units. Delving into the hive mind for answers, she found her protégé lifeless. Her fury was palpable that day; she personally executed her general for his negligence and annihilated all the units that had been present when Adam met his untimely end.
Once her rage subsided, Zara found herself perplexed as to why the Dreamverse-assigned mission to raise Adam hadn't been declared a failure upon his demise. Her relief was profound when he re-emerged three days later at his temporary binding stone. Yet, this relief gave way to curiosity; regardless of whether an individual was native to the Dreamverse, a visitor from the waking world, or another Dream Child, death within the Dreamverse was the ultimate end for everyone. Their physical presence in an alternate reality held no sway over this immutable fact.
Trait: Immortal - Death holds no sway over you, as it is merely a gateway to a new beginning. You can endure countless deaths, only to be reborn time and time again, carrying with you the memories and experiences of past lives. Your soul is protected from damage when killed in the dreamscape, allowing you to escape death in the waking world, but you will endure a period of weakness and pain instead.
When Zara inspected Adam, she discovered his trait due to the vast difference in their strength. Overcoming her initial shock, she pledged to care for him diligently, as he now represented her chance to ascend in rank, triumph in her war against her sisters, and perhaps return to her homeland.
The Dreamverse's decision to transport her to this world in the midst of a war with her sisters, equipped with nothing but the clothes she wore, seemed like the greatest opportunity she had ever received. Her task was to nurture a single child until he became an unstoppable force. She dedicated herself to instilling the values of a powerhouse within Adam, intensifying his training to the point of brutality and relentlessness. He faced multiple deaths in the process, molding him into a weapon against her enemies.
'Watch him, send me regular updates on his activities,' she telepathically commanded Adam's shadow.
Zara had learned from past mistakes and now prioritized his safety, assigning her most skilled stealth unit to monitor him. Additionally, she harbored suspicions about the importance of the temporary binding stone in the meadow, though she refrained from voicing her concerns to Adam. Instead, she deployed a team to protect the stone and eliminate any potential threats.
With her orders dispatched, Zara refocused her efforts on preparing for the impending war against the races of Lenus.
---
Adam neared the entrance of the hive, gradually making his way to the barracks. As he closed in, he became increasingly cautious, ensuring his footsteps were as quiet as possible. The hive members were known for their power-napping habits, sleeping for mere minutes at a time, multiple times a day. They would rest wherever they felt secure, whether inside the hive or outside its confines. It was a rare occasion for them to visit the barracks for an extended slumber.
In his younger years, Adam mischievously played a prank on the sleeping unit, waking them as soon as they drifted off in the barracks. Although the basic hive units were typically devoid of emotion and nearly robotic in their actions, their sleep was held sacred, second only to the hive's well-being. If they didn't rest, they couldn't optimally serve the hive. Adam's prank didn't go over well, and the late General taught him a harsh lesson that day. Even Adam's pleas, mirroring the catchphrase of MeTube pranksters – "It's just a prank, bro!" – couldn't spare him.
That experience taught Adam a valuable lesson, and it was the last one the late General would ever teach, thanks to Zara's intervention. Since then, Adam had been careful not to disturb the resting units.
After entering the barracks he was approached by a hulking figure, “I don’t think you are ready for leadership”.
Adam tensed ‘so this is where he was.’
As the General approached, he straightened his posture before responding, "I apologize, sir, but Mother Zara has assigned me this mission, and I will fulfill it to the best of my abilities." Invoking Zara's name, Adam hoped to allay the General's skepticism, ensuring he wouldn't interfere with his first unit assignment.
The General scrutinized Adam, seeming to grasp his intentions. "It appears so. Do not disappoint the Empress, or you'll find yourself cleaning the parasite breeding chambers." With his threat clear, the General added, "I'm here to assist you in selecting your first drone. Follow me."
As they walked to a room in the barracks, Adam examined the General.
[General, Hive Warlord, Level 49 (Tier 1)]
'He might reach Tier 2 during this war,' Adam observed. Clenching his fists, ‘I can’t let him get too far ahead.’
A dozen drones walked into the room and lined themselves up, standing at attention. Adam's eyes scanned over each one, noting the various shapes and sizes they came in. He decided to rule out any drones that were previously beasts, as he was not familiar with their abilities and tendencies.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
He focused on the humanoid drones, evaluating them based on their attributes. One drone had powerful legs, likely able to propel it quickly across the battlefield. Another was armored, its exoskeleton shimmering with an iridescent sheen, offering extra protection. Yet another drone had slender arms, suggesting an expertise in ranged combat.
As Adam weighed the merits of each drone, he felt a growing sense of uncertainty. He knew the importance of making the right choice, as the drone he selected would play a crucial role in his mission's success.
Sensing Adam's hesitation, the General interjected, "Remember, young prince, the best drone for you is one that complements your own abilities."
Adam took the General's advice to heart, focusing on the humanoid drones that resembled his own fighting style. He eventually locked onto a particular drone that caught his attention. This drone had a lean, agile build and wielded a spear, much like Adam himself. He thought that having a drone with a similar fighting style would help them synergize better on the battlefield.
He approached the drone, and after a moment of hesitation, pointed at it. "This one," he declared.
The General nodded in approval, seemingly satisfied with Adam's choice. "Very well," he said, as he waved off the other drones, who promptly left the room. "Make sure to utilize your drone effectively. I expect to see it to be tier 1 the next time I see you" With that, the General turned and left the room, resuming his duties.
Feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, Adam looked at his new drone companion. The drone stood silently, awaiting orders. Adam remembered that it was more like an autonomous bot, not capable of much social interaction. Regardless, he wanted to name what was to be his first drone, “I'm going to call you Lancer.” The drone nodded in acknowledgement of its name. Adam inspected it to see if the name change had gone through.
[Lancer, Zentarran Hive Drone, Level 1 (Tier 0)]
Which it had, he tried to keep his excitement contained and seriously considered what he needed to do to effectively lead Lancer. Knowing he couldn't communicate telepathically with the drone, he decided to teach it some basic hand gestures and instructions, as the General had taught him.
Taking his time, Adam demonstrated each hand signal with precision, ensuring the drone fully grasped the meaning behind each gesture. As he taught the drone the various commands like attack, defend, and retreat, Adam also practiced coordinating their movements to maximize their efficiency on the battlefield. The drone responded with mechanical precision, absorbing the information efficiently and mimicking Adam's movements as they practiced.
Once he was confident Lancer understood his instructions, Adam led it out of the hive and into the nearby forest. Just before entering the forest Adam remembered to send Lancer a party invitation.
*Lancer has joined your party*
Adam took out his newbie armor and spear that everyone gets when they choose their class from his [Inventory].
*You have equipped [Newbie Spear (Tier 0)]*
*You have equipped [Newbie Light Helmet(Tier 0)]*
*You have equipped…*
They moved swiftly and quietly, Adam leading the way while the drone followed closely behind. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the sunlight filtering through the trees created a dappled pattern on the forest floor. The chirping of birds and rustling of leaves provided a soothing soundtrack to their journey. Despite the calming atmosphere, Adam remained vigilant, knowing that danger could lurk around any corner.
After traveling a significant distance from the hive, they reached an area where the creatures of the forest were less fearful. Due to the hive's regular cullings, most beasts avoided the immediate vicinity of the hive. As they continued to move further from the safety of the hive, Adam started paying attention to all of his senses, becoming more and more attuned to his surroundings.
As Adam and Lancer continued their journey through the forest, they came across a small clearing. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the area and casting long shadows of the surrounding trees. The quiet rustling of leaves was interrupted by a sudden movement in the underbrush.
[Red Fox, Level 1]
The fox emerged, its sleek red fur glistening in the sunlight. The creature eyed Adam and the drone warily, its ears twitching as it assessed the potential threat. Recognizing an opportunity to practice their combat skills, Adam signaled the drone to prepare for battle.
The fox, sensing the impending danger, bared its teeth and let out a high-pitched snarl. It circled the duo, looking for an opening to attack. Adam and the drone mirrored the fox's movements, maintaining their defensive stance and ensuring they were never exposed.
With a sudden burst of speed, the fox lunged at Adam, aiming for his exposed leg. Adam quickly sidestepped the attack, using the butt of his spear to shove the creature away. The drone responded in tandem, lunging forward and thrusting its spear toward the fox.
The agile creature narrowly dodged the drone's attack, its fur brushing against the spear's sharp tip. The fox quickly regrouped and set its sights on the drone, seeing it as the weaker opponent. It sprang forward, attempting to land a bite on the drone's arm.
Adam, anticipating the fox's strategy, stepped in front of the drone and swung his spear in a wide arc. The weapon connected with the fox, sending it tumbling across the clearing. The drone, seizing the opportunity, charged at the disoriented fox, its spear aimed for the kill.
The fox, however, was quicker than it seemed. It scrambled to its feet and darted out of the drone's reach, evading the deadly blow. The drone's spear struck the ground, its tip sinking into the soft earth.
They circled the fox, forcing it to continuously adjust its position to keep them in its sights.
With a nod to the drone, Adam launched a feint attack, thrusting his spear toward the fox. The creature instinctively dodged, falling right into the drone's path. As the fox scrambled to recover, the drone swung its spear, catching the fox off-guard and landing a solid hit.
With a pained yelp, the fox crumpled to the ground, its last ounce of energy expended. Adam wasted no time, plunging his spear into the creature to deliver the final blow.
*Ding*
*Your party has slain [Red Fox, Level 1] - You have received reduced experience for killing an enemy below your level, 100xp rewarded*
‘Not too shabby, considering it was a mere level 1 beast.’
‘Hmm, if I want to level up I need to kill 20 level 1 foxes to gain that level, I wonder how many I would have to kill if I wasn't in a party with Lancer? Time to see what this fox has to offer.’
Adam put his hand on the foxes corpse.
*You have looted [Red Fox, Level 1]. You have received 10 Dream coins and 1 Fox Paw*
'A few coins and a crafting material – not bad! It's unfortunate my [inventory] won't allow me to take the entire corpse. Still, I doubt the hive crafters will miss a single level 1 fox.'
“Let’s move Lancer,” Adam urged, ”we’ve got more hunting to do.”