There he stood, the General, his stoic face bringing back a rush of memories. Adam had planned to keep his distance until he was ready to perform the Overmind's cleansing ritual. But life, it seemed, loved its little jokes.
'Just my luck... the General.' Adam's thoughts were tinged with a bitter taste.
But a newfound resolve was blossoming within him. 'I'm not the same as I was. I've grown stronger, more wise. If he crosses any lines, he will face the consequences.'
The General acknowledged him in a flat tone. "Adam."
Adam corrected him firmly, "Prince. Adam."
There was a tense pause before the General gave a reluctant, "Very well. Prince Adam."
The General's continued dispassionately, outlining Adam's mission, "Our spies have found a scouting party from The Lumindor Accord. You're to join the elimination squad and neutralize as many targets as you can. Should there be prisoners, execute them. This unit is not equipped for captive transport."
Once he was done, the General looked expectantly at Adam. The other figures in the tent dropped their gaze, sensing the lingering tension from their previous encounter.
Meeting the General's gaze head-on, Adam replied with a calm but firm voice, "I'll do my best."
With a curt nod, the General turned his focus back to the strategic map spread out on the table. Exiting the tent, the living structure gracefully adjusted itself to let him pass. Despite his sour mood, Adam couldn't help but marvel at the hive's incredible biological engineering, even if just for a fleeting moment.
As Adam stepped out, a human-like hive unit approached him, pointing towards the central part of the base. "Prince, I'm here to lead you to your squad," it said.
"Follow me," Adam said, his eyes scanning the hive's bustling activity. Everywhere he looked, hive units were engrossed in tasks, their movements harmonized like a well-rehearsed dance.
He paused to observe as prisoners of war were marched by muscular hive units. Their expressions were a hard mix of resignation and dread. Adam knew each person here would most likely join the hive, they were most likely being led to a conversion chamber.
Adam's attention was drawn to a frantic prisoner who had suddenly broken from the line of captives. The man bolted towards an opening, his eyes wild with desperation and fear, his breath ragged as he strained against his shackles. His every movement screamed a primal urge for freedom, the raw panic of a cornered animal.
But before the man could cover much distance, a beastly hive unit lunged at him. With a swift and merciless efficiency, the hive unit wrapped its clawed hand around the prisoner's throat, lifting him off the ground and halting his escape. The prisoner's struggles ceased almost instantly, his eyes wide with terror as he hung suspended in the hive unit's grip.
The chilling spectacle sent a wave of silence through the onlookers. The other prisoners, who had been watching the futile escape attempt, shrunk back in fear, their own hopes of freedom suddenly seeming far more distant. The hive's precision and control, even in the face of disorder, was a stark reminder of their situation.
The situation over, Adam's guide led him to a group of waiting hive units. Ten of them had humanoid shapes, their forms a blend of human, elven, and beast-kin features intertwined with insectoid characteristics. The remaining two were transformed feline hive units, their once panther identities now warped into bizarre, bug-like forms.
"May the Overmind guide you, Prince," the guide announced, departing to leave Adam with the waiting squad.
Two hive units advanced, one humanoid and the other one of the two felines. "Greetings, Prince. We understand you'll be joining us on our mission," the humanoid one declared.
Adam answered with a nod.
"I suppose we should properly introduce ourselves," the humanoid figure began, a touch of formality in his voice. "I am Threadspinner, the leader of this squad."
The panther unit next to him gave a curt nod, adding, "And I'm Fleetfall, serving as the deputy leader. We look forward to working with you, Prince Adam."
Adam examined them both closely, aware that such scrutiny would normally be considered rude unless done by someone close. But his status as their prince allowed him this liberty.
[Threadspinner, Swarm Arachnomancer, Level 34 (Tier 1)]
[Fleetfall, Shadowhive Stalker, level 32 (Tier 1)]
Relief washed over Adam upon seeing their high levels. Given that the General had given him this mission, he was on high alert for any potential traps or pitfalls.
Threadspinner remained unfazed by the examination. "We belong to the 33rd Extermination Squad, part of the Venom Host Battalion within the Dreadwing Army. Do you understand the specifics of our task?"
Adam questioned, "Our target is a group of Lumindor Accord scouts, correct?"
"That's correct, Prince," Threadspinner confirmed. "We'll be operating alongside the 34th and 35th Extermination Squads. How much do you know about the Lumindor Accord?"
Adam “Not much other than it being a popular choice for adventurers.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Fleetfall broke his silence, addressing Threadspinner, "We should leave. The other squads are ready."
Adam understood the unspoken message - they needed to move now. "Lead the way. I'm right behind you."
"Thank you, Prince," Threadspinner acknowledged.
As they began to move, the rest of the hive units fell in step. Together, they formed a silent and imposing procession, moving towards a looming confrontation.
Threadspinner started to unravel the tale of the Lumindor Accord, their most formidable adversary in this area.
"Our encounters with them have been challenging," he shared, "Our current task is defending one of the cities we took from the twin city states. We have established a satellite hive there, and our job is to protect it from their raiding groups as it takes root.”
Fleetfall picked up from where Threadspinner left off. "The Accord operates under a central council of scholars, explorers, and adventurers. They have their powerhouses but lack a traditional army. Our confrontations often involve small parties of adventurers rather than coordinated military units."
Curious, Adam asked, "And how strong are these parties?"
Threadspinner answered, "Their strength varies. We sometimes run into a group where there is one very strong member, and the rest are weaker. At the moment, we're engaged in a type of guerrilla warfare with them."
Adam pondered for a moment before asking, "And what role do I play in this?"
"You observe and act based on your judgment. We wouldn't dare to dictate your actions."
Adam shook his head, "I've never been part of a battle like this. I'll follow your lead. You understand this better."
Fleetfall responded, "In that case, Prince, stay in the rear. Ensure no one escapes alive and alert us if you find someone too strong to handle. Your priority is your survival and learning. I'll send the squad invite now."
*You have received an invite to join the 33rd Extermination squad of the Dreadwing army as an external collaborator. Will you accept? Y/N*
Adam agreed and accepted the system prompt.
The meeting with the other squads was terse, a silent understanding passed between them most likely through the hive mind.
They fell into formation, marching quietly through the terrain. Adam did his best to blend in, mirroring their actions.
After a while, the abrupt halt of the formation almost made him collide with the unit in front.
Taking charge, Threadspinner announced, "We're entering the scout's last known location. Two parties, roughly seven humanoids each, are concealed within these woods. Divide, locate the targets, but don't engage. Relay the position through the hive mind and keep the prince safe."
The hive units dispersed into the woods, and Adam trailed behind them, mindful not to disrupt their flow. The woods, full of watchful silence and tension, seemed to hold its breath, its peace disturbed by the hive units.
Lost in thought, Adam contemplated the various powers surrounding the Ventcroft Wilds. Zara had recently mentioned the Barolan Kingdom due to the poisoning of its king, and of course, one of the cities of Twin City States had just fallen to the hive.
‘Can it even be called the twin city state anymore?’ Adam thought.
A myriad of other powers existed within the continent of Izul, let alone the other four continents of Lenus. Adam grimaced; his lack of knowledge about these potential opponents could cause him trouble.
His musings were abruptly interrupted by a pained cry echoing through the woods.
The hive units reacted instantly, their bodies turning in unison towards the sound. Adam fell into stride behind them but struggled to keep up due to his comparatively lower dexterity. Noticing this, some of the hive units slowed to maintain formation with him.
Ahead, a cloaked figure fled away from the corpse of a hive unit, leaving an arrow lodged deep in its heart.
Despite the chase, the figure maintained a good distance from the pursuing hive units.
Something about the situation didn't sit right with Adam. The figure, periodically glancing back, seemed too calm for someone being hunted down by a swarm of warriors.
Then Fleetfall vanished and reappeared above the figure in a swift, slashing attack.
Panicked, the figure narrowly dodged, only to have Threadspinner unleash a web from its mouth, pinning the figure's shoulder to a nearby tree.
Another hive unit swelled in size, gripped the tree and shoved it, sending both the figure and tree crashing to the ground. The units circled the fallen tree, and when the dust settled, they discovered the figure had vanished.
A chill ran down Adam's spine.
Without thinking, he threw himself forward just as an arrow whizzed through the air where he had been standing, striking down a hive unit.
"Ambush!" Threadspinner roared.
The moment hung in the air, the shriek of the dying hive unit echoing through the still woods. Adam landed hard on his chest, dirt scraping his face as the shockwave of the ambush reverberated through his body.
Picking himself up quickly, Adam with adrenaline pumping through his veins, glanced over the battlefield.
The hive warriors moved in harmony, their swift and decisive actions were like a dance, seamlessly forming a shield around Adam with their armored bodies.
Threadspinner was quick, its many eyes scanning the forest for any hint of the enemy. But the woodland was deceivingly calm, the only sound was the soft whisper of the wind through the leaves.
Fleetfall paced the outer edge, its sharp claws sinking into the soft earth as it walked. The intensity of its gaze made Adam shiver, as it stared unblinkingly into the surrounding trees.
The absence of the enemy was a silent threat, a haunting reminder of the danger hidden within the darkness.
Forcing himself upright, Adam felt his heartbeat echo in his chest. The nearness of death lingered, the echo of the arrow's whistle still echoing in his ears. He wiped his face clean from dirt and took in the scene. The hive warriors were at the ready, their bodies tense in anticipation.
Suddenly, an arrow shot from the tree line, speeding towards one of the hive warriors. With extraordinary agility, the warrior sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the arrow. Chaos exploded in the forest.
Figures emerged from the foliage, their weapons glinting in the soft daylight.
All of them were humanoid - a blend of humans, elves, and beastmen. Their armor was different, each piece telling a unique story. They were individuals, each standing out in their own way.
His heart pounded as Adam inspected one of the figures. His blood ran cold as he noted the enemy's level.
[Human, Echo Ranger, Level 32 (Tier 1)]
It was a startling number, significantly higher than his own, a stark reminder of the dangerous situation he found himself in.
The hive warriors met the onslaught, their bodies crashing into each other with fierce intensity.
The battlefield was in uproar, but Adam found himself detached from the frenzied melee. His heart pounded as he did his best to stay within the hive unit's formation, each warrior acting as a living shield. He did not join in the fight, but watched, taking in every detail.