He saw the hive warriors crashing into the enemy, a storm of blades and bodies. Arrows would occasionally shoot through the chaotic dance, their deadly whispers painting the air with an undertone of fear.

Threadspinner's voice broke through the chaos. "Stay focused. Watch and adapt. Learn their patterns."

As the battle raged, Adam did just that. He observed the clash of warriors, the dance of death unfolding before his eyes. It was as though he was watching a lethal ballet, every parry and strike a fluid movement, every death a final bow.

In an attempt to contribute, he activated his [Aura of Alacrity I]. A wave of spiritual energy washed over his allies, making them momentarily faster. However, the enhancement was short-lived, the effects barely noticeable.

He shifted his focus, pointing towards a fierce-looking lion beastman. He activated [Soul Severance III]. The beastman staggered momentarily, as if struck by an unseen force.

But the enemy was too strong, recovering swiftly, and the hive warriors couldn't capitalize on the fleeting opportunity.

A wave of frustration washed over Adam. 'Should I use Sacrificial Surge?' It was possibly his only shot at making a significant impact.

But the potential backlash in the middle of this frenzied battle was a risk. He hesitated, caught between the need to contribute and the fear of the consequences.

A strangled gasp caught his attention.

A hive unit that had been standing guard next to him, protecting him from harm, suddenly staggered forward.

An arrow had found its mark, sticking out of the unit's throat.

It collapsed next to Adam, a pool of strange, dark blood seeping into the ground.

The sight was shocking, some of the blood had splattered onto Adam, a few droplets making their way into his mouth.

The metallic taste of blood filled his senses, blending with the acrid smells of the battlefield - sweat, fear, and death. It was an initiation like no other, a raw and brutal introduction to the stark reality of war with the hive.

The chaos of battle consumed everything. Threadspinner, the Swarm Arachnomancer, was in the heart of it all, a terrifying force.

Hundreds of tiny spiders, each no bigger than a thumbnail, swarmed from his body. They raced across the battlefield, a shifting carpet of dark bodies that swarmed over the enemy combatants, biting, distracting, and disorienting them.

Fleetfall, the Shadowhive Stalker, was like shadow made flesh. His body blurred in and out of existence, dodging attacks and reappearing behind the enemy. Each time he vanished, a foe would fall, their life extinguished in a single, swift strike of his paws.

The brutality of the fight was overwhelming, the pace of it all dizzying.

Combatants would change targets in an instant, turning on each other with an unanticipated fury.

Every ambush and battle Adam had ever been a part of paled in comparison to the intensity of this fight. His heart pounded in his chest as he took in the spectacle, the raw energy of the battlefield pulsing through his veins.

A flash of light caught his attention as a human mage conjured a ball of fire, hurling it towards a hive unit. The unit barely had time to raise its weapon in defense before the spell erupted, sending it hurtling backwards.

Another figure, an elf, moved with an ethereal grace, its blade cutting down hive units with an inhuman speed.

The smell of sweat, dirt, and blood filled the air. The ground shook with the ferocity of the battle. Screams echoed around them.

A strong voice cut through the chaos, halting the brutal fight. "Enough!"

The cloaked figure from before reappeared, pulling back her hood to reveal a cascade of silver hair. She looked young, early twenties at most.

At her command, the ambushers rallied behind her, their varied forms creating a solid barrier.

The hive units instantly regrouped, tightening their protective circle around Adam. The woman's icy gaze scanned their ranks, sizing them up.

"Who's in charge here?" she demanded, her voice ringing out clear and steady.

No one responded. The hive units were tight-lipped, their faces as impassive as stone. Adam too remained silent, realizing the importance of not giving their command structure away.

Exhaling in frustration, the woman squared her shoulders, "Alright, let's not make this harder than it needs to be. I'm Alexia Aetheria. Why don't we bypass the whole 'fight to the death' scenario and have a conversation? You let us walk, and in return, we pay a ransom."

A hive unit spoke up, "You've trespassed in our domain. Your options are to be assimilated or face death."

Instead of the unit who spoke, Alexia fixed her attention on Threadspinner. "I’m aware of your hive mind, it's not hard to tell who's running the show. You should know that I'm not some random adventurer. I'm a council member's daughter."

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Pausing for a second she continued, “I can see this playing out in one of two ways. One, you get in touch with your superiors, they agree to my terms and let us leave. We part ways, no harm done. Or two, you choose not to reach out to your higher ups, you keep battling us and we're forced to wipe you out. Sure, we're outnumbered in your domain, and I'm sure you have backup on the way. But don't think we'll go down easily. If I die, my father won't hesitate to rally those powers on the sideline to join this war. So, what's it going to be?”

Threadspinner locked eyes with Alexia, his voice monotone, "Someone higher up wishes to speak with you."

"Alright, put them on," she responded.

Threadspinner twitched slightly, his gaze shifting around, briefly landing on Adam before finally settling back on Alexia.

"Speak," he commanded, his voice now eerily different.

Adam felt a chill run down his spine hearing that voice.

"Here's my deal," Alexia began, "You give us safe passage, and we'll pay a ransom."

"Ransom?" Threadspinner's voice echoed, filled with scorn. "We are the hive. We don't need your charity. We'll take what we need, when we need."

Alexia didn't back down. "Everybody needs resources. And let me remind you, if we don't walk out of here safely, everyone here dies."

Threadspinner swept his gaze over his units. "Every unit here has accepted the possibility of death. They will either return victorious or die serving their purpose."

Anger flared within Adam, the reality of his situation hitting him hard. ‘If I die today…’ His fists tightened.

"But, we will let you walk. Just this once. It seems that there's someone here who isn't as expendable."

And then, as quickly as it started, the possession ended, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

Alexia, who had been gripping her dagger in readiness for a fight, looked taken aback. "What?"

Threadspinner's voice returned to its original monotone voice, "One of our units will get in touch regarding your suggested compensation. As a first step, your dead stay with us."

Alexia's ignored Threadspinner her gaze quickly scanned the hive squads, finally landing on Adam.

"I wanted to ask earlier, why're you here, kid? With the hive of all people." She inquired, her tone more curious than threatening.

Adam seethed with silent fury. Though he wasn't thrown to the wolves, the situation meant his name and identity might soon become known to the hive's enemies. It seemed the General had cunningly crafted a hurdle for him.

He caught sight of Alexia's smile just before she vanished. The hive units were already turning towards him, poised for attack. But before any action could be taken, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

Spinning around, he found himself face-to-face with Alexia again. "What's your name?"

"I don't think that's any of your business," Adam retorted, his voice cold. "Shouldn't you be on your way? We could always change our minds."

Alexia grinned, unphased. "I'll let you in on a secret. The hive couldn't touch me if they tried. I'm just being polite. Can't have all my underlings drop dead, you know. Wouldn't reflect well on my old man."

Adam gritted his teeth against the increasing pressure on his shoulder, maintaining his composure. "Still, I don't think this is the best use of your time. I'm just here to observe."

"Observing, huh? What's your name, little observer?" she pushed.

Adam threw out a random name. "Harry."

Suddenly, pain flared in his shoulder as Alexia's grip tightened.

"Let’s try again," she smiled at him.

Through clenched teeth, Adam surrendered, "Adam. My name is Adam."

Alexia's grip eased, and she flashed a triumphant smile. "Oh, that actually worked," she laughed. "I've always seen my old man do this. Didn't actually think you'd lie to me."

His flash of anger was swiftly controlled, as Alexia playfully slapped his back, causing him to stumble forward. "Don't be angry, kid. If you want to blame someone, blame my old man. He's the one who taught me that trick."

Noticing the hive units' rigid stances, Adam saw the only thing holding them back was his proximity to Alexia.

"So, kid. What's your role in the hive?" she asked, her gaze fixed on him.

Feeling a rush of humiliation, Adam kept his gaze lowered. "I'm…I’m the prince," he admitted, internally cursing the General for screwing him over.

"Oh my, you're a big fish," Alexia said, her eyes lighting up with newfound interest. "I've never heard of the prince. Are you, by any chance, the Empress's child?"

Adam retorted, "Zara is my mother."

Her eyes narrowed further, scrutinizing him. It was clear to Adam now that her playful antics were a facade.

She possessed some means, a skill or an item perhaps, that could determine whether he was lying or not. Not that he was; he was the adopted child of Zara, after all.

The playful demeanor Alexia had been projecting suddenly faded, replaced by a more serious countenance. She studied him carefully, placing a hand on his head, eyes closed for a brief moment.

Then, as if burned, she pulled away, her face running through a series of expressions – shock, horror, killing intent, fear, despair, and finally, hope.

Her reaction had Adam, as well as her own party, baffled. The hive units remained alert, ready to respond at the slightest hint of a threat to their prince's life.

Alexia recovered her composure, offering Adam a forced smile. "Hey, kid, have you given any thought to marriage yet? You're a prince, after all. Surely the empress has considered it, right? I have a younger sister that’s also nine years of age. Maybe we could arrange something?"

A tall man from Alexia's group began to protest, "Mistress, this isn't appropriate—"

"Shut. Your. Mouth." Alexia retorted, the venom in her voice making the man cower despite her smaller stature.

Turning back to Adam, she persisted, "So, what do you say, Adam? My sister will grow to be a stunning beauty. Or, if you prefer, I have a cousin who is slightly older. She’s not too shabby. What do you think?"

Adam was at a loss for words. This had to be the most surreal encounter he'd ever experienced. He couldn't even fathom a response.

Looking around, Alexia decided, "Hmm, perhaps this isn't the right setting. Think it over, Adam. Let me know what you decide." With that, she vanished, reappearing next to her team.

"Let's go," she ordered.

As they departed, Adam was left pondering her bizarre reaction. What had she seen that had caused such a shift?

He thought to himself, 'She used something on me. What did she see? She knew my age. Did she see my title? My trait?' The possibilities gnawed at him.

"Young prince, it's time to depart." Threadspinner urged.

Adam agreed, "Yeah, I'm coming."

As they trekked away, Adam was unaware of Alexia perched atop a nearby tree, her gaze trained on his retreating figure.

She whispered to herself, "If I hadn't taken Dad's artifact... I need to tell him."

With that, Alexia disappeared, leaving the woods to resume their quiet serenity.