Adam materialized in the forward camp of the hive, his aura heavy with rage. Once again, the General had bested him, but this time, the stakes were far greater.
Adam had known his days of anonymity were numbered, but he had hoped to spend that precious time leveling up and gathering strength.
Now, thanks to the General, the Lumindor Accord would potentially be on high alert for him.
His status as the hive's prince, his unmistakably unique appearance, they were all up for exposure now.
And to add salt to the wound, he even understood why the General had done it - to hamper his progression, to delay the inevitable day when Adam would match him in levels.
But the General's scheming had just poured fuel on Adam's fiery determination.
He knew that nursing his anger wouldn't solve anything. He needed a plan, a strategy to fight back and undermine the General's attempts to hinder him.
He wasn't naive - the General's whole existence was dedicated to outmaneuvering the hive's enemies, and Adam couldn't allow himself to be a pawn in his next game.
'First, I need control over my assignments,' he thought, 'I need someone on the inside, someone who can give me access to the right missions. I'll need to take advantage of my status as the prince, ensure I get put on the missions that can help me grow stronger. Then, I have to inform mother Zara. She needs to know the lengths the General is going to obstruct my leveling. She'll put him in his place.'
Fists clenched, Adam muttered, "I won't let him control me. I'll grow stronger. No matter what."
There was no time for complacency now. Whatever information Alexia had obtained could soon become public knowledge, and Adam needed to be prepared.
The one saving grace was the hope that she hadn't identified him as a Dream child.
“If that information gets out…” Adam gritted his teeth.
Adam moved swiftly around the camp. His first priority was to find a hive unit with access to intelligence of what missions were available. Once he had that, he could pick and choose his missions and his path to leveling.
Yet, he didn't know where to begin. But he had to start somewhere. Time was of the essence, and every second was precious.
---
After securing Zara's permission, Adam claimed a tent and insisted on a hive swarm speaker's service.
The creature was to cater exclusively to his needs and those of his cult, serving as a private communication channel.
Adam’s complaint to Zara made her livid, if the dead hive unit that she possessed was anything to go by. She said something about having him undergo ‘Corrective measures’, Adam couldn’t help but shudder when he heard her say that.
“Heh, I’m sure the General won’t be too happy with whatever that is.”
The swarm speaker was seated inside the biological tent, a fleshy helmet was connected to its head, which was linked to the tent itself.
Though Adam didn't completely grasp the specifics, he knew that the helmet amplified the swarm speaker's skills, enabling it to communicate and relay orders across the hive mind. The tent functioned as the power source for the helmet, supplying it with energy and nutrients.
Approaching the swarm speaker, Adam inquired, "Have you found a mission yet?"
"Yes, Prince. I believe I've identified suitable missions for you," the creature responded.
Feeling a thrill of excitement, Adam asked, "What missions?"
The swarm speaker listed, "A patrol mission, a reinforcement stint at one of our bases, and an assignment with an invasion group for obtaining more conversion stock."
"Accept the invasion mission," Adam commanded, "From now on, rule out patrol and defense tasks automatically. They're a waste of my time."
The swarm speaker acknowledged his command, "By your command, Prince."
Adam nodded, "Where do I need to be?"
The swarm speaker provided, "I've registered you for the mission, a unit is on its way to guide you."
"Thanks," Adam praised, then he paused, looking over the swarm speaker.
The creature was officially his subordinate. "Do you have a name?" He asked.
"I do not have a combat role, so I don't require a name, sir," it replied.
"But would you like one?" Adam pressed.
"As long as I live to serve the hive another day, that is enough for me, Prince. But if it pleases you, you may name me," the creature responded humbly.
Adam hesitated. On one hand, a name would distinguish this particular swarm speaker from the rest, making it easy to identify. On the other hand, the painful memory of Lancer still lingered, making him cautious.
But before he could decide, the swarm speaker interrupted his thoughts. "The unit has arrived, Prince."
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Adam, pulled from his introspection, gave a nod of thanks and exited the tent.
---
Laying down in underbrush, Adam struggled to suppress the discomfort that gnawed at him.
Every slight movement seemed to invite the branches to poke and prod him, reminding him of their presence with sharp jabs against his skin.
The persistent assault of bugs added another layer of irritation, their tiny but relentless bites piercing through his resolve.
Adam focused on maintaining a steady and silent breath as he saw the mission's targets enter his sight.
Peering through the foliage, he studied the anxious faces of Barolan kingdom's conscripts. There were about three squads' worth of them, drafted soldiers being sent to reinforce the Lumindor Accords.
Unlike the Lumindor accords, the Barolan forces had a clear sense of military organization. They marched as a unit, not like the scattered adventurers that made up the Accords.
Adam had deliberately chosen this mission - to halt these reinforcements and capture as many as possible alive for conversion. It was a mission he could actively participate in, unlike his previous one.
Deciding to take a risk, Adam used his system to inspect a few of the enemy soldiers.
[Human, Ironclad Squire, Level 11 (Tier 1)]
[Half-Orc, Footman Guardian, Level 15 (Tier 1)]
[Lupine, Swordsworn Novitiate, Level 14 (Tier 1)]
His suspicions confirmed, he knew he could handle the common foot soldiers; the squad leaders would need to be dealt with by his hive comrades.
Vileclaw, their own squad leader, released a soft chitter, a signal that had everyone on edge.
Adam tensed, preparing for the precise moment the enemy soldiers would wander into their ambush zone.
However, one of the enemy soldiers, distinguishable by his horse and slightly better armor, abruptly halted the procession. Confusion rippled through the conscripts, causing a slight collision among them.
"Oi, keep it together, you lot!" The enemy squad leader, his face etched with suspicion, hollered, whirling around to address his disorganized troops. "We ain't here for a festival parade, keep those lines tight and move!"
With the barked orders echoing through the air, the commotion amongst the conscripts started to settle.
All the while, the enemy leader scanned their surroundings, his gaze seeming to pierce through the underbrush where Adam was hiding.
Unease threaded the ranks as one of the soldiers approached the leader. "Something wrong, sir?" His voice, a mere whisper, stirred the silence.
"Where are the birds?" The leader's response was curt, his gaze locked on the treeline.
As confusion swept through the enemy soldiers, Vileclaw gave a high-pitched chitter.
Responding to the call, hive units crept towards the procession, their forms a shadowy blur before they exploded from the underbrush.
Adam followed, heart pounding. The Immortal Dream Blade felt heavy in his hands. His gaze fell on a nearby soldier. Adam pounced, taking him down with brutal efficiency.
Rising quickly, he ignored the terrified screams of the conscripts, leaving them for the hive units to handle.
His eyes found a veteran soldier, one who looked ready to fight tooth and nail. He was older, hardened, with a fierce light in his eyes. This was no conscript, no green recruit. This man was a seasoned warrior.
Adam extended his arm and pointed directly at the soldier, activating [Soul Severance III]. The man's eyes widened as the skill disrupted his bond with his soul, sapping him of strength and leaving him momentarily incapacitated.
Seizing the opportunity, Adam charged, his form imbued with the power of [Aura of Alacrity I] slightly boosting his speed and reflexes.
Adam's blade found flesh.
The Immortal Dream Blade, infused with [Soul-Piercing Strike III], phased through the soldier's armor like a specter. The blade bit deep, disrupting the man's soul, fracturing his spirit further.
A guttural scream ripped from the soldier's throat, the sound raw and primal. But Adam didn't relent.
He lunged once more, aiming for a killing blow, but the veteran, despite his pain, rallied. With a roar of defiance, the soldier counterattacked, his body colliding with Adam's and bringing them both down.
Adam grappled with the soldier, the struggle intense, punctuated by harsh breaths and grunts.
Adam cut the soldier who responded by landing a lucky punch to Adam's face, and for a brief moment, the world spun, stars dancing in his vision.
But then, a hive unit appeared, obsidian claws slashing through the air.
A spray of crimson, a gurgle, and the soldier's struggles ceased.
Gasping for breath, Adam pushed himself up, his face aching from the punch. He didn't have time to recover, the battlefield was still ablaze with conflict.
Some of the conscripts had broken, their courage waning in the face of the relentless assault.
Sensing their despair, Adam activated [Enthralling Presence I]. His aura expanded outward, a palpable cloud of fear that washed over the enemy ranks, sowing confusion and dread.
A conscript nearby collapsed in terror, his bladder releasing in fear, Adam was glad he couldn’t smell at the moment.
The skill upgraded to [Enthralling presence II].
‘This is a great opportunity to upgrade this skill, it’s so much easier breaking the resolve of conscripts.’ He thought.
With every pulse of his skill, Adam could see the toll it took on enemy soldiers, even the veterans were affected. They were hardened warriors, but the relentless pressure from [Enthralling Presence I] was eating away at their resolve.
Though the skill had leveled up, he chose to switch it off, feeling a significant dip in his mana.
Simultaneously, a roar echoed across the battlefield.
Vileclaw, displaying his monstrous strength, had torn the enemy squad leader from his mount and brutally decapitated him. The hive unit held the severed head aloft, roaring in savage triumph.
The sight was a blow to the veterans' spirit, the very image of their decapitated leader a sign of their inevitable defeat.
Capitalizing on this moment, Adam used the newly evolved [Enthralling Presence II]. It was the final push the enemy needed to crumble.
With detached eyes, Adam observed the veterans, worn and weary, as they dropped their weapons in a gesture of surrender.
Among them, one soul, perhaps foreseeing his inevitable fate, opted for the swifter end of his own blade rather than falling into the clutches of the hive.
But their destiny, whether captives or not, meant nothing to Adam. He ignored them, treating their struggles as insignificant and focused on the rewards that awaited him.
As an external collaborator, Adam understood that he was entitled to a share of the experience gained from this battle.
In the Dreamverse, the very fabric of its existence perpetuated war and strife, offering multiplied rewards to the victorious and leaving the defeated with nothing. This design was meant to reward valor and discourage cowardice.
However, such principles held no weight for the hive creatures. They lived solely for the hive, willingly sacrificing their lives without hesitation for their collective cause. Even if denied any experience, they would still offer themselves up willingly, their loyalty to the hive unwavering.
Yet, amidst Adam's thoughts, an idea broke through to the surface.
He glanced at the frightened captives, their faces etched with fear, and slowly made his way toward the conscripts.
A fresh scheme began to take shape in the depths of his mind.