Caelum’s heart pounded in his chest as he stood in the larger chamber, his back pressed against the rough resin walls. The sound of the elite guards' wings filled the air, growing louder by the second, a constant reminder that his time was running out. His hands trembled as he summoned the last vestiges of his magic, preparing for the inevitable battle.
The Queen had been waiting for this. The pressure of her presence hung heavy in the air, more suffocating with every step Caelum took deeper into the hive. He had been lured into this place—an intentional trap, carefully orchestrated by her. He could feel it in the way the tunnels twisted around him, guiding him toward this exact moment.
And now, her elite guards were coming for him.
The first wave of guards burst into the chamber, their armored bodies gleaming in the dim light. Their wings buzzed furiously as they charged toward Caelum, their stingers poised to strike. There were too many. Caelum’s instincts screamed at him to run, but there was nowhere left to go.
This is it.
Caelum raised his hands, his body surging with the last of his strength as he summoned his magic. Wind Magic roared to life, swirling around him in a wild tempest. The air in the chamber shifted, rushing toward him as he shaped it into a defensive barrier. The wind howled, creating a vortex that slowed the guards’ approach, but it wouldn’t hold them back for long.
The first guard lunged, its stinger flashing toward Caelum with deadly speed. He barely had time to react, twisting his body to the side as Instinctive Dodge kicked in. The stinger grazed his arm, leaving a sharp, burning pain in its wake, but he didn’t stop moving.
With a sharp breath, Caelum released the wind, using it to propel himself upward. His body lifted off the ground as he soared into the air, carried by the currents he had summoned. The guards buzzed below him, momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift, but they recovered quickly, their multifaceted eyes locking onto him as they prepared for another attack.
Caelum’s mind raced as he pushed himself higher, the wind carrying him toward the chamber’s ceiling. His limbs burned from the effort, and the pain in his arm worsened as the venom from the guard’s sting began to spread through his veins. His Poison Resistance slowed the effects, but he couldn’t ignore the growing weakness in his body.
I can’t keep this up.
Another wave of guards entered the chamber, and Caelum knew he was out of time. He couldn’t stay in the air forever, and he couldn’t fight them all. He needed to escape—now.
With a surge of desperation, Caelum channeled his Wind Magic again, shaping the currents into a powerful gust that sent him hurtling toward the far side of the chamber. The wind pushed him forward with dizzying speed, carrying him past the guards as they tried to catch up.
He hit the ground hard, rolling as he landed. His legs shook beneath him as he staggered to his feet, but he couldn’t stop. The guards were already turning to pursue him again.
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I need to get out of here.
Caelum’s mind buzzed with panic as he activated Appraisal, scanning the nest for any sign of an escape route. His vision sharpened, revealing the twisting tunnels ahead of him—and beyond them, something darker, deeper. A presence, powerful and overwhelming.
The Queen’s lair.
That’s where she’s keeping Aurelia.
The realization hit him like a wave. The Queen had been waiting for him to come this far. She had lured him deeper into the nest, guiding him toward the final confrontation. And now, she was tightening her hold on Aurelia, preparing for the ritual that would seal their fate.
Caelum’s breath came in ragged gasps as he forced himself to move, sprinting down the tunnel. His body screamed in protest, the venom from the guard’s sting making his movements sluggish, but he had no choice. He had to keep going.
I have to reach Aurelia. I have to stop this.
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MEANWHILE, IN THE DEPTHS OF THE NEST...
Aurelia lay motionless in the chamber, her body weighed down by exhaustion and the mental pressure of the Queen’s aura. The venom had weakened her, and though her Poison Resistance fought to keep her conscious, it wasn’t enough to counter the relentless assault on her mind. The Queen’s presence was overwhelming, filling every corner of her thoughts, tightening its grip with each passing moment.
The ritual was beginning.
Aurelia could feel it. The chamber had grown colder, the air thick with the oppressive weight of the Queen’s will. The drones buzzed outside, their movements precise and synchronized, all acting in perfect unison under the Queen’s command. Aurelia’s thoughts were a blur of fear and desperation, but she couldn’t fight back—not like this.
Caelum… she thought weakly, reaching out through their telepathic link. But her mind was foggy, her strength fading. The connection was slipping, and she couldn’t feel him anymore.
The Queen’s presence pressed down harder, forcing its way deeper into Aurelia’s thoughts. The mental assault was relentless, suffocating her will and bending it to the Queen’s control. Aurelia fought back with everything she had, her Guardian’s Aura flaring weakly as she tried to push the Queen out, but the pressure only intensified.
You will submit, the Queen’s telepathic voice hissed, cold and commanding.
Aurelia’s body tensed, her mind screaming in resistance, but she was too weak to break free. The Queen’s hold tightened, and Aurelia could feel herself slipping further under the Queen’s control. The ritual was meant to strip her of her will, to bend her to the Queen’s purpose.
I can’t… I can’t give up… Aurelia’s thoughts flickered, but the Queen’s influence was too strong.
The Queen’s wings buzzed softly, a sound that echoed in Aurelia’s mind like a death knell. The ritual was underway, and Aurelia was powerless to stop it.
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BACK IN THE TUNNELS...
Caelum pushed himself forward, his legs burning with exhaustion as he raced down the twisting corridors. His Appraisal had shown him the way—the path to the Queen’s lair—but it wasn’t going to be easy. The guards were still behind him, their buzzing growing louder as they closed in.
But he couldn’t stop now. Aurelia was running out of time.
The Queen’s presence was stronger now, suffocating. Caelum could feel her aura pressing down on him, a mental weight that made it harder to think, harder to move. His heart pounded in his chest, the venom from the sting making his vision blur, but he couldn’t give in. Not yet.
I’m coming, Aurelia. He pushed the thought forward, hoping that somehow, she could hear him.
With one final burst of energy, Caelum surged forward, hurtling toward the Queen’s lair. The final confrontation was coming, and there was no turning back.