The goblin stands in awe as the spiders bound to him evolve into stronger enlightened beasts. Only a small part of the life energy he absorbed has been used to upgrade his queens. The rest of the spiders and him will get the remaining mana.
Diti's exoskeleton forms into an extravagant battle robe. White pauldrons with gold trim that matching the robes golden style rest upon her shoulders. Her golden crown hair piece has six white jewels. The four mid-legs tuck behind her back, creating an elegant cape. In her hands, she holds a white orb and a staff. Glossy boots cover her feet that barely touch the ground if touching at all.
Gwen grows in length and bulk, easily surpassing the bugbears. Her body is covered in heavy plating. A sleek helmet crown covers her face leaving an opening for her eyes that glow red and a thin slit for her mouth. Her left shoulder has a massive pauldron. Her right pauldron, while still large, is smaller than the left. The four legs draping behind her back look like segments of shields. When they are all behind her, they form a shielded cape.
Reaching the height of Gwen's shoulders, Trish looks nimbler than ever and is adorned in black and red. Maintaining the sharp angles of her first transformation, the spider looks like she can cut through anything with her sharp edges. Even feet look like they can be used as a pair of blades. Her four back legs are sharp as a sword. Instead of forming a cape, they curl forward. The helmet crown she wears has sharp angles and narrow slits for her eyes and mouth.
Shelby transforms into the most personified form of the evolving spiders. Her dark brown face resembles many similar features to the goblin, and even her ears take the long and wide goblin appearance. Vibrant white hair flows past her shoulders, stopping just below her shoulder blades. Her diamond hair hugs tightly to her body that looks like it is covered in tight leather armor. No pauldrons rest upon her shoulders, nor does she have four legs tucked behind her back. Instead, the extra legs hug her arms and her legs. Her black crown nearly shines against her white hair.
Standing amongst his queens, he feels a power like he has never felt. His arms and legs feel like they can fight and respond quickly to his thoughts. His body feels like it can take any hit without breaking — though he feels quick enough that he can dodge most of the hits. His brain feels sharper than ever. Already he can see what the spiders need and how to best use them. His soul…his soul feels nearly complete.
He absorbs the rest of the life orb. His soul expands, pushing past the limits of his first layer and filling the second layer of his soul with life mana. Mana continues to fill his core creating a reservoir of power. At the page rank, he is now leagues ahead of the runts he was raised with. His rank is even higher than many of the common clan members.
Life mana courses through his body without a thought. He can feel the energy actively healing and strengthening his body.
His perception is now acutely aware of the life that surrounds him. More than that, he feels the bonds with his spiders giving him greater power. His mind fills with spells that he was unaware of. He is strong and invulnerable. At any moment, he can shift his body into hardened armor. He understands how to move and fight. Blades can be summoned from his hands that are sharp enough to slice rocks.
Above all, his mind expands. He learns more about the spiders, how they function, what they need, and want. Their history flashes in his mind, how they were stagnating with their former queen, and how the queen abandoned them when a source of power was in their grasp. He feels their pain of betrayal and slaughter. He learns how to connect to all the spiders and bind them.
Standing before his queens and the bowing eighteen-hundred spiders, power courses through him. This army is his. He will be their leader, their king… their god. Stretching his arms, he lets the life energy channel outside his body. The yellow mana forms a barrier around him, creating a spectacle.
"Do you swear to serve me?" He presents the choice before the host of spiders in the way he learned from Shelby.
We will serve only you. The legion of spiders responds in unison with their intent. The words are not spoken or heard, only felt.
His next question makes him uncomfortable. He doesn’t want to ask it but knows it’s what the spiders demand of him. They want a god, and through a god, they want to progress. The former queen did not fulfill this need. Although he is hesitant, he will not waste this opportunity. "Do you swear to worship me?"
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We will worship only you.
"Then stand and bind your life to me," he commands as a god.
The legion of spiders rises as one. The mana surrounding him slowly expands. It covers his queens first. They bow their heads under the power and stand firm. The mana barrier continues to grow.
It covers three hundred spiders. They begin to transform as they bow their heads and accept the power. Their rank rises from common to greater, and they all take on the appearance of Shelby's greater form. Their size reduces, and their hairs develop a diamond coating.
The life barrier covers another six hundred spiders creating the sword form of Trish. Fangs become razors, their bodies are angular, and their four mid-legs become sword-like. Similarly, another six-hundred spiders transform into Gwen's spider shield form. The remaining three hundred spiders look like copies of Diti's greater herald form.
When the last of the spiders finish evolving, the life barrier collapses. He can feel the strain on his core and mana. His core is practically empty. The effort nearly causes him to collapse. More strain is added when the spiders bind their lives to him. They are now his, and he can feel their undying worship for him. He is their god.
"Shelby, divide the spiders into six equal platoons. Each platoon will be divided into fifty squads. I want two swords, two shields, one spinner, and one commander in each squad.
"Yes, Lord." Before Shelby's response ends, the spiders begin organizing themselves.
What he thought would be a chaotic and complicated process is done within a minute. Before him stands six platoons of spiders. Each platoon is further segmented into fifty squads.
"Shelby, you have command of three platoons. I want your spiders to explore the surrounding forest."
Yes, Lord. The Regent walks over to the three platoons on the right side of the lair. She hovers her hand before them. As her hand passes by the spiders, they bow their heads, and the bottom of their bodies turn purple.
"Trish, you will command two platoons. Bring me life."
It will be done, Lord. Trish seemingly glides to the two platoons directly in front of them. She raises her six-bladed arms in the air. As our Lord commands, we will hunt. Six hundred spiders lift their now red front four legs in the air and hiss in agreement.
"Shelby, you will command our guard legions. Keep us safe."
It is my honor to protect, Lord. The Shield walks to the left of the lair and claims the last platoon of spiders. She crosses her shields and holds them until the spiders of her platoon cross their leg. As they do so, their black hair fibers turn a shade of dark blue, matching Gwen's armor.
"Diti, keep them connected."
Of course, my Lord. The Herald appears to float to the four queens and places her hand on each chest. We are connected. She says as she walks back to her Lord's side.
Diti, you are to stay by me and keep me informed. Shelby, Trish, and Gwen, it is time. Serve me well. Each queen bows their head in response. Without another word or delay, the queens and their platoons leave the lair.
****
The druid wakes to an overbearing amount of information being sent into his mind. Standing by his resting spot, Diti is pulling in life energy that webs from her body. Connecting him to the Herald is a thicker, more visible strand of energy.
From the connection, he absorbs all the information about the surrounding environment. Outside of the spider cave is a dense forest. So thick is the overgrowth that the sun does not shine on the forest floor. Despite the lack of light, numerous plants, weeds, vines, and bacteria still grow.
Even in all his experience learning and exploring back home, he never experienced an abundance of growth like this. This forest is starving to death.