Argoush was far from the norm in this rampage, villages, forests, hidden caves, and colonies of insects were overrun in minutes as the Swarm's Units rampaged throughout the Chilvalean plains. There was only one place where any real resistance took place and that was in a town called Vatn at the edge of Mar's reach. Three hundred Soldiers had managed to break into the town and were busy devouring the inhabitants when a noticeable charge built up in the air.

The primitive beings had only enough time to look up into the sky and watch lightning building up in the sky as a single female figure descended like a calling comet down on them and wiped out the entire contingent of Soldiers and Fungal Zombies in less than five seconds as with her crash...came the lightning.

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Mar was held in a moment of stasis, a battle of magic and faith where magic had won. They had capitulated rather than destroying themselves in the process of trying to break free from the edict holding them in place. As far as their physical condition, the impromptu and involuntary vessel that Mar had been placed in had been warped from a long fish into some kind of fleshy imitation of a plant. Envy had become a hug and partially melted blob of flesh that was primarily brainmatter that had stuck itself to the floor of the throne room.

Through the half-melted eyes of their host, Mar could see their antagonist floating over to caress the top of their vessel. Tyrama leaned forward to whisper to Mar in a soft purr that was so sickeningly smug that Mar wanted to reach out and strangle her.

"I told you, you would make an exception for me."

"What...do you want."

Mar could barely make the body they were forced to inhabit to gurgle out the required sounds, but despite the gutteral quality of the sounds Tyrama's growing grin made it clear that she perfectly understood them and she replied.

"I know what you are now, you are a thing of the oldest stories. So old that even the most ancient of my kind who lived before some of us went to live in the sea would struggle to remember you. You are like the Plague of Stone. Annihilation made flesh, an end to all things who have come here again. And...I can sense that you are more than even that."

"Plague...of Stone?"

"Why? Did you think you were the first to come here? I don't know who was foolish enough to summon you here, but that is no matter now. We will bargain and then I will be so magnanimous to kindly release you back out into the world."

Mar was glad that their host had no face as they reeled from the revalation that had been so casually dropped, there had been another Conquest Seed in this world. If they could find their remnants maybe that would be a way to leapfrog up a few Ranks. Before Mar could be absorbed into pondering the implications of this, Tyrama gently nudged their form with their sheer...presence and continued her speech.

"You will not win, I may have only beat you due to circumstances but I know how these stories go. The world will be united against you, the pantheons will raid your divine domain, the great spirit kings will guide Shamans and those attuned to them against you. Rulers will be forged into Heroes and Icons from the pressure you will apply to them, and then all of these forces will defeat you. My demands are simple. You will not destroy this creature you are now stuck in, you will withdraw from the sea and my city and trouble me no further. In return I will release my hold on you here, and when you are inevitably beaten you will have sanctuary here. I can always use a weapon like you, and I think you will find permanent servitude to me more....preferable than your destruction."

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"And if we don't?"

"Then I will drag you into this one before you can destroy them and extend your imprisoning here until the world above has turned to dust. As the ruler of this city my point of view matters the most, and if I want time to move slower for my daughter's familiar? Then so be it."

Mar wanted to destroy this impudent...individual. A single spec of an organism dared to threaten them, him, the Sovereign Swarm. Mar had the memories of millions of lifeforms within her and this little woman thought she could just waltz up to them and NEGOTIATE. If it were not for their disadvantaged situation they would continue the struggle no matter what the cost was, but a wiser part of Mar. One that probably was the seed that grew into the Logistics-Collective: Patience. Even magically binding promises would be rendered meaningless given enough time. And when that time came, Mar would ensure that this place and all of it's people suffered the consequences of their ruler's actions.

"We...accept."

Tyrama's smug grin somehow grew even wider as she beamed at them. Her hand moving down to the center of their mass.

"Splendid. As ruler and subject our compact is now law. Now, little weapon. I will permit you to leave my presence and go out into the world to continue your mischief and mayhem, and remember. I will await you coming to me after your defeat and open my gate to you. There will always be a use for you."

She then casually pushed Envy's body and with the push she sent Mar tumbling out of the singular vessel and out into their swarm. Mar's divine form appeared tumbling out of a portal and into their divine realm, the Collectives spontaneously came back into shape around their existing structures where it was applicable. The Antmite General had once again lost thousands, but in turn he had earned millions. As the Swarm reeled from their ordeal, and Estellia flew over to advice the core of them. Notifications started appearing before Mar.

* Congratulations: You have reached tier 18

* Your Mastery has increased from 10 to 16

* Your Resilience has increased from 10 to 18

* Trait: Inventive: Your Subjects and Units are now far more capable of using their environment in battle and will attempt new strategies unprompted. Has been Gained.

* Tait: Chrono-Resistant. You are resistant to time effects both magical and mundane. Has been Gained.

* Power: Honey Trap: Conjure a wave or stream of supremely sticky honey that can both be consumed and used to restrict the mobility of your foes. Has been Gained.

* Unit/Blueprint Type Discovered: Bio-Electricity Coil

* Bio-Electricity Coils are reptilian beings made into living defensive turrets who generate electricity to be blasted out at your foes.

* Unit Type Discovered: Sky Soldiers

* Sky Soldiers are a sub-species variant of the regular Soldiers who embody the original bees that the Swarm as partially made from. They are built to fight in the sky.

"Tesla Coils? How about that."

Mar couldn't help but muse out loud as the information passed through their minds, and then the Sovereign Swarm got back to work. With new information, a fresh perspective, and a burning need to avenge a humilation.