Chapter 25: Ring of Fire

Several zerg queens surrounded a wounded creature. It struggled as the queens fussed over and held it down as they tried to do what was only natural. Kay, on the other hand, was not enjoying this treatment. "Virid! When you said that you would heal my wounds when I returned, I didn't expect all these other queens to join in!"

Kay was pressed down as he was sprayed with healing fluids produced from the nearby queens. One of them spoke. "The laser wall is going to dismantle our established territory on the surface. We must proceed with urgency."

What would normally have taken a few minutes for Kay's body to restore itself, the queens, and Virid, had shortened that time to several seconds. Those seconds would have been even fewer if Kay didn't struggle as much. Once the queens were done, Kay stood up and wiped the transfused fluids off of his carapace. His arms, wings, and leg, had fully grown back to what they normally looked like, completely healed from Gollog's unusually strong slashing attacks. After experimentally clenching his new hands and flexing his new wings, Kay huffed. "I was hoping we had more time. I wanted Corvurn to see what was wrong with the infected overlord."

Virid crawled up to Kay as the queens left to tend the bio-structures and other zerg organisms. Virid bowed. "Corvurn had already left our hive-cluster base on another overlord. He will meet with the infected overlord and travel to the hexagon moon. I believe it will be there that Corvurn will have all the peace he needs to analyze what you have referred as 'the anti-zerg contagion'."

Kay raised his eyebrow. "Oh. Kay. I was kind of worried that Corvurn would not have access to that infected overlord, due to the laser wall in the way. But that kind of raises another question. How far does this laser wall penetrate into the earth?"

Virid huffed. "Several meters. The nydus worms on the surface is getting roasted into oblivion, but everything else deeper below ground is safe."

Kay felt relief pouring into him. "By that much, huh? Oh! Well I'm kind of glad then. Good thing, that. Means we don't have to worry about our underground expansions getting too glassed."

"Gollog doesn't know that we are expanding underground."

Kay nodded his head and smirked. "Then we'll just have to speed up our underground expansion efforts. Have the ultralisks assist the roaches in digging, and have them be guarded with banelings in case we encounter a shryik serpent nest, or a territory belonging to them. Also, the banelings would be very helpful in getting rid of debris without risking a tunnel or cavern collapse, so I suggest using them."

Virid nodded and bowed. "Our accelerant production may recede slightly, but it shall be done."

"Well there's that, but there is also one more issue to deal with."

Virid tilted her head. "And what is that?"

Kay sighed, turning around and approaching the underground tower. "We have to tell Kragnon about the situation we are in."

"Gods-damn it, Kay." Kragnon said, face-palming and laying his face on the table in the council room. Kay had ran through the stairways and met up with Kragnon to alert him of the deteriorating situation. It would have been so much easier to infest Kragnon and give him the information by telepathy, but some people would insist on prefering to not become an infested zerg organism. After finding Kragnon in the council chamber and explaining the situation to him, he seemed... more strained than usual.

But Kay shrugged and shook his head, sitting across from Kragnon. "I know that it's a bit sudden, but please know that you might have to be moved when the time comes. You are clearly an important piece to this war, and I can't let you die because of the possibility of Gollog wanting you alive, or something else relating to you."

Kragnon sighed, then gestured toward Kay. "Kay. Let me give you this analogy. You have disrespected Emperor Gollog several times now, and each time you expect nothing bad to occur afterwards. But instead, you're actions, mannerisms, and behavior to Gollog is very much like a man disrespecting a god. Provided, Gollog might not be a god, but I do believe that Gollog is simply not someone you'd want to cross without expecting serious repercussions."

Kay sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Now you tell me."

Kragnon stared at Kay for a fifth of a minute before sighing. "But with that said, you seem to be incredibly competent with his powers."

"Competent? I don't have a defense against his beamy sun attack thing."

"I know I know. BUT." Kragnon said, raising a finger to Kay. "You have been doing a lot of excavating and creating a lot of underground tunnels recently. You have completely avoided getting yourself cornered in this scenario."

Kay had suddenly fell backwards in his chair. "Gh! You... Knew about that?"

"Well of course. I saw your little monsters dig and swim through the sand like water, so it's to be expected that you would gain new territories by expanding your nests further underground. I don't mean any disrespect to you, but you are about as bad as a shryik serpent infestation in your tactics, but much more dangerous in your prolific breeding and lethal abilities. The fact that you can replace your lost units using what little resources you can scrounge up from the dead, or even the metal of their technology, or through the processes of your unique zerg nature and however a manifestation altar incorporates into it, you have definitely proven yourself to be more of a threat to this world than Gollog ever could."

Kay stood up and set the chair he had fallen from upright, then looked at Kragnon. "So... Does this mean you don't cotton to my zerg tactics?"

Kragnon pleaded his fingers and leaned forward. "The gilanian people have to decide their own fates, after they realize that the system of living that they are being subjected to is disastrous for our culture. Hundreds of years of history has determined that a tyrant in power would lead to folly and destruction. Gollog is about as dangerous an enemy as they come, and he will stop at nothing to gain everything with the support of the population backing him. But then, there is you."

Kay felt like he didn't like where this was going. "Me?"

"You don't need the voice of the gilanian people to draw on. You have your zerglings, your Virid, your Corvurn, and your... your other zerg creatures. They have displayed a power several times over that could thwart Gollog's army, despite their animalistic tendencies and surprising lack of technology. It's obvious to me now that, if you'd wanted, I and everyone on Kiln would be hunted to extinction.

"But I know you well enough, Kay." Kragnon said, sighing. "You seem like the kind of guy that wouldn't go out of his way to kill someone if it was either an accident that had set you off, or when an apology was given after the transgression. That, and you seem like the kind of guy that can also keep most of his promises. With that said, I only want to know one thing."

"... What is that?" Kay asked.

Kragnon leaned forward. "Do I need to take my jaw cleaner with me once we begin our escape?"

Kay snorted and smiled. "I think preparing a bug-out bag might be a good idea for you. But first, you might want to learn how to use a nydus worm."

Kragnon blinked. He looked as though he didn't like where this was going.

The wall of death that descended from the sun was slowly eating the sand and creep it moved over. Several scores and waves of zerg tried to run past the wall of laser, but they instantly turned to nothing the moment they entered the wall. The mutalisks and corruptors ascended, as though they believed that the sun itself was the cause for the zerg's current problem, and in such beliefs attempted to attack the sun itself. Kay would not know how far the air-strains would go, but their deaths were completely unavoidable.

Many of the many remaining ground strains had to retreat to the safety of the underground, using the nydus worms to transport themselves to the safety of the underground village. The ring of crawlers, both of the spine and spore varieties, were unable to maintain their positions, or use the established nydus worms. They uprooted themselves and scuttled to the only entrance into the underground, which was the red cave next to the freshwater spring.

Several of the spine and spore crawlers rushed into the cave, but there were simply too many that were trying to find refuge from an inescapable fate. Even the roaches tried to widen the tunnels that allowed the crawlers a means for a safe passage, which allowed the crawlers to trickle through the tunnels more and more. But it was already too late. Less than a quarter of the crawler population survived, but the remaining three quarters perished as the laser wall closed over the tunnel and destroyed the entrance.

Midday quickly approached, and the crawler population on the ground suffered greatly. Even the flying organisms that tried to fly to the sun and fight it were quickly being killed as the laser wall contracted in size. Several of the flying zerg organisms died in a line in quick rapidity as the laser wall no longer became hollow, with the few remaining spine and spore crawlers dying simultaneously.

After the barrage of lasers had completely cleared away the spine crawlers, spore crawlers, the creep, and the bio-structures of the zerg, several desert platforms, dune boats, and sand-boarders from the Crescent Arms Division populated the immediate area. The sand-boarders had gas masks on their faces as they carried with them several seismic sensor javelins on their backs or in their arms. They jabbed these sensors into the ground, while the soldiers on the dune boats deployed automated turrets that had enough firepower to strike at any underground targets. Some of the arriving gilanians' armor were also colored strangely. The silver and blue uniformed soldiers, belonging to the Crescent Arms Division, were assisted by grey and yellow uniformed soldiers that were setting up unusual, elongated oval devices that seem to have a circular hole at one end. The grey and yellow uniformed soldiers bared the color scheme of the Torus Chain Division.

One of the soldiers on the field called out to the other soldiers. "Hang on, dudes. Sensor equipment is sensing jag movement. Notify command that there is still zerg infestation here."

"JAG OVER THERE! OPEN FIRE!"

A zergling poked its head out of the rubble in the mouth of the ruined red cave, which had sunken into the ground slightly. It quickly retreated when guns began firing, its face and eyes ruined by the sudden concentrated fire. Once the gilanians stopped their firing, they continued to set up additional sensors and automated turrets around the ruined cave entrance, turning it into a bottle-neck that would kill any small zerg organisms that would dare exit the partially destroyed passage.

"Looks like a blade hound still lived." "Command, be advised. The source of the zerg infestation is coming from underground. One of our men confirms that a blade hound emerged from what used to be a cave, possibly leading to an underground network." [Understood. Have the Torus Chain enforcers set up their defenses around any areas where the zerg organisms might pop up from. After that, an infiltration team consisting of magic armor specialists, assisted by magic siege wall tech, shall infiltrate into the cave entry point, which shall be dubbed 'Entrance 1'. Await further orders.] "Acknowledged, command. Over and out."

The gilanian soldiers had set up several sensors, automated turrets, and more of the elongated ovals near the ruined cave entrance that had turned into partial rubble. Other gilanians with heavy weapons took positions as they aimed their guns toward the ruined cave entrance, their keen eyes looking for any signs of zerg activity. A roach tried to exit the cave, but the plethora of turrets quickly killed the burrowing organism. It was obvious that this elite group of gilanians were meant to destabilize the established zerg territory and prevent their further growth.

A few minutes later, Kralluf, Faddoh, and another gilanian individual that was tall and wearing an intricate uniform, colored gray and yellow with a design similar to Kralluf's armor, entered the scene. Kralluf and the newcomer coughed a few times, whilst Faddoh shook his head. "Kralluf, Ralkan, I told you two to wear the safety breathers."

"GHUH~! Smells like the inside of a burnt shryik serpent's asshole!" Kralluf exclaimed.

"Language, Kralluf. *COUGH*" The one who was supposedly named Ralkan said.

Kralluf turned to Ralkan, baring his teeth and rolling his eyes. "Kiss my cloaca and fuck right off."

Faddoh face-palmed, using his mechanical hands that would smack onto his LED face, making it static a little. "Ooohhh, I knew it was a bad idea to put you two together. What was Pallax thinking?"

Ralkan shook his head, then gestured to the both of them. "Well we have this area contained, thanks to Emperor Gollog's divine wrath. I read your reports on these monsters, and have I got to say: They are fearsome foes."

Kralluf growled. "No shit, 'Detective Obvious'. They managed to muscle through the three thousand desert platform perimeter defense that was supposed to keep them contained. But somehow, the little monsters made short work of the defense in such a short time, and I have deeply receded in public interest because of it."

Faddoh shook his head. "Public interest should be of no concern to you. Especially when you can recreate the desert platforms with the oversized manifestation altars I had recently invented. It shouldn't be a problem for you to supply more desert platforms for your soldiers, Kralluf."

Kralluf faced Faddoh and pointed at his LED face. "First off, motherfucker, that damn thing takes too much energy to operate, and I would need to resort to outsourcing power from the neighboring settlements for it to operate fully. Secondly, there has been an influx of gilanian espionage agents that have been trying to get into our ranks and trying to figure out what the hell is happening at Red Mountain. Our prolonged involvement here is becoming a topic of discussion for both newscasters from our empire, and nonaligned gilanian factions. We can't pretend that the zerg are just some animals anymore! They are guided by their bug-man beast-master named Kay, and we need to exterminate them, and him, now!"

Ralkan shook his head and stepped forward. "Kralluf, please be patient. The Torus Chain Division will ensure that this area is properly contained." Ralkan said, trying to reassure the commander of the Crescent Arms Division.

Kralluf turned back to Ralkan and sneered. "Then I wager a hundred gallons that something new and ugly will come out of that cave before the day is even over."

Ralkan chuckled softly whilst Faddoh got between him and Kralluf. "Don't forget that my research team has ended up dead due to their valiant sacrifice in sending us vital information on these monsters." Kralluf said. "They are very adaptable, and we must be cautious on whatever attack that we employ against them. Chances are, they will try and double their efforts in a counter-attack, and we must predict whatever counter-attack they might employ against us. If we keep that in mind, then our focused efforts here will surely eradicate this foe."

Ralkan nodded knowingly, while Kralluf snorted and turned away from Faddoh and Ralken. "My operations have gone on long enough here anyway. Once Pallax sends me off somewhere, I'll be happier for it." Growled Kralluf.

"Hey! Can you issue a ceasefire?! I want to talk to you guys!" A voice shouted.

A clawed hand reached out of the ruined cave entrance, waving slowly and trying to catch the attention of those around itself.

A soldier saw the clawed hand. "ZERG JAG!"

Bullets started flying at the cave entrance. Kralluf turned around and shouted. "CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!"

After half a minute of weapons ceasing their firing, the same clawed hand came back out and waved again. "Uh... Are you cease-firing now?! I don't want to get a bullet in my face if this becomes a useless gesture!"

Kralluf, Ralkan, and Faddoh blinked a few times. Kralluf turned to one of his nearby officers. "Set a no-fire zone of ten meters diameter in front of Entrance 1, and program that into the automated turrets."

One of Kralluf's officers nodded and ran with purpose, whilst Ralkan stared angrily at Kralluf. "Kralluf! What are you doing?!"

"The enemy zerg leader is a smart one, Ralkan." Kralluf explained. "Plus, when he wants to talk, he won't be too committed to attack someone unless he's been intentionally attacked first. At least, I believe in that theory to some degree." He looked over to where one of his officers was performing his task. It looks like he already told the turret programmer to input new firing conditions to their turrets. After being given a thumbs up from his officer, Kralluf nodded and turned to the cave entrance that had been turned to slightly more rubble. "ALRIGHT KAY, HERE'S THE DEAL! THE TURRETS HAVE GIVEN YOU A NO-FIRE ZONE OF TEN METERS DIAMETER IN FRONT OF YOUR DOORSTEP! DEVIATION FROM YOUR PROVIDED NO-FIRE ZONE WOULD RESULT IN HEAVY REPERCUSSIONS! UNDERSTAND?!"

A bone-winged zerg organism popped his head out from the rubble, and then cleared a way in the rocks so that he could walk toward Kralluf. Or at least as close as he could get before he would get shot by the turrets. He then stood there, waving his hand. "Hello there!"

"That's the bug-man beast-master?" Ralkan pointed out, seemingly impressed by the turn of events, and impressed by seeing the supposed co-commander of the zerg swarm with his own eyes.

Kralluf stepped forward and stood five meters away from the zerg organism. After breathing in deeply and sighing, Kralluf grunted. "Well, here we are again. Is there something you want to discuss with us?"

"Sure." Kay said. "Gollog is a completely clodded scummy cunt anyway."

Kralluf reared his head back and stared, as though perplexed at Kay' insult. "... I think that's the first time I ever heard that kind of insult directed at Emperor Gollog."

"Well, he did torch the entirety of my creep fields, and now I am completely without any surface forces to chase you guys out of my property. I think I am well within the right to badmouth him." Kay said, crossing his arms.

Kralluf scoffed. "Well you certainly have a certain dislike for him, that's for sure."

Kay leaned to his side and he saw two other commanders. He raised his hand and called to them. "Hey! Can I talk with you guys too?! Come over, and I promise I won't bite you!" Faddoh mechanically strode over, sporting new copper armor plates and appearing to have a new weapon on his left arm. Ralkan walked behind Faddoh, and was careful in his approach. Once they were closer, Kay nodded. "Good, good. Now that I have all three commanders of the different branches lending me their ears, I guess we can discuss this peace trade in a civilized manner."

"Peace trade?!" Kralluf barked. Faddoh and Ralkan looked at each other in surprise.

Kay nodded. "Yeah. Is it really that odd that I want to have a peace trade? Hmm. Anyway, Gollog tried to offer me a peace trade. But his attempt to broker a truce failed, since he didn't have the means to grant my only desire that I wanted to trade for, at the time."

Ralkan peered from Faddoh's bulky copper armor, a concerned look on his face. "I didn't know Emperor Gollog tried to offer you a truce."

Kay smiled at Ralkan and Faddoh. "Oh. I do believe this is the first time we met, right? You must be Faddoh, and you must be Ralkan. Kay. Good to meet you finally."

Ralkan huddled behind Faddoh, whilst Faddoh crossed his arms and furrowed his LED brow. "How do you know about us? Do you have some means of access to the information network?"

Kay clapped his hands and smiled. "I do, actually. Found an amazing amount of cool stuff I learned from your culture. Also, a lot of useless stuff that doesn't interest me. Apparently, there are 55 populated areas whose populations are inhabited by gilanians? ... Ahahah, well... Technically 54, since I now inhabit the underground village of the Hidden Water Spring Tribe. Apparently, Gollog has been trying to find this place, yet had the misfortune of coming across me of all people."

Faddoh and Ralkan remained silent, staring wide-eyed at the bipedal zerg organism. Kralluf grumbled and started speaking again. "So that's how you learned of our defenses. Information gathering from our network. Sounds like there is an underground cable that connects to a proxy transmitter somewhere."

"More or less." Kay said, shrugging.

"Care to explain the 'more or less' part in that statement?" Kralluf questioned.

"And give away my only advantage to learning about the cultures of this world? No thanks." Kay said, crossing his arms again.

Kralluf huffed. Faddoh decided to cut into the conversation. "Well, can you tell us about your 'zerg culture' then? Assuming that you even have one."

Kay mulled it over for a few seconds before nodding. "I guess I can tell you a little bit about the zerg. To start us off, the zerg fly from planet to planet, eating the resources of each world and infesting the living organisms on them. The zerg search for DNA that can improve our different zerg castes. They are generally a freaky, creepy, and horrifying bunch of collective organisms that strives for the journey of genetic perfection, and we do that by pitting ourselves into hostile environments, war zones, and hazardous conditions."

"Planet? A world other than Kiln?" Faddoh said aloud, putting a copper hand to his chin. "But the veil prevents intruders from entering our planet's orbit, and the veil also prevents anyone of this world from leaving our planet's orbit. How did you get here?"

Kay hand-waved. "Oh, some stupid scientists or whatever saved my ass, and my zerg organisms broke me and themselves out of their research facility. It's thanks to them that a zerg organism turned me into who I am now, but that's enough explanation about my history on this world. Can we go back to discussing about a possible truce, or maybe have a peace trade instead?"

Faddoh and Ralkan looked at each other in further confusion. Kralluf sighed. "What the hell do you want for the peace trade?"

Kay smiled and nodded. "I think we can make a bargain. Give me some space and let me figure out on my own on how to leave your planet. Do that for me, and I won't kill everyone on this world."

Kralluf and Ralkan stepped back, but Faddoh simply chuckled. "Ha ha ha ha ha~! Such a strange thing to trade! We wouldn't be able to profit from such a bargain! How about we offer a bargain of our own, yes? Here's my haggle. Allow one of your creatures to be in my care, for harmless study purposes you see, and I will pull my forces out of your territory."

Kralluf came up to Faddoh and punched his shoulder. "Are you fucking mad?! There's no way we're going to let him and his zerg monsters do the fuck they want while we do nothing!"

"That is correct, Kralluf."

Faddoh, Ralkan, and Kralluf turned to see their emperor walking towards them. Kay was surprised by this turn of events. He instantly changed his tone to callous anger. "And you're back." Kay said, scowling. "Didn't know you had more of those projectors available to you."

Gollog snarled. "They are my dream-light hover-bots, you floundering, repugnant insect."

"And you're a clodded scummy cunt" Kay retorted.

Gollog blinked a few times and paused for a couple seconds. "... What is a cunt?"

Kay rolled his eyes at the immortal emperor's response. "Well, that word has different uses. One, it can be used as a word of positive sense in a joking, jovial, even teasing, manner. But in the way I am using it, ho ho, think of it like the ultimate swear to use on special occasions. Like when you find someone you truly hate and despise."

Gollog's eyes widened and stared at Kay for a long time. He sighed and furrowed his brows some seconds afterwards. "I swear, every time we meet, you become worse with every dialogue exchange."

Kay raised his hand and pointed at Gollog. "Leave me alone like I had asked you to, and this wouldn't be happening."

Gollog shook his head, crossing his arms and tapping his opalescent gauntlet's fingers. "I'm afraid it is far to late to leave you alone now, Kay. I am already receiving reports of your zerg monsters running past and beyond the borders of your 'territory'. It's only a matter of time before we are overrun, and I must put a stop to you before that happens. With that said, however... DIVINE SMITE!" Gollog said, pointing at Kay. A beam of light, originating from Kiln's sun, struck Kay and made him disappear with an impressive flash of burning, bright light.

Kralluf, Faddoh, and Ralkan stepped back several feet as the blinding heat washed over the area. "Fucking damn, Gollog! Warn us before you vaporize someone!" Kralluf complained loudly.

Gollog turned to face Kralluf, who had exclaimed against the use of his holy powers. "I shall forgive your ignorant shouting, and order you to hunt down any and all zerg organisms that has escaped the smiting sweep. Faddoh, you are to put a forward base here, and try to gain as much information about the zerg. Ralkan, supply more defenses to this area. I don't want these monsters breaching our perimeter containment this time."

The three commanders bowed. "Yes my lord." "Yes my lord." "Yes my lord."

"That hurt."

All three commanders, and an emperor, hurriedly turned to see that Kay was completely okay! Gollog stared wide-eyed at the unharmed zerg organism. "...B. B. B-B-B-BUT I WATCHED YOU DISINTEGRATE!"

Kay crossed his arms. Kay was thankful that changelisks could be used as doubles that can perfectly mimic his image. "And since you tried to kill me again, my peace trade will not be given. I wanted all of you to take your time and leave before nightfall comes, but it looks like I will just have to unleash my fury."

Gollog smiled, chuckled, and then outright laughed at Kay. "HA HA HA HA HA, FURY!? You have NOTHING that can harm me! NOTHING! What makes you think you can amount ANY form of aggressive emotion to wound my immortality?!"

Kay opened his arms outward toward Gollog, staring intently at the emperor. "Then with rage as sharp as a razor, I will be the fiend that will rewrite your foundations."

A rumble could be heard below the ground. It grew and grew till it became an uproarious cacophony that prevented raised voices from being heard. Even a few of the sensors and automated turrets had fallen over during the earthquake. But it was no ordinary earthquake.

The rubble at the ruined cave entranced danced around, and then flew outward when the most dangerous monster in the zerg's current arsenal emerged from the cave, ruining its entrance even further. A hulking monster, the ultralisk, growled and rushed at the gilanian soldiers present. The soldiers saw the beast and screamed as they started to run away for their dear lives. The turrets barked noisily at the gigantic organism, but their stinging shots proved only to enrage the beast even further. Its Kaiser blades slashed forward at incredible speeds, knocking and cutting several of the turrets and seismic sensors down.

Gollog stepped back as he witnessed a new monstrosity before him. Kralluf and Ralkan had the right idea to make good on their escape and flee the immediate area, disappearing in the crowds that would retreat to their desert platforms. Faddoh stood still as he stared, perplexed, at the new zerg organism that he had not seen yet. "In...cre...di...ble..." Faddoh was promptly stomped on as he stood there, awestruck. He became flattened by the ultralisk's attack.

Once Gollog regained his senses, he pointed at the huge beast. "DIVINE SMITE!" Kiln's sun shot yet another beam of death, which struck the ultralisk's body. The damage was slower than normal, thanks to the chitinous plating that enabled it to live longer. It didn't flinch as it was being vaporized by the smiting beam as it continued to use its Kaiser blades on its nearest targets. The ultralisk continued its rampage for thirty more seconds before it was finally brought down. It gurgled its last breath before it slowly dissolved under the harsh light. After a heated battle that lasted for what felt like an eternity, Gollog turned to Kay with rage filled eyes.

Kay still had his arms spread wide open, and his expression was emotionless.

Gollog strode angrily forward and clasped his hands around Kay's neck. "STOP BREAKING MY THINGS! STOP BEING SO DIFFICULT! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME! STOP IT!"

Kay looked down on Gollog, baring his teeth and growling. "You have chosen your fate poorly."

It was then that several ultralisks emerged from the hole in the ground that used to be the cave entrance. They all roared and stampeded forward, soon to be joined by more ultralisks and other zerg strains.

A/N: Ultralisks. Hell yeah. :3