Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here, and I am back with an update on the story!
But before you all begin, I've got another important announcement. If you're all aware that I posted two separate prologues of two future stories.
Well, I've decided that I will be posting a chapter on those two separate stories, and hope that all of you will know what I plan on doing in the future.
And lastly, I have something important to ask you all after you reached the end of this update.
That is all I have to say, and enjoy what I've made!
Western Colony Bar...
After Nadia handled the Demon Lord's underlings and persuaded the employees of the bar that she is on their side. She established a two-way link to teleport her group into the tavern as it will serve as their base of operation.
Moments later, Osman and his group soon arrived and glanced around. Only to be filled with disdain by the tavern's purpose.
"To think they forced our people to create such a place is wasteful," Osman bitterly remarked,
"And here I thought you all drink?" Nadia said,
"We don't," Osman sternly responded, "Our people never really cared for this custom since it was deemed a foreign custom than a traditional one. Also, we prefer something sweeter, and flavorful than whatever this bar has to offer,"
"I think I know where you're getting at," Nadia said, "But now is not the time. Our first order of business is to clean this place up, my magic will extinguish the smell and blood. But bodies are a different matter,"
"We would like to help you if we can," The Bartender Ant volunteered, "Since your people are bent on helping, we wish to repay you with our services,"
"You aren't soldiers, but your assistance is greatly appreciated," Nadia thanked,
Thus, they got to work on setting up this tavern as their base or operation. As Nadia worked on extinguishing the smell and blood, she couldn't help but feel a bit bothered by the sounds of the ants crunching away on the deceased underlings.
She knew about their biology, yet she felt uncomfortable as they gnaw on flesh and bone. After covering up the smell, she decided to go to the counter and waited for the ants to finish their meals since they often leave a lot of blood littered on the ground.
As she turned her sights to a keg filled with alcohol, she decided to do a simple taste test by grabbing a jug, pouring some of the keg's contents in, and stared at the bubbly sight of the alcohol.
First, she smells the alcohol, then tastes it. One sip was enough for her to retch in disgust before setting it down on the counter.
'Osman's right, This is distasteful. I wonder how these underlings managed to stomach it,' Nadia remarked,
[I can give you the details of the drink. If you like]
'Forget it,' Nadia said, 'I wouldn't want this drink accessible to me, or my people in a long shot,'
[Wise Choice]
After hours of eating the corpses, Nadia proceeded in cleaning the blood with [Blood Absorption] Skill. A Spell that belonged to an old acquaintance of hers.
Soon afterward, she proceeds with the next part of her liberation plan.
Nadia sends a quick message to the two other groups as well as asks for a status update on their end.
On Reese and Willow's side, they encountered a few monsters that may have wandered into their position. But it was nothing that they can't handle.
Especially when the monsters they kill are equal to the supplies they bring.
Once that was done, she orders Osman and his group to gather around and formulates the next phase of the plan.
"Now that we've established some ground in enemy territory, our next move is clear this colony of enemies," Nadia stated, "That way, we can gather the others here and liberate this colony,"
"If you're going to gather your soldiers here, why not assault the main colony now?" Osman inquired,
"We can't," Nadia said, "Unless we want to drag a lot of attention to ourselves. As such, we must clear this colony of any and all hostiles. That way, the enemy will not know what hit him,"
"But what if they sent someone to check this colony?" Shakir questioned,
"That's easy," Nadia responded, then used a certain spell in mind,
In a matter of minutes, the underlings that she killed had manifested much to everyone's surprise.
"You used a spell to bring them back," Osman said,
"Not entirely," Nadia specified, "They may look alive, but those are the souls of the underlings that I killed. Quite close to ghosts, if you ask,"
Nassor approached one of the underlings, and waved his hand through one of them. This reveals that underlings are indeed ghosts as his hand went through their bodies.
"This is good and all, but wouldn't this intangibility give it all away?" Shakir mentioned,
"Yes, but in order to do just that, we will need a lot of living vessels," Nadia revealed, "And using what we have is not an option,"
"I-I have a suggestion," An Ant Waitress spoked, and all eyes were on her, "I've overheard some discussion that the colony's Evolutionist is locked away is some cell made by the Demon Lord's Subordinate. P-Perhaps he could be of use to your plans,"
"Evolutionist?" Nadia parroted,
"They are exclusive ants specifically made by our queens to improve our physiology and combat ability," Osman explained, "After the Demon Lord conquered the Western Regions, most of them were forced into hiding while the rest are either killed or enslaved to do their bidding,"
"I see..." Nadia said, then cupped her chin in thought,
[We're going to find this Evolutionist, Aren't we, Nadia?]
'Since they're direct subordinates of the Western Queens. Their talents may be of use to us,' Nadia said, 'And who knows, he might be beneficial to the plan...'
Nadia clears her throat once, and proceeds with a question, "Where can we find this Evolutionist?"
"If you want to find him, you'll need a guide," The Ant Bartender said, "And I happen to know the way,"
"If you're going to be my guide, we're going to need an escort as well," Nadia said,
"I'll have one of my men accompany you," Osman suggested,
"No need," Nadia said, then materializes her book, "For I have someone else in mind,"
She then flipped the pages of her book and found the one person she was looking for.
With a magic circle, she brings forth a Heroic Spirit to act as her escort
Meanwhile, in the Central Colony
Work has been happening non-stop during Nadia's absence.
With Zen conspiring as the Co-Leader of the Colony, she commanded the ants with certain jobs and patrols while Da Vinci is tending to other matters in the Central Capital Building.
Though the latter was not alone in her projects...
As soon as another crash occurred in one of the abandoned buildings, Zen made a deadpan look on her face and an ant approached her.
Before he could say anything, Zen facepalmed while gesturing her hand towards him. She then made her way towards the crash and finds another one of Da Vinci's vehicles crashed against the wall.
The Driver was Da Vinci's newest Apprentice, Alia.
"What are you doing?" Zen questioned with her hands on the side of her waists,
"Testing out Da Vinci's latest invention," Alia said, and disembarks from the crashed vehicle like nothing had happened, "Although, there are still a few kinks that need adjusting,"
A mast of some sort soon broke from the vehicle and landed on the ground with a loud thud.
"A lot of adjusting," Alia corrected,
"You're supposed to be an Heiress, not whatever you're doing," Zen scolded,
"Uh... I'm Da Vinci-chan's apprentice, and I do what she tells me to do to. Also since when do you tell me what to do around here," Alia said, "You aren't my mother or whatever,"
"Even so, you're status as an Heiress is equal to mine. So how about you grow some responsibility for once," Zen stated,
"Hey! I take responsibility!" Alia yelled,
"Such as?" Zen elaborated,
"Working alongside Da Vinci, Handling her inventions and vehicles, and a lot more than what you're doing right now," Alia shot back,
"Those responsibilities of yours are going to get someone killed since I've been getting complaints whenever you and Da Vinci perform your experimentations," Zen stated, "Could you at least warn the people before you try this whole test out in the streets?"
"It's not my fault that their in the way, Drama Queen," Alia said as she crossed her arms and turned her face away from her,
"Excuse me?!" Zen yelled, "You're the one stirring up trouble with the people, You Psycho!"
As soon as Da Vinci caught with her apprentice, she was soon greeted with a scene where the two Heiresses hurl arguments at one another like children.
Instead of intervening, Da Vinci giggled with her hand on her mouth and watched as it presses on. Their clashes are always amusing to watch, and it is often a sign that the two are somewhat close since their arguments never result in a fistfight regardless of the problem.
At the end of their argument, Zen storms off to continue her duties while Alia huffs and goes on to carry the mast from the ground and throw it into the vehicle.
When the latter spots Da Vinci, Alia paid no mind to it and focused on tying a rope around the broken vehicle. The two then proceeded to drag the vehicle to Da Vinci's Workshop and it's back to the drawing board...
Back to Nadia...
Nadia made her way through the streets with the Ant Bartender as her guide while her newest Heroic Spirit is hidden within the shadows.
As soon as reached a certain building, The Ant Bartender peeks at the side of a wall and Nadia follows suit.
The location in question a medium-sized building with several underlings coming in and out of the structure.
"Is that the place?" Nadia inquired,
"From what I've heard, yes," The Ant Bartender said, "It was built to serve as an Outpost, and is the second building with the most guards compared to the colony's capital structure. And the only way inside that place is through the front,"
"Any idea on how to get inside?" Nadia inquired,
"Not one ant has set foot to that place as the underlings constantly beat up anyone who dares try to get close to that place," The Ant Bartender stated, "But unless you have a skill that lets you sneak around the Outpost. You just might have a chance of getting in,"
"And that skill I have," Nadia said, then establishes a telepathic link to her newest Servant, "Assassin,"
[Yes!]
"We're going in, be ready," Nadia stated,
[Understood]
"Does this outpost have holding cells?" Nadia inquired,
"There are, but I don't know where they would be," The Ant Bartender stated,
"Then you've done your part," Nadia said, "Go back to the tavern and tell them that I'll be back with the Evolutionist soon,"
The Ant Bartender soon departs while Nadia used her [Stealth] Skill to make herself invisible as well as [Silence] Skill to mute her movements.
After tapping the ground with her foot a few times, she then proceeds with the infiltration by running toward the front entrance.
As soon as she got close, she uses another skill to jump over the stairs and rolls forward before pressing onward to the Outpost.
There were a lot of doors and stairs that leads to upper and lower levels of the Outpost, thus she improvised a certain plan in mind.
'Assassin' Nadia called out,
[Yes, Master?]
'Search the Lower Levels and find this Evolutionist,' Nadia ordered, 'I will clean this place up,'
[Understood. But I must ask, what does this 'Evolutionist' look like?]
'They've said that the Evolutionists are the Queen's direct subordinates. Therefore, I can safely assume that their different compare to the ants and these underlings,' Nadia said,
[If so, I will begin my search]
'If there are people that stand in your way, feel free to do what is necessary, Good luck' Nadia said, and Assassin seemingly left to search the lower levels
[So... What's the thing you'd like to do around here]
'Sabotaging their line of communication to the other colonies can be a start. But since we don't know much about the building's interior,' Nadia said, 'If that's the case, why don't I ask someone for help'
[Something tells me that what you're about to do isn't going to be pretty]
'Has it always been pretty?' Nadia remarked and goes to the upper levels of the Outpost,
After minutes of wandering around the upper levels, she soon stumbled upon a lone underling and a room that seemed isolated from the rest.
Without a moment's hesitation, she kicks the underling at the back of his leg, covers his mouth to prevent him from making a sound, and dragged him into the room before anyone noticed them.
She then mentally casts a barrier within the room to prevent noise or entry and tosses the underling at the certain of the room.
"Forgive me for my manners," Nadia half-heartedly apologized, "But I have some questions that I would like to ask of you,"
Meanwhile, in the Lower Levels...
Due to the corridors and hallways being straight and narrow, Assassin had taken it upon herself to eliminate whatever opposition that stood in her way and disposed of the body afterward.
The last thing they ever saw was a red kunoichi with long black hair and her arm blade before their heads were lopped right off of their shoulders.
When one of the underlings tried to run, she pulls out a pair of red kunai blades and disables them by throwing the blade at the back of their knees.
Once she approached the disabled underling, she grabs the back of the underling's hair, pulled him up, and held a kunai just near his neck.
"You either tell me where you keep prisoners, or I interrogate you until talk," Assassin stated, "Choose wisely,"
Not wanting to die, the underling lifts one of his hands and points at a certain hallway, "G-Go straight and take a right..."
"Alright," Assassin said, jagged the blade right through the underling's neck, and slit it wide open to ensure a swift death to the man,
With that done, she drags the body into an empty room and presses on with her directions given by the deceased underling.
Back to Nadia
She had finished interrogating the underling for directions of the upper levels. With her objective in mind, she uses [Stealth] and [Silence] once more and makes her way to a certain room.
As for the underling she interrogated, he wasn't spared as blood loss had slowly killed him.
Fingernails were forcibly removed, some of his toes were severed, and he also sustained a few puncture wounds to certain points of his body. Even after he spilled everything to her, Nadia slits his throat for good measure and lets the blood drop to nil.
To prevent resurrections, Nadia harvested his soul and consumed it for sustenance.
As she makes her way to the targeted area, she prepares herself for a fight as the area in question is guarded by living constructs and an alarm would set off should show herself in the middle.
Upon arrival, she finds out that the room in question is actually a large area with two large idle statues and thick layers of steel doors in front of her.
With [Magic Sense], Nadia has determined that these statues will only activate should they detect anyone deemed hostile to the outpost.
Rather than destroy or sneak past these statues, Nadia had come up with another idea. One that will benefit her in the end...
Back to the Lower Levels...
An Underling Guard was assigned to watch over a cell containing the colony's Evolutionist after an incident went some of the Western Ants went berserk.
Though the incident was handled, a few underlings were injured and some were killed and devoured on the spot.
When the Evolutionist was deemed the culprit of the incident, beaten, then taken into custody.
They could have killed him instead, but Evolutionists were rare to find and they hold a hefty price should they be delivered to the Demon Lord's Subordinate alive.
As time passes, the outpost alarm was soon triggered and every underling within the Outpost's proximity will rush their way to see the problem.
Before the Underling Guard could leave, he opens the door and sharply gasps when something sharp goes through his neck. As soon as he fell to his knees, his head falls over and Assassin now stands by the doorway.
She then enters the room and finds a cell block...
Inside was a single ant, but he clearly looked different compared to the average ants. it has three sets of arms though its third set of arms was smaller than the other two, each hand only had three long and sharp fingers with spiked tip fingers, its mouth reaches all the way down to the neck section, and his lower body closely resembles that of a caterpillar. (For a specific description, Search Abathur and you'll know what it looks like)
'Nadia, It looks likes I've found the Evolutionist,' Assassin reported,
[Stay near him. I'll be there once I've finished things here]
'Understood,' Assassin replied and closes the door behind her,
But the sound of the door shutting had gained The Evolutionist's attention as he raised his head and its mandibles twitched as he was greeted by a newcomer to his cell.
"Visitor, Different. Unlike Others. Identify," The Evolutionist systematically demanded,
"I'm Assassin, and I am a Heroic Spirit of Edo Period," Assassin clarified to it,
"Hmmm... Biological Essences, Lacking. Human Figure, Yet made artificial," The Evolutionist elaborated, "Designs, Unclear,"
'He can tell just by looking?' Assassin remarked, "Yes, I'm an Artificial Human. I lack certain things such as a sense of taste, smell, and feel. But I can still perform well compared to average kunoichi,"
"Lack of Senses, Leads to Flaws. Without Senses, Leads to Faults, Mistakes" The Evolutionist clarified, "Adjustments to Biological Means, Advisable,"
"No need, I'm fine with what I am now," Assassin said, "As long as I can serve my master, I don't need anything else,"
"Unclear..." The Evolutionist remarked with a puzzled tone,
Then silence was brought about to the room...
Back to Upper Levels...
As most of the remaining Underlings made their way to the area of activity. Nadia had just finished sabotaging the communication circle to prevent the enemy from reaching out to the other colonies as well as the main Western Capital.
But that wasn't the only thing she modified...
As soon as the enemy came into the Area, Nadia didn't bother to hide as she sat against the steel doors with a book in hand and an unbothered look on her face.
"Who the hell are you!"
The Underlings pulled out their weapons and readied themselves for a fight. But Nadia still remained unbothered as she flipped another page from her book.
"Hey! We're talking to you!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," Nadia half-heartedly apologized, closes her book, and stands up straight before dematerializing her book, "So, what do you all want from me?"
"We asked who the hell you are! And what the hell are you doing at our outpost?! You do realize that this is Lord Astranul's lands?!"
"Really? I didn't know," Nadia said with a fake tone in her voice, "Must have slipped my mind since I didn't bother to know who was in charge around here,"
Then she suddenly changes her tone to something more serious, "Much less care on who you all are,"
This earned everyone anger, but their expression soon vanished when Nadia triggers the trap she had set up for the enemy.
What comes next was that the statues as they've become active from their pedestals and held their weapons at the ready.
"What the hell?!"
"Good luck with your toys," Nadia said as the statues simultaneously emit an ear-piercing roar and rushed towards the underlings. As their toys have turned against them.