Central Colony
Nadia wakes up from her bed but finds herself unable to sit right up from her bed.
That's when she learned that Willow was sleeping rather soundly next to her.
From what she knows about Willow, she's a bit attentive to her needs and outside of that. She's very possessive and will stay close regardless of where Nadia goes in her free time.
Rather than complain about it, she chose to accept it since the option of disabling the skill or ordering her to stay was proven futile since Willow was devoted to her and her alone.
Nadia nudges Willow a few times and the latter opens her eyes and gave a loving smile as Nadia expected.
"Good morning, Willow," Nadia greeted, "Now can you please move?"
"As you wish," Willow complied and sits up from the bed,
Nadia follows suit and stretches her arms as well as her spider legs. As she goes off the bed, Willow follows and the two left the room to eat breakfast with Isaac and his group.
Outside the Capital Building
After breakfast, Zen's servants have already prepared enough provisions that could last the trip for Isaac and his group as they're getting ready to depart back to their kingdom.
However, she did receive an unexpected request from the Leader of the same adventurers from yesterday...
"Are you sure you want to be here for a while?" Nadia inquired the same Adventurer, "What if your services are requested by a different client?"
"I wouldn't worry about that," The Leader said as he placed his original spear against his shoulder, "Because I received permission from Lord Isaac, and prepared a letter of absence. Rest assured, the Guild Leader will understand,"
"I see, though I'm curious as to why you want to stay here for a while?" Nadia questioned,
"Well, I told the same guy to apologize to the ant he fought and both started boasting about their abilities in fighting," The Leader explained, "Now, that guy wants to get stronger and best his newfound rival,"
'It sounds a bit cliche, but I'm glad it was sorted,' Nadia remarked, "But what about you? Why do you want to stay as well?"
"As my teammate took interest in training here, I want to gain experience of my own," The Leader explained, "See where I can learn from a place such as this,"
"Such wise words," Nadia remarked, "In fact, I know just the right person that can help,"
"And who would that be?" The Leader inquired,
"You'll know when you meet him," Nadia said,
The Leader seemed tempted, but a part of him thinks that this will be intense in the long run.
But that part was proven correct as Willow knew who she was referring to...
One Hour Later
After Isaac and the others left the colony to return to their kingdom, The Leader whose name is Yasin was being trained rather harshly by one of Willow's Subordinates turned strict drill Instructor, Zarzus.
He was much taller compared to an average human, with a well-built body, albino hair, and purple eyes. He only wears specially designed tactical pants and wields a training sword.
Yasin couldn't help but feel regretful about his decision, but he chose to endure as the opponent in front of him will make him stronger.
The same can be said for his comrades. Which mainly consist of three other men, and they were facing Ant Recruits under Zarzus' instructions.
And unlike Zarzus, his teammates couldn't last a minute against Zarzus' Trainees as they were knocked on the ground and close to exhaustion.
Nadia observed the adventurers' progress from the sidelines, but wouldn't stay for too long as she went to the workshop and see Da Vinci's progress.
Da Vinci's Workshop
When Nadia and Willow arrived, they were somewhat baffled that Da Vinci's Workshop have vastly improved as the building got bigger, large gears were turning, and the walls changed from stone to steel.
They enter the building, and Willow was a bit surprised that the doors automatically open for them and close once they went further into the building.
Not only were there large gears, but there were also blueprints pinned onto unfinished projects, magic-powered lanterns, and a bunch of metal pipes properly welded and bolted together on the ceiling, through walls, and below the floor.
'I get that Da Vinci Chan and Alia love to invent, but I didn't know they'd take it this far,' Nadia remarked,
"Ah, Nadia-chan!" Da Vinci called out, and went towards her with Alia by her side, "Have you come to visit our work today?"
"Not at the moment," Nadia responded, "What I really want to know is how you're doing with the blueprints I've sent?"
"Oh, it's going well. Do you want to see it?" Da Vinci inquired,
"I would love to see it," Nadia responded and Da Vinci escorted her and Willow to the testing room,
What came next on the agenda was a series of demonstrations regarding Nadia's blueprints not limited to weapons, but also appliances that may improve certain aspects of the colony. The following consists of transportation, farming, and architecture.
An Era of Magic and Science...
Alia was watching with a marveled look at several inventions based on Nadia's blueprints while Willow watched without interest. As for Nadia, she couldn't help but feel nostalgia since these inventions are from her era.
After the inventions were shown to Nadia, Da Vinci proceeded to demonstrate some of her own inventions that she and Alia made. Even though Nadia wasn't interested in it, she listened anyway as it reminded her of an old friend who happens to share the same enthusiasm as Da Vinci.
But just as it ended, an ant scout intrudes in the middle of the presentation and everyone turns to the said ant scout.
"M-My lady, I've come with a report," The Ant Scout exhaustingly stated, "Osman and Reese's plans for the Western Reginon's liberation are halfway complete, but an armored enemy has personally invaded the base where Osman and Reese are located. Allegedly, he is affiliated with the Demon Lord's Subordinate, Astranul!"
Nadia was visibly alarmed by this, and immediately stands from her chair, "What is the current status of the base?"
"The men had readied themselves in arms as I left to provide you with this report," The Ant Scout explained,
Nadia then turns to Willow, "Assemble your fastest spiders, We are heading back to the Western Region as soon as possible,"
"Already done," Willow responded as she called her subordinates at the ready,
"Let's go," Nadia ordered,
The two left while Alia grew somewhat concerned for Osman and his team. Though Da Vinci tries to ease her mind by placing her hand on her right shoulder and providing a reassuring smile.
Then they continue their work on creating and improving their inventions in the building...
At the Gate of the Central Colony, Nadia and Willow were planning out their departure with a special squad that two formed and trained together. They are known as Royal Spiders and their purpose is to handle dangerous tasks under Nadia's command.
As for their mounts, they mainly consist of Giant Spiders that evolved primarily thanks to Altan's contribution as he implied the proper materials to have them adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert.
Once the squad was armed and the plans are in place, Nadia rides her spider with Willow riding behind her and orders the ants to open the gates.
After the gates were opened, Nadia commands her squad to follow her lead as the Royal Spiders cried out in response and departed from the Central Colony. But a part of Nadia hopes that nothing too severe has happened in the Western Region...
Meanwhile...
Isaac and the escort that remained with him were making their way back to their borders, but they were riding on a large spider with a large mount on its back and moving at great speed.
As they all waited for the spider to reach their destination, it stops and started hissing much to their confusion.
"What's wrong with that thing?" Fernand inquired,
"I don't know," Kayden responded,
"I'll go and see what's wrong with it," Eva volunteered and went onto the spider's back while the rest just watched her,
Eva then proceeds to place her hand on the top of the spider's head and proceeds to see through its thoughts to get a better understanding of its behavior.
It took some time to analyze its thoughts together, then Eva learns of its intentions and jumps back to rejoin the others.
"What is it?" Kayden inquired,
"Hold on," Eva said as she held onto the railings,
Everyone was confused at first, but then the spider started digging down. Everyone held onto the railings of the mount as it was rocky, then the light was shut out from them as the spider covered the hole and used its webbing to keep the dirt from falling onto its back.
Eva provided some light by conjuring a light orb and checking on everyone around her.
"Just what the heck it going on with this spider?" Carona inquired, but Kayden shushes her as they wait for something to happen,
In just a few short minutes, they soon heard the rumbling sounds of footsteps, a mass of war cries from both sides, and eventually the sounds of clanging metal. Of which they presumed it to be weapons.
The spider silently hissed at the sound from above while its passengers remained quiet but cautious as the battle wages on.
"Now we know why this spider buried itself under," Arnold remarked,
"Does this always happen in the ant continent?" Carona inquired, "Why can't they just stop for once in a while,"
"Because they can't," Isaac remarked, "The ants live and die in either their homes or on the battlefield since they're capable of reproducing at a supernatural rate primarily due to the Ant Queens. If they chose peace, then their numbers would accumulate to an unprecedented state, scatter across the land, and destroy the land and its inhabitants for food,"
"So war and cannibalism is the only way to control the population?" Arnold presumed,
"Yes, but this wasn't a choice made by the kingdom. But a choice of nature," Isaac pointed out, "For the defeated doesn't just feed the victor, but there were reports from our scouts that the environment vastly grows at a much greater rate than the lands we live in,"
"So the natural resources below aren't the nobles' only motive, huh?" Fernand inquired,
"Indeed, and imagine the power you'd gained after possessing and possibly maintaining high-quality materials from one area of the ant region," Isaac stated, "Such things would make you the richest noble alive, surpassing even that of a king's wealth,"
"But wealth like that comes with risks," Eva remarked, "Take the tragedy you mentioned that almost caused an entire kingdom, for example,"
"That we all know, but there is something that's been bothering me," Fernand remarked, and eyes turned to him, "If intervention between Ants is prohibited, what about Nadia? Why haven't they waged war against her and her group?"
This question actually made sense as Nadia has yet to face an endless war of ants from all directions. The only one who knows the truth was Eva as Nadia explained everything to her and her alone about the circumstances of the Central Colony.
As for the rest, they gathered their thoughts around this matter and some of them made certain assumptions to determine why Nadia hasn't been attacked for so long. But before they could gather their thoughts around more thoroughly, they noticed that the sound of battle has died down and the spider eases down as well.
It soon unburrowed itself and its passengers below ground and they were all greeted with a sight of blood, fragments of dismembered limbs, and broken weapons and armor of ant soldiers.
The spider doesn't mind the sight of the battlefield. But its occupants said otherwise as they paled from the sight. Though they would start moving again as the spider pressed onward to its designated area.
Everyone's thoughts were silent, then they just focused on getting home than anything else...
Back to Nadia
They were moving at high speed while Nadia hoped that they would reach the Western Base of Operations.
It almost took a day since they needed to fight off monsters and let their spiders rest from exhausting themself on their journey.
After they've rested, Nadia and co. mounted their spiders and continued their journey to the base. But upon arrival, they noticed that the colony they set up base had several buildings leveled and she feared the worse with the people stationed there.
Once they were within walking distance of the colony, Nadia jumps off of the spider and rushes into the colony while Willow and the others followed behind her.
She looked around and saw the destruction, but no signs of blood on the walls or ground. Though she was confused, she doesn't stop as she ran towards the western part of the colony.
Upon arrival, that's when she finds something that widens her eyes.
For the before her...
...
...
...
Was a vast number of ants severely injured from an overwhelming fight and the devastation of the land around them.
Nadia approaches one of the injured ants and bends down towards him.
"What happened?" Nadia questioned, "And where are Osman and Reese?"
"They're below the colony...," The Injured Ant re[prted,
"Rest easy, okay?" Nadia requested, stands upstraight, and turns to Willow, "Let's go and see them,"
"Understood," Willow replied,
Nadia then activates her [Teleport] skill and sent herself and the people with her into the lower levels of the colony.
Briefing Area...
Upon their arrival at the lower levels, they walked their way through a series of tunnels. With Nadia's memorization and search skill, she locates the area where Osman and Reese are located and followed the directions.
As they entered, she finds Osman and Reese present but injured from the battle the former has a large scar across his chest and closed his right eye hole after sustaining another scar. The latter, on the other hand, had lost his left arm, received a scar across his right cheek, and lost his right foot.
Even though they have healed to prevent blood loss, their scars and loss of limbs don't regenerate unless they are provided enough biological material to replace what they've lost.
As Nadia stared at their injuries, they began to see visions of her past when she once visited the injured people of the war. They were gruesome and unforgettable to the point that wanted to hurl her stomach out.
But when it comes to now, she only seemed a bit bother and her mentality as a monster slowly calmed her mind as she took a breath, and stepped into the room.
"Lady Nadia," Reese greeted,
"What happened while I was away?" Nadia inquired, "And feel free to explain it while you guys recover. The last thing I want is you guys to try to push yourselves to me,"
"The enemy we fought was nothing compared to the average underling," Osman responded, "He wore black armor, wielded a curved blade that tore through our men's defenses, and his destructive power would have leveled the entire Western Area if Reese and I hadn't intervened in the middle of his channeling,"
"What of our casualties?" Nadia inquired,
"We suffered some losses, but some stated that they wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain as they proved several opportunities for us to take," Reese reported,
Nadia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Before long, she stops and sighs once more, "You've both done well while I was away, and I swear that their sacrifices will not be in vain after we've liberated this region of the enemy. Speaking of which, what happened to him?"
"This part is something you may not believe yourself..." Osman stated, and Nadia listened to what he wanted to say,
A Few Minutes Later...
After the report, Nadia marches her way toward another location. But this time, she was armed with her sword, Willow and her men are well prepared for the threat, and several outcomes have been deduced in favor of the enemy's annihilation.
Upon arrival, they were met with a gate made with several magic locks. Nadia dispels all of them at the same time and deconstructs the door with concentrated magic.
Willow and the Royal Spiders became firm as the enemy before all of them. Strangely, this Armored Enemy was standing tall, and his black armor was chipped in several places.
His helmet, on the other hand, was broken on part of his face and revealed a scarlet eye as well as one corner of his smirk.
He scanned each and every one of them, then his scarlet eye landed on Nadia who held onto the handle of her sword. Lacking concern for himself, he walked towards Nadia but Willow and one of the Royal Spiders blocked his path.
He stopped, then proceeds to chuckle at them.
"You find these circumstances amusing? If so, then I presume you enjoyed playing with my men earlier," Nadia questioned,
"I wouldn't consider our battle a play, child. Compared to my so-called 'adversaries'. Yours have proven their worth of my attention," The Armored Man stated,
"Watch your tongue, Scoundrel," Willow warned, "Or you will lose it,"
"Oh calm yourself, I merely express my opinions to your precious leader," The Armored Man said, "Although, I've almost mistaken you as their leader. Well... Almost,"
Willow hissed at his words, and the same goes for the Royal Spiders. Nadia remains cautious but calm as she continued her line of questioning, "What do you gain for attacking this colony?"
"Oh, you wish to know my motives than my identity? Very well," The Armored Man declared and materializes his sword,
At first, Willow and her Royal Spiders were about to attack. But Nadia ordered them to stand down as she alone noticed the chipped parts of his sword. After staring at the chipped sword, she then looks into the eye of the Armored Man, "Does someone interest you here?"
"Yes. One of your lackeys invaded the area where I was stationed, or rather volunteered, to guard and struck a blow beneath my armor," The Armored Man explained, "After they've scurried away, I grew interested and followed them to this location,"
"Nassor..." Nadia muttered,
"Precisely..." The Armored Man responded much to Nadia's surprise,
"Then I take it you came here seeking answers, not finish the job Astranul assigned to you?" Nadia questioned,
"You believe that I work for an impudent waste? Such a claim is disrespectful," The Armored Man said, "But I'll set it aside since I'm starting to enjoy our exchanges,"
"You don't work for Astranul? Then it's possible that you're affiliated with the Demon Lord, and he sent you here under the suspicion of the Western Region falling out of his rule," Nadia presumed,
"Though I am not his lap dog, he does provide some challengers that quench my boredom," The Armored Man stated, "Even though they are unworthy of my strength, he fills his part of our bargain. While I do mine,"
"Bargain?" Nadia repeated,
"One that is long set before your supposed birth," The Armored Man said,
Nadia cupped her chin in thought, but the Armored Man caught on with her thoughts, "You plan on making a bargain of your own, don't you?"
"How perceptive of you," Nadia remarked while Willow and her Royal Spiders were on guard,
"If you plan to, then I'm afraid words will not suffice," The Armored Man said with a smirk on his face,
"Your face states that you want something more than just words," Nadia presumed, and Willow audibly hisses at this,
The Armored Man just chuckled at her response and anticipates an event that piques his interest. As for Nadia, she was going through a challenge that may require her wits and power to win a bargain with this enemy.
But one part of her says that this is going to be a harsh battle that revolves around an outcome between life and death.
