The large city stretched out from the mouth of the cave. The fortifications would be hard to work around and this time their was no convenient entrance on top.
I began to fabricate a plan, first I would attack the refugees sending them hopefully into a panic. From their on I would continue to do hit and run encircling the perimeter of the walls. At the same time the Spiders would began to poison the river.
Essentially, the plan would be to lock them into a siege wherein they would either let in the refugees which would cause a housing and feeding crisis. Or they didn't let them in and I could wipe them out. During this there water supply would be getting poisoned. I explained the plan to Anastasia.
"Wow, Boss thats kinda evil? I LOVE IT!" She yelled whilst jumping on my shoulder. Anastasia was right though by modern standards I was a villain.
I began my mission by scouting, weaving back and forth through tunnels through the various entrances to the cavern. On the other side of the cavern was a series of farms, oh boy was I gonna set that a flame. They seemed to be mainly cultivating mushrooms, moss, and these weird blue tubular things. I was definitely going to grab a few seeds and such, with my new Trinary Class I had.
Each of the farms had a small low bearing wall similar to ones that were guarding the refugees. Every so often there was guard towers protruding from the wall. I was going to have to either go through the wall or hop it. Given my agility I was going to go through it as my [Geomancy] skill wasn't high enough to break through the wall yet.
The first step of my plan was about to commence. Essentially I was going to vault over the low bearing wall, wrek havoc amgost the refugees and then recede. Returning to the spider army, I relayed the same information to them. They stood no chance, I stretched a bit before launching off from a different cave location to be safe and not give away or staging camp, which was currently being fortifed to max.
As I ran closer I could see sign of panic as Myrmidon soldiers ran in alarm across the walls. Unfortunately for them at least I was faster, leaping over the wall I saw various ants looking up. I crashed down like meteor, swinging by club back and forth breaking through the lines of the ants. I had to make sure I kept my mobility as I used a portion of the wall as a launch board. I continued my assault for about 2 more minutes before retreating.
...
meanwhile in the ant palace....
...
"My Queen, the Daemon and his army have attacked the refugees what should we do my Queen?" An ant elder asked.
The Queen, was humongous, being roughly the size of an adolescent blue whale. Her massive bulk flanked on each side my eggs her wings shrouding them protectively.
"My dearest children being slaughtered by this upstart divine, I Beseech thee Ardent Valuaab Daemon of Despots and Order, Son of Nyx, one of the 24 Valri of the Lesser God Develian, patron of Antkin, we are sieged by Kien Daemon of Protection and The Depths" she spoke as she did a nearby shrine depicting a humanoid ant wielding a wicked sword glowed.
"My oh my I had completely forgotten of this shrine, and the system is letting me intervene in a tutorial how kind! Hmm, a Minor Daemon, ugh another one of Protection shesh those mortals really like to mass produce those, hmm wait a moment HA, a Daemon of the Depths after all this time! Mother will be pleased, now how to challenge my little cousin, oh I know just the thing!" The voice mostly neutral with a hint of menace that none of the Ants present dare to interrupt the Divines musings. When Valuaab was done speaking, a string of energy struck outwards interwining with the Queen.
....
back to Kien...
...
I had finished with my destruction, and now it was time for part two. I had gotten the idea from the ancient siege of the port city of Kirra. Wherein an Athenian Senator poisoned their water supply.
Using Anastasia's ability to control the venom being used as a venom she made sure that the poison spread evenly into the river. I also did my part, using a cut I had gotten I used my blood which has poisonous properties to everyone but me. After making sure everything was ready we returned back to the staging area when I got a Message.
...
[Quest Update]
Your Quest has upped in difficulty, the Ants have prayed to their patron Deity The Daemon of Despots and Order Valuaab. He has interceded on their behalf.
Your rewards have Increased.
Rewards(Added): +100 Divinity, Title, and [Myrmidon Queen Egg]
...
Well fuck, the increased rewards really meant that this Valuaab guy or girl had really done the Ants a Solid. Although I don't know how well they would handle poison.
Sitting down, cooking up some ant on a fire I did some minor maintenance on my weapons and the like. A hundred Divinity would massively help me out to, the title was a mystery, and the [Myrmidon Queen Egg] could be useful for later on especially with building and Defending my new territory on earth.
After eating, I tucked my self asleep with Anastasia electing to lay on my feet. The little spider was cute.
...
When I woke up I ate some of the leftovers from last night. Roused Anastasia from her slumber and checked in with the Spiders out on watch. I checked the Counter on the number of ants Remaining.
...
71,231/100,000
...
Well this will be the day, apparently a lot had died from the posion idea. Now don't get me wrong around 30,000 was still a lot of Spiders but significantly less than yesterday's number.
I was ready to go burn down some farms. I weaved my way through the tunnels, until I found the desired tunnel. Moving through it, I reentered the cavern. I saw significantly more guards on the tower today. Though that wouldn't stop me. Running full speed I leaped over the wall. Guards roared in alarm as they saw me leap over the wall.
Grabbing a few samples of the plants, I pulled out a stone and a small knife. As lines of [Myrmidon Warriors] began to encircle me I launched for ward spreading sparks. While most didn't catch a few did. Weaving back and forth spreading sparks and making the fire grew consuming the farms.
I heard a wing beat. Looking up in abject horror as a massive Ant with even larger wings descended upon me.
...
[Divine Leviathan Ant] Lvl: 15
...
Oh, shit, that's what that other Daemon did to help out the Ants. Yeah my job here was done.
Ditching, the farms I vaulted over the wall and began to run for my life. When [Knights Intuition] flared and I ducked. As a large and pincer was right were I used to be. Rolling to the side as a dragon sized ant tried to make my life past tense. Turning around I took in the image for a second. Midnight black shell, large insectoid wings flaring from the back. It was roughly a hundred feet long. Considering a pre integration ant could lift ten times it's weight there was no way in hell I was going to be winning this fight yet at least. Luckily this giant fuck nugget was to big to leave this cavern. Though I bet it could tunnel itself a new hole.
I moved out the way as it tried to once again kill me. Once again I turned and ran, dodging and weaving as it repeatedly flew and crashed in front of me trying to block my escape.
I had managed to make It to one cave entrances and ran quickly as I could to the spiders. As I arrived at the staging area I debriefed them on the Giant Divine blessed ant.
"It's probably extremely weak for its level as most of its levels came from a Divine blessing, though considering it's on the brink of a true and blue rank Two its kinda of a moot point." Anastasia explained.
"What the hell, how am I supposed to kill that thing?" I asked while I paced back and forth.
"We could trap it?" Anastasia suggested.
"How, I'm pretty sure it could break through any spider silk." I said imagining easily ripping through it.
"Not exactly, per se if you used your [Geomancy] you could create a hole big enough and then we could fill it with flammables and burn it in your honor!" Her voice being cute and childish really made it hard not being creeped out at what amounted to burning something to death.
"That would take forever with what level my [Geomancy] skill is at" I said back though I wasn't against the idea I just didn't see how it was possible.
"Yeah but you could gain skill levels from this right?" She asked me.
"Okay fine but you guys need to help by collecting the flammables I'm going to be creating an area that has a thin layer that won't actually support the Giant Ants Weight but will pass a cursory glance from their guard towers" I said.
There was a spot that was perfect, it had ended in a dead end, but it was position at the perfect height that if I dug straight forward it would be perfect.
I had begun my slow process of slowing condensing the rock making space.
When I felt a connection snap into place with my Divine Half.
...
Hey, this is me Mr. Brown I ran into a few people in my tutorial, and I told them how you healed me, they had been watching when I got healed and demanded I tell them. They seemed shocked that a young Daemon would 'help' me and all and well they want to join your 'followers'.
Anyways, the group is made out people not from Earth and so I didn't want to ah you know speak for you or anything.
...
[Prayer Received]
+1 Divinity.
...
[Alert!]
People have witnessed you saving one of your followers and wish to pledge themselves to you.
Number: 5
-[Click Here to see list]
Accept: [Y/N]
...
After seeing what I had to guess to be a far stronger Daemon could do I wasn't about to turn down any followers. Pressing yes, I felt a investiture of Divine power impart it self on me.
...
[Follower Gained]
+5
Total Count: 25
...
It was pretty nice seeing that stagnate number bump up even a little bit. Also knowing Mr. Brown was okay and now in friendly company was nice, it was also nice to know none one else was in trouble.
I restarted my slow and steady process of laying a trap.