Chapter 34: The Chimera Ant’s Evolution (3) Going Underground

Chapter 34: The Chimera Ant's Evolution (3) Going Underground "Rodion, open up the main computer screen. We're about to dive into the next step of our little project." Mikhailis's voice was filled with anticipation as he grabbed the tablet lying next to him. He tapped its screen, bringing it to life, then glanced over at the aquarium, where the queen and her brood were scurrying about. Mikhailis grinned. "Oh, you know me too well. I want you to make an imaginary nest—let's say, a hypothetical one, right beneath Silvarion Thalor. Could you run some projections on that? Like, if we were to put the ants down there and let them build a nest, what would it look like? How would they handle it?" Rodion paused, his tone both skeptical and interested. Mikhailis nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. "Yeah, I get that. But she needs to adapt here. If she's going to thrive, she has to learn how to function in Eldoria's environment. Plus, this kind of data is priceless." Rodion remained silent for a beat, then responded, his tone giving away a hint of resignation. Mikhailis leaned back on his chair, his gaze fixed on the computer as Rodion's systems began humming. A series of three-dimensional graphics appeared on the screen, showing layers of the ground beneath Silvarion Thalor. The diagrams showed potential tunnels, resource locations, and safe zones for the ants to expand. Rodion's voice returned, but this time there was a hint of surprise. Mikhailis's eyes widened in surprise, his grin growing wider. "You're kidding! So, I can actually communicate with all of them?" Mikhailis stared at the screen, fascinated. He hadn't expected the connection to be this strong. "So even if we put them underground, we could still keep track, right?" The ants moved as a unit, the workers leading the way as they began to carve out tunnels, their powerful mandibles breaking through soil and rock. The soldiers followed, keeping a lookout, their antennae twitching at every movement. The queen, regal and confident, stayed in the middle, her presence commanding and calm. As the ants made their way deeper underground, Rodion continued to map out their progress, the computer screen showing a detailed diagram of the expanding tunnels. They were just getting settled when something changed—one of the soldiers halted abruptly, its antennae standing straight up, vibrating as if sensing a threat. "Rodion, what's happening?" Mikhailis's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the screen. Mikhailis leaned forward, his heart pounding in anticipation. The screen showed the chimera soldier ants positioning themselves in front of the queen and workers. The Burrow Grub—a grotesque beetle-like creature about the size of a small dog—emerged from the shadows. Its shell glowed with faint pulses of blue and green, and its mandibles clicked ominously. "Wow, that's one ugly bug." Mikhailis's voice held both fascination and concern. Mikhailis watched as the chimera soldiers moved in tandem, their antennae communicating with each other, their powerful mandibles poised. One of the soldiers lunged first, its mandibles clamping down on the Burrow Grub's side. The grub let out a hiss, its body twisting as it tried to shake off the soldier, but another chimera ant followed, grabbing hold of its leg. The grub struggled, its luminescent nodes glowing brighter as it tried to fend off the attackers. It lashed out, managing to knock one of the chimera soldiers away, but the other soldiers quickly closed in, their numbers overwhelming it. "Come on, you can do it!" Mikhailis whispered, his eyes locked on the screen. He could feel the tension through the bond—the determination of the soldiers, the protective instinct of the queen as she stayed back, watching her defenders. Finally, with a coordinated effort, the chimera soldiers managed to pin the Burrow Grub down, their mandibles cutting into its softer underbelly. The grub let out a final hiss before collapsing, its luminescent glow fading as it lay still. Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his eyes wide with awe. "That was... incredible. They actually took it down. They're working as a unit, protecting their queen... it's like they're soldiers in an army."