Chapter 35: The Chimera Ant’s Evolution (4) Setting Up The Nest

Chapter 35: The Chimera Ant's Evolution (4) Setting Up The Nest Mikhailis couldn't help but feel his heart pound with excitement. He watched the chimera ants regroup after their victory over the Burrow Grub, the queen remaining safe at the back while the soldiers assumed defensive positions. He turned his attention to the computer screen and saw how the digital projection of the tunnels was growing wider and more detailed, as if he was building an ant colony in some kind of fantasy strategy game. "Alright, Rodion, let's get back to work," Mikhailis said, his gaze flicking from the screen to the busy ants, then down to the bond tattoo on his palm. The pulse of magic through the connection was steady, almost like a heartbeat, reminding him that these creatures weren't just some pets—they were living beings responding to his commands. Rodion commented, his voice laced with a hint of sarcastic amusement. Mikhailis chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he gave the computer screen a sidelong glance. "Maybe it's because I've always been a bug enthusiast. Bugs and I, we just click. I mean, they don't judge me, don't care about politics, and they get the job done. What's not to like?" Rodion added, the sarcasm evident even without tone inflection. "Hey, I take offense to that!" Mikhailis said with a playful pout, though he quickly broke into a grin again. "But you're right. Now, let's see how far we can take this. Are the systems fully synced?" "Yeah, yeah, I know the drill." Mikhailis nodded, his eyes focused on the virtual map of the expanding tunnels that was being updated in real time. He watched as the workers kept digging, their paths intertwining like an intricate web, with the queen resting in a central chamber. The ants were impressive—they showed no hesitation, no fear, even in this new environment. Their entire purpose seemed to revolve around the queen, ensuring her safety, expanding the colony, and forging ahead. Mikhailis gave a mental command to the workers, directing them to expand another chamber beneath the garden where they could set up a dedicated space for food storage. He watched the ants get to work without question, digging with a dedication that fascinated him. "Rodion, think we could direct them to create chambers for specific tasks? You know, like a proper underground base? One for food, one for hatchlings, maybe even a defense chamber or something?" "Nice," Mikhailis said with an excited grin. "Alright, let's go ahead and give it a shot. Assign the chamber closest to the garden entrance as the storage area. The deeper one should be for new hatchlings, and the other two we'll reserve for defense. I want our queen to be surrounded by the best protection." "Empire, huh?" Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought. His imagination ran wild—visions of a vast, sprawling underground network, filled with loyal magical ants ready to do his bidding. He imagined them patrolling the tunnels beneath Silvarion Thalor, acting as an unseen line of defense, or even gathering information from places no human could easily reach. Mikhailis clenched his teeth, watching as the chimera soldiers stood their ground. The beetle let out a low, vibrating hum, its shell glowing brighter as it faced off with the ants. One of the chimera soldiers lunged forward, attempting to grab the beetle by the leg, but it was met with a blinding flash of light. The soldier recoiled, its movements disoriented, as the beetle advanced. "Damn it," Mikhailis muttered, feeling a surge of frustration. He wasn't about to let this creature threaten the colony he'd worked so hard to establish. He quickly gave a mental command through the bond, his focus sharp. The soldiers regrouped, forming a defensive line between the beetle and the queen. They moved in unison, their antennae waving as they communicated with each other, their determination palpable. The beetle let out another hum, its shell glowing even brighter, but this time, the soldiers didn't back down. They moved forward, attacking from multiple angles, their mandibles clamping down on the beetle's legs. "Come on... you can do it..." Mikhailis whispered, his eyes locked on the screen. ___ Chimera Ant Queen & Colony Status: Queen Chimera Ant: Evolved into a magical beast with heightened intelligence. Now resides in a newly constructed underground nest. Colony Units: Workers: Digging and foraging specialists. Currently expanding tunnels and creating chambers for the nest. Soldiers: Colony defenders. Successfully defended the queen against threats like the Burrow Grub. Equipped with enhanced coordination and strength. Colony Nest: Chamber System: - Food Storage Chamber: Completed. Currently being stocked by workers. - Hatchling Chamber: Designated for new eggs. Under construction. - Defense Chambers: Surrounding queen's location for protection. Special Projects: - Variant Eggs: Four eggs potentially containing hybrid ants with unique traits (e.g., magical frog properties). - Neural Relay Chip: Installed on the queen, allowing real-time surveillance and control. Current Objective: - Defend the nest from the Glimmer Beetle. - Expand nest further to accommodate variant eggs and prepare for future adversaries.