Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Value of Life (1)
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My ants had to keep eating no matter what.
It was their strongest instinct and very reason for existence as awakened subordinates.
And for the nomadic colony, this urge hit even harder than it did for the massive horde that felled countless giant trees in the untamed primitive forest, cultivated mushrooms on a massive scale, and turned them into their staple food.
After all, the nomadic colony had no choice but to roam the land endlessly, hunting for sustenance.
They couldn't even receive the food I supplied in the breeding pens.
[The queen believes the great colony's environment and situation differ from hers, so she cannot directly apply their accumulated experiences.]
In that dire situation, the nomadic colony's queen fully grasped her own circumstances—utterly unlike those of Asmorah's great colony under her command—and strove to evolve in the optimal direction.
Asmorah's prior data from battling the Lukadia Imperial forces, golems and all, plus the Holy Kingdom's troops stacking up barriers, proved invaluable.
[The queen advances improvements to lighten the weight of future offspring while boosting mobility and endurance.]
'Smart one. With the plains as the main stage and operating as a colony constantly on the move, mobility and stamina are top priorities.'
Drawing from Asmorah's soldiers' failed pursuit of the Holy Kingdom's troops, the nomadic queen redesigned her own soldiers to prioritize speed and endurance—even at the cost of some defensive strength.
The resulting variants differed wildly in appearance, even when spawned from the same devoured materials.
They were clearly mutations from the same spider species, yet unlike the great colony's spider ants—with their long, slender legs and web-focused tactics—the nomadic variants resembled grotesque hybrids: a giant tarantula body topped with an ant's head bearing massive venomous fangs, and more.
[The nomadic colony queen begins her assault on the orcs she scouted in advance.]
Leading these freshly forged forces, she launched her offensive against the orcs they'd been locked in a tense standoff with.
"They're coming... the bastards are coming full force!"
"This ain't one of their usual hunting squads. Spread the word, quick!"
The black monstrosities of varied forms blanketed the plains, clustered so tightly they resembled a single colossal organism slithering forward.
I spotted orcs at a watchpost who caught sight of the ants, panicked, and bolted.
To survive, the local orcs had no choice but to band together.
Which meant nearly all of them now served under some deity as subordinates.
Deity-touched subordinates harbored unpredictable potential for sudden growth—it was unavoidable.
They had to win. Not that I needed to order it; the ants would devour anything in sight regardless.
"Hold the line till reinforcements get here!"
A hastily assembled orc unit hunkered down to defend a hilltop.
Prime terrain for blocking northern invaders, and with orcs swarming over it for modifications, it had become a true fortress.
'Did the orcs around here know how to build something like that?'
It was the largest structure I'd seen in orc territory.
Hiding in fortifications to fight ants instead of wheeling around the open plains? First time for them.
Unless they'd innovated it themselves, they'd likely gotten aid from their deity—or outsiders.
"Ah, figures."
Sure enough, I gave a wry smile as massive golems stirred to life one by one amid the orcs.
[The queen confirms the enemies have allied with one another.]
The nomadic queen knew every detail of Asmorah's great colony battles through the hive consciousness.
No room for panic.
Orcs getting imperial backup? The ants didn't slacken; they charged headlong.
[The queen charges forward herself to slaughter the foes.]
"Well now..."
And the nomadic queen's starkest contrast to founding queen Asmorah?
She reveled in battle herself.
More like she savored the killing.
Back when orcs wielding deity-granted divine spears charged furiously, threatening her life— she'd defended herself and triumphed.
She'd seemed to grasp something profound then.
And this was the result.
She offloaded egg-laying duties to the dedicated breeders and plunged into the front lines amid orc projectiles and shamanic spells, alongside her troops.
"W-what the hell is that!?"
In devouring resources and evolving, the nomadic queen had relentlessly fortified her own body, emerging as a peerless monstrosity unlike any standard variant.
She snatched a heavily armored orc warrior in her forelegs and flung him aside like crumpled trash, then whipped her massive hook-claws—sprouting from her back—in rapid arcs, shredding oncoming foes.
"Kill that monster!"
The orcs clocked her uniqueness immediately.
Shamanic magic bolts and warrior javelins hurtled toward the queen—big as a small house.
A human mage's golem barreled in too.
[The nomadic colony queen feels intense ecstasy as she crushes her enemies.]
Yet without that deity-infused divine ki resurfacing, nothing could match her.
Smaller than a heavy plate ant, sure—but the resources packed into her could've birthed several from Asmorah.
'Having fun?'
I marveled as she clamped hook-claws into the golem's frame, reared her abdomen, and drove her thick, needle-sharp stinger—replacing the ovipositor—straight through its magic-stone-embedded chest.
Impressive specs, yes, but her combat prowess in wielding them was skyrocketing too.
Awakening queens drew on the hive's vast experience and knowledge, forging their own growth paths.
This one, eyes opened to the thrill of raw violence? She'd keep barreling down that road.
Just like Asmorah on hers.
Subordinates' achievements raise the deity's infamy.
Lower Deity Grade 2 → Lower Deity Grade 1
Some restricted functions unlocked.
The queen spearheaded the breakthrough, shattering the orc lines. The fortress fell, and nomadic ants swarmed over it like a tidal wave.
Not a single living soul left; everything edible vanished into ant maws. The nomadic ants relished devouring prey alive—ripping into foes mid-battle was commonplace.
And right on cue, another alert popped up before me.
Another deity rank-up.
True Name bestowal now available.
Just like when I'd named Asmorah for the first time—with my rank hitting 1st grade, I could bestow one more true name.
"Bellona."
The deity bestows a True Name upon a subordinate.
The entity I'd just called the nomadic colony queen now bore a true name.
She might not comprehend it, but this bond would let her sense our connection.
[Bellona acknowledges the great being's presence.]
Like Asmorah, amid the cleanup on that blood-soaked battlefield, Bellona lifted her head and gazed skyward.
As if she knew I watched her through the screen.
What emotions stirred within?
Those fierce glints shining from her helmet-like head—utterly unlike Asmorah's—were still too alien to read.
[Asmorah feels deep unease at Bellona's birth.]
From the hive's view, another key asset now under the deity's gaze— but Asmorah chafed at it.
As predicted long ago, this new queen was starting to chip away at her monopolies, one by one.
'Can't be helped. Why's she so damn greedy?'
I sighed and shook my head at the sight.
In my eyes, we'd need more new queens going forward.
Bellona's nomadic horde was proving it: far better yields than Asmorah micromanaging everything solo.
[Subordinates spot enemies ascending the river from the sea.]
Refusing to yield ground, Asmorah mobilized for her pre-planned strike.
Target: imperial remnants who'd dragged ships ashore to seize coastal and riverside cities.
To purge these invaders trying to root in their turf, Asmorah unleashed fresh variants.
"The demon scum are swarming!"
"Steady. We fight from the river. Blast 'em before they bridge with their bodies!"
The imperials hugged the waterways, split across ships hauled from the sea, unleashing magic and projectiles in a frenzy.
Exploiting the ants' raft skills but lack of true water combat.
Sky secured? One-sided slaughter.
Would've worked, too— sans new variants.
'She wouldn't attack without a plan.'
Asmorah never waged unwinnable wars.
Not even now, as emotions flickered to life within her.
"What in the...!"
"The bastards are running on the water!"
Scores of variants among the teeming ants dove into the river at once.
Those long, delicate legs let them—beasts the size of large predators—skate across the surface and swarm the panicked imperial vessels in a blink.
How they'd fully integrated water strider traits at that scale? Asmorah's design secret alone.
And these new water strider ants? Nailed the job.
"Magic batteries—h-hit those things, now!"
"Can't shift targeting mid-cast... gaaah!"
Shipboard mages channeling joint-spell magic batteries had locked onto riverbank ants, expecting rafts.
But the sudden water strider ant onslaught caught them flat-footed; uncoordinated barrages whiffed.
'They're done.'
Outcome: mid-river massacre as ants vaulted aboard en masse.
Mages, outdistanced, floundered in the cramped decks—unable to muster real spells—before the ants' needle-jaws skewered torsos and heads.
River lines breached? Their forts and cities crumbled next.
Scouts aloft already spied the survivors scrambling onto leftover ships, fleeing seaward.
[Asmorah gazes at the vast sea, pondering the enemy hordes beyond.]
The ants who'd wiped out these brazen turf-trespassers lined the coast, staring at the few vessels slicing blue waves in retreat.
[Vaster world. Vaster prey.]
Gluttony's instinct fired up fierce curiosity and appetite.
Strictly speaking, Asmorah and Bellona were like infants just rousing their egos.
Humans conquer unknown fears with greed and wonder; they hungered for chances too.
Unlimited Divine Community access unlocked.
Epithet settings released. Deity classification: Evil God
Breeder of the Endless Abyss
And I'll probably end up the same.
As I delve into this universe's secrets—vaster and deeper than I ever dreamed.