Repelling the Swarm (2)

'Spirit Temporary Descent?'

I blinked.

From the name alone, it sounded like a skill that could temporarily summon captured spirits...

"Wispent, what exactly is the skill you just got?"

"Yes. It seems to be a skill that lets me summon captured spirits."

Oh.

My guess was right.

Now I was curious.

"Can you show me once?"

"Yes. Just a moment."

Wispent smiled and quickly stood up.

She was always a bit cool toward the other guardians, but she followed my words without question.

Kirrit—

She aimed her Spirit Bow forward.

Then she drew back the bowstring.

Shaaaaaaa!

The form of a spirit took shape, drawing an arrow.

But the arrowhead was different from usual.

A bead shape.

Inside it, I could see various spirits mixed together.

Flaaash—!

Kwaaaaaaaa!

The shot arrow flew like a beam of light, and the bead opened, releasing countless ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠translucent spirits.

They were the ones we'd recently captured.

Giant moths, giant ants, giant stag beetles, giant scorpions, and more.

The spirits appeared in the sizes they'd had in life and charged endlessly forward.

"Whoa!"

The sight gave me chills.

This was already venturing into the realm of necromancy.

Don't tell me they can use their skills from when they were alive?

"Yes, that's right. They can use their lifetime skills."

Jackpot.

This was basically no different from a necromancer.

"Wait, does that mean you can use the corps commanders' spirits too?"

I'd seen Wispent capture the corps commanders' spirits when we took them out in droves.

Just checking.

"Yes, I can use the corps commanders too. But the more you use a spirit, the fainter its color gets, so I didn't show it earlier... Still, shall I try once?"

"No need if it's like that. Save it for when it's needed in battle."

"Yes, sir."

From our talk, I learned one key fact.

Spirits fade in color the more they're used.

'That's why she was so stingy with Zephyros's spirit arrow.'

Against Titanos, Zephyros's spirit arrow had shown insane speed and destructive power.

I figured there'd be some limit, but this was the kind.

"Is there no way to refill a spirit once its color fades?"

"Well... It's not that there's no way at all, but it's impossible right now."

"Why?"

"I heard from my master that once you reach the realm of communing with the energies of heaven and earth, you can restore a spirit's lost essence. But I haven't reached that level yet."

"Ah, I see."

In the end, it all came down to getting stronger.

But communing with heaven and earth's energies...

It felt deeply tied to the Transcendence realm.

'Come to think of it, I'm curious how Transcendence even works.'

For now, I could only guess.

A strong hunch it was linked to ★ achievement levels.

'Reach 9 stars? Or 10?'

For now, let's push Azkai to 9 stars.

That might reveal the path.

'If not...'

The Guardian Summon Room and Guardian Training Room.

They could now summon guardians who'd reached Transcendence.

I hadn't checked the conditions yet, but once we returned to the lair, I'd head to the Guardian Room and look.

Check the training room again for Transcendence clues too.

"Alright. Let's rest for now, and tomorrow we'll hit the remaining bug hordes again."

"Understood!"

"Yep!"

『Keron. I receive the master's will.』

『Sounds good!』

We finally got some proper rest.

And the next day.

"Huh? What's up with them?"

We headed to find the bug hordes, but we couldn't help widening our eyes.

Because.

"Why are they fighting each other?"

They were tearing into one another.

***

A little earlier.

Titanos was greatly shaken by Legionix's proposal.

'He knows a way to complete the Heraclean bloodline's power.'

Legionix.

The guy knew more about his own power than he did.

How?

Legionix was the Cockroach King.

They were a race unmatched in information gathering.

'So this ability is tied to the Heraclean bloodline after all.'

He gazed down at his Steel Horn Staff and poured power into it.

Then something amazing happened.

Creeeak, crrrrack!

The tip of the Steel Horn Staff split, revealing a thin, long needle.

'I thought it was just absorbing tree energy.'

But according to Legionix, that wasn't it.

— It's the ability to absorb tree energy, but also to absorb the energy needed to inherit your bloodline.

In other words, to fully awaken his bloodline's power, he needed to accumulate specific energy through this ability.

And there was a particular tree that held that energy.

But he'd never known any of this.

— I'll help you. I'll make you a great king. Come with me.

Titanos closed his eyes.

He sensed a major turning point in his insect life had arrived.

Leave Vermith and walk the path of kings.

'Let's do it.'

He'd made up his mind.

Accept Legionix's proposal.

Truth be told, following Vermith hadn't been entirely his own choice either.

Back when he was building his martial prowess alone.

Vermith invaded his territory.

They fought, and he lost.

— I lost. Kill me.

— Hmm, if you're so ready to throw away your life, why not follow me instead?

Thinking it was a life already lost once, he followed Vermith.

Vermith hadn't been king of insects from the start.

He'd had a king he followed then.

But Vermith rebelled and devoured his king with the authority of Infinite Devouring. He was a usurper king.

Titanos had greatly contributed to Vermith ascending the throne.

'I've already paid for my life, my king.'

Forgive my decision.

Titanos rose from his seat.

He bowed toward where the king was.

If they met again someday, he'd have to fight with his life on the line.

No, he surely would.

But today, as a former subordinate, he wanted to offer one last courtesy.

Slurrrp.

Titanos's knees slowly bent downward.

His head touched the ground, hands on the floor.

Once.

The first bow for respect and reverence.

Again.

The second for farewell.

He finished his bows, stood, and turned.

Not far away, Legionix awaited his answer.

He opened his mouth.

"I accept your proposal."

"Kekeke. A wise decision."

Legionix hopped up and landed before Titanos.

"Even bowing... I didn't know you were that loyal to Lord Vermith."

"I gave my all while serving. But no longer."

Titanos slowly closed his eyes, then opened them.

Not a shred of lingering attachment left; he'd cast off all worries.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What now?"

"First, we split our forces. Take those who'll follow you and move."

Legionix approached the remaining corps commanders.

Excluding himself and Titanos, eight left.

Stag beetle, dragonfly, fly, stink bug, locust, pincer beetle, longhorn beetle, mole cricket.

And.

"Fine. If you're with Titanos, I'll follow."

Some corps commanders agreed with Legionix.

But.

"What? You suggesting rebellion now? You're insane!"

Others spat fury.

And their number was.

"How dare you abandon Lord Vermith?"

"His legions half-destroyed, and instead of recovery, you plot treason!"

"Titanos! I'm truly disappointed. Is that all you've got?"

"Looks like it came from that cockroach brain. Like Vestiger said, shoulda crushed your head ages ago. Grrrk!"

Five in total.

Pincer beetle, longhorn beetle, locust, stag beetle, stink bug.

They bared savage expressions, hostility toward Titanos and Legionix.

"Whoa, calm down. We'll withdraw quietly..."

Legionix tried to soothe and slip away.

But they didn't play along.

"I'll execute you traitors on the spot!!"

Manticoar.

King of the Broad Stag Beetles.

He stepped forward in rage.

Then clashed the broad greatswords in his hands.

Creeeeeng!!!!!!!

A massive shockwave erupted.

Slaaash! Kwadddddr!

The space ahead crumpled in a fan shape.

Manticoar's unique ability. Space Severance.

The power of the strongest corps commander besides Titanos unleashed.

Boom!!!!!

Titanos.

He thrust out his Steel Horn Staff to block it.

"Hoo."

A faint sigh escaped Titanos's lips.

The situation had come to this.

He hadn't wanted to shed blood with them.

"Kuh, kuhehehe. Yes, that's more like it. I've wanted to settle things with you for ages—!"

But Manticoar thought differently.

"Execute these traitors on the spot—!"

With his shout.

"Kyaaarararara!"

"Karrgrrrk—!"

"Kirarararara!"

The insect legion's civil war erupted.

***

"Whoa, they're fighting hard."

I clicked my tongue, watching the insect legion from afar.

Tens of thousands clashing was hell itself.

A stag beetle slicing a cockroach in half.

Dozens, hundreds of cockroaches swarming that stag beetle.

The weight crushing it down.

Then locust swarms covering to hunt the cockroaches.

Hundreds, thousands of flies blanketing the locusts.

Biting, tearing in endless battle and slaughter.

Corpses piled up in moments.

'No idea what's going on.'

But it was our chance.

"Some are breaking from the battlefield!"

At Azkai's shout, I turned there.

'Corps and division commanders.'

Too far for clear ID, but all pincer beetles.

They were fleeing, heavily damaged.

"Let's go."

I decided to hunt them.

Hitting giant bugs leveled us up fine, but ★ and ▲ were more crucial.

"I'll open the door!"

Crimson raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Ting—!

Creeeeeng!

Space tore, forming a path to them.

We dove in without delay.

"Grk, y-you bastards...!"

They looked shocked at us.

Bodies bloodied, shells dented and shattered. Condition critical at a glance.

All pincer beetle corps and division commanders.

"Take them."

At my word, Azkai launched forward.

Rawr———!!

"Kr, kaaaak!"

"Kuuuugh."

"Kwaaaak...!"

The massacre followed.

Badly wounded, they couldn't handle Azkai.

We dispatched them effortlessly.

Levels rose, and we secured a ton of ★ and ▲ too.

A sweet payoff with minimal effort.

"Nice."

My eyes sparkled.

This was it.

Play it right, and we could wipe them all today.

No time to waste.

"Move out!"

We circled the edges, picking off fleeing stragglers, racking up gains.

Then at some point.

"Isn't that... Titanos?"

Titanos.

The stag beetle. Strongest corps commander in the insect legion.

We spotted him.