[Kara] Chapter 33: A Memory Realized (Patreon)

It was over twenty miles to Uzbug’s former hive, so it took about an hour to arrive. Perhaps if Kara had carried both the utlas bear and the forminac, before taking to the skies with her Draconic Wings, they’d have reached their destination much earlier. Especially if she boosted herself forward with the occasional God Step, the trip would have been much shorter.

But Kara knew that she’d be getting into a lot of fighting soon. That was why she conserved her strength and energy. Because she knew what was waiting for her up ahead.

Certainly, their plan didn’t consist of barging into the hive and burning everything they saw. That would have been utterly foolish— suicidal, even. By Uzbug’s lowest estimates, there were still at least another ten thousand forminacs in the hive. And that was based on the numbers she knew of back when she had still been a part of the hive.

As evident by the incessant attacks carried out against the survivors of Alyona, it was clear that the hive had expanded, and there were likely tens of thousands more soldiers and workers alike inside the intricate network of tunnels underground.

Kara knew her limits. Even if she could fight the hive in an open area where she could fly around and avoid taking any damage, she would drain her dragonsoul before she killed ten thousand forminacs. And that was with an advantageous terrain.

Right now, she was going to have to go underground where she had no choice but to face the potentially tens of thousands of forminac soldiers and workers in their territory where flying away wasn’t an option.

So the plan was to sneak in and assassinate the queen before they were caught. Kara and Angel nodded at each other, before facing Uzbug.

The Architect Magus led them towards a small tunnel at the side of a hill as her mandibles clicked together.

This is a side entrance into the hive that is mainly used by workers. Even if the hive has expanded since I have last been here, the main layout should remain the same.

“And you’ll be able to lead us straight to the queen, right.” Kara nodded as she peered into the dark tunnel. “But are you sure we won’t run into any trouble by literally walking in through one of the hive’s entrances?”

Uzbug gave her a reassuring look. Even if my queen is a ruthless and petulant ruler, she does not force ordinary workers to scavenge the Ashfields for food at night. They still need sleep, despite the thoughtless workers they are. That is why coming here now before the night is too old was of utmost importance.

Kara scratched the back of her head as she glanced over at Angel. “That still feels kind of risky. Wouldn’t it be safer for us to… I don’t know, dig a hole straight down to your former queen’s chamber?”

That will take too long, and it will not be easy either. I do not believe we will have the capacity to do that, Uzbug started.

And Angel scoffed, raising both his heads. He made his thoughts on the matter clear: that he believed he could dig a tunnel down with ease.

Uzbug corrected herself, I do not believe we have the capacity to do that without getting caught.

“She’s not insulting you, Angel,” Kara said reassuringly.

Indeed. My specialty lies in both earth and mind magic. So with our abilities combined, we would certainly be able to reach my queen’s chamber. However, most worker forminacs also specialize in earth magic. They would be able to detect the disturbance in the soil.

The Architect Magus bowed her head, her antennae wiggling as she spoke. Angel harrumphed, but that seemed to placate him. Kara nodded at the both of them as she faced the dark tunnel entrance.

“Alright, Uzbug. Lead the way. And hopefully, we won’t get caught.”

If you will follow me… Uzbug started forward.

And both the human and the utlas bear trailed after her. The group of three entered the hive, leaving the light of night behind. It was difficult for Kara to see. And yet, she could still see a little bit, even if she was surrounded by complete darkness.

If she had to guess, this was another benefit from her dragonsoul, alongside her ability to heal from most shallow wounds in under an hour.

And while Kara still struggled to get her bearings when immersed with darkness, it seemed that Angel and Uzbug had less difficulty than her. Although… the tunnel was small, which proved to be a pain in the ass for the utlas bear to traverse.

Eventually, the tunnel opened up into an intersection of many different dirt hallways. These new tunnels were much larger, giving enough space for even Angel to stand up. But that meant that—

Don’t move, Uzbug’s voice suddenly echoed in Kara’s mind.

The human came to an immediate halt, and Angel almost bumped into her. The three of them waited right by a corner as they heard a soft set of footfalls approach.

They shrank back. And while Kara herself could barely make out the shape of a few moving shadows, she knew it was a group of soldier forminacs passing through a hallway up ahead. She held her breath, and footsteps eventually vanished as the shadowed figures faded away.

We will have to be wary of these patrols now that we’ve reached the outer sections of the hive, Uzbug said as she drew forward.

Kara pursed her lips. We’re only at the outer sections of the hive? the thought crossed through her mind, but she didn’t say a word, opting to remain silent.

The three of them continued sneaking through the hive. They avoided every patrol they came across thanks to Uzbug’s help, but it slowed their progress a lot. Two hours had to have passed by the time the Architect Magus spoke up once again.

We have reached the inner sections of the hive, she relayed her thoughts.

And Kara could certainly see a difference. Even if it was still dark, she saw the outlines of the brickstones on the walls. The ceilings were much higher, and the layout was much more uniform, with various rooms lining the side of each corridor.

Kara could see the vague shape of figures inside each room. But they weren’t moving. They were lying on the ground like they were massive tiles on the floor.

These are the sleeping quarters for the workers, Uzbug explained. I used to sleep in one of these rooms every night. But even back then, I struggled with falling asleep. So I would just lay there and stare at the dark ceiling for hours on end.

She slowed to a halt as she stared at one of the rooms. Her antennae lowered, and she placed a hand on her chest.

Perhaps that is how I found my individuality. While I might have had few thoughts in my head back then, being lost in them all night gave birth to my identity.

Kara stared at the Architect Magus in silence for a minute. Angel glanced around warily, even as Uzbug clenched a fist. The long moment dragged on for a while, and Kara was starting to get worried about what was going through the forminac’s mind.

However, Uzbug finally broke out of her stupor as she raised her head. I was never accepted in this hive. Even though I am one of them. And yet, Dark Lord Koros embraced me with open arms, despite me being a monster. So I will always be grateful to him for that. He showed me what a true ruler is meant to be like.

The Architect Magus strode forward as Kara stared at her back.

And that is why my queen has to die.

Kara exchanged a glance with Angel who just shrugged. The two of them continued trailing after Uzbug as they made it deeper into the hive.

Thanks to the forminac’s help, the group made it through most of the way to the queen’s chamber without a problem. Unfortunately, one small mistake could change things. And that was exactly what happened.

Uzbug came to a halt right before a stone wall as her eyes narrowed, and Kara blinked. Angel stared at it quizzically as the Architect Magus brought a hand out.

This is not supposed to be a dead-end. This should be a tunnel leading down to the queen’s chamber. Shaking her head, Uzbug spun around and strode back down the hallway. We need to find another path—

But Angel’s ears twitched, and Kara’s brows snapped together. Uzbug came to a halt as she saw the figures approaching up ahead.

They were trapped, and a patrol of soldiers were on their way.

It appears we will be caught, Uzbug’s words might have sounded calm, but the tone her thoughts were conveyed in was evidently that of alarm. Her antennae twitched in a panic as she backed up. We are trapped, and we have nowhere to go.

“Shit…” Kara cursed under her breath as the footsteps grew louder.

Angel raised his staff, prepared for battle. And Uzbug clicked her mandibles together in frustration. Kara glanced between them as an idea crossed her mind.

There wasn’t much time to think. Nor was there enough time to act. So she strode forward as her body was wreathed in golden flames, lighting up the room. Both Angel and Uzbug stared at her in confusion.

“I’ll create a distraction,” Kara said as the light of her flames limned the forminac soldiers up ahead. Glancing back, she gestured towards the dead-end. “You two will dig your way to the queen’s chamber and kill her. Once you do that, we’ll get the fuck out of here.”

Angel blinked once. The Architect Magus tried to protest.

You will be facing the entire hive— she started.

But Angel grabbed her, while nodding at the human. Kara looked back towards the forminac soldiers as they silently charged her way. She brought her hands together as she grinned.

“Hey, you bastards!”

There were a dozen of them. Not too many. But soon, she knew more would come. So she brought a ball of flames to her mouth as she shouted, trying to draw as much attention to herself as possible.

“Eat this—”

Dragon’s Breath.

And a blast of golden flames washed down the hallway, before erupting into a powerful explosion that shook the entire hive. But even as the fire dissipated, leaving behind the charred corpses of the dead soldiers, Kara could already hear a rush of thunderous footsteps making their way towards her.

“You know, I heard so much about the dangers of the Ashfields, but so far, I’ve been unimpressed…” She spread her arms wide as she called out to the approaching monsters. “So come at me, and I will show you what a real field of ash looks like!”

As she unleashed a blast of flames down the hallway, behind her, Angel and Uzbug began digging into the wall.

—--

Angel and Uzbug continued to tunnel their way through the wall, traveling in a sharp decline towards where the forminac queen’s chamber should have been. While Angel himself wasn’t sure if this was the right direction, Uzbug was certain that it was.

Even if the layout of the hive has changed, the queen’s chamber should have remained in the same location, the Architect Magus insisted.

Chunks of stone and dirt flew back as Angel pointed. His earth magic was proficient enough to slowly dig through the earth, perhaps digging out a foot of earth every second. But with Uzbug’s help, they were able to tunnel five times faster.

We are close, Uzbug said as the tunnel shook from Kara’s fighting in the distance. Angel glanced back, before looking forward. He did have a few questions, but it seemed the forminac was able to sense them from the expression on his face, as she continued. My queen is not a powerful fighter. But neither am I.

Angel quirked his head as the Architect Magus spread her mandibles apart in worry.

I do not know if I will be able to properly face my queen. A small part of me still feels a sense of loyalty towards her, even though I have been exiled. But that is because she was my entire reason to live for most of my life. So I doubt that I will be able to offer you much aid in this battle.

Uzbug lowered her head, tightening all four of her hands into fists. Angel finally understood what she was getting at.

He was going to have to pretty much defeat the queen on his own.

I will try to offer as much support as I can, Uzbug said as the dirt wall began to break, revealing the first vestiges of a vast chamber. But I do not believe I will be of much help.

Angel stared at her, then looked towards the last of the wall as it broke apart. He almost hesitated. He wondered if this was something he could do. But he steeled himself, remembering why he chose to tag along.

He nodded as the chamber at the other side opened up, revealing a massive figure sitting there. It was the queen forminac. She was roughly twice Angel’s height, even while sitting down. And she was flailing her arms angrily as her antennae wagged back and forth like a dog’s tail.

I can still connect with my queen’s network of thoughts, Uzbug said as she turned to Angel. I will relay her thoughts to you—

And right as Uzbug’s words echoed in the utlas bear’s mind, another voice interrupted her. It was still in her voice, but the tone was an outraged one, practically yelling, despite being nothing more than a cacophony of thoughts.

WHO IS THIS INTRUDER? HOW DID YOU ALLOW THIS INTRUDER TO GET SO CLOSE TO MY CHAMBERS? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, YOU INCOMPETENT FOOLS!

Angel wanted to wince at that. Uzbug moved ahead, climbing down into the room. He followed after her as he swept his gaze over the circular chamber. It was large— about a hundred feet across.

And there had been a group of hulking soldier forminacs in the room with the queen. But she pointed at them, sending them out to kill Kara.

STOP STANDING THERE— MOVE!

Angel and Uzbug reached the bottom and exchanged a glance. The queen’s back was turned to them, not even realizing they were there. They waited for the last of the soldiers to leave, before they started to act.

Now is the chance to strike, Uzbug said as her antennae twitched, and the entrance to the room began to tremble. I will block off the doorway, you attack.

Angel raised his staff as he began to create a giant spear of stone. It was about his size, and he aimed it at the queen’s head. She stared at the entrance to the room as it began to crumble, before voicing her surprise.

WHAT—

And the stone spear lanced out, striking her at the back of her head. Angel thought that would have been enough to finish her off— he hoped it would be over, just like that. So he could return to Kara and they could escape.

But the stone spear barely cut through the surface of the queen’s carapace as she recoiled. Her head snapped forward, before she craned her neck back. She stared down at Angel, then looked towards Uzbug.

I KNOW YOU, her voice bellowed in Angel’s mind.

How…? Uzbug stared in shock. I do not understand. My queen shouldn’t be able to… unless—

And Angel made the same realization too as the queen forminac rose to her feet. Just like how the hive had expanded since Uzbug had last been here, the queen forminac had also evolved and gotten stronger.

DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD RETURN TO MY HIVE AND USURP MY THRONE? RIDICULOUS!

The queen forminac raised one of her massive limbs and swung down at Angel and Uzbug.

—--

Kara leapt forward, shredding apart the endless waves of forminac soldiers that poured down the hallway. With her Dragon’s Claws, she was able to shear through their armor-like carapace with ease. And they couldn’t even get close to her, because her Dragon’s Scales burned them when they so much as even tried to touch her.

That was not to mention that she was far faster than they were. The monsters were slow and bulky, even if they were strong with exoskeletons. Kara brought down another group of them, before looking up as a hundred more poured down her way, led by one of the hulking forminac soldiers.

She grinned as she swiped out with a clawed hand, even from a distance.

“God Strike!”

And the attack completely annihilated them. Even the hulking forminac soldier hadn’t been able to survive the streak of flames cutting and burning through everything it touched. She took a step back as she called out.

“Is that all you guys got?!”

But right as she asked the question, she heard a soft shifting sound. Looking down, she watched as the ground beneath her feet began to crack open. Her brows snapped together. And then she realized that the walls and the ceiling were breaking apart too.

The realization settled in.

“They’re digging through the earth…?”

Kara watched as dozens of the larger forminac soldiers began to flank her from below and above. At the same time, hundreds more of regular forminac soldiers charged down the hallway at her.

She took in a deep breath, before raising her hands to the side. Her arms blazed with the golden fire as she closed her eyes.

“The Wrath of Dragonkind.”

And all around her, everything burned.

—--

Angel stumbled to the side as the queen forminac struck the ground again and again and again. Her massive limbs broke apart the earth, and he raised his staff. The large chunks of rock shot up at her, but they bounced off her carapace like a weak barrage of pelting pebbles. Even though each rock had been the size of his head, shooting up at incredibly high speeds, it didn’t matter.

The queen forminac could easily withstand any attack Angel threw at her. But any attack she sent back to him could kill him if they connected.

He tossed himself to the side as the giant ant swung down again. Her antennae twitched as she seemed to transmit her thoughts, which were quickly relayed to him through Uzbug.

WHERE ARE MY ROYAL GUARDS? RETURN TO ME AT ONCE AND EXTERMINATE THESE PESTS!

Angel was almost relieved to hear that voice. Not because he wanted to know what the queen was saying, but because he hadn’t known what happened to Uzbug after the first attack. He had almost thought she was crushed by the queen’s massive limb.

He sprinted around the queen as he conjured up another spear of stone. He sent the attack at her, and she raised her hand to block it. But she was too slow. The attack struck her carapace and she recoiled.

It wasn’t enough to kill her. However, it greatly angered her.

YOU—

She swung down at Angel as he leapt back again. Her attack missed once more, the impact of the breaking ground sending him into the air. But she wasn’t finished with her flurry. She loomed over him as she opened her mandibles wide.

Angel stared at the queen in shock.

I HAVE GOT YOU NOW!

And she chomped down at him. Angel couldn’t dodge. He couldn’t move, because he was still mid-air. So he did all that he could do. He focused on manipulating the flying bits of rubble to form a wall between him and the queen.

It worked, taking in the brunt of her crushing mandibles. But it hadn’t been enough to stop the attack entirely. Angel was sent flying back as he whined.

He crashed into the side wall, bleeding from the side. Picking himself up, he panted from both his heads. The queen forminac was too strong. Perhaps if Kara were here, she’d be able to—

And Angel watched as the collapsed entrance of the chamber began to shift. His eyes went round as he realized what was going on. The queen’s guards were going to return. If that happened, he would stand absolutely no chance.

But before the forminac soldiers at the other side could break through, Uzbug stepped up next to Angel. One of her arms was broken, and her carapace was cracked in several places. She was clearly injured, but she pointed at the collapsed entrance, forcing even more chunks of rock and stone to block the path.

I can hold off the soldiers, she said as she glanced at Angel. They are designed to wage war with other forminac hives, not to dig through the earth. But I will not be helping you fight my queen.

Angel looked back towards the giant ant as it saw what was going on.

YOU USELESS INSECTS! she cursed out her own people, before looking to Angel. I WILL KILL THESE PESTS MYSELF IF I HAVE TO!

She lumbered forward towards Uzbug who was focused on preventing the forminac soldiers from entering the room. Angel raised his staff, causing the ground underneath the queen to drop as he opened up a small pit.

The queen stumbled forward and collapsed to the ground. But that hadn’t even hurt her. All it did was incapacitate her for a second. As she lay there, Angel began to create a spear of stone that was larger than all the ones that came before it.

He was certain that if he simply broke through her carapace, he’d be able to defeat her. So when the spear of stone was twice his size, and the queen forminac picked itself up, he sent the attack flying at her.

She charged his way as she screamed in his mind.

DIE—

And the massive spear of stone struck her abdomen. It pierced her carapace. But it didn’t tear through to the other side of her body. Angel blinked as she continued to barrel forward, before she swung down at him.

This time, the attack struck true as Angel tried to leap out of the way. His injuries slowed his movement, and he felt his bones cracking as he was sent flying to the back of the chamber like a ragdoll. He slammed face-first into the stone wall as he felt his body breaking.

And he crumpled down from the wall, collapsing to the ground. He could hear the laughter of the queen echoing in his mind. But even his thoughts seemed distant to him as he lay there, his vision blurring. He looked up at the queen forminac as she ripped the stone spear off her abdomen, before turning gaze to Uzbug.

Angel tried to pick himself up, but his body failed him. His vision continued to fade. Even as he tried to force himself to his feet. He did wonder for a moment about why he was pushing himself so hard— he didn’t know why he was risking his life for this.

He could have stayed back in the camp, left it all up to Kara. However, that was not what he did. Instead, he tagged along. Because he wanted to grow stronger. Because—

And Angel saw Zlo’tan’s staff lying beneath him.

—--

“This one still cannot comprehend it,” a rumbling voice said.

And Angel looked up at the minotaur sitting in the center of the tent with a hand raised and inspecting something under the light coming from the hole in the ceiling. The bear cub didn’t know when, but he must have passed out after he arrived. He searched around the room for Kara, however she wasn’t there.

Why was he here alone? Angel sat up as he yawned with his single head. He didn’t like this minotaur. He had practically been forced to hand his toy over. Even though it belonged to him…

His eyes flickered as he saw Zlo’tan setting down the soulrock.

Oh, that was why Angel was here. He hadn’t wanted the minotaur to do anything weird to his toy, so he had chosen to stay and make sure nothing strange happened. The bear cub rubbed his eyes as he took in the room.

A swarm of needles seemed to move behind Zlo’tan, weaving Kara’s clothes, even as he continued to study the soulrock.

Angel eyed this display of magic, before snorting. This was why he didn’t like the minotaur. Despite being able to weave Kara’s clothes without even looking, Zlo’tan had charged a ludicrously high amount to make it.

The minotaur realized the bear cub was awake and turned around, lowering the soulrock to the ground.

“Mr Angel,” Zlo’tan said as he rose to his feet. He walked up to Angel who shifted back warily. “Can this one make a humble request to you?”

In response, Angel tilted his head. He was much smaller than the minotaur. Which was expected, considering that he was barely even Kara’s size, whereas Zlo’tan was twice as tall as her. But that was because the bear cub was young and hadn’t evolved any further. He knew he could be as big as his father if he grew older and reached the Fourth Stage of his monstersoul.

That was all besides the point. He was nervous, being around the minotaur. However, Zlo’tan simply smiled as he proffered the soulrock back to Angel.

“This one believes that you have yet to finish your attunement with this soulrock, hence the reason why it is still brimming with a weak power. But this one cannot prove this theory without your help. So if you could please place your paw on it and complete your attunement, this one would be truly grateful.”

Angel looked down at the cracked soulrock hesitantly. It glimmered with a weak crimson glow, but it had done absolutely nothing for him ever since it helped him reach his Awakening. He didn’t think he could do anything more with it.

Still, he wanted the minotaur to leave him alone. So he touched it as he looked up expectantly.

“This one would like you to focus— not on me, but on the soulrock,” Zlo’tan insisted.

And Angel rolled his eyes. But he complied, looking down at the cracked crystal. Nothing happened, even after a minute passed.

Zlo’tan waited patiently, before urging in a gentle voice, “Please, could you try to remember what you did. Back when you first attuned with it.”

Angel sighed and closed his eyes. He doubted this would do anything. But he thought of what happened that night. How he had been frustrated with himself— with his inability to do anything for Kara.

He thought about all his failures. He thought about all his mistakes. He remembered his kin before they had been captured or slain.

His grip over the soulrock tightened. He didn’t like these thoughts. But—

“Keep going,” Zlo’tan said as the bear cub gritted his teeth.

Angel didn’t know why, but he listened. He continued to hold onto the soulrock as he felt the pain of loss overwhelm him.

He thought of Kara. He thought about how he didn’t want to lose her too. He thought about how he was the one to have been responsible for—

And his eyes widened as he saw a brief flash.

A vision in his mind. The same one which he had seen before. Angel stood surrounded by mountains. A massive statue of his mother towered over him. But even more statues began to break out of the ground. He caught a brief glimpse of their faces. He saw what they were supposed to be.

However, before he could fully process it, he felt a burning sensation in his chest and he recoiled from the soulrock, letting go of it. The vision faded away as Angel panted where he sat.

Zlo’tan looked the bear cub up and down curiously. And Angel just growled.

“This one apologizes if what you saw upsetted you,” the minotaur said as he shook his head. “But this one believes that what you saw must have been your soul.”

Angel paused, blinking a few times. But Zlo’tan harrumphed.

“Not your monstersoul— that is the embodiment of your soul’s power. Instead, what you saw was your true soul. The essence of what makes your monstersoul, or what makes my core. I did not expect it to be a painful process, but it appears my theory is right.”

The minotaur spoke as he drew back, looking down into the soulrock. Angel stared at him quizzically.

And Zlo’tan peered through the cracked crystal. “This soulrock is altering your soul, and what you saw was your soul changing.”

That confused Angel even more. And Zlo’tan seemed to realize that as he sat back down.

“This one understands you are confused. But this one believes he is beginning to understand the magicks of the Soulmaster. If you would like to listen, this one can give you an in-depth explanation. And if possible—”

The bear cub stared at the minotaur, before looking down at the soulrock. He remembered that vision of the tall mountains. He recalled seeing his mother’s statue. But more than that, he saw the cracks on the ground. He saw the first vestiges of the other statues, buried underneath the stone, before he recoiled in pain.

They had been the statues of his kin. The rest of his sleuth. Those who had been killed because of him.

Angel lowered his head as he remembered their faces. And then he looked up at the minotaur who smiled at him, proffering a hand.

“If possible, this one would like to run more tests with you.”

The bear cub hesitated as he stared at the open hand, before he remembered the pain he felt. He recalled the vision he saw. And then, he saw the smile on the minotaur’s face.

Closing his eyes, Angel sighed and nodded. He accepted Zlo’tan’s hand, and the minotaur chuckled.

“This one thanks you—”

—--

Angel forced his eyes open as he returned to the present. He saw the queen forminac towering over Uzbug. The Architect Magus created a wall, which the queen couldn’t smash through with a single hit. But the wall would fall quickly, and the forminac soldiers outside of the chamber began to crawl in.

Picking up his staff, Angel struggled to get back to his feet as he recalled all the memories he shared with Zlo’tan. Even though Angel had hated the minotaur at first, the two had grown close to each other over time. Perhaps it might have been because they had a common goal where they had both worked together to complete the utlas bear’s attunement with the soulrock— which evolved him into the next stage of his monstersoul.

Or maybe it was because Zlo’tan almost reminded him of his father. Angel didn’t know exactly for certain the reason behind it. But he knew he didn’t want to lose anyone ever again. He didn’t want to fail those he cared about any longer.

And as he resolved himself, another memory flashed in his mind.

—--

“This one is a failure.”

Angel stared at Zlo’tan as he returned to his tent, his head hanging low. Kara stood to the side as she pursed her lips, unsure of what to say. The utlas bear looked between the two of them with the two heads he now bore, and he wished he could speak— he wished he could comfort the minotaur.

But Angel couldn’t do anything except for watch and listen.

Zlo’tan faced himself with a morose look. “If this one cannot even alter his own soul, how can he hope to manifest it into reality?”

He clenched his fists, before raising his head.

“Even if it is only a partial manifestation… even if this one can never fully match the Soulmaster’s power… this one wishes—”

The minotaur cut himself off as he caught a glimpse of the staring utlas bear. Angel wanted to avert his gaze. He hadn’t been sure if he should have been looking.

But Zlo’tan just smiled as he nodded. “Angel.”

And Angel blinked, looking back towards the minotaur.

“This one has started on this path too late,” Zlo’tan continued as he placed a hand on his chest. “This one is too old to alter his soul— too old to learn something new. That is why this one wants you to do what he couldn’t.”

Turning around, Zlo’tan spoke softly as Angel’s eyes grew wide.

“That is why this one wants you to be the one to learn the Soulmaster’s way.”

—--

That was the last memory Angel had of Zlo’tan.

And even now, it made the utlas bear cry. But he wiped away his tears as the queen forminac finally smashed through Uzbug’s wall. He could hear the triumphant laugh of the giant ant echoing in his head.

But he didn’t focus on that. Instead, he turned his gaze inward. He focused on his monstersoul. No— he focused on something beyond that.

It was a place he had only been to a few times. A vision in his mind that he hadn’t been able to return to. But right now, something was different. Even without a soulrock, he found himself standing there, amongst the mountains.

Angel swept his gaze over his ethereal surroundings, and he saw all the statues gathered around him. He saw the faces of his kin who had perished. He wanted to ask for their help. However, he left them alone for today.

Instead, he turned towards a familiar figure. One that hadn’t been here before. All the other statues had appeared after he had fully attuned with the soulrock and evolved. But this figure was brand new.

Angel nodded to himself as he reached out for it. And he began to pull it out into reality.

—--

Was this the end?

Uzbug didn’t know. But she was picked up by her queen like a toy as she saw the forminac soldiers crawling through the rubble. Before the Architect Magus had arrived at this chamber, she wondered if she even had the will to fight against her queen.

But right now, face-to-face with the one who ruined her life, Uzbug didn’t feel like she needed to hold herself back. The ceiling of the roof shook, beginning to crack as her antennae twitched. She felt the dirt eroding as the weight of the world above threatened to collapse. All it needed was a little more of a push, and it would be over for the both of them.

Her queen stared at her with a callous gaze. Almost a gleeful look. Not realizing this plan.

DID YOU THINK YOU COULD KILL ME? YOU WHO DISOBEYED ME? YOU WHO CHOSE TO REBEL AGAINST ME?

Uzbug weakly raised her head as she faced her queen. I did not rebel against you, my queen. I never wished to leave the hive. But you were the one who expelled me— who told me that I am not welcome here.

AND YET, YOU CHOSE TO OVERRIDE THE IDENTITY I HAVE GIVEN YOU. FOR THAT, YOU SHALL BE PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!

The queen’s voice blared loudly as she brought down her mandibles to Uzbug’s neck. The Architect Magus accepted what was to come as the ceiling cracked even more. This was a strategy she learned from her true leader— from Dark Lord Koros himself. But right before the two of them could kill each other, a large stone thing crashed into the giant ant.

Uzbug was dropped to the ground, before a hand caught her. She blinked a few times as the giant thing set her back down gently to the ground, and Angel ran up to her side, whining worriedly.

The Architect Magus blinked a few times as she looked past him, staring at the large stone thing that had saved her. Her mind reeled as she processed what it was.

Is that… a minotaur? she asked.

—--

And Angel smiled, looking at the giant stone statue bearing Zlo’tan’s likeness. It stood as tall as even the queen forminac, but it moved far faster than she did. It landed another punch on the giant ant’s face as she reeled.

WHAT ARE YOU? she asked, being pinned against the rock wall.

Angel looked towards the stone statue’s glowing eyes. He saw the way it moved to protect him. And when he looked inside himself, the statue of Zlo’tan that had been there was gone.

It was the partial manifestation of his soul.

A Memory Realized.

And the giant statue of Zlo’tan headbutted the queen as she screamed.

Author's Notes:

6.1k words. Thanks for reading :)

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