Chapter 1409 – Nest Construction

“MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!” Isaac roared, though he felt as if he needn’t have bothered.

The targets of what his mother had lovingly called ‘motivational yelling’ were a squad full of human couriers, carrying supplies for the ant builders. Even before he’d opened his mouth, they were hauling backside just as quickly as they could, almost running with heavy burdens slung over their shoulders.

Well, he was here to make sure the supplies moved according to schedule, and by the plops of the pious, that was exactly what he was going to do.

“Rest when you’re dead! Drop off that gear and get back to the lifts! GO! GO!”

Again, he needn’t have bothered. The men and women carefully dropped their burdens in the predetermined positions and then turned and sprinted back to the entrance, ready to collect the next load. Each and every one of them had a look of such focused determination on their face that Isaac was slightly taken aback. How many times had he seen such single-minded focus in anyone? Not many!

Even scarier, was that he could easily understand what motivated them. Somehow, that tricky little general, Solant, had forged such an incredible sense of purpose in everyone taking part in this invasion without ever saying a word.

She didn’t have to.

The extensive drills, the manic attention to detail, the exhausting standards of perfection, all spoke of just how serious, just how consequential this mission was, better than any motivational speech could hope to. With the next load of materials came another squad of couriers, already loaded up, and they too began to sprint the moment their platform touched the ground.

Deciding he didn’t need to worry about ensuring those ferrying supplies needed motivating in the short-term at least, Isaac turned his attention to his fellow ant riders.

“Brindle! Make sure you aren’t obstructing the path! Keep your damn eyes peeled! Remember where we are, we could be knee deep in the plops in a second down here!”

“Aye, captain!” the normally reticent ant-rider snapped back.

He and his partner repositioned themselves slightly, ensuring they didn’t block access for the couriers and actively watching the walls and ceiling all around them.

More supplies were rushed in, and soon a steady stream of smallish ants began to arrive, easily identifiable by their odd front legs and claws. These were the carvers, ready to begin the great work. Among them was a seldom sighted, though expected face: Tungstant, one of the leaders of the caste.

She rushed forward along with the rest of her kind, each carrying pre-built components, ready to be slotted in with the rest for the mighty construction they were about to undertake.

“Ready to build?” Isaac asked, attempting to inject some levity into the moment with a broad smile and a stroke of his fine moustache.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“No,” Tungstant snapped back, her antennae practically vibrating with tension. “Trying to construct a completely sealed nest in an active warzone while surrounded by hostile, absurdly hazardous mana is completely impossible!”

Holding his smile in place, Isaac absorbed the blast of pheromones as Cavalant shifted beneath him.

I told you to keep your mouth shut around the carvers, her posture shift told him.

Already the carvers were getting to work, a torrent of mana being summoned and driven into the tunnel rock around them. Holes were drilled, gleaming, enchanted beams were installed and then sealed in, plates with complex enchantment arrays were locked into place in a grid pattern, and then, finally, they got to work tunnelling down.

As space opened up, the blue mana sank down into it, thickening and growing more dense as it went, the enchantments lighting up as they made contact with cleansing energy.

“You seem awfully keen to get to work on a task you consider impossible,” Isaac observed, not willing to learn his lesson.