Chapter 1422 – Zluth Ascendant

“I told you I could make you the next Krath’lath,” Goszi spat. “All we needed was for the Slee tribe to be brought right to the edge of extinction.”

Zluth eyed the older Krath, one of his stalks turning to track the slug.

“Are you regretting the bargain?” Zluth asked.

Goszi burbled out a harsh laugh, his voice sounding as if it were rising through a dense bog.

“Of course not. The last Krath’lath was a disaster. All fury, no cunning. She was good at bullying cowards and cultivating acid, not acceptable traits for a leader.”

She certainly had managed to cultivate a potent acid for herself. Even now, Zluth felt it searing through his flesh as he attempted to blend it with his own. He hadn’t been able to consume much of the fallen leader, nobody had, but even a little had been enough to take some of her strength.

“The real issue I have is making sure the new Krath’lath doesn’t throw me aside now that I’ve done my bit,” Goszi said, a sly tone creeping into his voice.

Zluth’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you saying I would go back on my word? Betray my part of the agreement?”

“If you wouldn’t, then you aren’t the Krath I thought you were,” came the contemptuous reply.

Of course, Zluth had fully intended to betray Goszi. Although his help in securing the leadership had been useful, the old slug now had nothing to offer. In fact, given the desperate situation of the Slee, having an older, weaker member taking resources from those who could better utilise them was making their survival less likely.

Making Zluth’s survival less likely.

He couldn’t have that.

“I will admit, Goszi, I called you out here to give you the choice. You helped me unseat the Krath’lath, so I won’t consume you on the spot. You can either detonate your acid gland and end yourself, or choose exile in the swamps. Perhaps I might have been able to justify keeping you alive if we were still holed up in the Slimegrounds, but now we are nomads without a home.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You would have killed me anyway,” Goszi stated with utmost confidence, and Zluth nodded his confirmation. “This is exactly the type of leadership we needed all along. However, I think it’s important you reconsider your position.”

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Zluth’s eyes curved into wicked moons as he turned both stalks on the other Krath.

“I thought you might….”

The two were isolated from the rest of the tribe, who were resting in an air pocket beneath a yellow mucus river. It had been a difficult journey, staying ahead of the invasion and its cursed, lethal blue mana, while also avoiding the many dangers of the fifth. Zluth had taken on dangerous scouting duties time and time again to ensure his people made it through safely, helping to secure his position as Krath’lath.