Chapter 1487 – The Breach pt 5

“Abandon the captives!” Zluth told his war party. “Slide as fast as you can!”

His group was much further back than most and had managed to avoid the crushing force of the large ant’s spell entirely, but many others hadn’t been so lucky. As Zluth raced to escape before the twisting roots could block the tunnel, he turned one eye around to see what was happening behind.

It wasn’t pretty. Many Krath had acted cautiously, just as Zluth had, but many others had not. When he’d shouted his warning, several Krath’sizz had pulled their groups back just far enough that they’d either outrun the strange spell or been caught right on the edge. By pressing themselves down to their smallest, thinnest shape, they were still able to push out of the field, if only just.

Yet there were several dozen Krath who were caught right in the middle. Despite straining with all of their strength, it was unlikely they would make it clear of the crushing force before the giant ant was able to reach them. Indeed, as he watched, the massive ant strode inexorably forward out of the blue mana and toward the captured slugs, clacking its mandibles mockingly the whole time.

His initial fears that some would betray the tribes, as Goszi had, were allayed as his fellow Krath began to detonate themselves one by one. The loss of good slugs was a blow to Chozth, but more traitors would have been enough to send Zluth into a fury.

Chozth herself hadn’t been idle. As her people rushed towards her with all the speed they could muster, she once again sucked in mana and began to work a spell. When she turned and started racing for the tunnel exit herself, she dropped down from the ceiling and began to hurl a stream of slick goop from her mouth.

With the trail of slime in front of her, she raced across the ground at an absurd pace, her lithe and powerful body capable of speeds that Zluth could only dream of.

“Quick! Onto the trail!” he yelled to his followers, sliding onto it himself and instantly finding himself gliding faster than before.

His followers responded, and soon the growing wall of roots began to fill their vision.

“Damn tree!” Zluth cursed, eyes bulging with fury atop their stalks.

There was only one tree monster capable of doing something like this. At least, only one that wasn’t an Ancient, and every Krath knew, and hated that cursed creature. Zluth sizzled with anger as he realised he should have seen it coming. The cursed children of the wooden thief had been seen assisting the ants, so of course they were here with her knowledge and approval. The Krath had expected the ants to tunnel around behind them and had taken measures to ensure they couldn’t be surprised, but they hadn’t bothered to try and detect the presence of the Mother Tree’s roots.

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A costly mistake, but one that wouldn’t be the end of him! He was going to make it out, no matter what!

Ahead, Chozth was already far ahead of them, the stream of goo from her mouth finally coming to an end as she ran out of power. Yet, for her, it didn’t matter, she had reached the growing blockade and leaped through, roots lashing after her form as she sailed through the open gap.

That gap was rapidly closing.