Chapter 1490 – Unexpected Twist

Commander Chyron of the Abyssal Legion stomped away from the meeting with the infuriating ant, her mind awhirl. Morrelia hurried along in her superior’s wake, wondering just what was bothering the woman so much.

She didn’t get any answers until they’d made their way back to their outpost. Without a word, the Commander strode through the camp and into the command tent, taking off her helmet and sitting down with an irritated huff.

Following into the tent were her two tribunes and the Legion Dungeon Seer, each with wary expressions on their faces as they wondered just what had put Chyron in such a poor mood.

“Report,” she stated flatly and the Dungeon Seer stepped forward.

He was a man of middling age, with the short cut hair and clean shaven face expected of a Legionary. Despite his Class as a specialist form of Mage, his frame was packed with lean muscle, as even Mages in the Legion were not exempt from the hard physical training.

“Yes, Commander,” he saluted. “The inspection was carried out cleanly and without interference. It seems the ants don’t know how to interfere with the process, or aren’t trying.”

“Just give me the number, Wallace,” Chyron grimaced. “I don’t think they have any interest in trying to meddle with the process.”

“The monster’s Level has risen to one hundred and seventy one,” Wallace reported.

“It’s climbing rapidly,” Morrelia noted without inflection. “Fighting in the fifth has been providing a great deal of experience, it seems.”

Joshen Aurelis, her fellow tribune, looked at her askance.

“This is clearly an issue, Commander,” he said. “If the target reaches the next tier before descending to the next stratum, our task will become significantly more difficult.”

Chyron eyed the three figures in the tent with her. All of them waited on her words, though Joshen appeared somewhat impatient. He was always that way, eager for promotion, eager for advancement, eager to prove himself. Every moment was an opportunity for that young man. It was good for the young ones to have ambition, but she found his constant push to elevate himself detracted from his performance more than elevated it. Duty for duty’s sake should be enough for a Legionary.

“And what do you propose we do about it, Joshen?” she asked. “Attack the target in the middle of this enormous fortress while surrounded by hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of monstrous ants? Even if we were able to destroy the creature before we were attacked by the others, which I cannot guarantee, then our entire Legion would be annihilated. At a time like this, we need every man and woman available to fight against the Dungeon. I won’t sacrifice lives needlessly.”

Chastened, Joshen nodded his understanding, though his expression firmed. Doubtless he was already thinking of a way to put himself forward again.

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“What are your thoughts?” Chyron asked Morrelia, turning toward her other tribune.

The young woman considered her words for a moment, a habit Chyron had seen from her often when it came to the ants. Normally, she was decisive and forthright, unflinching in her views and advice. The Commander still wasn’t sure what made her so hesitant to give her first thought when discussing these monsters, but she continued to ponder the reason.

“As you said, Commander,” Morrelia said slowly, “we can’t act now. Events have unfolded in such a way as to make completing our mission almost impossible. Without reinforcements or a fortuitous opportunity, it’s difficult to see how we could succeed and escape with our Legion intact.”

“So what do you advise?” Chyron prompted.

Morrelia took a breath, then spoke, and the Commander strongly suspected this was her initial thought coming to the surface.