Chapter 1616 – Eruption

The moment it began, Zluth was on alert. His first suspicion was that Soluzz had set a trap, but when he turned his stalks towards the Krath’lath, he looked as mystified as the rest of them.

If anything, that was worse. Zluth was prepared for betrayal, as any sensible Krath would be, but this was something else.

“Are we under attack?” he demanded.

“Impossible,” Soluzz spat. “Here in the heart? Who would have the guts? Who could?”

“It’s the ants!” Chozth frothed. “They’ve come to save their champion after all!”

The large ant was still tumbling down the slope towards the pit, and Zluth wasn’t too keen on going back to take another look. It couldn’t be more than seconds away from plunging into the sludge, after which there would be no going back.

The shaking grew more and more pronounced, forcing the slugs to flatten their bodies and tighten their grip on the surface they clung to.

“What is happening?” Soluzz raged at his warrior escorts, but none of them had an answer for him.

With a hideous tearing sound, the flesh of the heart gave way as something pierced through, rapidly widening the opening and extending into the cavity within. Zluth was so shocked to see the heart invaded that he needed a moment to recognise just what he was seeing.

“The tree?!” he hissed.

“She wouldn’t dare!” Soluzz bellowed, but the evidence of their eyes betrayed his words.

Extending into the heart right in front of them was a giant root, widening and hardening with every passing moment. The slugs seethed at this blasphemous trespass, enraged that the hated interloper had gone so far as to pierce the heart.

“Kill it!” Soluzz ordered his warriors. “Send word to the tribe above! We finally have an excuse to hunt down and annihilate this foul tree once and for all!”

Snarling, he began to gather his immense magic, only to hesitate as something unexpected poked its head out of a small hole that had grown in the thickening wood, covered with a bubble of blue mana.

Two antennae emerged, followed by a little ant head, causing Chozth to froth with rage.

A moment later, a voice rang out in their heads.

[Nailed it on the first try. To be expected, I suppose, I’M BRILLIANT!]

Zluth recoiled. She was in his head? How?! He hadn’t felt the bridge connect? And yet it had, he could sense it now. What strange method was this? He immediately moved to sever the connection, but not before the cheerful, energetic voice spoke again.

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[Not a great place to stand, sluggies!] Then the voice seemed to shift, as if it were speaking to someone else. [We found the spot! LET IT RIP!]

Maniacal laughter echoed in his head until Zluth finally managed to cut it off, breaking the bridge between them. How? Why!? One thing was for certain: this moment was dangerous. He didn’t understand what was going on — and that meant he needed to be cautious.