Chapter 526: 526
We get in and we get out . That's the fundamental truth of this raid and I'm going to stick to it like a sticky substance applied to another, less sticky thing . There must be a better analogy, but I'm too pumped up to iron it out right now . It takes a little convincing but eventually we get Sarah down into the tunnel and fleeing with her buddy Jim . With her mental state as muddled as it is, I don't want her hanging around for the rest of what's going to happen around here . Namely, robbing the facility blind and running off with the loot .
We don't plan to destroy the Shapers themselves in the process, but it's inevitable that a few get caught up in the crossfire . I've made peace with that, seeing as they didn't particularly care if I myself was broken in the course of constructing their super monster . Leaving the arena, I crawl back down under the surface and immediately I'm covered in a goop like darkness that wraps itself around me .
[Master! I've completed my task and returned to you . ]
[Yes… I noticed . Good job, Crinis . Did the other Shadow monsters get out safely?]
[Most of them did, Master . I believe that between the pets and I we were able to secure almost all of the cores . ]
[Great . I'm sure you managed to make yourself plenty distracting up there . ]
[What are you saying, Master?] A dangerous note creeps into her tone as she questions me .
[Ah… Nothing! Just that you have a very striking appearance!]
[Why thank you!]
[ACK! Don't squeeze me!]
I'm glad I sent Crinis with the Core Shapers as part of our distraction . Not only would she be able to support the others and the show of force that much more terrifying, it gave me a bit of time without being choked . I quite enjoyed that time . Sadly, it's over now, and as I make my way through the tunnel, it becomes clear that Crinis has no intention of relinquishing her grip .
The network of tunnels dug throughout the outpost are swarming with the Colony as ants rush to complete their objectives . After securing Sarah, I only have one more stop on my schedule: the leading triad . I don't intend to rub my freedom in their faces or anything, as nice as that would be, I just want to be present to make sure they don't cause any problems for my siblings . As irritating as those three were, I have to respect the power and authority that they possess inside the outpost . If anyone will be able to rally the Shapers against us, it's going to be them .
So with Crinis attached, I rush through tunnels and burst out into the corridors of the Shaper outpost, tracking my target . Pandemonium reigns everywhere I can look as ants ransack rooms and herd shellshocked Shapers into corners, keeping them isolated and confused . Nice to see my instructions being followed, not that I doubted it . If we can avoid heating up the inevitable Golgari counterstrike any more than we already have, then I'll be pleased . No need to throw more fuel on to that fire . I instructed the Colony to put them down with a vengeance if they tried to fight back though . With the element of surprise on our side, not to mention a rather ridiculous numbers advantage, it was never going to be hard for us to overwhelm the place .
[I still can't believe these scum held you prisoner,] Crinis bristles as we rush through corridors not quite large enough for my frame .
[Settle down, Crinis . Most of these people had nothing to do with that decision . Let's just leave them be . ]
[You're too nice, Master . I still think you should let me spend some time with a few of them . They won't ever come after us again!]
As she imagines getting her tentacles on the Shapers I can feel her barbs start to form and grate against my carapace . I shudder to think what would happen to any Golgari that falls into her clutches . Is there a Geneva convention on Pangera? Any laws regarding being partially rendered by a void beast from the depths of madness and despair? Probably not, now that I think about it . This world doesn't muck around when it comes to the war between surface and Dungeon creatures .
[Do you have any idea where Tiny and Invidia wound up?] I ask .
[I haven't seen them, but they shouldn't be far away . Can you reach them?]
[Tiny! Invidia! Where did you guys wind up?]
[RAAAAH!]
[… Inivida, where are you right now?]
[We have found the rest of the monsssters . Sssssoon, we will take their everything . ]
… So I'll take that to mean they've broken into the monster cells and have started fighting the remaining tournament contenders . That's some juicy experience and biomass right there and I don't intend to let it go to waste . My siblings would be able to overwhelm them, of course, but the casualties would be unacceptable . Better to leave it to Tiny and Invidia . Those two working together will be able to crush any one monster, no matter how well designed it is .
All of those precious resources, I'll be taking them for my pets, thank you very much! Muahahahaha!
[You remember the plan, Crinis?]
[We find the leaders and give them pain . ]
…
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