By IMERPUS RELUR
--
The skies remained quiet.
But deep underground, Lin Shen's Hive was far from still.
Dozens of ants moved through the tunnels in formation, carrying nutrient-rich minerals, reinforcing walls, and preparing ambush points. In one of the deeper chambers, a faint pulse of light rhythmically flashed—resonating from the Hive Core.
> [Hive Alert: Beast Tide Detection Network Active]
Status: 72 Hours Until Estimated Impact
Scouting Ant Range Extended
Lin Shen stood before the Echo Chamber, silent. He had just finished syncing with the Hive's stored instinctual data—replaying the combat logs from previous defensive trials.
Every click, every tunnel collapse, every attack pattern… the Hive remembered it all.
He raised a hand, and the Hive responded.
> [Command Input: Deploy Tier 3 Forager Scouts]
Target: Outskirts – Region 7 Eastern Quadrant
As the order rippled outward, ten Forager Ants with sharpened mandibles and upgraded carapaces exited through narrow escape tunnels. They weren't meant to fight. They were meant to listen—to feel the ground tremble long before the Beast Tide surfaced.
---
Back on the surface, the [Region 7 – Open Channel] buzzed again:
[Lord SilverHawk]: My wall's halfway up. Not risking a thing.
[Lord EmberFlame]: You think walls matter when flying beasts drop from the sky?
[Lord DarkRoot]: They don't. But layered tunnels do.
[Lord Lin Shen]: Layered tunnels, reinforced by instinct-driven architects. Nothing's wasted.
[Lord WhisperWind]: Oh? Look who finally speaks. You ants preparing something strange, Swarm Lord?
Lin Shen didn't reply.
His Hive was too busy evolving.
---
> [Mutation Path Unlocked – Hive Variant: Spined Acid Runners]
Trait: Fast re-deployment units with corrosive gland burst
Tier: 3 – Adaptive Specialist
He tapped the panel again.
> [Fusion Initiated: 3 × Venom Fang Ants – Tier 3]
Result: 1 × Spined Acid Runner – Tier 3.5
Trait: Burst Corrosion | Short Dash | Reactive Mandibles
A newly formed creature emerged from the genetic matrix, faster than the others, body lean and arched like a dagger. It hissed once—and then faded into the dark.
Lin Shen stared at the data.
His swarm wasn't just growing.
It was changing to survive what was coming.
---
Three days left.
The Beast Tide was no longer just an announcement—it was real, crawling toward them with claw, fang, and fury.
And Lin Shen?
He would meet it with an army evolved from dirt, blood, and instinct.
> [Lord Trait Evolving – Swarm Instinct Lv. 2 Triggering…]
Hive Reaction Speed +10%
Unit Coordination Range Extended
"Let them come," Lin Shen whispered.
"The Swarm remembers."