By IMERPUS RELUR
--
At the break of false dawn, before even the Hive's outer sensors could fully stabilize, it came.
A sound—deep, guttural, primal.
Not a roar, but a rumble.
A vibration from the roots of the world itself.
The Beast Tide had begun.
---
Lin Shen stood at the central relay node chamber, a neural strand wrapped around his temple, allowing him partial sensory access to the hive-wide perspective.
> [ALERT – Beast Tide Has Arrived]
Wave 1: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Beasts
Origin: Eastern Ridge
Estimated Numbers: 300+
Time Until First Contact: 90 seconds
Hive Morale: Stable
Commander Units: Synced
Swarm Instinct: Engaged
[Lord Level: 5 – Experience Tracking Online]
---
He took a slow breath. "All units—defensive formation Theta-3. Tunnel constriction points—tighten passage widths by 15%. Acid Spitters to rear channels."
The response came instantly. The Hive shifted, like a single breathing body.
> [Ant General – Krakk]: "Formation executing. Entrances sealed. We await the first blood."
---
From the Eastern Tunnel mouth, dust burst forth like a warning cloud. Then—
They came.
Razor-backed boars. Three-eyed howlers. Insectoids with serrated forelegs. Most Tier 1s. Some Tier 2s. Wild. Relentless. Driven by instinct alone.
But this was not a wild place.
This was the Hive.
---
The first boar charged in.
And immediately fell into a funnel lined with acid spray traps.
The second wave pressed forward—screeching, clawing, trying to breach the narrow tunnels. But the Swarm met them with precise, unrelenting violence.
> [Fusion Ant Units Engaging]
– Venom Fang Ants: Target prioritization active
– Spiked Tunnel Ants: Bracing positions stable
– Acid Spitters: Initiating volleys
– Mirrorling Ant: Adapting…
The Mirrorling Ant had positioned itself in the rear but twitched strangely. It had already memorized the movement patterns of the charging beasts.
It mirrored their tempo.
Then, in a blur, it moved.
One moment it stood still, the next—it had pierced a charging wolf-beast with its spear-like limb, copying its own lunging rhythm and redirecting it into a kill.
---
> [Enemy Killed – Tier 2 Burrowfang Beast]
[EXP Gained: +15]
[Hive Learning Recorded]
[Echo Chamber Updated: 3 New Combat Instincts Stored]
– Reflex Clash Offset (Boar Line)
– Spiral Charge Break (Insectoid)
– Adaptive Step Rhythm (Wolf Pattern)
---
Lin Shen smiled, voice low. "You learn faster than I expected."
From the rear chamber, his Spore Garden pulsed and released a violet cloud—the latest experimental blend. When it touched the Acid Spitters, their glands glowed hot green.
They fired again—this time melting the entire front line of beasts.
---
> [Wave 1 Neutralized – 94% Efficiency]
Remaining enemies fled.
Minimal casualties.
Worker Ants lost: 22
Soldier Ants lost: 5
Hive Status: Stable
[Lord EXP: +80]
[You have earned a Beast Core Fragment (Tier 2)]
---
Lin Shen's hand curled into a fist.
This was only the beginning. According to system projection, there would be four major waves, each stronger than the last, culminating in a mutated Beast Leader.
But he wasn't afraid.
His Hive did not flinch.
It learned.
It evolved.
It remembered every bloodshed and turned it into instinct.
---
> [World Notification – Beast Tide: Wave 1 Results Uploaded]
Current Regional Rank (Region 7): 381,921
Note: Significant kill efficiency. Projected advancement rate: +70,000 positions if sustained.
---
He smirked. "Good. We're climbing."
> [Time Until Next Wave: 6 Hours]
Estimated Threat Level: Tier 2~3 Beasts
New Trait Signature Detected: Burrow Adaptives
---
Lin Shen turned back into the Hive, speaking aloud for the first time since the battle began.
"Prepare regeneration chambers. Patch every tunnel. Feed the spores. And Mirrorling…"
The lone ant twisted its body toward him.
"…learn them all."