Death Returns (VIII): Giant Fire Ant Queen 1

Before Rezar could fully disappear up the slope, Screet and Neema turned in the opposite direction and made their way towards the caverns that they were born. Just as Rezar had a mission of his own, so too did those two. Rezar has had time, even before the eight months he spent trapped in the dungeon, planning for today, he knew exactly what he wanted and how to achieve it. Lenore was confused, so she had to ask.

"Where are they going?" Rezar turned to look at her and said.

"To get their family, and some back up should we need it. But don't worry about that for now, let's deal with what's in front of us at the moment."

With that said they picked up speed until the entrance to the ant caves were right in front of them, unlike the last time he was here there has been some significant change. The entrance was wider and taller, big enough that the fat ass queen would have been able to easily enter and exit. And the guard detail has been tripled, there were six massive soldier ants waiting there, but in the end they were all just prey.

The first ant noticed them and surged forwards, coming to a stop as it spat out its red flaming acid, Rezar ducked under the spit and turned around, pulling out a pair of sickles from his back, making a full 360 rotations and slashing upwards, dividing the head of the of the ant into three accurate pieces. The ant collapsed as Brutus being through to his name barreled past Rezar and practically stampeded all over the fire remaining ants, turning them into mush.

"Are you an idiot or something! Now we can't resurrect them!" Jason yelled at the Ghost bull, his deep baritone voice reverberating across the entire cavern. Brutus looked remorseful as he had truly let himself get carried away, but Rezar patted the bull on the head to comfort him.

"Jason take point, keep as much bodies intact as you can. And don't focus on resurrecting them, leave that to me, just make a trail of bodies till you get to the queen." Rezar ordered as he bent down to resurrect the ant he had killed, ignoring Jason's infernal braying as he bulldozed his way into the Ant caves, his happy moos sounding out while the death throes of giant ants filled the air.

"You can follow after him Brutus, but be gentle!" Rezar said to the Ghoul bull that was busy hopping from one hoof to the other in anticipation of the fight. Lenore shook her head; this was an undead creature? Was this what the whole world was so afraid about, but why? This was no different from a father trying to keep his sons in line.

"What are we doing here Rezar?" Lenore asked as she followed behind Rezar and the newly resurrected fire ant, that looked a whole lot more different than it should normally.

[Giant Fire Soldier Ant (level 5 Ghoul)]

That didn't seem right, as ghouls were an undead one level above a zombie, after that was a draugr, and then a lich. But this were racial upgrades, not class ones. It should not be possible for Rezar to directly raise any monster as a ghoul… but then again she was not a necromancer, so she had no idea how their skills worked.

"The ants in this cavern are very well organized and are fast workers, above all they're good tunnelers, more that 85% more efficient than moles. But of course the moles are still the superior miners. Our path out of here to go deeper into Bahrenburg frontier and take an unclaimed land for ourselves.

There's a tunnel, but seeing as I was stuck in a dungeon for eight months, I doubt the ants I left behind were able to complete. I gave them a general direction to tunnel towards, now that I'm back I need the ants to finish the job, but seeing as we're in a hurry, I'm going to need a lot of them. Plus, if I kill the queen, there's a chance shell drop the spawn sigil for the ants, I'll need it to build my city and make it so that the ants are one of the creatures my dungeon core spawns once it binds with a town spire." Lenore opened her eyes and mouth wide as she practically yelled out.

"You're creating a monster city! Have you lost your mind!" Rezar shrugged his shoulders as he resurrected ants, going deeper and deeper into the cave as he followed the trail of destruction Brutus and Jason had left in their wake.

"You didn't think that at the start there'll be people willing to come join us with open arms, heck I'm not even sure I want people around me. But wat I know is I need an army that I can control, and this is the best way to get it. Besides, I'm not all about war, if most of you weren't so blind, you'll k now that many of these monsters are good for so much more than exp!"

Lenore couldn't argue with that; she knew he was right. The ants with their tunneling and the moles with their mining, if Rezar was able to utilize their skills well, it wasn't a matter of military might, he would be the richest man in all of Elysium with what he could achieve.

He could build roads and take a toll, excavate mines ten times faster and more efficient and control the trade of ores and precious stones. And god forbid he discovers other creatures or monsters with more 'Unique' skill sets. He could very well build an eternal empire that history would be unable to forget.

"YOUUUU!!!" a nasally voice screeched, Rezar gave a happily laugh and spread his hands as he answered.

"Yes me! Did you miss me your highness? Eight long months without me to give you some pressure must have been tough, look at you! You've grown fat! Hahhahhahaha, but don't worry. We'll be having a little workout, and once I'm done. I'll be the best and the only one, you've ever had."

All Lenore could say was.

" We're going to die."