"Well, isn't this the plops."
Isaac Bird looked out over the vast, smoke filled expanse of the third stratum and sighed. After his first trip here, he wasn't sure he'd ever be back, and yet here he was, back fighting alongside an increasingly fanatic band of mostly human ant worshipers. His first battle in the demon layer had been a whirlwind tour of death that nearly got his head separated from his shoulders. The fact that it culminated in a climactic battle that nearly got the Great One killed was just the icing on the cake. The whole thing had been catastrophically dangerous from the get go, and yet he'd come back without hesitation.
The things he did for love.
He was stronger now than he'd ever been before, by a long shot. The constant fighting, be it in battles against waves, or regular patrols within colony territory, had netted him bucket loads of experience and driven his spear skills to new heights. He was a better, more capable soldier than he'd ever been. Even so, he couldn't help but feel that his goal was getting away from him.
From the last he'd heard, Morrelia had retreated with the Legion and was now deep underground somewhere, in who knew what layer of the Dungeon, doing whatever it was the Legion did down there.
Unless he missed his mark, she was most likely doing whatever she needed to in order to move forward. That's what she did.
When he recalled those fiery eyes, her strong powerful build and those soft… fiery eyes, he just couldn't pretend he wouldn't do anything to see her again. To stand at her side.
Which led to his current dilemma.
"There you are Isaac, what are you doing hanging out here? You weren't going to jump were you?"
Isaac turned to see Derrick jogging over to him with one hand raised in greeting.
"No I'm not going to jump, you moronic plop sweeper. Don't joke about such things."
Derrick ducked his heed and grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry. You just don't see many of us hanging around near the edge. For obvious reasons."
The sheer drop of several kilometres being the obvious reason. The Colony really should put up a fence… although gripping the edge wasn't something they really had to worry about, the ants regularly walked right off the edge and underneath the plate.
"I like the open air," Isaac confessed, running a hand over his clean shaven face. "This is as close as we get down here to a sky, so I wanted to take it in. Helps me think."
"Well you better think quickly. The call came in from the command hill. We're moving out in a half hour."
"Half an hour? You can't be serious."
"I know when not to joke."
Isaac levelled a hard stare at his junior officer.
"Derrick, if that was another attempt at a joke I'll have you on latrines until your nose doesn't work."
"I never joke, sir. Can't in fact. Lost my sense of humour in battle."
"Good. You'll live longer."
The two men settled into a comfortable silence, though it was clear Derrick was becoming increasingly impatient. Isaac ignored his fidgeting for a few minutes before he eventually sighed and turned away from the edge.
"All right then, go muster up the men. Are the elevators working yet?"
"Not yet."
"They're moving us by platform again?" Isaac's face twisted into a grimace.
He'd much rather have something solid under his feet instead of a gleaming, iridescent plate made of mana. The whole thing gave him the willies. Still, it beat climbing.
"Seems that way. We've been told to meet up with general Anticus on the east side of the city. A camp has been prepared five kilometres' march from the base of the pillar. We have two days to regroup and then we move on the next city."
Isaac listened with half an ear as the instructions were rattled off without pause. He still couldn't help but feel amused when the former bouncer for an inn acted in such a professional manner, but he should be used to it by now. In truth, what had begun as a ragtag group of former town guards and militia running into the Dungeon to help the ants had grown to be a professional outfit in a shockingly short amount of time.
Goodness knows what the Colony thought about them in the early days. They'd been shockingly weak compared to the monsters they were trying to help. Unable to keep up on patrols, panicking at the first sign of monsters. Even Isaac, with his limited Dungeon exposure, had been one of the more experienced members back then. It was the Colony that had helped them, more than the other way around. They made sure the humans had received experience, fed them weakened prey, protected them and healed them when they were hurt.
Now they had a fanatical army ready to fight at their side.
"Derrick, I want you to round up the squad and make sure they get their gear packed and stowed properly this time. If Leon forgets his spare spear again I'll plant his first one directly where he doesn't want it."
His second in command nodded but hesitated before running off.
"You aren't coming?"
"Not immediately," Isaac clarified, "I've got some business I need to deal with in the command hill."
"Okay. Good luck."
"Thanks."
It wasn't often that non-ants poked their heads into the command structure of the Colony. In fact, it was exceptionally rare. Not that they were banned or forbidden, far from it, they were allowed in whenever they wanted. It was the overall atmosphere that people found intimidating. The ants did not find it odd or unusual to be climbing all over each other in cramped tunnels or low roofed chambers, even when directing a battle, but for a human such as himself, being packed against so many monsters was unnerving to say the least.
Still, his stride was determined. If he wanted to achieve his goal, he couldn't afford to hesitate. She wouldn't hesitate.
It didn't take him long to find the structure. The ants had wasted no time moving their command post up into the city the moment the battle had ended, that way they could better coordinate the arrangements within the newly conquered city. It was still impressive, the hill was easily fifty metres tall and just as wide. They'd managed to build it in a matter of hours.
He circled around the base until he found the non-ant entrance. A mage on duty quickly connected to him via a mind bridge.
[Welcome, friend Isaac. You have something you wish to report?]
[I think I need to speak to the general. This is possibly important and she might want to hear about it directly.]
[To Sloan? She is very busy right now. I will relay the message if you are certain.]
[I'm sure. Please do.]
He was knee deep in the plops now.
Efficient as always, it didn't take long until he was brought inside a small holding chamber, unsurprisingly with elegant wooden chairs, a woven rug and a hot cup of tea at the ready. He shook his head at the creature's comfort and chose to stand to attention instead. He wouldn't let them coddle him, though he was grateful they hadn't decided to bring him into the inner chambers.
He waited for a short period before another ant entered the waiting room from the inner side. Small by comparison to the massive soldiers, but still larger than he, Sloan was quite distinctive due to the large number of advanced mutations she possessed, particularly her large, wider antennae that swept impressively through the air as she walked.
[Friend Isaac. I am told you have something important you wish to discuss.]
Isaac snapped out a quick salute and stood to attention. Technically he wasn't part of the ant chain of command and didn't answer to Sloan, but that wasn't how it worked in practice. Better to show respect where it was due, in his book.
[General Sloan. I have recently reached level forty in my spearman class and I am ready to upgrade it to a new class.]
The ant nodded.
[Congratulations,] she said sincerely, and waited.
Clearly there was more to come.
Isaac took a deep breath to steady his thoughts before he continued.
[Have you heard of the Class Ant Lancer before?]