Formica was pleased after eating the succulent meal that Draco prepared for him.
**Little ant, you have made me quite happy.**
Draco nodded his head when he heard this.
'I am happy to serve, Lord Formica.' he replied mentally.
Formica clicked his huge mandibles together, and the loud snapping noise sent shivers down Draco's spine.
**I would prefer to have a meal of higher humans, but this will serve for now.** said Formica.
Draco realized that Formica likely meant 'powered' individuals when he mentioned higher humans.
When he heard this, it gave Draco an idea.
'Great Lord, if that is your desire then I have a proposition for you.'
Formica peered at Draco with his huge blue eyes and listened with interest.
Seeing he had the progenitors attention, Draco continued.
'I know a way to get you a meal of thousands of humans, 'Higher' humans included.' he said.
Formica clicked his mandibles in pleasure, imagining how tasty such a meal would be.
**Speak, little ant. You have piqued my interest.**
Draco smiled magnanimously, 'I know the way to several different human cities. If you have a way for me to summon you, I can let you past their defenses and give you the feast of a century.'
Formica stared at Draco for a long few moments, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Formica's blue eyes began to glow brilliantly.
His shining eyes were so bright that Draco had to look away to avoid being blinded.
Draco watched with shock as Formica clicked his mandibles together, and then opened his mouth to reveal his many rows of jagged teeth.
After opening his mouth, a white object shot out of it and landed onto the sand below with a dull thud.
**Take this, little ant. You can use it to summon me when you are ready.**
Draco saw that the white object was actually a horn of sorts, and when Draco approached it he saw that it was covered with a slimy red film.
The horn's composition reminded him of bones, and Draco could only imagine where those bones came from.
Draco reluctantly picked it up, keeping his thoughts of disgust at bay.
After all, Formica could read his mind!
Formica continued, **When you blow that horn, I can find you from anywhere in this world. If you are really able to give me a feast like you described, I shall reward you greatly.**
Draco bowed his head graciously, 'It shall be done, my lord.'
After Draco said this, the massive progenitor was evidently done with the conversation.
Formica began to promptly dig himself into the sand, and in a minute or so his entire frame was buried.
Looking at the tall bone spurs sticking out of the sand, Draco almost couldn't believe that such a powerful creature was below them.
Draco began to walk back towards the armored bus, and he saw that it was now heading back towards his position.
'Addo must've been watching what was happening.' Draco thought, wondering who else saw what had happened.
'No matter though. Even if I lose the cooperation of the scientists, having such a powerful ally will more than make up for it.' he thought, strengthening his resolve.
Once the bus had reached him, Draco opened the door next to the driver seat and climbed in.
Snow was looking at him with a conflicted expression, and she said nothing as Draco walked past her.
He walked to the back of the bus, but when he saw the horrified faces of everyone within, he realized everyone must've seen what happened.
Draco ignored the scared looks of his scientists and soldiers to turn and face the prisoners.
They were looking at him like he was a demon, but Draco figured this worked out better for him.
"Amber, come here and translate." he said.
Amber silently rushed over, fear in her eyes.
She evidently thought differently of Draco now that he had shown how ruthless he could be.
"Tell the prisoners that they have seen what will happen to them if they do not cooperate." he instructed.
After Amber translated for him, Draco continued.
"I would like to enlist you all into my forces. I will give you all your freedom, but you must serve me with your lives."
When the prisoners heard this they all nodded their heads repeatedly.
After all, serving even a murderous madman was better than being eaten by a giant monster.
Draco smiled when he saw this, "Excellent!"
He went over and broke their chains as a sign of good faith.
The prisoners were evidently grateful and they bowed their heads at Draco as he walked back towards the room in the front of the bus.
Draco walked in the room and placed a hand on Snow's shoulder.
"Justice was served today. Soon you will understand why this had to happen." he told her.
Snow looked at Draco for a long moment, but eventually nodded her head in understanding.
"You are my man, Draco. If you say something is best I will believe you." she said.
Draco smiled lightly and kissed her on the forehead.
He then turned to Addo in the driver's seat, "Take us North. Benghazi should be a few hundred miles away."
Addo nodded and turned the vehicle around.
After witnessing Draco seemingly summon that massive progenitor from the sand and walk away unharmed, Addo's loyalty was solidified.
All of the other scientists and soldiers were also in awe of Draco.
Above that, they were terrified of him.
This wasn't even to mention the prisoners, who were simply glad to have not been chosen to become monster food.
The entire armored bus drove through the Sahara Desert in silence, still in shock by what they witnessed.
Draco, however, was lost in thought.
'That turned out better than I expected. Formica thinks that I'm going to serve him by bringing him to a city, but in reality that works in my favor.'
He looked at the bone horn in his hands and imagined the possibilities.
'This horn is like a nuclear button. I can use it to get out of any situation, and if I play my cards right I can use Formica to take over an entire city.'
Draco smiled sinisterly as he planned out his next moves.
The armored bus continued to travel through the desert, and in a few hours the bus stopped to refuel.
Luckily, the slavers had already stocked the vehicle up with fuel and supplies.
The famished group had already been digging into the water, but there was more than enough for everyone.
Draco had allowed his new recruits to eat and drink until they were full, and they were very grateful for his generosity.
In truth Draco wasn't being generous, but pragmatic.
He couldn't rely on these new recruits if they were still starving and on the brink of death.
After the vehicle was refueled the group moved back out, continuing their journey North.
They traveled for nearly two hours without incident, but Draco saw figures moving in the distance.
It looked like two people, but this wasn't even what drew his attention.
Draco was surprised at the speed of these figures, for they were moving at a speed comparable to their bus.
As the vehicle slowly creeped on the two figures, Draco became certain that these people were powered.
Since they were moving at a similar speed as the bus, he expected to not catch up to them for a long while.
However, the two people seemed to notice the bus behind them, and they turned around and began to sprint towards the bus!
Soon they were close enough for Draco to make out more details, and what he saw shocked him.
'Those are the bandits who attacked us last night!' Draco realized.
"Stop the vehicle." Draco promptly told Addo, and the bus screeched to a halt.
Draco quickly opened the bus's side door and turned to face Addo.
"When I get out, drive somewhere far away." he said, stepping out onto the sand below.
Feeling the hot desert wind on his back, Draco took a deep breath as he watched the bandits approaching his position.
In almost a minute they were close enough to see who Draco was, and they were evidently surprised.
Draco's enhanced eyesight had allowed him to spot them much farther away, but they didn't have the same luxury.
They stared at Draco in shock, for they were sure this strange foreigner was eaten by that massive monster the night before.
"Why the long faces?" Draco chuckled, smiling sinisterly.
The bandits said nothing, but he could see the anger building up in their faces.
Draco continued, "I recognize one of you from back at that Oasis. Remember what I told you?"
The bandit Draco had first spoken to walked forward and spat onto the sand.
"You will pay, white man." he said, veins popping out of his forehead.
Draco laughed when heard that, "I knew you were a b*tch, but I didn't take you for a racist."
He cracked his knuckles as he approached the duo, he planned on making an example out of these pests.