(Two Chapter will be posted for today since this is a small chapter)
### **Chapter 13: Brood of Darkness**
The queen lay deep within the heart of her hive, her massive body pulsating with life. Tendrils of thought spread out through the vast network of tunnels and chambers, her mind touching the consciousness of every broodling, every creature. This was her domain, a world governed by her will, and nothing within it stirred without her knowledge. But today, the air was heavy with a different kind of energy—an undercurrent of loss.
She could feel the death of her children, the echoes of their dying thoughts still lingering in the hive mind. It wasn't sorrow that moved through her vast consciousness but something far older and more primal. It was a cold fury, a simmering anger at the affront to her creations.
A low hum filled the cavern as the queen directed her thoughts toward the site of the battle. The Kralin bodies lay strewn about the clearing where the final stand had been made. Those bodies still served a purpose. They would not be wasted.
She sent the mental command, and several drones scurried forward, dragging the Kralin corpses into the hive. The broodlings began the process of breaking them down into biomass. The bodies were shredded, dissolved, and absorbed into the growing mass of material within the bowels of the hive. This biomass would serve to fuel new growth, but more importantly, as the essence of the Kralin was absorbed, the queen's mental acuity sharpened. The faintest of pulses echoed in her mind as the new energy fed her vast consciousness.
This was a small boost, but it was significant. Every piece of material, every new bit of biomass, expanded her power. She could feel it—the slow, steady increase of her influence over the hive and the world beyond. As more bodies were absorbed, her thoughts spread further, her grip tightening on the threads of the jungle around her.
Deep in the hive, the walls of her chamber glistened with moisture. Nearby, the writhing sacs of her unborn brood twitched in response to her rising anger. The time was nearing. These new creatures, bred for a specific purpose, awaited the moment of their hatching. The Kralin would not know what was coming for them, nor would any of the others that dared to oppose her.
The queen reflected on the losses. Her defenders had been overwhelmed, outmatched by these reptilian warriors. The Kralin had fought with a ferocity and cunning that surprised her, but it was not their strength that concerned her most. It was their resilience, their ability to adapt. That made them dangerous.
For now, the queen's new brood waited, still developing inside their membranous eggs. Each one was a culmination of her will, crafted to fill the gaps left in her defenses. They would be stronger, faster, and more attuned to her commands. She had learned from the last battle, and the next wave of Xytherians would reflect this.
As her drones continued to haul the Kralin dead, she focused on the shifting patterns of the jungle. There were still threats out there—dangers not yet fully revealed. The jungle pulsed with life, and she sensed that others would come, drawn by the carnage. The Kralin were not the only intelligent life in these lands, and that meant more challenges to her dominion.
Her thoughts returned to the scene of the battle. She envisioned the Kralin retreating, their forces shattered. She had watched them flee, their fear palpable through the hive mind. Her brood had tasted their flesh, and now they knew the weaknesses of these creatures. That knowledge would not be wasted.
The queen's mind expanded outward, touching upon the borders of her territory. A general, one of her most advanced creations, lay dormant for now. His birth had been delayed by necessity. With each passing moment, the hive prepared for his arrival. He would be her sword, a commander with the strength of ten warriors and the mind sharp enough to lead her forces in the coming wars.
But there was no need for haste. She had time to perfect her new forces. The Kralin had been driven back, but they were not yet destroyed. They would return, and when they did, the queen would be ready. The new brood would be hatched, and her armies would rise, greater than before.
The queen allowed herself a moment of cold satisfaction. The jungle belonged to her, and soon, the Kralin would either bow or be consumed, their bodies feeding the endless cycle of creation and destruction within the hive.
As the drones dragged the last of the bodies into the depths of the hive, she felt the growing power surging within her. Each death strengthened her, each fallen warrior was fuel for her expansion. The hive was alive with activity, the sound of growth and development reverberating through its chambers.
The queen's maternal fury simmered down into cold calculation. She would use their bones and their flesh to strengthen her future warriors, their essence enhancing her power. These were not her children, but their remains would become part of her brood—absorbed, reshaped, and reborn as weapons of the hive.
Her vast mind touched the consciousness of the waiting brood, still dormant in their sacs. They stirred in response, a silent promise of what was to come.
Let them come again, she thought. We will be ready.
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