Ch29: Folly, Part One

"To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence."

― Friedrich Nietzsche

"That's not good..."

The barrier around the ant's tiny system had repaired itself after Ven's entrance. The inky membrane resisted his attacks, far more suborn than on his way in. He could cut it, but it was slow going.

"Impressive!" The Queen bubbled. "We have never damaged the boundary before, how long will it take to create a tunnel?"

"Maybe a bit longer than a hundred years..."

It might be even longer. The hole he created had already begun to fill. He had to continuously attack, or his progress would be lost.

"Excellent," The Queen's antenna rubbed together. "We can be free so soon!"

"Yeah..." Ven rubbed the back of his head. "How about we visit your world for a bit, maybe I can find a faster way."

"Very well, we must begin the relocation of our civilization," The Queen motioned to the antcraft around them. "The world is yours, provided you can lead my people to freedom."

"I'll do my best!"

The Queen nodded, a sign for the swarm to loop back toward the planet. They carried Ven along, back toward the hearty aroma of the small world.

If this planet is what I think it is...

Then Ven wouldn't have to bother digging his way out. He could gain his largest meal yet, all while he fulfilled his promise to the queen. Ven disengaged from the swarm and waved to the Queen.

"Let me know when all your people are off-world, I'll poke around until then."

"It will take very little time," The queen clacked her mandibles. "Only the larva and their guardians slow the process."

The ants carried her toward the space elevator, while Ven descended directly to the surface below. The gravity here pushed his feet into the soil, a strain on his back and neck. He sniffed, a deep breath that drew him to dig.

Down we go!

The damp earth parted under his fingers, loose and heavy. It piled around him as he dug, a frenzied rush that continued until he struck paydirt. A smooth, crystalline surface, nearly devoid of color. Ven smiled, a spot of drool at the corner of his mouth.

I was right!

It was a core, a massive, moon-sized feast. This tiny planet was the center of the worm's inner world. If he could devour it... the creature would die, and Ven and the ants would be free.

But, how do I even start to eat this thing...

"We have completed our evacuation," The speaker ant called from above. "The world is yours now, we await you by the barrier."

"Got it..."

Ven's hands rubbed over the core's glassy surface. The power within called to him, a beacon that screamed to be devoured. The shadows of his aura swelled, a tide that poured into the ground.

The core had no resistance, a sponge for Ven's black energy. Its color shifted, polluted by the touch of the aura's tendrils. A tremor ran through the ground, an uncomfortable resistance that held a tinge of fear.

"Sorry big guy, but there's always a bigger fish..."

Soon the entire core was tinged a smoky grey. Ven's aura had spread throughout the structure like an infection. The tremor grew in urgency, ignored as Ven activated a power of his own. Lines of energy flowed from the core, into Ven's heart. Bands of warm cotton, wrapped and candied for his enjoyment.

"Ahhh!"

A sigh escaped Ven's lips. The power of this core was honey-sweet, richer than all the other cores he'd eaten. A tonic, it fueled his compulsion to eat.

Ven pulled harder. Streams became rivers, a rush of fire. Beaded sweat dewed on his forehead, turned to steam by the intense heat.

"That's better..."

"GAAAAAAAAAA!"

Space trembled, a discordant moan that carried immense grief. The core beneath his feet cracked, a burst of radiant force that Ven absorbed like a sponge.

"Quiet down, I'm trying to eat!"

***************************************************

"THAT IDIOT!"

The King swept up his children, one in each arm. The void worm would arrive soon, his family came first. He darted toward the unburied gate and tossed the twins into the first level.

"GO, TELL AANGOR TO SAY PUT!"

He didn't wait for a reply. The King swelled, transformed into a mountainous silver dragon. Aimed for the death cries of the baby worm, he rocketed forward on astral wings.

That fool really killed one.

The King had always been tempted, but reason held him in check. The adult worms were beyond Earth Deities. Only Ooulin had kept them in check with his mastery of runes.

"I wonder how it tastes..."

He shook his head. It didn't matter now, they had less than a minute before mama worm arrived. He had to find Ven and make a break for the gate.

***************************************************

Ven leaned back as a burp escaped him. The energy from the core had all been drawn into his aura. All he had to do was digest and convert it to cultivation.

"I should grab that other gateway before I get out of here."

Ven glanced at the sun. It had dimmed to a flicker, a hollow flame that could fail at any time. If that doorway WAS the entrance to the third floor, it was best not to leave it here. The space was destabilized, soon enough this place would collapse into nothingness.

It took him less than a minute to find the gate and store it away. He joined the ants, who'd created a spacefaring nest, and tried an attack against the barrier.

The surface crumbled like ash, a tunnel that spread cracks through the sky. Ven lept forward, just ahead of the press of interlinked ants. He rode the swell, up and out, into the light of the yellow world.

"It's good to be..."

Ven stopped, mouth frozen as a tide of spherical ant-ships slammed into his back. The sky was filled with a single image. A mighty worm, beyond comprehension, its ring of segmented eyes locked on Ven's position.

"RUN, YOU IDIOT!"