Even Odds

Was that the liquid state? 

Then, a moment after, the liquid sphere dissipated.

Like a collapsing star, the compressed energy mass shot back out of the sphere and spread all over the wasp's body in an explosion of smoke. 

In an effort to regain its shape, the dispersed energy tried to gather again. But it was too unstable and the condensed gaseous mass could not hold long enough to properly fuse to liquid.

Due to its incomplete evolution, this event occurred repeatedly, and after many failed attempts, the time the sphere took to form increased.

I knew it was only a matter of time until the core stopped forming entirely. 

After Sensei's explanation, I knew it was fruitless to try to salvage its evolution. It could collapse at any moment and even if I purchased a HP recovery potion from the store, the mana it contained would just get sucked into the bottomless abyss that was its failed core. And if all that energy was swallowed up, I didn't know what state the wasp would be in, or if it could even stay alive. 

The wasp's body was wasting away but I was able to read the flow of its mana. While some energy remained I focused on redirecting the flow, channelling a small amount away from the pulsing centre, towards its damaged limbs.

Since its evolution was unsuccessful, I wanted to heal the worst of its injuries to see if I could use the energy to stabilize its condition at least.

And it worked, I experienced the feeling of everything being completely under my control, the sinuous body moved and changing aspects of itself according to my thoughts. Its bleeding soon stopped, its extended limbs retracted and the severed tissues slowly reconnected at the joints. I continued to fix it as much as I could, but then the energy I stole got sucked back into its core and I could do nothing. 

However, I felt stronger than before and I imagined this was how it felt as a larvae to control a host, freely, and without any side effects. It was too exhilarating a feeling to stop. Before it completely collapsed from exhaustion I would get the most use out of its body. 

Although its evolution was incomplete, this wasp's was now a better version of the former, with its toughened shell making it better than others in comparison. The only problem was what to do after. 

I could locate the queen. 

From the memories I received from the wasp, I knew she was strong. I also knew roughly where her chambers were. Unfortunately, the penalty for any wasp caught trespassing was death. I knew I would not come out unscathed.

However, while I may not be able to kill the Queen, with this wasp I had more access than before.

I controlled it to get out of the destroyed surroundings through the passage of the Hive core. Its walls had collapsed when the wasp broke through, and the hidden safety it provided was now gone. It no longer made sense to remain here, so why not make use of it? 

The other tunnels needed to be opened and now I had a good idea how.

The wasp passed the crumbling maze of walls, out of the chamber to the outside. With its bleeding stopped, it regained a semblance of its normal appearance and it seamlessly blended into the corridor, joining the rest of the wasps present.

The only difference was that it was larger and looked more intimidating than the others. 

As for my actual body?

I was currently wrapped around the wasps thorax, up over its shoulder, laying motionless. I couldn't see myself through the wasp's eyes but as I went along, no other wasps spared me more than a casual glance. 

I realised I must look like a paralysed host being carried away by it, which was not so out of place considering where I was headed. 

We soon arrived at the entrance of the series of tunnels where the wasps would go to drop off the paralysed hosts. If I estimated its size from what I'd seen, it would be comparable to a host chamber and contain thirty creatures at the least. 

They weren't used as hosts so I was unsure what condition I would find them in. But if they were too injured, they would be of no use to me.

I passed by a builder wasp at the entrance just as it dropped off its creature cargo and to my relief, its eyes did not settle on me as it exited the tunnel. 

Inside, it was empty of wasps and I noticed many different creatures. They were still under paralysis and unconsciousness was the only thing keeping them from escaping.

I also saw a large hole in the middle of the chamber where the floor opened up to a chute below. It reeked of blood and when I peeked in with the wasps eyes, I could not see the bottom. 

I knew from the wasp's memories that it connected to the Queen's chambers. These paralysed creatures were only here, waiting to be thrown down below to be feasted on by wasps while still alive. It was truly an unfortunate way to die.

But today was their lucky day.

I walked through the chamber looking at the different paralysed creatures and only selected the ones with the fewest injuries. Piling on as many on the wasp's arms as it could carry.

I exited the chamber, blending in with the other wasps by pretending I was transporting the bodies to another tunnel, before disappearing down the isolated path to the crumbling maze.

There, I placed the bodies inside the Hive core before returning to the creature tunnels once again. I made many more trips in a similar fashion, emptying tunnel after tunnel until I'd gathered as many bodies as I could fit inside the Hive core.

Other than a few curious looks, not once was I stopped by any of the other wasps. Likely because my wasp was larger and stronger than them all. 

With the creatures safely rescued, I placed them by the blocked tunnels while I waited for their paralysis to wear off but I soon started to feel exhaustion. The wasp's energy had drained substantially after the activity and its body was growing weak.

«What are you planning?» Sensei asked suspiciously.

"Waiting." I answered curtly. 

«You plan to save them?» Sensei scoffed in disbelief. «When they wake up and start running amok, who do you suppose would get eaten first? The sooner you realise you can't save everyone, the better things would be for you...» 

"It's not what you think." I interrupted Sensei. "I know I can't save everyone. The most important thing is to stop the hive from expanding more than it already has. Its threat is already too big. I'm just using them for my plans."

«You think by saving them, they will owe you and want to help you.» Sensei added. «You overestimate these creatures. They'd tear you apart as soon as they get the chance. How do you plan on convincing creatures that are unknown to you, when you can't even speak to your own snakes.» 

It stung that Sensei was still doubtful.

"I don't need to. With [Mind Chain], I can directly pass on my thoughts."

Sensei continued to fire questions. «What if you eviscerate their memories like you did to the wasp.» 

"That was a mistake." I immediately defended myself. "It took me by surprise and I reacted too strongly. But if I'm calm, I don't think that will happen again."

«How can you be certain?» 

Unlike before he didn't outright refuse. He was considering my suggestion and it was a considerable improvement. 

"I don't know if it would work." I begrudgingly admitted. "But with all of them working together, we can clear the rubble in the other tunnels and make them accessible. The tunnels lead to places all over the hive, If these creatures followed them and appeared all over the hive, the wasps would be attacked on all fronts. Isn't it worth a shot?"

«Even if [Mind Chain] worked, it can't overtake basic survival instinct. How do you plan on convincing them to take on such a suicide mission?» 

"I just have to give them the idea." 

At the worst, if it failed the creatures would go berserk but I wouldn't be in the Hive core to experience the fall out. But, if they followed the tunnels, the result would be catastrophic.

"It's better than doing nothing." I added.

«It might work.» Sensei reluctantly replied.

"You think so?"

«The chances are 50/50, depending on what thoughts you convey.»

To try this, I would have to release the wasp.

As it stood, the wasp was getting weaker and would soon outlive its usefulness. But according to Sensei, since all of its memories were gone, nothing would happen even if I chose to release it from [Mind Chain].

Didn't this mean it also wouldn't struggle if I returned to repossess it? 

I released my control, and the wasp's body collapsed, its head on the ground like a marionette with its strings cut. 

It did not rise up.

It was an unsettling, yet oddly thrilling experience.