Devourer

Chapter 204: Innovation and Evolution

I stared at the pod that held the fruits of my labour these past few months. It was still far from perfect as far as backup bodies go. But as it stands, it would do for now, if something happened to Cecilia her mind would be preserved in this body.

Eventually, I would make immortal bodies for other useful individuals. Montis and Sarana come to mind with regards to useful specimens. Ordias was already immortal so he didn’t need it urgently but I suppose some improvements wouldn’t hurt. He certainly seems eager for it.

But I for one, am the type of primordial monster that prefers to kill two birds with one boulder.

The Sovereign path of my evolution creates some interesting possibilities. The Hives need the queens, that has always been the case. That’s actually what I thought was the best method. All the hives use it so I assumed it was just the most optimised way. I all but confirmed this when I tried alternative methods but that was before I headed down the Sovereign path of my evolution.

There was still merit in the brood organisation method but it did lack flexibility. The method of using broods meant the broods had to specialise and they lacked dynamic adaptability. For example, a brood focused on providing logistical support would take some time to convert to a combat-based brood.

But now, with my new adaptations, I can create more creatures like Legiana. The reason I never made any more before this was that too many cooks spoiled the broth. The level of intelligence would necessitate a degree of independence. That was previously not possible unless that individual was of a high caste within the Hive.

If I were to create more capable and adaptive specialised units they must be willing to be commanded by less intelligent and independent units. If not, all I would have created was a bunch of wild cards that routinely disobey commands.

This was due to the fact that the Queens are specialised command units, despite not being as intelligent as the specialised unit in terms of raw cognitive capacity. The Queens were always the most competent commanders since they were specifically designed to be competent in command. This whole conundrum means that the Briars basically would only listen to me, Legiana, Nafas and Malegaros. If I didn't have to keep this flexibility for switching commanders I could actually make the Briars even smarter, but there was little point if they were only capable of being my personal bodyguards.

Oh, but now, with [One Mind, One Vision], I can make individuals significantly powerful while maintaining loyalty and compliance to the chain of command.

Working on Cecilia’s spare body has managed to learn quite a few things about how to create individuals who are part of the Hive yet independent actors.

A great change is coming to my Hive. I might even hear debates ring out in the Hive's mind as the different perspectives seek consensus. With the speed that the Hive can communicate, having differing opinions across the Hive carry weight and come to a shared conclusion would greatly improve the Hive's intelligence.

I could already sense some of it happening with the queens. They now debate and offer their opinions rather than bending over backwards when Nafas gives a command. They still obey but they offer input and feedback which to Nafas’s credit, she takes and improves upon her existing plan.

I shifted my gaze from Cecilia’s spare body and moved towards my latest creation.

I asked Cecilia for the name, of course. She was always better at it than me, Running Shooting Dogs and all that. I have my moments of good names, but they are rare—like Legiana and Gurgle. On cue, my favourite bloated beetle approached demanding pokes, and I, of course, gave him a little poke. His gelatinous body jiggled from the prod, and Gurgle let out a happy gurgle before waddling away into his favourite corner.

Never thought I would ever have a pet, but I do enjoy Gurgle and his gurgling.

I sent a simple mental command, and the prototype before me woke up. The figure shifted within the holding chamber as the carapace wall opened with a crack. The figure stumbled out on its two wobbly legs; it took a moment to steady itself. It was similar in design to Legiana, but I decided to shift the design more towards an infiltrator role. It was supposed to be able to walk easily in broad daylight.

I actually got this idea partly from how Serchax operates, Sirens are distinctly separate from most humanoid species but their form is also alluring to almost all humanoid species. They make do by having a passive illusionary effect on their appearance that slightly twists their appearance to suit the viewer’s tastes.

I decided to go with a similar concept. This one had your typical female silhouette: your slender hourglass figure, thin waist, wide hips, large bust, etc., blah blah blah.

However, I made some fine adjustments to it. They looked like they were wearing a dress, but it was actually a type of second skin that can morph into varying types of clothing. So it can be a sultry dress, a tasteful cocktail dress, work clothes and of course fucking armour.

Her hair looked like a long mane of silver hair, but it was actually a type of silk that could harden into a helmet or even a hood. I did a little trick with her by putting a sensor dome under her hair, and when the hair hardened into a defensive shell, it wouldn’t affect sight.

Her actual face was modelled after some of the most popular courtesans and prettiest noble ladies. Her eyes didn’t actually help her see, they were special organs that allowed her to charm those she was “looking” at. They also helped to cast a simple illusion over the face like the sirens do to twist their appearance to the viewer's taste. It also acts as a red herring as those trying to blind her would find little success. Her skin is made to be soft a supple but in the event of combat, it can harden into a type of material closer to Wyvern Leather than human skin.

Naturally, she came with a pair of syncronised ether cores and a very sophisticated brain. The shackles on her were loose so she was far more independant than most hive creatures. For now I plan to drop her in under Legiana to see how she does.

She blinked for a moment, her facial expression the perfect example of pure innocence. Her eyes looked around the room with practiced ease as she manipulated them in a perfect imitation of humanoid eyes. Her eyes glowed with a ethereal blue light as she scanned the room. Her large beautiful eyes glowed like sapphires as she locked her eyes one me. A radiant smile that I was sure would melt even the strongest of humanoid hearts blossomed across her face. She trotted up to me and gave me a graceful curtsy, her every action the example of feminine grace.

Her beauty was there to ensnare and her innocent demeanour was to invoke a protective instinct in those who viewed her.

“Hello my king.” she said her voice high, cute and childlike.

Oh, she is going to do very well, I plan to have her masquerade as the newest member of the Faith of Unity. With someone like her roaming the streets the people will ditch the Church of the Sacred Order in droves.

This one is going to sing and charm her way into the hearts of the populace.

Cecilia suggested the name Fayetta and I think it will work just fine.

Those thirsty little shits won’t stand a chance…

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

Regari grimaced as he felt his sword get knocked out of his hand for the twentieth time in the last two hours. He let out a small groan as he shook his hand, the constant strikes has left his palm bloodied and his arm numb.

“Are you sure you can’t just heal me?” Regari grumbled as he walked over to pick up his sword.

Regari glanced over at Mahaila who was just giving him a bemused smile as she held her rapier in a relaxed grip.

“Your enemies aren’t going to care that your hand hurts kid. Some fights go on for hours, if you can’t keep up there is a good chance you are going to end up dead.” Mahaila said as she lightly twirled her rapier, her demeanour showing that she felt no fatigue at all.

“What was the longest fight you ever had?” Regari asked and that gave Mahaila a moment of pause as she considered the question.

“Eleven days I believe. It was a long duel, I came out on top for that one.” Mahaila replied.

“Who were you fighting?” Regari asked as he readied his stance.

“An Archangel, I left him a scar on his face so he would always remember he lost.” Mahaila said as she flashed a savage smile.

Regari was briefly stunned at those words, he was about to ask which Archangel but he saw Mahaila launch herself at him.

In a panic he tried to parry the incoming strike but instead he felt his sword get batted out of his hand.

“Pay attention, most duels aren’t honourable things, sneak attacks are par for the course in battles to the death.” Mahaila said as Regari gulped from the blade being held at his throat.

“Now pick up your sword, we go again.” Mahaila said and Regari nodded mutely.

The rest of the day went more or less like this. It’s been a week since the Great Beast left and the hive was still at work tearing this world to pieces. The members of the new hive were now everywhere much to the distress of most of the people in the town. The fact that the hive was harvesting their fellow Limbo demons was common knowledge at this point.

So terror was the word of the day. They were terrified of them and for good reason. These creatures were ruthless and apathetic killing machines. On a few occasions he has seen giant gelatinous bettles walking around with translucent bellies that showed off their macabre cargo.

Regari grimaced as he readied his sword and he took a deep breath as he analysed Mahaila’s stance. He knew it was pointless, Mahaila could feint as naturally as he could walk. Her strikes were like snakes, coiling around his guard and when ever his sword clashed with hers one of two things happened.

The first being his sword would somehow be deflected in a way that would almost toss it out of his hand. The second was that it would feel like he swung his sword at a granite boulder. Somehow when his sword met hers in a lock, her blade wouldn’t even budge. The difference in strength was startling to say the least.

Regari thrust with his blade and Mahaila calmly batted it aside. Most fights Mahaila barely had to move, she could just stand still and parry all his strikes like they were nothing. He jabbed and lunged and all he got for his effort was the stinging pain in his hand as Mahaila gave him a static block that sent vibrations travelling up his arm.

He coiled his sword back and got ready to launch a feinting stab but Mahaila’s form just vanished. Regari hesitated for a moment but then he felt ice crawl up his spine. He turned around just in time to raise his sword. Mahaila’s blade came down like a hammer and he felt his guard shatter like porcelain. His eyes widened as her blade came down right towards his shoulder. He felt the blade strike his shoulder, he let out a howl of pain as he felt his shoulder blade shatter from the force. The armour Mahaila had loaned him had stopped the edge but it didn’t stop enough of the force.

Regari grit his teeth as he collapsed on the grey soil as he gasped for breath. He couldn’t move his left arm and the blow had knocked the wind right out of him.

“Now then onto the next lesson.” Mahaila said her tone a tad grimmer than before.

“That wasn’t the lesson?” Regari sputtered through his groans as he laid on the grey soil.

“You are not a normal demon kid.” Mahaila stated as she gazed down at him.

Regari gazed dumbfounded at Mahaila as she glared down at him. He had no idea what she was talking about. What the hell was a normal demon anyway? Was there even such a thing as a normal demon? Half of the demons were psychopathic murderers and the other half were psychopathic cannibals.

“You ever notice you need less food than your little sister?” Mahaila asked and that got Regari listening.

“Ever heard of this thing called an Heir of the Firstborn?” Mahaila asked as she raised a brow.

“No…” Regari groaned.

“Ever feel like no matter what you eat there is always this hunger inside of you? Like this thing at the back of your mind gnawing away?” Mahaila pressed and this got Regari thinking.

In fact yes there was this odd hunger. Regari was never well fed by any stretch of the imagination. But now he could eat as much as he wanted, his belly was full but this hunger still remained. At first he thought that hunger was from lack of food but now he knows its obviously not.

“What are you talking about?” Regari groaned as he sat up.

“Stand up, this is our next lesson.” Mahaila said and Regari wanted to protest at first but he saw the look in her eyes.

Regari grimaced and grit his teeth as he struggled to his feet, each movement sent a sharp pain through his body as his shattered shoulder screamed in protest.

“If you want protect your little sister you better be able to fight with missing limbs.” Mahaila said and Regari let out a groan before finally steadying himself.

“Now follow me.” Mahaila said and Regari grit his teeth before following after her.

He followed her for at least half an hour, the pain causing him to break into cold sweat. He finally staggered into this odd room in the middle of town. As he walked in he noticed that there was no other limbo demons around the building. In fact a few of the Limbo demons seemed to be quite terrified of what was inside the chamber.

He saw there was a Limbo demon chained in the middle of the chamber and a pair of hive soldiers were guarding her. She was struggling in the chains her eyes wide in fear.

“Now then, I’m going to tell you something very important about being an Heir of the Firstborn. The Firstborn are what most know as the Devourers or the Old Gods.” Mahaila said and Regari glaced at her in surprise.

“We are heirs because we share a piece of their power. Some say it's a leftover legacy since the Old Gods created our distant ancestors. They operated under one rule: Strength is taken from the weak. Consume, adapt, overcome,” Mahaila said as Regari and Mahaila looked down at the struggling demon.

“As an Heir you will be able to devour the essence of any living creature provided it is sufficiently weaker than you or if it has been sufficiently weakened by you. As for this one, it was difficult to find something weak enough considering most weaklings die quite easily.” Mahaila said as she gazed down at the trembling demon.

“Now can you feel that hunger? The injury you have should make it worse, dig into the feeling, that hunger and look at your prey.” Mahaila said and Regari just looked at Mahaila incredulously.

“What you want me to eat her soul or something?” Regari sputtered in response.

“No, you will be eating alot more than that. A creature's essence is everything they are, its power, its soul, its hopes and dreams. It is everything they are, hence the name.” Mahaila said nonchalantly.

“It is the key to how Heirs like us get our powers. It also provides immortality since it revitalises our bodies.” Mahaila explained.

“So now focus on the hunger and let your instincts do the rest.” Mahaila said as she glanced down in disdain at the Limbo Demon.

“Don’t let the pathetic sight fool you, this one killed her children to save her own skin. Then she sold her soul to get out of the execution.” Mahaila added as she ground her teeth.

Regari sighed in resignation, to be honest, he really didn’t care much for the Limbo Demon. Limbo Demons were the lowest of the low. In the Wrath Ring, calling someone a Limbo Worm was an insult that would often cause a fight.

He focused on the hunger and he felt something, like he had a pair of fangs in the depths of his soul and they were aching to sink into a soft prey.

Then the Limbo Demon screamed and Regari was snapped out of it. The feeling faded and he got a good look at the trembling weeping demon. She was terrified beyond belief and he looked down and saw his body glowing with this ethereal blue light, his fingers were tipped with these blue claws and even as he gazed at the claws he felt a sense of unease.

“Get on with it, focus and devour. Injuries tend of excaerbate the hunger, I can always chop off one of your hands for motivation.” Mahaila said dryly.

Regari felt a chill go up his spine. Mahaila was always gentle with his sister but he did notice she was alot tougher on him. Serchax called it tough love, but Regari wasn’t sure what that meant.

Well her “love” now involves threatening to chop one of his hands off if he doesn’t get a grip so calling it tough wasn’t that much of a stretch.

Regari focused again and tried to ignore the pain in his shattered shoulder.

“Feel the hunger, feel your fangs, power is not given, it is taken.” Mahaila barked and Regari felt something roar to life inside him. He heard this howling around him like a wild beast had awakened.

His gaze locked onto the Limbo Demon who was staring at him in terror but instead of that vague pity, he felt only contempt for her weakness.

“Yes, hold onto that, now what do you feel?” Mahaila said and Regari felt a dribble of drool trickle down his chin.

“Hunger…” Regari growled.

“Good…” Mahaila replied.

Now Feast…