Chapter 762


    Most people did not have the power and influence to set off on a several hundred lightyear journey at a whim, but most were not the Great Queen of the void ants. That same power allowed her more leeway to act as she pleased, though she <em>did</em> have to rope others into her ns. Though she was capable of flight within a system, she needed a ship to travel between them, especially at arger scale.


    Anton also knew that while she had acted quickly, most of her decisions were backed by reason. So while it was inconvenient that she would be showing up on Akrys without consulting him, she had to have a reason. Though any proper discussion would have to wait until after she arrived, since there was little that could be said properly in small snippets mid transit.


    Within a couple dozen lightyears there were threes of note. Akrys withpletely unanticipated life and a variety of thinking individuals, Sogill with another story of destruction by the upper realms, and a third of technology for which a name had not yet been established. The borders were of great interest, but most journeys woulde after some months or years of nning.


    Anton wanted to explore more, but he needed to get back to Akrys. And not just because the Great Queen was on her way. Three Squeaks and the meerkats should be in a somewhat stable position, but his disciple was still ultimately near the beginning of his training. He might havepleted the second star by now, and could use further guidance given that Anton couldnt leave written instructions. He didnt know if the meerkats <em>could</em> write, but if they did he hadntprehended it as writing and had certainly not learned thenguage well enough to trante.


    -----


    Anton found Three Squeaks atop the hill at sunset, and gently settled down next to his meditating disciple. Surveying the changes in the area, Anton saw no signs ofrger scalebat. The biggest difference was the members of the Lowcliff Burrow moving in with the Shadysands Burrow. He had been around for the beginning of that process, with Three Squeaks escorting the first group. That had been sufficient for Anton to be confident leaving things behind for a short time.


    Three Squeaks eventually finished his meditation, and quickly noticed Anton. Master Anton! Youre back!


    Of course. I said I would be, Anton smiled. How has your training been?


    I am almost at the second star! Three Squeaks dered proudly. It feels like its getting easier? Should it be easier?


    Anton pondered for a moment. Sometimes, that is the way it is. Increased proficiency with cultivation is one contributing factor. And another if you are having sess, then your cognition should improve. Anton wasnt sure if all of that got across, because he wasnt confident about every word. But he believed Three Squeaks could discern the important parts of his meaning.


    Three Squeaks nodded slowly. My mind feels strangely clean. And I know why you nned for seasons after the next, now.


    Surviving until the next season is important, Anton said. But it will only get you so far.


    Three Squeaks had a few specific cultivation questions, including about controlling fire. He didnt know Anton had been watching his somewhat fortunate explosion at the Lowhill Burrow, but Anton already had answers for how he could improve. Not that it would have taken more than a moment regardless. A few centuries of cultivation experience proved enough to answer pretty much anything a cultivator of a few months could possibly ask about. Except, of course, those things that were unknowable even at his current level.


    -----


    The Great Queens arrival came soon after Antons return, though not by coincidence on his part. He sensed her ship in the skies above Aipra, almost certainly intended to catch his attention. He revealed his location to her, and she departed the small ship- leaving the pilot in orbit to upy herself for however long the Great Queen might stay. It must cost a significant amount to hire a pilot for what was likely to be a year or more, but then again such employment was well within the means of the Great Queen. She had no care for money except as it could advance the void ants prosperity, which ultimately meant she made certain that there were various ie streams avable. Though likely much less than a human cultivator of her prominence would achieve, it would be a vast amount from the perspective of anymon person, despite how their own rtive stature had grown.


    You departed quickly. Afraid I would tell you not toe? Anton asked.


    I knew you or someone else would say that, the Great Queen signed as she looked down upon the from midair. This is a nice ce. I should set up a colony here.


    I think this is exactly what people wouldnt want you to do, Anton replied.


    Come now, the Great Queens forelimbs gestured seriously. Is it so different from your own interference? We are not nning to devour the inhabitants of this world. We will teach them the power of cooperation just as much as you wish to.


    If you canmunicate with them, you mean, Anton pointed out. While they have developed vocalnguages here, many of them won''t be expecting a signnguage from an ant.


    Thats not that weird, the Great Queen huffed.


    Isnt it? Anton asked. Did you even havenguage at all when we first met?


    Of course. The best and most straightforward kind.


    You couldmunicate with your colony, I am sure, Anton agreed. But would you be able to haveplex discussions? Like about <em>why</em> the workers were supposed to do certain things?


    Only the leadership needed to know, the Great Queen protested. But I do understand that there is value of greater developments in such an area on arger scale. I think that you should all try to develop better pheromone detection, though.


    Anton shrugged. For me, it will always be like reading a blurry book. It just wont be the same. And I cant replicate the effects upon you because Anton brushed her back with some natural energy, watching it soak into her. See?


    Someone on Rutera made a machine that badly synthesized the pheromones, the Great Queen said. <em>Very</em> badly. I suppose it is preferable tomunicate like this, she wiggled her antennae. And you with your air vibrations.


    I can sign too, if you like, Anton replicated the visuals of an ants antennae and forelimbs. Since he was manipting light, the effect could still reach a void ant. But it seems kind of weird.


    Stick to your words, the Great Queen agreed. She looked down at the world below. So, which is your favorite disciple?


    I didnt say anything about having disciples, Anton replied.


    The Great Queen looked at him. Ive known you for a long time. And I can smell your trail of energy. So if you wont tell me, I can just find them myself.


    Rather than waiting for Antons response, the Great Queen flew off- propelling herself in a manner that most wouldnt consider. She mainly propelled herself by devouring the energy in an area and letting that propel her, though there was some more advanced maniption of the surrounding energy required for it to actually be quick, despite her size. She was only a bitrger than a finger, but that was actually quite hefty for an ant.


    Rather than try to argue with her, Anton just watched her fly along his trail, ultimately arcing towards the Shadysands Burrow. Shended on the hill, and pointed directly towards Three Squeaks. It has to be that one. But Im surprised you havent won over them all. Only a few others have developed any of the Hundred Stars.


    Anton shrugged. It is fair for them to be cautious of learning cultivation from a strange individual like myself. Im bothrge and likely terrifying in terms of energy. The Great Queen began to wander around the edge of their territory. Careful, Anton said. They eat bugs. And while ants are normally not on that list, something of your size might be of interest. And no, its not <em>you</em> Im worried about.


    Fear not. I wont hurt your new friends. Even if they are foolish enough to attack me.


    You dont feel like anything, Anton pointed out. So they wouldnt be crazy to assume youre just an odd bug.


    Ultimately, she was fast enough that it didnt matter. And she didnt enter their territory. It is well marked, she said. They even use scent, like proper individuals. The boundaries are clear enough.


    Anton shrugged. I suppose thats good to hear. So, what are your real ns? She might actually want to start a colony, but with the limited information shed been given when she set out that shouldnt have been the reason she showed up.


    I will start a colony. Temporary or not, we will require more than just <em>you</em> observing things here. My people can rapidly replicate and provide wide scale information. We will need to see more than just squirrel-cats to find our best allies.


    ... There are some bugs nearby. Sapient ones, I think. If you want to try your luck with them, you might be better for the task.


    Because Im also an insect? the Great Queen asked.


    Because you are much closer to the same scale, Anton said. Theyre stick bugs. And leaf bugs. I dont think they are particrlymunal normally, but I have seen them moving in groups. Oh, and watch out for eagles. Anton paused, Theres been some trouble with a group of them, but Id rather not wipe them out


    We will of course ascertain the threat level and sapience of whatever wee across, the Great Queen said. And we need not eat anything that can think. Though with the oddity of this ce, an additional optiones to mind.


    What is it? Anton asked.


    You recognize many sapient beasts here, yes? What about other things?


    Well, there arent any humans, Anton said. I havent had time to search the seas, but I could imagine there are some of them as well.


    What about nts? the Great Queen asked.


    What like the Grandfather Willow? I think it would be highly unlikely to run into that then again, Ceretos didnt naturally have <em>any</em> sapient creatures except Paradise. Or at least, not that survived the invasions. The question is, how would you tell?


    Simple. One would have cultivation. The other would simply store natural energy in itself.


    What about body tempering nts? Anton frowned. They could forgo real cultivation So far hed only picked apart herbs and the like that he recognized. But here in such a ce, without yet knowing what it was that caused multiple types of animals to gain sapience, it was truly difficult to rule anything out.


    Let us assume we should be able to discern them by making reasonable efforts, the Great Queen dered. Besides, you are not known for damaging nts unnecessarily. Fruits and the like are meant to be eaten, after all. And we shall observe things at a smaller detail.


    ... How many offspring do you n to have here? Anton asked.


    We shall go unnoticed, the Great Queen said. Which didnt really answer Antons question. But he at least trusted the Great Queen and by extension any offspring raised by her to not cause ecological devastation. Even the least intelligent of them were capable of recognizing that destroying what they wanted to eat was bad for the colony.


    Anton also knew he could use the help. Both in being a constant presence, and being wide scale. Though covering a whole- even just a few ants per square kilometer should probably take a long time. Hopefully the n was to manage that in the longer term, because Anton really didnt want to know the maximum rate void ants could reproduce. He much preferred them when they had time to develop to greater intelligence, though while he found them concerning in a vague sense, the number of people he might consider innocent that had been in by void ants was extremely miniscule whenpared to humans. And from all ounts they had iting. They just werent well known enemies like the Twin Soul Sect.