"Selen, Morm?" Swishing his eyes from one myrm to the next a Hymnode eyes grew wide. "I knew it! Nera and Clava owe me. I could tell by the chemistry in the air whenever you two grew near." Dropping a giant hand on his Morm's shoulder the man said, "It all makes sense."
"Pono what makes sense?" asked Selen.
"Why Morm has been working so diligently. I've caught him in the midst of own space and I knew. He was becoming. And you are the gage." Smiling at his friend the giant gave him a half serious face. "Are you ready to gain your wings."
"I already have them. I got them from the pavement."
"I would love to see the path you forge but my nodes and I are already making our own."
"An Erga…interesting…if you pass you will become my slave."
"I don't know your Apoka but once Morm earn his wings he is a free man."
"I am a Dulo and any being that lack the strength to defeat me will become my slave. You aren't excluded."
"Death come with these stingers." Replied Pono with a rise of his fists.
"Magna come along the ceremony is about to commence and we must be in formation."
Chuckling Magna snatched his mate up by her hips and gave the other Hymnodes a menacing grin before walking away.
"Pono he's right you need to go meet up with your Nodes and fall into formation."
"We are one organism functioning as many and my misplacement is detrimental to the all. I will leave but my antennas will be cautious of him and his node."
~ ~
"Hmmm…this aroma surely brings back a moment." Nodding his head Oneef licked his lips. "Orhyarh truly knew how to make a meal. The Quintessence we came upon took out more than a third of our squadron and Orhyarh made the taste of victory taste magnificent. We all rose in rank." Pausing as his mind began to make calculations Shadow Throne eyes settled on a giant five petalled plant posted on the stomach of the drifting Quint. "Ha" laughing at the obvious he shook his head, "The plant secretes a liquid that release pheromones which triggers the brain into believing that it Is whatever sustenance the being favors the most." Laughing again the Djinn head bobbed at the fiendish predatory way of the flora. "I must collect this in one of my many compartments."
Sighing and observing the quintessence as a whole Shadow throne hand swept over his chin. "I could use the stagnant energy lingering around this Quint to open a gate but the truth is I don't know the proper way to transmute it without taking the sol of this creature." Fading away into smoke his final words were, "Things will align moment by moment."
~ ~
"This is the Isoptera." Picking his mouth off the floor Morm eyes shifted to his Hymnode standing beside him. "I heard stories of their mounds, seen them through other screens and scents but this…this is even more than eye could see." Gazing up at a tower of a structure the Myrm head shook from pure respect.
"The Pteridae are truly wondrous creatures, but they are also extremely dangerous. We must enter our flow and fall not to distractions."
Nodding his agreement Morm replied, "You are right my node and in order to create our own hymn we must first surpass this trial."
"Correct. We have only two objectives to stay alive and to retrieve two Pteridae eggs."
"Morm…Selene!"
"Nera…" Turning her attention to their upcoming guests Selen gave them a bow of acknowledgement.
"So it is true the two of you are mating, Pono always knew but me and Klava and I were unknowing and didn't want to create anything." Shifting her focus and facial expression Nera giant eyes marbled over with light. "Morm are you prepared, for once the circle falls there will be no return and the ground won't open until the ceremony ends."
Scanning the mass of Myrmidons a chemical trail of fear swept through his nostrils as the realization hit some of the Myrms. Laughing Morm's eyes sparkled with love and excitement. "Some may back out and turn around but I am purpose driven and I have been working on myself as well as the Kingdoms expansion. If I and Selen build our civilization then both our inner being and the kingdom benefits. Fear is not but what you make of it and I choose to withhold my power."
Grinning from ear-to-ear Clara replied, "That is the spirit to maintain, with it you will go far and be perceivably invincible." Grabbing her Node Nera by the hand the Myrm's eyes sat a flame. "I gain strength from myself and…" Shooting a glance over at Pono a smile threatened to stretch her face like slime. "…those I cherish the most."
Sniffing the air, Pono gaze slid up to the amber dome slowly disintegrating. Watching the light flicker then turn to pixie dust like substance the Myrm closed his eyes like every other allowing its energy to surge and deliver its protection. Opening his eyes a new spark set flame in him. "Allow our hymns to carry us home" he spoke before the ground beneath them collapsed.
Peering down at a swarm of winged Pteridae erupting out of the earth Morm grabbed hold to the rope around his waist while simultaneously snatching his node out of the air. Zinnnng sung the blade as its vine bindings swung it fiercely through the air before zing it's sharp edges slid through the head of a Pteridae and its pointed tip lodged itself into the back of a second. Winding his line around his hand, "Ha' with a yank of his rope the insectoid flung himself across space right as his victim blew itself up through a self-detonating act that sent a sticky acidic goo flying out in all directions.
Projecting an electric forcefield to block the kamikaze Selen could see, hear and emotionally feel the unfortunate Myrmiddons through their chemical trails. Sighing with a slip of her gaze her eye caught Pono sweeping his nodes out of the air as swiftly as his wings could activate then watched the trio vanish in a ray of light.
"Where do you believe you are going?" Swinging his sickle through the air with multiple swipes through the air Magna released black and white outlined crescent beams of negative energy in waves that took control of the minds of every Pteridae hit. "Rescue my slaves. I have serfs to attend to."