Published at 27th of December 2025 7:31 am

Chapter 312: Treacherous

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The gathered Hornets stared at the humans form. Finally still, it was crumpled face-down on the craggy earth, rain drumming its armour. It had taken most of them some time to realise it even was a human, and not some strange insect, considering its armour and apparent familiarity with their methods. But its Soul was unmistakably human.

All kept a wary distance from it even so, though their eyes constantly shifted to that Blade, that treasure. After what had befallen Khoren no one had wanted to go near the human. In the end one of the Tier 1s had been pressed into going forward, and it had darted out and seized the weapon from the human, after which it had staged a quick retreat.

The Artifact lay now on the ground, a safe distance from the human, an empty space around it. Valuable possessions tend to attract a stinger in the back. Hornets know this.

Amongst them, the bodies of those who had fallen began to speak. Or, their Souls did. Pale wraiths showing just their spiritual heads, the odd arm. Peeking out then flinching away from the burn of the Aura.

Brothers, brothers, they whispered. Save us. Take us.

Who has Soul-catchers? rippled Drekhul, spinning his mace idly, eyes on the human. Grab them. We will take them to the Hive.

Oh? You have low standards, nephew, spoke Vorath, gazing thoughtfully at the slowly bleeding gap where his finger had been. They were killed by a human. Do they deserve rebirth?

This human is far from the norm, as your wound attests, said Xyrrith. He was keeping many metres from where the creature lay, his Soul and Symbiotes buzzing with readiness, seeming prepared to burst into mist at any moment. I have never seen a humanlet alone a Tier 1fight like that. He even managed a perfect deflect at one point, did you hear it? He shook his head. I didnt know anyone could fight like that. Except perhaps Serrin. But even for him and you held the Ray on him all that time. Was it not taking?

It certainly landed. Perhaps some strange quirk of his body, allowing him to fight around it. Some are like that. The Highspawn flicked his wings dismissively. Hes well stung now, in any case, and that weapon far from his fingers. His Soul Senses darted out and gave the human a couple savage stings. See, if he could fight back, hed probably want to stop me doing this, he continued, Soul Sense stingers punching down and making the humans body shake.

As the Tier 1s gathered the Souls (and, with more eagerness, Symbiotes) of their fallen comrades, Xyrrith came to stand beside Vorath. The Highspawn had moved on from his idle torture and was gazing down at the fallen form of Khoren.

What of your brother? he asked the Highspawn.

He will save me, thats what! spoke Khorens Soul at that moment. You owe me, Vorath! You must!

Must I? murmured Vorath. He hunkered down low, looming over one half of his brotherthe head, shoulder, and arm, in which the Soul was lurking. You have been quite bothersome, recently. Foisting all of your undesired duties onto me. Now, in your greed you threw yourself at that humans weapon, eager to lay hands on it before any of the rest of us. So eager that you allowed yourself to be killed. By a human. His thorax thrummed with laughter.

That vicious thing barely even counts as a human, it is some kind of freakish mutant! Xyrrith is right! In any caseit doesnt matter! You owe me, your Soul is marked by your debt. You must take me.

Ah, murmured Vorath, tapping at his chin with one finger. He suddenly raised that hand and regarded it with apparent surprise, staring at the bloody wound where a finger was missing. I did owe, didnt I? But just now, you would undoubtedly have been killed by that human, when it surprised us all. The first surprise, that is. But I saved you. I sacrificed my finger to do so. And now as I look at my Soul, what do I see His mandibles spread in a smile. Nothing more is owed.

You treacherous snake, spat Khoren. I would have survived in any case!

Vorath raised his head, looking around at Xyrrith and Drekhul. Such a lack of gratitude, to the one who saved his life, he said ruefully, though his Soul all but glowed with smug pleasure.

Go on, sneered the Soul. I know what you want. Spit it out.

Voraths mandibles spread wider still. Im gladdened you can be so candid. The mark of our long and fruitful relationship, no doubt! Yes, I desire the White Spear. Merely hand it over, whole and without blemish, and I will take your Soul into my loving care.

The Soul writhed with rage. Youre lying! Youll kill me even if I hand it over!

Vorath rose, Soul Sense flinching as though wounded. Brother you doubt me so? I am dismayed that our once loving relationship has fallen to such grave lows.

Nephews! screeched the despairing Soul. Take me, save me! You can have my White Spear!

Xyrrith and Drekhul exchanged a glance, but Vorath raised his head, tilted slightly to one side, and set his suddenly cold, empty eyes on them. His joking manner melted away like morning mist. They exchanged another glance, worried. Both knew the powerful Highspawn would not allow them to take the White Spear. After a moments silent communication, Soul-to-Soul, the pair took a synchronised step back.

It is Highspawn business, said Xyrrith, cleaning the fingers of one hand with his mandibles. If Vorath does not wish to save you, then we have no right to intervene.

As my brother says, put in Drekhul. He bowed sardonically low to the fallen Soul. Farewell, uncle. By the way, you are an arrogant, puffed up fool. Oh, also, remember that time you called me a worm grubbing in the dirt? Well, uncle, it seems that now you are the worm grubbing in the dirt! He laughed, clapping his hands with delight.

You speak too quickly, nephew, murmured Vorath, amused. He took a step closer to the Soul, spread his hands with entreaty. Come now, Khoren. You know I am merely joking. Give me the set, and I will take your Soul to safety. Then you can punish Drekhul for his insults.

The younger Hornet shuffled, awkward. Merely in jest, also, he muttered.

Swear it, hissed Khoren, focused on Vorath. Swear it upon our mothers name.

Voraths Soul Sense stilled. Fine, he said, at length. On the name of our mother, Empress Zathira, I swear to take and protect my brother, Khorens Soul, once he has given me the White Spear.

Break it, and she will know, promised Khoren grimly. The fallen Hornets body shimmered, Symbiotes appearing.

Vorath and seized them, and, with the reluctant assent of Khoren, was able to instantly break all of their wills. The Symbiotes disappeared into his Soul.

Now, take me.

Of course, murmured Vorath, sinking down and reaching for his brothers Soul.

A sudden lance of brilliant white light blasted from his palm, smashed into the rising Soul and tore it apart. It continued straight on and burst Khorens head like a big, rotten fruit. As the despairing ripple of a Souls death-cry rang out, he rose and held his palmstill glimmering whitehigh.

A most powerful weapon, he hissed gleefully, tossed back his head and laughed.

But your word murmured Xyrrith, surprised. The Empress

Many believe that whenever her name is spoken, she hears it. Voraths mandibles clacked. I can let you all in on a secret. That is not the case. He gestured vaguely towards Khorens corpse. I hope that this secret will remain between us? The white energy coating his palm crackled.

Xyrrith, Drekhul, and all the others rippled assent, watching that ominous white glow with concern.

I, for one, feel you have done us all a service, put in Drekhul.

I suspected you might, said Vorath. His Soul Sense had a cool, amused feeling to it. What now, nephews? Shall we kill this troublesoe human, next? He aimed his palm at the human, and the white energy hummed as it began to turn into the shape of a spear blade. He emanated an eagerness, as though excited to have something else to shoot at with the White Spear.

No! cried Xyrrith. After all the effort we went to capture him? This one is important.

Is he really? asked Vorath, though he lowered his palm with sudden disinterest.

Yes. I recognised him from the start. Xyrrith glanced at Drekhul. This was the one, brother, in the City.

Drekhul jerked with surprise. I had thought I recognised him! It is the same one, truly? Who insulted us? Xyrrith rippled an assent, and Drekhuls Soul Sense darkened, a shade of Killing Intent creeping into it as he stepped forward. His foot, armoured in Black Bug chitin, lanced out and caught the human in the midsection. The creature, already writhing from all the stings, gasped and spluttered as its body bent around his foot.

Why are you not blinking, human, hmm?! Where are your blinks! Drekhul spoke in Shenran with a heavy accent, and each word was punctuated by another savage kick.

Xyrrith and the surrounding Tier 1s rippled with amusement at the display. Even Vorath joined in. All Hornets could share some satisfaction from the abuse of lesser races.

Enough, spoke Xyrrith at length, stepping forward and pulling Drekhul aside. It would not do to kill him by accident. He has City access, to the correct Sector. Were you not saying you desired a smaller form? He is still quite large, but not as ridiculously so as the one youve been using.

Drekhul snorted, began to turn away, then spun and gave the human one more kick. Fine, fine. Youre right. I hope I am allowed time to watch, when the Ripper tears the Mark and Symbiotes from him.

As do I, brother, replied Xyrrith, mandibles spreading eagerly. Im curious to see what other treasures may be hidden in his Storage. He kicked meaningfully at a smouldering chunk of metal, which had once been some kind of flying gun. The chunk clattered some distance away, coming to rest beside a darkly glittering length of metal. The Blade, which had gone politely ignored ever since Khoren went for it. Especially considering what weve already found. All eyes settled on the weapon.

The pair exchanged glances, then turned to face Vorath. The Tier 1s had quietly shifted position, and now the Highspawn was surrounded.

Vorath registered this with an amused tilt of his head, rain dripping off his chin. Why, nephews, it almost seems as if you anticipate trouble from me.

The Queen will want this, said Xyrrith, pointing at the Tier 3 Artifact. It was pulsing out its bloody nature, the power it held. A warning and a lure both. All who felt it feared its touch, and hungered to wield it themselves. Already it had proven its power against Khoren, who until he made the mistake of entering its range had been considered the most powerful Highspawn stationed in Hive Sablethorn. Should we fail to bring it back to her, I do not see either of us surviving.

You believe I will try to take it?

Xyrrith and Drekhul did not reply, merely glanced at one another again. Their Souls, pressed together as they stood side by side, communicated secretly. They were well aware of the likelihood of Arcritchs spiderling spies, somewhere on them or on the Tier 1s. There could be no sign of disloyalty, they had to keep up the same sham that all Hornetswho, by nature, were purely self-interestedhad to keep up. That of abject loyalty to their mother.

But both were well aware of Voraths hunger for the Blade, even if he kept it well hidden. They knew it was there because they felt the same. It was not in any Hornets nature to let something so valuable slip away, when it was so close to their grasp.

They anticipated an attack from the Highspawn, who was on the very peak of Tier 2, and had likely been stronger than both of them together before hed taken the White Spear.

Fear not, said Vorath, twitching his clawed fingers dismissively. I am happy enough with my gains today. Go on, one of you should take the Artifact to my sister.

All the Hornets facing him relaxed slightly, relieved.

I will go, said Xyrrith. He gestured to four of the Tier 1s around him. You four, with me. Disarm the human, we will take him. He bent and seized the Blade from the ground, couldnt help but pause as he held it by the handle, ran a slow hand down its spine, felt at the power thrumming through it.

Tempted, nephew? came Voraths creeping ripples.

Xyrrith straightened, now holding the Blade as though it were nothing special. Two of the Tier 1s had crept warily over to the human, now they seized it and began roughly removing anything that looked dangerous from its form.

Having dealt with some of its strange contraptions themselves, they were thorough in stripping it of everything they could. They tore free a harness and belt covered in weapons and tools, a large number of chains that wrapped itan Imbued weapon, which one of them fingered with interestand retrieved the gun hanging on a strap over its chest. All these items were stuffed into a bag and then they tugged at its strange armour, but, uncertain how to remove it without severely damaging the human, turned to look at Xyrrith for instruction.

I hardly think we need worry about it attacking us with its armour, the Hornet snapped, gesturing impatiently. He could feel Voraths eyes on him and the Blade, and it made his back itch. The sooner he got away and reached the Queen, the better. Without a word more, Xyrrith, four Tier 1s, and the human slung between two of them, rose into the air with a spray of rainwater.

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