Published at 13th of January 2026 7:31 am

Chapter 319: Family Dynamics

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Vexira observed the fight below with intense, rising interest. She had had no idea how this would unfold, only that a truly dangerous enemy, one genuinely trying to kill Serrin, might be just what was needed to push the youth to kill. And if not, then at least the fight could serve as a good test of the human, a way to gauge if he might be able to accomplish what she needed. But, regardless of Xyrriths story, shed not truly thought the human would have any chance of actually beating Serrin, her most infuriating son.

But Serrin was at risk. Her Soul Sense hovered close over the fight, twitching with readiness. Though the pair were only Tier 1, even she struggled to make sense of their fight. It was an endless flow occurring on multiple levels. At times the fighters performed actions she couldnt comprehend, that must result from some layer of understanding which escaped her.

Hes closely matched, breathed Thryss. I never thought Id see the day. They each parried the other! Have you ever seen it?

He may even be killed, said Sythera idly, sounding quite pleased by the idea.

Thryss glanced at Xyrrith, shifted closer to him. Did the human really kill Khoren?

You think I lied? He did.

But how?

Xyrrith shrugged. Khoren was overeager. We thought the human beaten. Hed been stung dozens of times. But when Khoren went close, somehow he managed one last strike.

She nodded. So it was through trickery, or luck.

At the end yes, but Xyrrith trailed off.

But what? spoke Vexira, looking over.

Before then, while fighting against all four of us, there was a moment. I honestly thought he would strike down Khoren. Hed gotten past Drekhul, distracted me and Vorah, and for a moment was able to press Khoren unhindered. That was all it took. From what I saw, it was barely even a fight. He broke Khorens spear with that Blade of his and was only an instant from spitting him. But that was when Vorath sacrificed his finger, saving Khoren.

She would have discounted that as impossible, thought that no Tier 1 could ever manage so well against four Tier 2s. But if Serrin were to wield an equally powerful weapon, she could almost imagine him doing as Xyrrith described.

Staring down at the pair, seeing them moving like mirror images, one dark, one light, she believed the human truly was that good.

Her thorax thrummed with eagerness. The human had said he was a skilled fighter, and it transpired he hadnt been lying. That made his other boasts look increasingly less like a desperate attempt to ingratiate himself, and more like actual truth. Unbound by the Binding and the Empresss bloodline magic, this human could be exactly the tool she needed.

And, as she watched, she felt that perhaps he might bring about what she needed. Help her forge Serrin into another perfect tool. All the other beings she had made Serrin fight had simply been too weak. Hed been able to disarm them without effort, had never been at true risk of dying. Even when she'd handicapped him with attacks from the side, somehow he'd managed.

Frustrated, she had come to realise she would have to put him at real risk if she wanted him to break past his block and finally strike to kill.

Now, staring down below, she saw that he had come to that point. Serrin was giving his all, striking to kill. He had no choice. The pair were pushing one another to their limits.

The other Hornets around her, gossiping and muttering, were mostly wondering how Serrin would win this time, convinced that he would as he always did. They didnt recognise what she did. Her son had done best at the start, when the human was still unfamiliar with his style of combat. But already the human was improving, adapting, and matching Serrin in skillnot merely using strategy and esoteric methods as he had earlier.

The human was even matching Serrin Soul to Soul, as they flashed their Senses through various guards and forms of attacksomething she had never seen another Tier 1 manage against her Serrin.

But look, said Xyrrith suddenly, sounding pleased. Our younger brother is about to seize the win. Ive seen him use that trick before.

Below, Serrin was a short distance from the human, advancing steadily, arm extended, his Imbued blade launching again and again in rapid stabs guided by his Soul Sense. The human was deflecting and blocking each thrust but was forced to step backwards as Serrin jabbed furiously.

By using the attack from a distanceextending his Soul Sense only a littleSerrin made it almost impossible for the human to behead the tendril, he could easily retrieve his sword if his Soul Sense was stunned, and he could keep up the relentless pace. It had put the human off balance.

Vexira had seen this attack before. In fact, she had once seen Serrin use it to defeat Drekhul during sparring, something that had amused her at the time.

However, her eyes saw deeper than those of the others. She saw something odd in the humans movements, and she was not so sure Serrin was about to prove victorious.

She steeled herself, preparing her Soul Sense, floating a little lower. She had told the human to kill her son, but that was not what she wanted. What she wanted was to see Serrin finally fight for his life, to finally fight to kill.

She hadnt anticipated the human possessing this level of skill. A level of skill that now meant she simply had to have him. She wanted Serrin and she wanted the human. She wanted both bound to her, tools in her hands, used to cut away at the Empresss influence.

But she would not move to strike. Not yet. She would wait, because she had to see who would win.

Her Soul Sense, uncoiling, slithered lower. The Hornets around her exchanged glances as they saw her moving into position to strike, but none spoke.

###

The Hornets endless attacks were putting Nicolai more and more off balance. With each strike he had less time to react to the next, the blows moving with astonishing speed. And yet, as he stumbled backwards and his movements grew wild, he did not feel truly off balance. His body was tight, coiled, ready. The moment Serrin committed to a killing blow he would turn this.

He stumbled, dropping a little backwards and to the side, catching himself on one leg before he could fall. Serrins sword darted at him, dead on, point first, and it seemed impossible he could block it.

But the blow was pulled back. Serrin abandoned it midway, retracted the strike.

Nicolai unfolded from his bait, but there was nothing to catch. He gazed at the Hornet, the fight pausing for an instant.

You knew?

The Hornet shifted, sword slapping back into his hand as Soul Sense retracted. I suspected, he replied.

But there was something more, emanating in the faintest ways from his Soul. A type of fear.

He is afraid of accidentally killing you. The idea horrifies him, spoke Psychology.

Nicolai tilted his head. You are sure?

99%. Ive been watching carefully.

His eyes narrowed, the Dark stirring. He felt unhappy. Offended? These Hornets had spoken of Serrins weakness. And they hadnt been lying, or exaggerating.

He strode forward, and Serrin raised his weapon, ready to fight.

But Nicolai didnt raise his own. He just kept on walking, sword by his side.

What are you doing? spoke the young Hornet, retreating, sword raised as though to stab. But he didnt.

Nicolais feet sped up. He pressed into range. The Hornet was backpedalling faster. His mandibles drooped in confusion. Nicolai burst into a run.

Stop! Serrin cried. Nicolai didnt. Serrin stabbed out at him. He felt it poke him in the side at the same moment as he stabbed out.

He looked down, as did the Hornet. Serrins sword hadnt even penetrated his skinsuit. Serrin had refused to push ny further.

Serrin grunted, surprised by the sight of a foot of Nicolais sword stabbed into his side.

A sudden weight slammed down, on and around them. Thryss! snapped a voice, then that Daughter was there, beside Serrin, and he Nicolai shoved back and away by the Queens Soul Sense. Meanwhile thryss wrenched the sword from Serrins hand and shoved a Rejuvenating Orb between his mandibles. Nicolai saw Serrin shake his head, glaring at her.

But she dug a finger in the Hornets wound and his gasp of pain sucked the mist in, and once he felt it he kept breathing. She pulled the finger out and he healed.

The Daughter released him and pushed into the air. Serrin stood there, staring at Nicolai oddly.

Well fought, said Nicolai.

The Hornet didnt reply. He was now looking up, seeming both worried and rebellious. A heavy buzzing filled the air. The Queen floated directly above them, Thryss once again at her side.

Quite a display, she pronounced, words clipped. But I wonder about your strike, which caught nothing vital. Did you truly strike to kill, as I told you to?

Her tone carried curiosity, no true anger, and Nicolai knew he had guessed correctly. He gave her a short bow and stabbed his sword into the ground.

As your loyal new servant, I decided to leave the matter up to you. He wouldve died given some time, had you chosen to let him.

The Queen laughed, a shrill, cruel noise. How arrogant. Her head tilted, amused. That was an adroit reading of the situation, however.

Then she glanced at Serrin, and her Soul Sense suddenly roiled with anger.

But you, she added, fury in her voice. Even as he stabbed you, you did not strike back! Were it not for my kindness, you would now bleed out and die! And what if he had aimed for your neck?

He didnt, spat Serrin, seeming almost as though he wished Nicolai had.

You had no way of knowing that. His manner was vicious and unrelenting. For the time you fought properly, I sensed true killing intent from you. In fact, I doubt you could have fought so long without it. She glared at him. Your refusal to strike with lethal intent is a weakness, and worse yet, disobedience. Do not think I have forgotten your last failure.

Why should I kill anyone? seethed Serrin, taking a furious step toward her. They are no enemies of mine! They have done nothing to me!

BECAUSE I ORDER YOU TO! she screamed. Her Soul Sense lashed out and seized Serrin, tangled him in the thick mass of it. In an instant the Queen had covered the space between them. She landed seized him by his neck, talons scraping at his exoskeleton. YOU BELONG! TO ME! Her hand came around in a blur, cracked into his face. Nicolai heard exoskeleton splintering.

Serrin lolled, knocked senseless in a single blow, but she held him up by the neck, drew her arm back and struck him again, then again.

Nicolai and the crowd of Hornets observed silently as she battered Serrin, the only sound the crack of her palm smashing into his face.

She stopped after the fifth strike and hurled him tumbling away. Serrin ended up sprawled on the ground like a broken doll, and Nicolai wondered if he was dead. But the Hornets limbs thrashed weakly. He struggled up, turned a face that had one mandible hanging, almost ripped off, and great cracks running through his chitin dripping pale blood.

His wings beat weakly and he managed to stand only to immediately fall over, but he got his knees and arms under him and struggled again to his feet. There, wavering drunkenly from side to side, he glared at the Queen.

A human probably wouldnt have been able to say anything understandable, after such a battering, but the language of ripples was spoken with Soul.

Is that all you got? said Serrin.

Ooooh, said Cyberwarfare, eating virtual popcorn. The Modules had decided these Hornets were just as interesting as humans. Nicolai couldnt help but stare with some disbelief at the Hornet. He wondered if this was another suicide attempt.

The Queen had turned toward Nicolai but hearing Serrins ripples she slowly turned. For a moment he felt her fury like a bonfire, but as she stared at her son it faded. She snorted a laugh, flicked a finger. Remove him from my sight, she said, and now that same Daughter, Thryss, came down to land beside him. She grabbed him roughly and jammed another Rejuvenating Orb in his mouth, releasing her own irritated ripples.

The Queens wings buzzed, loud and angry, as she leapt a few metres to land beside Nicolai. The surrounding Hornets had observed the abuse with amusement. Nicolai, in contrast, was far from reassured to learn that the being hed just put so much effort into convincing to hire him was calculating, murderous, obsessed with control, and had significant anger-management issues.

Or, to put it another way, just like him.

But the anger had melted away, replaced by calculation as she stared at him. Her Soul Sense lunged, seized him, and abruptly he was rising as she flew upwards, her head tilted up, pulling him after her. They flew up high through the funnel of Hornets, who gathered to form a vast half-sphere around them.

This human has proven himself, the Queen boomed, once they were at the top. He will be my agent. An outer member of the Hive, answerable to me personally.

The Hornets stirred, not entirely happy, but there was a kind of shrugging acceptance. Nicolai sensed that many werein spite of their clear xenophobiaimpressed by the display they had witnessed. These beings valued skill and mastery, then. He had gained some measure of respect from most of them, but some, he saw, only held a stronger dislike for him.

One came forward.

An insult, snarled Zorath. You said the human must kill Serrin. Serrin still lives, therefore you must kill him.

The Queen gazed at him.

I must, must I? She snorted. No. I may do whatever I wish in my Hive and I break no rules by changing my mind. And when I do, I have no interest in the barking of a dog like you. The rules that bind me are held by our mother, and all your power is through her. If you have a problem with how I rule, go and bark at her.

I will, he promised grimly. She will hear of this travesty. About the Blade you stole from me, and about this human. I am sure she will be far from happy.

Nicolai watched Vexira, who watched Vorath. The Highspawn returned to his angry little band. There he made a sharp gesture and one of them nodded then shot away, flying into the distance. Soon the Hornet had disappeared into the rain.

He could feel her anger, touching on his Soul when her eyes returned to him. She gestured, and a bubble of force bulged into life around them, circling and containing him and her.

At once, he felt nothing of the ripples or sounds from outside. She reached for the bubble, touched it with a finger and from that finger something like oil moved out, rolled through the bubble until the whole world was hidden and they floated in empty dark.

Light bloomed, issuing from her golden armour. She hovered before him, radiant as the sun and merciless as the sea.

A private meeting.

Do you see the problem that plagues me, human? she began, in a tone of long-suffering.

He nodded. I do. What confuses me is the why. Why do you allow the insults and disobedience? What stops you from simply striking them down?

Her Soul flared with a petulant kind of anger. Do you see this? She tapped her forehead, where there was a triangular shape roughly scored into her chitin. I am wrapped by my mothers rules. The Highspawn are here to watch me and ensure I do not use indirect methods to get around those rules. They can even pressure me through the Binding! It digs into me and thus into my bloodline, giving them the capability of even compelling truthful answers from my sons. I am entirely unable to attack them, and I cant even order my sons or daughters o do so. If they do so of their own volition, I will be forced to punish them should a Highspawn bid it, unless there is very good reason and proof of that reason.

She floated sideways then back, pacing in the air, glaring at nothing.

They are also stronger than the majority of my progeny, and work to stay that way. She grasped furiously at the air. They seize for themselves anything they can, using their influence and whatever justification is most convenient, safe in the knowledge that the Binding keeps me from retaliating. This is the method the Empress uses to keep her spawn strong, and mine weak. They are parasites, sucking my hive dry. She shook her head, disgusted. The only reason they are willing to go on ventures like this is because they hope for an opportunity to steal something.

Thieves, rippled Nicolai with apparent disgust, shaking his head in solidarity with the creature whod stolen his Bladewhich hed stolen from its previous owner, who, most likely, had stolen or seized it in turn. Such was life. Their ilk should be punished most harshly.

If only, she muttered, mandibles twitching.

But now he added in a murmur. You have someone at your side capable of enacting that punishment.

Her gaze snapped back to him, and her mandibles shifted in almost a smile. I do, dont I?

Share