Published at 3rd of February 2026 7:39 am

Chapter 328: Tadpole Killer

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The world blurred and he was there, picking his way over bug corpses as he stepped through the security doors.

He realised Serrin was walking at his side, spear at the ready. Positioned to guard Nicolais flank, as though he were an ally. The sight of the Hornet there was so ridiculous, so unasked for, that he was momentarily stunned, lost to a sense of unreality that dissolved the floor and swallowed him. He only recovered when his proximity warning systemhe shook his head, confused, no, his Soul Sensewarned him he was about to catch his foot on a bug corpse.

He stepped over the dead thing and dragged his eyes away from the Hornet. The disturbance was growing. It was soundless and sightless, but something was here, he was certain of it, and the Dark whispered the same. He felt those demons on the other side of his connection, felt how their attention had shifted, felt that this was a threat.

He scanned the room and at last his eye caught on something, a faint disruption in the Aura. He tracked it to a corner of the room near the security door and stepped toward it. The Dark was flowing once again.

And so it was that when a dull chime rang out, and red light rippled on the stone, and a figure rose, unfolding upwards, that Nicolai was standing right there in front of it. Simultaneously he saw through cameras three more shapes rising elsewhere in the room.

Formed from dark red energy, the one before him shifted like liquid into a recognisable shape. Humanoid. Cyborg. Bedecked with equipment, weapons and tools. Earth. Mostly level 1 augments, some level 2. Soul Sense. Mark on the hand.

The Blood Hunters face was still and calm, as though asleep. But then a change rolled over its features as the Scoundrel on the other end settled into the connection. Like watching someone wake up, then its lips twitched in an eager smirk, its eyes opened.

And saw Nicolai, staring down, heavy breaths rasping out through his helmets respirator. The Dark was in full flow once again. Psychology, looking to maximise intimidation, flashed the furious, demonic war face intermittently with the words KILL YOU. The Blood Hunters smirk turned into a grimace of horror, its eyes shot wide with shock.

The Quiet Knife, driven by Nicolais bionic armwhich moved far faster and with far more strength than a striking snakeplunged entirely through the Blood Hunters head, nailing its skull to the wall. Nicolais lips drew back, baring his teeth in mad fury at this invasion, this second, third, or even fourth attack on his sanctum.

The Dark and the ripples and the Aura pulsed, and without even needing to consult the newly-forged drones, the cameras of his skinsuit, and the sight of his Soul Sense, Nicolai knew precisely what surrounded him. He knew the room. He felt the shape of the Assembler. He sensed Serrin and the young Hornets wary surprise, saw him staring at another bloody red figure. He sensed the shape of all of them, even the emotions and thoughts bleeding out of them like blood from a wound.

Two of the three were cultivators. The last was from Earth, another Cyborg. The Cultivators were frozen, staring at Serrin. And just for a moment, he felt their shock and confusion. He didnt know why they felt this as they stared at the Hornet, not in detail, but he knew they were slowed, reacting without the speed they should have.

But there was another who did not slow. Who had seen him strike down the other Cyborg. Who was even now aiming at him.

Nicolai felt the pull of the trigger, sensed the bullet. It was formed from the same mimic-material as the rest of the Hunters bodies but lethal enough in spite of that. He had already stepped to the side by the time the sniper round shot past him and splintered the wall. His head turned and his gaze locked upon the woman who had shot at him, who was cranking the bolt of her anti-materiel rifle to slot a fresh round in, whose movement stuttered when his eyes fell on her and the Killing Intent surging through him rolled out in a tight beam of spiritual emanations and snapped at her mind like a dog biting at her face.

The room wasnt large and he was across it by the time her shaking fingers slammed the bolt home. The Spectral Claw smashed her Soul Sense and her Shield and squeezed.

I am going to find you, and you are going to suffer, and you are going to die, he informed her with what he felt was impressive calm, but he wasnt sure if the woman on the other end heard before the blood-red figure was pulped, splattered, and it collapsed as the other had. He remembered his recent lapse and so did the Mask and the Modules, who aided him. He vented the Darks fury but in a watchful manner, maintaining tight reins over it.

The Thrill and the Dark pumped and he spun for the next, the room a blur. Then he was attacking the two Cultivators, one of whom was releasing some poisonous gas. Threat Analysis told him the skinsuit would protect him. He turned his bionics laser on the pair, ruining their focus. Serrin used the opportunity to kill one of them with a sting to break his shield and then a stab through the chest. Nicolai was glad to see the Hornet showed no compunction about striking them down.

Nicolai finished off the other with the Claw. Pitiful, he sneered. But though the Scoundrels were weak their simple presence here was another, massive problem.

Four more who had seen his base.

He wanted to fight and kill, blood never ending, but the Mask burned bright and with ruthless focus he forced himself onto the ground, cross-legged in a cultivating pose. He focused on his breathing, waited for the walls to stop their slow breathing, and hungered for the Blade.

###

In a distant clearing two men and two women sat in stunned silence. Two of them Cultivators, two of them from Earth, both groups had so far had a tumultuous relationship, and their continuing partnership had almost fallen apart numerous times.

But at this moment all of that was far from their mind.

Thats the guy were meant to kill? said one of the Cyborgs to her companion. She cast a glance at the Cultivators, leaned toward him, and in a strained whisper, How the hell are we gonna

Dont, said the other, a man called Max, scowling. Hed been the first to lose his Blood Hunter and the image of that murderous helmet lived on in his imagination. But hed led teams before, and hed also had the most time to gather himself. Theyd invested a lot in this, and if they were going to collect the targets bounty morale needed to stay strong. He looked to the Cultivators, watching for their reaction.

The robed figures were exchanging their own glances, faces pale.

Was that muttered one.

The other nodded. A Hornet. In sync, they raised their heads and peered worriedly into the sky.

His partner frowned at the pair. A what?

But while the Cultivators spoke of all kinds of dire things, claiming that the target being allied with a Hornet meant he could only be a rogue Cultivator of the worst sort, a demon and an enemy of all, Max lost himself in other thoughts.

He was thinking through the advice the Scoundrels Guild had given them when theyd been sent out. He and the others had anticipated an easy job. Theyd waited until the indicator was yellow-green, meaning the target was vulnerable, and theyd struck. Now, afflicted by the uneasy realisation that his life may be at risk, he dug through what theyd been told about best practice in the event the target was especially unusual or dangerous.

###

After only a minute of meditation Nicolai rose, cool and calm. Taking a few steps he reached down and picked up an orb. It was formed from some kind of dark red material. It wasnt crystal, it wasnt stone. If anything it felt oddly biological. It emanated a faint heat, but it was heavy in his hand, almost like a bll of lead. Examination text flashed, come and gone as he noted and dismissed it. These were those orbs he needed five of, to create a talisman that would hide him from the Scoundrels tracking abilities. Four slain Blood Hunters meant four orbs, only one to go.

The orbs seemed quite sturdy and could thus be left for later. He placed the one he held on the nearby table then moved, steps speeding, to the Assembler, pulled by something like fear.

It was damaged. Obviously. There had been a great deal of fighting around it. But, as he moved, muttering randomly, around its outskirt and ran his hands along it, he gradually concluded that all the damage was merely surface deep.

Scratches and dents, for the most part, where the odd bug had knocked into it. The worst was a few bigger dents likely made by ricocheted bullets. Its exterior was thick and tough, designed for use in rugged and dangerous places, and it had weathered the recent chaos well.

A sigh of relief seeped out of him. In spite of everything, the Assembler was fine. If he could deal with all of his problemsmost immediately: Ensure the base remained secret from the Hornets at-large and kill the Scoundrels before they told anyonethen they would be back in business.

Keeping this place secret from the Hornets revolved now around Serrin. Who, while Nicolai meditated, had peered around with interest and now was wandering around the base like a child in a museum.

Fascinating, the young Hornet rippled to himself, prodding at a combat bot. Some kind of construct but it has no Soul. And yet this one does, he added, staring at the Infiltrator. The combat bot, under the command of one of the Modules, prodded him back. His wings blurred as he leapt explosively away with a cry of fright.

That took him near to Nicolai, who he sensed and turned to face, arms still raised in a vaguely defensive manner, shooting a tentative glance back at the bot.

Why did you follow me? asked Nicolai.

Serrin straightened. I knew those two would seek to kill you, and I I couldnt allow that. Something strange was happening, some odd shifts in the Hornets manner. Now he was coming closer, spear lowered but other hand raised in entreaty, desperation. From the moment I saw you, I knew that you were the answer. Another step, closing the distance. Nicolai was puzzled to realise there was no sense of threat. I need you, and you need me.

You need my help? That at least sounded promising.

Yes! Serrin was closer than ever, and his alien features were twisted up with what Nicolai could only assume was desperation. I need to get away! I need to escape! I cannot remain in that place any longer! My mother, my siblings, the spiders, all of themI despise them! He threw his spear down and seized Nicolai by the shoulders. You have to help me! he seethed. Ill be your staunch ally against them, Ill share anything I know, keep any secrets and provide any aidso long as you can get me free!

Nicolai endured this with uncertain tolerance. He wanted to ask why. He could guess at the reasons but he and Psychology both wanted to dig into it all, grasp the exact factors and history, plumb Serrins depths so he could understand the Hornet as perfectly as possible. But now was not the time.

The Hornets feelings were real, he was certain of that, and that was what mattered.

I can help you, he said, and broke free of Serrins grip with a sinuous twist. But you must not tell anyone what you have seen here. Must give no hint, let slip no sign that this place exists. If you inform anyone, in even the vaguest way, then you will get no help from me.

Serrin let out a sound like a snort, emanating bitterness. You neednt worry, its not like I have anyone to talk to, back in the Hive. There is only me, surrounded by them. Serrin stared at him, seeming uncertain. This is my first time working with a free human, outside from the Hive. All the others I met were prisoners, but from what I saw, I learned that humans are not like Hornets. His mandibles twisted in what Nicolai, with his limited but increasing familiarity with Hornet facial expressions, judged to be a hesitant smile. Humans can be kind, can be friends with one another. Can live for more than games of power and influence. I had hoped to find a true friend in you. But Serrin paused, hesitant. Before we go any further, there is something I have to ask. You are a real human, arent you? After another short pause he added, May I see under your helmet?

Nicolai stared at him. Yes, Im a real human. Physically, at least.

Because from everything I have seen so far you seem to have a surprising amount in common with Hornets. That and what I witnessed.

Because I speak your language?

Serrin shook his head. What was that, back there? Why did you kill Elixeren with such savagery? And why did you advance on me, after doing so? And then there is the fact of how easily you talked with the others, and even myself. The human prisoners were terrified. But you you could be a Hornet.

Nicolai frowned at him. I simply know when to put on an act, when I have to. You think Id be here, talking with you, if I hadnt said and done what I did?

No. Youd be dead. I wont deny that. But what about earlier?

I told you, I didnt recognise you. You all look alike to me. Dont you struggle to tell humans apart?

Yes, but I was speaking to you! And your Soul boiled with murderous desire, I could feel it!

Nicolai opened his mouth only to close it. The Mask was causing him some trouble. Lies came easily to his lips, but it was saying that wasnt the way to go. He mightve ignored but some of the Modules agreed, and considering how the Dark had so totally wrest control, almost caused the most foolish of mistakes he needed the Mask more than ever. He stood, silent, face twitching and Soul writhing as he tried to work out a way forward.

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