Chapter 284: More of a Reason

There was more to it than Ned could imagine. But it seemed that pressing Roy to talk about Testa was something he should not do. Everybody got a story of their own, and Roy's story was not Ned to tell.

After organizing his things, Ned went to check the citizens of the Hive.

On the surface it was around high noon, it was too early for Ned to take a sleep.

There was nothing to it. No matter how Ned tried, no one knows Katolin. Not that they don't know her, but it seemed that creatures in the Hive seemed to distance themselves from not their kin.

Katolin was an Arachne: half-human and half-spider like in form. Most of the inhabitants of the Hive was the Arachnes, but Katolin was so low in their rank that she was near to unrecognizable.

It's more of a reason to not leave her inside the Hive, Ned thought as he passed by living quarters in different forms. No matter how they want to progress, as long as they were underground the Du'kki mountain, their evolution was limited. With fewer resources, they might as well start to trade with other beasts, they have the abundant source of mana stones. Perhaps, they want to start a trade with humans.

But it seemed unlikely. The moment that humans knew the Hive was a source of mana stones, they wouldn't stop until the Hive was razed above ground.

Ned sighed.

No matter where you put humans, they act the same. Greedy.

Ned turned to a passage that leads to a chamber where warriors of the Hive were having their meals.

The mess hall could fit nearly a thousand creatures of different species. No matter how and where he put Kon Sas Koron, she was admirable as she was able to gather these many warriors.

There were long tables made of burned mud in the center that could fit a couple of dozens of creatures side-by-side.

There were Gnolls, and Goblins staring with each other on each side of the table. Although Gnolls were a lot shorter than the Goblins, if one to judge if who would win with a fight against the two, surely the broader shoulder Gnolls would if it's all about raw strength. But in terms of numbers, Goblins were ranked first, second was the Arachnes.

Arachnes, on the other hand, sat while sucking of what seemed to be a purple larva on a bowl, which could be their refreshments.

Ned caught someone waving at the far end corner of the chamber.

Ned looked over his shoulder, thinking it might be a mistake that someone would be waving to him.

As he knew, Otik and the rest of the humans were always having their meal far from the rest of the creatures. Knowing the division of the humans, Kon Sas Koron reserved a chamber for their own near the Gate where they work.

Ned rarely saw Roy eating with the other beast and humans alike.

If Roy wasn't training Ned, he was a singularity of his own. He prefers to eat and be alone in his chamber.

It appears to be that a male Arachne was waving for Ned.

Ned wanted to point a finger to himself and ask "Me?" But thinking that it would be to cliche to do so. He, instead, walked to the creature waiving at him.

There were separations on the table in terms of their rank in the Hive.

The closer one eats in the middle of the chamber, the more they were useful or needed in the Hive.

Most of the creatures in the middle were arachnes and not a handful of Goblin shamans, with little to four Gnolls.

Arachnes made up the Hive since most of them were warriors along with Goblins. While Goblin shamans were rare they were immediately moved to the higher rank the moment they show talent in mana manipulation. Gnolls on the other hand were the master-builder of the Hive but composed only of a handful in total thousands of the inhabitants of the Hive. Sure, their species ranked third in terms of number. But only a handful was recognized by the Queen's internal system.

Thus, Ned walked to the male Arachne with bestial eyes glaring at him, most of which were from the Goblin warriors. Still held a grudge since Ned was the one to put their Goblin general to captivity.

Some were talking while the others moved on with their daily routines of maintaining the Hive.

Ned walked to the middle of the Hive, indicating that the creatures in here were somewhat important, but were expendables.

The male Arachne Ned remembered was one of the raiding team, he and Katolin saved.

There were three left after they fell to the deeper part of the underground—perhaps there were four. Ned doesn't give much of a thought.

"Human," the male Arachne said. "Here. Sit. Sit."

The male Arachne introduced himself as Akk'ro right after Ned took the edge part of the table and seated. He was well built for an Arachne warrior. Stripes of dark and yellow ran his cheek down to the middle of his chest and legs. At first, Ned thought he was wearing an awkward-looking hat as it was bigger than his head, but he later found out it was a part of his body, his scales formed a helmet to protect his head.

He was detailing the 'adventure', as what he was blabbing to his subordinates, about how they escaped the Evolved Kruthik after Ned and Katolin were sent down the tunnel.

According to him, the Evolved Kruthik's aggressiveness wavered down after the Ned and Katolin went down the tunnel, as it kept on pounding its pincer-like spikes to the entrance of the tunnel. Akk'ro and the remaining Arachnes took the chance and escaped. Leaving dead bodies of their team.

"How I wish I could join you on the surface if ever you get to leave here."

Akk'ro was excited as he spoke to Ned. But thinking that he won't make it to the surface, his dark lips lowered as his shoulders did the same.

Apparently, only goblins were allowed to set a foot on the surface. That must be why Ned only saw encampments of goblins. After all, Goblins were expendables and of all the creatures in the Hive, they were the ones to multiply the fastest.

"No. No. The Goblins here were used as scouts above," Akk'ro said raising a bowl of green murky liquid soup as he retorted Ned's thinking. "The goblins from above were different from our goblins here. On the surface, they do not belong to anybody. Goblins there had their order. They do not belong to anybody. Our Queen..."

He paused. Six more Arachnes were sitting on the long table, all of which were looking at Akk'ro.

"Calm down," Akk'ro said as he waved his hand to dismiss his companion's thoughts. "This human here saved my life, and Kon Sas Koron trusted him. So, of course, I trust him too. Doubting him is doubting the Kon as well. You all doubted Kon?"

One of them hissed but then lowered his head in submission while the others did the same.

"If Kon Sas Koron says so."

"Yes. Yes."

"I guess it's fine."

Ned never thought that he would gain reputation to these beasts as he was only dragged by Moloatiss down the Hive. But Ned wasn't new to interactions of different species, that must be why he felt comfortable talking to them.

It seemed that coming here wasn't bad at all, he thought as he leaned closer to Akk'ro who was about to share something.

Akk'ro raised a hand and said, "We were only waiting for Kon Sas's command and we will retake the surface."

He paused once again, this time he was hesitating to say something.

"And I hoped you were on our side when that happens."

Of course, Ned doesn't want to take sides, he knew he was only passing by. Taking sides means losing the other's trust. Not that he trusted the two warring factions, but he does not want anyone to bother with his goals. As far as he was concerned, the Hive, Queen Sas Koron, and perhaps, just perhaps, Katolin were stepping stones to him.

Behind Ned, a Shoon appeared out of nowhere. His deep purple tentacles wiggled as he kept on staring at Ned.

"What Shoon?"

Apparently, Kon Sas Koron was going to invade the surface with her army of creatures who seemed to be having issues with their internal affairs. Arachnes were in disagreement with the Goblins if who were the best warriors among them. While Goblins were detached from the Gnolls. Since, even though the Gnolls were small built, they were much useful than the Goblins in terms of craftsmanship. While Gnolls were having a bad reputation from Arachnes. Since the Gnoll elder views Arachnes the same as Goblins. But all three creatures have something in common, aside from serving Kon Sas Koron, they hated the Shoons. For the three, the Shoons were an abomination.

What would make the Shoon come to the middle along with the hundreds of different races looking at him?

No matter how Ned scanned the mess hall of creatures, there were no Shoons inside.

"Human," the Shoon said.

Ned looked over his shoulder only to realize that a hardened and darkened tentacle was drilling toward him, trying to stab Ned.