Chapter 1298: New Leadership

Chapter 1298: New Leadership

"There isn't time! We need to abandon the Slimeground!"

"Are you a traitor to the tribe? We fight!"

Zluth could hear the heated argument even before he arrived. He'd pushed himself to the limit to race back through the twisted and narrow gaps between the tunnels, and even so, he'd barely returned ahead of the flood of deadly blue mana that had begun to fall deeper into the stratum.

He burst into the opening, only a few hundred metres from the hidden entrance to the tribe's home, to find a large gathering of Krath, almost the entire Slee tribe, furiously arguing the next course of action. Surprisingly, the Krath'lath was still alive, swelled up to her largest size as she attempted to intimidate the others into submission.

As he approached, he could smell the fear, rage and desperation in the air. It was a heady mix, and dangerous as well. This many of his people together, with this heightened atmosphere, could lead to the destruction of the tribe as they frenzied and destroyed each other until only a few remained.

Although it was perilous, this was also a moment of opportunity. Boldly, he pushed himself into the middle of the gathering, a thick trail of slime left in his wake.

"The ants are coming," he announced loudly, causing eyes atop their stalks to turn towards him. "They've begun tunnelling directly down towards us, spreading the blue mana down as they go. It won't be long until they reach this place."

"That's impossible! There's no way they could know where the Slimegrounds are hidden!" someone protested from nearby.

"They don't," he replied confidently, "but it won't matter. They are simply digging down over a wide area. Unless they stop before they reach us, they'll be here in a matter of hours."

"You appear now. Where were you with this intelligence when our tribe fought the invaders directly?" the Krath'lath spat, acid bubbling from the surface of her flesh. "Our beasts were destroyed, our warriors poisoned, while this coward huddled in the crevices."

It was an attempt to turn the ire of the tribe away from herself and onto another target, but it was weak. She'd reminded them of the failed attack herself.

Zluth drew himself up even taller, not retreating from her larger form in the slightest.

"I was scouting, alone, as my Krath'lath had ordered. I'm surprised you have even shown your face here after the disaster you've caused. The Slee tribe has never been weaker than we are now, without our pets, with only immature and undeveloped Blubbeasts, and now forced to flee our Slimegrounds and face the wilds alone! You have brought the tribe to the brink of destruction!"

The Krath'lath remained pinned to the ground, thrashing and growling, unable to control her rage. Zluth felt a surge of triumph as he delivered the terrible truth.

"Once the ants had fought off the tribe, their true masters began to descend into the fifth," he spoke boldly. "Human soldiers and mages moved among them without fear."

The atmosphere amongst the gathered Krath instantly changed. A monstrous incursion had changed to an invasion by the humans? Was the Child Emperor behind this?

That was much more serious.

"But that's not all," Zluth continued, snatching their focus back to himself in an instant. "I saw golgari amongst them as well."

The Empire of Stone as well! The Krath hissed, fearful.

"And ka'armodo, and Folk, and the bruan'chii!" he declared finally.

There was silence as the Slee processed what they had heard. Had the entire world united against them? Would this be a war for the very survival of the fifth?

Eyes, red with incandescent rage, turned toward the Krath'lath, still held down by fellow members of her tribe. In the face of such raw anger, even she was able to seize control of herself. Finally, Zluth saw it, the fear in her eyes.

"I will lead us into the wilderness," Zluth declared. "Only the gathered might of the tribes will be able to stand against this enemy. Gather what you can from the Slimegrounds, but we have only a short time before we leave."

Some of the Slee had already turned to race back into the hidden home of the tribe, whereas others waited, knowing what would come next.

"Now let us dispose of this fool," Zluth declared, teeth flashing in an evil grin.