<Commencing analysis of current party status and situational dynamics. Combatants include 12 chimera ant soldiers, 10 flame scarabs, and 1 frog variant chimera ant. The target—direwolf at Baron rank—is fatigued and wounded, exhibiting a reduced defensive capability due to ongoing battle injuries.>
Rodion paused for a second as Mikhailis stared at the screen, assessing the situation with a sharp eye.
<Recommended strategies include Option A: Infiltration through the mouth, utilizing the small size of flame scarabs and chimera soldiers to compromise the respiratory pathways. Estimated success rate: 64%. Option B: Coordinated external assault, focusing on overwhelming the weakened target from multiple angles to force exhaustion. Estimated success rate: 48%.
Option C: Combining infiltration with external assault, aiming for maximum damage and faster incapacitation. Estimated success rate: 79%.>
Mikhailis smirked at the options being presented to him. He looked at the screen, watching the direwolf's heaving chest as it struggled to recover.
"Rodion, Option C looks like our best bet. Let's take it by the mouth and the throat. We'll play smart here, I'd rather not lose more ants than we need to." Your journey continues at empire
<Affirmative. Implementing infiltration and coordinated assault strategy. Adjusting units accordingly for optimal efficiency.>
Rodion's mechanical voice was suddenly interrupted by an alert, and Mikhailis glanced at his display with wide eyes as the number of units began to change.
<Correction: An additional 18 chimera ant soldiers and 40 more flame scarabs have been mobilized. Current unit strength is 30 soldiers and 50 flame scarabs.>
"Well, look at that..." Mikhailis muttered, a grin forming on his face. "Looks like the queen's got something to say. She wants to make sure this is over as safely as possible, huh? Let her do her thing, Rodion. This will be a good learning experience for her in strategizing."
<Confirmed. Letting the queen's directives take precedence for combat arrangements. Proceeding with coordination and final adjustments.>
Mikhailis watched in anticipation, his heart pounding as the swarm of chimera ants and flame scarabs mobilized under the queen's command. The frog variant had climbed higher into the tree, preparing to keep an eye on the situation from above. Below, the flame scarabs moved swiftly towards the direwolf's massive, open mouth, two of them slipping inside along with a soldier ant.
It was almost surreal, like watching a hamster sneak inside a sleeping dog's mouth.
"Rodion, we need to finish this quickly!" Mikhailis urged, his voice strained.
<Understood. Coordinating additional units for final assault. Flame scarabs switching to ignition mode, focusing burn on the tracheal region. Anticipated result: asphyxiation within two minutes.>
The direwolf's roars grew weaker, its body swaying as the flame scarabs intensified their attack, their bodies glowing a bright red as they burned hotter and hotter. The soldier ant inside continued its assault, tearing into the wolf's throat, obstructing its airway further.
The wolf's movements became sluggish, its legs giving way beneath it as it collapsed onto the ground, its breath coming in shallow, wheezing gasps. Mikhailis could see the desperation in its eyes, the way it struggled to stay alive despite the odds stacked against it.
"Come on... just a bit more," Mikhailis whispered, his eyes locked on the screen.
The wolf let out one final, guttural growl, its body shuddering violently before it fell still. The flame scarabs crawled out of its mouth, their bodies covered in soot and ichor, but their luminescence still flickering.
<The target has been neutralized. Operation successful. Current casualties: ten chimera soldiers, seven flame scarabs.>
Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his body sagging back against the chair. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the tension drain from his body. They had done it. His ants had taken down a Baron-ranked direwolf—something that should have been impossible for creatures their size. And yet, they had succeeded.
"Ten soldiers... seven scarabs," Mikhailis muttered, his voice tinged with regret. "It's a hefty cost, but we did it." He bit his lip, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the screen.
"Rodion, take note. We need to revise our strategy. We can't afford to lose that many soldiers every time. The queen's going to need to think more creatively next time."
<Noted. Revising strategy templates based on data gathered during this operation. Initiating analysis for future improvements in coordinated assaults and infiltration.>
Mikhailis nodded, his eyes still locked on the fallen direwolf. It lay there, massive and imposing, even in death. The flame scarabs and soldier ants moved around it, their movements more subdued now that the battle was over.
"Have the soldiers secure the body. The queen's going to want to feast," Mikhailis said, a small smile playing at his lips.
<Understood. Commencing retrieval protocol. Preparing to transport remains to the nest for queen consumption and evolutionary advancement.>