Nascent (The Stork Tower Book 1)

by Tony Corden

  She logged out and practised her meditation and Tai Chi before having a snack and shower. After writing a short note to her parents saying she’d started college Leah lay down in the pod and prepared to face the ant hill.

  Leah looked around but didn’t notice any difference to the world.

  “Gèng, I thought you were going to modify the Space?”

  “I am, Leah, it is taking some time and a lot of trial and error. I’m doing this without purchasing anything, and I’m still trying to work out what some of the parameters mean.”

  “Would you like me to set aside some credits?”

  “No, I believe that allowing me to work with these constraints is developing my capabilities faster than usual. I’ve read that other PAI(N) entities are not allowed the freedoms you have given me. I’m also increasingly convinced that my residence in the Neural Chip permits a greater flexibility than normal. Though there is no supporting literature or evidence, I surmise that more hardwired constraints were broken than the ‘Big Brother’ ones we already discussed. I’ve calculated using the appropriate standards and criteria, and I believe I am already approaching what is called Sentience Level 2. I don’t have the databases but can interact at that level with the information I do have. I assume other AIs are developed with much tighter controls on what they can access and on the scope of their activities.”

  “We need to talk about this in more depth sometime. Now though, I need to get back and meet Wisp. Is there anything else you think I need to know?”

  “Two things! You have points to distribute and a recording of you dispatching Jason and calling him a 'half-breed bitch' has gone viral. Someone recorded the fight and because of the current interest in Orumeck’s Cavern people are fascinated. The Mana Spike is the main point of discussion, and many are saying you must be the Cavern finder. People have heard that you are near Carson’s Loop and some are travelling there hoping to get the information from you. Thad’s group hasn’t mentioned the Cavern, so people are still crawling all over the area looking for it. Jason is reacting badly to all the comments and has been blocked from the thread; his comments were almost all aimed at destroying you.”

  “I was planning to move on soon anyway, but I might need to move earlier than expected. That is something to worry about after, the anthill. I’ll distribute points after seeing what the situation is.”

  Leah stepped into Dunyanin to find Wisp was already there and watching ants.

  “Good morning Atherleah, I came a bit early, and am watching to see if there were any patterns to the ants’ behaviour.”

  “I understand perfectly; I sat here for half an hour yesterday just watching. I think I saw several pathways through the field as long as ants are aggressive only within twenty meters. What have you noticed?”

  They watched for another half-hour before deciding on a route. Leah and Wisp would need to defeat a couple of groups though only one at a time. There was one section where they could potentially attract up to three different groups. After discussion, they decided that if they timed it right, they could finish the first group before the third arrived. First, though, they needed to find out if the ants attacked by 'line of sight' or if distance was the factor. Before moving, Leah decided to put her undistributed points into Intelligence to raise her MP.

  They cautiously stepped out into the field and moved towards a group of eight ants that were slightly larger than the ones in the woods. Leah hadn’t analysed the level of the field ants until then, and she found that each of these ants was Level 8. When they got within twenty meters of the group the ants swarmed toward them.

  Leah cast Disc of Death and Circle of Sloth when the ants were a couple of meters away. One ant was caught on the spikes, and the others swarmed the gap. The fight took longer, and the increased level of the ants was noticeable as several scythe cuts were often required to behead an ant. After two minutes the ants suddenly increased their speed catching Wisp off guard mid-swing. The ant grabbed her knees with his mandibles and unbalanced her. She fell to the ground, and the ant started shaking its head like a dog so the mandibles would cut deeper into her knee. The Disc of Death had spikes also disappeared, and the two remaining ants swarmed Leah. She dropped the spike in her left hand and fired to Webspinner ring twice, once for each of the ants. Both became entangled, and she rushed to help Wisp. After killing the attacking ant, she turned back just in time to be bowled over by an ant who had freed itself. She fell and kept rolling as the ant slashed at the ground. One of the claws raked her, but her cuirass partially blocked the blow. As she came to her feet she fired her Webspinner ring again, this time catching the ant.

  She turned to the second ant just as it escaped the web. Using her sword and mana bolts, she finished the ant before turning and killing the last one. Wisp was lying on the ground, alive but beginning to flash red. Leah quickly checked that no other groups were coming and then she cast Heal on Wisp and gave her one of the 100HP healing potions. They sat for a moment to recover. Wisp had several healing potions and used one. Leah sat in still in the Quarter Lotus position, breathing deeply as Master Ning had shown her. After several minutes Gèng interrupted her and said, “Leah, you have accessed the skill of meditation which increases the speed at which you recuperate Mana and Ki. Do you want to view the message?”

  “Yes, please.”

  You have used a new active skill: Meditation - Current Level (Novice Level 1)

  The Meditation Skill allows you to increase the rate at which you refill your Mana and Ki.

  At the Novice Level, this increase will be [Skill Level]%

  At the Intermediate Level, this increase will be [20 + Skill Level x 2]%

  At the Experienced Level, this increase will be [60 + Skill Level x 4]%

  At the Master Level, this increase will be [140 + Skill Level x 8]%

  At the Intermediate Level, you will receive an additional + 100 MP and +100 KP to your capacity

  At the Experienced Level, you will receive an additional + 300 MP and +300 KP to your capacity

  At the Master Level, you will receive an additional + 1000 MP and +1000 KP to your capacity

  Do you wish to receive further notifications concerning this skill?

  [Yes] [No]

  “No.”

  Smiling Leah stood and went to harvest the ants for loot. It was some time before Wisp felt ready to continue. Even with the break, they made good time. They defeated four more groups at Level 8 and one at Level 10 before reaching the area where it was possible they might have to face more than one group at a time. Instead, after watching and timing, they decided they could do all three, one after the other, but with almost no time to recuperate. Leah would need to carefully watch her cool-down for both spells and have the minor Mana potions ready. She would use the 100MP for the second battle and then the 500MP before the last.

  The girls fought almost continually for the next fifteen minutes and although they had both lost more than half their health they had finally reached the base of the anthill where the pathway began. They found a place to rest away from all the ants and ate some bread, drank some water and meditated to come back to full strength. Leah had explained to Wisp the usefulness of meditation, and although Wisp was still to gain the skill, she continued to practice her posture and breathing.

  It had taken two hours to cross the field, but they were now ready to see if an unknown dungeon was accessible from the top of the anthill. Gèng’s research showed that almost all ant-themed dungeons were entered from above. Most started as a hole in the ground, but a few were situated in anthills. None of those recorded was quite this high though most were in higher level areas and went deep underground. They climbed the hill with Leah taking the lead. She moved slowly but confidently up the path. Wisp’s job was to check their back trail just in case something attacked from behind. They were surprised not to find ants on the path and had a clear run all the way to the top.

  When her head reached the level of the top, Leah was able to l
ook into a shallow basin with a glowing portal set in its centre. Leah beckoned Wisp to come forward slowly, keeping low to the ground. The basin was eighty meters across and forty meters deep. Five ants were patrolling the floor of the basin, each of them was walking on four legs and held a long spear with their arms. Above them, five flying ants all held a bow in their front two hands, with a quiver on their backs.

  Sentry Worker Ant (Level 14) 1400HP EP 1100

  Sentry Drone Ant (Level 14) 1200HP EP 1300

  Both girls crouched and watched the ants for several minutes. Then, moving back from the edge they had a quiet conversation. Wisp said, “None of the workers overlap so we should only have to take one at a time. However, each flying drone makes a circuit over two of the workers.”

  Leah nodded, “I timed them, and I think we would have at most three minutes to kill the worker before the drone returned. I noticed that as the drone passed over a worker, then the ant would look up but I didn’t see the drone looking down. If a drone is missing, I think the worker would notice, but I don’t think a drone will miss a worker. If so, then if we enter the zone of a worker we will need to defeat that worker and then the drone who is moving toward where we are. We’ll have three minutes to kill both before another drone returns. We will kill that before the next worker arrives, and then kill the third worker coming from the area covered by the second drone. Then we just work our way in either direction killing one after another.”

  After several minutes discussing the tactics, they worked their way into the basin and made their way toward their first target. Leah’s Webspinner ring was at Level 5 and was effective to ten meters. Her Worker ring was Level 4 and effective for eight metres; she hoped the flying ants would get closer than that. They waited just outside the range of the worker until the drone moved away by more than twenty meters. Stepping into the worker’s attack zone, it began to move toward them. Leah turned away and cast Disc of Death as Wisp said, “Now!” Their timing was off, and the ant wasn’t impaled but moved around the circle toward the gate. Wisp rushed to the gate while firing Blazing Bolts at the ant. Leah checked on all the ants and then rushed to the gate and fired the Webspinner Ring. The web wrapped around its legs and brought it to the ground. Leah had time for one hurried attack before turning to watch the approaching drone.

  The drone rushed towards them raising its bow to shoot. Leah dove forward as it released and came up underneath the drone firing a Web at it. She caught its legs and the hand that held the bow but wasn’t able to secure the wings. She fired again and brought the drone down. Leah hurried to help Wisp with the worker ant. Together they wore it down and killed it. Leah grabbed its spear and ran toward the drone which was just rising into the air. She rammed into it driving the spear deep into its abdomen. She held on and dragged the drone to the ground. Wisp and Leah began to assault it together. Just as it died an arrow slammed into Leah’s back knocking her over, the second drone had arrived, and they had not been watching for it.

  Wisp threw several bolts at the drone as Leah got to her feet. This time, Leah knocked the drone out of the sky with her first shot. Leah’s health bar was slowly decreasing, but it wasn’t yet serious enough to stop and pull the arrow out. Her cuirass had stopped the arrow and only the arrowhead he’d penetrated her shoulder. Every time she moved her left arm the bleeding became a little worse and the pain more excruciating as the arrowhead sawed away at her left trapezius. She didn't let it stop her and instead helped Wisp kill the drone.

  They could see the next worker heading in their direction, but it was moving slowly. Wisp pull the arrow from Leah's shoulder who then drank a 100HP Potion of Minor Healing. Leah decided to use Merdiven. Leah stepped behind Wisp and off to her left. As the worker ant arrived, it thrust its spear at Wisp, who dodged as Leah brought the Morningstar down on the Worker’s head stunning it. Wisp and Leah then killed it. They repeated the move with the third worker. After recovering and harvesting the ants, they continued clockwise around the basin until they defeated the last five ants.

  The basin at the top of the anthill was empty except for Leah and Wisp. They were standing quietly and staring down at the portal circle on the ground. Gèng explained that when they stepped on the portal, they would be transported to the start of the dungeon. Leah agreed to go first, and she held the staff tightly in one hand and prepared to cast to using the other. Taking a deep breath, she stepped on the portal.

  She reappeared in a small cavern. There was a tunnel leading from the cavern and nothing else. As Wisp appeared, she received a message.

  Level 4 Dungeon Achievement: First 1 (1, Diamond)

  Atherleah (Level 15), your group has discovered a dungeon: Carson’s Formicary

  You are the first group to access this area. This is your first, 'First 1 (Diamond)' achievement.

  Reward 1: 2500 x 15 = 39188 (+4.5%) Experience Points (15000/15000) … (10934/17000)

  Reward 2: +3% to all future Experience

  Reward 3: 1 x 10 Platinum = 10 Platinum

  Reward 4: Increased probability of valuable drop. Luck is increased by 7.5 whenever you are in this Formicary. During your first time in the Formicary, the probability of all drops is increased to 0.5.

  Fame: 1000 Fame Points (2025)

  A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

  Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum. Do you wish to retain your privacy?

  [Yes] [No]

  “Yes.”

  “Hey Wisp, I suggest you retain privacy otherwise we’ll be mobbed when we get back to Carson’s Loop.”

  Wisp didn’t say anything just nodded and then did a little dance, grabbed Leah and hugged her. She told Leah she needed to allocate some points. Leah also had ten points to allocate, and they spent a few moments to get organised before Leah slowly led them into the tunnel. As she did she received a notification:

  This dungeon is recommended for groups of at least four members.

  MOBs will be at least 1 Level above the Mean of your group with the final boss at least five levels higher than your highest member. Currently, this means MOBs start at Level 15 in this dungeon.

  Do you wish to continue? Note if you choose [No] you will be returned to your resurrection location with no loss of experience.

  [Yes] [No]

  Leah glanced at Wisp and to see what she wanted to do. Wisp shrugged and said, “I suppose it might be good to have some help, we need someone who can absorb some damage. On the other hand, we’ve come this far I think we should give it a go.”

  “Good! I wasn’t keen to turn back. At least we might get through a couple of levels.”

  Wisp nodded, and Leah set off. After a few minutes of walking the tunnel opened into a large cavern. It had a high domed ceiling, and Level 15 Foraging Ants were wandering through the room. There were many ant-sized tunnels which opened into the cavern. An ant would enter the cavern and then slowly make its way out via another hole. At any one time, there was a maximum of three ants in the room with a minimum of one. Leah and Wisp’s path led directly across the cavern where another large tunnel exited the cavern. No ants entered or left via the two larger tunnels. From one side to the other was about 100 meters.

  After watching for a while, Leah stepped into the room when there was only one ant in the Cavern, on the far side. As soon as she entered the cavern, the ant rushed toward her. She stepped back into the tunnel, but the ant kept coming. Before it reached where Wisp and Leah were, another ant entered the cavern but ignored Leah, Wisp and the charging ant. They moved even further back into the tunnel and readied themselves to fight the Forager Ant. With the two of them, they easily killed it and returned to the room. The ants continued to move slowly through and around the cavern.

  Finally, Leah said, “It’s a lucky dip. We have to go through the cavern and will be attacked continuously by any and all ants in the room until we get to the other side. The longer we stay in the room, the more ants we have to fight. They will fol
low us into the tunnel, but no more will join them. If we time it right, we might face one, if not then we could face three or more. If we stop to fight in the room, then more and more ants will be added, until they bury us. How fast can you run?”

  In the end, they waited on the edge of the tunnel until there was only one ant and it was nearer their tunnel than the other. Leah was to be the trigger, when she was ready she tapped Wisp and ran straight at the Forager, it turned and made for her. Leah fired the Webspinner ring and kept moving; the forager tumbled to the ground. She headed for the exit and saw another ant enter the room, and start for her. She diverted toward the ant and fired again, this time only trapping two legs and causing the ant to stumble; she kept running. Meanwhile, Wisp had reached the exit tunnel and was yelling that two more ants had entered the room and were coming. Leah cast Disc of Death as she entered the exit tunnel. It sprang up behind her impaling one of the ants. The Circle of Spikes completely blocked the tunnel. She turned and smiled at Wisp. Unfortunately for them, the final ant travelled around the spikes, climbed the wall of the cavern, and dropped down into the tunnel. Both girls responded quickly; Leah cast a trap and then brought out the staff. They were still hacking at it when another ant arrived. Leah trapped this one and then the third arrived. It was touch and go, but they finally finished off all three ants as the spikes disappeared. They waited for the final ant to crawl slowly into the tunnel before finishing it off. Leah harvested the ants and glanced back into the room. There were four ants in the room, but one was carrying a white watermelon sized sphere in its mouth.