The return trip was mainly uneventful, but not useless. Beyond the simple merits of bringing Three Squeaks closer to exploring the whole planet- a task he was only barely beginning to comprehend the magnitude of- it allowed people time to digest what they had learned. Meep either didnt take that time or was always doing so, as he remained equally active in his gathering process. The more he put in his bag, the more Three Squeaks wondered how improbable that potential explosion was.
Half Oink hadnt quite gotten the big showdown she wanted- the beaver chief simply didnt have the right fighting style for her. Something with fangs and claws that wanted to tear the warthog apart might be better. But she no doubt gained some insights of her own regardless.
Meanwhile, Three Squeaks came to understand that he was actually in Essence Collection. Had it been before meeting Slick and the others at the lake, or after? He wasnt certain, but he knew he needed more time to properly comprehend his essence. But that was the whole thing, wasnt it. At the very least, he knew it was not terribly dissimilar from Antons. Yet despite Anton being his main instructor, Three Squeaks knew that wasnt something that could be inherited directly. It all came down to the individual and what they desired. Obviously there had been some influence from Anton, but the whole reason for that was because he had a similar drive.
He just happened to be missing a full lifetime of experience. A long lifetime. Anton had said once that he was four hundred seasons old when he began cultivating. Even if Three Squeaks pared that down to a more reasonable meerkat lifespan, what did that mean to him who had barely two dozen seasons in him? It made Three Squeaks wonder, though. Perhaps he was focused too much on a single thing. Cultivation was good, and exploring the world as well but there might be things he was missing out on.
He didnt even know if that was a problem. Anton was a grandfather of many- including one of the few humans who had shown themselves, Devon. Should Three Squeaks have a family? Was that important? It wasnt as if the meerkats actually needed it. In times past they survived mostly due to a high birth rate, but now they rarely died. It was barely even related to the direct expansion of their lifespans, because the majority had been eaten by something. Now, anything for days of travel that could eat them was usually on their side. Or some sort of intruder that would be quickly dealt with.
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So having children wasnt important. Indeed, they could easily overdo it. They were able to produce an astounding amount of food in their lands, but that wouldnt expand infinitely. That was an awareness Anton had drilled into their heads. Sustained outward growth could only lead to conflicts and inevitable disaster.
He felt a pinch on his energy, looking down to see Fearsome Mandibles. What?
She tilted her head. Nothing.
Then why do that?
Hungry, she signed. Your energy is the tastiest thing here.
Could you not? he asked. I need that.
No you dont, the void ant declared. Its not like Im taking away from your maximum cultivation. Just your current stores.
Even so, Three Squeaks said. You need to ask. And get approval.
How troublesome, the princess said. If ultimately understandable. It will be easier when we return to somewhere with good food.
Do you even need food? he asked. Dont you eat natural energy?
Its much better to consume it infused into something to digest over time.
How much can you even eat? He asked. Youre tiny. Though he did notice she had gained a few units of size. What did Anton call those, millimeters?
More than it looks like. But were also supposed to gather food to share. So I understand.
The Great Queen told you about it?
The ant shook her head. I just know. Even without having been part of a proper void ant colony.
Thats convenient.
Maybe. Only if it works, she commented.
-----
Along the way, Three Squeaks made some final notes of where they would have to visit, and what they would have to watch out for adjacent to their last area of travel. Determining if any stronger individuals were safe or good or any of those things wasnt exactly possible when just passing them by. And aside from the beavers, nothing had been motivated to cause obvious ecological devastation.
The whole thing with the beavers was a shame, really. It was going to take an unfathomable amount of time to return the forest to a semblance of its own self, and a powerful cultivator had died. More than one, really, since spirit building was something special as well. The worst part was that the beavers totally could have created the same space for themselves without causing so much trouble. Perhaps they wouldnt have grown so strong so rapidly without devouring bark and pulp of so many trees, but they simply hadnt needed as much space as they occupied.
But Three Squeaks could kind of see the reason they did it. Gaining a bit of strength led to the desire for more, especially for those who normally had to live in fear of predators. It was a shame that the beavers hadnt had any guidance to set them on the right path. Either internally, like Pondering Hum, or externally like Anton.
Speaking of Anton, Three Squeaks couldnt sense him as they began to approach Coalition territory. Was he still not back yet? How long would he be gone? What if what if something happened to him?
The last one was just stupid panic. Obviously it was the most unlikely possibility. Three Squeaks had seen him. He was more than strong, and he had strong allies.
Even so, he couldnt help but ask around to see if anyone had heard anything. From Anton, or from the other humans. In fact, the answers he got were even worse than that. It seemed Deep Purr knew something of the matter, so Three Squeaks went to find him.
Swordmaster Ty has gone as well, Deep Purr said. He left several sealed boxes with the intention that we could open them when we were ready for the information. But he has taken his ship to return home to his people.
Thats- Three Squeaks honestly didnt know what to say about that. Expected, I suppose. These people are all important. They cant just stay here forever. Even so, over the past years the humans had been a constant presence, even if they were generally at the edge of everything that was happening. What will we do without them?
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What do you mean? Deep Purr asked. The same things as we would do with them. I study the sword. You study the bow. And the sun, I suppose. This does not change. As for the Coalition, we continue to develop tools useful to our diverse people. And Meep will continue to foolishly test every plant for medicinal properties. We have handled threats as they came, and we can still do so. Especially with more Essence Collection cultivators. It may not be the peak of cultivation, but before ascension it is the last step below Life Transformation.
Its a long journey to that point, Three Squeaks said.
Perhaps, Deep Purr acknowledged. Or perhaps our journeys up until this point have all been far too short.
Three Squeaks nodded. The world is big. We know too little. But I can change that.
Good. Ill hold you to that. As for myself, you can trust me and the old hog to keep this place safe. And the rest of the militia, of course.
-----
Anton looked down upon Akrys. He wanted to say hello to his tiny furry friend, but he had more reasons not to. While at the current moment he was watching over them from a distance, neither he nor any of the others would be around in the future. Perhaps as the borders of the Alliance expanded they might watch over Akrys, but that was a significant duration down the line.
From the perspective of the Alliance as a whole, the existence of a planet of sapient animals was a much more important thing than this particular people group. And they might be right, to some extent, no matter how much Anton cared for them. That did not mean he was going to let them get wiped out. Indeed, hed spent the years with them to make certain it would be the exact opposite. But if he or other humans held their hands the whole way, they might simply turn into little copycats. While they might prefer certain human styles, they still needed the drive to develop on their own.
Not that they were entirely alone down there. The Great Queen was still present, to keep an eye on her princesses. Anton didnt necessarily agree with her plans that of the two one should go to the upper realms and one eventually form a colony on Akrys. They might both be suitable to the same thing, or perhaps neither of them would fit either option. But as things were, Anton had a fair understanding that Fearsome Mandibles would be going to the upper realms where her aggression would be useful. The more moderate Crossed Antennae would do well among allies here on Akrys. But that was only what he knew from a few years, and while void ants might not change personality as much as humans could during their development, it was still quite possible.
-----
I dont care if weve never met before, Slys voice boomed into the recording device that was also capturing his imposing figure. Those fools over there are still our brothers. You owe as much loyalty to the Hardened Crown Sect of this Nidec as you do to me. And that means doing what is best for them, whether thats talking them into joining this Lower Realms Alliance or beating them over the head.
Sly paused, then took a deep breath.
Ah, who am I kidding. It will obviously be the latter. So make sure your heads are harder than theirs, alright? And remember, dont do anything I wouldnt do.
He threw his head back and laughed uproariously. Then he turned. Alright, I think thats it.
Arent you going to give them any advice? Margriet asked.
And have it be months old when it arrives? No way. They just need a little kick in the pants. They have to manage their own junk without me, after all.
Fair enough, she said. Oh, should we have stopped the recording? she asked, looking to Engineer Uzun.
No problem, the man said. Editing this sort of thing is trivial. Well have people put together something this afternoon for your approval.
Make sure you leave in all the shouting, Sly said. It wont do you any good to try to blunt my words. Unless you send them along on some sort of projectile. Oh, can you make the message into an explosion that smashes a crater into the ground?
Thats not possible, Engineer Uzun lied, though mostly for the sake of brevity. But we can at least send the message directly to them now, instead of relaying it through the rest of the Alliance.
Hey, I just thought of something. This Scarlet Alliance here, were basically the same as the Lower Realms Alliance there, right?
To some extent. Its more like were part of one larger alliance instead, as much as we can be with the more or less one way exchange of people.
So shouldnt we call ourselves the Scarlet Midfields and Lower Realms Alliance?
No, Uzun said. For one thing, its still secret that we can easily communicate.
And the name is unwieldy, Margriet Gelens said.
I suppose some hardheads in the upper realms wouldn’t be happy with it either, Sly shrugged. They dont like how cocky us ascended individuals can get.
We have good reason, Margriet pointed out. The transition from lower energy to upper energy is a valuable strengthening process, as well as the fundamentals of control.
People dont like knowing that, though. Ah well, he shrugged. They actually have more opportunity to get their hands on lower energy infused things these days. I cant believe you guys are actually importing storage bags full of rocks.
Theyre gemstones, Engineer Uzun said. And its practical.
Could you just use rocks though? he asked. You can shove a lot of energy in a rock.
... Im sure it has been considered, he said. And people do tend to bring a variety of materials.
The conversation petered out eventually, and they went on their way. Soon enough, Sly would be back to re-record his message because he felt he hadnt yelled at them loud enough, and then his motivating speech would be sent to the Hardened Crown Sect in the lower realms.
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