Blade Over Magic

Chapter 74: Interlude

Interlude

It didn’t take long before the ants started probing.

Since the catacombs were discovered, the ants rarely, if ever, took the initiative to come out and cause problems, which was the excuse the traitors used to explain away why they hadn’t been subjugated yet.

However, news from the outpost stationed there came in, with reports stating that dozens of worker ants and a few soldiers had emerged and attacked them.

Thankfully, after learning about how dangerous the ants were ahead of time, additional support had been sent to the outpost, so they managed to repel the attack, but even then, the truth was clear.

This was no longer something to be waiting for. No longer a warning to be prepared for.

This was happening, and it was happening now.

***

’So it’s finally come to this, huh?’ Standing on the walls of the outpost, Xander looked forward with folded arms, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

Far ahead in the direction of the mountain range, Xander could see worker ants coming in and out of the catacombs, working in real time as they established more paths for themselves.

After the initial assault, they hadn’t done anything threatening and simply did as their titles suggested. They worked.

But that wasn’t a good sign, because it meant they were preparing for something.

A fact made even more evident by the line of hulking soldier ants that made a wall between Landor’s side and the workers. They didn’t attack, not even when one of the mages working on fortifications drew a bit too close for comfort. But they made sure they weren’t attacked, either.

After watching for a while, he glanced down towards the area closer to the outpost. He could see numerous trenches had been dug out by earth mages, and all sorts of traps had been put in place to halt the advance of any ants that might approach.

In fact, it wasn’t just the outpost, but technically, it wasn’t an outpost anymore. Along the border between Landor and the catacombs, dozens of fortifications had been created with tents spread out along them as well, creating the true first line of defense.

Watching as both sides busied themselves with their own preparations without disturbing one another, Xander recalled scenes he’d seen on earth were two factions of opposing ants would pass along paths with the soldier ants creating borders to ensure no side attacked each other.

It was a strangely organized scene, but not particularly fun to watch.

With a sigh, he hopped off the wall and watched as soldiers busied themselves. Those that weren’t keeping watch or helping with fortifications were training, sharpening their weapons, or practicing their magic.

’Aubrey, how long do you reckon we have before the ants begin their first proper assault?’ He asked via telepathy. But oddly enough, Aubrey wasn’t close by when he asked the question.

In fact, she wasn’t even in the outpost.

’First thing tomorrow. With the number of soldiers I’m detecting beneath the ground, they intend to rush us in the beginning.’ All the way back in Landor’s main military base, Aubrey could be seen in the war room, and before her was the map depicting the position of the catacombs, and currently, she was multitasking like crazy.

She was constantly circling different spots on the map, projecting what her perception detected through recording devices, pointing out areas that needed to be fortified better, giving out accurate descriptions of certain opponents, and so on.

As a result of her recent boost, calling her a supercomputer would be an understatement, as the sheer amount of information she was acquiring every moment and relaying to those around her to help them strategize was incredible. Her perception hadn’t just been improved, the rate at which she processed information was simply incomparable now than it was before. So much so that she’d pretty much become Landor’s main information source.

It was also due to this that they didn’t take any risks attempting to send scouts, as even from her position, Aubrey could pretty clearly observe what was going on inside the catacombs to a certain extent.

It was also why she could use telepathy to communicate with the rest despite being so far away. She’d singlehandedly extended the range across the large distance.

’First thing tomorrow, huh?’ Xander nodded slowly to himself as he walked, not paying to soldiers any heed as he listened closely to Aubrey’s discoveries and consequent preparations.

It was only after she said everything relevant at the moment that they cut the communication, and at this point, Xander reached his destination.

Curtis and Falael were chatting in front of a newly erected tower that was a lot cleaner than much of the rugged fortifications around them. It also stood taller than everything inside the outpost, and if one were to look around, they’d see that there were towers like this spread out evenly across the frontlines.

These were temporary mage towers. Simply put, mages who sat inside them would have their mana output as well as recovery rate boosted significantly, essentially turning them into magic batteries.

And currently, Falael was the one who’d be in charge of said tower.

Upon seeing Xander approach, they briefly halted their conversation, and Curtis waved.

"Did you get Aubrey’s message?" Xander asked calmly, and they both nodded. freёwebnovel.com

"Yeah, first thing tomorrow." Falael hummed, half of their face obscured by the helmet on their head. The group had been fitted in proper military armor, and not just their school uniforms. So if one didn’t look under their helmets, it would be hard to tell that they were all still 17.

Well, Curtis could pass as someone in his 20s due to his size, but that wasn’t important.

There was a moment of silence, then Curtis sighed.

"This is weird. We’ve finally reached this point, and now I don’t really know how to react? Do I do or say something? I want to chat to break the tension, but then it feels almost forced..." He exhaled shakily, and Xander noticed that he was gripping his wand tightly.

Xander was silent for a moment, but just as he prepared to reassure him, Falael nudged him with their shoulder.

"You don’t have to do what you don’t feel like doing, puppy. If you wanna stew and wait for the battle to arrive, then do that. No need to force anything that makes you uncomfortable." Curtis blinked, and Xander looked at them in surprise.

That made Falael scoff.

"What? Didn’t expect any reassuring words from me?" They challenged.

"... I was going to say I did, but honestly no, I’m surprised you didn’t just brush him off." Falael said honestly, which earned him a middle finger, and that made him laugh.

’That said, can these guys stop staring at us?’ Falael switched to telepathy, and Xander sighed. fгeewebnovёl.com

As for what they were referring to, well, the trio was almost always getting stared at wherever they passed. Which wasn’t particularly surprising. After all, their reputation had already spread thoroughly among the soldiers. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t know them at this point.

Sadly, that also invited lots of stares and whispers from the people around them. And while they weren’t inherently harmful or malicious, it got annoying after a while.

’Just ignore them.’ Xander shook his head before glancing at Falael, and his tone couldn’t help but take on a teasing lilt.

’By the way, did you enjoy our ’training’ sessions?’ His tone was smug, and Curtis immediately looked confused while Falael’s ears went bright red.

’I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ They yelled.

’Wait, what?’ Curtis looked between the two of them, his face becoming increasingly perplexed.

’Aw come on, you wanna deny it? I thought you came to me in the night talking about how you needed ’help’ sometime ago. Talking about how you ’didn’t want the others to hear’ and how you were ’tired of waiting’. And later you complained about feeling ’sore’.’ The more Xander spoke, the redder Falael became, their mouth opening and closing.

Meanwhile, Curtis’s eyes had gone wide.

’Late in the night? Didn’t want us to hear? Tired of waiting?’ He gasped.

’Don’t tell me... You guys—’

"SHUT UP!" Falael shrieked, drawing the attention of everyone in the vicinity, and Xander laughed so hard he started to wheeze.

Curtis looked between the two of them, his mouth agape.

’W-Wait, did you two really...?’ It took Xander all his willpower to shake his head as he laughed.

’They... came to me so I could help strengthen their physique, so they can handle their own Mana output. We didn’t actually do anything strange.’ He explained after catching his breath.

’Ooh.’ Curtis sighed and looked at Xander who was still struggling to snicker, sighing.

’You’re mean for that.’ He berated slightly, and Xander just chortled.

Meanwhile, Falael squatted in an inconspicuous corner, their helmet on the ground as they covered their face, both ears twitching incessantly.

’That... stupid guy! Why did he have to describe it like that?! He’s so... ugh!’ They spread their fingers slightly, revealing their eyes that were filled with emotions.

’Stupid, stupid! That wasn’t... I’m not... ARGH!’ They slowly sat and ran a hand through their hair, trying very hard to ignore how their heart raced.