Demonic Tribulations - Chapter 42 preview (Patreon)

Chapter 42 – Tou He

Perhaps he had been a touch too optimistic in his chances at communication. Perhaps he had not understood how the dao of ants might differ from that of humanity. Or perhaps, like cultivators – demonic or human or beast alike – the lure of easy power was too great.

It was a day later when Tou He, his senses fully extended across the surroundings and avoiding only those patches of patrolling niuquhue, understood the chaos he had created. At first it had been easy to ignore, the thousands of marching ants, moving in their random-ish pattern converging on his friends and himself.

They had tiny legs, had bodies that were near invisible against the red dust of the dessert sands and the purple of the sky. They merged so well that one might wander pass the nest iself, or place a bed down beside it and never know the danger till it was too late.

Even thousands strong, they were near invisible.

It took him a little too long to realise that they were approaching, sweeping creatures and monsters out of the way. It was, in fact, the movement of various animals that alerted Tou He of the approach of the ants, their resolute march.

For an hour after the realization, he had attempted communication. Utilizing his spiritual aura, pulsing it or driving intent, emotions or belief. Communicating in this manner was not unusual – many cultivators utilized a form of such techniques to placate creatures in the deep wild. Layered intent and genuine emotion was often sufficient to avoid battles against non-aggressive creatures of the wild.

Against the ants, however, it only led to them honing in on his location. They shifted, guided by his own aura and pulses of his aura to chase after them. More surprising was the speed that they did so, covering ground in a manner that defied logic.

“What is it?” Minsci asked, as Tou He drifted over to the man. Choosing, once more, to bother the less intimidating of the pair of demonic allies he had acquired.

“I might have alerted the ants of my presence.”

“I assumed.” Eyes narrowed. “And?”

“They’re chasing us.”

“Again, not unexpected.” Minsci sniffed, eyeing the rolling ball. “We should be gone long before their arrival.” Then, eyes narrowing at the look on Tou He’s face, he added. “Should we not?”

“They are utilizing a spatial dao, I believe.” A slight frown. “Or perhaps a time dao. It matters not, but every time I regard them more closely, I notice how much closer they have come.”

“They’re catching us?” Minsci’s voice rose enough that Biamin came back, alerted by the spike of alarm. When she was informed of the problem, she immediately cast out her own aura to verify Tou He’s findings. Only to return and glare at the former monk.

“Can you destroy them?” Biamin said, pragmatically. “Burn them out before they arrive.”

“Probably…” Tou He said, reluctantly. “I think, if we sped up, we could still outrun them.”

“If we fail, we could be fighting them tired.”

“It’s not like we haven’t done that before,” Tou He added. “And I would prefer not to do battle at all, if possible.”

“Then, perhaps, you should not have irritated their queen. Or alerted her of your presence,” Biamin said. “Though I am puzzled by their expansion. Surely it weakens them, to have such a large contingent chasing after you, outside of the bounds of their residence.”

“I think so too, though I believe their queen is able to replenish their numbers more easily. But it’s possible it’s my flame and level that they seek to consume.” Tou He sighed. “Food to cheat their way forward. That does sound very similar, does it not?”

“To the Twisted Lotus Eates?” She nodded slowly. “Yes. You’re certain we cannot escape them?”

“Certain?” Tou He shook his head. “It’s possible there is a limit to their understanding of spatial dao or a weakness that increases as they journey from the queen. The individual ants do not seem to have a dao of their own, though….” He shook his head when the others looked at him enquiringly. They would have a chance to sense the ants soon enough.

“Then we move faster.” Biamin gestured for the pair to follow, kicking her wolf which began to lope to the mountain.

Minsci stared over the way that Tou He had gestured, considered for a moment and then bent to his task. Not long afterwards, he tossed a small disc down on the ground. At Tou He’s inquisitive look, he explained. “It should help cover our trail.”

Tou He nodded and left the man to his tinkering. It was obvious he had begun to plan for the ants, since he had abandoned his previous projects and was working on other mine-like items and, to Tou He’s surprise, a small crawling toy that he was busy ripping apart.

Fascinating, how well the demon managed to combine both dao, formations and technology. That Minsci was the most gifted of the rouliguo at such creation had much to do with his own cultivation level, and his recent elevation had the demon exploring the depths of his ability.

Idly, Tou He wondered what it might look like, to have the demons provide access to their technology and understanding to humanity. The rouliguo generally had few interactions with humanity, even cultivators like him who traveled to these lands rarely saw them – just their products. It did not help, of course, that the demon tribe was a small one, their bodies severely hampered till they managed to build themselves their aids. That Minsci only utilized a single arm was at odds with some of his other brethren, who might lean into more exotic helpers like tentacles or smaller and more numerous appendages.

“Can your vehicle not go faster?” Biamin huffed after an hour, when the ants – not delayed or slowed by Minsci’s attempts – had finally approached a distance that the pair of cultivators could sense. While both were at the Peak Core Formation stage, the difference in spiritual sensing range could be dictated in multiple li.

“It was not built for speed,” Minsci said, grumpily. “I can reconfigure it at another time, and have been working on the necessary parts, but…” He shrugged. “If I had known we were traveling somewhere other than a trading trip…”

“It’s my fault then?” Tou He said, amused.

“Yes,” the pair said, simultaneously. They did not even seem ashamed at the unexpected echo.

“Rude.”

“There’s something weird about the ants. They have a…” Biamin searched for a word, trying to find a way to explain what she felt. “dao. It’s not exactly theirs though, it feels wrong. There’s no point of concentration, no center. And it is weak.”

“A hive dao,” Minsci said. “One that benefits from the queen’s own dao. Or perhaps aids hers.” At the look the pair gave him, he shrugged. “There are some races and clans that require specialized equipment and talismans to aid such daos. They’re both extremely sturdy because it’s impossible to destroy the spirit and soul behind it as it comes from multiple, but also weak to focused pressure.” He frowned. “Though that is in theory. I’ve never had an opportunity to work on anything for such a clan, just hear about it.”

“Well, it seems they’re still closing in.” Biamin gestured to the far right. “And if we’re not wrong, we’re getting closer to the fort and the niuquhue guards there. If we get too close, they’ll definitely know we’re here when we fight.”

“Do we have to fight?” Tou He shook his own head before the pair could argue. “No. You’re right. They do not seem intent on communicating.” One last look around, and spotting a small rise not far away, he pointed. “There will be as good as any place.”

In answer, Biamin and Minsci turned to the hill and Tou He started praying for the lives that were about to be lost.