Chapter One-Hundred and Forty-Six: Pop up Fortress


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked over his shoulder, his party small dots in the distance to where he had pushed forward too.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Guess it’s good enough for now, we have a bunch of stones to pick up back on the way,” he said aloud spotting the shining stones on the ground in the now fading orange sun, like shing lights of car headlights.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked at the still-healthy sea of Tyrant Ants in front of him and sighed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s going to take a lot longer than I thought to push them back..”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">It is very curious how they are able to produce such numbers… It is possible there is a variant queen in charge of this hive,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto exined, proposing an exnation.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Variant?” Drake asked, his hand moving in an arc as a disk of water sliced through another row of ants like he was mowing an overgrownwn.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Yes, it is the only thing I can possibly imagine giving these ants the reproductive ability we are witnessing. They should not appear in the tutorial as they are too much for an introduction… But after everything we have seen, this tutorial itself is beyond any standard that should be allowed. Whoever is in charge has bent many rules,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto sighed, concern beginning to bleed into her voice.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake pursed his lips, conflicted on whether to feel upset he was thrown into an even harder tutorial than was the standard, or happy that he was here and not his family.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He was d that at the very least they would have an easier time than he was, and he had no qualms about getting stronger now that it was something he decided for himself.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The disk of water moved to stop next to Drake, he then crushed it, changing his current Wind endowment back to Water to recover his status. Turning around he shot forward running toward the group in the distance, picking up stray skill stones as he went.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He arrived a few momentster in a burst of dust as he stopped a few feet away from them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yo,” Bjorn said raising his hand.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yo,” Drake replied, “Miss me?” he asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Never,” Megan scoffed, putting down a bag of something.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake ignored her, instead pointing to the bag, “What’s that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Megan huffed and wiped away some of the sweat that had formed on her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s all the monster core’s we can’t carry because you’ve killed so many…” she sighed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh? That many huh? I didn’t notice,” Drake lied, whistling.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sir, there is simply no ce to put them,” Amir admitted, cing down a simr bag.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake chuckled, “Well better than not having enough. Here I bring presents.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Putting his palm face down, he began taking out many of the skill stones he had collected. Tyrant Skill Stones, Healer Stones, Warrior, Fire, and new variations he hadn’t seen before.


    <strong>[Sub-tree Skill Stone: Brawler] [Umon]</strong>


    <strong>[Unlocks the Brawler Sub-tree branch.]</strong>


    <strong>[Requirement: Warrior Main Tree Unlocked, Open Sub-tree Slot]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Stone: Assassin] [Umon]</strong>


    <strong>[Unlocks a random skill from the Assassin tree.]</strong>


    <strong>[Requirement: Warrior or Ranger Main Tree Unlocked, Open Skill Slot]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Stone: Stealth] [Umon]</strong>


    <strong>[Unlocks a random skill from the Stealth tree.]</strong>


    <strong>[Requirement: Warrior or Ranger Main Tree Unlocked, Open Skill Slot]</strong>


    <strong>[Skill Stone: Sensory] [Common]</strong>


    <strong>[Unlocks a random skill from the Sensory tree.]</strong>


    <strong>[Requirement: Open Skill Slot]</strong>


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It was a good haul, everyone look through it and pick the good stuff up. I want everyone at tip top shape while we clear out the rest of these Hive Entrances. It’s going to be a long couple days.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“My Lord there art Rare Variety Stones here as well. Thou art sure we may consume them after my Lord hast done suchbor?” Theodore asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake waved his hand, “Don’t worry about it Theo, I’m holding out for better stuff. I’m a nice guy but I’m not that nice. I’m selfish when it suits me, don''t have to worry about that,” he said smirking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Who’s a nice guy?” Chelsea asked. Bending down to rifle through the stones, but not failing to give him a side stink eye.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Me. I’m him. The nice guy,” Drake said, pulling down at his eye his tongue sticking out, “I’m so nice. I’m going to build us a fortress.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked over to Hudson, “Hey, you ready to put up some pea shooters?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Idjit, I was born ready,” Hudson huffed, crossing his arms.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drakeughed, pping his hands together dramatically before throwing them to the floor, making a scene of his magic as the earthy brown circle expanded all around them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Earth Make Magic! Grand Fortress!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake shouted, the ground beginning to rumble around them.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The next moment walls sprang upward and stairs formed to reach the ramparts that had just been built, a small gate at the bottom of one of the walls.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake tilted backwards exhausted, his hand going to his head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ok, moving established earth is still ridiculously draining…” he grumbled, trying to shake his head to dismiss the exhaustion.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He felt a hand touch his back through his robes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t overwork yourself…” ire said, her face pouting slightly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake chuckled, “This is light work, just a little tired,” he smiled, “How you holdin up?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">ire smiled slightly, her head tilting down away from his gaze, “I’m alright. Just wish you didn’t smell so… potent…” she scoffed, pinching her nose.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake raised a brow and his face creased in a wry smile as he realized she wasn’t looking away from him because of being embarrassed. She was looking away to pinch her nose.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He gave himself a whiff, “Oh man, this stuff is ganna stink for weeks isn’t it….”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s hope not… I don’t want to go anywhere near those ants if that’s what is going to happen,” Chelsea said, walking up to the pair, “Do we have a n to go out as well now that we have a base getting set up? You aren’t the only one who wants to level up you know,” she said, cing her hands on her bow.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Eventually,” Drake said turning serious, “There’s a few more things I want to confirm before I risk anyone else. I managed to close the first Hive Entrance, but it took just about all of my mana and status to do so. So it’s going to be slow going there,” Drake exined, “Then, I want to confirm if the Ants are going to be inactive outside of the Hive once night falls. But so far I haven’t noticed anything different as the sun is beginning to go down.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake crossed his arms and looked around, their attention now on him since he had started exining. The only ones who weren’t were the grumbling and sleeping Sherry, and Hudson who was at the top of the earthen rampart, setting up sentry after sentry for their defense.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He quickly nced at the tutorial panel before addressing everyone.


    <strong>[Current Time Remaining in Tutorial: 59 days 7 hours 21 minutes 44 seconds]</strong>


    <strong>[Remaining Participants: 1,907]</strong>


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I want to continue with the n of shutting down and closing the Hive Entrances until there is only one left. Then I’ll be bringing everyone that can into the Hive and help you all level up. I know I’ve been the main force so far, but we’re closing in on the end of the tutorial here and I want everyone to experience not only working as a team but the dangers you might all face once we are out. Not everyone is in the same area as I am in the outside world, so you can’t always count on me until you find your way back or join up with another group. And I want everyone to be safe,” Drake said finishing his exnation.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So….” Jacqueline said, chiming in, “we sit put yeah? Fine with me innit, don’t want to be smellin like a pigs backside like you any which way.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Really? I thought you would want the improvement Jacqueline?” Drake smirked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll show you an improvement, you bloody clown!” Jacqueline shouted back, raising a fist up.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake soundly ignored her, their banter running its course as he looked up towards Hudson. Seeing that the gruff man had gotten a good amount of sentries down, Drake decided to focus on recovering after putting up the fortress.


    <span style="font-weight:400">His spell had left him somewhat depleted, and honestly he just wanted to take a break for a moment to gather his wandering thoughts.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m going to take a breather on the wall. Everyone can settle in themselves? If we need more space or rooms you know where to find me,” he said, making his way for the stairs.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Without a word Bjorn followed him upward until Drake decided to stop earshot away from Hundson who had noticed them both but continued to finish putting up the defenses.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You good bro?” Bjorn asked, looking out into the distance, seeing the Ants still skittering towards them, slowly closing the distance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Never better,” Drake lied.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come on. If I’m not allowed to fight, the least you can do is bore me with your problems,” Bjorn smirked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake didn’t meet Bjorn’s eyes, “It isn’t a problem. I’ve got a handle on it. Don’t have a choice but to.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake wasn’t trying to act tough or stoic. What he was saying was the truth in his eyes. He didn’t have any other option right now than ‘being fine’. Whatever it was that was slowly scratching at the back of his head. Corroding his mind and taking away his sense of empathy, even past his Indomibility skill. He would just have to deal with.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He had made too many promises. And Drake intended to keep them all. Regardless of what it was doing to him currently.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake paused, waiting for a remark from Natto that never came.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Little Miss staying quiet?” Bjorn asked, not pushing his previous line of questions.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“How could you tell?” Drake asked, finally turning to Bjorn.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn scoffed, “You get a small smirk on your face when your eyes go distant when you are talking to her. It’s hard to miss honestly. And you don’t check your stats nearly as much as the rest of us. Surprised ire isn’t getting jealous with how much you talk to her,” Bjornughed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Man, don’t bother me with talk about ire. Especially when you won’t even go after Chelsea,” Drake said, tipping his head back, “You and I can both tell she’s burrowing a hole into the back of your head from here.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn and Drake stood quietly for a beat, both looking out into the oing torrent of monsters barreling down on their newly formed doorstep.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“The monster we saw the other night,” Bjorn asked, his tone serious, “Did you see it while you were out here?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake let the question site for a breath before answering.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No. But I got a bad feeling when I copsed the Hive entrance,” Drake said evenly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Bad how?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know. It just felt like whatever was down there… Was looking at me. Wanted me toe down there.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do you think it was the same monster we saw that night?” Bjorn asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake clenched his hand around the jet-ck earth of the wall, “No Bjorn. I don’t think it was. And that’s what’s worrying me.”