Chapter 839: When a Man Meets a Lizard (950)

Chapter 839: When a Man Meets a Lizard (950)

Arranging a meeting between two cult members wasn't easy, especially given the current conditions between the Colony and the Ka'armodo. Granin grumbled at a constant rate as he and his fellow triad members trekked across the dangerous terrain of the third stratum. It was a testament to how wild the land was in this layer of the Dungeon that even the Colony, with its enormous numbers, intelligent approach, and absurd dedication, hadn't been able to construct countermeasures to ward off the never ending spawns. The best they could do was prune and manage the higher tier demons that still roamed the wastes between cities.

The Demon Raising program that the ants had launched was another initiative that Granin had followed closely. Raising demons to be strong and efficient in their builds to use as pets was hardly anything new, Invidia had been a perfect example of the practice, though some disregarded them due to their odd habits. Mass producing high quality demons on the scale the Colony was? He was almost certain it had never been done. After all, why would anyone bother? Nobody needed that many pets, and wild demons were liable to do whatever their obsession demanded of them. They were far from reliable allies.

Only the Colony had been able to harness the demons so effectively, probably because they allowed the third stratum natives to be themselves for the most part, whilst still surrounding them with an overwhelming structure of authority. If he had the time, he'd love to research that work more deeply. The demons were another group of monsters that needed more research. Although, come to think of it, the Red Truth had probably done plenty.

And not shared it.

"Did we really need to come all the way out here?" Corun asked.

Granin turned to the young shaper.

"Do you think we can wander over to a city controlled by the lizards and have a friendly chat right now? There's significant risk for the other party too. Think about it for a moment."

"I can't imagine how it feels for someone with soft skin to walk around out here," Torrina observed.

With the constant tongues of flame, ash and smoke that filled the air in the third, it was certainly an inhospitable place. Protected by the hard minerals that coated them, the three golgari didn't have to worry too much about the environment, even if it was uncomfortably warm.

"Let the humans worry about that. The ants, Ka'armodo and us have other things to worry about. In fact, the lizards absolutely love this stratum. The heat makes them all fuzzy inside."

There was some residual shock over the connection and Granin assumed it came from the Set'sulah. They hadn't been aware of their master's thoughts.

[I've thought that for a while now,] Granin agreed, [and believe me, I think that after he evolves again, we won't be the only ones.]

The great lizard's thoughts sharpened, his curiosity surging through the connection.

[You have some information?]

[I've been conducting some research with my triad. I don't think anyone expects what's going to happen next. Least of all your termite breeding friends.]