n

n

nI stepped outside the apartment and lifted back into the air, letting my body become enveloped with flames.

nI have marked three locations that are most likely to have colonies, but I don't know if they are ruled separately. They might be under the control of the leader of the colony, or they might all follow a central ruler between them.

n'Do you really think that they will have such a complicated system? They are just bugs,

" I thought to Hero casually, and I got about one hundred and twenty feet in the air above everything.

nI had each one of the locations in my vision, and because we were so high up, Hero marked the areas in my vision with digital markers that weren't really there, but they made it really easy to keep track of areas.

nYou didn't pay attention to them, but I saw them using different types of tools. I also noticed that they were ordering each other around, and some of them had to carry devices. I think that adding some to your Ranch would be an excellent idea.

nNot a bad idea, but I wasn't sure how many bug girls I wanted to add to my retinue. Still, I couldn't just help someone if they needed help.

nYou can add Male to your Ranch, but they just don't benefit you in the same way. Men who join the Ranch will be placed as helpers and will get more helper roles than anything. They will still get physical enhancements, but they will be able to help you with what you need.

nThat was interesting, and it helped out with a lot of things that were up in the air right now. If I could turn some of the males to my side, I would have them around to help take care of the girls.

nStill, even if I did have males for help, there would be one thing that would be in the back of my head while I was gone. How was I supposed to trust them while I was out?

nDon't worry about that. Just like how the girls can't hurt you, the men can not touch your women, now go against your wishes. This is no joke, and it has severe repercussions for anyone that tries.

nHero's words were confident, and that blew my worries away.

n'Good, then send me to the least likely to be the one we want first. Who knows what we might find, right? So it would be best to start from the bottom and work our way up, right?'

nHead to the distant location, it is closest to Crater City, so we can make a stop there after you are done. You can see if there is anyone that wants you to come with you or others that might want to come.

nI turned my body to point in the northeastern portion of the island, but more north than east. The marked area was in a heavily forested area.

nStill, the exact location was strange and was almost like a mini desert in the middle of a luscious forest.

nI was going to drop down to the center of the sandy area, but when I got closer, I decided against it.

nNot only could I see hundreds of thousands of bugs moving around, but I could also feel intense levels of energy coming from them. There were some bugs that were just as strong as the girls and even a few that were stronger.

n'What is up with these bugs?'

nI told you that they were curious creatures, but I didn't realize just how advanced they were.

nI glided over and landed at the edge of the twenty-foot wide circle of sand that was alive with constant movement. It was incredible just to see how many were there moving around and the diversity of the types of bugs.

n'So, what am I supposed to do? I am just supposed to, what? Shrink down and ask them to take me to their leader?'

nUnless you have a better idea, I think that is precisely what you should do. I mean, what else are you going to do? You have the ability to talk to almost anything now, so put it to use!

nI squatted down and looked over the different bugs, and while some of them had similar shapes and colors. They were all just slightly different than anything that I had ever seen before, or at least that I could remember.

nI activated my Earth Force Pact and my Tsunalily Totem and then began to start shrinking down. I reduced myself to being just over two inches tall, making myself taller than any of the bugs that I saw.

nI did it so I wouldn't be challenged by any bug, but as I walked out of the grass blade forest that I had shrunk into, I got another surprise. Two-horned beetles were waiting for me and all the bugs that had been racing across the sand.

nLooks like you were expected.

n'Looks like they saw a giant flaming human and then watched him shrink down. If they are slightly intelligent, this doesn't really seem too far out of what any empire would do. If I were to notice me, I would have done the same thing as this.'

nThe beetles were green and looked just like standard horned beetles, but I could clearly see the intelligence in the bug's eyes. They didn't look humanoid, so I didn't know if they were male or female, so I decided that it was best for me just to stay quiet for now.

n

"Grixaitalax would like to speak with you, so if you would follow us, we can show you to the chamber that you will meet him in,

" The first of the two explained to me in a buzzing and very bug-like voice.

nThat didn't help me figure out what sex they were, but It was good that I would be taken to talk to the head person or bug.

n

"Sure, lead on,

" I said, and then both the bugs black beady eyes started to protrude out of their heads.

n