Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Hive link 1 (1)
The evolved ant queen stayed in the same place for quite some time, and when Theo tried communicating with it, it wasn’t responding at all for a while.
Until a single emotion came forward. The emotions were a lot more refined now, but more than that, it was the images that came through. They weren’t just refined but also felt more like smaller videos than images.
It was telling Theo that it would take time for it to stabilize now, making him nod to himself.
But more than that, suddenly, a notification came in front of Theo, making his eyes stick in one place.
"...."
{Hive Link I acquired}
"????" Theo got up with adrenaline pumping all over his body. He didn’t know something like this was going to happen. He quickly opened his status only to see the abilities section not empty, but having an ability now.
"I HAVE AN ABILITY TOO!" Theo shouted with his arms in the air and mouth agape in a roar.
Everyone was surprised by this behavior. They had never seen him like this before.
But there was no time to react as they had all heard what he had just said.
"You have an ability?!" The baron spoke with a horrified expression. "How is that possible? Humans don’t get skills this easy."
Looking at the baron’s astonished and horrified face, Clara and Elias could feel that this was a lot bigger thing than they were thinking of right now.
Theo didn’t say anything and opened the description of the skill.
Hive Link I (Level 0, 0%): Establishes a weak but direct symbiotic connection between the user and a single Hive-type existence, making the user a secondary node within the hive network. This ability is incomplete and should not normally manifest in a Human-type existence.
Theo read the description and didn’t know if he wanted to be happy or shocked. He was both currently.
But his eyes went to the last line, making all the happiness go away from his face.
"What happened?" the baron asked after getting close. There was craziness in his eyes, making Clara want to get between them, but Elias stopped her.
"..." Theo looked at the baron and wanted to lie right away. He didn’t know much about this right now, and telling someone something incomplete could always backfire.
But soon, he realized that telling the truth was the only way they could all be on the same page.
"It says in the end of the ability’s description that... this ability is incomplete and should not normally manifest in a Human-type existence..." Theo spoke and locked his eyes with the baron.
The baron kept staring at Theo with unknown emotions. But Theo could see it—his mind was imagining things.
"We might have hit a jackpot here," he spoke after straightening up and putting a hand on his chin.
"This could be a jackpot, Theo. Do you hear me?" the baron spoke again.
"...What do you mean?"
"I AM CERTAIN NOW," he said in an overwhelming voice. "You will be a key individual in getting rid of this world of those rats, Theo."
"You could be the one to be done with those Outer Devils for good."
"!" Theo had not a single clue what he was saying. Every word the baron spoke sounded like a crazy man spouting things.
"...I don’t understand, father. Getting an ability may be a very huge thing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean I could be a big asset for getting rid of the Outer Devils..."
"My gut never lies, Theo. I have realized that long ago," the baron spoke with utter confidence.
"Tell me everything that is written about this skill right now. Our whole goal has changed now. We will try everything there is to get it as high as possible."
Theo was at a loss for words, but something like this was ridiculous. It was as if one great thing that was both problematic and too good to be true kept crashing into him.
He recited the whole thing for the baron to listen to, and while he felt a little underwhelmed after knowing it, the fire in his eyes was still there.
"Should I try using it?" Theo asked.
The ant queen, as if listening in on the conversation, started sending emotions equivalent to nods.
"You will have to use it anyway. My motto says you have to try right now," the baron spoke in excitement. It was as if the kid in him came back.
"Young master..." Clara spoke with hesitation.
The baron looked at her with squinted eyes, then back at Theo.
She gathered some resolve. "Please be careful. You have all the time to do it," she said.
Theo looked at her for a few seconds with no words before a warm smile formed on his face.
"I will be alright, I think," he spoke, making her even more concerned and himself chuckle.
"I am using it now," Theo spoke and gave a mental command right away.
’Hive Link I,’ Theo spoke.
For a few seconds, nothing seemed to happen, making everyone just look at him with different intense emotions.
Until the baron noticed every single ant, no matter the size, lifting its face up, their antennae starting to glow.
Theo’s face jerked back and he started falling to the ground.
Clara caught him right away in panic.
"Young master?!"
"His eyes!" The baron rushed forward too, regretting the fact that he was rash again and let his curiosity get the better of him.
Theo’s eyes were bright golden currently, and if noticed closely, it was the same color as the one on the ants’ antennae and the spider’s small eyes.
Theo felt like his head was going to split into many places.
His mind started traveling at a very fast pace.
Theo started seeing things in front of him just like the images he always saw through the ant queen.
Yet this time, they were not images, but as if he was actually looking through someone else’s eyes.