I have to say, the demons are acting more… vigorous, as the wave approaches.

[It’s a combination of the rising mana level, and the growing influence of Arconidem,] Al informs me. [As our access to mana grows, it feeds our obsessions, making them stronger. Look over there.]

I can already see where the demon is pointing, but I turn anyway, facing down a narrow path in Roklu toward a cluster of buildings. At first, I’m not sure what I’m meant to be seeing, but after a few seconds, a wicked, blade-coated demon bursts out of a building, barbed, scythe-like arms swinging as it screams bloody murder at the ash-filled sky.

[Blood demon. The urge has grown too strong to resist. Disappointing.]

As we watch, the demon in question throws itself at its nearest compatriot, still shrieking like a banshee.

[Uhhh. Should we do something about that?]

[Your compatriots have become quite proficient at dealing with situations such as this. Watch.]

And we do. The crazed blood demon continues to go absolutely wild at everything it sees, without much success, it must be said. I think the unthinking, berserk nature of the attack is helping in that department. Another few moments pass and then… BAM!

Like a squad of determined ninja-police, ants appear. Leaping over the edges of the buildings, scuttling down the walls, they rush into the conflict, barrel over the offending demon and just like that, the threshing mass of demon and blade is contained.

In fact, the ants deploy something I’ve never seen before. It appears to be a weighted net of some sort. It must be made of incredibly hard material, since even the blood-demon hasn’t been able to cut through the threads.

Just like that, what had moments ago been a frightening spectacle, a powerful tier six demon going on a rampage, has been resolved. The ants quickly check the area, repair the damage, heal any wounds, tip me a quick dip of the antennae, then drag the still screaming demon away.

[Holy moly,] I say, impressed. [What are they going to do with the demon?]

[They’ll take her down to the plains and set her loose. Messy. Doing so will enable her to satisfy her obsession in a safe manner. After that, she will be able to return.]

Man, the Colony really has done a good job trying to manage the demons living in our territory. Rather than trying to suppress or control them, we’ve let them indulge their obsessions in as safe a way as we can manage. Safe for the Colony, anyway.

Which isn’t being mean to the demons, they expect to live this way. Each of them cares only about one thing, and I think they honestly find it strange that others don’t.

[And this heightening of obsession is normal for a wave?] I say to Al.

The knowledge demon burns bright.

[Yes. Although the mana levels attained during the last two waves have been higher than normal. With the Ancients waking and the levels climbing even higher, this will be the worst yet.]

There’s a definite tension in the air, one I can practically cut with a twilight-filament antenna. The threat of violence is explosive, and if demons are growing ever more obsessive, I can imagine exactly what’s going to happen.

Pride demons will be even more insufferable to everyone.

Grudge demons are going to lash out for practically everything.

Murder, Blood and other violence-motivated demons are going to cause absolute mayhem all the time. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like when a war demon is around. Ugh.

Then we have to deal with those who succumb to the urging of their meddling Ancient… parent, or whatever he thinks he is.

[I presume those who are falling into Arconi-dumb’s crusade are more numerous as well?]

[That is the case. It is… interesting, watching it take place. I have not seen it myself before.]

[Are there any demons old enough to remember the last time this happened? I didn’t think there would be, considering it was… what… like a thousand years ago?]

[There are some, but they are not on our side.]

[Well, darn.]

He’s probably talking about the tier eights below. After checking out the city with Al, we march down into the gigantic anthill built beneath the plate to see if the brass have worked out where they need us.

I don’t exactly get what I’m looking for.

“There are spot fires everywhere, Eldest,” Sloan tells me wearily. “I could ask you to go to a hundred places, but putting out one isn’t necessarily going to help.”

“None of those issues are large enough to warrant your attention,” Victor says. “There are plenty of others to deal with things like this.”

It’s something of a rare treat to see the two of them together in the same room these days. The two premier military commanders in the Colony have been in high demand to the point where they almost never have the chance to work together.

“You two’re coordinating the response to the wave from here?” I ask them.

“That is the case,” Sloan confirms. “My sister and I work better when we have each other to refine our ideas. We’ve been training other teams to help plan strategy around the Colony so we won’t be split up as much going forward, we hope.”

“Bit of an issue when you’re needed everywhere at once, isn’t it?” I nod sagely. Then I step forward and poke the two of them with an antenna each. “But it’s better than being told you aren’t needed anywhere. I’m up here dealing with this damn Call and it sucks! Don’t tell me there’s nothing for me to do!”

The two generals share an uneasy glance before turning their focus back to me.

“There really isn’t anything big enough to demand your attention, Eldest.”

“We have a hundred problems, but none so dire that only you can solve it.”

“That doesn’t mean you just leave me twiddling my claws until some massive problem kicks up! I’m not a strategic reserve! Lemme help!”

The two generals shrug helplessly and I give up on them.

“Bah! Fine. You two go back to your planning, I’ll find something to do that will help out.”

I can immediately tell they don’t like that. I’m not even done backing out of the chamber (not enough space to turn around) before they rush up to me.

“Eldest! You aren’t planning on doing anything stupid are you?”

“What? Stupid?!”

THWACK!

“Just what are you suggesting? In fact….”

THWACK!

“I didn’t say anything!”

“I can definitively say you were thinking it. No, I’m not going to do anything stupid. I’m here to help! You two worry too much.”

I can tell they both want to say something, but a quick flex of the antennae and they keep it to themselves. Luckily for me, I can still hear their Will.

“No sending troops after me either! Sheesh. No faith.”

[Come on gang,] I tell the others when I get back out of the nest. [I’ve thought of a place we can go that will get us some experience fairly quickly.]

Tiny grins a manic, feral grin.

[That’s right, buddy. Warm up those fists, it’s time to smash!]