Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

The forest was eerily silent as Kaede leaned against her shield, catching her breath. Around her lay the shattered remains of the giant ant colony: twisted carapaces, broken mandibles, and the faint hum of the now-dormant barrier.

"It's done," the ogre said, his katana dripping with ichor as he surveyed the destruction. Acer stood tall beside them, her vines severed in multiple places, and missing an arm, though that was already regenerating.

Kaede wiped the sweat from her brow, her heartbeat thrumming steadily now that the fight was over.

"Finally," Kaede muttered, glancing toward the colossal remains of the ant queen. The monstrous creature's body lay in a heap, its chitin cracked open from the final blow. Despite the victory, unease gnawed at her.

As she stepped closer to devour the remains, something glimmered faintly within the queen's ruined abdomen. Carefully, she reached in, her gauntleted hand emerging with a translucent egg, pulsating faintly with a soft, golden light.

"What's that?" the ogre asked, stepping closer, his expression wary.

"An egg," Kaede said softly. "A... baby queen?" She turned it over in her hands, studying the faint swirl of silver within. "It's alive."

The ogre tensed. "We should destroy it. Another queen could mean another colony."

Kaede hesitated, her fingers tightening around the egg. "Maybe," she said, "You know what, yes, let's des..."

*Crack*

"Oh look, look. It's hatching." Kaede squealed.

The egg suddenly had a slight crack from its side, before becoming malleable as something pushed out of it.

The ogre frowned but said nothing, his gaze flickering between Kaede and the egg. Acer let out a low rumble, her vines curling protectively around Kaede's feet as if to offer silent support.

*Squelch*

A tiny head popped out, glistening with a thin sheen of viscous fluid. Its mandibles, still soft and underdeveloped, clicked faintly as it wriggled free of the egg's confines. The baby queen was no larger than Kaede's palm, its fragile black carapace shimmering faintly in the dim forest light. Two delicate antennae twitched, sensing the world for the first time.

Kaede knelt, holding the newborn carefully as it stretched its spindly legs, testing their strength against her gauntlet. It let out a faint, high-pitched trill, almost like a question.

"It's so adorable," Kaede's eyes shone as she murmured, glancing at the ogre. His grip on his katana tightened, but he said nothing, his distrust of the creature evident.

"Who's a cute little ant monster?" she teased, her voice soft as she stuck out her tongue. "You are." as if understanding her words, the tiny creature let out another trill, as if giggling.

Kaede's eyes practically turned to stars. "Oh my gosh!" She whispered. "You're so cute, I'm gonna name you..."

The ogre immediately shot up, his exhaustion forgotten as he turned to Kaede. "Wait, don't!"

"Ari!"

*Thwoooom*

The air stilled, as Ari suddenly shone a purple light. Kaede turned to the ogre. "I should not have done that, should I?"

The ogre groaned, slapping a hand over his face. "No, you really shouldn't have."

A wave of energy rippled out from the baby queen as its small body floated from Kaede's hands, suspended in the glowing purple light. Its fragile form began to change—the soft black carapace hardened, its edges shimmering with a faint metallic sheen. A black crown slowly grew out of the top of its head. The once-tiny mandibles clicked, now sharper and more defined, as the creature's antennae twitched with newfound purpose.

Acer bristled, her vines snapping into defensive positions.

The light intensified, forcing them to shield their eyes. When it faded, the newborn queen had grown slightly, her once-wobbly legs now steady beneath her. Ari turned her glowing purple eyes toward Kaede, letting out a low, resonant trill that echoed through the forest.

Kaede blinked, feeling a sudden weight settle in her mind. A faint voice, hesitant and curious, brushed against her consciousness.

{Mother?}

Kaede froze, her heart skipping a beat. "Wait. Did... did you just talk to me?" 'Artificia, what's going on?'

Army Ant Template has been acquired.

Species specific skills [Hive link, Adaptive carapace, Queen's Aura, Swarm synthesis] has been acquired.>

"Then that means..." Kaede turned to Acer.

{Hey Acer, can you hear me?}

Acer perked up, the vines on her head trembling as she leaned closer to Kaede.

{Mother? Was... Was that you?} Acer's voice sounded just like Kaede thought it would, high pitched and young, reminding her of Yui.

Kaede felt her eyes grow moist with tears as she answered. {Yeah, it's me kid. Wow you sound... Sound amazing.}

The ogre gave the three of them a look. "I'm not sure what's going on here."

Kaede wiped her eyes quickly and turned to the ogre with a sheepish grin, though her heart still raced from the sudden influx of voices in her head. "It's... uh, a thing now. Don't worry about it!"

The ogre sighed, running a hand through his bloodied hair. "You know, every time I think I've gotten used to you, you pull something like this."

Kaede smirked, gently holding Ari as the baby queen curled closer to her palm, her glowing purple eyes dimming slightly as though growing tired. "Hey, it's not like I planned for this to happen. It's... kind of cool, though, isn't it? I mean, she called me 'Mother.' That's adorable, right?"

The ogre gave her a flat look. "Sure. Adorable. Until she grows into a full queen and decides to take over the forest."

Kaede flinched, hugging Ari closer instinctively. "She won't. Right?"

Kaede let out a sigh of relief. "See? No forest takeover. She's on our side." She grinned down at Ari, her fingers brushing the little queen's antennae gently. {Right, Ari?}

{Yes, Mother. Always.} came the quiet reply in Kaede's mind.

The ogre groaned and turned away, muttering something about "A little too much chaos for my liking."

Kaede straightened, holding Ari against her chest as she glanced at Acer. The vine-covered sentinel stood quietly, her glowing green eyes fixed on Kaede. {Hey, Acer, can you hear me clearly through this... Hive Link thing?}

{Yes, Mother.}

Acer's voice was steady, calm, but Kaede could feel an undercurrent of relief.

{It's clearer than when you use your words. Like you're right here in my head.}

Kaede smiled softly. {Good. That's going to be useful later.} She turned back to the ogre, her confidence renewed. "Okay, now that we've dealt with the ants, we've got to save your people. Time to focus."

The ogre nodded, his expression hardening as he sheathed his blade. "Agreed. The ant colony was only the first step. This Razen fellow's not going to sit back while we begin our assault."

Kaede tapped her shield, her mind racing. "We'll start by deploying additional infiltration drones at the prison to pinpoint the prisoners' exact location." 'Artificia, how soon can the drones be ready?'

Kaede nodded. "Perfect. While that's happening, we'll rest up and go over the plan. Acer, I want you to focus on regenerating fully. And Ari..."

Ari tilted her small head, her antennae twitching.

Kaede smiled. 'You got any ideas Artificia?'

Artificia's response was almost immediate, her calm, measured tone filling Kaede's mind.

Kaede glanced down at the baby queen nestled in her palm. Ari's eyes were beginning to droop, her earlier surge of energy clearly fading. Kaede's resolve hardened as she gently cradled the small creature. "Alright, Ari's staying behind. She's too young to be out there anyway."

The ogre let out a visible sigh of relief. "Good. At least you're not dragging her into this."

Kaede shot him a teasing look. "Oh, come on."

He gave her a deadpan stare.

"...Okay," Kaede admitted with a laugh. She turned her attention back to Artificia. 'Find us a spot.'

"Perfect." Kaede stood, still holding Ari carefully in her hands. "Acer, you're coming with me. We'll set up a secure spot for her and make sure she's comfortable. Og—uh, you—keep watch here."

The ogre raised an eyebrow.

Kaede grinned. "Unless you want me to name you too?"

The ogre visibly winced. "I'll keep watch."

Kaede chuckled and motioned for Acer to follow as they moved toward the location Artificia had marked. The forest was still eerily quiet, the aftermath of their battle with the ants leaving an oppressive stillness in the air.

---

The alcove was everything Artificia had described. Hidden beneath the roots of a large tree, the entrance was barely wide enough for Kaede and Acer to squeeze through. Inside, the space opened up into a small, domed chamber with walls that glowed faintly.

"This'll do nicely," Kaede said, carefully setting Ari down on a patch of moss near the center of the room. The baby queen let out a faint trill of protest but settled quickly as Kaede placed her hand gently on Ari's tiny head.

{You'll be safe here,} Kaede said through the Hive Link. {Stay here and rest. We'll be back soon, okay?}

Ari's voice was soft but filled with trust. {Yes, Mother.}

Kaede turned to Acer. "Can you help her get comfortable? I'll set up a few defenses outside, just in case."

Acer nodded, her vines moving with careful precision as she began weaving a small cradle-like structure from the surrounding moss and roots.

Kaede stepped outside the alcove, her shield materializing in her hand. She pressed it into the ground and focused, channeling the Magicules coursing through her body. "Artificia, set up perimeter ward nodes. Let's make sure nothing gets in here that isn't supposed to."

She turned back toward the alcove, her gaze softening as she saw Acer gently tucking Ari into the cradle she had made. 'Cute overload!' she squealed internally.

"Alright, little queen," Kaede murmured. "Stay put. We've got a mission to finish."

With one last glance, Kaede headed back to rejoin the ogre.

---

The gilded throne room of Falmuth was a space of quiet grandeur, its high ceilings and arched windows designed to intimidate those who entered. At its heart sat King Edmaris, his imposing frame slouched in the massive throne as he swirled a goblet of wine with lazy disdain. Across from him stood Razen, his robes meticulously arranged and his expression neutral as he delivered his latest report.

"The preparations for the ritual are nearly complete, Your Majesty," Razen said, his voice smooth but measured. "With the captured bandits, we will have sufficient magical energy to summon at least two otherworlders,"

"You told me that a week ago, Razen." The king's voice was a low growl, his bloodshot eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "Why, then, am I still waiting?"

Razen allowed himself a brief moment of irritation before composing his features into a mask of calm. "Patience, Your Majesty. Such endeavors require patience."

The king scowled but said nothing, instead draining the last of the wine in his goblet and slamming it down on a nearby tray. His gaze flicked to the windows, his irritation simmering. "Every moment we wait, the church grows bolder. We need results, not excuses."

"Of course," Razen replied smoothly. "We ha-"

He stopped mid-sentence, his attention snapping toward the arched windows at the far end of the room. Something small and metallic hovered just outside, its polished surface glinting in the sunlight.

"Is something the matter?" the king demanded, his tone sharp.

Razen stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the object. It was no larger than a bird, with sleek, angular edges that seemed too precise to be natural. Thin, whirring wings beat the air with mechanical precision, keeping it aloft as it hovered just out of reach.

"It's a device," Razen said, his voice laced with suspicion. His eyes suddenly glowed a golden colour with his acquired skill [All Appraisal] "A construct of some sort."

The king scowled. "From where?"

"I... am uncertain," Razen admitted, his mind racing. Constructs of this caliber were rare, even among the most advanced magical nations. Such precision and engineering hinted at a creator of extraordinary skill.

"Fascinating," Razen murmured, stepping closer. The device's movements were deliberate, almost intelligent, as though it were studying its surroundings.

"Fascinating or not, destroy it," the king ordered. "I will not have spies within my castle."

Razen hesitated again, his curiosity outweighing his obedience. "If it is a spy, then it is unlike any I have encountered."

The king's face twisted with anger. "Then capture it and find out who sent it!"

Razen nodded, extending his hand toward the device. A thin tendril of energy snaked out from his fingertips, latching onto the construct with precision. For a moment, the device resisted, its whirring wings intensifying as it struggled against the magical tether. Then, with a faint click, it powered down, its movements ceasing entirely.

"Interesting," Razen said, carefully drawing the construct closer. "It appears to have some form of protective mechanism, but it lacks offensive capabilities."

The king leaned forward, his curiosity momentarily overcoming his frustration. "Can you discern its origin?"

Razen examined the device closely, noting the seamless joints and the faint hum of energy still emanating from its core. "Not yet. But its design is unlike anything I have seen before. It may take weeks, even months, to fully—"

The device emitted a sudden burst of light, startling both men. Once the light cleared, the device was already, melted slag.

Razen furrowed his brow. "We may have a situation on our hands."