Beware Of Chicken v7c63: Majestic Return

Once more, Vajra found herself on the precipice of war.

For a decade, it had been her solemn duty to rally the troops and lead them into the fray. She had served as a subordinate Queen, then a War Queen, and finally, she stood alone as the Final War Queen against an endless tide of enemies whose might dwarfed her own soldiers by a hundred to one.

By her decree, billions had marched to war—and by that same decree, billions had perished. Scouts, pulled so far from their homes, their demises often went unacknowledged. Soldiers, thrusting their stingers with unyielding vigilance, even headless. Workers, dispatched in overwhelming waves, their bodies vibrating with such intense heat that they incinerated themselves and their foes. Even fellow Queens met their grim fates when the hives were breached. Some chose a swift end, their own daughters delivering the final blow in ritualistic strikes to the head. Others fought valiantly until their last breath, their final transmissions showing monstrous mandibles rending through wax and wood, the demons’ eyes burning with malevolent intent.

Each engagement merely postponed the inevitable; they added but a fleeting moment, an ephemeral hour, to an empire already crumbling into dust.

Vajra herself had teetered on the brink of despair more than once. And yet… she had persevered. Was it sheer stubbornness? Unyielding pride? Or was it something more that had fueled her, compelling her to eliminate as many demons as possible? Fighting until she was the sole survivor, her mind fractured, her spirit nearly extinguished.

By a twist of fate, through the grace of the heavens, she was delivered to Fa Ram, into the benevolent beak of the magnificent Bi De, and into the Emperor’s comforting embrace.

Initially, Vajra believed she had passed away and arrived in a blissful paradise. This god-like being had bestowed upon her impregnable hives and granted her dominion over his abundant fields; the flowers there were so heavy with nectar that their blossoms bowed low under the morning sun.

The water was pure and refreshing, the sun shone with an unnatural warmth and brilliance, and even the very air was imbued with a sweet, invigorating essence.

His Imperial Majesty insisted he was neither a god nor a heavenly being, but this was clearly a show of humility, a deliberate effort not to intimidate his lessers or burden him with the constant pleas of the weak.

Within her soul, she knew the truth. When his anger flared, the land itself roared with untamed fury; mountains fractured, winds howled like tormented spirits, and even the wrath of heaven, the blinding lightning, was subdued and contained. Death had visited him twice, and twice he had triumphed, casting it aside; once in this realm, and once in a domain beyond the heavens, a world entirely separate.

How else could such a being be described, if not as a god?

And in return for all these blessings… a modest portion of honey was all Vajra was asked to provide. A mere pittance of honey that the Emperor didn't even demand a fixed percentage of, but rather requested only what she felt capable of offering. He instructed them to work at their own discretion, prioritizing their health and happiness over any concern for tribute quotas.

He even extended his compassion to her fallen subjects. Those very individuals for whom Vajra had long ceased to spare any thought, dismissing them as mere necessary sacrifices. It was their sacred duty to die, and every warrior had willingly marched forward to preserve the Emperor’s dominion.

He personally crafted graves for them, allowing delicate flowers to blossom above their resting places. He mourned their absence and lauded their unparalleled bravery.

It was… an existence beyond anything Vajra could have ever conceived. Beyond anything all of her hives combined could have possibly imagined.

His profound benevolence had secured Vajra’s unwavering loyalty countless times over. And more than that, it had earned him the devoted loyalty of every single one of her daughters.

And now, the Demons had truly returned. They harbored a wicked desire to lay waste to this blessed sanctuary while the Emperor was away.

The very notion ignited a furious rage within her. Not merely within her, but within all of her daughters, whose emotions resonated through their shared connection.

Each and every daughter cried out for retribution.

She saw it clearly now, standing atop her primary hive. Grand banners, meticulously crafted from reeds and silk thread bestowed by Empress Meiling, billowed gracefully in the gentle breeze. Each banner represented the distinct formation of a different unit, bearing the Emperor’s revered symbol alongside heroic depictions of each unit’s valorous exploits and battle honors earned against the relentless demons.

They carpeted the ground stretching out before her hive, the grass meticulously shorn to fashion this grand muster yard. Every single one of her soldiers stood in perfect, unmoving formation as Vajra conducted her solemn review.

Her numbers were meager. They were a shadow of the formidable force she had once commanded.

And yet, they now utterly surpassed her previous army. Her Immortals had grown to rival the Demons in size, their carapaces shimmering with an iridescent sheen under the sun. Their formidable armor would have been impenetrable to her forces of the past; she was certain each one could have single-handedly vanquished ten thousand foes.

But it was clear that her ancient adversary had also evolved.

Were she facing this threat alone, it would have devolved into another desperate, hopeless battle. Were she alone, she would have undoubtedly been forced to retreat once more.

But she was not alone. This would not be a somber, last stand. They were marching forth to ATTACK!

First emerged Ri Zu, Bi De’s concubine, in her human form. She was heavily laden with satchels and vials, her shadows dancing and writhing, red eyes gleaming from within her robes. An aura of nothing emanated from her, her formidable strength suppressing the potent poisons she carried, poisons that would otherwise disperse into massive clouds of smoke.

Accompanying her was Yun Ren, a servant of the Emperor and the recently appointed Prince among the newcomers, the humans who were also foxes. Vajra had been observing them closely for any signs of treachery but had found none. They appeared genuinely grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence, exhibiting humble and obedient behavior. Prince Yun Ren gave his blade a final inspection before sheathing it. His auxiliary set of ears and tail twitched before he leaned against the door, awaiting further developments.

Next came the Enormous Spooks. Though his Master was reputed to be great and powerful—the Emperor of the north—this mighty beast acknowledged the Emperor’s benevolence and might, sending his own Disciple to learn at his feet. Brief pulses of ice and storm emanated from the Thunderhoof’s horns before fading.

Then, Bi De appeared, his feathers shimmering in the light. His Qi was coiled around him, sharp, focused, and so intense it sent shivers throughout the assembled onlookers. He was radiant, like the sun in the sky, his eyes betraying no hint of worry, only perfect confidence and composure. He surveyed his companions and then Vajra’s gathered troops.

“I never imagined I would have access to such a fine army,” Bi De commented, his voice warm. Vajra nearly quivered with joy. “How are the preparations progressing?”

Vajra performed her dance for him. He studied her intently for a moment before nodding. Ah, everything had been wonderful since their initial encounter. Bi De had been sitting with her each night, striving to better understand her dances.

He was absolutely devoted.

“Excellent,” Bi De declared, and the soldiers straightened with renewed purpose.

The last to emerge from the house was the bear, Paobu, one of the Hive Smashers. Vajra didn’t exactly harbor animosity toward the creature. They seemed more like forces of nature, based on her recollection. A Blaze Bear was equally likely to leave a hive undisturbed or to smash it open for its honey and larvae. However, they never acted as the Demons did; they never killed. A destroyed hive could typically recover.

Now, his own hive had been devastated by their mutual adversary. Paobu appeared lost and confused. His gaze fell upon her soldiers. He then looked to the others, fully prepared for conflict.

“Are we truly going to confront them?” Paobu inquired, his voice laced with disbelief and the fragile undertones of hope.

These were the same notes Vajra had perceived years ago. For a fleeting moment, she felt an unusual sense of kinship with the beast before dismissing it.

He was merely a commoner. He was about to witness true might and would undoubtedly kowtow before the Emperor once this was concluded.

“Yes,” Bi De confirmed, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

The Blaze Bear inclined his head, humbled by Bi De’s majesty and the formidable force he would be joining. Despite being a commoner, he possessed certain redeeming qualities.

Bi De then turned his attention to the others: Duke Chun Ke, Dame Pi Pa, and the owl-woman Biyu, who possessed impeccable fashion sense. Old Master Miantiao, the Heavenly Artisan, had aided the Emperor in constructing the wondrous barrier capable of defying the passage of time during the White Death and preserving the warm sun on her hives. Finally, there was Bowu, a mere mortal yet one who surpassed all other mortals, assisting Vajra in her capacity as Boozemaster.

“We depart now to get to the bottom of this,” Bi De announced. “We shall see you all upon our return. Pi Pa, might I request some spiced worms?”

It was not a genuine farewell. He did not instruct them to be careful. His words were purely factual; upon his victorious return, Fa Ram would remain untouched.

The pink-haired woman let out a chuckle. “It’s such a bother to make them when only you enjoy them,” she playfully complained.

“Wa Shi enjoys them too!” Bi De defended.

Pi Pa chuckled again. Her lips brushed his forehead before she pulled back with a gentle smile. “Don’t take too long, alright?”

“I would not dream of it,” Bi De responded.

The others exchanged their goodbyes. They were short, simple, and included discussions of plans for after their return.

Duke Chun Ke ambled alongside their formation. He was diminutive at that moment, as small as they were. Periodically, he would pause to whisper words of encouragement to one of her daughters or press a small piece of hardened maple syrup into their claws.

He addressed them all, knowing the unique qualities of each of his own daughters as intimately as she did.

Finally, he reached the front of the army and began to grow once more.

“Let us proceed,” he commanded, his warm voice a gentle directive.

His smile was as brilliant as the sun. Vajra performed her dance, acknowledging this crucial order.

“Now, we march,” Bi De declared once the final goodbyes had been spoken.

His voice, though quiet, carried the weight of command, needing no audible shout. The Immortals ascended into the heavens, their low hum a resonant, deep sound. Formations coalesced, morphing into arrowhead shapes reminiscent of soaring birds. Some bore small, glass globes suspended beneath them, fragile vessels containing potent poisons.

Vajra herself ascended with the assembled host.

She served as the critical nexus. The range of her command, originating from the safety of her stronghold, was insufficient. To effectively direct her scouts and execute the necessary operations, she would need to venture out personally. Once more, she would face peril and confront her ancient adversary.

Yet, within her, there was an absence of fear, no trace of terror regarding the novel guise her historic enemies now presented.

She advanced at the head of an army that dwarfed all others.

Paobu took the lead, retracing their previous path. Their initial pace was measured, gradually increasing as they progressed. The bear, while not possessing the swiftness of the others, was an indispensable component of Bi De's grand strategy.

At the imposing gates, Duke Chun Ke stood his ground, his gaze fixed firmly upon their approaching figures. The resolute boar remained, a solid bulwark. His unwavering posture conveyed a solemn pledge: their sanctuary would remain intact upon their victorious return.

Their course was set towards the south. Southward, to the very lands of Vajra's birth, and south, to the place of her past defeat.

Her vast swarm dispersed, fanning out. The arrow-like formations vanished into the distant horizon, prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Within Vajra's contemplation, victory was already secured. All that remained was for the hornets to awaken to this inherent truth of the cosmos.