Just like I was told, it didn't take very long for another batch of ants to come roaring down the tunnel. It was similar in size to the previous one. A few hundred dog and bear sized ants.

Apparently none of these ants had cores, and it was only the ones far bigger that would have them. That's why the bodies were just sold in bulk. But far bigger ants huh. Would they look like cars or even buildings at that point?

And ants usually had a queen I think, so how big was that one if it was able to pump out millions of ants? Hm, maybe the colony had multiple queens? Either way, it will probably be a few years before we are strong enough to go right up to the core of whatever nest they've built and root them out.

Spamming the V word is my current plan for now, but that's not a long term solution. Plus despite my use of it previously, it's not necessarily my favorite thing to do. I want to fight. I want to let my spear control the outcome of a battle.

While using the V word or any other word I learn to defeat my enemies is still an ability of mine, it is also one I share with my fellow Patriarchs and Matriarchs. All of us can call upon the Eternal Flame.

I don't feel ashamed to use it, and I am proud to be in a position to have it, but this past battle reminded me that there is no greater joy than using my own hands to dictate the outcome of any engagement.

If needed, I will not hesitate to use every power available to me to ensure neither myself nor people die a needless death, in fact it is how I planned to conquer the place we will soon be heading towards.

But beyond that, my spear will speak for me.

I suppose I can think of it as extended training. The members of my Clan had to fight without their Patriarch for 10 years while I trained. It is only right that I fight alongside them for a similar time.

The battle would soon be over and after a brief rest, we will push forwards. I was planning on participating in the battle, but the boys asked and I mean very respectfully asked me not to. They didn't need to be all formal with it, but they were.

Apparently the members of the Black Dawn mustered up the courage to ask Lirian if they could be allowed to be the vanguard for this upcoming push. The Black Dawn was only 1000 strong.

Most of the Infernals down here were not a part of the group.

It was originally their responsibility to conquer the underground while I was gone, so they were feeling a bit down that they hadn't managed to accomplish the task I gave them. In all fairness it was only after talking to Elder Zal that I became aware of the hill they would have to climb to accomplish the task, so there was no need for them to feel this way.

I mentioned to the boys that I planned on apologizing to Black Dawn for giving them a mission above what they could handle, but both of them were adamant that it would be a bad idea to do so. Even Vrusha chimed in that it would make the situation worse.

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They wanted to meet any expectation I set for them. There was nothing that would be too big an ask, or too great a challenge. If I asked for it, then it would happen, it was as simple as that and anything short of it would be a failure.

Of course I disagreed with that, and I would do my best not to ask of them something that is beyond their capabilities. But I guess that was to be expected considering how Infernals felt to Patriarchs. It was Vrusha who told me we were akin gods almost to Infernals.

That was a bit too heavy of a title for me, but I understood the premise.

So, I sat back and watched them dismantle the ants without mercy. Watching them made me wonder just how much more effective it would make them if they could wield the Eternal Flame.

Hm.

I suppose it's time I bestowed it once again huh.

10 years wasn't a small amount of time.

For some reason, the fact 10 whole years have passed isn't really hitting the way I expected it to hit. Like going from 10 to 20 was a massive difference of time growing up. Yet now it genuinely feels as if it was just the other day.

It could be because I spent majority of that time looking at one person and the exact same monotone surroundings. Though it's probably more accurate to say it has something to do with my cultivation. I was now at a point where I could live for hundreds of years and still feel young.

If my mentality when it came to how time passed stayed like that of a regular human without cultivation then I would probably lose my mind after a hundred years or so. I think it probably makes sense for somewhere in my brain to cope with the passing of time differently.

But reality was reality. 10 years had passed.

All of these Infernals had dedicated the past 10 years to not only my Clan, but to me as well.

That should be rewarded in some way.

Though I don't think it's wise for the entire group to receive the flames just yet. Vrusha is a given. The head of my personal guard should wield the Eternal Flame. Next would probably be Lidaz. He is soon to become the first Immortal of the Clan, that alone deserves the Eternal Flame.

Ozal as well. He's been handling all of my Planetary Lord duties for the past 10 years. That should be rewarded. I think the commander of the Black Dawn should also receive the Eternal Flame. It's my first Conflagration after all. Though now that I think about it…I don't actually know who that is.

I believe I left that position up to Lidaz to decide.

"Vrusha."

"Yes Patriarch?"

"Who is the commander of the Black Dawn?"

"It is Izanshi Patrairch. She was appointed by Lidaz."

Izanshi huh. Alright, those will be the next group of people to receive the Eternal Flame. After them it would likely be the department heads. The people in positions of authority needed to receive the Eternal Flame before the rest of the group did. That makes sense to me.

Hm?

Oh we're stopping.

We had all been running down the tunnel towards the location for a while now, but we were stopping now.

Lirian, who was closer to the front of the group, came back to where I was, which was in the very rear. I didn't like being back here , but the Black Dawn wanted their chance to lead the attack so I would it to them. At least temporarily.

Anyway, Lirian was here.

"Patriarch, the location of the human farm isn't too much further from here. Advancing beyond this point will alert the ants to our presence and the battle will begin shortly thereafter.

"As agreed upon Patriarch, the Black Dawn will take responsibility for beginning the battle. From there we will be depending on you Patriarch."

I nodded at him and he quickly returned to his position up ahead.

Alright Black Dawn. Show me something.

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