The Primordial corpse was dropped inside the abandoned outpost of the dark elves, alongside an additional dragon's corpse.
"It is done, Sky-God!" Ira bellowed before turning to leave. "I have brought an additional corpse as a precaution!"
From his console, Atlas nodded and eyed the timer ticking down.
Less than twenty-four hours.
Several years had passed since the dark elves had abandoned their desert home. The sky, once filled with Primordials and dragons scouting the terrain per his command, was now empty.
In the western part of the eastern continent, far from Ira's territory at his request, the Primordial dragons organized.
--------------------
Total Forces & Resources:
Primordial Dragons = 160
Dragons = 600
Demigod = 1
Divinity = 62
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"Nearly a third less than what we had against the Smiling Tree," Atlas muttered, his tone grim. "I can only hope Myra and Selena can truly turn the tide of this battle."
"Why haven't you separated your forces and surrounded the desert?" Wisp asked.
"Because the only one who can communicate with me through Divinity is Myra. On the off chance they don't invade here, I need to redeploy them quickly."
As he spoke, the corpse of the Primordial slowly dissolved into the floor. The dungeon pulsed briefly with a rippling tsunami of red and black before falling still again.
"Remind me, what's the plan again?"
"Awaken Selena by removing her weakness curses for 25 Divinity. Lure her with Myra to the invasion site. Use the dragons and Primordials to contain the threat."
"This plan does not account for multiple invasion sites. And Selena does not currently have the potential in her stats to birth Primordials so why give her a Primordial corpse?"
"She mutated on her own just like Myra. I'm adding the Primordials to her catalog should she evolve further."
"And when she turns back to consume your world?"
"Hopefully that only happens after she enters their homeworld. The invasion sites aren't permanently open, right?"
"Correct- unless you choose to spare the enemy world instead of absorbing it."
"Great. This is the best we have without massacring half the world's population, most of whom aren't even united. If there are multiple invasion sites we'll split the Primordials and dragons. Their goal won't be to win, only to contain the threat."
"Selena and Myra, I hope, will make Xag panic. Then he might pull his forces back to defend his homeworld. Being an insect god and all..."
"Hm?"
A foreign Weaver is watching your world.
A foreign Weaver is observing your world.
Foreign Weavers (x5) are observing your world.
Invisible to the mortal eye, tears in the fabric of space shimmered above the world. Atlas couldn't see into them when he rotated the globe- only a grey, distorted sheen in the sky that moved upon the Weavers' commands.
"One-way view. What a shame. I kind of wanted to see their reactions. Isn't this a bit unfair though?"
"How so, Weaver Atlas?"
"I mean, they can see everything I'm capable of and could initiate a Weaver War in the same way if they wanted, right?"
"It is unfortunate, Weaver. I advise you not to lose too many units."
"...Thanks."
Wisp chirped, then sighed. "I am sorry, Atlas. This is the system's way. Even in your world, wars can happen like this. If anything, you have a better chance here with the warning and time the system gives before the Weaver Wars begin."
Pausing, Atlas hovered his fingers above the console before slowly nodding. "Yeah... You're right. Sorry, that was a little ungrateful before."
"Your existence is on the line. These reactions are not without reason. They are, however, less... admirable than others I have assisted."
Atlas waved his hands in a helpless 'what-can-you-do' gesture and sighed again.
----------------
Weaver War:
Atlas (8,900 Combat Power) vs Xag (100,000 Combat Power)
Winner has the right to claim their opponent's planet or destroy it, absorbing their essence as divinity, gene points, and coinage.
Defeat condition(s): Weaver surrenders OR 90% of the planet controlled with obvious decimation to the defeated's combat capabilities
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"Didn't you say Xag would have closer to 150,000 combat power? What happened?"
"Anything."
-----------------------------------
-Xag's Planet-
"My Lord, the traitor has been dealt with," Xag's companion, an insect of dragonfly design with a rigid, spear-like proboscis, buzzed.
"Good. Use their corpses to nurture your children," Xag hissed. "Keep some alive. We will use their larvae as sustenance."
Above them, Xag looked up to observe the twisting and winding tunnels beneath the surface. His entire world was dominated by his few beloved species while the remaining were reduced to livestock. It was a balancing act: the expansion of his swarm, and the growth of their food supply.
Supporting the explosive growth of his insect populace was starting to strain his world's resources. Matters only worsened when one of his own creations, a grub-like creature, betrayed him, believing it could do a better job.
What a foolish thought.
Within days, the entirety of the traitor's forces had been wiped out. Now, Xag planned to turn that species into livestock for his colonies. But even that wouldn't be enough. To sustain his ever-growing swarm, he needed a new world. A lush world. A living world.
His world was barren and his swarm had long since adapted to life in the desert. This human, far behind in combat power but with a world rich in life and growth, was perfect for food production and hive expansion. It was the ideal target.
"Weaver Xag, it would be advisable to attack outside the desert," a small, hovering fly buzzed near Xag's head. He hissed with disdain but was forced to tolerate the presence of this lesser insect, or his 'Weaver Assistant.'
"My forces are born to the dry lands. They will fight us in the desert in a futile attempt to contain us, but my forces will have the advantage!"
"Yes, Weaver. But you command a swarm. Attacking on multiple fronts will stretch his meager combat power thin and-"
"Silence!" Xag swatted the fly-assistant away with a clawed limb. "We attack soon."
He gestured toward his dragonfly chosen. "Assimilate the corpses. Be ready at the gates when the time comes!"
"Yessss, my lord!"
Saliva dripped from its proboscis and its ocelli glinted with hunger. It vanished in a yellow flash of light.
"We will devour all Weavers… and conquer those who make us dance in their formicarium."
Xag's voice dropped into a deep, resonant growl with angry clicks of its mandibles around its own proboscis poking out.
"My hive will grow. We will rule and devour."