The day after her conversation with Biarnorn, the Imperial forces operating in the mountains fought a major battle against the resident monsters, or at least major as far as these fights went. After that, Regina finally leveled up.

  There were actually several packs of monsters involved, though two of them only joined in the fight later, perhaps drawn by the sounds of the fighting. A large group of some kind of monstrous wolves, in various forms, posed the first challenge. Then a murder of particularly murderous monster birds, though not a type Regina was personally very familiar with. And finally, a pack of several assorted monsters, including scavengers. The soldiers were in a large enough group to handle them, with the assistance of some dwarves, who were trying to secure the site of a new settlement nearby. Regina had noticed the fighting and watched, since it was the biggest fight in a while.

  She still hadn’t been prepared for the notification, although she had been expecting it.

  Regina retreated to the balcony again. It overlooked the inner gardens, where several psychic students were currently doing exercises, attempting to look into each other’s minds. She focused on the next System message.

  Regina frowned, reading through the options carefully and weighing her choices.

  She had expected to see Ruler’s Mind again, since she had declined the option last time. The Ability was still tempting, honestly more so now than last time. The growth of her hive meant that the bit of extra strength to the psychic link would be good, and especially the ability to more easily assess where the drones were spread out. But she still couldn’t shake the slight suspicion that it was a poisoned chalice.

  The other two, new options were different, and actually surprised her a little. Regina had hoped for good Abilities, of course, and even imagined a few she might get, but she hadn’t quite pictured this. They both seemed pretty powerful, assuming the respective limits weren’t too harsh.

  The first was a way to directly power-up her drones. The passive benefit it included also seemed to mimic some of what she got with other Ability choices, although it would depend on what ‘slightly’ meant. That word seemed to do a lot of work in this description. Still, giving her mana to drones. It would only be the magic-users, of course — and she noted it said drones, not Hive members, so it might not count Janis or any other future non-Hivekind members — but it could still allow them to accomplish things they wouldn’t be able to before, punching above their weight class. It would be temporary, there was probably some kind of limit, and there would be a distance limit, too, but she assumed that would expand with time — and it only counted for transferring the mana, they’d still keep it when they moved away.

  The last Ability would allow her to essentially mimic the psychic link with some of her other friends and subordinates. It should allow Kiara and Janis to talk mind-to-mind, for example. Let her easily show information to Daine or others. Even if it was temporary, they should retain the information they received through it. Even beyond the practical utility, this might help in bringing her hive and the other leaders, or even citizens, of the Empire closer together.

  Sighing, Regina tabled it to make a decision later, once she’d had time to sleep on it, but she was pretty sure she knew what she was going to choose. They were all good options, but the last would honestly be too useful to pass up, helping not just the hive, but the Empire, and she was curious what it would be like. Especially with June and her psychic students helping. The other option would show up again, anyway.

  She did have more than enough mana to take advantage of it. Contemplatively, Regina pulled up her status screen, which she hadn’t really looked at in a while, taking in the changes.

  Another point in Int, she noted, glancing over it. Not surprising. Dex would probably be next, one of these days. She’d finally had a point in Str last time, but it was always the lowest. But her stats remained basically as expected.

  Regina tugged on her mandible, going through the numbers. The limits were getting so high she had to manually count the zeros. It’s so far in the millions now, the exponential growth really showed itself, she reflected, shaking her head. The specifics don’t even matter, I can just treat the Swarm as effectively unlimited. Not so much the Inner Hive, of course. She was actually getting close to pushing that limit. That also made sense, since it increased … well, perhaps still exponentially, but not nearly as fast. She suspected Leian had effectively been fudging the numbers, or maybe it was also affected by something she didn’t know (or some kind of random sampling?), since she hadn’t been able to figure out a function for that limit. At least it was expanding faster. She still wished it was higher.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  She’d slowed down the addition of new sapient Hive drones, leaving space for Swarm Drones who gained sentience, which quite a few were doing. It also helped since they still had to integrate all of them. They all needed mentorship, homes and food, it wasn’t as easy as just making a few eggs, anyway.

  It was different with the Swarm Drones. She’d effectively stopped adding to them a while ago. In theory, she could have several million Swarm Drones, and a part of her found that tempting, but trying would be more trouble than it was worth.

  They might be resistant to the elements, compared to others, and omnivores, but Swarm Drones still needed food and usually a minimum of shelter, especially at low levels. It was already a challenge to keep this number fed — effectively the population of several large cities, after all. They had to be dispersed through the Empire and the lands set aside in the hive’s own territory carefully managed, with many Swarm Drones hibernating. Besides, if it was necessary, she had enough Drone Breeders to get their numbers up quickly. Given the way their levels worked, with her Swarm Strength Ability, it was better to not add too many very low-level drones right now, but just let the existing ones level up a little, and then make new ones when necessary, when they would hopefully get at least a few levels to start with. There was also the issue of the commanders-to-swarm ratio, which might become unworkable. And in many situations, the actual absolute numbers probably wouldn’t make a difference — you could only attack from so many sides at once — so it wouldn’t matter how many War Drones they had waiting in the wings, it was better to have some with higher levels doing the fighting.

  That had been Ben’s conclusion, supported by many of the hive’s senior drones, though others disagreed.

  Mia was still preparing new plans and infrastructure to enable the feeding and ‘housing’ of more drones, so they could increase that number.

  Regina was at least glad that everyone was adjusting so well to the number of minds in the psychic link, although she did privately have a few concerns. For now, however, she found her eyes wandering back to the numbers and limits of her Inner Hive and Swarm. It wasn’t the first time she’d considered how being connected to and reliant on the System might actually limit her, limit her hive. She knew from Leian that the Hivekind had been able to build hives like hers without it. Perhaps not quite as easily, she certainly wouldn’t have amassed a Swarm this size so quickly, but almost everything was in principle inherent to her new species, not just a gift of the System. It begged the question of whether the gods — Deirianon — were deliberately limiting her as a potential threat and what else they might be relying on to that end.

  Regina closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall. She was currently alone, she could sense that even Max and Ira were otherwise occupied, so it was fine. Then she opened her eyes, glancing into the garden again, and reached out to Janis.

  Her little sister was currently talking with June over lunch, just the two of them. But it seemed they were almost finished. Regina waited, then quietly signaled Janis when they were done and June left to go back to work, heading back to the garden she was currently overlooking.

  Something I can do for you? Janis asked.

  I just reached level 70, finally, and got a new Ability. Regina briefly summarized her choices and reasoning.

  Janis nodded slowly. They were currently so focused on each other it was like she was there with her, so Regina picked it up automatically. I think I agree with you, Regina. But it’s your decision, ultimately. I can see either one being a big advantage to us, potentially. Skill choices are always personal. Do what feels right.

  Thanks, Janis. That’s not the only reason I wanted to talk to you, though.

  Janis waited quietly for her to continue, and Regina started pacing up and down the balcony. She looked at the young psychics in training again. Some of them neither young nor green.

  The hive is limited, she finally said. That’s obvious, of course. The range limit to the psychic link means some of our most powerful skills and abilities, advantages like instant communication, only work within a certain distance to me. And we can only have so many sapient drones.

  That’s true, Janis agreed easily. We have many natural advantages, but there are also downsides to it. Drones’ levels are limited to yours. The Swarm Drones need oversight and direction. Sapient drones are born with some knowledge, but they also need guidance and information before they can truly start contributing to society. But we don’t have just the Hive. There’s also the Empire, your Empire. It’s why we’re building up its military.

  Regina smiled slightly. It was good that Janis got it. And she understood without her having to say it that Regina was looking for a bit of guidance of her own, for her opinion, insight and advice.

  Yes. That is why I think I need to focus on those other avenues. Not that I don’t focus on the Empire already, of course, but still — there are limits to the hive, and to the Empire, which we can work on. But we also have magic and psychic power. Perhaps we should found and expand magic schools. And as for psychics, make sure they can actually be useful not just passively, but in a conflict.

  That sounds good. I agree about magic schools, of course. It may lead to some issues with the nobles, but it’s worth it. But, what did you have in mind?

  I want you to come and work with the psychic students we have, Janis. Do some thinking, get some opinions, and come up with ways we can employ their talents, particularly in light of potential violent conflicts. A unified doctrine, if possible. You may not be a psychic yourself — which we should really work on — but you’re experienced with the psychic link, you understand what it can do. And you’re good with the military, too.

  She could sense Janis considering the matter. Of course, I will do my best. But I think it may be limiting to only focus on warfare. We should consider how this applies to civics too … and how to protect against and counter potential manipulation. As for opinions, you should probably talk to Madris, right?

  I have, Regina shrugged, and you can as well. But carefully, I don’t want to bring up bad memories. And while I’m sure she’ll be able to offer some good advice, there are a lot of differences between a war underground and what we have to deal with.

  Janis nodded again. Then she stood and left her office. Regina could sense she was heading to the garden. They could talk in person, but she was probably not coming for that.

  I will do as you command, my Empress, she said with a little bit of irony. Let us hope they’ll work with a poor non-psychic like me.

  Regina snorted. She really didn’t think that was an issue.

  Janis was rather well-respected as crown princess, as far as Regina was aware (and this was one thing she tried to be aware of). Especially among those you might call Regina’s supporters. And these new psychics were largely commoners or from the lower nobility at best, they certainly wouldn’t go against a princess.

  I will look forward to your accomplishments, then, she returned.

  There were several reasons she’d chosen Janis. The fact that she would keep ethical considerations in mind was one of them. But her experience and status were also part of it.

  Besides, she might have ideas that hadn’t occurred to Regina, and it would make sure they were on the same page, regarding how she thought.