A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1676: I Think Youʼre Beautiful

Archer was standing on the deck of the Flagship that was sailing north, but soon came out of the storm, and the sky lit up thanks to the sun beaming down on the fleet. He noticed some of the vessels were battered, but they hadnʼt lost any, which was good as each one cost millions of gold coins and months of gruelling training.

While standing there, Athena, the green-haired beauty, appeared beside him, her Deep Sea Stalkers sliced through the waves below. She glanced at him and curiously asked. ʼʼDo you have any Swarm Queens as mates?ʼʼ

ʼʼI do,ʼʼ he replied.

When the woman heard this, her green eyes widened in surprise as she asked. ʼʼWho and what are they?ʼʼ

Archer waved his hand, creating mana projections of Vivienne, Valariana, and Aeliana, who appeared life-sized, causing Athenaʼs smile to grow. ʼʼPowerful!ʼʼ she exclaimed.

ʼʼYes theyʼre strong,ʼʼ he nodded in agreement.

ʼʼWould you ever take on others?ʼʼ

ʼʼThere are other queens Iʼm seeing, but I need to spend time with them; theyʼre focused on their colonies like Jasmine, Bella, Gia, Monica, and Circe.ʼʼ

Athena looked intrigued, asking. ʼʼSo you have eight queens under you?ʼʼ

ʼʼWell,l I do, but the others not yet,ʼʼ he chuckled.

Her face turned red at his words as she whispered. ʼʼWhat do you think of me?ʼʼ

When Archer heard her words, a jolt rippled through him, freezing him in place before he instinctively stepped back, gaze lifting to truly drink in the vision of the woman who had appeared so unexpectedly into his world. She was truly stunning, an embodiment of every longing he had for the perfect wife, mature, older, and cheeky.

The Swarm Queenʼs bubbly personality made his pulse quicken. Her laugh was something else, drawing him in, while her warm eyes sparkled with genuine joy and invitation. Her figure was a masterpiece of curves; she was a mix of Brookeʼs hips and Maryʼs inviting thighs, yet uniquely her own.

Full and voluptuous in all the ways that stirred his deepest desires, with modest breasts, smaller than some of the other wommen, but perfectly suited to her body, enhancing rather than diminishing the symphony of her allure. In that suspended moment, as the air between them hummed.

Archer shook his head and finally responded. ʼʼI think youʼre beautiful and want to claim you, but thereʼs a bunch of stuff that comes with such a thing.ʼʼ

When Athena heard his words, her green eyes lit up, prompting her to step forward and rest her hands on his chest. ʼʼDoesnʼt my age bother you? It seems like you prefer older women now?ʼʼ she questioned, a hopeful expression appearing.

Without answering, he leaned forward and suddenly kissed her. She stiffened at the sudden kiss, but she quickly reciprocated the gesture while resting her hands against his chest. After a few seconds, the duo broke apart. Athena couldnʼt help but smile. ʼʼWhat was that for?ʼʼ she asked, grinning ear to ear.

ʼʼThe way you kept looking at me,ʼʼ Archer was answered as he offered. ʼʼWould you like to meet the other queens? Itʼs been some time since Iʼve seen them?ʼʼ

Athenaʼs face lit up as she eagerly nodded, prompting him to send the others a message to keep traveling until they find an island. Once that was done, he teleported them into the Domain, to the far north where a mountain range lay, at the heart of of was the Dark Termite Colony, spanning all across the rocky peaks.

Archer had to expand it a few months ago after Jasmine informed him she was running out of room, causing him to add quadruple the amount of space they previously had. When the Deepsea Stalker Queen saw this, she was amazed as it looked like any other mountain, but he knew better.

Not far from where they appeared was one of the main entrances to the Dark Termite home, and he could hear them rushing in their direction now. Following that, the ridge trembled when the monsters got close, surprising the green-haired beauty. A crack opened not far away, exhaling a gust of warm, sweet air laced with the metallic tang of metal.

From the shadows poured a tide of Dark Warrior Termites, each the size of a warhorse, carapace midnight-blue, mandibles long as swords. Their dark eyes blazed in the high sun, and the serrated plates along their thoraxes rasped like drawn steel. Athena growled in reflex.

Archer lifted a hand, explaining. ʼʼEasy. They know my scent.ʼʼ

The front rank skidded to a halt, forelegs folding in a bow so deep their antennae scraped frost from the stone. A low, harmonic chitter rolled through the swarm: recognition, deference, joy. One warrior, larger than the rest, bore a spiral scar across its left eye, a mark of the many battles it had been involved in.

It scuttled forward, lowered its head, and nudged Archerʼs boot with the gentleness of a courtier kissing a signet ring. Jasmineʼs voice echoed from the tunnel mouth, rich and amused. ʼʼDown, Scar.ʼʼ

Scar rumbled and retreated three steps. The entire horde rearranged itself into twin files flanking the path, forming a living honor guard that gleamed like obsidian statues under the sun. Athena relaxed when realizing they werenʼt going to be attacked. ʼʼThey respect you,ʼʼ she said softly. ʼʼNot just obedience. Worship.ʼʼ

ʼʼTermites are sentimental,ʼʼ Archer replied, scratching Scar behind a joint.

The warrior leaned into the touch, eyes half-lidded in bliss. ʼʼScar here lost that eye during the Broodmaw Wars, which I didnʼt stop for years. Promotion came with a name and a lifetime supply of royal jelly.ʼʼ

From the depths rose a second wave, this one smaller, sleeker. Drones with colorful wings and abdomens swollen with glowing nectar. They spiraled upward, releasing a fine golden mist that caught the light. The scent was intoxicating: sun-warmed citrus, smoked vanilla, and fertile earth after rain.

Athena inhaled, pupils dilating. ʼʼGods below. That smells nicer than trench-wine.ʼʼ

ʼʼThe Dark Termite welcome,ʼʼ Archer said. ʼʼJasmine insists on theatrics.ʼʼ

A final figure emerged, riding a palanquin of living termites. Jasmine herself. Her short silver hair was tied into a messy bun, and her big green eyes locked onto him as a bright smile crossed her face. She was wearing a dress made from the finest Draconia silks, proving she did visit the empire.

ʼʼBeloved,ʼʼ Jasmine greeted, voice a low thrum that vibrated in Archerʼs ribs.

Her gaze slid to Athena, assessing, then curved into a smile sharp enough to cut diamonds. ʼʼAnother Swarm Queen?ʼʼ

Athena nodded and praised the silver-haired beauty. ʼʼYour hive is brilliant. Iʼve seen coral cathedrals older than continents, but this she gestured at the glowing swarm, the nectar mist, the living honor guard, this is alive in ways the sea never manages.ʼʼ

Jasmine nodded in approval. ʼʼCome. The lava nurseries await, and the broodmothers have prepared a tasting.ʼʼ

She offered a hand. ʼʼWe termites believe first impressions should be ʼunforgettable.ʼʼ

Athena glanced at Archer. He answered with a crooked grin and a sweep of his arm. ʼʼAfter you.ʼʼ

Together, the three descended into the heart of the mountain, the Dark Warriors closing ranks behind them like a tide of night swallowing the sun. They descended through a throat of polished stone, the tunnel wide enough for a dragon to spread its wings. The walls pulsed with soft light.

After an hour of traveling, they arrived at the first nursery, the larvae the size of lanterns nestled in hexagonal alcoves, their abdomens glowing like hearth-coals. Every few paces, a worker termite paused mid-task to bow, antennae sweeping the floor in perfect arcs. The air grew warmer, thick with the perfume of fermenting nectar and hot stone.

Jasmine led, her silk gown gliding over the floor. Athena walked at her left, Archer a half-step behind. The green-haired woman couldnʼt stop looking around, amazed. She fired many queries at the Termite Queen.

ʼʼTemperature regulation,ʼʼ Jasmine explained, noticing her many unasked questions. ʼʼThe brood chambers run at blood-heat. Too cold and the larvae condense; too hot and the silk glands overproduce. We vent excess through the lava tubes. see?ʼʼ

She gestured upward. A mess of translucent pipes crisscrossed the ceiling, glowing cherry-red. Inside, molten gold flowed in lazy spirals, tended by heat-proof drones with mirrored carapaces. Athena leaned closer, eyes reflecting the liquid metal. ʼʼYou weaponize your waste heat?ʼʼ

ʼʼEverything has a use,ʼʼ Jasmine said. ʼʼThe gold cools into ingots in the lower forges. The steam powers turbines that grind crystal wheat. Nothing is wasted.ʼʼ

They emerged into the first grand chamber: a cathedral of architecture. The ceiling soared three hundred feet, supported by living pillars, ancient warrior termites petrified mid-stance, their carapaces fused with the stone. Between the pillars hung banners dyed in a wide range of colors.

The floor was a mosaic of hexagonal tiles, every tile the polished wing-case of a deceased creature that caught the queenʼs attention. Athenaʼs breath caught, amazed by the scene. ʼʼItʼs a living museum.ʼʼ

ʼʼMemory is sacred,ʼʼ Jasmine said softly. ʼʼEach one records a deed. That one, she pointed to a tile veined with silver, Scar. She held the breach at Cinder Pass alone for six hours so the nursery could evacuate during the Broodmaw Wars.ʼʼ