75 The will of the race (1/2)
Zatiel and Rax were in front of nine big eggs that were the size of an adult man, the first one was using his consciousness to investigate the condition of the creatures inside and the chip abilities to a more detailed inspection.
Shiyu transformation went without a problem, so after making sure the new Neo-Demon had acclimated to her form, Zatiel didn't waste time and came to inspect the drones that Tao has created during his time here. As he assesses them, he directed his attention to the small dog that was sleeping next to the area where the infants reside, with his belly up and his tongue dropping out of his mouth.
Seeing the small dog in this position broke Zatiel concentration, making him laugh, but shaking his head he focuses as he spoke to Rax.
”Did you obey my command and make sure to recollect information about Tao's ability to create drones and his changes in this couple of years?.”
One of the reasons why Zatiel let Tao here, was that he needed a safe place where the last one could practice his abilities freely and there was someone how could keep an eye on him at all times, and since the small dog enjoys spending all of his time playing with those newborn Neo-Demon, this was a scenario that benefits everyone.
”Yes Ancestor, I and a select group were always taking turns so Tao could be watched at all times. By what we were able to recollect, the small dog spends most of his time playing and eating normal food, his intelligence seems to be increasing at a slow but steady rate. As for his personality, let just say he his curious,” When Rax reached the last part, in his face a look of frustration and resignation could be seen.
When Tao plays with the children, there is no problem, but whenever the dog sees something that calls his attention like someone using a spell that generates light or fire, or they are practicing martial techniques, he always runs to them and starts to meddle and interfere with their training. Since everybody knows how special he is to Zatiel, they can't do anything else, but go with the flow and entertain the small dog.
Rax has tried to communicate with the Tao, to see if he could change this behavior since this one was already able to understand words, but unfortunately for the kobold, whenever they talk the dog always keeps looking at him with a confused expression, leaving the 4 meters tall draconic warrior impotent against the thirty-centimeter dog.
Zatiel saw Rax expression, but chose not to comment, since he also didn't have a way of handling the dog, at least not without harming him.
”How his abilities to absorb matter and create drones have developed?.”
”Tao can communicate when he wants to activate his swallowing ability, and it seems to have control over what he wishes to affect. By your instructions, we have only given him corpses from rank 1 creatures and he has been able to create a total of 9 drones. As you can see they remain in their eggs and although they are not moving, they are alive in some sort of hibernation state,” Rax has been very diligent with this task takin into consideration the smallest detail.
Zatiel nodded, and since he has already checked every egg, he put his hand on one and activates the necromancy spell that will generate a pseudo consciousness in the drone.
”Animate dead!”
”Give me the specifics about his swallowing and the time it takes to create a drone” Zatiel split his mind, so he could work on the drones and hear Rax at the same time.
”The amount it can swallow seems to be limited not by the mass of the object, but by the amount of energy inside them, the first time it was the body of an Early Rank 1 Magic Creatue and one peak Rank 0, but the last one was created using two Early Rank 1. During the process of drone creation, it seems like he is unable to activate is ability again and those strange inscriptions appear in his stomach. The time it takes to create a drone, dimish with everyone he creates, even though the energy used is higher, and his defensive abilities seem to be increasing as well but his strength remains the same”
Zatiel was satisfied with the report and had an idea of how the power of Tao worked and the path of development for him.
”The first egg contains a drone with the power of a Novice Rank 1 Magus and the last that was created, one of the Advanced level, but unfortunately, that is just the amount of energy in their bodies, and their actual fighting power in less as they are not able to act without command and the pseudo-consciousness I can develop for the moment are extremely basic. Since they have no soul, they can't improve their power by themself but since they are meant to be meat shields from the beginning, it will suffice with their capability,” Zatiel disregard for these creatures may seem cold but he was old enough, to be able and see beyond their appearance and treat them by what they really are, weapons not different that the automaton he once fought.
Rax agree with Zatiel, as he was more than willing to sacrifice every single one of these drones if it means protecting the lives of Neo-Demons, but he was also doubtful about their strength.
”Ancestor, if I may ask, why the Werewolf was able to achieve the current level of power but these drones are so weak,” Rax looked at the only drone that was outside their egg, and that seems like a statue at the entrance of the cave.