Here's the revised text:
As weeks passed since introducing the Queens' drink, the puppet master's patience had paid off. He observed the eggs hatch, transform into larvae, pupae, and finally adults, meticulously noting each stage.
The false queens' numbers had grown substantially, with 93 now mature and under his control. Additionally, 84 door heads stood ready, awaiting his commands.
This growing army marked a significant milestone in his plans, demonstrating the effectiveness of his strategy. The puppet master's control over the ants and other insects continued to expand.
His experiments had yielded diverse results.
The puppet master sat comfortably in his intricately crafted leaf-and-stick structure, designed by specialized worker ants. The teacup-like design cradled his body, while beneath it, a saucer made of wooden pieces and leaves provided additional support.
Silk-like ropes secured the structure, extending forward to connect with two majestic Hercules beetles. These powerful insects, renowned for their strength and resilience, served as his loyal steeds, pulling the makeshift carriage with ease.
As he gazed out, he observed a diverse group of insects, each with long, slender spider-like legs. This peculiar trait was just one example of the adaptations he had cultivated.
The puppet master's introspection revealed a mix of satisfaction and calculation. "Although it isn't completely as I imagined it, it still got the job done, didn't it?" He observed the insects with fatty bodies and shorter limbs, nodding in approval.
"This is good enough," he thought, reinforcing his confidence in his experiments. "Now I'm certain it isn't just the queen that's special." With a flick of his mind, he directed the Hercules beetles to move towards another area.
As he rode across the terrain, he approached a miniature replica of the surrounding landscape. This sandbox map featured scaled-down mountains, trees, routes, and other geographical details.
The puppet master entered a recently constructed room, where a large white object caught his attention. Wrapped in webs and suspended above the ground, the object revealed itself to be the corpse of the massive gecko upon closer inspection.
A dozen spiders from various species, captured during the colony's recent raids, busied themselves around the room. Some spiders worked tirelessly to reinforce the webbing, covering areas that showed signs of loosening, while others sat quietly in the corners.
The spiders' task was clear: preserve the gecko's corpse by preventing rapid decay.
When the army returned with the gecko's corpse, the puppet master was initially unsure what to do with it. However, when the tail detached, he decided to discard it in the lake.
Unexpectedly, the lake's reaction was violent, with the water boiling upon contact. This unusual response led to the lake releasing four tiny bubbles, each carrying a high concentration of its transformative power.
One bubble came into contact with a passing soldier ant, causing rapid mutation and transformation. The ant's body enlarged, its head grew significantly, and a large stinger emerged from its rear. Additionally, each pair of legs split into another set, becoming elongated.
The transformed ant's newfound aggression was immediate and intense. It attacked everything in sight, including a younger false queen, which it managed to injure mildly before being overpowered and pinned down.
However, the ant's transformed state was short-lived. Its body rapidly deteriorated, melting down in under 20 seconds. This brief, violent episode likely provided the puppet master with valuable insights into the lake's transformative power and its limitations.
The puppet master's absorption of the ant's memories revealed a horrific truth: the ant's transformation was accompanied by unbearable pain, driving it to madness and ultimately, destruction.
This discovery, combined with his existing knowledge from the Queen's memories, raised important questions. The Queen's memories had shown that soldiers' heads would detach after drinking the lake water, typically within a minute.
The puppet master's gaze fell upon the web-wrapped gecko corpse, sparking contemplation. "They only used small frogs, not large animals," he recalled. This difference in scale might hold the key to understanding the lake's unpredictable reactions.
The puppet master's thoughts wandered, pondering the implications of this discovery and potential applications or risks associated with the lake's power.
The lake's power surge after absorbing the gecko's tail had been significant, and the puppet master's caution was warranted. The four-to-five-day process of dissolving the gecko's tail had likely provided valuable insight into the lake's capabilities.
With his curiosity about the lake's properties momentarily sated, the puppet master directed the beetles to take him to the containment cell rooms. The guards he had assigned – a door head, three false queens, and a soldier ant – seemed sufficient to maintain security.
The containment room's design, with reinforced walls made from a special hardened fluid and granite fragments, appeared escape-proof. The tiny opening allowed a single soldier ant to monitor the cells, providing an additional layer of surveillance.
The puppet master approached the soldier ant scout, which was tasked with monitoring the prisoners in the cells. This specialized ant's role was crucial in tracking the status of the captured insects.
By absorbing the scout's memories, the puppet master gained insight into the current state of the prisoners. Given the limited lifespans of some insects, he would need to dispatch his army on regular raids to replenish the stock.
With this information, the puppet master proceeded to the geographic sandbox map,
The puppet master began planning his next move, recognizing the need for specialized tools and equipment to achieve his goals. He decided to rely on himself for this complex structure, rather than his ant army.
He marked a specific area in the eastern territory, notable for a small water body situated at a strategic distance from their nest. Conveniently, a tunnel leading to this area had been completed just two days prior.
With his plan in place, the puppet master gathered his army and set off towards the marked area, this time accompanying them.
(author's note: please stay with me)