The ecosystem surrounding the large puddle of clear water was a complex web of relationships. Aquatic life forms thrived in the water, while predators ruled the land.
The food chain was hierarchical, with large toads at the apex. Below them were a pair of male worm-eating snakes, followed by a medium-sized female praying mantis. Other creatures, such as dragonflies, leeches, frogs, hammerhead worms, crickets, grasshoppers, and earthworms, occupied various positions within the chain.
The open area teemed with earthworms emerging from the wet soil, heading in different directions. This sudden appearance attracted a variety of predators, including hammerhead worms, leeches, frogs, and the pair of worm-eating snakes.
As the ecosystem's natural balance played out, a dramatic change occurred beneath a large flower. The earth started vibrating and crumbling, revealing a large opening. From this hole swarmed the puppet master's army, comprising various ant species.
Some ants had slender figures with large pincers and wings, while others boasted larger bodies with extremely big shield-like heads. Smaller soldier ants followed, forming a formidable force.
At the center of this army was the puppet master, seated in his beetle-pulled carriage. Observing the feast unfolding before him, he thought, "Looks like I came at a perfect time." The timing of his arrival seemed fortuitous, potentially offering opportunities for his plans.
The puppet master's army now stood ready, poised to take advantage of the surroundings.
The puppet master swiftly issued orders to his army through The Queen, who sat atop one of the larger door heads. His army sprang into action, capturing earthworms, hammerhead worms, and leeches with ease.
Another group was dispatched to capture crickets near the water body. The surrounding predators, including frogs, toads, and dragonflies, took notice of the ants' arrival. Some grasshoppers also sensed the threat.
The ants' reputation as a formidable force in the eastern areas preceded them. Their presence often signaled devastation, leaving behind barren landscapes. In response, grasshoppers and praying mantises retreated into the high vegetation, while frogs sought refuge in the water.
The puppet master's army continued their mission, seemingly unstoppable.
The dragonflies remained largely unaffected, flying above the ground or perched in the high vegetation. Some toads sought shelter in their burrows, while others ignored the ants and continued with their activities, seemingly unfazed.
The ants, focused on their mission, didn't bother with the toads and carried out their orders efficiently. After capturing a significant number of earthworms, leeches, hammerheads, and crickets, they retreated back into their tunnel.
A large door head ant blocked the entrance, securing the tunnel. The ants then returned to their nest, transporting the captured life forms to the puppet master's hideout.
Four hours later.
The puppet master lay on the dirt bed, surrounded by a diverse assortment of insect body parts and living creatures, including the newly captured worms, leeches, and crickets. He had erased the consciousness of the living insects, rendering them pliable for his purposes.
The room was guarded by his loyal ant puppets, including four false queens, two door head ants, and four mutated honeypots filled with lake water. These ants were directly controlled by the puppet master, rather than through The Queen.
Notably, the puppet master had successfully created three additional lake water honeypots, bringing the total to four. This achievement likely required significant effort and experimentation.
With his setup in place, the puppet master seemed poised to proceed with his plans.
The puppet master began by controlling two earthworms to approach him, utilizing his puppeteer ability. Simultaneously, he grasped sharp insect body parts with his tentacles, including a dinoponera pincer, a giant hornet stinger, and a curved beetle horn.
He reflected on his recent breakthroughs in mental arts, which allowed him to sense the internal structure of organisms by spreading his mental power into their bodies. This newfound ability granted him insight into his own body's layout, including organ locations.
The puppet master noted the distinction between mental power and soul force, recognizing that mental power was less aggressive and had different effects. With the earthworms drawing near, he seemed prepared to proceed with his plans.
The puppet master understood the fundamental differences between soulforce and mental power. Soulforce was limited to affecting spiritual and mental aspects, whereas mental power could directly influence the physical realm.
He had developed various abilities utilizing mental power, including energy blasts, telepathy for communication with his puppets, and a scanner-like somatic sense for analyzing physical bodies. Additionally, he had experimented with telekinesis, though it proved to be unstable and mentally taxing.
The puppet master found the earthworms' slow approach frustrating, so he ordered the ants to drag them towards him instead. This decision showcased his pragmatism and willingness to utilize his resources efficiently.
With the worms now being pulled closer.
The puppet master performed a complex and intricate procedure, using the dinoponera ant's pincer to cut open his own body and the beetle horn to modify the earthworm's rear end. He then connected the earthworm's tissues to his own nervous system and stomach, creating a hybrid system.
The ants assisted in attaching the earthworm's tail to the puppet master's exposed nervous area, and the honeypot's lake water facilitated the merging of the disparate parts. The earthworm's tissues quickly integrated into the puppet master's form, despite the new appendage's unusual appearance.
As the connection was established, the puppet master was struck by the earthworm's remarkable sensitivity. Despite lacking traditional senses, the earthworm could detect light, vibrations, and chemical cues, and its skin provided a sense of touch.
This newfound sensitivity would likely expand the puppet master's perception and abilities.
The puppet master absorbed the earthworm's memories to quickly adapt to the new body part. This allowed him to tap into the earthworm's innate knowledge and sensations.
With the absorbed memories, he gained familiarity with the earthworm's sensitivity and effortlessly controlled the new tentacle. The puppet master's experience in commanding his own body enabled him to overcome the earthworm's natural limitations, allowing the tentacle to move swiftly.
After testing the new limb, he turned his attention to the remaining worms, seemingly intent on repeating the process. The puppet master's thought, "This is going to take some time,"
The puppet master grasped the second earthworm with his new earthworm-derived tentacle, likely preparing to repeat the process of merging and absorbing its memories.