An Ton's Journey

The first thing I did was buying ability for Nexus. Now it can fly, but pretty slow. As it seems, with present situation, it is good idea to be able to escape the island.

The next thing I've done - ordered probes to build Pylons in bulks as their energy fields hardens the surface and makes it harder or even impossible to dig out close to them. Obviously, I ordered to place more cannons around those patches, so centipedes would not be able to destroy them easily.

Aldo I decided to leave at least five drones on each upgraded collection point. One to rebuild if needed and four to collect resources at night, as I need them asap and I decided to risk a little bit.

While drones rushed to complete my orders, I decided to secure my Pylon field that allowed me to spam probes like crazy. I placed three rows of cannons around the field, as tight as possible. And also left around two hundred probes there for rebuilding purposes.

Researching next unit after Zealots costs too much for my present situation, as I spent most of my minerals on fortification of all my collection points and main pylon array.

As it was beginning to get darker, all unnecessary probes were sent to the Nexus for safety and to see what those centipedes would do.

While waiting I ordered Zealots to be warped and moved close to the Nexus.

The darker it was the worse I was feeling, something worries me, but I can't understand what. Like I missed something, didn't think about.

Let's hope that this feeling is wrong.

As zealots were warped, I saw how a lot of centipedes began appearing in the forest. They seem to know where My gathering spots are, as they swarm towards them one after another.

While looking at them I noticed that there were less and less centipedes outside. What the heck is going on?

Forest became absurdly quiet. No animals or birds were seen by me. And most concerning - no centipedes. Scary. Brrgh. Being unable to tell when and where they will appear is not very good feeling.

After sun began rising I decided to send three thousand drones, out of four that I ordered to stay in Nexus, to gather trees, as I need more minerals to upgrade thrusters, shield, and cannon of my Nexus.

As a precaution, I sent all three hundred Zealots to patrol and guard gathering points. As there were around hundred and fifty of them, two zealots seems not a lot. I need more, but for now it is better then nothing.

After getting Cannon and Pylon, they had no upgrades, just levels. and each one costs hundred thousand minerals.

So the first priority became upgrading shields of Nexus. And after an hour or so of gathering, the moment before I upgraded them, I heard a lot of explosion sounds.

As I rushed out to check, the scene in front of me scared me as I understood what this bad premonition was and what I missed out.

I saw how my drones and collection points were being destroyed by incalculable ammount of centipedes. The only place that fought back was my Pylon field that had so much cannons and pylons that they could not dig under them and could hardly reach it.

Most horrifying sight was how they slowly chewed on to still living zealots. How they bot out their hands and began feasting on them like maniacs.

As I saw how almost all of my hard work was destroyed in couple of minutes, I wanted to cry, but now the worst thing is not that I could not gather anything on this island anymore, but that Centipedes seem to have a leader that can coordinate them.

Panic began to rise up inside me and I rushed inside to lift off the island without reading instructions and precautions that were in there. As ordered, nexus began to detach from land slowly.

And it seems that vibrations of this action angered centipedes as they rushed to the Nexus, sone on the ground, and some dug out from the ground. Seems like they don't like their food getting out or vibrations that Nexus makes.

As this all was happening, I wanted to begin upgrading Nexus shield as I was interrupted before it was done, but it seems that it is impossible while Nexus detaches.

As Centipedes began entering Nexus firing range and saw as it is not shooting them down I again began restlessly walking back and forth.

The closer they were coming, the harder it affected me. I was antagonizing that I was stupid, Fcking dumb idiot that should read mtfcking instructions before doing something. Especially in such a precarious moment.

As I could only wait and see while nexus was detaching from surface, those were the worst moments of this life.

The moment centipedes began attacking the shield, on the control panel I could see how shield was taking damage at increasing rates.

After half and hour of nervous situation Nexus finally detached. Shield at that point was seventy five percent damaged. But as I could fly away, I was happy.

Ordering Nexus to move up and upgrading shields at the same time was good choice.

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 1 -> lvl 2

As upgrading was not instant, shield still took damage while lifting off and going up. Shield at 20%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 2 -> lvl 3

At this point Nexus could not lift up more so I began moving it to the closest shore. Shield at 15%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 3 -> lvl 4

attacks became less as now they had to move and attack. Shield at 12%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 4-> lvl 5

shield seems stable now. It regenerates as fast as it takes damage. Shield at 10%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 5 -> lvl 6

I began to get closer and closer to the shore. Shield at 20%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 6 -> lvl 7

Shield regenerated up to 30%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 7 -> lvl 8

I began hearing vibrations in the air and when I looked outside land seems to shake like an earthquake.shield at 45%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 8 -> lvl 9

Nexus reached shore, almost at the sea. Shield at 60%

[Main Shield Generator ]: lvl 9 -> lvl 10

Huge head appeared from the land and began approaching me. As it was getting closer and closer, it appeared to me. The enormous body of the worm, or centipede, hard to tell.

It's mouth was getting closer as it began to open. And oh boi. I would not wish to see this sight ever again. Tens of rows of huge, bent, ugly teeth in circular manner all across it mouth appeared in front of me. And the scariest to me was that those teeth resembled humans teeth a lot. Rows upon rows of human teeth. Blugrh...

And as it began to close it mouth in attempt to get me, shield done its job and slowed it down just for couple of moments, but at the same time it got destroyed.

If I would have had a heart I would've received heart attack just now. Edge of its mouth was so close to me, that I could touch it with my manipulators. And feel its breath. It's breath even pushed me back a little bit.

The bad news are - I saw how it was destroying my Pylon array. and felt bad for leaving probes here.

The good news is that it didn't attack again as I was above water and flying further and further away. And I saw how it was being damaged by cannons as its blood was shining under the sun, sparkling like beautiful red rubies.

_______________________________________________``` Author's note```

`` 70+- words``

Hello, thank you for reading.

Sorry for not releasing past few days, depression got me and I again broke my sleeping schedule.

Most of this chapter I wrote while laying in the bathroom LUL

I will not post announcment chapters ( only maybe auxillary one ).. If I don't release I will try to say it in comments to last chapter.