While the mages split up to search for traces of other hives, Louis did not sit idle either.
He had experienced his first real encounter with the Brood Hive and its swarm.
Louis realized that the most terrifying thing about these monsters was not merely their fearless charges or formidable fighting strength, but one particular ability-
"Parasitic regeneration" after self-destruction.
When an Insect Warrior blew itself up, what it sprayed was not ordinary bodily fluid, but a mass of microscopic larvae on the verge of hatching.
They could burrow into a target's body in an extremely short time, multiply, seize control, and erode the victim's will...
It was a terrifying ability that could overwhelm someone almost instantly.
During the last battle, he had barely managed to devise a countermeasure: fully armor every knight taking part, packing sealing pads inside and around their armor to block every gap.
Though effective in the short term, this method severely restricted the warriors' mobility and endurance, multiplying their physical exertion.
It was no long-term solution. They needed better armor to replace it.
Louis organized his ideas into several clear requirements:
High protection and a tight seal, capable of withstanding explosive impacts and preventing insects from burrowing inside.
Good ventilation and sweat management, allowing prolonged wear without causing heatstroke or infections from trapped heat and moisture.
Comfort, ensuring soldiers could remain active for long periods without pressure or discomfort reducing their fighting strength.
A modular design, allowing damaged sections to be replaced quickly and reducing the burden of repairs or scrapping entire suits.
With the concept settled, what mattered more was finding someone to make it a reality. So he went to the War Workshop to have Mike design and manufacture it.
The War Workshop was as bustling as ever that day, its furnaces roaring