"Why does this Zephros talk so much?" Renato glanced at the Mind Flayer beside him and lowered his voice. "Is he an exile like you, cut off from the Elder Brain?"
"No." Klauthsura's tone was calm and patient. They even bent down slightly so Renato could look them in the eye. "Zephros is the colony's most powerful Psion. His precision in controlling psionics far surpasses even the Elder Brain's."
"So their relationship is closer to a partnership, with each responsible for a different domain. Zephros naturally has the right to retain independent thought, which is why he can be so articulate."
Renato frowned. Mind Flayer society was far more complicated than he had imagined. It was not simply a hive with the Elder Brain managing everything. There were ranks, divisions of labor, and even a degree of 'individual will.'
The clamor of battle rose from the street entrance. Many Duergar had finally noticed the fighting at the altar, and the fleeing survivors had regrouped into battle formations, launching a counterattack with throwing axes and steel crossbows.
The Dwarves held the advantage of terrain. Throwing axes hurled from above rapidly wore down the psionic shields, while crossbow bolts pierced chitinous armor, killing and wounding many enemies.
The Duergar were, after all, a race that had survived in the Underdark for countless years. They quickly recovered from the ambush and realized that the enemy's numbers were small enough to fight.
But they still could not kill the Mind Flayers as quickly as reinforcements arrived.
Scattered portals continued to open. Nearly twenty Mind Flayers had already gathered in the shattered square.
After clearing the open ground of all other living creatures, they began inscribing formation lines into the ground with psionics. Pale blue light flowed across the surface, tracing complex geometric patterns.
"Klauthsura,