Chapter 70: [Bonus Chapter] Anthill
"Oh no!" Noah realized he was in a dire situation, but he refused to lose hope entirely. This could be his chance to complete his mission, even if it meant enduring some hardship. There was a lesson to be learned from this experience.
And then, it happened.
Quack!
A Soldier Wolf Ant sunk its teeth into Noah's waist.
The pain was excruciating, causing Noah's body to tense up. But his mind remained focused.
The Queen Ant began to burrow through the sand, followed by her army of soldiers.
Even the Soldier Wolf Ant that had bitten Noah joined in, dragging him along as they disappeared into the depths of the earth.
"Ugh!"
Noah's body contorted under the weight of the sand pressing down on him.
He had no idea how far underground they had gone.
Suddenly, the pressure eased, revealing a vast cavern.
They had entered the stronghold of the Wolf Ants—their anthill.
The walls of the anthill were composed of hardened sand, strengthened by the saliva of the Wolf Ants, rendering them impenetrable.
The anthill was a labyrinth of complexity.
Even a person with a superb sense of direction would get lost once inside.
Led by the Queen and her soldier ants, Noah was guided deeper into the heart of the anthill.
They arrived at a chamber bustling with countless larvae and eggs—the Queen's nursery.
Scattered throughout the nursery were the bones of prey that had been devoured.
Kakaka!
In the center of the nursery stood the Queen Wolf Ant, emitting eerie sounds. From various crevices in the walls, tiny Wolf Ant larvae emerged.
These miniature Wolf Ants were much smaller than their adult counterparts, and their transparent shells added to their otherworldly appearance.
Hundreds of larvae swarmed the walls and floor, advancing menacingly towards Noah.
The Soldier Wolf Ant that had sunk its teeth into Noah finally released its grip.
Thud!
Noah collapsed helplessly onto the ground.
The paralyzing venom spread rapidly, rendering him completely immobile.
The Soldier Wolf Ant departed shortly after.
It was at that moment the larvae eagerly moved their antennae as they looked upon the helpless prey before them. It seemed as though they were celebrating their impending feast.
However, their plans were about to be disrupted. Just as they were about to sink their teeth into Noah's defenseless body, a small purple pill materialized in mid-air. Noah's mouth opened instinctively, allowing him to swallow the pill. Instantly, the poison dissipated, freeing Noah from its grasp.
Rising to his feet, Noah felt a surge of renewed strength after consuming the Detoxification pill he had purchased from the system's store for 3000 Gold. In his hand, a short sword appeared, another item acquired from the system for 1000 Gold. Everything had fallen into place at the perfect moment, meticulously calculated.
Though he still felt pain coursing through his body, Noah gripped the short sword tightly and unleashed a torrent of attacks upon the approaching monsters. It was a merciless massacre.
{+150% Experience}
[Level up!]
Finally, after a long and arduous journey, Noah reached level 27. However, there was no time for celebration as the Queen Wolf Ant's piercing screech filled the air.
Krieekkkk!
[Ding! Mission accomplished
Wolf Ants 100/100
Reward: A rare grade longsword.]
Noah wasn't taken aback by this development. He knew that the larvaes could be considered as monsters, so eliminating them all actually worked in his favor. As if by magic, a white longsword materialized in his hand. Despite the pain from his injured hand, which he had bandaged after leveling up, Noah firmly grasped the sword.
Now armed with two swords, he braced himself as the Wolf Ants and their Queen closed in. His body tensed, feeling the immense pressure, but there was no trace of fear in his eyes. He was determined to survive.
[Ding! Additional mission: Survive and kill as many monsters as you can.
Reward: 10,000 Gold.
Additional rewards may be added based on your performance.]
Another mission. Noah's tense body relaxed slightly, knowing that he would give it his all to accomplish this task.
Shortly, the enemy arrived, numbering more than twenty.
''Night of Death!"
The atmosphere within the cavern became dense and suffocating, as if a heavy cloak of darkness had settled upon it. Noah, undeterred, unleashed his deadly technique known as the Night of Death. The once playful light of the within the cave disappeared, replaced by an abyssal blackness that engulfed everything.
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In this void, only the faint glow of his twin swords remained, resembling ethereal streaks of moonlight.
Blindness did not hinder Noah, for he was the master of this darkness. The frantic sounds of mandibles against sand served as his symphony, accompanied by the chilling screeches of the Soldier Wolf Ants. Amidst the oppressive silence, the rhythmic beats of his breath resonated, like a metronome keeping time against the rising tide of clicks and snapping jaws.
Noah moved with grace and precision, his swords becoming a whirlwind of steel. Whisper, the white longsword, emitted a deadly melody as its tip found the vulnerable chitinous spots of the Soldier Ants with unwavering accuracy. Its dark counterpart, Bite, served as a brutal counterpoint, clashing against charging mandibles with a resounding clang before launching a devastating counterattack.
The Soldier Ants, esteemed warriors of their colony, proved to be no match for Noah's relentless onslaught. Blinded by the sudden darkness and disoriented without their senses, they succumbed to his fury. One by one, their chitinous shells crumbled, staining the ground with their acidic blood in the obscured darkness.
Yet, their numbers were overwhelming. Even within this self-created night, Noah could sense the tide turning against him. The air became heavy with the scent of death, and the ground grew slick with the remnants of battle. Exhaustion clawed at him, causing his movements to lose their initial fluidity.
Suddenly, a deep tremor shook the cavern, intensifying the frantic chittering chorus. A new presence resonated within the darkness, emanating an aura of raw power. The Queen had arrived.
Noah understood that time was running out. He had to reach her, to deliver a decisive blow before the overwhelming force of the ants consumed him. With a final surge of adrenaline, he plunged deeper into the darkness, guided solely by the clash of steel and the panicked chittering of the ants.
He danced a desperate ballet amidst the heart of enemy territory, a man determined to make his mark before the inevitable engulfed him.
''Blood Flowers!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A continuous explosion of body as Noah unleashed the Blood Flowers after inflicting injuries on the Wolf Ants, bloody explosion with separated bodie's parts filled the cave.
{+150% Experience}
Added to his previous remaining 50% Experience, Noah level twice.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
Most of his injuries were healed and he recovered to some extent but he knew things would become more troublesome from now on as the Queen was already here.
Noah immediately put the 6 points earned from leveling up thrice into his strength, this is necessary for his last gamble.
Kkeeeik!
Enraged by the deaths of the larvae and soldier ants, the Queen Wolf Ant let out a high-frequency sound.
The high frequency sound waves hit the wall and were amplified.
"Ugh!"
Screaming, Noah collapsed even when with his Mana's Armor on, blood streaming from his ears.
His eardrums ruptured, and his brain was concussed from the high-frequency.
The Queen Wolf Ant possessed a skill akin to that of a boss.
Attacking utilizing high-frequency sound waves was the Queen's skill.
With bloodshot eyes, Noah gazed at the approaching Queen Wolf Ant, her forms overlapping.
The Queen moved her antennae as if boasting her victory.
Finally, in a desperate burst of speed, Noah lunged forward, unable to evade the Queen's powerful front leg as it pierced through his chest. He purposely aimed for a spot where the damage would be minimal.
"Gah!"
The Queen was taken aback by Noah's audacity, and for the first time, fear crept into her eyes. But it was too late. Noah had already closed the distance, his body impaled on the Queen's limb. With his last ounce of strength, he wielded his longsword and struck beneath the Queen's chin.
His sword shimmered with an ethereal aura.
Klangs!
Pui!
He managed to inflict a small injury upon her.
"Blood Flower!"
Boom!
Noah unleashed his remaining mana, causing a powerful explosion that obliterated the Queen's head.