A figure emerged from the darkness of the passageway. Its body gleamed faintly in the dim light, covered in a thick black exoskeleton that shimmered like polished obsidian. Its size was monstrous, nearly as large as a warhorse. Long serrated mandibles extended from its face, twitching as it moved. Six legs, each ending in a curved claw, scraped against the walls, leaving shallow marks behind.
A Devouring Ant.
It moved with eerie precision, its every step calculated and soundless despite its size. The faint greenish glow in its many eyes reflected against the damp tunnel walls. Its antennae twitched rapidly, brushing the air in front of it as if tasting the scent of a living being.
Max's muscles tensed. He could feel the faint pressure of its presence pressing against his senses. The creature radiated an aura of hunger—a primal, ancient instinct to consume everything in its path. His body entered combat readiness on instinct.
