As Aka-32 fought alongside her dark ants, holding off the flying poisonous creatures, I heard a strange, dry crackling sound behind me. It was as if someone was slowly scraping their shell against the stone.
I turned around, and my heart skipped a beat. Another ant emerged from a side tunnel, illuminated by the green glow of bioluminescent moss.
He was noticeably larger than the others, almost as tall as a human, if you counted from the tips of his raised front limbs. His eyes were not green, but a dull white, as if there was no life in them.
Its back was covered in membranous wings, but they weren't transparent like those of regular insects. Instead, they were covered in black patterns that resembled cracks in bone.
Most importantly, it didn't have any acid glands.
Instead, it had a long, bony stinger protruding from the end of its abdomen, which was perfectly smooth, as if it had been honed specifically for killing.
The interface flashed green:
[Enemy detected: Winged Ant Swordsman ]
—This ant interesting and dangerous.
The monster turned its head in my direction, as if it could sense my fear. Its movements were smooth, but every muscle beneath its shell worked with terrifying precision. It didn't move like an insect, but rather like a trained fighter.
I instantly realized that this battle was mine.
Nearby, Aka-32 was busy fighting, Fritte was holding the passage from the other side, and the call ants were struggling to deal with the swarms.
—Perfect... [ Description ]
•This evolved species of winged poison ants features elongated front limbs that resemble curved blades.
•Its chitin shines like polished steel, and when it flies, the winged ant emits a piercing screech that resembles the ringing of weapons. He is considered an elite warrior of the swarm, acting as a duelist and bodyguard for the Queen.
•The Ant-Swordsman is known for its speed of attack and deadly accuracy: its strikes with its front blade-like limbs can cut through metal and easily penetrate armor.
[ Level: 18 ]
[Achievements: Close to the Queen.]
[HP]: 550
[ST]: 400
[MP]: 0/0
[STR]: 370
[ AGI]: 101
[Resistance]
Poison Resistance: 60%
Acid Resistance: 44%
Physical Attack Resistance: 88%
Skills:
[Blade Swing – Lvl. 5 ] – swings its sword-like limbs, dealing damage in an arc in front of it.
[Winged Assault – Lvl.3] – dives from the air, piercing the enemy and dealing critical damage.
[Steel Dance – Lvl. 4] – a series of quick strikes (3-5 times), each attack deals reduced damage but has a high chance of critical hit.
[Defense Stance – Lvl 5] – folds wings and crosses limbs, blocking some of the damage.
[Battle Instinct (passive) ] – when health drops below 30%, attack speed and power increase by 20%.
When the monster's stats lit up above its head, I almost choked on my own breath. The stats were in triple digits, and my stats were almost in triple digits, but not to this extent!
—Is this a joke?
Each of its steps echoed, causing the stone walls of the tunnel to vibrate. Fritte, standing slightly behind me, spoke softly.
—Its stats are even higher than your [Bloody Blooming Guardian] that you told me about...
— Yes, I can see it already.
The ant tilted its head slightly, as if assessing me. Its bone stinger shimmered with a deathly light, and its body remained completely still, as if every movement was carefully calculated.
I gripped the handles of her daggers, Scarlet Budding and Mist Leaf, and lunged forward. The blades flashed, delivering a series of precise strikes.
However, the ant parried each one with perfect precision, as if it had known my intentions beforehand. The metal clanged as it slid across the bone shell, leaving no trace.
[Damage: 0]
[Physical Attack Resistance, Very High]
—So, it's planned to go in a group and have a mage with you? It's impossible for ordinary players to pass without magic! I doubt that newcomers even dare to pass here.
The monster spread its wings again and swiftly lunged forward, delivering a sharp horizontal strike with its stinger. The air whistled, and the strike was so powerful that it left a deep gouge in the floor.
I barely managed to dodge, feeling a thin cut on my cheek from the impact.
—So it's different...
[Skill activated: Aura Separation - First Stage]
[Damage type: Magical / Adaptive]
A wave of green light passed through my palms, and the daggers seemed to lose their shape as the aura enveloped the weapons, creating a green shell. The air around them trembled, and the stones beneath my feet began to crack under the pressure of the force.
Physical attacks didn't work, and the daggers, although light by most people's standards, felt like lead plates with the [ Aura Separation] skill. I took a deep breath and thought,
—Since I can't raise the blades into the air, I'll wrap my aura around them.
Aka-32 stepped out from behind me. She stood there, clutching her massive sword and shield, ready to intervene at any moment.
But when I said briefly I want to try fighting him alone.
Aka-32 nodded and stepped back, allowing me to take the lead. At that moment, Ant-Man spread his wings again.First slowly, with a low hum that made the air shiver.
Then, abruptly, as if lightning had struck just in front of us.
He rushed forward with such speed that his silhouette blurred, leaving a bright trail in its wake, and in the next second he was right in front of me.
The blade of his bone stinger glinted in the light of my aura. I barely managed to cross my daggers to block the blow.
The metal rang, sparks flying in all directions. The force of the impact knocked me back a couple of steps, but I stood my ground, gritting my teeth.
—Testing my reaction, are you?
The ant didn't respond, but it soared back up, ready for another attack. The aura on my daggers intensified, becoming dense like living fabric.
In that moment, I felt my aura responding not only to my will, but also to my emotions. Fear, determination, excitement, it all mixed together.
And the blades began to glow even brighter.
Fritte, with a slight smirk, said:
—It seems that we are now witnessing the birth of a new fighting style.