The air on the seventh floor was noticeably more humid and stuffy.
The surrounding rock walls were covered with glowing moss, providing some illumination to the dim environment.
[Seventh Floor Quest Triggered]
[Kill 100 Killer Ants (0/100)]
[Reward: Book of Experience]
[Book of Experience: Can raise one attendant to the same level as you]
"Ho, this reward is truly tempting."
Ying Ping narrowed his eyes, his Eagle Eye skill easily catching the wriggling figures in the darkness.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble.
Three black giant ants, half a person tall, burst out from the shadows, their sharp mandibles gleaming with a cold light.
"Master, be careful!"
Kokkoro immediately raised her staff-spear.
"Don't interfere, let me handle this."
Ying Ping, however, simply stood calmly in place, slowly drawing Hestia's Sword from its scabbard.
When the first giant ant pounced in front of him, he flicked his wrist—
"Swish!"
A brilliant flash of sword light passed, and the giant ant's hard exoskeleton was easily sliced open like paper, its body breaking into two halves.
[Killed Killer Ant (1/100)]
[Reward: 30 Experience Points]
"These Killer Ants, whose exoskeletons are said to be as hard as armor, are nothing special after all."
Ying Ping held the sword, still savoring the feeling of slicing through it like paper just now.
The other two Killer Ants attacked simultaneously from both sides.
Ying Ping remained unhurried, his body shifting slightly, and the longsword drew a perfect arc—
"Puff! Puff!"
Two ant heads flew high, and green body fluid splattered out.
Kokkoro watched, dumbfounded: "S-such fast slashes, I couldn't even see them..."
[Killed Killer Ants (3/100)]
Ying Ping flicked the liquid off his sword, a smile playing on his lips: "One or two of these monsters pose no threat to me at all, unless hundreds of them attack at once, then it might be different."
The moment Ying Ping's words fell, the surrounding rock walls suddenly vibrated violently.
"Crack crack crack—"
The dense sound of rubbing carapaces came from all directions.
In the darkness, countless crimson compound eyes lit up, chillingly like the lamps of hell.
"You really are attacking with hundreds of you at once."
Ying Ping paused slightly, then chuckled, utterly fearless.
The weight of Hestia's Sword was reassuring.
"Master!"
Kokkoro exclaimed, her staff-spear immediately glowing with a verdant light, "Courageous Anthem! Aurora Blossom!"
Receiving the buff, Ying Ping felt the surging power within him, a hint of battle intent curving his lips: "Excellent support!"
He fiercely activated the lightning enchantment, and the dark Hestia's Sword instantly became wreathed in violent purplish-blue electric arcs, emitting a piercing crackling sound.
"Chidori Blade!"
Ying Ping roared, his figure like lightning, instantly charging into the ant swarm!
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The sword light was like thunder; wherever it passed, the Killer Ants' hard exoskeletons were torn like thin paper, and green body fluid splattered everywhere.
[Killed Killer Ants (15/100)]
However, Ying Ping soon realized something was wrong—
The killer ants that weren't instantly killed twitched violently before dying, their abdomens emitting a piercing 'squeak'!
"I remember this is... a signal to summon companions?"
Sure enough, the next second, the entire seventh floor began to tremble!
"Rumble—"
Countless killer ants swarmed out from cracks in the rocks and burrows, sweeping towards Ying Ping and Coco like a black tide!
"Oh no! It's the ant swarm from the monster offering!"
Coco's face turned pale, "Master, shouldn't we retreat..."
"There's no need for that."
Ying Ping laughed loudly, "Coco, stand behind me!"
"Chidori Blade. Thunderclap Bloom!"
He plunged his longsword into the slime on the ground, increasing his magic output!
"Zzzzt—"
The power of lightning continuously spread and released, causing the first dozen killer ants that rushed forward to convulse!
"Coco, now's your chance, cast Holy Light Barrier!"
"Yes!"
A verdant light screen unfolded around Ying Ping, and the killer ants' sharp teeth gnawed at it, producing a grating, teeth-aching sound.
Ying Ping took a deep breath, a cold glint flashing in his eyes—
"Blade Storm!"
"Boom—!"
Invisible blades instantly whipped up a furious hurricane, and the power of lightning was drawn into it, transforming into a terrifying lightning tornado!
"Ch-ch-ch-ch—!"
Dozens of killer ants were swept into the storm, instantly torn to shreds!
[Killed Killer Ant (47 / 100)]
Ying Ping didn't stop, taking advantage of the storm's rampage, he instantly activated 'Shadow Step', his figure ghosting through the ant swarm!
"Crippling Strike!"
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
With a casual flick, the heads of three killer ants flew off simultaneously!
"Charged Strike!"
Ying Ping leaped high, gripping his sword with both hands, and unleashed a powerful cleaving strike forward!
"Boom!"
A violent lightning tornado sword qi ripped through the ground, splitting the ant swarm in front of him in two!
[Killed Killer Ant (78 / 100)]
The ant swarm's offensive finally began to weaken, and the ground was piled high with the bodies of killer ants and shattered carapaces.
[Killed Killer Ant (100 / 100)]
[Quest Complete]
[Reward: Book of Experience]
Ying Ping breathed a sigh of relief, shaking off the green bodily fluid from his sword: "Honestly, if it were an ordinary LV5 caught in an ant swarm, it would still be a bit dangerous, but unfortunately, I'm not..."
However, before he could finish speaking—
"Boom!"
The ground suddenly exploded, and a giant killer ant, as large as a carriage, burst out of the earth!
Its entire body was dark red, its abdomen swollen, its head bore sharp horns, and purple venom constantly dripped from its mouthparts.
[Encountered Killer Ant Queen, Level LV4-]
[Traits: Highly Poisonous, Summon Ant Swarm, Super Defense]
"Screech—!"
The Ant Queen let out a sharp shriek, and instantly, more killer ants poured out from the cave behind it!
"Master!"
Coco's face was pale, "This is bad! Its sprayed venom can corrode my Holy Light Barrier!"
Clearly, Coco, whose strength was only LV2, was struggling to cast spells and was no match for this Ant Queen at all!
Ying Ping narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on the longsword: "It's really absurd for an LV4 monster to appear on the seventh floor..."
"But it's no big deal. I'll use you to test the true power of this sword!"
He suddenly activated the true name release of the 'Sword of Hestia'—
"Please, Hestia!!"
"Boom—!"
The pitch-black sword responded, instantly erupting with dazzling ethereal blue light, all the sacred characters on the blade lit up, and a terrifying wave of aura swept across the entire seventh floor!
"Clang— Clang— Clang—"
Amidst the dazzling light, the sound of bells actually echoed in the air!
This sword actually displayed an effect similar to 'Hero's Strike'!
The Ant Queen seemed to sense a fatal danger, retreating frantically while ordering countless killer ants to block its path.
"Shadow Step!"
"Charged Strike!"
"Crippling Strike!"
But Ying Ping only sneered, with three skills activated, his figure instantly vanished from its original spot—
"Whoosh!"
A giant ethereal blue sword light pierced through the entire ant swarm, directly impaling the Ant Queen's head, completing a decapitation with a single blow!
"Pfft!"
Purple poisonous blood gushed out, the Ant Queen let out a tragic wail, and its massive body crashed to the ground, turning into dust!
[Killed Killer Ant Queen]
[Killed Killer Ant X23]
[Obtained: Ant Queen's Poison Sac x1]
[Obtained: Ant Queen's Carapace x1]
The remaining killer ants around immediately fell into chaos, scattering and fleeing.
Even if a few sporadic ones rushed over, Ying Ping quickly cut them down.
He sheathed his longsword and turned to look at Coco: "Are you alright?"
Coco stared at him blankly, and after a moment, she came to her senses: "I'm fine, Ma-Master... You are too strong, Coco truly admires you..."
Ying Ping smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Come on, let's clean up the battlefield. It's time to head to the eighth floor."
He looked up at the deep passage, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I'm going to level up very soon."
Ying Ping wasn't planning to immediately use the newly acquired Book of Experience on Coco.
He thought it would be better to wait until he had leveled up a bit more himself, so that he could maximize the utility of the item...