Something *massive* crashed through the canopy—chitinous, winged, reeking of spoiled meat. The **STATUS SCREEN** scrambled:
**WARNING: \[Chimera Ant Squadron Leader Detected\]**
**Threat Level: \[A-Class\]**
**Recommended Evasion: \[Immediate\]**
The ant's mandibles snapped where Dean's spine had been. He fired three rounds into its compound eyes. It screeched, acidic blood spraying.
Loki cursed. "We're attracting an *army*."
The ground trembled. Dozens of thermal signatures pulsed in the undergrowth. The **STATUS SCREEN** updated:
**New Objective: \[Escape NGL Territory - 00:30:00\]**
**Reward: \[3000 SP\]**
Dean grabbed Loki's arm. "We need a ride."
His Absolute Calculation highlighted one option: Milluki's abandoned drone.
Dean shot the fuel line. The explosion sent them hurtling through the canopy on a stolen drone, wings sheared off by Chimera Ant claws. The **STATUS SCREEN** pulsed crimson as they crashed through a riverbank: