Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 61: Into the Unknown

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Each step echoed with the renewed vigor they had gained from a night of rest. They were not fully healed, scratches and aches still lingered. But at least their minds were calmer, and their hearts were set on the star crystal mine that Princess Mia had spoken of. The crisp air carried the faint smell of dew, reminding them that each sunrise in this vast wilderness could bring new challenges.

Captain Darius led the formation, holding the map that Princess Mia had entrusted to him. His eyes were sharp and cold, scanning every bush, every branch, as they moved through a thick grove of trees. The forest canopy intertwined, letting through only slivers of golden daylight, turning the path into a soft gloom.

The sense of the unknown pressed upon them like a heavy blanket. Each ant Thren, Lomar, Vexor, Renna, and Kai kept their guard raised in tension. They had survived many perils so far, including countless hidden traps and savage beasts, but the hardest trials still seemed to lie ahead.

Kai walked near the back, his mind partly daydreaming about the star crystals’ secret power. He recalled how Princess Mia had told them never to question the crystals’ true use until they reached the mine. This mystery tugged at his curiosity. Why is it all so secret? he wondered.

Maybe it helps with something mysterious in ways we never knew. Or maybe it hides an even greater magic. The thoughts made his heart pound with excitement. He remembered how, late last night, he had awakened with a surge of longing for more power, for more ways to prove himself. Being with Luna had unlocked a new desire in him, a desire to climb higher, to break past the boundaries of mere two-star rank.

Renna, another two-star ant, trudged just ahead of Kai. They carried a small bundle of herbs from the village, still hopeful they might help if someone was hurt again. Vexor and Thren looked steady and determined, both of them three-star, wearing calm expressions as they surveyed the forest around them. Lomar, with his battle-worn exoskeleton and thoughtful eyes, kept a measured pace.

Sometimes, he would murmur to Kai, pointing out a potential trap or a suspicious patch of ground. Meanwhile, Captain Darius pressed forward, rarely speaking, only turning back to glance at Kai with a sour expression. His silent hostility hung in the air, but none of the other ants dared challenge his leadership so soon after leaving the village.

"This lowly worker Ant is still untouched. I need to deal with him fast. Let’s look for a good opportunity to finish him off." Darius murmured to himself.

The day felt both full of promise and full of risk. Every time the breeze rustled leaves overhead, the ants tensed, anticipating an ambush. Every time the path narrowed, they paused, checking for hidden pits. Some distance deeper into the forest, they started noticing unusual droppings, small lumps that smelled awful, scattered all around. Thren wrinkled his nose. "That’s... weird," he said. "What kind of beast leaves such a foul sign?"

(A few minutes later, they will find out who or what did this.)

The group reached a hollow in the forest where twisted vines draped from massive trees. The ground was damp and spongy, covered in a strange slime. The stink was unbearable. Vexor clamped a hand over his nose, eyes twitching as if to ward off the odor. Renna’s eyes watered. Kai could barely breathe normally, feeling that every step sank him deeper into a thick, mucky soil. Captain Darius, forging ahead, raised a clawed arm to signal everyone to stop. A hush fell, and they all peered forward, their hearts were pounding.

[Ding! Warning! Warning! Beast approaching. Host Stay alert.] Kai predator instinct kicks in with a system warning. He didn’t get any chance to ask for the information about the beasts.

Suddenly, from behind a thick cluster of rotting logs, five large shapes lumbered into view. Each creature stood at least as tall as two normal ants stacked. Their bodies had thick, armor-like plates and short, stubby legs. The beasts’ heads were crowned with a single curved horn, and a foul, viscous liquid dripped from their mouths. Their eyes gleamed with a menacing, almost delirious light.

Lomar gasped. "Those are... diarrhea beasts," he whispered, a note of alarm creeping into his voice. "Three-star rank. Very dangerous. They shoot some kind of toxic or diseased fluid from their... butthole."

The entire team braced themselves for battle. Darius hissed coldly. "Five of them. Each is three-star. Spread out. Take them down. Don’t let them splatter us. Try not to get hit by their diarrhea shot. It will melt your flesh."

Thren and Vexor nodded, stepping to the left to confront one beast. Lomar advanced warily in a second. Meanwhile, Kai froze for a moment as two more beasts stomped toward him and Renna. Their thick, scaly hide glistened with slime, and an overwhelming stench clung to them. The final beast, a truly massive specimen, locked eyes with Darius and charged in an explosive rush of movement, flinging filth in its wake. This time he can’t slack off and watch others fight. This beast locked on him. He had no choice but to fight.

Renna, though armed with only his short mandibles and a newly acquired spear from the village, swallowed his fear. He charged at one of the beasts, thrusting his spear into its flank. The beast howled, swinging a tail that released a disgusting torrent of brownish sludge that sloshed across the ground. Renna yelped and tried to dodge, but he was partially hit, the substance burning his exoskeleton with a vile stench. His legs collapsed under him, and he let out a sharp cry. The beast roared, turning to smash him with a swinging horn.

Kai leaped into action, his heart racing as he realized Renna was about to be crushed. Darting forward, he drove one clawed hand into the beast’s hide, making it stumble. He already activated his tiny tank skill. With a fierce push, he tackled it away from Renna.