Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 66: Harvesting the Liquid (bonus - for castle)

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Kai blinked in surprise. That was well over two hundred liters of capacity. He only needed to store about a hundred liters or so. So, there was actually more than enough room. Great! He lowered himself, mouth going dry with anticipation. If he wanted to scoop the entire pool of star crystal liquid, it seemed feasible.

Perhaps the system was just being thorough in telling him to collect it stealthily. He whispered to himself, "Time to fill up," and braced to begin.

He knelt on the basin’s edge and extended a small container from his belt, an improvised scoop. Carefully, he transferred the milky fluid from the basin into the intangible opening of his Soul-Bonded Storage. The liquid glugged softly, forming a shimmering mass inside.

Each time he poured more, the system quietly confirmed the volume was accepted, the invisible dimension inside holding it all without overflow. The aura that emanated from the fluid washed over his senses, making him feel slightly light-headed.

Within a few minutes, he had transferred nearly over a hundred liters of star crystal liquid inside his soul bound storage cube. The basin was left barely dripping. That seemed enough, Kai didn’t want to linger and risk detection. Maybe he will come here after some time to get more. Satisfied for now, he let the final rivulets swirl into the intangible opening. Then a hush fell as the system sounded a triumphant beep:

[Ding! System notifications:

Mission Complete. Star Crystal Liquid fully collected: 101 liters stored.

Reward: Soul-Bonded Storage expansion granted.

New interior dimension: 4×4×4 feet (64 cubic feet).

Host can now store approx. 64 × 28 liters =1792 liters more.]

A rush of gratitude filled Kai’s heart. The system had doubled his Storage cube dimension in each direction, from 2×2×2 ft to 4×4×4 ft, meaning it now possessed eight times the previous capacity. This was a huge advantage. He can now store many things. It’s now almost the size of a small room.

He closed his eyes, letting relief wash over him. But no time to celebrate. He needed to rejoin the team before they realized his absence. First he covered the main entrance with rock. Then he turned to head back, half-eager to examine the milky fluid’s properties later in private. But an ominous rumble interrupted his thoughts.

The entire cave shook with a thunderous roar that jolted every rock in the star crystal mine. Dust tumbled from the ceiling, and in the distance, Kai heard panicked shouting.

Something terrible had entered the mine, a monstrous presence that radiated aggression. Kai’s heart seized with alarm. He broke into a run, retracing his steps through the narrow corridor. With each stride, the rumble of bestial fury grew louder, bouncing off the stone walls in gut-churning echoes.

Finally emerging into the main cavern, Kai’s antennae took in a frantic scene. Thren, Vexor, Lomar, and Renna were locked in combat with an enormous four-star predator beast. The creature resembled a hulking, four-legged monster with jagged spikes down its back, large claws designed for ripping ore, and powerful jaws that glinted with mineral fragments. Its hide seemed partly made of rocky plating. It was an Ore Eater predator. Captain Darius was nowhere to be found.

Chaos reigned. The beast lunged, swinging a meaty paw that sent Thren crashing against a rock pile. Vexor tried to slash at its flank but earned a punishing tail swipe that knocked him flat. Renna, his injuries from earlier not fully healed, had collapsed behind a shattered stalagmite. He barely moved.

Lomar was the only one putting up a true struggle, hacking at the monster’s thick hide. But even Lomar’s strong three-star power barely left a dent. The predator roared, revealing a maw filled with jagged teeth. Its spines glowed faintly, as though it devoured minerals for added armor. The entire cavern rang with the noise of stone splitting under the beast’s might.

Kai’s system pulsed with warning:

[Predator Instinct triggered:

Four-Star Predator: Ore Eater. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Danger rating: Extremely high.

Team survival at critical risk. Survival chances are very low, 15%. ]

Kai’s antennae twitched. He scanned the chamber for Captain Darius but saw only knocked-over pouches and scattered star crystals. Then he spotted a telltale gap near the mine entrance, the exit was partly blocked, sealed by a collapse or sabotage.

It looked as though Darius had forced a rockslide, either intentionally or by cunning, to trap them with the predator. "Where was he? Is it done by that bastard? Possibly he had escaped, taking as many crystals as he could."

The roars of the Ore Eater overshadowed everything. "Darius... you scum," Kai hissed under his breath, fury igniting in him. "You blocked the path, left us to die?"

A cry shook him from his rage: Lomar stumbled, pinned by a swipe of the beast’s claw. The Ore Eater roared, lifting a stony forelimb for a crushing blow. Without hesitation, Kai launched himself at the beast’s side, activating every skill he had at the same time.

He hammered it with a fierce blow, drawing the monster’s wrath away from Lomar. The predator bellowed, swirling around to face Kai. A savage slash raked across Kai’s chest, sending him reeling. He coughed, tasting blood. A system notifications flickered:

[Ding! HP -700. Severe laceration inflicted. Adrenaline Spike recommended.]

Kai clenched his mandibles. "Vexor! Thren! Help me!" he shouted. But Thren lay unconscious, half-buried under rubble. Vexor was pinned behind a jagged outcropping. Only Lomar, trembling with blood seeping from his injuries, forced himself upright. He lunged at the beast’s flank, striking the stony armor with what little strength remained. Sparks flew, but the predator simply roared in fury and shook him off again.

Kai watched in horror as Renna, who had tried to stand, collapsed once more from pain. A shard of rock was embedded near his torso, and he passed out entirely. The predator’s savage gaze flicked to the fallen ants, eager to finish them. The entire chamber stank of blood, dust, and betrayal. Rage flared in Kai’s chest. "We can’t let it end here, he thought. I will not die in some cave because of that bastard Darius."