NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Phantom Ants
Sorry for being late I was stuck up in some work but here is the extra chapter that I promised.
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"If the system didn't give me the wrong direction, then why aren't there any phantom ants here?"
[Host this is indeed the right place. As for why you can't find those ants, they're not on the surface; they're underground. In Original novel, they emerged due to an event that cracked the mountain and destroyed their home. You should look for an ant nest.]
"Oh, that makes sense." I should have anticipated this since I arrived much earlier than originally intended. If those ants had stayed above ground like before, they would have been hunted long ago—small creatures are always the most tempting targets for people to complete their geno points.
After thinking it over, I didn't waste any time and began searching for an ant nest. It took a bit longer than expected, as it was hidden inside a hollow tree.
Once I located the nest, I took out my Golden Blood Snake spear and smashed it against the structure, resulting in its swift destruction. As the remnants of the nest fell away, I swiftly donned my sacred blood armor and summoned my speed glyph devil soul. At that very moment, the ants began to emerge from their ruined home, furious and ready to retaliate.
The swarm that confronted me comprised nearly all three classes of ants: ordinary, primitive, and mutant. Surprisingly, there were fewer ordinary ants than mutant ones, while the majority belonged to the primitive class.
I wasted no time and commenced my assault, determined to eliminate every ant in sight. However, as I continued my onslaught, the number of ants began to swell, and the pressure mounting against me grew heavier. Amidst the chaos, I could hear the chilling announcements of my growing kill count echoing in my ears.
"Mutant phantom ant killed, no devil soul gained, eat mutant phantom ant to gain zero to ten mutant geno point"
"Primitive phantom ant killed, primitive devil soul phantom ant gained, eat primitive phantom ant to gain zero to ten primitive geno points"
"Mutant phantom ant killed, mutant devil soul phantom ant gained , eat mutant phantom ant to gain zero to ten mutant geno point"
"M....."
These announcements consumed my mind for nearly twenty minutes, until I could no longer bear the fight. I scooped up six mutant phantom ants and dashed out of the hollow tree, running until I reached a safer spot closer to their nest.
"Whew, that was harder than I anticipated," I thought, trying to catch my breath. "It's no wonder I felt so overwhelmed by those ants. My fitness level hovers somewhere between a ten and an eleven. Even though a mutant phantom ant isn't stronger than me, their sheer numbers are far too much for me to handle alone. I can't even tap into my shape-shifting devil soul right now; I'm reserving that for the sacred blood phantom ant. Once I unleash that power, I don't know how long it will be before I can use it again.
There's also another task awaiting me that I can't afford to be late for. I just hope the sacred blood phantom ant makes an appearance soon."
For now, I decided to just wait a little longer, savoring the thought of consuming the mutant phantom ants I had painstakingly gathered. As I peered into the pot, the rich aroma enveloped me, teasing my senses. These ants, though they were the size of mice, had an eatable part that was still surprisingly petite, roughly the size of a small egg. It was hard to believe something so minuscule could pack any punch in terms of flavor or sustenance, yet the thrill of the hunt and the anticipation of the feast kept my spirits high.
Once the meat inside the pot reached the perfect temperature, I began to eat, each bite taking me deeper into a world of savory delight. With every morsel, I couldn't help but steal glances at the collection of devil souls I had accrued from vanquishing those elusive phantom ants. A total of nine devil souls lay before me—a testament to both my skill and my determination.
Among these souls, I had harvested three mutant souls, five primitive ones, and just a single ordinary devil soul. The spectacle of them was nothing short of mesmerizing. While the ordinary devil soul sported a plain black armor that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, the primitive devil souls gleamed with a stunning white crystal armor that sparkled like freshly fallen snow under moonlight. But it was the mutant souls that truly captured my gaze; their beautiful blue crystal armor shimmered in hypnotic hues, echoing the depths of oceans and vast skies.
Once I finished my meal, I made my way back to the ant nest, ready to embark on a killing spree once more. However, I still couldn't spot that elusive sacred blood phantom ant, casting doubt on whether it was even present. One notable improvement was that I managed to endure the fight longer than before—holding my ground for a full half hour.
This time, I refrained from consuming any mutant phantom ants, as the effects had diminished after devouring five of them previously.
After catching my breath, I returned to the fray, but this time, I didn't just eliminate the ants; I began assaulting the remaining parts of the nest itself. Just five minutes into my rampage, I finally caught sight of it—a phantom ant the size of a pony, emerging from the depths of the nest.
"It's finally here!" I shouted in excitement, immediately calling upon my shape-shifting devil soul. I charged forward to attack the sacred blood phantom ant, disregarding the relentless assaults from the other ants swarming around me.
I gripped my mutant spear tightly and plunged it into the joint of the monstrous creature before me. Though it lacked the penetrating force I desperately sought, the strike still delivered a powerful blow. I knew in my heart that as long as I held on to this battle, the phantom ant would meet its end.
As I yanked my spear back, the vicious phantom ant lashed out, sinking its teeth into my hand. Fortunately, my armor absorbed the impact, leaving me completely unscathed but it only fueled my determination.
With a ferocious battle cry, I set aside any lingering hesitations and launched a relentless assault on the creature. My instincts honed in on its vulnerabilities, and for twenty grueling minutes, I pressed the attack. The phantom ant, once a fearsome fighter, began to show signs of weariness, its frenzied movements growing slower as the injuries piled up. Desperate to escape my onslaught, it attempted to retreat, but each feeble attempt was thwarted by my relentless attacks. I unleashed a series of brutal punches aimed at its most damaged segments, channeling all my strength into each strike. My mutant spear is already been destroyed by the phantom ant.
After what felt like an eternity, I sensed its energy waning. With a last, desperate push, the phantom ant collapsed, and I heard the unmistakable sound of victory echo in the air.
"Sacred blood phantom ant killed. Beast soul of sacred-blood phantom ant gained. Eat its meat to gain zero to ten sacred geno points randomly."
Triumph surged through me in waves, exhilarating and energizing. The adrenaline coursed through my veins as I contemplated my next move. I knew the fight may have been hard-fought, but the spoils of war held promises of huge amount.
I swiftly gathered the body of the sacred blood phantom ant, and then I plunged into battle, fending off other phantom ants while frantically collecting as many primitive and mutant phantom ants as I could. After an exhilarating killing spree, I returned to my previous location and began cooking the meat of the sacred blood phantom ant. Once it was ready, I finished it soon, a sense of accomplishment washed over me. I checked my status and couldn't help but smile.
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