Chapter 16 – Colony of Carnage
Chapter 16 – Colony of Carnage
Tyler and Milo discretely followed the giant ant. It regrouped with more ants, which made Milo uneasy.
“Tyler, are we really going to follow them? That’s a lot of ants…”
The ants walked in a line into a small mountain — wait, not a mountain. It was a hill. An anthill! This anthill was so big it could be mistaken for a regular hill. The ants entered it via multiple entrances.
Tyler stepped closer and activated his [Eagle Eye] skill to peer into the massive structure. It wasn’t just enormous outside — it was expansive within. The anthill branched into dozens of chambers deep beneath the surface, each holding 10-12 ants.
“You’re not seriously thinking of going in there, right?” Milo asked, exasperated.
“Look at those ants’ levels,” Tyler muttered. “Most of them are between Level 10 to 15. Their HP isn’t much. Their only strength is their numbers.”
Milo pressed on, “You’re not doing this for Cupcake Crab, are you? Please tell me this isn’t about the shell thing.”
“No,” Tyler said firmly. “I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing it because I can win. No—because I will win.”
Tyler opened his status window and checked his remaining attribute points.
[Player: Tyler] [Level 50]
[Remaining Attribute Points: 6]
Without hesitation, he dumped all 6 points into Health Regen, a stat he had ignored until now.
Still, the odds weren’t entirely in his favour. Facing an entire army head-on was risky. Tyler decided to level up first. He prowled the outskirts of the anthill, targeting isolated ants. They gave little XP, but Tyler’s persistence paid off.
[Level Up! Tyler Level 50 → 53]
[Attribute Points: +3]
He poured the 3 new points into Health Regen as well.
[Health Regen: 7 → 10]
Now feeling far more confident, Tyler charged in. He activated [Forcepush] to send ants flying back, then dashed through them using [Sprint], slashing and stabbing in a crimson blur.
But the rumbling earth warned him — it wasn’t over. The Ant Queen emerged, towering over the carnage, glaring at him with burning hatred. Her mandibles twitched furiously as she summoned her entire colony.
Meanwhile, Milo, trapped in one of the chambers, fought defensively. He blocked the entrance using [Freeze Core], panting with exertion.
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Tyler, unfazed, smirked.
“Thank you for the feast,” he whispered, as he activated [Rage].
A blood-red aura burst around him. The Queen reeled back, momentarily stunned by the sheer killing intent.
Tyler lunged forward, cleaving massive swaths of ants in half. He cut, slashed, stabbed—relentlessly. The battlefield was littered with insect corpses. The Queen was now alone.
[Level Up! Tyler Level 53 → 59]
[Attribute Points: +6]
She shrieked and charged him in fury. Tyler dodged skillfully — her size gave her power, but not finesse. Just like the bat boss, she relied too much on her home terrain. Tyler, however, was a whirlwind of destruction.
He activated [Screech], dazing the queen briefly, then launched a full-on barrage with [Rage] still active.
The Ant Queen tried to flee, her majestic gait replaced by panic. But Tyler wouldn’t allow it.
With a final, explosive slash, he ended her.
[Level Up! Tyler Level 59 → 60]
[Attribute Points: +1]
[Acquired Runestone — Shrink]
[Skill: Shrink]
[Reduces your body size to 10%. Your attack and defence power are reduced by 90%. Your dodge skill increases by 10 times. PE Cost: 10]
Still panting, Tyler explored the now-empty anthill. He came across chambers filled with ant larvae.
[Enemies Identified: Ant Larvae x125]
“Cocoons, huh?” he muttered.
They were classified as enemies.
He smirked and put on his wizard hat.
[Activated Skill: Forcepush]
Dozens of cocoons burst simultaneously.
Room by room, Tyler cleared them all.
[Level Up! Tyler Level 60 → 65]
[Attribute Points: +5]
Now Level 65, Tyler had 12 unassigned attribute points.
He looked up and spotted a fox-fox hybrid trembling near the exit.
“Wait don’t kill me! I’m the village elder’s daughter. If you kill me, my entire village will—”
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “You’re not hostile. But that sounded like a threat.”
“No! No! Not a threat! Just… a warning! I’ll give you treasure! Please, just let me out.”
“Now that sounds interesting. So… what treasure do you speak of?”
“Can you please get me out of here first, please?”
Tyler sighed. “Alright. Let’s go.”
As they walked, Miho watched him dispassionately wipe out fleeing ants.
[Achievement Unlocked: Scourge of the Hill]
[Grade: A]
[Description: Slay the Ant Queen and annihilate her colony inside the Great Anthill.]
At the anthill’s mouth, Cupcake Crab stood waiting. “Took you long enough. Grinding XP, were we?”
“What?”
“Your companion bravely escorted me out, by the way. Held off a whole wave of ants. He’s resting.”
“Okay…”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What?”
“Like, introducing your adorable little friend?”
Miho shyly stepped forward. “Hi… I’m Miho. Um, thank you. Here’s the reward I promised.”
Tyler shook his head. “I didn’t save you for a reward.”
“Why, then? My father says no one helps without motive.”
“Guess I just found you cute. And your threat made me laugh. That was new.”
Miho flushed. “Because I’m cute…”
“Sorry?”
“N-Nothing. But um… one more request.”
“What is it?”
“Will you come visit my village? I mean, can you escort me to my village? I know the path but honestly… I’m a bit scared of the wild mobs.”
“Sure, I guess.”
“Oh! Advanced payment!”
“You don’t have to— wait, what’s that?”
“A shiny shell I found at the beach! If it’s not enough, the elders can—”
Tyler’s eyes widened. “No, this is exactly what I needed. Thank you.”
“We-wel-welcome…”
“Hey Cupcake Crab, I know you’re still here.”
“Haha, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your lovey-dovey conversation.”
“What the–”, Tyler exclaimed.
“Anyway, the shells please.”
Tyler handed them over.
“Ah, even the golden one. That must’ve taken effort.”
[Quest Completed: Colours of the Sea]
“You just saw me get it—”
“Here’s your reward.”
[Acquired Item: Magic Bean]
[Description: A divine item which leads you to the ??? and allows you to challenge ???]
“Question marks? Really?”
“You’ll find out soon.”