Chapter 48: Pocketing the winnings
The inert body of the ant queen still lay on the ground, its white carapace cracked and burned, its blackish blood slowly running down the damp rock. Isaac, standing face to face with this defeated monstrosity, remained motionless for a moment, staring silently at his prey, his gaze impassive despite the adrenalin still pulsating within him.
Around him, his team-mates collapsed almost in relief, their bodies exhausted by the intensity of the fight. Jack wiped the sweat from his brow and laid a firm hand on Isaac’s shoulder.
- Fuck, man... I don’t want to sound dramatic, but without you, we’d probably still be running through these tunnels... Or worse.
Isaac simply nodded, sheathing his black katana in a precise gesture.
- It was harder than I expected, he admitted coldly. But it could be done.
Jack burst out laughing, a nervous, almost incredulous laugh.
- Playable, eh? My ass, yeah! Did you see the shit we went through?
- We’re still alive. That’s all that matters," Isaac replied neutrally.
Ella approached, bow still in hand, expertly inspecting the massive corpses of the queen and the ant soldiers around them.
- Well, we can’t just stand here and watch the carnage. Let’s get the cores and get out of here. This dungeon stinks of death.
Dimitri, still panting, looked up at her.