Chapter 419 – 413 Underground Ant Den
The advance preparations were made so quickly that the time spent on planning and preparing was insignificant.
It is impossible to collapse the entire Great Cavity at once, but it is easy to loosen the structure partially, and it is easy to move rocks and gravel from the surrounding ground with nine intermediate earth spirits.
After finishing the preparation work like that, we proceed to have a meal before the full-fledged water system.
“It tastes awful……. When you have to work hard, you have to eat the rations supplied by the knights…….」
= Hey, has Yeon become very classy for you? This is enough for the top 10% of the food adventurers and travelers eat.=
Anne, who was filling her stomach with the battle rations given to her by the Sky Knights, giggled at her whining of fantasy.
As Anne had said, the items in the supplies were quite high quality.
The beef jerky is steak-sized, thick and soft, so it can be easily torn along the grain like Korean beef, and the taste is not too salty, so it is good to eat.
The flesh of the apple or peach was well-ripe, so it was moist and sweet, and the bread was a bit tough, but eating it with the fruit with the beef jerky in between made it feel like a fresh meat sandwich.
The quality is fresh as it is contained in a preservation bag, and since it is eaten by the knights of the upper classes in their own way, the traces of care were evident.
However, as soon as he was born in the tyrant dragon’s labyrinth, he was picked up by Hwanin, and to Hwanyeon, who ate only the food they ate, it was food that could only be seen as less than standard.
“… Is that so?”
Because of that, Hwanyeon looked back at Isilite to ask if Anne was making fun of him again, and Isilite nodded her head as she rolled up her jerky and ate it with bread.
=In the past, I ate moldy hard bread by scraping only the moldy part with a knife, and I also ate beef jerky with lumps of salt. It was to the point that I couldn’t even see the fresh fruit unless I picked it from a fruit tree that I occasionally found. It’s true that this is a high-end item that even ordinary people can’t afford.
= Right, right. I also had mold on bread because I couldn’t manage food while traveling during the rainy season. Once, I threw away only the moldy part and ate it, but something soft chewed on it, and I saw maggots cut in half in the bread…….=
「Kyaaaaagh! What are you talking about while eating?”
As Anne’s story of vivid experiences, she throws bread crumbs in her face.
Anne laughed as bread crumbs hit her face, then dumped the remaining bread and fruit into her mouth, and Issilite finished her meal with a small smile.
“Then let’s begin.”
The plan is simple.
It collapses and blocks the passage through which the subterranean water vein flows. And the only entrance to the grand cavity on the 23rd floor underground is also blocked by burying the ground.
Afterwards, while checking the reaction of the fallen Bardul, the Chimera, and the ants, he drills a hole so that the surviving ones can escape through the waiting passageway on the 21st basement level so that they do not forcibly escape through the exit wall.
Isilite and Anne, who received intermediate and upper-level soul codes near the hole, break the head of the chimera and the ant.
“Do!”
The 400g spirit stone Hwanin took out, a spirit stone larger than his size, clinging to it, accompanied by a cry of fantasy, coo-gu-gu-gung, a roar of something collapsing in the distance, and an anxiety-stimulating vibration swept through the basement.
Koo Goong, Kung. Kugu Palace…….
=…… Why does the vibration continue? Didn’t it just end once?=
“Ugh, I guess I put too much effort into the preparation. A wider area than I thought collapsed, and most of the underground water veins were blocked.”
=Oh, isn’t that good?=
“I made a lot of protrusions in the riverbed…… As erosion engineering was applied, rocks and soil were not swept away, and it was blocked in an instant, but it continued to pour down after that…….」
= Water? What happened to the water?=
“Uh…… It’s filling the Great Cavity at breakneck speed. The water fills up quickly. Bardul and the Ant Queen are flustered, and the Awakened Chimeras are also confused…….」
Anne and Isilite said that, but they did not understand the fantasy that was making a fuss.
According to the story, things are going very well, aren’t they? But why are you looking so gloomy?
Kwa-Goo-Gung, Kwa-Kwang-Kwa-Goo-Goo-Goo…… !
This time, a strong vibration, close to an earthquake, erupted from a nearby location. This vibration must have blocked the entrance to the Great Void.
=Isn’t things going well? Why are you crying?=
“That I will explain. The subterranean water vein is, for example, the blood that flows through the veins, or breast milk. If the flow rate is enough to be thousands of cubic meters per second, it could be considered a fairly large duct, but if that pulse was cut off…….”
=…… There could be an aftermath on the land.=
“You never know what might happen. Cracks may occur due to shear force caused by water vein severance, and ground subsidence may occur. Lakes and rivers may dry up, and there is a possibility that the ecosystem will change significantly due to the occurrence of earth currents due to changes in water veins.”
What is shear force and what is ground current? Anne and Isilite did not understand the explanation given by the Hwanin, but they recognized that serious problems could arise in the land.
“After resolving the situation, I tried to return it to normal, but…….”
Chiyiying—
Hwanin, who was talking, felt a sudden ringing in the ears and narrowed her forehead, while Anne caught the reverberation of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ant queen with her ears that surpassed Earthlings’ audibility.
After reawakening as a swordswoman, Isilite caught the air changing unsettled with her ever-increasing senses.
=The atmosphere in the anthill has changed.=
= Yes. The ant queen must have just given instructions to her subjects. A sharp sound went through the entire anthill. Fantastic, explain what’s going on inside the Great Void.=
Kugoong, du-du-du……. While the intermittent vibrations continued, Hwanyeon, who had been concentrating with her eyes closed and holding the extra-large spirit stone, opened her eyes.
“The water is filling inexhaustibly fast. To what extent, the lower part of the ground was already swallowed up by the water as the whirlpool was created? Rangvardul, the queen ant, is raging at her minions at the top of the Great Common. Go ahead and dig a hole in the wall.”
=Wouldn’t it be difficult to escape through a hole?!=
“Now, the ground shakes and vibrates, the sound of the entire underground passage on the 23rd floor collapsing the ceiling. They can never escape.”
Isilite expressed concern at the explanation of Hwanyeon, which showed a slightly tired expression.
=The entire ant nest collapses just like that, doesn’t it?=
“Because there are also pillars of earth erected in between so that they don’t collapse…” ..Haha.」
Hwanyeon, who gave a short moan as if struggling, closes her eyes again and starts muttering as if giving a live commentary.
「Even the awakened chimera is digging through the walls, and the guard ants hiding in the ground all come out and try to dig through the collapsed doorway, but their bodies are for combat, so they are not very effective. Instead, the worker chimeras in the food storage and incubation room are digging up faster, so it’s harder to stop them…….」
Chiing— Chiying—…….
=… Looks like the queen ant is desperate.=
“It’s because the water just started to fill up even on the terrain with a high difference in elevation.”
“Enjoyment. Leave the place where the worker chimeras are and pay more attention to the reinforcement at the entrance.”
“Yes. …… Ah, a mixed chimera is descending from the other side.”
=It looks like the chimeras spreading in the anthill are going down at the sound of the queen ant calling. I’ll take care of that.=
Turning her body, Anne held out the hammer of punishment and the shield of the castle wall and advanced to the side of the aisle, and soon there was a chimera’s roar and du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-running sound followed by a thump, kwa-gwang, spong-flesh and bones A crashing sound resounds.
“Wow. Part of the Great Cavity wall is collapsing. The water is turning cloudy due to the silt, and the whirlpool is so violent that the queen ant must have been frightened.”
Chiing-! Jizzing— Jizzing—!
“Oh! The queen ant fires a yellow liquid from her proboscis, and it just melts when it hits the wall! But it’s no use, right? Do I turn it off again? Are you angry because it doesn’t work?”
Jiaaaaang-!!
Rumble—
The queen ant and ultrasonic waves sharply dig into the ear, followed by vibrations that seem to shake the entire ant nest.
It’s not because Bardul and the Chimeras caused trouble. The flow speed of over 100km per hour creates several vortices and the water level gradually rises.
Of course, to prevent the ceiling from collapsing, Hwanyeon reinforces the floor with earth spirits.
In the meantime, the water level finally swallowed the entire floor of the Great Cavity.
The queen ant vomits her cries as the ship containing numerous eggs is completely submerged, and the corrupted Vardul stands up and roars furiously, urging the Awakened Chimera to break through the wall.
The Awakening Chimera hit the wall enough to break his fists and limbs, spewing out acidic liquid, energizing his phase power, and shooting it toward the wall, but it didn’t mean much.
“The aisle has already been passed, and they are digging through the intact ground. They are fools.”
“How deep have you come in?”
“About 5 meters.”
“Then break down that part and bury it.”
“If they had physical abilities, they would be able to get out of here right away, right?”
“Does not matter. It is to put pressure on the fallen Bardul.”
If you listen to the live broadcast of the fantasy, you will be told that even the awakened chimera is just the limbs of the corrupted Bardul.
On top of that, the fallen Bardul’s ability is only screaming from behind, as if it’s more focused on support than combat.
In that moment, even the half body of the queen ant was submerged in water, but naturally, doubts arose as she was not using her strength.
At this time, if the dug hole suddenly collapses and is buried, you will be mentally in a pinch.
“Okay!”
Kururureung…….
A small vibration occurs, and the eight Awakened Chimeras that were digging through the ground are buried alive.
With him, the water finally fills up to the point where it dug into the wall, and the corrupted Bardul standing on top of the queen ant’s head stands dumbfounded for a moment, then starts screaming and having seizures.
Puck-fuck, rolling her legs, stomping on her queen ant’s head, her giggling roar, and self-injuring herself by digging through her own breasts with her nails, as if her stress was over the limit.
As the excitement affects the tentacles, the tentacles that were only a few meters long extend to dozens of meters and sway like crazy, gradually turning into tentacle monsters…….
「Ugh, the corrupted Bardul stretches out its tentacles and snatches the Awakened Chimera nearby and fuses them! Uh?! All, a huge number of small tentacles came out of the hump on the leg…… It must be trying to fuse with the queen ant too! The tentacles are eroding between the joints of the queen ant!”
Hwanin’s eyes sank deeply. After all, wasn’t his main ability combat?
“Hwanyeon, make a hole in the floor. Enough that Isilite and I can fire soul arrows and multiple swords.”
“Uh? Yes!”
“After that, build a wall to block the road going straight down to the 23rd basement floor. Chimera and ants come from the other side, mistakenly thinking that it is a digging place and going back. And Anne keeps stopping the Chimera coming from the den opposite her. Isilite attacks me and the Chimera.”
=Yes.=
=Okay!=
Anne, who returned after defeating the approaching mixed chimeras, returns.
Hwanin decided to destroy Bardul by interfering with the fusion.
If left alone, you don’t know what will happen to Bardul, who has fused with the queen ant.
Its ability to dig is rapidly increasing, and it may escape to the ground, or it may attack this side, or it may attack in an unexpected way.
‘Some kind of additional mutation may or may not occur.’
If you go outside, it will be easier to fight, but the uncertainty after convergence erosion is too great.
The water is already half full of the Great Cavity.
In the S-shape with the horse half lying down, the lower level is already filled with water up to the ceiling, and the only remaining area is the terrain close to the floor on the 21st basement floor with a high level difference.
So here we come to a conclusion.
「Hwanin! I’m ready to break the floor!”
“Do it.”
The moment she created a lot of soul arrows with the souls of the mixed Chimeras that Anne had killed behind her, as well as the lower spirit beads she possessed.
Squeeze-
Like an ant hell, the floor crumbles like sand, and a sinkhole-like hole is created, through which a tentacle monster is revealed.
A sea of black water swaying in the dark. A queen ant the size of a train wriggling intermittently while being eroded by tentacles in one of them.
Awakening monsters merging as if being absorbed by tentacles protruding from Bardul’s belly.
And like the last boss of the tentacle monster game, the corrupted Bardul is losing even the shape of a wolf.
“…… !”
A familiar face of a wolf at the place of the torn belly skin.
The moment Hwanin saw Bardul, he felt it.
It was the Bardul gnome he encountered near the mountain turtle in the woods by the lake while escaping to Yulkam Village.
Turn off, uh— aaaaa!!!!
And the moment he witnessed a human staring at him on top of the ceiling that suddenly collapsed, Bardul let out a tearing scream.
It was because the corrupted Bardul also realized that that human was the enemy who stole his second heart, which he had been searching for so long.
