Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 78: Queen Ant

Episode 78: Queen Ant

The Steel Ant boss, the Queen Ant, had two heads vertically aligned. It was as if she was wearing a two-person outfit. It looked like she was carrying another ant on her back, with a second neck growing from behind her first. Her body resembled that of a centaur, standing firm on the ground with four legs. Her upper body faced upward, and two front legs were attached like arms.

But the Queen Ant had more legs than that. Six additional legs extended from her back, resembling an Ashura statue. At the ends of these legs were fearsome, sharp steel claws. Her four glowing red eyes pierced directly at me.

“”Gi-Dji-Dji-Dji! (Destroy the enemies of Us!)””

“””Gichigichi!”””

The Queen Ant clattered her two jaws, sending out waves of |Mana|. The surrounding ants absorbed this energy, growing stronger as if they were being supercharged. Her royal guards immediately sprang into action. The Steel Ant species had two main types:

First, a frontline group equipped with highly developed claws and jaws, clearly suited for close combat.

Second, a rear guard with sharp tails, thick shells, and large reserves of |Mana|, ideal for long-range attacks.

The frontline forces charged ahead, while the rear guard angled their tails, ready to shoot acid. However, neither group was the first to attack me.

“([Lightning Strike])”

“Giiiii!?”

A Black Ant attempting an aerial ambush was struck by lightning and killed midair. I had experienced surprise cave attacks like this before, especially from the assassin-type Black Ants, so I had been on alert.

Next, the rear guard made their move. The acid lasers they fired curved at right angles and rained down from above.

“([Replicant Form])”

I could have ignored it, but I mimicked a large shield to block the attack. It was a massive shield that covered my entire body. However, I didn’t copy it just for defense.

“(Forest Shield, activate!)”

I infused the large shield with a massive amount of |Mana|. Through [Clairvoyance], I saw trees sprouting from the shield, growing at incredible speed—like a flood of tree trunks. The advancing frontline forces were engulfed by the trees, pierced, and their lives quickly extinguished.

“(Yeah, for area suppression, forest shield is the best…)”

The shield was made from the shell of the Forest Turtle. It was imbued with the Forest Turtle’s ability to make trees grow rapidly, manipulate wood, harden wood, and sharpen it. Though a shield, it was the best weapon for large-scale attacks.

“(But I missed many… Maybe it’s because of the Queen Ant’s buff.)”

I had only managed to take out about half of the frontline. The remaining Ants had survived by blocking or dodging with their claws. I tried targeting the rear guard and the Queen Ant next, but their acid and steel bullet volleys forced me back. It seemed futile, so I dispelled the mimicry.

“Gi-Gi-Chi-Chi (Tch, [Queen’s Grace]!)”

|Mana| light spread from the Queen Ant, healing the wounded frontline ants. With this, about 70% of the frontline was back in fighting condition—what a troublesome ability. Between the buffs and healing, it seemed the Queen Ant specialized in support.

“Gi-Dji-Ga-Chi-Chi… (What power… For my army to be half-destroyed in a single breath…)”

“Ga-Dji, Gi-Chi-Chi-Chi! (In that case, there’s no other choice. [Territory]!)”

Then, as the Queen Ant’s two heads alternated speaking, she finally expanded her [Dominion]. The floor of the chamber began transforming into steel, with the Queen Ant at its center.

“(If that’s how you want to play it, I’ll use mine too—Disperse ‘Convergence’!)”

I removed the ‘Additional Effect’ that restricted my [Dominion] to only myself and spread it across the chamber. The two [Dominion] clashed, sending shockwaves through the chamber walls. Thus began the battle for territorial clash between us.

“(Something feels… weak.)”

The struggle was unexpectedly one-sided—I was overwhelmingly winning. My [Dominion] was expanding rapidly. It wasn’t that I had gotten stronger; the Queen Ant’s [Dominion] proficiency seemed much lower. It wasn’t even comparable to the Forest Turtle’s. Maybe the Queen Ant had only just learned how to use [Territory].

“(Gah, you all, stop him!)”

Seeing her disadvantage, the Queen Ant sent her soldiers to hinder me, trying to make up for her weakness with her strengths. The frontline ants charged to surround me, while the rear guard unleashed a barrage of long-range attacks.

“(But these grunts can’t touch me—[Replicant Form]!)”

I charged forward, activating my [Skill]. I mimicked a halberd, a poisoned sword, and summoned four forest chains for additional attacks. With the supernatural multitasking of [Multi-Sword Style], I effortlessly wiped out the frontline forces.

“(Enough already, stop!)”

The rear guard and the Queen Ant released acid lasers. Her lasers branched into multiple streams, bending and twisting repeatedly to enclose me. I took the incoming acid lasers from all directions without any particular defense. Neither I nor my weapons sustained any damage. I advanced further, scattering the frontline ants. The Queen Ant was almost within reach.

“(Gnuuh, this isn’t working… If that’s the case, I’ll have to deal with you myself. Keep up, you all!)”

Realizing that things were not progressing, the Queen Ant charged forward. She separated from the rear guard and headed towards the frontline ants almost alone. During her approach, the claws at the ends of her eight arms transformed into large, heavy versions. It was probably some kind of [Skill].

Since Steel Ants have earth-type special powers, betting on close combat was a wise choice. Well, it worked out for me as well.

“([Jump], [Compact Shoot]!)”

As we closed the distance and came within range, I leaped into the air. For a moment, I was out of the Queen Ant’s line of sight due to my sudden movement, and I shot an arrow that I had prepared earlier. The arrow, modified with several [Skills], pierced deeply into the Queen Ant’s shoulder.

“(What is this, this thorn!?!)”

“(How’s that, the power of the mana drain arrow!)”

The arrowhead, which was deeply embedded, was gray. This color indicated that it was made from a Mana Crystal completely drained of |Mana|. Such Mana Crystals, like ice absorbing heat, rapidly drained |Mana| from their surroundings. Therefore, if used as an arrowhead, it would continuously deplete the |Mana| of the target.

“(Tch, what is this thing!)”

Ultimately, if the arrow were removed, the effect would be nullified. With the |Mana| reserves of a Sovereign Beast, even if I drained some, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. However, being continuously drained of |Mana| was quite unpleasant and enough to create openings.

Thus, I decided to use it in this manner.

“([Thousand Blades Genesis])”

Landing on the ceiling, I took out a tower-sized iron spear and immediately shattered it. Countless iron knives, moving at super speed, attacked the ants below, cutting them to pieces. The concentration of |Mana| and disruption caused by the mana drain arrow left the Queen Ant unable to mount a proper defense. The low-|Life| Grand Beasts were obliterated by the onslaught, and the Queen Ant was barely alive.

“(What, how could I be defeated so easily…)”

“([Aerial Jump], [Heavy Swing]!)”

I mimicked a forest hammer while diving down. The Queen Ant, reacting instantly, swung one of her enlarged arms. The claw at the end of that arm also became exceptionally large. As the arm swung, a massive slashing attack shot out from the claw, similar to a [Wave Slash].

I dodged the long, powerful slashing attack, imbued with immense |Mana|, with precise aerial leaps and shape-shifting abilities. I then brought the forest hammer down upon the Queen Ant, crushing her twin heads along with the seven legs raised for defense. The impact of the blow sent shockwaves through the entire chamber. With one final tremor, the Queen Ant ceased moving.

It was an anticlimactic end—likely due to the opponent’s low <Level> and the Queen Ant’s support-oriented nature resulting in relatively modest |Stats|.

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> The Weapon Born from the Fire of War, Fuwa Katsu’s Soul Accumulation Level has increased to 182

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As I looked at the lifeless Queen Ant, a small stone fell onto my head.

“(…Did I go a bit overboard?)”

Finishing the battle, I noticed that the chamber had cracks of various sizes spreading everywhere. They seemed to be widening by the moment. I had tested various powers in this rare fight with a Sovereign Beast, but it seemed I had neglected my surroundings a bit. The last slashing attack from the Queen Ant had also caused a large crack in the ceiling.

Additionally, this area had partially weaponized due to the influence of the [Factory], making it more fragile. While the entire cave collapsing was unlikely, it seemed the chamber was at risk of crumbling.

For now, I should secure any useful materials before everything is buried. With that optimistic thought, I carried the Queen Ant’s corpse and turned my attention to the ceiling, watching for any remaining time. 

“Aaaahhhhhh!?”

“(…Huh?)”

Amidst the falling rocks, I spotted a human girl plummeting down.