By IMERPUS RELUR
--
The Horned Flame Ravager stepped forward, each movement a quake.
Trees burned in its wake. Even the air warped around its molten breath, sizzling with raw heat. Its crimson eyes scanned the ant hive's front line—and it roared.
[Beast Skill Activated: Roar of Disruption]
Effect: Temporarily disrupts enemy troop coordination within a 30-meter radius
Duration: 5 seconds
Troop Confusion: Moderate
For a single breath, chaos rippled through Lin Shen's ranks.
Some ants twitched erratically. Others recoiled, antennae scrambling to recalibrate their link. One Venom Fang Ant detonated prematurely—missing its target entirely.
But Lin Shen's eyes remained calm.
[Emotional Pulse: Dominion Instinct – Active Override Engaged]
Resistance to Control Effects: +60%
Confusion Recovery Speed Tripled
Hive Instinct: Re-stabilized in 3.2 seconds
"That's all?"
Lin Shen projected another pulse—this one colder. Sharper.
[Mental Command: Echo Formation V]
Structure: Central Lure Node – Flank Trench Split – Rear Hive Pulse Relay
Status: Executing
The hive didn't just fight—it moved like a creature of war.
Ants surged, then retreated—luring the beast into deeper terrain.
Then came the bombs.
[Acid Spitter Ants: Volley Initiated]
Trajectory Set: Weak Points – Jawline, Underbelly, Rear Joint
Hits Confirmed: 7
Damage: Minor – Acid Resistant Layer Detected
"…Acid's not enough," Lin Shen muttered
He expanded his mental interface—and activated the newest chamber still in development.
> [Unlocking – Hive Forge Subroutine]
Trait Infusion Protocol: Spore + Flame Crystal + Bone Chitin
Crafting Experimental Unit…
A deep rumble echoed below.
From the Ant Forge, a new form began to crawl forth.
---
> [New Unit Type: Fireglass Fang Ant – Tier 4 Variant]
Special Traits: Thermal Acid, Crystal Armor, Immolation Detonation (Suicidal Burst)
Quantity: 6
Lin Shen's thoughts wrapped around them like a conductor to an orchestra.
"Attack pattern: Hellthorn Lance."
The Fireglass Ants began sprinting—three left, three right—zigzagging like glowing shards of magma. Their eyes shimmered with purpose. The Ravager noticed too late.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
Each explosion lit the battlefield red. Flame against flame. Smoke versus smoke.
When it cleared, the beast's armored flank was cracked and bleeding.
> [Horned Flame Ravager – HP: 76%]
Status: Wounded. Rage State Activating.
---
And then… it stopped.
The Ravager turned—not toward Lin Shen's troops, but to the back of his territory.
Where the Lord's Heart pulsed.
> [Beast Trait Unlocked: Territorial Override – Prioritizes Lord Heart during Rage]
Movement Speed Boost: +35%
Target Locked: Lin Shen's Core
It charged.
The earth trembled.
Tunnels collapsed.
The swarm moved—but it might not be fast enough.
---
Lin Shen's hand clenched.
He pulled up a forbidden option.
> [Override: Fuse 3 Tier 4 Venom Fang Ants + 1 Ant General (Commander Class)]
Cost: 1x Core Essence Crystal
Warning: Irreversible Fusion Path – Outcome Unknown
"…Do it."
Light burst from the depths of the hive. A roar—an ant's roar—answered the beast's own.
And from the shadows emerged a towering, multi-limbed insect clad in bone-like armor, venom steam rising from its fangs.
> [New Unit Born – Hive Champion: Ravager Eater – Tier 6 (Alpha Elite)]
Trait: Venom Storm, Multi-Limb Grapple, Regenerator Core
Instinct: Guardian of the Lord
The Ravager met its charge.
The Champion intercepted.
The earth exploded into war.