By IMERPUS RELUR
--
Lin Shen didn't march.
He descended.
The Hive obeyed before the thought had fully formed—dozens of tunnel mouths opened like yawning maws across the eastern zone. Spiked Worker Ants emerged first, clicking in unison, followed by the venom-bearing Foragers and Sentinels. Overhead, the Pale Echo Ant glided silently, its translucent body emitting soft pulses that mapped the world in tremors.
> [Hive Protocol: Huntform – Active]
Objective: Locate and neutralize nearby Beast Den
Estimated Threat: Tier 4-5 Wild-Class Mutants
Bonus: Reduce incoming Beast Tide intensity. Bonus EXP + Early Evolution Material Drop.
Lin Shen walked behind his army.
He didn't need to lead it.
The Hive moved with a will of its own—his will, broadcast through pheromonal code and instinctive signal. The soil, the wind, even the birds in the distance began to change. Nature was listening.
---
Three Kilometers East – Den Perimeter
The earth had ruptured unnaturally in this zone—black thorny vines sprawled out of a crater like nerves, pulsing with reddish glow. The air buzzed with low-frequency growls. At the center was a maw of stone—jagged and twitching as if alive.
> [Enemy Type Identified: Nestroot Alpha Beasts – Tier 4+]
Description: Territorial plant-beasts that bind to soil and infect the land with organic corruption.
Strengths: Regenerative biomass, ranged vine attacks, thorns, spore burst.
Weaknesses: Fire, sustained acid, deep core trauma.
> [Instinct Warning: Territory Absorption Detected – If not eliminated, nearby Hive land may become corrupted.]
---
Combat Order Issued.
> [Swarm Formation: Surround & Pierce – Pattern D6]
[Pale Echo Ant initiating Hunt Echo Map]
[Venom Fangs entering rear path with acid burst protocols armed]
Lin Shen raised his hand.
"Commence."
The first wave struck like silent thunder.
Venom Fang Ants leapt from subterranean angles, their glands spraying high-acidity fluids that sizzled against the vines. The Nestroot shrieked—an unholy howl that echoed across the soil—but it was already surrounded.
Burrow Sentinels exploded from beneath, impaling spiked limbs into root hearts. Worker Ants formed living bridges, creating ant-ramps across terrain.
> [Enemy Core Detected: Exposed. 7 meters below soil shell.]
Lin Shen didn't flinch.
He tapped the command again.
"Dig."
---
7 Minutes Later
> [Nestroot Alpha Slain]
[EXP Gained: +9200]
[Lord Level Up – Level 4 → Level 5]
[Special Material Obtained: Corrupted Core Resin ×1]
[Evolution Material: Spore Husk (Tier 4)]
[Hive Mutation Unlock Progress: 42%]
He gazed down at the corpse of the monster—an open pit of twitching vine flesh now melting into the soil. His ants carried out the remaining spores and acidic sap with precision, unbothered by the grotesque scenery.
> [Pale Echo Ant absorbed memory sequence – Beast Type: Plant-Based, Regenerative Core Logic Stored.]
The Hive Core flickered.
Then whispered—
> [New Fusion Variant Unlocked: Root Claw Ant – Tier 4 (Plant-Altered)]
Trait: Regenerative Limb Replacement, Terrain Camouflage, Root Snare.
---
As Lin Shen returned to his territory, the sunless sky above began to shimmer faintly.
> [System Alert: 30 Hours Until Beast Tide]
Region 7 Notification: Lord Lin Shen has cleared a Wild Beast Den – Lane Pressure Reduced by 18%.
> [Regional Chat – Open Channel]
[Lord ShadeFeather]: Who just cleared a den this early?
[Lord WhisperWind]: Guess who. Ant Lord just made the system shout his name.
[Lord ViciousBlade]: He's going to rank. Damn it, I need to push now.
[Lord Lin Shen]: The tide's not the only wave coming.
---
He stepped into the Hive.
The earth closed behind him like a living gate.
And somewhere in the distance…
The monsters began to whisper his name.