My body flew like a broken kite, the impact sent shockwaves through the forest as I crashed through multiple tree trunks before finally coming to a stop against a massive oak. Pain exploded through my body as I struggled to understand what had just happened.
Blood filled my mouth, my own blood this time.
As I tried to focus through the haze of pain and disorientation. Whatever had attacked me possessed strength far beyond anything I'd encountered in this forest.
My body was already working to heal the damage, but the severity of the impact suggested I was facing something significantly more dangerous than Elite-rank beasts.
Through my blurred vision, I tried to identify my attacker, knowing that my survival might depend on quickly understanding what I was dealing with.
This was exactly the kind of unexpected danger I'd been trying to avoid by staying cautious.
This aura... Transcendent rank beast.
The creature before me was powerful. Devastatingly powerful, so formidable that I couldn't help but curse my terrible luck of encountering it.
Standing before me was an ant, but this one wasn't tiny.
It was anything but small. The monstrosity measured two meters in height, its exoskeleton gleaming with an unnatural metallic shine.
At such a size, it was absolutely disgusting to look at. Its eyes reflected my image in thousands of tiny fragments, while its antennae twitched.
I struggled to my feet, my eyes locked on the nightmare insect before me.
Ants were incredibly powerful creatures.
Their only weakness in my previous world had been their diminutive size. But pound for pound, ants ranked easily within the top five strongest creatures on Earth. They could lift objects many times their own body weight and possessed incredible durability.
Furthermore, ants were remarkably intelligent and possessed sophisticated communication abilities. The thought of encountering an entire ant colony filled with Transcendent-rank beasts like this one made me shiver with dread.
Just where had this monster come from?
My body's regeneration was already working to repair the damage from that devastating initial attack. I slowly backed away while reaching into my storage ring to retrieve a mortal-grade healing potion.
The ant seemed genuinely surprised that I had survived its assault. Its eyes tracked my movements with, clearly reassessing the threat I represented.
I had only survived because I'd desperately channelled massive amounts of mana at the moment of impact, including converting some of the precious Transcendent-rank blood stored in my Crimson Moon Pendant into emergency life force enhancement.
That desperate gambit had saved my life, but it had also depleted a significant portion of my most valuable resources. I couldn't afford many more exchanges like that one.
The healing potion would help with the immediate damage, but facing a Transcendent-rank opponent with my current Elite-rank abilities was essentially suicide without some kind of miracle or escape plan.
I needed to think fast before this intelligent predator decided to finish what it had started.
My left hand moved slowly toward the Guardian's Last Stand activation crystal, knowing it might be one of the few options I had to survive this encounter.
[Guardian's Last Stand]
[Grade: Rare]
[Details: Creates an impenetrable barrier that blocks all attacks from Transcendent-rank beings or below for exactly 10 seconds. Once activated, the shield cannot be dismissed early and will automatically disappear after the time limit. Single use only.]
The ant's antennae continued twitching as it analysed my movements, clearly preparing for its next attack.
With the sword in my right hand, I immediately activated my skills. I needed to escape, and I needed to be fast!
My boots gained blood enhancement, increasing their agility boost effect. I also accelerated my blood flow, which increased my overall power respectively.
I would've loved to fight this ant, but I knew it was far too powerful for the current me. I wasn't even well-grounded in the Elite rank yet, and this ant didn't seem like a weakling among Transcendent-rank creatures.
I had one singular thought: escape.
Burning through the Transcendent blood in my pendant, my capabilities increased exponentially once again, though still not to the point where I could face the ant in direct combat.
Without hesitation, I used my Blood Control skill and attempted to slow down the movement of blood inside the ant before taking off at maximum speed.
The skill consumed a considerable amount of mana from my reserves, but it helped create the delay I desperately needed.
As I launched myself forward, I activated my newly acquired aspect, Silent Predator. I needed to escape, and this stealth ability would hopefully help me lose my pursuer.
SQUEAK!
In mere seconds, I had covered more than one hundred meters from my earlier position. I ran in different directions, zigzagging to avoid being an easy target for any attacks.
Two hundred meters away, I glanced back to find the ant only ten meters away from my current position. Despite my attempt at slowing at down, It had caught up with ease.
I cursed inwardly. Those antennae were able to locate me despite my stealth! I had been matched against a creature that made my new aspect almost completely useless!
Within the next second, I felt the ant's attack approaching me once again with the same devastating force as before. Without hesitation, I activated Guardian's Last Stand and stopped running.
Since it had no intention of letting me escape, I was going to deal as much damage as I could during the ten seconds I would be invulnerable.
The massive ant's strike landed against my shimmering barrier and was completely repelled. The creature's eyes widened in what might have been surprise as its devastating attack accomplished absolutely nothing.
The golden barrier surrounding me pulsed with energy, completely negating the Transcendent-rank force that should have pulverized my body.
I had ten seconds of absolute protection. Time to make them count.
I immediately began channelling blood enhancement into my sword while simultaneously converting more Transcendent blood from my pendant. If I was going to damage this monster, I needed every possible advantage working in my favour.
The ant backed away slightly, its antennae twitching rapidly as it tried to understand what was happening. Its eyes was analysing this unexpected development with a strange glint.
With less than ten seconds remaining, I launched myself forward with impressive speed, my blood-empowered blade aimed at what I hoped were vulnerable joints in its armor.
Time to see if ten seconds could change everything.