Fight?

Soren stood at the top of the mountain, muscles bulging, about to face the army of ants rushing at him.

A heroic moment where he sacrifices his life for his friends in the Sunburned Mosquitoes.

He, himself, felt differently though. 

Even with his beggar strength increase, he felt weak. Facing hundreds of army ants was terrifying and no sane person would try to fight them, but here he was. 

One-armed and ready for battle. 

Soren took a deep breath, knowing all hell was about to break loose. 

Seconds ticked by, his heart pounding with uncertainty and a little excitement.

And then all hell, did in fact, break loose.

It started fine, with ants being stuck in a 2x300-something formation. 

Lowering himself, he swung his sword vertically to hit both of the ants at the front. To his surprise, his sword sliced through them like butter. Their bodies went limp. The two ants' heads slid to the floor, lifeless. 

'They died so fast.'

That was all he was able to think before the two bodies were replaced by 2 more ants eager to kill him.

They were slower and physically weaker than him. However, there was only one of him.

He slashed many times, bringing the sword up and then slashing it across more of the ant's heads. Their heads weren't big at all, only half a foot in width and height.

He planned to kill enough of them and start forming a wall with their bodies. Would this work? Can't know something till you try it out.

'This isn't as bad as I thought it'd be. I just need to keep these perfect actions of slicing their heads at the same time. If I miss... let's just not miss.'

He felt more confident in killing them, but he could also feel his stamina failing him. 

With all the additional strength and no endurance to help counteract it, he was going to be in trouble soon. 

Far into the forest, the path to the demonic territory. A loud clanging of two swords could be heard sending dust flying into the sky. It was loud and destructive, but Soren didn't have time to get lost in thought or in hope.

The ants failed to follow an attack strategy. Constantly climbing over their dead brethren and getting cut in the neck each time. 

They would kill this resilient food and give it to their queen. 

The ants never stopped moving forward, always trying to overwhelm Soren, but his speed kept them away.

Although he was alive and killing many of the ants, even with his pitiful skills. Soren didn't think he was going to win.

His wall needed to form sooner, that way he could execute his next plan.

He ignored the pain telling him to stop moving and take a break.

He swung and swung, over and over. This wasn't a fight, there were no back-to-back clashes like the battle far away was having. It wasn't entertaining. 

Bodies pilled upon each other, some falling off the side of the edge, others creating the so-desired wall.

Soren still swung in his lowered stance, not having moved even from that. Was it because he didn't know how? Perhaps. Maybe having a single arm limited him? Could be. 

It didn't matter though, he would die when he grew tired.

'I thought this was supposed to be exciting? I'm just trying to stay alive on this cliff with a gorgeous sunset...'

Right then, a massive ball of fire was sitting right where the sun had rested before. It brightened the surrounding forest, threatening to catch it on fire.

The heat permeated through the air, showing not only its opponent, but everyone who could see it, how powerful it was. 

The ants stopped moving and looked back. Only taking a second of thought before retreating to their queen who was somewhere in the back of their horde. They were going to protect her from this. 

Soren could also feel the danger emanating from it, but he didn't care. This was a distraction that brought the ants away, if only for a few moments. 

'Whoever you are, I thank you kindly,' he thought with a tired grin. He stepped up to the ant's dead remains while a conversation was being held in a different place.

*Under the gigantic fireball*

A girl with dark brown hair and a small body angrily yelled, "Leave! You still have to wait for another 2 weeks before attacking again. I'll kill you if you press further!" 

Her hands were interlocked with each other, blocking everyone but her from seeing what was there.

If they could see, however, they would be shocked to find a smaller, more defined flaming ball. Waiting patiently in its hidden embrace.

A replica of the one above.

*On the cliff*

Soren wasted no time and started collecting the Stats in each of the ant's heads that had remained on the cliff. It was at that point he felt his body grow weaker, the strength in his muscles disappearing.

'That was only 5 minutes?' 

He was shocked because if his memory served him right, the ant's numbers had dropped by around 100. Even if a large amount fell off the cliff.

He stuffed his makeshift storage shirt with the spherical black crystals as much as possible. The shirt was very loose before creating a large storage and with these Stats being so small, he was able to fit around 48 of them. The rest had fallen off the cliff. Soren looked like a fool now with his shirt having many circular bumps pushing outwards trying to escape.

The fireball in the distance faded away. The air returning to its peaceful state. Nothing breaking its peace.

The ants, which had huddled near the queen started sprinting back up the cliff though. This time, quicker and more determined. As if they were the ones getting annoyed by this person.

Soren grabbed one more and put it on his forehead, sliding in easily causing the screen to show up. 

[-Agility increased by 1.02x-]

[-AGI: 7.14-]

Soren didn't feel the difference, but that wasn't his mission right now. The next part of his plan was the debatably the riskiest and what he regretted most from this entire plan of his. 

He needed to escape, but there was only one to go.

The cliff.