Chapter 7 - Part 4

The Nebulous Vortex, which I had cleverly placed at the entrance of the tunnel, glowed like a sinister beacon, guiding hordes of worker ants towards the heart of my carefully prepared defenses.

Laméthéor, an entity shaped from shadow and blades, waited for its moment, a nearly poetic silhouette among the shadows, its movements fluid and unpredictable, sketching a deadly dance.

Beside me, Kazar, a shadowy creature resembling a werewolf, stood ready. Invisible to all but me, his ability to summon an army of shadow wolves granted him a terrifying advantage. "Shadow is our ally," I whispered as I ordered the wolves to take position in the dark corners of the tunnel.

The Chain Ballista Towers and the Crab Towers were ready to dominate the battlefield.

The battle began with an intensity that seemed to tear through the veil of reality itself. The first waves of worker ants, driven by blind fervor, were not expecting such resistance. "Let the game begin," I proclaimed, watching the battlefield light up.

As the Chain Ballista Towers unleashed their fury and Laméthéor wove his dance of death through enemy ranks, a moment of clarity struck me. This was not just a battle for the present, but a fight for the future. Serving to test my limits, this battle would allow me to clearly define my strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly for future encounters.

When Kazar released his horde of shadow wolves in a crescendo of chaos, a howl rose, a sound that seemed to carry all the determination and rage of our struggle. He and his wolves fearlessly pounced on the enemies. The ants were far from weak, and I would even say they were quite tough at the beginning, but after a few minutes, the wolves found the most effective way to reduce them to pieces. In teams of six, they attacked an ant to tear off its legs before moving on to the next, which would then die from its injuries or via an execution from a passing wolf.

The bulk of the work was orchestrated by the Crab Towers, which moved to always have the best line of fire. Each time they fired, a shell resembling a fireball appeared, and a bunch of ants exploded into pieces, drastically reducing their numbers.

This first phase of the confrontation, although marked by chaos and blood, was only the prelude to a greater challenge. The warrior ants massing behind the front lines promised a clash of unprecedented intensity. But armed with my defenses, I had faith in my victory.

The warrior ants, true titans compared to their worker counterparts, emerged from the shadows with a ferocious determination that seemed to defy the very laws of nature itself. Their methodical and calculated approach evoked a rising tide of thick carapaces and sharp mandibles, ready to tear, slice, and conquer everything in their path.

These formidable adversaries, the elite of the colony trained specifically for war and the protection of their queen, wore their carapaces like natural armor, shining with a sinister luster under the dim lighting of the dungeon.

Facing this superior threat, the synergy between my mechanical defenses and my summoned allies was crucial. The Crab Towers, with their blend of advanced technology and ancient magic, demonstrated surprising agility, adjusting their positioning with precision that defied understanding. Their cannons, pivoting with mechanical ease, targeted dense concentrations of warriors, and with each shot, a spectacular explosion of chitin and blood painted a macabre picture, slowing the enemy's advance and sowing destruction in their organized ranks.

However, the true test of strength manifested with the majestic entrance of the ant queen onto the battlefield. Her imposing size eclipsed that of her warriors, each movement radiating an aura of undeniable power and majesty. Her influence over her troops was palpable, a capacity to galvanize her warriors that transcended mere command. She did not merely order; she inspired, making her a priority but formidable target.

The atmosphere charged with palpable tension at the sight of the queen, her warriors redoubling their efforts under her gaze. "She is the heart of their strength, the key to their defeat," I murmured, aware that the carefully crafted strategy would now be put to the test like never before.

Laméthéor, my ally of shadow and blades, charged towards the queen with a bravery that bordered on recklessness, closely followed by Kazar and his horde of shadow wolves. Together, they orchestrated a symphony of chaos, Kazar harassing the queen's close guard, weakening her defenses, while Laméthéor, in a deadly ballet, targeted the weaknesses in the queen's natural armor.

Each of Laméthéor's movements was a lethal provocation, each strike aimed to be a coup de grâce. His battle with the queen was a spectacle of finesse and brute force, a struggle where each blow carried the hope of victory.

The climax of the battle occurred when the queen, despite her power and resilience, began to falter under the combined assault. Her collapse, a moment that seemed to suspend time itself, was the harbinger of the imminent defeat of her troops. The remaining warriors, deprived of their source of inspiration, scattered in total disarray, a chaotic retreat marked by fear and uncertainty. An army once invincible reduced to survivors fleeing for their lives.

The last volleys from the Chain Ballistas, relentless, found their target among the fleeing ants, while the Crab Towers, mobile and still as precise, continued to charge, eliminating the last resistors. The battlefield, once contested terrain, was now a victory ground, littered with the remains of the enemy colony that had dared challenge the power of my defenses and allies.

In the silence that followed the battle, only the resonance of the last blows against the ground and dungeon walls broke the calm. Dust and debris, silent witnesses to the clash, slowly settled, covering the bodies of the defeated. The scene was a mix of triumph and melancholy, a brutal reminder of the merciless nature of survival in the depths of this underground world.

I took a moment to survey the battlefield, the reality of victory deeply ingrained in me. Each fallen enemy, each successful strategy, reinforced my resolve and understanding of the dangers hidden within these ancient walls. This battle was not just a test of strength; it was an affirmation of my determination to conquer, explore, and survive.

Carefully, I began to collect resources and spoils from the defeated. Each piece of chitin, each drop of blood had its value, a potential to be transformed into tools, weapons, or enchantments. The process was methodical, almost ritualistic, an essential part of the post-battle that allowed me to enrich myself once everything was sold to the Association.

The man from the Blue Sun Guild, who had observed the entire confrontation from a safe place, approached once calm had returned. His gaze, filled with admiration mixed with respect, rested on me. "Your strength and strategy are remarkable," he said, his voice carrying the sincerity of his astonishment. "The Blue Sun Guild would be honored to count someone of your caliber among its allies."

I nodded, acknowledging his words, but aware that my path was solitary for now. "Thank you for the offer, but as previously said to Albert, I have no intention of joining a Guild for now," I replied. "However, if I change my mind, I will contact you."

As we left the battlefield together, leaving behind the ruins of the confrontation, the echo of the battle still resonated in the depths of the dungeon. This experience had strengthened my resolve against my enemies and sharpened my understanding of my limits.

I was now ready to tackle the next serious matter after this experience: the creation of the second floor of the Ascension Tower.