23 Chapter 22: Eradicating insects

Nodding at a job well done, I wiped my hands and started walking toward the swarm of ants dealing with the man.

Was it really that difficult to deal with dozens of ants at once?

It was something I didn't know until now. But, perhaps that time would come when I encountered monsters beyond my level, which was apparently happening with these novice adventurers.

*Kiriri! *Kiriri!

Producing strange squeaks from their mouths, the insects' legs squeaked across the floor and walls. While their antennae were decorating their heads, they moved and picked up the sound of my footsteps.

*Kiriri!

The chirping flooded me as the ants darted toward me. It sounded like an avalanche of insects... although they certainly were...

I raised my hand and pointed my finger forward like a gun.

"Golden bullet." A smile burst from my lips as the tip of my index finger lit up.

With sparks emitting a bright, powerful golden light, the electric current condensed at the tip of my finger into a ball the size of an apple.

"Fire!"

*Swoosh!

As I laughed as I managed to replicate a technique similar to one of the anime I watched, the bullet made of golden lightning bolts escaped from my fingers, tracing a golden trajectory with lightning crackling in its wake.

"Hahaha, I always wanted to do something similar!"

The ants' huge eyes shrunk as the golden illumination poured into them.

As the bullet approached, the shadows of the ants were cast on the ceiling and walls of the dungeon before the illumination consumed their figures.

As it passed through the exoskeleton of the first ant, the bullet left a burnt hole the size of a basketball. Without stopping, the bullet's trajectory continued on its path and pierced the next monster behind it.

"U-ugh! What's going on?!"

I heard the man's miserable scream amid the chaos. But I paid no attention to it and pointed my finger at the right wall again.

"Fire!"

Who wouldn't be ecstatic to experience something as unique as shooting bullets from their fingertips? I, for one, at that moment when I was slaughtering ants, felt like I was in the body of an anime character.

I raised my other hand and aimed at the other group of ants as I began spraying golden bullets at them.

Trails of golden energy gave way to a cave lit up as if it were dawn.

Exoskeletons, flesh, blood, and lightning power swept everything in its path without leaving a clear space between the monsters.

Then I stopped my lightning bombardment activities and stood silently to verify the result.

*Crack!

Loud sonorous echoes rang out. The violent wind produced by the crashes was pushing and scattering the shattered stones of the cave everywhere along with the curtains of dust that danced like shockwaves.

"Magic produces such a magnificent sensation."

Admiring my work of art, I could pick up no noise other than the walls being punctured and the booming whistles of the winds.

The monsters were dead.

After my evolution, my energy reserve had significantly increased compared to last time.

An attack like the previous one naturally brought no extra weight. Making some tiny ants disappear was a piece of cake for me.

Will I ever have the ability to recreate that technique? It would be f*cking cool!

Thought about a technique from an anime came to mind as I approached the poor guy who was shaking in the middle of the room with his ass glued to the floor. Shaking hands were covering his ears from the loud noise.

I have to do something about these annoying powders.

I gathered strength in the palm of my hand and swung my arm.

With a little snap, the wind stayed in place. The next instant, a wave of wind began to form, sweeping the dust sideways.

The room was full of holes gradually beginning to recover their previous state. The monsters, made up of dozens of ants, stretched their legs upward.

Some were missing their heads, while the others had their bodies pierced, leaving nothing but burns.

I looked at the pitiful state of the man. Bruises, small cuts, and some burns were visible through the metal parts of the torn armor.

I waited there for things to calm down. I wasn't worried about those people; the only reason I saved their asses was that the girl had alarmed me to run. That is, because of her goodwill.

As for the man... well, it was because instead of choosing to run away like a coward, he raised his sword and fought bravely against the ants, knowing the end that awaited him. All for the woman he loved.

As the noises died down, the man's body visibly calmed. With fear in his expression, he opened his eyelids.

He stared at the destruction in bewilderment and surprise.

"What-?" The words stuck in his throat as our gazes met.

"Y-you!" He raised his trembling finger to point at me, "You monster! Who are you, and what are you planning to do?"

With his hand, he dragged his caterpillar body backward. His expression was tinged with fear.

Seriously, am I that scary? I'm worried about my future.

"The first thing you say when you see your savior is that he's a monster? From now on, I should be mindful of who I will save." My eyebrows furrow in annoyance.

While it is true that I am a monster, I have a rational side, which is the most important thing in defining whether someone is a "monster" or not.

"Save me...?" If it weren't for my hearing ability, the man's babbling would go unnoticed.

"Even your girlfriend is safe there-."

"Karen! It's... it's true! Where is she?" The man cocked his head to one side. I pointed my finger back, which the man followed.

"Thank God, she's safe." The man slapped his chest before saying, "She's not my girlfriend!" The man's sudden shout irritated me. He muttered again, "No, not yet."

I couldn't help but grimace at the sight of the blushing middle-aged man. My holy eyes melt!

I walked over to the man and held out my hand. With the wound he had, he could barely stand.

"Seriously, man. Quit playing hard to get and get the hell out of here. If your girlfriend doesn't get a potion soon, she won't have long to live."

"Yes!" A little stunned, the expression turned severe.

After lifting him, I patted my hand. The man, staggering, approached the woman lying on the floor.

She probably wouldn't wake up for a while.

But, the real question was, could they get out of here safely? The monsters in the dungeon didn't just appear when the adventurers entered.

Whenever they could, the adventurers carried a lot of baggage with them. Entering the dungeon and returning to the surface was doing double duty because there were no teleportation points or similar functions.

However, it wasn't my problem.

Shrugging my shoulders, my gaze fell on the bag carried by the adventurer I killed.

I reached over with eyes bright with anticipation and grabbed the leather pouch hanging from the adventurer's waist.

From the weight of the bag and the sounds heard inside, I could guess there wasn't much in it.

I opened it to inspect it, and the faint purple illumination flashed across my face. It was piles of magic stones.

"What's a piece of paper doing there?".

Curious, I reached in and pulled out a folded piece of paper. It looked like a tattered object that had been through the hardships of life.

I unfolded it to see its contents, and my eyes lit up. The bag in my hand dissolved into blue filaments to enter my inventory.

"This is what I needed." A smile broke out on my face.

In my hand was a map of the dungeon floors. The outlines of the paths and important places, as well as the types of monsters that inhabited up to the 18th floor, were finely drawn on it.

I no longer had to worry about returning to the surface.

"Sorry...".

I turned my gaze to the stuttering man. The man was carrying the girl in a princess bag. It must not be easy in his situation.

"Do you need anything?"

"N-no. I just wanted to apologize for what happened on behalf of my Familia." The man winced.

"Besides..." He looked at me again and bowed slightly, "If it weren't for you, Karen and I wouldn't have the opportunity to see our family again. I'm sure Karen will thank you too, so thank you. Seriously, I can't thank you enough."

I wondered if this man was a fool. The woman was about to stretch her legs. If he really loved her, he would have already used all his strength at the expense of his will to go back without thinking about anything else. That's what I would do.

"No need to thank me. You can be glad your captain tried to mess with me. Besides..." I waved my hands as I held out the map to the man, "I'll take this."

I didn't wait for the man to continue and walked past him, "Goodbye.

I wasted too much time there. I wasn't used to exchanging words either, so I continued on my way after hearing the man's farewell and thanks again.

After a few minutes of walking,

"Shit!" I slapped my face, grimacing as I remembered something important.

I had forgotten that my eyes were uncovered. I also didn't ask him not to mention my appearance.

But, thinking about it a bit, it was impossible to keep the adventurers who abandoned their companion from mentioning me unless I killed them.

I should be more careful next time. Although the damage was already done...

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