Swarmed

After a few hours of goblin-hunting, I found myself back on the 7th floor, moving cautiously, trying to avoid drawing attention from any monsters if I didn't have to. I had already felt the rush from consuming a few stones and was more alert than ever. My patience was finally rewarded when I spotted a lone Killer Ant scuttling across the cavern floor.

The fight began the moment our eyes met.

The tunnel instantly began filling with bitter, acrid scent as the creature blasted the air with its pheromones, a call for reinforcements.

My fist slammed into the ant's torso, the impact sending a shockwave through its body. It stumbled back, screeching in pain, its mandibles snapping viciously as it tried to grab hold of me.

It yanked its head back in a frantic attempt to dodge my follow-up punch, but it wasn't smart enough to anticipate my moves, and too slow to make up for it.

I stepped forward, my hand still extended, and with a quick slash, my claws sliced through one of its compound eyes. The eye split open, leaking viscous fluid that smeared across its face like ink.

The creature went berserk, its screeching growing shriller, almost ear-piercing, as it lunged toward me, trying to bite or trample me under its feet.

I jumped higher yet, soaring above the ant as it sailed through the air beneath me. Time seemed to slow for a moment, just long enough for me to twist my body mid-air and deliver a spinning kick to its side. My foot connected with a crunch, and as the ant hit the ground, the cave didn't tremble, but it seemed to hum, vibrating from the impact.

The chitinous armor of the ant burst at the seams, and three of its legs snapped off, clattering like broken twigs on the floor.

'Fucking rabbits,' I thought with a grin, still not quite over the rush the Fast Twitch trait brought with it. The instant boost to speed and power was like downing five espressos in a row but without the caffeine jitters or the risk of a heart attack.

Intoxicating, to say the least.

I glanced down at the now-lifeless body of the ant, ready to grab it and get out of there before any more showed up. Killer Ants were weak on their own, but just like ants on Earth, they were never on their own for long. Quantity was a quality on its own, and I had no intention of sticking around to see how many were coming my way.

"Well, well, well…" a woman's voice suddenly cut through the silence of the cave. It was smooth and rich, like lavender honey dripping from a spoon.

"That was quite the impressive display, wouldn't you say so, girls?"

I turned around, and there they were—a group of breathtakingly beautiful, chocolate-skinned women, giggling as they watched me. Their bodies were sculpted, every curve accentuated by clothing so revealing it was more lingerie than armor.

And yet I could feel it in my bones that any one of them could break my spine with one hand, especially the one doing the talking.

Her purple eyes shimmered with a mischievous glint, partially hidden by long black hair that veiled one side of her face. She wore a dancer's outfit—minimal fabric, vibrant colors, and intricate patterns that clung to her curves. Gold decorations on her chest and belly caught the dim dungeon light, casting flickering shadows. Barefoot, she moved with silent, confident steps, as if she owned the ground beneath her.

"You'll fit right in with the Ishtar Familia," she continued, her tone light and airy, as if she were discussing the weather. But there was a dangerous undertone to her words. She wasn't talking to me—not really. She was speaking to her companions, the way women do when they see a cute pet. Something they want to play with.

They began to close in, moving like a pack of lionesses, their movements fluid and sensual, every step deliberate, designed to draw the eye. The leader—Aisha, I guessed from her appearance—smiled, her purple eyes gleaming with amusement.

"We were actually waiting for you on the bottom floor of the tower," she said, smooth as silk, yet carrying a hint of reprimand, as though I'd kept them waiting too long. As she sauntered closer, she stepped on a freshly appeared ant, crushing it under her bare heel like the bug it was.

And she didn't even flinch.

"We thought you died when you didn't appear last night," she chided softly, her smile widening, revealing perfect white teeth. The other women circled around me, closing the distance, their laughter light and musical.

I knew the typical reaction to a situation like this would be panic, but as I stared into their eyes, eyes that looked at me like a piece of meat, a different emotion surged through me.

Not fear, not even anger, but excitement.

A toothy grin spread across my face.

Because what were hardships and misfortunes if not opportunities for growth?