Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 73: Days of Trials

Time to time they faced some two star rank beasts. But Kai defeated them without any major problems. He also gained some exp and ate some of the beast essence liquid. Total he gained +17 seventeen stats points including the +2 from the previous Chapter.

"It’s been a long time since I checked my status window. System, show me my current status window." Kai ordered.

[Ding! System notifications:

Status window-

Name: Kai (Elite Worker Ant)

Species: Monarch Devourer Ant

Level: 24 (⭐⭐)

Exp: 610/1000

HP: 2000/2000

Aura: 2400/2400

Lifespan: 10+ years

Strength: 142

Speed: 110

Stamina: 110

Unallocated stats: 27

Ultimate Skill: Essence Eater

Sub skills: Essence Overlord, Devourer’s Bite

Inventory: Soul-Bonded Storage Cube (4x4x4)

Item: 101 Liters star crystal liquid, 50 Star crystal, 1 four star core, 5 two star core, Beast meat.

Skill Set: (Duration: 5 minutes without any cool down.)

Antenna Sensory Boost – Sensing enemies through vibration and pheromones.

Worker’s Resilience – Briefly buffing stamina at the expense of fatigue earned.

Tiny Tank – Hardening the exoskeleton for greater resilience.

Ant’s Instinct – Enhanced resource finding but with a few bugs.

Reflex Mode – Movement speed increased; use at your own risk as it is unstable.

Adaptive Armor (Passive): Exoskeleton can adjust to reduce damage from different types of attacks.

Predator’s Instinct (Passive): Enhances detection of threats and weaknesses in enemies.

Aura Cost: -200 upon use (Because of reaching one star rank.) ]

"That Great. All my stats are over one hundred. I also got 27 unallocated stats points. But my level is far from the three star rank..." he murdered by himself.

Renna still remained unconscious, still feverish. Vexor regained some strength each night, hobbling with a slight limp. Kai the two worker ant carried Renna across forest paths, scaling small hills, and forging streams that cut through the undergrowth. The traveling was relentless, the hazards many.

They continued their journey back to the ant kingdom. They encountered a narrow gorge blocked by tall brambles. With limited energy, they spent half a day slicing at thorny vines as thick as an ant’s leg. The barbs scratched them, leaving dozens of small cuts. Their arms bled, and the stinging sap made them dizzy.

At one point, Vexor fainted from pain, forcing Kai to carry both him and Renna for a grueling hour until Vexor revived with some water splashed on his face. The entire time, they prayed no beast lurked behind the brambles. Luckily, the day ended with them escaping the bramble patch alive, though in worse shape than before.

A day later, they discovered a large marshland blocking their route. The map in their heads suggested going around might take an extra day or two, which they felt they could not afford. So they tried a direct path, stepping on soggy ground that squashed underfoot.

The odor of decaying plants filled their nostrils. At points, the mud rose to Kai’s knees, threatening to pull him down. He refused to let go of Renna, though it taxed him greatly to keep from sinking. Vexor stumbled more than once, half-disappearing in black muck. They had to tug each other free, straining every muscle.

Near the center of the marsh, an ominous swirl in the water alerted them to a hidden creature. It was a marsh-lurker, just a two star rank beast. But it was cunning in its watery domain. With a splash, it lunged, jaws snapping.

Kai pivoted, brandishing his spear, while Vexor tried to position himself to help. Weighted by sticky mud, they fought in slow motion, each slash or thrust feeling heavy and awkward. The marsh-lurker struck on Vexor’s left arm, leaving deep scratches.

Kai bashed the creature’s head, with the raw power punch. The beast sank into the marsh, defeated. Their bodies were very weak. Almost zero defense. So Kai didn’t need to use any of skills.

His system gave only a minimal "+30 EXP" for it. Yet the emotional toll was high. After hours of struggling, they reached firmer ground. Each breath felt heavier, the stench of swamp clinging to them. He didn’t get any chance to collect the star core or the essence liquid.

Next they found a mountainous foothills. Over the next day, the terrain shifted from forest into rolling, rocky hills, each crest higher than the last. The night grew colder, forcing them to spend extra time gathering twigs for warmth.

Their bodies, still battered, faced the challenge of climbing uneven slopes and rocky outcrops. With Renna unconscious, Kai had to hoist him across precarious ledges. Vexor scouted precarious routes up ridges, often slipping on loose stones.

One evening, they stumbled upon a cunning creature called a cliff-swooper, a winged beast of one star rank that built nests on narrow cliff ledges. Though it wasn’t strong yet it attacked them in a flurry of sharp talons and raking claws.

In a short fight, Kai managed to swat it down with a powerful swipe, sending it tumbling off the ledge with a shrill screech. Gains from such a battle were minimal, but every encounter chipped away at their stamina. They paused only to wrap fresh bandages around new cuts. At times, Kai wondered if they might run out of cloth or water. But they pressed on, hearts set on returning home.

Each night, they tried to find some shelter or a shallow cave, a windbreak behind large boulders, or a group of thick trees. Under the starry skies, they ate whatever scraps they had left, plus small beasts they managed to catch.

Kai discreetly considered the star crystal liquid in his storage, but it was not meant for direct consumption, but he knew nothing about its use, so he decided not to risk it. He also had star crystals to trade if they encountered travelers or a friendly settlement, but the route was deserted. So, the days passed in a quiet cycle of fear, pain, small triumphs, and unwavering loyalty to their unconscious friend.

They fought a few more beasts, mostly low-ranked things that gave them minor trouble. Sometimes, they just fled when they deemed the fight not worth the effort. The system logs occasionally beeps with "+10 EXP" or "+15 EXP," never enough to level up, but enough to keep him hopeful.