Chapter 114: Absolute Defense!

Chapter 114 Absolute Defense

Bang

The bolt fired from the ballista pierced the swarm flipping a wave of iron-eating ants into the air

Rumble

The projectile buried itself deep into the earth shattering the ground and blowing away the surrounding ants

Once the airborne ants hit the dirt they scrambled back up unscathed to press on with their assault

The massive ballista built to fell mighty magical beasts was utterly useless against a swarm so vast and minute

Clang clang clang

Ahhh

Get off me Don't bite me

Ah My finger

Crunch crunch crunch

The mandibles of the iron-eating ants were razor-sharp and possessed terrifying strength

A single bite on an ordinary man would sever tendons and tear flesh or worse snap bone completely

Standard armor offered no protection against the onslaught of the colony

Cowhide greaves and iron platemail were punctured by the iron-eating ants with effortless ease

Upon the very first clash the soldiers broke ranks turning and fleeing in utter chaos

They were simply no match

Blades struck the carapaces of the ants like iron against stone yielding absolutely no effect

Cross Cleave

A cross of battle aura swept through the swarm launching over a dozen iron-eating ants into the sky

Suspended in midair the bodies of the ants were shredded to pieces by the sharp energy

Blade led the charge throwing himself into the heart of the fray

Rena bellowed at the top of her lungs All non-combatants fall back

Hearing the command the soldiers turned and fled without looking back

This time their retreat carried no shame

With the professionals taking the field the tide of iron-eating ants pouring from the mine was swiftly contained

Rustle rustle rustle

Several towering figures emerged from the depths of the cavern

Tier Two iron-eating ants

A sense of impending doom settled over the crowd

Gu Ze murmured anxiously You don't think the ant king is coming out too do you

Bang

The ballista aimed at a Tier Two iron-eating ant unleashing an arrow as thick as a man's arm

Whish

A violent gale swept across the battlefield with the projectile's passage

Boom bang

The Tier Two iron-eating ant swung its forelimb batting away the massive bolt and took two steadying steps back completely unharmed

Horror washed over the faces of the onlookers

Rena immediately barked an order All ballistas focus fire on the Tier One ants

Knights charge with me

Charge

Activating their combat skills battle aura enveloped both lances and steeds creating an unstoppable wave of pressure

A brilliant golden aura erupted from Rena transforming her into a literal Valkyrie as she spearheaded the assault against the Tier Two ant

Inspired by her display the others followed in her wake

Rena rode at the very front with the rest hot on her heels

Bang bang bang

Along the path countless ants were blasted aside by the sheer force of the gale

Pierce

The lady knight thrust her lance forward condensing every shred of her battle aura onto the tip

Bang

As the lance struck out the air exploded instantly blowing away all surrounding ants

A streak of golden light shot forth

Boom bang

The beam struck the Tier Two iron-eating ant which crossed its forelegs in front of its body to block the impact

Yet the terrifying kinetic energy born from the charge was something even the exceptionally strong ant could not withstand

After a brief deadlock the ant's guard was forced open and the golden light drove straight through piercing its torso

Bang

The Tier Two iron-eating ant stumbled back a dozen paces collapsing halfway to the ground only keeping itself upright with a single foreleg

A gaping hole marred its flank oozing green blood from the wound

Rena sighed softly if she had struck a vital spot this single blow would have claimed its life

Unfortunately the ant had twisted away from her lethal trajectory at the final second

Though grievously wounded the injury was not fatal

With the momentum of her charge spent Rena quickly wheeled her horse around to avoid becoming trapped in the swarm

Incredible

Witnessing Rena nearly slay a Tier Two iron-eating ant single-handedly the crowd gasped in awe

Levi gazed deeply at the woman thinking to himself Has her strength grown yet again

Seeing her deliver such a stunning performance Blade refused to be outdone

After all he was the leader of the Radiant Mercenary Corps

By all rights he was the highest-level professional on the field

“Aurora Sky Slash!”

Bred revealed his true strength.

With one swing of his sword, battle aura condensed into a razor-thin line. *Puchi!*

The threadlike blade of energy sliced through a second-rank Iron-Eating Ant, severing a foreleg and shearing off a piece of its impenetrable carapace.

“Incredible! No wonder he’s the captain!”

“Bred, you’ve been holding back this whole time—what other secrets are you hiding?”

Some marveled in awe; others eyed him warily.

Ranged fighters—archers and spellcasters—closed in on the two wounded ants, already crippled by Bred and Leina.

In moments, both fell lifeless to the ground.

Morale surged among the group.

“Drive them back!”

“Wipe out these Iron-Eating Ants!”

After the fall of the two ants, the swarm pouring from the cave slowed.

Just as the party prepared to counterattack toward the entrance—

Suddenly, the tide reversed.

Ants flooded out in overwhelming numbers, swarming like a living storm, layer upon layer.

Li Wei watched, heart sinking.

This wasn’t just a surge—it felt like the arrival of the ant king itself.

*Screee—!*

A shrill, ear-splitting roar echoed.

From the depths of the cavern emerged a colossal figure, stepping into the sunlight.

Its crimson body shimmered under the sun like a blazing flame.

The Red Ant King had arrived.

At the sight, everyone retreated instinctively.

No one dared step forward.

The memory of its earlier massacre still burned fresh in their minds.

None dared challenge it.

*Thump. Thump. Thump.*

The Ant King advanced, its pace quickening.

Once it adjusted to the light, it launched its assault.

Leina shouted, “Knights, follow me and hold the king! Everyone else, focus all attacks on it!”

But her voice met silence.

No one moved to join her.

Seeing this, Leina dismounted, snatched a heavy knight’s shield from a nearby warrior, and strode forward alone.

“I’ll hold the line—now deal damage!”

Golden radiance flared around her. The shield in her hand glowed with holy light.

“Absolute Defense!”

*Thud!*

She planted the shield squarely in the path of the charging king.

The Ant King sneered, accelerating—

It would crush this insolent human beneath its might.

*Boom!*

The collision shook the earth.

The Ant King slammed headfirst into the shield, halted mid-charge, its front half collapsing, rear end lifted high.

It tumbled forward, face-first into the dirt, mouth full of soil.

Leina staggered back a step, her expression shifting.

“Attack now!” she cried.

The force was beyond imagining—just one impact had drained a fifth of her battle aura.

Even with Absolute Defense, she could withstand only five more strikes at most.

Seeing Leina actually stop the beast, the others stared in disbelief.

Only then, snapping from their shock, did they begin their barrage.

“Frostbind!”

Gouze cast his spell. Icy frost crept over the Ant King’s limbs, freezing its joints, slowing its movements.

“Magic Shield!”

Someone cast protective magic upon Leina, hoping to bolster her defense.

“Armor-Piercing Arrow!”

“Entangling Vines!”

“Corrosive Orb!”

They unleashed everything they had against the king.

The Ant King stepped back twice, then tore through the vines with ease.

It shook its head, clearing the frost, regaining clarity.

Its eyes fixed on the humans before it—rage ignited.

Since becoming king, this was the first time it had suffered such humiliation.

With a furious sweep, it slashed its razor-sharp forelimb at Leina.

She raised the shield once more.

“Absolute Defense—Perfect Shield Counter!”

(End of Chapter)