After several moments, as a few more large trees disappeared, the true nature of the "black mist" became clear.
Since many trees in that direction were wiped out, the field of vision suddenly opened up, allowing everyone to see the full picture.
What appeared was a vast "black ocean" stretching endlessly, a stark contrast against the lush forest on both sides.
This enormous "ocean" seemed to have no end in sight, and wherever it passed, the once towering trees vanished.
The sight was unsettling.
While no one could see what lay beneath this black expanse, it was clear that the grass and undergrowth had been wiped away as well.
This "ocean" acted like a continuous corrosive force; anything it touched turned to nothing instantly.
Even with the uneven terrain, the surface of this "ocean" rose and fell like waves.
But now, this terrifying "ocean" was moving directly toward Larry and the rest of the team.
When it got close enough, the true form of this "ocean" was finally revealed.
That was a swarm of insects, black as ink, making them nearly impossible to spot at night.
They were all the same kind, sharing similar physical traits.
Each had a pair of thin, translucent wings that allowed them to fly, along with compound eyes like those of flies, giving them sharp vision.
On top of their heads were long, twitching antennae, and their mouths were equipped with sharp mandibles, perfect for chewing through trees and other materials.
Their jaws were so strong they could even bite through steel, proving nothing is truly unbreakable.
Each insect had three pairs of legs, and their bodies were covered by a tough, metallic carapace that looked incredibly durable.
Though small individually, their joints were ringed with bulging muscles, swollen so much that thick, blood-red veins stood out.
Just by looking, it was obvious they possessed immense strength.
Larry narrowed his eyes as he observed the massive swarm.
From their appearance, they reminded him of ants, but mutated ants, not your everyday kind.
These creatures weren't just armored; their biting power was fierce.
But the most alarming thing was their sheer numbers.
The old saying goes, "Even an elephant can be overwhelmed by ants in large enough numbers."
Whether that's literally true or not, Larry was certain these ants could do it.
If one faced them directly, the elephant and its bones would vanish in an instant, far more effective than any venom.
These ants seemed perfect for destroying corpses and erasing all traces.
Larry thought about it quietly but quickly dismissed the idea.
There was no point in using them.
Besides, if you just threw something into cyberspace, problem solved.
Why bother with these [Black Ants]?
The name "Black Ants" came to him through his illustration book ability, which let him identify the insects.
At that moment, everyone realized an awkward problem had come up.
They were heading straight into the path of these bugs. Should they try to avoid them?
Pariston glanced at the rapidly approaching black ants and muttered, "What terrifying creatures..."
He added with a strange gleam in his eye, "If you get caught by these bugs, you'd probably vanish from this world in an instant, wouldn't you?"
He scratched the back of his head and continued, "Honestly, dying like that doesn't sound so bad. Not many people get to experience disappearing instantly, right?"
Pariston raised his index finger eagerly, but everyone else ignored him.
After spending so much time together, they all knew exactly what kind of person Pariston was.
Even though he was holding back since they were on a mission to the Dark Continent, sometimes he couldn't help but "lose it" a little.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, his fake smile widened before he quickly calmed down.
Despite his odd behavior, everyone agreed on one thing: those bugs were truly dangerous.
Most of the people here probably wouldn't stand a chance and would be devoured in no time.
As they talked, the already trembling ground grew louder and rougher.
Even the weaker members of the group struggled to keep their balance.
But this time, the shaking had nothing to do with the black ants.
The source was definitely coming from underground.
Just as the vibrations peaked, the noise abruptly stopped.
Everyone's heart skipped a beat, and they instinctively took a step back.
The sudden silence after such intense shaking was a clear warning to seasoned fighters from the six continents: something big was about to surface.
"Boom!"
As they all retreated, the ground covered with black ants exploded.
A long, thick body shot out like a huge stick poking through the earth.
The impact caused severe damage to the black ants, and a powerful shockwave blew many of them away.
A massive, gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth swallowed up countless black ants in an instant.
At the same time, many ants were crushed to pieces, their limbs scattered across the ground.
The long, dragon-like formation of ants suddenly collapsed, leaving a bloody mess of broken bodies and limbs splattered everywhere.
Some were even reduced to ashes.
Suddenly, a huge hole tore open in what had been a continuous "ocean" of movement, blocking the Black Ants from pushing forward.
Flying clumps of mud mixed with the remains of countless ants filled the air, creating a thick cloud of dust that sharply reduced visibility for a moment.
Despite the mess, everyone could clearly see what had emerged from the ground.
It was a bizarre creature, resembling a massive python with a thick, long body.
Although much of it still slithered underground, the exposed portion towered over ten meters high.
The total number of these creatures was unknown.
Its body was covered in a she'll-like material, making it incredibly tough, like a living tank barreling through.
Stripes ran along its length, adding to its strange appearance.
Although it looked like a giant snake, Larry recognized it for what it truly was, thanks to his illustration ability: a mutated worm.
It was hard to believe at first, but yes, it was indeed a giant worm.
These Ground Worm were large, mutated worms that usually moved underground.
When they sped up, their movement caused tremors resembling small earthquakes.
They could form a thick protective she'll on their surface by swallowing soil, rocks, and other materials over time.
Omnivorous by nature, they not only consumed soil and debris but also preyed on insects, especially a huge number of Black Ants.
Larry glanced sideways and realized why this massive worm had surfaced to attack.
It wasn't after them at all; its real target was the Black Ants.
To the Ground Worm, the endless stream of ants was nothing less than an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Unable to resist, it used its natural abilities to burst out of the soil and launch a surprise attack.
The ambush was highly effective, not only did it swallow a large number of Black Ants in one bite, but it also scattered the ant formation.
Many ants were flung into the air in wide arcs before crashing back down to the ground.
The Ground Worm went into full-on eating mode, opening its blood-stained mouth wide and swallowing the Black Ants swarming around it.
It didn't even need to look for them; there were so many ants everywhere that they were impossible to miss.
The air was filled with loud snapping sounds as the worm devoured huge numbers of ants with each breath.
Blood mist floated through the air, and pieces of limbs splattered onto the ground.
Many Black Ants were crushed underfoot by their own kind, while others were shredded into tiny bits by the worm.
At first, it seemed like the worm had the upper hand, dominating the chaotic scene.
But then, things quickly shifted.
After a brief moment of chaos, the Black Ants regrouped and launched a coordinated counterattack.
The once-turbulent black mass of ants began to take shape, forming long, dragon-like formations.
Some ants flew through the air while others marched over tree stumps, attacking the worm from all directions like a well-trained army.
The sight was impressive; ants seemed to be everywhere, completely surrounding the worm.
The worm could only respond by biting back with its hard mouthparts, trying to fend off the relentless assault.
At first, the worm didn't seem to mind the aggressive ants; it even appeared pleased, as if the ants' attacks were helping it eat without having to move much.
But that happiness didn't last long.
Despite its hard, rock-like she'll, the worm soon found parts of its armor broken and bitten through after just a few moments.
The idea of ants biting down on something as massive as a worm seemed unbelievable, but the ants' powerful jaws and overwhelming numbers made it possible.
As one group of ants was swallowed, another quickly took its place, continuing the attack without pause.
Besides the she'll, the worm had areas of its body left unprotected, and these became the main targets for the ants.
The thick skin was no match for the ants swarming from above, and after only a short time, multiple holes were gnawed into the worm's body.
The [Ground Worm] writhed wildly on the ground, its body covered in increasing wounds.
It let out a low, pained roar as its massive form twisted in agony.
The torment came from the relentless attack of the [Ten Thousand Ants Biting], a pain so intense there was no numbness, only sharp, unending suffering.
Each time the worm slammed its thick body against the ground, it caused powerful shocks and crushed many of the
It attacked the [Black Ants]. Yet, the [Black Ants] didn't back down; instead, they seemed energized, moving even faster.
They quickly filled the holes created by the worm's thrashing and launched attacks from every direction.
Within moments, the wounds spread rapidly, visible to the naked eye.
The ants even consumed the worm's blood like a swarm of locusts.
This was the true terror of the [Black Ants], their power to overwhelm and consume.
The wounds only grew worse as more and more gaps opened up on the worm's body.
The pain was so overwhelming that it clouded the worm's mind; it no longer thought of fighting or eating, only escaping.