Elena also knew something else, something she wished she didn't, and something that would soon haunt her. She shook her head, pushing that thought away.
Now wasn't the time…
-
Once they had retreated a safe distance back into the tunnel, they began to discuss a plan.
A direct attack was impossible. Their numbers were too few, and the strength of the ants far exceeded anything they could match one-for-one.
That left them with only two options.
The first was to 'kill' the Ant Queen and hope her death would be enough to stop the World Tree's growth, and the second was to 'collapse' the entire cavern and pray that the implosion would crush both the Ant Queen and Crystal Core together. Both options relied on killing the Ant Queen, who they assumed was the weakest link.
They were wrong.
As they debated, Elena shook her head and cut in. The weakest link wasn't the Ant Queen, no, it was the Crystal Core that pinned her down.
Elena explained that none of them truly understood how this system worked. The Ant Queen might only be a 'component', not the true source of 'control'.
The others were skeptical.
None of them could think of another 'will' that could drive the corrupted world tree.
Elena didn't explain that Duskwood Buds had been implanted into the corpse of the world tree by the Mercenary Alliance over the past year. If she did, not to mention the credibility of the statement, even if it were true, this truth would cause many more problems than it would solve. Also, this wasn't the source of the 'extra will'.
One of the Runecoin Medics stepped forward and objected. It was the same boy with a green streak through his black hair— 'Tibs.'
He pointed out that the massive Spirit Stone Core was clearly High Elven in design. That meant that it would contain numerous unseen defenses, and targeting it would be reckless, not to mention potentially disastrous.
A Sea Forge Engineer added her own analysis.
The same granny boss with pale blue-white hair, — 'Morwave.'
According to her, the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone should function as a kind of terminal or interface that connects directly to the corrupted World Tree above. Destroying it could cause an uncountable number of problems. Severing the corrupted world tree's energy supply could collapse the entire region, or worse, cause an internal collapse that could sink the whole continent.
Although unlikely, it was possible…
She warned that, although they didn't fully understand what the World Tree's original function had been during the Elfefalein Empire, it was known that its influence once spread across the entire continent. If a chain reaction were triggered, the damage could easily exceed the Second Calamity itself. At that point, what was the point?
Many nodded in agreement, including the boy with the Runecoin Medics.
The discussion grew more heated with every word.
Some believed that they should destroy the Crystal Core immediately, while others argued that doing so could bring catastrophic consequences. Many also wanted to attack the Ant Queen, but the risk in doing this was it could easily turn the whole colony on them. If that happened, then there would be no escape, even if they left the Western Region. One point of agreement remained, and that was that targeting the World Tree directly was impossible. Not only was it too big to move, but it also carried the risk of fully awakening something unknown, something whose scale was unimaginable.
Just then—
Before anyone could speak again, the ground trembled.
RUMBEL—!
A massive shockwave rolled through the tunnel, knocking dust from the ceiling, and silencing everyone.
The reminder was clear, and that was that they were running out of time.
That left only two choices.
The 'Ant Queen' or the Crystal Core'.
In the end, Elena made the decision herself…
She stood before them and spoke quietly, her tone calm but absolute. She explained what needed to be done and who would carry it out.
She told them that when the battle began, only a few would stay behind.
It was those that lacked the mobility needed to fight in the upcoming battle.
Everyone else would have to focus on survival.
As for afterwards, they would all have to rely on themselves.
The final preparations began.
Ten minutes later, everything was ready…
* * *
Elena stood alone at the end of the tunnel.
Ahead, the vast chamber opened into a small world. Far above, something massive shifted, and the air itself felt heavy, almost pressed down. The world was holding its breath…
Elena exhaled, her eyes sharpening.
Then—
BOOM! Her spiritual energy erupted!
Hooooong!
Golden brilliance burst out from her body, flooding the cavern with a radiant light. The pressure was immediate and absolute, slamming into the roots, walls, and the 'ground'. Stone cracked and debris lifted, momentarily liberated from gravity. BOOM! An even deeper pressure swept by, and a moment later, everything was pulverized into dust beneath the sheer force of her power.
She gritted her teeth, 'pushing' even harder, and momentarily reached towards her limit. BOOM!
Her 'Will' spilled out into the chamber!
After a long pause, something answered…
BOOM! An equally vast pressure surged from deep within the chamber!
Hooooooooooooooong! Bang! The two forces collided!!
The air detonated with an explosive shockwave that rippled outwards, further crushing nearby roots into fragments and tearing open cracks in the tunnel walls. The ground buckled beneath Elena's feet as the clash of wills echoed like a hammer striking the world.
The tunnel groaned, not metaphorically, no, it literally groaned like something alive, its ancient systems screaming under the stress of the unique pressures that intertwined.
Then—!
As suddenly as it began, it ended!
Woosh! The air created a vacuum as both spiritual waves vanished in the same heartbeat.
Silence fell…
It lasted less than a second, quickly followed by a piercing screech that tore through the chamber. It was not sound alone, it was a resonance!
Screeeeeeeeeeeeee—! The air shuddered violently as the screech vibrated through the tunnel, the metallic walls screaming in response.
The sound echoed for countless kilometers down the ancient passageways, amplifying, and rebounding through systems that had not been meant to withstand its frequency.
Elena narrowed her eyes.
The 'sound' came from the Ant Queen, and this was no mere roar of rage. It was a wave of mental energy. a vast surge of psychic force that rolled outwards, piercing directly into the consciousness of every ant within the colony!
The scream carried a command, fury, and its absolute authority over its children.
The Ant Queen had 'answered' Elena's challenge.
The minds of the ants ignited one after another! One by one, they stirred, and the walls began to 'move'. At first, it looked like shadows shifting on the smooth surface of the distance stone, but as it intensified, hundreds of thousands of ants poured from every surface, clinging to roots, walls, ceilings, and the broken architecture formed from the Corrupted World Tree!
Woosh!
Their black carapaces rippled across the chamber like liquid metal, moving in flawless unison and shooting towards Elena with a devastating momentum. The sound of clicking legs rose into a thunderous roar as the mass surged forward. The tunnel shook beneath the vibrations of their advance.
The living tide rushed towards Elena.
Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du!
In a single instant, everything burst into motion!
The battle had begun!
As the wave of ants surged forwards, figures exploded into motion behind Elena.
The Vineweavers Guild and the Sea Forge Engineers sprinted ahead, slamming specialized artifacts into the ground with practiced precision. Elena flicked her wrist and summoned piles of 'materials' from her storage ring, materials that these special artifacts quickly began absorbing.
A massive yellow barrier detonated into existence, conjured by another figure from the Adventurers Guild, and expanded outwards in a blinding arc, forming a fifty-meter semicircle that sealed off the entrance of the tunnel. Layer after layer condensed into a radiant half dome, its surface rippling as it stabilized into a small series of shells.
Vrommm!
A deep hum vibrated through the chamber.
Swoosh! Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-swoosh! More figures emerged!
Elena raised her hand. "Formation! Defences, Assault, Support. Move!" She pointed with each word, and the United Army divided instantly.
The Stoneback Tribe charged forward without hesitation, their massive bodies forming a solid wall along the inner edge of the barrier. They planted their feet, raised their shields, and braced for 'impact'.
Behind them, the Vineweavers and Sea Forge Engineers expanded their defenses. Runes ignited along the floor as mechanical platforms unfolded and locked into place. Golems rose and anchored themselves, while rune arrays spread like living circuitry.
Within a minute, a 'mobile fortress' stood where there had been nothing!
Elena stepped towards the front.
The Silvercrest Knights and the Bloodhand Marauders moved with her steps.
The remaining mercenaries and members of the Adventurers Guild formed the secondary line of assault, their numbers still overwhelming despite recent losses.
Last came the Poison Masters of the Black Cauldron.
They deployed nets of incense and toxic bombs along the outer edge of the barrier. Thick clouds of corrosive poison spread outward, hissing as they reacted with the abnormal air in the room.
Further back, unaffiliated engineers and mages erected artillery platforms from special artifacts provided by the Sea Forge Engineers.
There was a moment of stillness.
Then—
The tide arrived! BOOOOM!!
The black flood of ants slammed into the yellow barrier. The impact roared like thunder. The shield rippled violently, bending like water struck by a falling mountain, but it held! Suppression and gravity enchantments triggered instantly, flinging the first wave back.
Woosh!
Unfortunately, they were replaced seconds later…
Again and again!
Wave after wave crashed into the barrier, there claws scraping across the glowing surface, and sparks flying as bodies were hurled back, only to surge forward once more.
The Stoneback Tribe roared.
They absorbed the force and acted as anchors, slamming into any ant that broke through too far and put the barrier at risk! Their fists shattered carapace, but their shields cracked under the strain.
Woosh!
Elena's daggers danced.
Golden arcs of light carved through the front, severing limbs and heads faster than their bodies could hit the ground. The Silvercrest Knights followed in perfect sync, their strikes forming a relentless dance of light and lightning.
Behind them, the 'vines' of the Vineweaver Guild lashed outwards, binding legs and piercing necks, and turning the ants' own momentum against them. At the same time, the Bloodhand Marauders slipped through openings like bulky shadows, executing anything that they could reach.
The chamber became a storm of chittering, magic, and light.
Regardless of their defence, the ands didn't stop. They threw themselves against the shield in an unending storm of claws and mandibles.
But the line still held!
The United Army had become a machine, a massive fortress, no, a grinder!
Every movement was timed, and every strike fed into the next. Their pre-planned offense flowed seamlessly into their retaliation, and their retaliation turned into control. For every ant that fell, another took its place, regardless, the army endured!
Elena stood at the front, eyes narrowed, and her blades flickering with golden light.
This was only the opening exchange.
The real battle had yet to begin…
-
The battle continued.
From beyond the endless tide of black shells, the Ant Queen's eyes flickered with a deep light. Seeing that her army was incapable of breaking through the shield, she let out an ear-piercing screech.
Screeeeeeeeeeeeee—! The air trembled as a massive wave of mental energy spread through the underground chamber!
All at once, the swarm changed…
The ants shrieked in unison, resonating together, their bodies convulsing as their movements shifted from a chaotic frenzy to a perfect dance. What had been an unending tide reformed into straight streams that pierced forward with a perfect precision. They moved in long formations, each one like a winding spear made up of thousands of ants, twisting and weaving through the cavern like the tendrils of some vast, living creature, creating a series of knots!
Their new pattern was coordinated, intricate, and clearly directed by a higher consciousness.
The Ant Queen had taken full control!