Chapter 46

After a meal, which was taken in the open air on a small hill-top, the Lamians were quite busy for a while taking most of the camp down and packing things up. Before two o’clock they were on the march and set off in a northeasterly direction, walking at an easy pace for they had not far to go.

At the break of dawn, Rain’s group walk in the forest still shrouded in darkness. Including him, the group is consisted of seven people and several serpent-type magical beasts reared by the tribe; Zarda, Stagna, Lafetti, Gretia, Granite, and lastly a Lamian focused spell caster named Lorka.

The Lamians were divided into several groups, attacking from different directions. Actually, Zarda wants to take it more safely and attack the colony in a larger group. But Rain made an unexpected suggestion, which by the way, corresponds with what Lafetti and Drova suggested—just that, attack from different directions, and making sure they will tear the colony bit by bit until they can rendezvous at the center.

Rain had heard someone says before; when one made the decision to fight, then go onto the offense and stay there. Never go defensive in a fight, or you will probably lose.

That was exactly what he intended to do this time.

Their numbers were small because they needed mobility above all else—they needed no complete extermination and just the death of a single being no less.

The force they were attacking have around over a hundred monster and Rain's group was just seven people—there was too big of a difference in numbers between the two sides. Normally speaking, if they attack them head-on, they’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer difference in numbers. However, Rain proposed to be divided into groups because he was assured of their individual strength.

Once a large group of giant ants was found, the group immediately stops over.

A number of over forty to fifty, by eye estimate. It’s something even Rain would not dare confront. However, contrary to his expectation Zarda and the others are rearing to go. Are they going to whittle the numbers first? Something like luring one or two, or rather, in this case, five to ten first and then slowly killing them like those in games?

Rain expected. But contrary to his expectation, the numbers don't matter for the Lamians as they just slaughter and attack everything they encounter on the way. Whether they were a large group or small group of enemies.

Granite took the lead and charged. Lafetti dragged her two-handed sword and Stagna knocked an arrow on her bow. Protected by Gretia and Lorka, Zarda and Rain followed closely behind. Granite was the fastest, she charged with a shield bash like the one used by the Hobgoblin that Rain had fought before. She charged right to the group of Killer Ants without fear, and like a bowling ball accurately hitting the pins, she mows down almost everything in her way.

Lafetti, seemed as if she flew in the air as she charged right through the group of monsters just behind Granite, and her long sword danced in the air, turning into flashes of light. She was so fast, her movements turned blurry, and even Rain who was a bit closer to where she was could hardly make out what’s happening. He only managed to see her sword flashing so quickly that it looked like four to six swords were dancing in the air.

Even with his enhanced perception, Lafetti and the other Lamians' speed was still beyond his capability.

On the rear, Stagna and Lorka started shooting their arrows and magic. Although, along with Gretia they didn’t dive into melee and stayed right beside Zarda and Rain protectively, their kill counts are not lesser than Lafetti and Granite who were like lions and tigers in the center of the flock of sheep.

Antmen and giant ants shrieked and cried out hysterically as they charged right through the group. Rain finally saw the Antmen he was quite curious about, and they looked even stranger and more deformed than he expected.

Like a centaur in legend, they have lower bodies of an Ant and upper bodies of a human. However, they have eyes so large and beady and their mouth hanged sharp mandibles that look like oversized fangs.

Rain, with his ability to understand language, could make out several words from their cries, but not as affluent as other languages. He was not that used to listening to them, they sounded grating like cries of cicadas in summer—however, he was getting used to it, and more and more words reached his ears.

They are calling for help!

Rain told Zarda what he had discovered, and the latter nodded her head.

“It doesn’t matter, whether they came or not, we’ll kill them all the same.”

Confident and strong.

Zarda exuded the aura of a great general who was confident of her victory, no matter what factors appeared.

As Rain fished out his phone and look at the map screen, and immediately saw some activity nearby. Other groups of Tolants and Antment were alerted and were rushing over.

“That’s the strange magic artifact you called fhwone, right?”

Zarda look at the screen of the phone curiously, and full of interest. Even Gretia was the same. No matter how many times they saw it, it was still a strange artifact they just couldn't make heads or tails with.

“Yeah,”

Rain nodded.

Zarda, Lafetti, Stagna, Drova, Sarete, and Miyabila had seen it before. They were quite surprised about it, at first, especially Miyabila who almost wanted to dissect the phone in his hand. Fortunately, he was able to stop her, as he was certain of the tragedy that might befall on his phone if that happens.

Recalling how Stagna and Drova screams in surprise when he played a song from the phone, Rain couldn’t help but want to laugh in amusement. They even almost threw the phone on the ground and destroys it. Though, fortunately, he was already expecting it and casually caught it with an amused smile.

Especially Drova and Stagna.

... ...

“What kind of sorcery is that?”

She cried out, exclaiming in horror and wonder. Seeing the black cell phone, she had taken a step back and seemed to fall into a defensive stance. Feeling amused by her reaction, Rain decided to tease her for a bit. When he tried to hold it out at her, she will dodge as if her life depends on it. Extremely amusing.

"Th-That...there's a voice! There's someone inside that thing! Is that a cursed Item?!"

Stagna exclaimed while pointing her finger towards Rain. And later burst out in laughter. Though, unlike the two of them, Lafetti and Zarda were quite calm, just a bit curious and interested. Their poker face is not something easily broken through it seems.

Rain explained it to them for a few hours, and they were fully interested in the item, just not able to understand most of his explanation and the phone fell in the category of magical artifacts.

... ...

“Another group is coming from the right and left, numbers over twenty,”

Rain muttered while monitoring the map reflected on the screen of his smartphone.

Zarda nodded her head and turned towards Stagna. The latter brought Lorka and several of the Magical Beasts they brought, and they immediately rushed towards the left and right direction respectively. At the screen of the phone, Rain could see the dots divided into several colors—blue for friendlies, and red for hostiles, though Ants were divided into black, red, and yellow with red dots inside a red circle.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Black Dots for Black Ants, Red for Red Ants, and Yellow for Antment.

Rain entered through the chat tool, and while the others were busy fighting- (Rain didn’t bother wanting to enter the fight as he didn’t want to cause any trouble or being a burden, though he can fight against Killer Ants, with the Antmen around, he’ll just become baggage. Antmen are beyond his capability and he knows it) Zarda was around him, and her sword, like a hot knife that cuts into butter, she easily kills those who managed to bypass Lafetti and Granite and reach their position.

Along with Gretia, he was basically guarded. Hence, contacting other groups fell basically on him.

‘We’ve reached the Colony and had engaged in battle,’

Drova’s name glowed shone and a message appeared on his tool chat.

‘Here as well, as expected, there are some small groups waiting in this direction,’

Rain typed on the phone and send it.

‘Ah, Elder Sister Drova, I want some monster elites as a souvenir, if possible,’

‘I know, we’ve already carried some in the cart… still, you really do like eating even these monsters, do you? As I thought, Rain, you are really strange. Especially for a human,’

Of course, that's my lifeline, you know!

‘Rain, a mutated Antmen appeared on my side, want it?’ suddenly Stagna’s name came up.

‘I want it! Thank you Elder Sister, this brother would surely pay you when I make it big in the future,’

Rain jokingly replied.

‘Hehe, have some time with me after this is over will be enough. Wait for a while; another group seemed to appear again,’

‘I know, Elder Sister there seems to be another at the north side as well… though, mixed with them are strange Ivy Plant monsters and some Hungry Worms underneath, Be careful,’

‘I see them…their numbers are big, some would surely pass me, be careful in there,’

‘Okay!’

‘We will carry the battle, and force the Ant Queen to retreat—any moment now,’

Finally, Drova said.

Rain turned towards the Zarda and see her nodded her head. Although he was chatting with only Drova and Stagna, because the group chat included Zarda, Lafetti, and the other Lamians, they were still able to hear what they were talking about. Like some sort of wide-range telepathic conversation.

This is one of the magic of his Smart Phone.

After conversing with the other Lamians for a while, his attention then returned to the battle, even Gretia was now against several enemies. He could also see Granite laughing as she used her shield and the force of her charge to block six to eight giant ants and Antmen. Her expression proud and unyielding, feeling not the least bit of pressure.

Every time Rain saw Granite tanking like a mountain, but with agility and reflexes like an assassin, he couldn’t help but become dazzled. Although he didn’t have a fetish for muscles, still when he saw her flexed them, appearing so courageous, so heroic, Rain found her so beautiful, especially when she displayed that monstrous like expression of glee.

She and Drova really were almost one and the same. Although Drova also had an aura, she excelled more in technique and attack. She was like a Wargod, while Granite was much more in brute force with a 'Never Step Back' kind of momentum no matter what kind or how many enemies she faced.

There was Gretia too, with such accurate and rapid shooting of her magic, and that amazing field awareness, she didn’t play as a healer like she should have since she's better in healing magic than most Lamians, and still fought like an incredible mage and sometimes fighter when monsters appeared in her attack range.

Each and every one of them is really strong.

Especially Zarda, in that matter.

Rain turned towards Zarda standing on his side and couldn’t help but feel a sense of security as if he was in the safest and most secure position. She basically didn’t put the monsters- giant ants, and monster Antmen in her eyes.

With but a swing of her sword, she could kill them in one stroke, and her ice magic arrows froze a part of that was hit, or the opponents entirely. She used ice magic in the most efficient manner, making them immobile, and letting the others finish them, or froze them into a solidified block of ice when they are almost close to their position.

Because of the magic power, she was exuding, the monsters seemed to be frightened and instead of attacking her, they would turn their attention towards Lafetti and the others.

So this is the power of an evolved monster—is what Rain could only think as he saw her made her move.

Rain had heard from Sylphy that a Medusa, when sighted would make an entire Kingdom tremble, and would even immediately ordered a subjugation in the level of a Dragon Subjugation. It's a Monster that could bring terror in an entire Continent.

An army of knights and adventurers would be dispatched, and in off-chance, two kingdoms or empires would ally together against one Medusa.

That’s how terrifying they are.

That’s how strong a Medusa could be.

It's one of the feared and terrifying type of Monster King that frightened even the Humans, Demons, and other races in the past, and even now. There were basically many legends about them still circulated within the mainland.

Furthermore, Sylphy claimed that there is a high chance of Zarda being a blessing holder. With a rare Ice Affinity Variant, she must have been blessed by a god, and perhaps even by the Goddess of the Dead, Prim herself.

That made her even more of a dangerous and horrifying creature of death!

Lafetti who was hiding behind Granite charged towards three of the Antment that was madly attacking. Granite let out a battle cry and charged knowing two of the Antmen that tried to attack Lafetti from the right. She slammed her axe into the ground activating a Combat Art that Rain had seen before; Ground Fissure, causing an earthquake along with three invisible blades that cut through the ground and hitting her enemies.

She then raised her axe again and executed the nearest Giant Ants, sending their heads flying. Although it took quite a few sentences to narrate it, it actually all happened within just two to three seconds. It all happened in a blink of an eye.

Gretia was in the back, supporting them. She shouted and dozen water missile-like magic attacks shot out. They went directly for the Antment and Giant Ants that Lafetti was keeping busy. Looking at the fight, Rain’s desire to battle also appeared.

“Elder Sister, can I join the battle?” he asked for permission.

Since the battle was almost coming to an end, Rain was assured of their victory and he too wouldn’t be worried about becoming a burden to them.

Zarda turned at him, thought for a moment, and let out that same sweet smile that Rain had gotten used to seeing.

“Go on, but don’t go too far from me, understand?”

“I will,” Rain happily nodded his head.

During this journey, he too had increased his battle ability faster and higher than he had imagined he would be before joining this expedition. Although he’s still Lv1 and he’s physical attributes were already at the E rank, and one was even at D rank, he inflated his physical attributes with both passive and active, enhanced physical-type skills that he had usurped from the monsters he had eaten, especially along in this expedition.

Therefore, despite his low level and attributes, he's basically enough to fight even against an Antman in his current status.

Joining this expedition had really helped him in many ways!

“No Antmen, but you can play around the Tolants…just be careful,”

Rain nodded excitedly and turned towards the battlefield.

Granite and Lafetti were confronting against several Antmen and giant ants so it’s not a place he could play around. Then, he turned towards Gretia and his mind decided.

Gretia was fighting against three Antmen and giant ants, but he could have one of them without a problem. Rain brandished his rapier and attacked a nearby giant ant.

With a silver light, his sword flashed, stabbing through the head of the monster that was trying to find an opportunity to attack Gretia. Without stopping, he slashed at the other giant ant around him that were still regaining their balance.

“Rain!”

Gretia called out.

“I hope I’m not bothering,”

Rain smiled embarrassedly the moment he landed on the ground.

“Never,”

Gretia giggled and her hands glowed in bluish-pale white.

A water stream coiled around her and splash against the surrounding monsters, knocking them a few meters back.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, his figure bolted and his sword stabbed towards a poor Antmen’s head that was too late to react. The sword’s blade stabbed three times before stopping. Though, he was forbidden to confront Antmen, but it doesn’t mean he cannot sneak out a kill when opportunity calls for it.

The monsters suddenly turned at him, and their agro coming towards them—Rain thought this is bad, and hurriedly jumped back, however, before he could completely step back a few meters, Gretia appeared in front of him and her long tail smashed towards the rushing monsters.

“Don’t you dare touch him, you bastards!!”

Never heard her being angry this before.

Gretia was always gentle, like still water.

While thinking that, Rain sidestepped and suddenly leaned his shoulder and attacked, hitting the monster to his left. To his right, he heard an explosion as Granite’s enormous axe chopped down at another monster. Granite grinned and raised her axe to chop down again, splitting another creature into two. It was like she was chopping fruits and vegetables, but every attack was devastating.

Rain then saw her beloved Lamian; Lafetti skillfully playing around with a couple of monsters and killing them one by one, though in and between was keeping an eye on him very closely, their eyes often locked each other. Though, he was a bit worried she might get hit by an enemy if she gets distracted.

Zarda, on the other hand, was easily slaughtering all enemies that came unto her, and she was quickly cleaning up the surrounding with her Ice Magic. Everywhere she goes, everything froze in solid ice; the weeds, the plants, the bushes the trees, the monsters, everything turned into a winter hell.

Antmen and black and red giant ants spewed fire and acid, but they just couldn’t stop her power. With her breath, as if she was a frost dragon, the snakes at top of her head stood up and hissed with glaring red eyes—everything started to freeze over, starting from their toes to their heads. She looked like the legendary Medusa with her petrifying gaze, though with the difference of not turning people to stone, but into a block of ice.

Zarda then swung her sword, breaking the blocks of ice and killing those that couldn’t move because of their icified legs.

She was hella strong—wouldn’t she be capable of exterminating an entire ant colony by herself? Rain can’t help but wonder.

Rain was able to kill seven giant ants, and three Antmen—though they were all women, they are still horrifyingly scary so he didn’t have any thoughts on killing them. Although he had help from Zarda and Gretia in some of them, he was still able to earn the experience required to increase his physical status.