I don't know if it's a universal experience, but I've heard lots of people either destroyed ant hills for fun, or knew someone who did when they were a kid.

Personally, I wasn't the type to destroy them, but I definitely did know some weirdos who were.

I think Gloria was the type to destroy ant hills.

Because she seems very eager to get into a fight with every group of ants we see.

Luckily, ants are suuuper weak. Weak enough that we would be able to kill one with ease without even taking any damage if we were to fight one on it's own.

Of course, ants do tend to stick together, so we're never just fighting one ant.

Wait, did I ever use insight on them?

I don't think I did...

Well, in that case, better late than never!

Insight, activate!

So they're all level one? That must be why they're so weak.

I have a bad feeling about that though... Why have we only come across level one weaklings?

[Take this!]

She's so weird.

Anyway, fighting these ants has been great for leveling our skills. They're starting to look pretty good, if I do say so myself!

>

Unfortunately, it seems level one enemies aren't great for actually letting us level up, because we haven't leveled up once since Gloria started her ant slaughter.

Speaking of, seems she just killed the last of the ants in this chamber.

At first, finding a group of ants was pretty rare. But as we kept making our way through the cave, they became more and more common.

It's getting worrying. Ants live in colonies, and there's no way this ant colony is made up of exclusively level one trash. I just hope when we do come across a stronger one, which we definitely will, it won't be too strong.

Maybe I should ask Gloria if we can rest for a bit, just to make sure we're ready for anything.

Unfortunately, I called it.

We found another chamber full of ants, so Gloria got to killing them, as usual, but then, backup arrived.

Even bigger ants.

They're scary.

They look like they're wearing armor!

There's only two of them, but... they seem strong!

They're probably at least one evolution higher than the Formipea, maybe even two.

{Gloria, do you think you can handle them?}

[Maybe?]

{You don't sound too sure, we should run.}

[No way! I can do it! I can do it!]

{Gloria... well, if you insist. But I wanna try something.}

[Hm?]

I've been wanting to try this ever since soul manipulation evolved into soul control.

Soul manifestation!

I've messed around with it a little, but I'm not sure how useful it'll be in actual combat.

Well, I guess we just have to test it out!

I focus on my soul, and it comes into view within my mind's eye.

It looks a bit different now that soul manipulation became soul control. Rather than looking like a water-like liquid, it's more ethereal-looking now. It looks paper thin, despite it's volume.

Now, I focus on the outside world at the same time.

Above our head, a swirling mass appears.

Now, let's test this out!

{Gloria, attack!}

[If ya say so!]

As she dashes at the ants, I form my soul into a pointed shape, and move it in front of us.

The ant on the left charges at us, readying it's giant mandibles as it approaches.

It's not sharp enough! I need to do what I did before, by using the space surrounding it!

Sharper!

Now, attack!

The ant lunges at us, and I shove my soul forward.

Right before it's mandibles reach us, my spear-shaped soul stabs into the ant's head.

{Success!}

[What was that?]

{That is the power of soul manifestation!}

[Cool! now do it again, there's still one more.]

The second ant charges towards us, slamming into us before we can regain our balance.

[Ouch! Dammit, that hurt.]

These guys hit hard. I'm glad I decided to help out with soul manifestation, I'm not sure Gloria would have been able to beat them.

Now, the spear shape worked, let's try a sword!

I focus intently on my soul, compressing it down as thin as I can, and sharpening the edge.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Hmm... that should do. It doesn't look great, but it should serve it's purpose. I'll be able to make better looking weapons when soul control levels up more.

{Chaaaarge!}

[I thought you'd never ask!]

We rush forward, and I bring down the soul sword right as we reach the ant.

The sword cuts into it's head, but doesn't cut all the way through.

It was still enough though, because the ant collapses onto the ground.

{We did it!}

[Haha! That was awesome, you gotta do that more often!]

{I'll try, but that was exhausting.}

I wonder...

Oof, looks like doing that takes up a lot of energy.

We should probably only use it when we have to, at least until lessened energy consumption levels up some more.

Hey, wait a minute!

We're level five, but we're not evolving?

Huhhh...

Maybe the level cap is higher now? Yeah, that must be it.

I mean, there's no way this is the last step of our evolutionary tree.

Yeah, no way.

So, what's the level cap now? It was five before, so... either six or ten, probably.

Those two make the most sense.

Anyway...

{Gloria, let's rest for a while. Using soul manifestation left us with barely any energy left.}

[Alright.]

On our first few nights in this area, we tried to dig a hole, but it would always just cave in before we got deep enough. So now we just dig a little divot, and lay down in it.

The only monsters we've seen in this area are the ants, so we're probably pretty safe.

Well, I'm a little less certain now that we've seen those super strong ants, but we should be fine.

We'd be screwed no matter what if they showed up , awake or asleep, we don't have the energy to fight them.

So, no point in worrying. All worrying will do is make us get worse sleep.

Reassured by my own reasoning, I drift off to sleep.

The sound of countless steps on sand.

Strange clicking noises.

Something is happening around us.

But...

I'm too tired! Five more minutes!

[Fir?]

{Whaaaaat?}

[Look.]

{Oh!}

We're surrounded by ants.

They're all the weak kind, but there are still a lot of them. More than we've ever managed to kill at once.

I don't know if we can win.

Though, they don't seem to be attacking yet, so maybe we're fine?

What's our energy looking like?

Not full yet, but it should be enough to at least escape from the swarm surrounding us.

[What should we do?]

{I'm not sure. They don't seem to be preparing to attack.}

[Maybe they're friendly?]

{Yeah right, you murdered so many of their brethren.}

[Maybe they forgive me...]

{I don't think that's it...}

[Fir, wait. I think something's coming.]

{What do you mean?}

[I don't know, I just...]

[Something is coming from that tunnel!]

We need to run. We can't beat that thing, not in a million years.

All of the sudden, the army of ants surrounding us close in on us, blocking every route of escape.

{Shit! Gloria, move towards the exit, kill every one that gets in our way!}

[I know!]

I need to help her, she won't make it on her own.

I focus hard, and bring my soul out, quickly shaping it into a shield.

Right now, defense should be our top priority. A sword wouldn't be much help right now.

Immedietly, the sheild comes into use as countless ants attempt to charge into us.

This doesn't feel safe at all, but I don't have a choice.

Even if I die, if Gloria can get out... No! I shouldn't be thinking like that!

We can make it! We will make it!

I won't let our last meal be those ants we ate earlier!

I will survive! I won't be killed by mere ants!

They continue to pile towards us, like a tsunami of ants. My shield repels them a little, but not completely.

What's the strong one doing? I lost sight of it as soon as the weak ones started attacking.

We need to stay on guard, it could show up at any time.

Gah, they just keep coming!

!?

Something suddenly flies past our head, barely missing as we dodge.

{What was that?!}

[I don't know! It came from the clump of ants!]

{Dodge!}

Another shot comes flying past us, barely missing yet again.

{We won't be able to get away if this keeps up, we need to stop whatever is doing that.}

[But... I think we know what's doing it.]

{Yeah, I get what you mean. But we have no other option.}

[I guess you're right. Hey, if we don't make it...]

{Shut up. We're gonna survive, just keep going and don't even think about dying.}

[Alright...]

I angle the shield towards the large pile of ants as Gloria swiftly turns towards them and leaps forwards.

We break through the wall of ants with little resistance, and find ourselves on the other side, right in front of the scary looking ant from earlier.

Hello again, Mr ant.

Now, please just die.

A ball of liquid appears in front of the ants face, and shoots toward us.

Guess it won't be that easy.

The projectile barely misses us yet again, falling onto the ground. When it makes contact with the sand, it makes a hissing noise and the ground seems to get lower.

Ah, probably shouldn't let ourselves be hit by that.

{Gloria, focus on dodging it's attacks and avoiding the other ants, I'll work on coming up with a plan.}

[Got it.]

Now, how do we win this?

As long as the boss ant is alive, we can't leave, so killing that guy is our main goal.

It doesn't seem to like moving much, so for now we just have the projectiles and the swarm of ants to worry about.

Dodging the attacks isn't hard, but it makes getting in close for an attack difficult. Especially with the wave of ants following us everywhere we go, albeit slowly.

We could just charge forward and hope my shield can block it's attacks, but... I really don't wanna do that, if possible. We don't yet know the dangers of letting the stuff I make with soul manifestation get hit.

So for now, let's put that plan in the back. We can use it if all else fails.

So, what else can we do?

I could try to find a way to use soul manifestation as a projectile, but that plan has numerous holes.

Number one, we don't have unlimited energy. We already didn't have much when we were rudely awoken earlier, and now...

Yeah, we don't have much to work with.

Number two, I don't even know if it's possible.

So that plan is out the window. Too energy intensive and unreliable.

We have to keep in mind that we'll need energy afterward, or else we'll just get finished off by the weakling ants after killing the boss.

That'd be the worst.

...

This isn't working. I can't think of anything.

I need to look at our skills, maybe there's something I forgot about...

Black magic... nope, haven't learned to use it yet.

Camouflage... a bit too late to set a trap now.

Digging... wait, maybe?

{Gloria, I have an idea!}

[Spit it out then!]

{Try using the digging skill to kick up dirt into it's eyes!}

[...Really?]

{Yeah!}

[Well... whatever, if you say so.]

Gloria quickly turns around in the sand, kicking a cloud of it towards the ant.

It's just for a second, but it seems to be slightly slowed by the dust covering it's vision.

{It's working!}

[You sure? I mean, I guess it hesitated for a second, but is that enough?]

{There's not much else we can do}

[I guess...]

So, we keep dodging and kicking sand at it.

Over.

and over.

and over.

{This... isn't working. I'm sorry Gloria, I...}

[No, it's fine. I had an idea of my own.]

{?}

Suddenly, the ant steps forward and slips, falling onto the ground.

{How did you do that!}

[Whenever I hit it with some sand, it would step forward, probably to get a better view. I noticed that and messed up the sand in a spot I knew it'd step in, so it'd slip.]

{Woah! You're a genius!}

[Nah, just got lucky. That was my eleventh attempt! Anyway, let's finally finish this thing off!]