Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Unfairness Upon Unfairness
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Thud, thud! Staring down the two charging stag beetles as they crashed through the obstructing trees, I channeled the energy of vegetation.
I thrust my brush toward the underbrush, rapidly accelerating its growth.
In an instant, the grass shot up to waist height, swaying like it was dancing and blocking the beetles' path.
Trusting in their own strength, the beetles barreled straight ahead, their vivid red horns leading the way without hesitation.
"Tsk tsk tsk tsst!"
"Tsst!"
Countless saw-like claws sprouted from the beetles' legs, tangling in the underbrush and yanking at it.
Staggering, their centers of balance collapsing, the bipedal beasts planted their other legs into the ground.
As if waiting for that moment, the rest of the grass coiled around their remaining limbs.
The stag beetles let out enraged cries, twitching their legs irritably, but once ensnared, the grass relentlessly hindered their movements.
Not missing the timing, I poured even more energy into it.
Thick roots burst forth like wooden vines, climbing up the beetles' legs.
They clamped down viciously at every joint, wrapping around like snakes and growing larger as they devoured mana.
Their leg segments began to twist unnaturally.
Like a marionette with snapped strings, the two beetles jerked in grotesque, dance-like spasms, creaking like low-frame animation.
The more they struggled to break free, the more entangled they became.
"Zzt, zzt…."
"Tssk…!"
Even their chitinous cries, meshed together, started to muffle as the roots enveloped their bodies.
The roots coiled around the beetles like ivy.
Creak, crreeeak, crunch.
As the roots instinctively sought out crevices to bind, the sturdy chitin warped and screamed. Their performance was better than expected—I was a bit surprised and took a step back.
I need to control the power better.
It was my first time using it in combat, and I'd overinfused the mana, making it... a little tentacle-horror weird.
A bit too grotesque to leave like this, so I gathered the two beetles together to finish them quickly.
Volcano.
Their chitin resisted the pouring magma for a moment before melting into goo. No amount of resistance could stand against a top-tier fire skill.
I collected the mana stones and returned to the waiting room.
A terrifying skill came with the rewards.
Dancing Garden... Unlike its romantic name, it made captured prey look like it was dancing in agony as it was crushed.
Thanks to their chitin, it wasn't that bad, but against creatures with regular skin? It'd be horrifying.
Plant-type hunters... I thought they sounded all herbivore-like, but turns out they're brutally hardcore.
That hunter I saw before—was she from the Association? Gotta be careful.
Separate from that, I was in deep trouble.
I'd hoped it wouldn't happen, but...
Unfairness on top of unfairness.
After scraping by the early unfair spawns, now blatant rigging awaited me.
Walking Mushroom, Giant Mantis, Branded Beetle.
With those three down, only one left.
Title: Hey Tower Gallery Scum
Author: Angry Picasso
We got mushrooms on 16F, right?! Have some conscience! Why mantis and beetles?! Why are 19F ants?! WHY?!
【View more replies 4/10】
In the midst of despair, Quest Stack 2 filled up.
Nothing's as fun as others' misfortune.
Mushroom encounter from my bad-luck news, then 19F ants confirmed—posts piling up in recommendations.
Can't be happy about it—they're just thrilled at my bad luck.
Some genuine sympathy, sure, but most just laugh and upvote.
Title: So How Many Ants Are There?
Author: Angry Picasso
No top buddies done 19F ants? Like 100?
Definitely trolling me. Otherwise, single digits before, then suddenly this? Difficulty skyrockets unrealistically.
Scarlett's the US S-Rank hunter. Necromancer ability, that's all I know.
Cheat-level trait just from hearing it.
Hoped it'd be dozens at most, but hopes crumbled fast. Haven't entered yet, could bail, but pride stung.
I have a cheat class too!
Fuck it, I can do this!
Resolve hardened, I waited for full mana recovery and headed to 19F.
Still got an ace up my sleeve. Should be fine.
Giant Ant Swarm Extermination
🎁 Reward: EXP
No... doesn't seem fine.
Braced myself, but seeing the ants up close brought cold sweat.
They hadn't spotted me yet, busy with their tasks. Amid the overwhelming dread, I snapped a proof pic with shaking hands and uploaded it.
Title: Don't Make Weird Promises
Author: Angry Picasso
(Photo of trees crawling with black ants) Trees are black. Sigh.
Others deal with teens per floor, but one tree in front of me had twenty-plus.
Sunlight writhed black with their movements.
Trees, ground—ants everywhere, no gaps.
Thousands, easy.
No choice—full power from the start.
I spread my wings and soared into the sky.
Even if tons, bomb from unreachable heights? Worth a shot.
The moment they spotted me, the entire forest shuddered violently.
Volcano x2.
Pulled my strongest card right away.
Fired spaced shots to burn the forest itself—crimson magma flooded, swallowing everything on the ground.
Acidic smoke rose, forest tremors intensifying.
Ssssk—sss—
Formic acid shot from ants atop trees, but Moonling's silver shields blocked some; most didn't reach.
Phew, now just hold out?
Forest huge—full burn takes time. Easier than thought.
Thanks to wings keeping me aloft.
Anyway, I win, right?
Grinning triumphantly, I tossed more Flames to stoke the blaze when odd noise hit.
Buzzing—thin insect wingbeats.
Through thick smoke, countless ants took flight.
Winged ants!
Come on, enough already!
Air combat too?!
No time for lament—the sky filled with winged ants swarming madly.
Most attacks blocked by Moonling, but my air combat sucked.
Fireball and Flame dropping a few—that's it. Sneaky bastards scattered at red glow, then regrouped.
Fresh mana surged with cool sensation.
Hit limit already—Moonling's buff refilled it.
Not good like this.
Hitting flyers tough.
Good thing ants fragile—Fireball melts chitin and wings fine—but numbers overwhelming.
Worse, smoke choking breath.
Long fight drains stamina and mana hard.
...Then.
I dispersed the sketching flames, left defense to Moonling, focused on wings.
Clang, thud, clunk! Amid collision chaos, I flapped hard backward.
Fast—infused more wind energy into wings, accelerating.
Wingbeat buzz faded, fierce wind roaring in ears.
Glanced at pursuing winged ants, then massively flapped wings.
Backdraft halted me midair.
Spun around, extended hand toward the black swarm of winged ants.