Phase Escape
I thrust my sword into the eye of the ant charging straight toward the superior species I had just killed. Timing it perfectly, one of my Ikelos slashed the ant's head clean off in that same instant. I took the full brunt of two more ants that scrambled over the corpse, their bodies slamming into mine. Crunch. Crack. Before they could connect, the crystals embedded in my armor erupted outward at high speed, blooming like an umbrella to absorb the impact. The crystal manipulation ability from the Crystal Spider material had activated.
Thanks to the armor's flawless defense, I kept my footing and slipped between the two ants. Before they could react, I whipped my sword in a wide arc and severed both their heads. A rush of experience points flooded my mind. There was no time to enjoy it.
"Rune Golem! Deploy Gravity Field!"
Gravity Field
A low hum filled the air as the field spread at my command, yanking dozens of ants into its grip. The Rune Golem brought its massive fists down on the floating creatures before they could regain their senses, then turned to meet the next wave pouring into the cleared space. Normally I only handled one to three monsters at a time. Taking on this many made the experience points roll in on an entirely different scale. Each one gave less than other monsters, but the sheer volume more than compensated.
Kill one, two more appeared. Kill two, four more came biting. Rohan's armor had been holding them back so far, but attacks from every direction were slowly adding cuts across my body. The moment the Rune Golem bought me a short breather, I reset my stance and looked ahead.
"Kiiiiik!"
"Damn. I still can't see the end."
More than ten minutes had passed since the battle began. The floor was carpeted with ant corpses. My summons had been forcibly unsummoned after taking too much damage, only to be called back again after devouring more of my mana. Yet the ants showed no sign of thinning out. If this hadn't been a narrow passage, their numbers would have crushed me long ago. I glanced behind me. Even with the area reinforcement, the tunnel was shaking. Some sections had already cracked or collapsed under impacts they couldn't withstand.
Our side had used the Lesser Dragon's breath, yet the walls showed not a single scorch mark. The fact that the passage was starting to break down filled me with awe. But the true fight wasn't between the warriors and the superior ants.
"Die, Mystery Slayer!"
"Oh dear. Aren't you putting a bit too much power into your attacks?"
It was a clash between the North's greatest warrior and the ultimate specimen the colony had invested every resource to create. Their battle was on another level entirely. Even the warriors and superior ants fighting nearby had to dodge the shockwaves. At my level, I could barely follow their movements. A quiet shudder ran through me.
That's still not their full strength?
To me this corridor felt plenty large, but to them it was narrower than a cage. Superhumans who could cover dozens of meters in a single step had almost no room to display their true power here. Every time their fight widened the space a little, they revealed movements from an entirely different dimension. I couldn't even guess where their limits lay.
Well, it wasn't my problem. I focused on holding back the swarm.
"I'm a grunt too, but I'm stronger than you lot. So don't even think about getting past me."
From their perspective, both I and the ants were disposable pieces that could be crushed with one finger. Still, in a superhuman fight where victory could hinge on the tiniest margin, my role mattered. Coldly speaking, I was simply the slightly stronger grunt keeping the weaker ones from interfering.
The more I think about it, the more pathetic it sounds.
Dwelling on it would only make me feel sorry for myself, so I pushed the thought aside and focused on the fight. I used the Rune Golem as a living wall and cut down every ant that tried to climb over, supported by my nine Ikelos. As the battle dragged on, the newly summoned creatures' bodies were gradually being worn down. My expression tightened at the growing number of wounds, but the situation remained manageable.
"Kiiik...!"
"One down!"
Several shockwaves erupted from behind. Grid's axe had split a superior ant's head open. In a two-against-five fight, he had still managed to kill one. The momentum instantly shifted.
"Nice strike."
"Hahaha! If I couldn't pull off at least that, I'd have to hand back my Silver badge!"
With fewer enemies, the warriors' morale soared. The superior ants, however, immediately rearranged their formation without hesitation the moment one comrade fell, switching to a purely defensive stance. Their intention to buy time was obvious.
"They're planning to hold out until their comrades outside return?"
"Obviously. Their greatest strength is numbers, after all."
I nodded in agreement as I listened to the exchange. There was no reason for them to fight at a disadvantage when they held such a clear advantage in numbers. If all five had been in perfect condition it might have been different, but they simply lacked the skill to face two of the subjugation force's top fighters. Their only paths to victory were to exploit their numbers or hope Zeno won. But Zeno was clearly inferior to Owen.
That left them with no choice but to wait for reinforcements. And it looked like their plan was working.
"Kieeeeeeek!!"
"High-ranking ant incoming ahead!"
Normally they would have been dismantled individually before their scheme bore fruit. This time, however, luck was on our side. A superior ant was approaching from the far end of the passage. The moment I identified it and shouted, Grid and Clorin's heads snapped toward me.
"A superior ant?"
"It's in terrible shape. Looks like it was injured while forcing a retreat during battle."
Just as I said, the creature's condition was poor. A deep sword wound cut across its shoulder, and its body was covered in ice shards and scorch marks. Blood streamed down its arm. I smiled with confidence.
"I'll handle that one. Can you finish off the rest while I buy time?"
"If you can hold it off, of course we can."
"I'll make you regret thinking you could stall us."
Seeing their equally confident smiles, I nodded.
"Then show me what you've got. After all, I have a way to survive no matter what situation I find myself in."
The skill had originally been prepared as insurance while escorting Lady Seraris. The pursuit party had turned out weaker than expected, so I never found a chance to use it. Trusting in that skill, I checked my remaining mana, which was less than half, and snapped my fingers.
Snap.
A summoning circle bloomed behind me. Beyond the rift, intense heat surged upward. Flames poured out like liquid and coalesced into the shape of a dragon's head. It was the Lesser Dragon I had summoned earlier.
Krrrrraaaaa!
The newly manifested dragon announced its presence with a powerful roar. The one I had hastily summoned before had only fired its breath and vanished. This time it rolled its eyes, surveying the area. After a brief glance at the ornate corridor, it realized the truth and snorted.
"You're surprisingly expressive, aren't you?"
Grrrng.
The Lesser Dragon growled as if asking what I meant. Though formed of flame, it had proven it was a true living being. It spotted the superior ant charging from afar and opened its maw. Without needing instruction, it understood its purpose and began gathering power for its breath.
"Kiiiiiiiiik!"
The charging superior ant let out an ear-splitting screech. The cry carried a clear threat: move or die. It had no effect on the Lesser Dragon. Instead, as if determined to make the creature pay for its insolence, it gathered even more flames than before and unleashed them.
Kwaaaaaaaa——!!
The air contracted, then violently expanded, releasing an overwhelming shockwave. I didn't need to worry about the passage collapsing or oxygen depletion. At my level it was difficult to even scratch these walls, and since the flames were composed purely of mana, normal combustion never occurred.
The flames shot forward in a straight line, incinerating every ant in their path before swallowing the superior ant whole. The overwhelming heat was enough to melt remains and even vaporize them. The passage, previously littered with corpses, was now spotless. Not a trace of toxic gas or harmful byproduct remained.
Grrrrng.
The Lesser Dragon simply looked satisfied. Having consumed everything in its flames, it gazed languidly down the passage where even the heat had vanished.
"Ki...ik...!"
The superior ant had not died. In the brief moment before the flames arrived, it had used nearby ants as living shields. Its entire body was scorched, but it had survived. Its staggering steps gradually steadied as it burned the last of its life force in a desperate bid to recover. The Lesser Dragon watched with regretful eyes.
Because of the skill's low level and limited unlocks, the only thing it could do after being summoned was fire its breath. Once that single attack was spent, the Lesser Dragon's form began to fade. As the flames scattered and it prepared to return to its own realm, it looked at me. Our eyes met. Through the thread of our contract, an intense will poured into my mind.
Break the restrictions. Fulfill the contract. Evolve me.
"...Evolution."
The Lesser Dragon's words echoing in my head made me realize something once again. The power the Mystery had given me was not identical to Argo Saga. Unlike the summons in that game that simply followed code, the ones here were intelligent living beings. Ikelos, the Rune Golem, and the Lesser Dragon had all formed contracts through their own unique worlds. If the contract conditions weren't met, they could sever the bond without hesitation.
It might seem like a restriction at first glance, but considering how much the summons contributed, it made perfect sense. If anything, being able to form such contracts was an advantage for me.
I spun my sword with a confident smile.
"I'll evolve you just as you wish, so don't worry."
Grrrng.
The fading Lesser Dragon gave a small smirk at my words and vanished without lingering. It left behind a clear intention to wait for me. I turned my back on the spot where it had disappeared and walked down the passage.
"Kik...!"
The wounded superior ant glared at me with pure killing intent. I leveled my sword at it, meeting that desire to tear me apart.
"We probably can't communicate, but I'll say one thing anyway."
I glanced at the superior ant charging forward, ready to burn the last of its life. I poured what little mana I had left into my blade. The steady flicker proved I was a mana user. When I moved that mana with delicate control and strong intent, the faint light grew sharp and clear.
"In this survival competition for each other's prosperity, I have absolutely no intention of losing to you."
The completed aura sword swept out in a beautiful horizontal arc. The superior ant, already at its limit, could offer no meaningful resistance. Its head flew from its shoulders.
Thud.
I glanced at the collapsing corpse, dispelled my aura, and took a potion from my inventory with a trembling hand. I drank it, spilling half in the process, and finally felt my body begin to stabilize. A sigh of relief escaped me.
"Huu... I think I'll live after all."
Having squeezed out every last drop of mana, my vision kept blurring. The prolonged high-intensity battle had left my body in tatters and my stamina completely drained. I would probably suffer from a terrible fever once I returned, but the experience had been worth it. I turned my gaze toward the area where the battle still raged.
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Hahaha! Let's enjoy ourselves a little longer!"
Zeno's entire body was covered in wounds as he moved with desperate fury. In contrast, Owen had barely any injuries. Grid and Clorin, still fighting the superior ants, looked relatively fine as well. Two more superior ants had fallen; only two remained. Clearly we held the advantage. I let out a breath of relief as I watched their fight, but noise from behind made me turn my head.
Beyond the now-pristine passage, a group of ants appeared alongside two superior ants. They looked far healthier than the one I had just killed. I shouted in alarm.
"Two superior ants identified in the passage!"
At my cry, Grid and Clorin pressed their opponents harder and shouted back.
"Let them through! Even with reinforcements, victory is already ours!"
"Just run! You said you can escape any situation, so use that and get out of here! We'll handle the rest!"
"Understood! I wish you good fortune in battle!"
The potion had restored me somewhat, but my stamina and mana were still near zero. Without hesitation I nodded at the warriors' suggestion. I left my summons behind and activated the skill I had prepared ever since the escort request.
Phase Escape
I whispered the words. My body floated upward as if weightless. The sensation of being sucked into somewhere else hit me at the same time my vision flipped completely. The phenomenon happened so suddenly that I instinctively closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I could not contain my shock at the sight before me.
"Where... is this?!"