The Irregular Soldier Ant
'This is….'
Aleck and the Estelle sisters whipped their heads around. In the direction the roar had come from stood a massive white ant primal, over five meters tall.
A grotesquely oversized dark brown head dwarfed its body. Protruding viciously in proportion was a gigantic jaw. It was unmistakably a fully mature soldier white ant primal.
But its size was freakishly enormous.
'It exceeds the typical adult size. An irregular specimen?'
Normal soldier white ant primal adults measured around three meters. Aleck had never seen one over five meters, even before his regression.
Which meant the one before them was definitely irregular.
Primal species occasionally produced these irrationally massive irregulars.
'Of all days, we run into one today.'
"Keeiiiit!"
The beast spotted them and grew agitated, poised to charge at any moment. Aleck swiftly aimed the hose at it.
Pssshhh!
Lemon saltwater sprayed toward the creature. Normally, that alone would have driven it off.
But this one was different.
"It's deflecting the saltwater!"
Amy let out a startled cry.
Just as she said—the beast was blocking the incoming lemon saltwater with its jaws.
"It's not working?"
"No, that's not it. Look closely—it's extremely wary of the water touching anywhere but its jaws."
Estelle calmly observed it and realized it wasn't fully immune to the lemon saltwater.
As she said, the beast hesitated to advance, guarding against the saltwater touching its body.
But the real problem was elsewhere.
"The saltwater's almost gone."
"Mine too."
The containers Aleck and Amy were using were running dry.
Once the saltwater was depleted, the beast would surely attack.
'We brought three containers total.'
One remained in Estelle's hands.
But if it blocked that with its jaws too, it would only buy time.
'Odds of winning a head-on fight?'
Soldier white ant primal adults were generally far stronger than equivalent regular white ant primals.
Ant species limits kept them out of the ecosystem's top tier, but still.
This irregular soldier white ant would be even tougher.
A head-on fight with their current forces was impossible.
They'd need at least one mantis warrior at Maturity Stage.
'The only one here at Maturity Stage is… Amy. Can she handle it?'
She was from the red fire ant tribe—aggressive among ants, but not physically dominant.
'Probably not.'
Head-on was off the table.
So what now?
"We count to three and retreat."
Estelle voiced the same judgment as Aleck—retreat was wisest.
They'd achieved their goal; restock on lemon saltwater and return.
'But…'
Aleck glanced at the preliminary soldier white ant primal corpses scattered from fallen trees.
Leaving them felt wasteful.
'Predation on those could yield something.'
He regretted it.
'If I could just douse its body with saltwater…'
He could repel it.
"Estelle, hand me the last one."
"Pardon?"
"Quickly!"
At Aleck's urging, Estelle passed him the remaining container.
At that moment, his spray ran dry.
"Kieeet!"
The soldier white ant primal roared shortly as the stream weakened—like proclaiming their doom.
'High Jump (D) activated.'
Ignoring it, Aleck triggered High Jump again.
Boom!
His body launched toward a nearby black charcoal tree.
As it loomed close, he spun, using it as a springboard for another midair leap.
Whoosh!
Fierce air resistance battered him.
Estelle and Amy were specks below—how high? Fifteen meters? Twenty?
He didn't know exactly, but far beyond the ten meters from tightrope training.
'Circle behind it.'
The beast stood five meters from head to ground, but its body stretched nearly ten meters long.
Aleck arced over its head, plummeting toward its body.
"Here's your gift! Eat this!"
Midair, he uncapped the container and dumped the saltwater onto it below.
Splash—
The lemon saltwater drenched its back perfectly.
"Kiiieeeeet!"
It thrashed on the ground, screaming in agony.
How much it hated it.
The effect was tremendous.
"Kiriririt."
After writhing, it scrambled away on unsteady legs.
Thud.
Aleck landed safely.
'Success.'
He inwardly cheered.
The stunt was risky—if it hadn't fled, he'd be its target.
A botched landing could mean serious injury.
But he'd embraced the danger for victory.
"Aleck!"
Estelle rushed over, eyes mixing awe and worry.
The admiration deep in her gaze meant she'd truly fallen for him.
'Nailed the future guild master's heart.'
How he nurtured this could bring massive support—and accelerate his growth.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, nothing wrong."
He grinned at her concerned tone.
"You keep surpassing my expectations… Incredible. To repel even an irregular like that."
"It won't come near here anytime soon."
White ant primals avoided lemon saltwater-scented spots.
They'd cleared the nest.
'Best if we'd caught it… but impossible now.'
That size might yield a core.
White ant cores had minor uses, but as a tonic? Perfect for him.
A twinge of regret.
Then—
"Sis, I'll catch that one."
"What?"
"I see an opening."
Amy waddled toward the fleeing soldier white ant and declared boldly.
Estelle gaped, but Amy acted.
Thud!
She shot forward like lightning.
She drew her twin swords from her waist sheath.
'That's…'
Her form evoked a legendary warrior from rumors.
The Frenzied Bloodstorm.
Her twin blades danced, spraying blood everywhere.
Slash!
Reaching the beast, she hacked at its rear.
'…!'
Aleck marveled at the ferocity in her swordsmanship.
He'd pegged her at Maturity Stage 2.
Wrong.
She was at Maturity Stage 3—the final step before Complete Body.
'Whoa… Complete Body soon.'
He couldn't help admiring her.
"Kieeet!"
The soldier white ant twisted, swinging its massive jaws.
They crashed down to crush her, but she was in control.
Thud, tatatadat!
She dodged fluidly at blinding speed.
Then circled it faster.
The saltwater on its back still lingered?
It flailed its head futilely, unable to track her.
Its steps faltered.
The gap reappeared!
Flash.
Scarlet flames ignited in Amy's eyes.
Seizing the opening, she infused ether into her blades and shredded it anew.
Her swings were so fast her arms blurred into six.
'Oho.'
Aleck watched in silent awe as it crumbled.
It offered no resistance under her blades.
'Impressive.'
Genuine admiration.
Saltwater disoriented them, dropping combat power.
Even so, an irregular—tough for a red fire ant at Maturity.
'Her technique mastery is elite.'
Whatever art it was, an advanced one emphasizing "swiftness."
High proficiency too.
'She could solo these soldier ants alone.'
He glanced at Estelle—jaw dropped, clueless to Amy's level.
'Hid her strength from sis too.'
Whatever the reason, Estelle hadn't known.
Thud!
The hulking body collapsed with a boom.
Crunch.
Amy stabbed between its eyes, ending it.
"Amy, you…."
"Sis."
Battle over, but their faces were grave.
Estelle looked conflicted; Amy hung her head like a scolded child.
"Sorry. But I can't stop wielding the sword."
"Haa."
Amy apologized; Estelle sighed.
'I can guess from the vibe.'
Red fire ants—extinct save for them.
Estelle had forbidden direct revenge, opposing Amy's sword.
'Details later.'
Aleck smiled bitterly at their tragic bond.
Ultimately, victims of the Four Lords—and the Administrator.
"You… we'll talk later."
Estelle stopped, mindful of Aleck.
Amy bowed her head despite her feat.
Aleck approached silently, patting her shoulder.
* * *
Estelle and Amy's mood was heavy, but clearing the black charcoal tree grove of white ant primals was swift.
And Aleck scored great loot.
'A C-rank skill.'
Pulverize (C)
Generates micro-vibrations to shatter target matter at the particle level.
―Can activate through weapons.
―Power increases with proficiency.
'Useful skill.'
A white ant primal specialty.
Not combat-focused, but top-tier for demolition.
He'd use it later.
Weapon-compatible too—great in battle.
And from the soldier white ant:
"This core's yours, Aleck."
Estelle offered a fist-sized milky white orb.
From the irregular's innards.
Less potent than others, but it'd boost vitality and heal wounds.
"I won't refuse. Thanks."
Absorb it with Origin Protection Rune, and his ether circuit wounds would heal in days.
Perfect timing.
"No need to thank me. We couldn't have without you."
True.
That's why he liked Estelle.
No greed in sharing credit.
Maybe why elites backed her.
"Oh! And we have that promise left."
She rummaged in her bosom.
It was here.
What he'd waited for.
His eyes sparkled as she drew it out.