Wipe Out the Ant Nest. 04
"……Pieta."
Mikael murmured. The image of Pieta's Mary floated back into his mind. The Virgin Mary holding the dead Jesus. That sacred image was soon Pieta. Filial piety. Loyalty. Fraternal affection. Faithfulness and mercy. It encompassed words for all manner of consideration and love, but Mikael thought of that Pieta as duty. The holy obligation one bound to the world ought to show. He felt it from Yeonwoo.
"It's not something so grand and lofty."
Mikael shook his head as if shaking off the thought. He hurriedly changed the subject.
"……You are quite strong."
But his next remark was still about Yeonwoo. The sight of her dispatching five ants in an instant was more than impressive—it was like some kind of art. Of course, Mikael was a strong hunter too. A Tier II hunter, and even at a high stage, right on the verge of Tier III. In simple terms, his volunteer work in the Ant Nest was nearing its end.
In any case, with his current knowledge, even if he dropped back to Tier I, he wasn't confident he could put on a show like Yeonwoo's.
Even Cardinal Pride wouldn't have been that strong.
The bishop with the peculiar title of Pride. He was Eden's cardinal and a Gate Liberator. Some of his abilities even affected the entire clan. The reason they could enter gates ignoring one tier was the Gate Liberator ability held by Cardinal Pride.
The power granted to Gate Liberators was mostly special abilities. Even that Cardinal Pride, back in his Tier I days, hadn't been as strong as Yeonwoo.
"No need for me to lend a hand, then."
However, due to the gate's restrictions, a Tier II like Mikael couldn't intervene in combat. All he could do was heal and offer simple blessings. But if she was that strong, she wouldn't get hurt anyway.
Mikael tapped his toes against the ground. A slight pang of regret hit him.
"……."
Mikael looked away. He gazed up at the innocent sky.
Why feel regret? Shouldn't it be a relief that I don't have to get close?
"Amen."
Mikael stared only at the sky to cool his complicated feelings. That was when it happened.
"……What is that?"
Something shimmering appeared in one part of the sky. Mikael narrowed his eyes. It was blurry, hard to make out, and could have just been clouds clumped into a unique shape.
"2……?"
But that shape resembled the number 2.
[2]
* * *
After that, Yeonwoo's advance was unstoppable. She mixed in various experiments while she was at it. Smashing ant heads with the flail. Savoring speed with the dagger. She even pulled out a bow and fired.
"So it auto-supplies basic arrows, huh."
Curiously, when she changed the form to a bow, a quiver attached to her back or side.
"Yeah, this is the feeling."
Her whole body came alive with sensation. Before regressing, Yeonwoo's Stigma had been 'Weapon Expert'. It was a power that automatically built proficiency with weapons, but naturally, it hadn't been all that useful back then. Still, that sensation lingered strangely in her fingertips. Her head remembered how to use any weapon she picked up, and her body followed. It must have been 'Weapon Expert' that granted knowledge of weapons. Even now that the Stigma was gone, the learned knowledge remained. Thanks to that, she could flexibly switch weapons by situation.
"Oh yeah, soldier ants drop those too."
Every gate had a few weapons imbued with its nature. In the Ant Nest, that was the whip from soldier ants.
Whip. A weapon almost no hunter used. Even those who did used mana-infused ones. But Yeonwoo was different. She'd thrashed around like a dog trying anything, so she'd tried whips too.
"Time to push deeper."
She'd tried everything possible on regular ants. Next up: the higher-tier soldier ants. Naturally, the ultimate goal was the queen ants, the gate's owners.
Lots of magistones too, and besides.
Her stage had risen too. Thanks to Beginner's Resolve, growth was double speed. And since she was one-shotting them solo, experience piled up several times faster.
"Filling up bit by bit. Feels good."
The massive hunter growth called a tier-up. At this rate, Tier II was just around the corner. Hunters varied, but tiers usually rose around stages 5-7.
Gonna hit Tier II here and get kicked out, probably.
This pace made it feasible. The gently blowing breeze felt nice. With clear motivation, her steps and movements lightened. Plus, the clouds seemed thicker, casting more shade and making it cooler.
Yeonwoo headed deeper into the Ant Nest in search of soldier ants. Then a sudden question struck her.
But why are soldiers called 'ants' onward?
Gates' ecosystems were arbitrary, as always.
* * *
A ton of hunters had gathered around the soldier ants.
"What? That person came here all alone?"
"Whoa, hey, look over there. So fast."
"Ugh, focus already... Whoa—"
Ants were basics among basics, so people got used to them quick and teamed up for soldier ants right away.
Makes it safer, actually.
With crowds swarming, soldier ants might run short, but danger was rare. That made solo Yeonwoo stand out more. And her presence wasn't ordinary. Her standout looks in the wasteland, plus an aloof aura hard to approach, formed a huge circle around her. The crowd surged after her every move, like minnows fleeing a shark.
"Isn't that the woman from that crappy-quality video?"
"Looks like it. Whoa, the real thing is insane."
"Stop ogling and focus."
"But look, doesn't that look like a number? Clouds are fun today."
"If you've got time for nonsense, take point."
Reactions to Yeonwoo followed naturally. With so many hunters, there was plenty of idle chatter. The stares were annoying, but the perks were clear: the crowd cleared paths, letting her duel soldier ants one-on-one.
-Ki-gi-gi-gi—!
Soldier ants were 1.5 times bigger than ants. Their cries were louder, creepier, with massive jaws, armored shells, and sharp spines sprouting everywhere. True to their name, they were specialized for combat.
Watch out not just for jaws or legs. Get too close careless, and spines could wound you.
"Come on."
Yeonwoo kicked a loose stone on the ground at it.
Ka-kak. Ka-kak! Sassak!
Hit by the stone, the soldier ant charged straight at her like a bullet.
Greatsword it is.
Considering size. And to pack more power, greatsword was ideal. Gripping the handle two-handed, Yeonwoo held the greatsword low and planted herself firm. Charging up Gathered Slash. Then—
Whoosh—!
She swung with all her might. Cutting power + weight + sharpness + destructive force. And finally, Gathered Slash. Simple math put it over three times her base power. Plus, these weapons. Based on the strongest, 'Real Combat Compression No.2', but power and speed varied by type. Greatsword had overwhelming raw power among them.
Kang!
A heavy thud. The greatsword sliced diagonally into the soldier ant's head. Krdrddk— With violent vibration, it split. The charging body cleaved perfectly in three.
"Yes!"
Her hands tingled, but she felt great. Especially the vibration cracking that tough shell—overwhelming.
"Ha! It works!"
Ants were one thing. But one-shotting a soldier ant? Even as a vet thrashing like a dog, she'd never heard of such a feat. Tier I limits were clear, no matter how strong.
But that uncharted territory unfolded from her hands.
-Kiiik!
No rest, of course. Two more soldier ants left. Yeonwoo twisted the extended greatsword toward the approaching one's head and thrust hard.
Kwak!
The greatsword burrowed into its skull. But not deep enough.
-Kiiik! Kiiiii— Kwak. Kwadrdk!
The soldier ant's jaws clamped the blade.
Yeah, no one-shot without Gathered Slash?
She didn't panic. She'd predicted this. Yeonwoo gripped the handle tight to steady the sword. Legs extended back to brace against the push. Then, like a fighter kneeing the solar plexus—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
She slammed her knee into the hilt over and over.
Kwak! Kwak! Pajak!
Finally, the greatsword shattered the head. Shell burst like an explosion from the impact.
"……Hah."
"What was that move? She's nuts."
The onlookers jumped in shock at the feral motion. A chain of bizarre, insane moves. No other way to describe Yeonwoo's veteran skill. Gasps and sighs rose everywhere, but Yeonwoo, eyes only on soldier ants, heard and saw nothing.
One-shot. Gotta one-shot every time.
Honestly, she'd thought one-shotting soldiers impossible. But she'd seen potential—worth trying.
Empty everything I've got.
This woman's body lacked raw strength. But maximize the flexible, agile, elastic frame?
Yeonwoo gripped the greatsword hard. One-handed this time. Her free hand thrust forward like a shot-putter. Then—
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh!
Using the sword as a weight, she spun in place. Her light, flexible body built terrifying rotational acceleration.
"Chaaat!"
With a spirited shout, she gripped two-handed and swung. Adding Rotational Force. A standard option in Real Combat Compression No.2, and not low-grade—superior.
Kwaaak!
The greatsword carved horizontally through the body. Kwang. Kugu. Kwadrdk! Abdomen. Chest. Head. Insect remnants pulverized in order. Finally mashing it into abdomen bits, chest bits, head-head-head-head-head chunks.
Kiiii—
Yeonwoo scraped the blade's tip on the ground to halt the spin.
"Hoo, huu……!"
A bit dizzy. But exhilarating beyond that. Irresistible elation clenched her fists. She wanted to jump for joy, but too many eyes.
"Hey, don't Tier II's can't enter the Ant Nest?"
"She's Tier I, I tell ya! Didn't you see the video?"
"What is this. Oh, is that a 5 in the sky?"
"But. This doesn't make sense. It's just. Doesn't make sense!"
"So Gold hunter smackdown does?"
The area buzzed. Some awed by Yeonwoo's feats, others murmuring at the sky. Amid it, something caught Yeonwoo's eye.
"Oh."
A sky-gazing hunter's words slipped from Yeonwoo's mouth too.
A weapon. A special one imbued with the gate's nature.
◈ Option: [Low Elasticity]
◈ Special Option: [Vibration Sense]
A whip with a special option. The weapon Yeonwoo had aimed for.
Everything's going smooth today.
Definitely a lucky day. Felt like anything would work. No need to look more—she fused the weapon right away.
Slrrk—
Just two days since awakening. Weapon abilities already over 10. And two special options. A new sensation, Vibration Sense, added to Yeonwoo.
"……Huh."
Yeonwoo looked around. Something faint transmitted through the ground and her feet.
This is Vibration Sense?
A strange, tapping flow spread without cease. Roughly, hundreds. No, thousands beyond.
"Hey, hey! Look, that's definitely a number!"
"Eh? Whoa, it is. But why's it like that? Is the Ant Nest always like this?"
"No, first time for me too……."
The skyward murmurs grew. Following the noise, Yeonwoo looked up.
[6]
A number existed in the Ant Nest sky.
"What the."
Yeonwoo narrowed her eyes at the sky. Maybe misread clouds? She blinked a few times.
[7]
It increased. And grew clearer.
[8]
The number moved. Now brazenly asserting presence, shifting form in a flash.
[9]
[10]
The numbers climbed rapidly.
[12]
Finally stopping at 12.
Clank, shrrk! Kugugugu!
"Wh-what?!"
"Ah! It's, shaking! Careful!"
"N-not that bad, but why?!"
The wasteland quaked, eerie chain-dragging metal sounds echoing across the entire Ant Nest. The bizarre system window in the sky
[12] Massive iron chains erupted from those letters like complex ant tunnels, wrapping the wasteland sky tight.
Shrrk! Bang!
The frantic chains finally halted at one spot in the sky. Then they reversed, plunging vertically toward the ground.
"That spot."
Hunters' gazes followed the falling chains down. The Ant Nest's heart. Also the special feature and landmark of this gate: dead center of the beginner camp.
"……An anomaly."
The gate entrance itself.