Chapter 319

Chapter 319: Ants vs. Earth Dragon (Part Eight)

The timeline shifts back.

As Earth Dragon Jon roared while fleeing, Earth Dragon Aier simultaneously planted its feet to retreat.

Yet how could Red Pupil and her companions allow it to escape unscathed?

Exchanging a meaningful glance, Red Pupil and Weak Sound launched relentless assaults on Aier’s limbs. Simultaneously, the surrounding terrain erupted as more Ant Tribes emerged.

The newcomers consisted primarily of Earth Digging Ants, Acid Ants, and Demonic Ants.

No sooner had Aier shifted its weight than the ground beneath its hind legs liquefied into sludge, the massive limbs sinking helplessly into the mire.

The Earth Digging Ants had activated their signature skill: "Swamp."

Due to its massive size, Aier couldn’t replicate Earth Dragon Kekui’s explosive leap to freedom. Extricating its hindquarters would require strenuous effort.

Seizing this opportunity, Demonic Ants joined Red Pupil and Weak Sound in bombarding the trapped limbs with prismatic magical projectiles. Meanwhile, Acid Ants adopted a broader strategy – their emerald secretions arced through the air before cascading like viridian rain across the Earth Dragon’s entire form.

*Plink…*

*Plink-plink-plink…*

Each acidic droplet sizzled venomously upon contact, eliciting a thunderous roar from the wounded behemoth. Countless scales – already cracked and dislodged during previous clashes with Red Pupil, Weak Sound, and Magic Rainbow – now exposed vulnerable flesh to the corrosive onslaught.

Without its armored protection, the acidic barrage ravaged Aier’s defenses. Quantity bred quality – though individually mere Class B threats, the Acid Ants’ collective assault became catastrophic. Regeneration struggled to match the pace of destruction, and magical reserves dwindled alarmingly.

Sensing impending doom, Aier unleashed its "Earthquake" skill. Violent tremors radiated hundreds of meters, fracturing the battlefield. The sudden upheaval disrupted all attackers – Red Pupil’s group staggered mid-strike, while Earth Digging Ants and Acid Ants tumbled into disarray.

Capitalizing on the chaos, Aier’s eyes narrowed as it channeled dragon breath. With calculated precision, it unleashed fiery annihilation toward the Swamp-casting Earth Digging Ants –

*BOOM!*

Though weakened from earlier exertions, the attack should have incinerated the low-tier insects… or so Aier believed as flames engulfed the ant formation.

Yet when the inferno struck, its potency mysteriously diminished before fracturing into a thousand hair-thin tendrils. These dispersed flames merely singed the Earth Digging Ants’ exoskeletons, reducing their Health Value by less than 10%.

Red Pupil’s signature technique flared in the aftermath – the life-preserving aura of "Undead Crowd."

"H-How… How is this possible?!"

Despair flooded Aier’s eyes as it witnessed the unfolding situation.

The previous Dragon Breath attack had drained most of its already depleted Magic Value.

Escape now stood completely beyond reach.

With this realization, the Earth Dragon unleashed a wrathful roar and commenced frenzied assaults on the surrounding ant colony.

It deactivated the "Regeneration" skill, abandoned all defensive abilities, and disregarded its injuries – spewing draconic breath and casting spells at visible targets while clawing and snapping at the relentlessly attacking Red Pupil and Weak Sound.

Yet these actions merely represented the last-ditch struggle of a cornered beast.

Under the effects of "Undead Crowd," Earth Dragon Aier failed to inflict meaningful damage while its abandoned defenses left it vulnerable. Within moments, the colossal creature’s body became riddled with wounds from the ant swarm’s onslaught.

Soon after, Earth Dragon Aier’s Health Value plummeted to critical levels, its massive frame collapsing with thunderous finality.

The "Tower" skill dissipated with its exhausted Magic Value, shrinking the twenty-meter titan back to original proportions.

As the defeated dragon lay motionless, Red Pupil approached with measured steps.

Aier’s eyelids slid shut after one final glance at its executioner.

Without ceremony, the loli warrior drove her bladed forelimb through the draconic skull.

Shhhk—

The visceral sound of parting flesh accompanied Aier’s Health Value reaching zero.

Thus perished all three mighty Earth Dragons that assaulted the Fog Zone.

Red Pupil’s level ascended again following Aier’s demise.

Whether due to her prior level of LV.41 or the limitations of her A Qualification, slaying the LV.50 Earth Dragon only elevated her to LV.45 – precisely matching Lin Yu’s earlier hypothesis that A Qualification capped at LV.45 for Class A entities, unlike the S Qualification’s LV.50 maximum exemplified by the Fog Zone attackers.

This evolution granted a new skill:

"Tower": Amplifies physical dimensions while temporarily boosting Strength, Intelligence, Health Value, Physical Resistance Ability, and Elemental Magic Resistance Ability attributes significantly, though with equivalent reduction to Agility.

Though singular, this formidable skill stood equal to Red Pupil’s existing arsenal. While less extraordinary than "Undying" or "Undead Crowd," it rivaled the potency of "Magnification," "Berserk," and "Smooth Body."

…

When Lin Yu emerged from the anthill post-battle, the black-haired loli immediately leapt into her embrace.

"Mommy."

"Good work, everyone."

The silver-haired girl patted Red Pupil’s head while surveying her daughters.

Her attention settled on Lvzi and Army Lady – the two ants who’d returned to assist during Aier’s final moments.

"The other Earth Dragon?"

"Escaped our pursuit."

Army Lady shook her head before adding, "But we inflicted grave injuries before its retreat. Darkling Stalker pursued it – she’s likely eliminated the target by now."

Darkling Stalker? How dependable…

Though this followed the original plan.

"Mother could contact her for confirmation, yes?"

Lvzi interjected.

"Hmm…"

Connecting with Darkling Stalker… Please don’t show me nightmare fuel again…

After brief hesitation, Lin Yu established the mental link.

Unbeknownst to them, Darkling Stalker had already slain Earth Dragon Jon and penetrated deep into the forest’s heart…