Chapter 10
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This chapter is edited by Rain. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 10: The First Battle
Good morning! Another bright and sunny day!
Well, not that us little ants living underground can see the sunlight.
Anyway, today is the final battle! Let’s give it our all, everyone!
Yes, that’s right—we’re executing PLAN-C!
PLAN-C involves a suicide squad of fifteen [Weak Ants] charging out to distract the bear, while the remaining fifteen form an escort team to ensure the commander’s safety. This is basically an improved version of PLAN-B!
Why “we”?
Of course, it’s we! Even if my children don’t talk, I’m sure they agree with this plan!
See? They’re nodding.
I didn’t command them to nod. Nope, absolutely not!
Sigh… Don’t worry, brave warriors, Mom will remember your sacrifice! So go forth without regrets.
With that in mind, Lin Yu made sure the suicide squad had a proper last meal.
The juiciest, most tender (read: oozing with green pus) meat chunks were given to them first.
Fifteen [Weak Ants] leveled up to LV.4.
As usual, Lin Yu checked their status. This time, something different happened.
Fourteen of them received HP +10, but one D-Aptitude [Weak Ant] got Strength +1!
What a pleasant surprise!
Could it be that higher aptitude increases the chance of receiving rarer blessings?
After the suicide squad, it was the escort team’s turn.
Unfortunately, the other D-Aptitude [Weak Ant] in the escort team still only received HP +10, just like the others.
Seeing that higher aptitude might lead to rare blessings, Lin Yu placed both D-Aptitude ants in the escort team.
Now that everything was set, it was time to launch the attack!
But as the saying goes, no plan survives contact with the enemy.
A report came in from the [Weak Ants] monitoring the bear—it had started walking out of the cave!
What’s going on?
Did it finally get hungry and decide to hunt?
Ahem! PLAN-C is canceled! See? Mom couldn’t bear to send you off to die after all!
New plan: PLAN-A!
Lin Yu led the Strength +1 [Weak Ant] and twenty other ants to the cave entrance.
By the time they arrived, the bear had already left the cave.
‘Alright, I’m counting on you all! Believe in yourselves—you’re the best! Bring back lots and lots of food!’
Even knowing the ants wouldn’t respond, Lin Yu still cheered them on.
‘Huh? Me? Of course, I can’t go with you.’
‘Someday, fledgling ants must leave their mother’s embrace! You can’t grow if you stay under my wings forever!’
Yup, this is absolutely not because I’m a coward!
With that, Lin Yu watched the exploration team leave the anthill.
That’s right—exploration team was the new name for the twenty-one-strong squad.
The remaining nine ants stayed behind with Lin Yu.
Using [Unique Skill—Ant Queen], Lin Yu linked her vision with the D-Aptitude temporary captain and saw through its eyes.
***
Once outside the anthill, Lin Yu finally took in the full view of the cave.
Aside from cleanly picked animal bones, there was nothing of note.
She ordered the ants to hurry to the cave entrance—who knew when the bear would return?
As they exited the cave, the view opened up.
A vast blue sky, a radiant sun, and an endless green forest stretched before them.
The air was incredibly fresh.
Back in the anthill, Lin Yu had instructed an ant to keep track of time by scratching the cave wall each day.
Nine marks had been made, meaning today was Day 10.
Ten days underground…
Ten days of darkness, ten days of foul odors…
Lin Yu felt a wave of happiness wash over her.
But viewing the outside world through a [Weak Ant]’s eyes wasn’t the same as experiencing it firsthand.
It was like experiencing everything through a thin veil.
She could feel the sunlight, smell the fresh air, even feel the breeze—but it all felt distant.
The joy was there, but so was disappointment.
Still, there were more important things to focus on.
She began scanning the surroundings.
The outside world wasn’t necessarily safer than the cave. Until she understood the area, moving the anthill was not an option.
For now, she saw no other creatures, and the cave seemed to be on a small hill.
Bear footprints, larger than a [Weak Ant], were visible nearby.
That direction is off-limits.
But which way should we go?
This way?
Or that way?
No time to waste—just pick a direction and go! The goal is something edible!
Fruits would be ideal! No rot, no blood, just sweet and sour deliciousness!
The ants moved as silently as possible.
A few minutes later…
They found a living creature!
Wait… isn’t this that thing?
Because she wasn’t physically there, Lin Yu couldn’t use [Identify]. But just by looking at it, she was pretty sure.
A slime!
The creature looked like a yellowish pile of goo with leaves, twigs, and dirt stuck inside. Two irregularly shaped, seed-like core orbs floated within.
The slime hadn’t noticed the ants yet.
It remained still, bubbles rising from its body—likely digesting food.
Leaves, twigs, and dirt… Too bad it isn’t fruit. Otherwise, they could just steal it from its “stomach.”
Wait—can slimes be eaten?
Well, whether they’re edible or not, this one’s not getting away!
Killing it should grant experience, and if they can eat it, even better.
No reason not to try!
‘Alright, let’s do this! Attack!’
Lin Yu commanded one of the non-captain [Weak Ants] to charge at the slime.
The ant pounced and bit down!
Mmm, a mouthful of goo.
No experience gained.
And the slime didn’t die.
Figures—the weak point must be those seed-like cores!
Lin Yu ordered the ant to bite the cores.
The slime struggled, but it was slow and weak—completely ineffective at resisting.
With a sharp crack, the core shattered.
The slime collapsed, its body dissolving into a puddle.
Lin Yu checked the ant’s experience bar.
Only 1% progress.
So… 100 slimes were needed to level up from LV.4 to LV.5?
Slightly disappointing.
But on the bright side, the [Weak Ants] are stronger than slimes! Despite the “Weak” in their name!
Then again, this slime was probably low level.
Fair comparisons should be made between creatures of the same level.
Oh well, whatever! Our first battle was a complete victory!
A good omen—congratulations!
