Chapter 316

Chapter 316: Ant Tribe vs. Earth Dragon (Part 5)

The lightning-fast spikes pierced through the ground, tearing through trees…

Within mere moments, the hundreds of meters surrounding Earth Dragon Jon lay utterly devastated.

As for the combatants on the battlefield:

The largest Earth Dragon, Aier, bore the brunt of Jon’s assault. Its colossal form bristled with embedded spikes, crimson blood staining over half its body. Yet thanks to the sustained skill "Tower," the spikes had not fully penetrated its flesh.

The Ant Tribe fared differently.

Lvzi and Army Lady, positioned closest to Earth Dragon Jon, were instantly struck by the projectiles.

Multiple spikes pierced through their bodies in a flash, sending their mangled forms crashing to the ground as their Health Value plummeted to zero.

"Hahaha!! Excellent work, Jon!"

Earth Dragon Aier roared with laughter, though the mirth swiftly vanished from its eyes.

The massive ant clinging to its back remained alive—unlike the two humanoid ants—despite the spike barrage.

"Smooth Body… Curse you! You’ve acquired Kekui’s Smooth Body skill!"

Scale-like patterns rippled across the Iron Armored Ant’s surface as golden viscous liquid seeped from its body.

Upon impact, the spikes slid harmlessly across the ant’s glistening hide, deflected with most of their force dissipated.

Having activated another defensive skill alongside "Smooth Body," the Iron Armored Ant sustained only superficial scratches from the assault.

Furious, Earth Dragon Aier began gathering dragonfire in its maw, prepared to scorch both the ant and its own back.

Seeing this, Red Pupil released her grip on the Earth Dragon’s back and leapt away.

She observed that the grievous neck wound had nearly healed completely.

The "Tower" skill appeared to amplify other abilities—its "Regeneration" now worked at unprecedented speed.

_Time to commit fully…_ Red Pupil steeled herself.

Before she could finish the thought, Earth Dragon Aier unleashed its "Dragon Breath."

A roaring column of flames surged toward her, its diameter nearly half the length of her Magnification-enhanced form. Even with every defense active, this strike would cripple her.

But Red Pupil had anticipated the attack. The Earth Dragon’s reduced agility allowed her to react swiftly.

Deactivating "Transformation," the seven-meter Giant Iron Armored Ant shrank into a petite black-haired girl with crimson eyes.

The inferno grazed past the girl’s ear before obliterating the landscape behind her.

Vast swathes of forest and snow vaporized instantly, leaving a smoldering scar stretching a hundred meters across the terrain.

"Lvzi! Army Lady! Are you hurt?"

The girl retrieved a blue Magic Recovery Potion from her Magic Backpack, downed it in one gulp, and called out in her signature dulcet tone.

"All good here!"

"Agony! But I’ll live! Dying’s nothing new anyway!"

The responses made Earth Dragon Aier shudder violently. Its draconic eyes bulged in disbelief at the resurrected ant warriors.

_How…?_

Am I hallucinating, or… resurrection? These ants can’t be killed?

Not only were they powerful enough to take human form, which was astonishing enough, but now they’re unkillable?!

…

"Army Lady, destroy this creature now!"

"I know. Save your breath."

Revived through the "Undying" skill, the two women observed Earth Dragon Jon’s body riddled with countless bloody holes after it discharged its spiked projectiles.

This grotesque sight would likely terrify anyone with cluster phobia into immediate unconsciousness.

Though devastating, this spike-barrage skill inflicted equal damage upon both targets and caster.

Having exhausted its quills, the porcupine-like dragon activated "Regeneration" – a process Lvzi and Army Lady witnessed firsthand as fresh spikes began sprouting within the bleeding cavities.

The regrowth progressed sluggishly, requiring several minutes for full restoration.

This meant the dragon couldn’t repeat its indiscriminate assault for at least that duration.

Vulnerability lay exposed through those weeping wounds.

Exchanging a determined glance, the pair launched their counteroffensive without hesitation.

Their arms morphed into razor-edged ant forelimbs as they activated "Berserk."

[Berserk: Enters frenzied state with substantial temporary enhancement of all attributes]

Crimson hues flushed across their bodies like steamed crustaceans, heat waves shimmering from their transformed figures.

"Army Lady’s fully cooked!" Lvzi blurted.

*Thwack!*

The golden-haired warrior’s fist connected with Lvzi’s skull.

"Oww! Overkill much?!"

Perhaps a "Berserk" side effect? The strike failed to quell Army Lady’s irritation.

"Less chatter, more combat!"

Feigning nonchalance, she surged forward alone. Activating "Magnification" mid-charge, her ant-blades elongated into executioner’s swords rivaling her height, while segmented legs elevated her stature.

*Swish!*

Enhanced by both skills, her bladed limbs cleaved through the dragon’s wounded left foreleg, carving a meter-long gash. Earth Dragon Jon’s agonized roar shook the battlefield as it retaliated with a stomp from its right limb – an attack Army Lady effortlessly evaded while scoring another deep laceration.

To the wielder of "Ability to Fight," such clumsy strikes posed no threat. During forest hunts, she’d always been the foremost combatant among her sisters, only ever wounded by vastly superior monsters.

Though Jon initially outclassed her, the level disparity had narrowed through transformative skills. Moreover…

Massive frames telegraph movements.

Dancing through the dragon’s enraged assaults, Army Lady’s eyes blazed with intensifying focus, her golden hair trailing like battle standards as she weaved through attacks, every motion radiating fierce fighting spirit.