Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 24: Battle of the strong

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Kai was only a one-star ant. His heart sank as he realized how vulnerable he truly was in comparison to the strongest. In this world, if either of the two wished, they could end him in mere seconds.

Before Kai could process the implications of his insignificance, the assassin lunged at Mia with the ferocity of a predator. With a speed that belied its stealthy nature, it swept in, aiming a series of rapid strikes at Mia's flank. The assassin's movements were like a dance of death, a fluid, precise, and merciless. Its mandibles snapped forward, and for an instant, it seemed as if Mia might be overwhelmed.

But Mia was not unprepared. With the grace and authority that came from her six-star rank, she pivoted with astonishing speed. Her form, though retaining a human-like quality, was a balance between raw ant power and an elegance that marked her as royalty. As the assassin's attack came in, Mia countered with a swift parry. She raised one hand, and in a motion that was as decisive as it was fluid, she summoned a burst of energy from her aura.

The impact was immediate. The assassin's attack faltered as it collided with Mia's defensive maneuver. Sparks of energy danced around the contact point as the assassin was thrown off balance. It recovered quickly, however, twisting its body to launch a second wave of strikes. The clash of their powers filled the corridor with a low, resounding hum. The sound of battle echoing off the walls.

Kai watched in a mixture of awe and terror. Here before him, two forces of nature were locked in combat. Mia's movements were a study in controlled power—each strike measured, each parry exact. The assassin, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of lethal intent. Its every motion was honed by years of stealth and training, designed to strike with deadly precision.

The fight escalated rapidly. Mia shifted between offensive and defensive maneuvers with practiced ease. At one point, she extended a hand, and a wave of energy surged forward, forcing the assassin to recoil. Its body shuddered under the force, and for a brief moment, Mia pressed her advantage.

With a quick, almost imperceptible movement, she closed the distance and delivered a series of rapid strikes. Her melons bounced in the air with jiggles. Kai's eyes couldn't move from her melons jiggling; his face turned red. Each blow landed with the sound of a whip cracking, the assassin's exoskeleton splintering under the onslaught.

The assassin tried desperately to retreat, its eyes flashing with the realization that it was losing ground. But Mia was relentless. With a final, decisive calculation, she activated her adaptive reflexes. Her body moved with a fluid grace that belied its raw power, and in one swift, powerful motion, she executed a finishing move—an expertly timed strike, an aura punch that caught the assassin off guard. It landed on the assassin's chest.

The assassin's form faltered, and it collapsed to the ground, motionless. The corridor fell into a tense silence as the dust settled, the only sound the heavy breathing of those involved. Mia lowered her arm, her aura dimming as she regarded the fallen intruder with a mix of pity and resolve.

Kai's internal system buzzed quietly, noting the updated information. He could feel the weight of the battle, the realization of his own inadequacy still echoing in his mind. He wanted to speak. He wanted to ask more about this ruthless world, how it could be so unforgiving, but before he could, Mia turned her gaze toward him.

Her eyes, deep and piercing, locked onto his. For a long moment, the intensity of her stare made Kai feel as though she were seeing straight into his soul. Then, with a voice that was both soft and commanding, she said, "I have to go now. We will continue our conversation from where we left off later."

She turned and began to walk away, holding the assassin ant in her hands like he was some kind of sack, her silhouette slowly merging with the shadows of the corridor.

Kai stood rooted to the spot, his mind reeling with the revelations of the battle and the shifting dynamics of power. His heart pounded as he processed the magnitude of the encounter: the assassin, a five-star threat, had been defeated by Mia so easily.

Mia, a six-star force whose power dwarfed his own one-star existence. But he was very pleased with one thing: Mia's melons jiggling during the battle. He would replay the memory again and again in his mind when he was free.

For a moment, Kai allowed himself to reflect on the events. He remembered the pride he had felt when he had reached level 10—a one-star rank and when he had evolved into a Monarch Devourer Ant. The exhilaration of absorbing enemy essence, the thrill of defying the odds in every battle. And yet now, confronted with the raw display of power by Mia and the assassin, he felt a profound sense of inadequacy.

But inadequacy was a temporary state, which he intended to overcome. His mind raced with determination. He would train harder, fight smarter, and harness his unique abilities until he reached and surpassed their ranks. But first, he needed to reach Level 30. Only then would the queen's mark be lifted, and only then would he be truly free to do whatever he wanted.

The echoes of the battle slowly faded as Kai walked back to the worker ants' resting room, replaced by the soft murmur of the colony resuming its daily rhythms. Kai thought, If I could eat the essence of the assassin... a five star rank essence liquid would give a huge power boost.

Meanwhile, while Kai and Mia were facing the assassin, Darius paced back and forth inside his private chamber, his golden eyes burning with frustration and jealousy. His grip tightened into fists, his armored fingers grinding against each other as he replayed the events of the day over and over in his mind.