[Screeeeeech!]
[Grrr, grrrr!]
Countless flying creatures, insects, and rock monsters followed us from behind.
The beast legions on the ground licked their lips, waiting for Horus and me to crash down.
Lastly, even the swarm led by the Queen Bee, slowly formed a formation to encircle us.
The situation was truly heading toward the worst.
But there was no other choice.
From the moment the multi-wave occurred, the fate of the Ark had already been sealed as the worst.
["How dare you!"]
With Esther's furious shout, the Ethers also responded.
[Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them.]
[Insolent... creatures...]
[Kill... them... all...]
Nevertheless, the movements of the bees directly commanded by the queen were unusual.
Even though I had Janus, being stung by a Grade-5 Insectoid Type's venomous stinger would be downright life-threatening.
'They're slowly closing off our escape route.'
However, they didn't just recklessly charge.
They just maintained their positions.
As I already knew, the Grade-1 Insectoid Type Queen Bee was no ordinary opponent.
'Though it can't necessarily be called intelligence... it's safe to say that its instincts have already reached the realm of wisdom.'
In fact, the Grade-1 Insectoid Type Queen Bee was notorious even among user communities.
Despite not being a named beast, it had the character of a commander, controlling its kin to oppress players and the Ark alike.
Moreover, as cautious as it was, it would often flee high into the sky as soon as the situation became slightly unfavorable.
And even if we barely managed to catch up, would it turn out to be a weak beast?
No, not at all.
Grade-1 Insectoid Type.
The Queen Bee was a beast worthy of its name.
'At least it's fortunate that it's not Queen Piquella.'
Queen Piquella.
As the named entity of the Grade-1 Insectoid Type Queen Bee, its already troublesome traits were enhanced nearly fivefold.
Of course, considering the current early stage of the scenario, it would never appear.
But one thing was certain—it was an enemy we would have to face someday.
'Better to experience it in advance.'
The difficulty of the Grade-1 Insectoid Type Queen Bee.
Bzzz- Bzzzzz─
The giant bees blocked Horus's path as it continued evasive maneuvers.
From merely holding position, they now intended to grab hold of Horus's ankles in earnest.
'Not a chance.'
I switched the Ark-15 automatic conversion rifle to automatic mode and aimed the muzzle.
But before I could fire, the giant bees scattered in all directions as if mocking me.
["Master! Go faster!"]
"Yeah, I know."
As expected, the time lost brought the flying creatures chasing Horus much closer from behind.
Just as the Queen Bee intended.
'...Still the same.'
If I fell for this trick a few more times, I'd be surrounded and inevitably meet my end.
I needed a breakthrough.
Just then—
Screeeeeech───!
A stream of venom spat from a Grade-2 Aerial Beast: Wyvern brushed right past the top of my head.
Sizzle...
Thanks to Janus's protection suit, based on level 5, my entire head wasn't corroded, but a few strands of hair caught in the venom burned away.
If I hadn't been wearing a hood and mask... the thought alone was terrifying.
[Screeeech!]
The meaning was clear.
It was now so close that evasive maneuvers couldn't completely avoid long-range attacks from the chasing flying creatures.
'Definitely not good.'
Just the presence of the Queen Bee had completely changed the dynamics of the air battle.
A force capable of reversing the entire situation just by existing—
That was the power of a Grade-1 beast.
'In the worst case, I might have to consider retreat.'
Though, given the current situation, even that wouldn't be easy.
'First... I have to take that thing down.'
Grade-1 Insectoid Type, Queen Bee.
I had already aimed at it several times and pulled the trigger, but every time, the giant bees around it intervened, thwarting my attempts.
'Ordinary methods won't work.'
Simply shooting wasn't an option—the Queen Bee had already predicted that.
To capture the Grade-1 Insectoid Type Queen Bee in this desperate situation, I had to exceed its perception entirely.
'It's got to be that.'
I gripped Horus's reins.
Then, without hesitation, I charged toward the ground.
["Gah! What kind of madman move is that?!"]
Esther screamed in horror.
Understandably so—if I descended to the ground while already cornered in the air, it was obvious I would be surrounded by the beast legions.
Swoooosh───!
The distance to the ground rapidly closed.
Fortunately, the flying creatures and giant bees didn't block the path downward.
["No, if you're going to die, die alone!"]
While Esther screamed in horror, countless beast legions on the ground rushed toward Horus.
[Screeeeeech!]
[Grrrrrr!!!]
[Graaah!]
It looked like a colossal beast opening its jaws wide, but I didn't stop.
'Not a chance.'
I reached out my hand.
Janus, responding to my will, extended a jet-black spear.
[Summoning "Spear of Ankelenth"!]
[Summoning duration for "Spear of Ankelenth": 30 minutes, 11 seconds.]
The time Janus could maintain the Spear of Ankelenth had now far exceeded 30 minutes.
That was how much stronger Janus had become.
The ground approached rapidly—300 meters, 150 meters, 50 meters...
Just before crashing into the ground, I leaped off Horus's back.
"Stay clear."
[Screeech!]
Horus sharply ascended, leaving me behind as I was tossed into the midst of the beast legion.
"Esther!"
["Ugh, seriously!"]
With Esther's scream, the beast legion that had been charging at me momentarily paused.
And that was all I needed.
Boom!
Gripping the Spear of Ankelenth, I landed on the ground, and beasts and monsters rushed at me from all directions.
Sky, earth, and even underground—there was no place to escape, yet I swung the Spear of Ankelenth in a wide arc.
Swoooosh──!!!
It was a spear with the toughness to withstand even a plasma sword and the sharpness to pierce the scales of Ouroboros.
Naturally, any ordinary beasts or monsters were sliced apart the moment they made contact.
'Now.'
A small circular space formed around me.
It meant I had gained some breathing room.
Not missing the fleeting opportunity, I immediately reached out and pulled out one of Janus's bone tentacles.
['Ankelenth's Domain' activated!]
[Time remaining: 34 minutes and 31 seconds.]
The condition to declare Ankelenth's Domain was to drive a bone tentacle imbued with Ankelenth's power into the ground.
That was why I had risked descending to the ground in the first place.
Hesitate-
With that, the countless beast legions charging at me momentarily stopped.
[Grrroooar... ]
[Grr?]
Not just the beasts on the ground, but even those underground and in the sky froze for a moment.
Of course, the pause was fleeting, and before long, the more advanced beasts and monsters resumed their movements.
Ankelenth's Domain was not a technique that created an absolute safe zone from beasts and monsters.
Especially when it came to higher-level beasts and monsters, it was even less effective.
[Beeeep───!]
As if to prove that point, the Queen Bee soon let out another furious roar at me. It truly lived up to being a Grade-1 Insectoid-Type creature.
[Screeeech!]
[Clack, clack-clack...!!]
Following that, the Grade-2 Aerial Beast: Red-Winged Wyvern and the Grade-2 Rock Monster Demon Statue Gargoyle also regained their senses and fixed their gaze on me.
This meant that declaring Ankelenth's Domain wasn't of much help against monsters of that level.
But there was no need to worry.
At this moment, nothing stood between me and the Queen Bee.
The large bees that had been tirelessly blocking the queen's path had collapsed due to Ankelenth's influence.
Now, I could pierce through the guards protecting the queen and land a decisive blow.
However, there wasn't much time.
Even if Ankelenth's Domain remained active, the large bees were slowly regrouping with the Queen Bee's cry.
'The time is short. I can't hunt the Queen Bee with conventional firepower.'
Then, I just needed to use unconventional firepower.
Crack, crack──!
I drew back my right hand, gripping Ankelenth's spear.
With physical enhancement, Janus's physical support ability, and the power of the newly acquired enhancement serum, my muscles pulsed more powerfully than ever before.
But it wasn't over yet.
"Esther."
["I'm on it."]
At my call, Esther began focusing her ether once more.
Naturally, the ether gathered into the Ankelenth's spear in my hand.
[I'll throw it...]
[Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it. Shoot it.]
[Throw it─────!]
A storm of ether surged around Ankelenth's spear in my right hand.
'Now.'
['Bone Javelin' activated.]
Ankelenth's spear tore through the air with a sonic boom, flying straight toward the Queen Bee.
At the same time, I pulled the bone tentacle embedded in the ground, canceling Ankelenth's Domain.
['Ankelenth's Domain' has been deactivated.]
[Time remaining: 33 minutes and 5 seconds.]
With that, the beasts and monsters on the ground and in the sky all redirected their attention toward me.
Exactly as I planned.
[Beeeeep───!!!]
The Queen Bee urgently called for her guards, but unfortunately, they were still distracted, looking at me.
[Beeep────!]
The Queen Bee belatedly tried to dodge Ankelenth's spear.
But even that movement was already within my calculated range.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!!!
It wasn't just a simple throw.
It was an attack unleashed with almost all my ether and Esther's full power.
Naturally, even a Grade-1 Insectoid-Type creature couldn't survive such an unguarded attack unscathed.
[Beeep───]
The Queen Bee, which had once reigned proudly in the sky, plummeted powerlessly to the ground.
Even if it wasn't a fatal blow, at least pulling it down to the ground was a success.
Despite achieving my objective, I couldn't go to finish off the Queen Bee.
The countless beasts rushing at me from all sides made it impossible.
'...Looks like this is it.'
My whole body felt drained.
Thanks to the nearly full-powered javelin throw, I had no strength left to fight off the approaching beasts.
If I were to declare Ankelenth's Domain again, I might buy a brief moment.
But that was it.
There were still formidable foes like the Grade-2 Aerial Beast: Red-Winged Wyvern and the Grade-2 Rock Monster: Demon Statue Gargoyle left.
'Looks like I'll have to push myself a bit more.'
As I readied my Ark-15 automatic conversion rifle and prepared for a final stand—
[Kieeeeeeee───!]
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over me, and the beasts charging at me hesitated and stopped.
And I saw it.
Horus, who had come to save me, spreading his proud wings wide in the sky.
[Kieeek!]
"...Smartass."
For a moment, I was at a loss for words, but soon grabbed onto the bone tentacle Horus stretched out.
"Let's go."
The beasts, momentarily frozen, charged at Horus, but the bone tentacles erupting from his entire body held them back.
The bees, too, scattered without the queen's command, losing their sharp formation and falling into chaos.
["...I almost lost ten years of my life. Let's go back to the Ark. We've done enough. Okay?"]
She was right.
Both Horus and I had pushed beyond our limits with relentless combat and flight, and exhaustion had reached its peak.
Forcing ourselves to fight more would likely result in serious injury.
However...
"No. There's still something to do."
["What do you mean by something else to do!"]
My gaze naturally fell on the spot where the Queen Bee had crashed.
"We need to collect the loot."
["...What?"]
Realizing what I was aiming for, Esther was stunned.