"That's… the white ant?!" Wang Lei gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
He immediately stood up, gripping his pickaxe tightly.
Damn it… How did it get past the poisonous mist?! he thought, panic rising in his chest.
The white ant stepped forward, its gigantic body now fully visible after being hidden by the sky-blue mist.
Its two red, compound eyes were filled with murderous intent as they locked onto Wang Lei like a predator marking its prey.
KRRIIEEEEK!!
The white ant let out a screech so sharp and loud that it felt like the very air was tearing apart. At the same time, a violent gust of wind erupted along with its screech, swirling dust and bits of stone through the cave like a miniature storm.
"Wha—!" Wang Lei shouted, barely audible over the noise.
He threw an arm over his face, eyes squinting through the chaos. His boots dug into the rocky ground, both feet braced firmly to keep from being swept away by the sudden burst of wind.
"This is…" Wang Lei muttered, eyes narrowing as he focused through the fading chaos.
Although it was just for a moment, he felt it—something warm brushing against his body like a fleeting wave. It was the same sensation he experienced back when the white ant summoned its kin.
But this time, it was different.
"No…" Wang Lei's eyes widened slightly in realization. "This isn't a skill… this guy infused its voice with mana."
So monsters can control mana too? Wang Lei thought, his eyes following the white ant's every step. The ones I've encountered before must've been the lowest of the low then… He scoffed internally, a bit of ridicule in his thoughts—but also a trace of relief.
If those earlier monsters had used mana like this one… he might not be alive right now.
"Oh… I shouldn't be distracted." Wang Lei snapped out of his thoughts the moment he noticed the white ant shift its posture, its legs spreading, mandibles clicking in anticipation. It was getting ready to strike.
The white ant began to move forward, its steps heavy and aggressive—until suddenly, it staggered. Without warning, it lost its balance and slammed straight into the cave wall with a loud bang, chunks of rock crumbling from the impact.
Wang Lei blinked, stunned.
"Was this ant… drunk?" he muttered, a half-joke slipping out before he even realized.
But he quickly shook the thought away.
No, joking aside… That stumble wasn't random. It had to be the poison.
"I thought it had some kind of Poison Resistance skill… Was I mistaken?" Wang Lei narrowed his eyes, watching the creature try to reorient itself. It still looked dangerous—its eyes burned with rage—but now there was a subtle sluggishness to its movements.
I was considering running since I don't have a chance of beating it… but if it's in this condition, then I might be able to do it. Wang Lei's eyes sharpened. He clenched his jaw, his grip around the pickaxe tightening.
He wasn't acting on impulse. This was a calculated risk.
After analyzing the situation, this is the best course of action.
The poison was working. The ant was disoriented. If he could just hold on and strike at the right moment, he might actually win.
"It's coming," Wang Lei muttered under his breath, his eyes locked onto the white ant.
The white ant moved fast, its six thin legs blurring as it closed the distance in seconds. Its massive mandibles opened wide, aiming to crush and devour Wang Lei in a single bite.
But in that critical moment—Wang Lei was faster.
He leapt to the side, narrowly dodging the snapping jaws that clamped down on empty air. The ant's head slammed into the sky-blue ore behind him. Despite the force of its bite, the ore remained unscathed.
Wang Lei's eyes widened at the sight.
"It didn't even crack…?" he muttered in disbelief, glancing at the sky-blue ore.
Even after taking a direct hit from the white ant's powerful jaws, the ore remained completely untouched.
I was able to bite it off easily though? Just how strong did my teeth become… Wang Lei thought, uneasy at the strange realization.
The sky-blue ore didn't even budge when hit by the ant's jaws, but his own teeth had no problem tearing into it.
That's… not normal. He rubbed his jaw instinctively, half-expecting it to hurt. But it didn't.
Meanwhile, the white ant staggered, clearly disoriented from slamming its head into the ore. Its legs wobbled, its balance unsteady, and its movements sluggish.
That hit must've done more damage than I thought… Wang Lei narrowed his eyes, sensing his opportunity.
Now's my chance.
Wang Lei dashed forward, seizing the moment before the ant could fully recover. His feet pounded against the stone floor as he made a beeline toward the creature's right side.
His target was clear—one of its legs!
If I can cripple its movement, I'll have a higher chance! he thought, gripping his pickaxe tighter.
Arriving at the ant's side and seeing it still dazed, Wang Lei didn't hesitate for even a second.
He quickly adjusted his stance—this time not raising the pickaxe overhead but pulling it back to his right side like a sword.
"This angle should give me more control and power," he muttered, focusing all his strength into this one strike.
Then, he swung.
Wang Lei roared, the tip of the pickaxe cutting through the air before slamming into the front leg of the ant.
Clang!
Sparks flew on impact, the sound of metal striking something just as hard echoing through the cave.
However, the pickaxe didn't even pierce the ant's leg—not even a single scratch.
What is this?! Wang Lei shouted in his mind, stunned.
The impact had felt solid, but the leg remained completely intact, as if he had struck reinforced steel.
Its exoskeleton… it's like metal! Is this the effect of some kind of skill?! Wang Lei frowned at first, but just as quickly, his expression shifted into a wide grin.
No matter, he muttered. My goal isn't to destroy it completely anyway… As long as I can disable its movement, that's enough.
He adjusted his grip on the pickaxe; eyes locked onto the ant's leg.
Wang Lei planted his feet firmly and pulled his pickaxe back to his right side.
"This time… I'll break it!" he growled, determination burning in his eyes.
With all the strength he could muster, he swung again, aiming straight at the same spot.
Clang!
Another sharp clash of metal rang out, echoing through the cave.
But this time, the result was different.
Wang Lei's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the damage he'd caused.
"What the…"
The force behind his strike had been so strong that the ant's leg bent completely twisted in an unnatural direction like a snapped branch.
"I really did that…?" he muttered, stunned for a moment before quickly regaining his focus.
The white ant let out a piercing screech of pain, loud enough to shake the walls of the cave. Its dizziness vanished instantly, replaced by rage.
Wang Lei quickly backed away, putting distance between himself and the ant.
But even as his instincts screamed danger, something else gnawed at his thoughts.
What just happened?
That ant's defense should be absurdly high—its exoskeleton as hard as a steel. With my current strength, I shouldn't have been able to deal that kind of damage.
Yet the leg had bent like a twig.
"Just what is happening…?" he murmured.
As if in response, a glowing screen materialized in front of him.
[You have obtained the skill: >Physical Enhancement<]
"Physical… Enhancement…?" Wang Lei's eyes lit up as realization dawned. He stared down at his hands, suddenly aware of a strange energy surging beneath his skin.
At first, nothing seemed unusual. His hands looked normal—just a little dirty from the dust and dirt. But the moment he activated his Mana Sense, everything changed.
This is…
The faint traces of mana left in his hands from when he healed his Mana Core suddenly flared to life, igniting and spreading until both hands were completely enveloped in energy.
Amazing… so this is why I suddenly got stronger.
Did I unconsciously focus my mana circulation into my arms because I wanted to break that ant's leg? Wang Lei's eyes lit up with excitement at the thought.
With this power, I can definitely—
He didn't even finish the sentence. His expression said it all.
He was ready to beat that white ant into the ground with his newfound strength.
***
At the same time, in a place known as the highest peak in the world—
A man dressed in a silky black hanfu sat cross-legged on a cushion. In front of him was a small table, upon which rested a teapot and a single porcelain cup.
He lifted the teapot and gently poured its contents into the cup. Steam rose as the hot liquid flowed, carrying a light, calming aroma that drifted through the air. Every motion he made was graceful, refined—as if he had performed this ritual countless times before.
The man smiled, seemingly satisfied, and held the cup with both hands, bringing it to his lips for a sip.
His smile lingered even after he had finished the tea and set the empty cup back on the table.
He gazed toward the setting sun, though his eyes seemed to be focused on something far beyond the horizon.
His smile deepened, as if pleased by whatever it was he saw.
The man finally spoke, his voice calm and steady.
"You're doing well, my successor."
"Don't be afraid to grow stronger. If you hesitate… this world will fall into destruction."