Metal Worm. From tens of kilometers to hundreds of kilometers. Maybe even beyond that. Its length had never been properly measured. It was natural. Its length, akin to heavy weight and fortress-like exoskeleton, was a siege weapon in itself.
“Kiiik!”
“I found it here!”
“B-block it!”
“What are you trying to block!! Just dodge it!”
Its vicious nature matching its appearance never allowed anyone to measure itself.
“Kiii!”
With a strange roar, a massive head lashed towards the players. As if burrowing underground, the squared jaw, whether spread out or closed, was a weapon in itself.
Kwaaang!
A loud blast. Participants hit directly on their heads by the creature disappeared without even leaving a scream or a trace.
“C-Crazy!”
“A one-shot kill…?”
The faces of the survivors were filled with astonishment.
“Everyone, snap out of it! We need to regroup even with the remaining people!”
“players! Quickly take care of the survivors buried under the debris!”
Still, it was the Platinum Promotion Match. A few who quickly regained their composure encouraged the players and formed a line.
One.
“Ugh, ugh!”
“I think my leg’s broken!”
“Please, get me out of here…”
Like a huge sinkhole. The entire surrounding area was turned upside down and destroyed. It took quite a while to rescue the survivors buried in the debris.
“Kii!”
The vicious Metal Worm was not going to wait. Like a resilient rubber band.
Whoosh!
Once again, the Metal Worm’s head extended and struck down towards the survivors unable to move in the debris. That head of the creature.
Bam!
With a strong impact sound, the head was thrust to the opposite side.
The players, who had been targets and were screaming in panic, now looked towards their savior. A man with distinct features.
“K-Kim Shimun!”
“Kim Shimun-nim!”
It was Kim Shimun.
Kim Shimun, who struck the head of the Metal Worm, landed on the ground.
Thud.
As he snapped his fingers.
Thud thud thud.
Like the miracle of Moses in the Bible, the debris split apart, revealing the buried survivors. Kim Shimun glanced at the players who were staring blankly at the scene.
“Hurry and take them with you.”
“T-Thank you!”
Bowing continuously, the players quickly took the survivors pulled out by Kim Shimun and fled following the instructions.
-Really, oppa is so kind and cool.
A sharp voice pierced into Kim Shimun’s ear. It was the Philosopher’s Stone.
– Why are you saving them? Have you forgotten what they did?
In response to his discontent, Shimun chuckled and replied, “I didn’t save them for purely altruistic reasons.”
-Then?
“I can’t just abandon them right now; the risk is quite significant.”
-Risk?
Shimun nodded in response to the Philosopher’s Stone’s question.
“It’s an arena where Metal Worms appeared from the start. How do you think it will be later on?”
Metal Worms were formidable Insectors even in Insectia.
Furthermore, “If there’s this much commotion, it must have attracted the attention of other Insectors.”
Most Insectors live clustered around their masters, don’t they?
The future attacks were as good as already reserved.
– Ah, I understand your thoughts. You need a bait, don’t you?
“Something like that. More precisely, we need someone to share the aggro.”
A swarm of Insectors gathering around meant immense expenditure. Of course, with Shimun’s specs exceeding gold, he could give it a try.
“But there’s always a possibility.”
There was no harm in preparing for any unexpected situations.
– Really, you’re not just an ordinary alchemist, huh? You’re frighteningly thorough.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
-It is a compliment~. I like meticulous men like this!
“You rascal.”
Shimun snickered at the Philosopher’s Stone’s jest.
“Ki, Kiye…….”
He looked with a surprised expression as the Metal Worm squirmed and roared, trying to move despite receiving a direct hit from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art- Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Strike.
“It took a direct hit from the Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Strike and is still moving?”
Considering the Metal Worms he had encountered in his past life, this one was quite robust.
Given its elongated body, it hinted at substantial length as well.
Then, a thought struck him.
“Wait. Could it be?!”
Shimun’s eyes widened suddenly.
Snap!
He flicked his fingers right away. Having performed an alchemization, Shimun used the debris as stepping stones and leaped into the air swiftly.
“Kiye…….”
In no time, the Metal Worm stood back up completely. Perhaps the impact of the Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Strike was severe. The creature shook its head roughly, groaning in discomfort.
Then, “Kiyeek!”
Starting from the spot around its neck, the section that corresponded to the throat tightly wrapped around its body, reaching deep into the ground where its core was firmly embedded.
Squishy sounds echoed continuously.
Without pausing, the Metal Worm began a synchronized movement.
“As expected…….”
Shimun, who had suddenly risen above the creature’s head, nodded as he watched the Metal Worm, with its exoskeleton around its head shattered, engage in rhythmic motion.
“I knew it would be like this.”
A stamina that didn’t collapse even after taking a direct hit from the Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Strike.
In addition, a larger body frame than the usual Metal Worms. For those who had never encountered such a large Metal Worm, it may have been a surprise.
But for those who had experienced it at least once, they knew very well. The true terror of the giant metal worm did not come from the ferocious violence that it exuded from its massive body. It was the squirming.
This squirming referred to the rhythmic motion.
“Key, Keyeak!”
Was it realization that the target was right above its head?
The metal worm, in a flustered motion, quickly opened its mouth towards the target.
“It’s too late.”
The target, Shimun, having already gathered condensed demonic ki, seemed to have been waiting. As if to present a gift prepared with its mouth.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Wave Annihilation Cannon.
Piercing.
A black beam extending in a straight line. It distorted the path and plunged straight into the huge mouth.
“Kyeee…”
The metal worm’s body, in the midst of the synchronized movement, temporarily stiffened. Then, as its neck crumbled, the metal worm’s massive body slowly fell to the ground.
Kooong.
A tremendous vibration rang across the area.
“Unbelievable…”
“Hey, is it dead?”
The participants gaped at the collapsed metal worm in disbelief.
“Hmm…”
Shimun, the one who sent the creature away in a single blow, did not have a particularly bright expression.
Rather.
Kiiing.
Golden magic circles unfurled in his left eye and scanned the metal worm’s body.
Then.
“Seems like I was too late.”
He furrowed his handsome brow. That was to be expected. In his activated Odin’s Eye, he saw not just the dead body of the metal worm.
Kwajik.
Squelch.
An unidentified sound emanated from the split metal worm’s body.
It gradually grew louder and more intense.
Crack.
Eventually, the sturdy exoskeleton of the metal worm split open.
“Kirurur!”
A wave poured out.
“Th-what are those?”
“Ants! They’re ants!”
“Are you crazy? They’re Entz!”
Entz.
They were more commonly known as giant ant species, pouring out in tens from the metal worm’s corpse.
“Aaah! There are so many!”
“Hey! Maintain formation!”
“Are you insane? How can we face that?”
“Right. We need to run away now!”
The main force was in chaos. Into the ears of this main force.
Thud.
A clear and cheerful sound was heard. Along with that.
Drdrrdrrd.
The ground in front of the main force began to shake. A dark shadow fell over the swarming ants. The identity was none other than a rumble.
Kugugug.
It was like a giant tidal wave crashing over the land. They covered the entire area, excluding the players.
Kuaaah!
Like a merciless tsunami. They buried the hundreds of giant ant swarms and the corpses of metal worms that poured out. In an instant, the area turned into massive mounds of earth. But it didn’t end there.
Thwack.
Once again, a clear sound rang out.
Kwaduk.
Along with a sinister cracking sound. Sharp thorns sprouted violently from the ground that had swallowed the ant swarms and metal worms.
Considering the thick bodily fluids sporadically embedded between the thorns. There was no need to question what had happened under those mounds of earth.
“Huh…”
“…”
It was like time had stopped. Those who were trying to escape and those who were holding their ground were frozen in place. Even those who had watched the broadcast of Shimun.
“Shimun… He really confronted something like that…”
“This is insane…”
“Is this person in the same Gold league as me?”
Gulp.
They could only blink their eyes, trying to swallow the dryly. Not only were they shocked.
-Whoa… Shipal! This is crazy! What funerals are those thorns for!
-Every time I see this guy, the scale is insane.
-He didn’t even use the Lightning Spear or Flame Sword, but shows this level of destruction?
-He even did it with an Invisible Sword. Does this person have infinite mana?
-Before that, I can’t understand how he took down the evolved Metal Worm. He’s a mage class!
The viewers who witnessed this scene were also astonished.
“Tsk.”
The creator of this massive tomb, Shimun, only clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
“Since the Metal Worms have already paved the way, there’s nothing I can do.”
The ants that had poured out and the ants that were expected to pour out. Although he managed to kill them all, “They are so dirty.”
Beneath Odin’s eyes, there were thousands of Ents swarming underground.
“That’s why I should have killed the Metal Worms more quickly.”
Generally, the larger the Metal Worm, the more it tended to belong to a group of other insects.
Why this was the case was a secret of the insector that no one had been able to uncover.
Metal Worms in a group used their giant bodies as a kind of pathway, serving as a means of transportation for other insector.
The coordinated movements it made just before its death were a precursor to that.
“It was the main surprise attack method of insector from past lives.”
During the official arena matches and frequent outbreaks that occurred.
When insector came out, the surprise attacks using Metal Worms suddenly emerging from the deep underground.
And the amount of insector pouring out of their giant mouths made the concept of defense completely ineffective.
“I got a bit distracted by just watching the broadcast.”
Scratching his head, Shimun glanced at the buzzing underground.
“Well, it’s getting a bit troublesome, but… all I can do is sweep them all away.”
He reached out towards that place.
But at that moment of trying to repel them.
“Hmm?”
The activated left eye of the Odin’s Eye wavered as Shimun’s left eye twitched.
* * *
Underground tunnels connected by dirt.
There, a dazzling Entz was busy moving its legs, covered with intricate patterns.
Krrrr.
With rough vibrations, clumps of dirt fell over the head of the dazzling Entz.
Pausing for a moment in its rush, the dazzling Entz glanced behind.
[Have those creatures already invaded our burrow?]
A voice echoed with a certain name. The two escorting Entzs following him slightly bowed their heads.
[Yes. They have already dispatched a Metal Worm and numerous soldiers.]
[Even if they enter the burrow, they won’t be able to reach here directly.]
[Is that so…?]
Clouded by the words of the dazzling Entz, he looked down at the small white bead in his hand.
‘The Vespas have already taken two queens from us, .’
The future of the Insectors was at stake due to the queen’s eggs. Now, the balance that had been maintained was compromised. Vespa had brought forth two more queens.
[If they take this as well, Insectia will become Vespa’s…]
[I don’t understand!]
One of the escorting Entzs interjected into the muttering of the dazzling Entz.
[Other Insectors must be aware of that, so why aren’t they helping us?]
[Exactly. Apart from being the same species, isn’t it about preserving the balance of Insectia?]
The escorting ants were becoming agitated.
In response, the dazzling ant lowered its head slightly.
[Their attack was swift. The aftermath of the battle must have been felt by other Insectors as well.]
[Are you saying…?]
[Yes. They’re probably moving to help us.]
If they die here and lose this egg, other species would also know that they won’t be able to stop Vespa anymore.
[It has to be that way…]
At that moment, when the brow of the Entz prince was furrowed with concern,
Krrrr!
The entire tunnel where the Entzs were shook roughly.
“This, this is… Vespa’s creatures are already here!”
“Prince, please escape quickly! We will handle this!”
The two escorting Entzs moved in front of the dazzling Entz called the prince. Despite the rush of his subordinates, the Entz prince did not move. With a firm voice, he lowered his head.
“No, this is not Vespa.”
“Come to think of it… something seems off.”
“If they were from Vespa, could they have bored through the burrow at such a speed?”
Before the words of the escorting Entz could finish,
Kwark!
Through the tunnel ceiling, a conical sculpture spinning at tremendous speed revealed itself.
Then, “Hmm, it’s disgustingly deep.”
A voice completely different from the name of the Insector was heard.
[“It’s…!”]
The body of the Entz prince trembled as he confirmed the owner of the voice.
“Wow, it’s even more interesting up close, isn’t it?”
Another voice resonated. The golden eyes of the owner faced the Entz prince directly, or more precisely, the white bead he held. As if sensing the gaze, the Entz prince flinched but nothing more.
“Though I don’t know what it is, it’s harvesting time…”
Before the human who suddenly appeared could finish speaking, “Accept it, noble one.”
“Ahhh, Your Highness?!”
The Entz prince extended the precious white bead he was holding dearly.