‘Uh… Is he giving this to me?’
A slightly flustered voice. The subject, Shimun, felt this emotion for the first time since the promotion match began.
“Is that for me?”
『Yes.』
He felt perplexed. Understandably so.
“Weren’t we in a hostile relationship with each other?”
Although it was because of the arena. Just moments ago, Shimun had slaughtered hundreds, if not thousands, of Entz. Why would someone who had chased him all the way into this deep underground tunnel suddenly offer something in return?
‘It seems like a high-ranking Insector…’
Generally, the higher the rank among the Insectors, the better their communication skills. At first listen, it may seem like they speak a language. In reality, they mainly convey their intentions using their buzzing sounds.
Naturally, the higher-ranked ones convey their intentions as clearly and decisively as advanced vocabulary. Therefore, the Insector in front of him clearly seemed to be a high-ranking Entz.
‘Why is he showing me reverence?’
As the communication system was based on conveying intentions through buzzing sounds. The emotions of that high-ranking Entz were clearly transmitted. It was a mix of goodwill, respect, and reverence.
Fortunately, 『It seems that doubt is felt in the eyes of the noble one.』
Shimun’s doubt was quickly resolved. He heard the term “noble one” a while ago. It was a title heard not long ago, indicating someone of high status.
“It makes sense. Those humble beings probably lacked the ability to recognize the companion of the Divine Tree and attacked without knowing.”
The world of special attributes. Or the title “Companion of the World Tree.”
Either way.
『If he mentioned the companion of the World Tree, it must be certain.』
It was evident that the high-ranking Entz was showing such reverence and goodwill due to the influence of the World Tree.
『I will offer my apology on their behalf. Please understand.』
Entz prince raised his chin and gave a nod towards the two guarding Entz with a vigilant look. In response, the two guarding Entz, who had previously shown sharp jaws but now relaxed them, bowed deeply with their helmet-like heads.
“Unless it’s a high-ranking Insector, they would not be able to recognize that I’m the companion of the World Tree, right?”
Shimun, who roughly understood the situation, said, “Um… it’s fine.”
He lowered the heightened tension, and the fingers that were locked together also loosened their grip. And then.
-What’s going on here?
-Do they know each other?
-Damn it! This is frustrating!
As puzzled as Shimun was, the viewers who were watching the peaceful interaction with the Insector were naturally in an uproar. What made viewers go even crazier was that
-“This is the issue with the Insectors. Can’t understand a word they’re saying. lol”
– Insectors communicate through buzz sounds, so if you don’t hear it directly, there’s no way to know.
-Really? They’re such fascinating creatures.
-Isn’t it odd? The Insectors I met didn’t do that.
-Communication is only possible with high-ranking Insectors among them. Below that, they’re just giant insects.
It turned out that Shimun’s conversation with Entz prince couldn’t be heard. More accurately, it’s better to say that the conversation was a one-way communication, only listening and responding.
『”As expected, just as benevolent as a companion of the Divine Tree.”』
Entz prince nodded in response to Shimun.
『”We don’t even know when the reinforcements will arrive. We might fall into their hands at this rate…”』
Thud.
Entz prince’s body twisted and contorted as he finished speaking. It wasn’t that he was shrinking, but rather compressing. While his exoskeleton with its elaborate patterns remained the same, the once giant Entz prince’s body was gradually shrinking.
『Please accept this companion of the Divine Tree』 said the now 3-meter-tall humanoid ant Entz prince politely as he extended a white bead.
The Shimun’s eyes subtly widened as they observed the white bead extended to them. It wasn’t simply about offering the white bead that they were pursuing.
‘The metamorphosis is so clean… He wasn’t just a superior species, but the top species.’
Metamorphosis. A form of combat where the superior beings of the Insectors become most powerful. The smoother and faster the process of metamorphosis, the higher the rank of the Insecter in question.
In front of the radiant Entz presenting the egg, Shimun sensed a completely different aura from before.
‘At this level, he must at least be a Diamond-tier.’
Just like the gap between Gold and Platinum, there was a significant difference between Platinum and Diamond.
No.
The comparison itself was impossible. Thanks to the Galaxy Arena’s adjustments, even Platinum was almost incomparable. Diamond was in the realm of pure talent. Therefore, the magnificent Entz before them was indeed a powerful presence.
“I will accept it for now.”
Shimun, who had already captured two ants in the Gold promotion match, received the white bead without any particular expression. He tried to check the information window of the white bead right away, but…
‘What? Nothing is showing up?’
No information window appeared on the white bead. Normally, even unidentified items only had their details hidden inside. The window was supposed to appear, but nothing came up at all?
‘Well, I guess it’s an item that can’t be taken.’
An item that can’t be taken. Items that couldn’t be taken out of the Arena usually didn’t provide information windows. It was a reasonable decision, actually. If such a system didn’t exist.
There would be many people who’d exploit it, neglecting the Arena and only collecting valuable materials. Shimun sighed in disappointment.
‘I came all the way here for this. What a waste.’
If the highest-tier Insecter was carrying something precious, it should be good, but if it couldn’t be taken, what was the point of coming all the way to this deep underground?
Just then.
Thump, thud!
A continuous crashing sound echoed through the tunnel. It wasn’t difficult to find the cause.
Thunk.
“You are…”
Shimun frowned ever so slightly as they saw someone falling from the ceiling. It wasn’t because of the person covered in blood.
“Is that the person from the White Tiger Guild, Changmin?”
Changmin from the White Tiger Guild. The one who incited and provoked Shimun by sniping him as soon as they were matched in the promotion match.
“It seems like he was chased out of the main base and was hiding nearby.”
It felt like someone from an assassin class. He was skilled at hiding his presence and lurking around the surroundings.
But then.
“Uh… Ugh!”
Was he in a state where he couldn’t even speak now?
He groaned and turned his head towards Shimun. Immediately.
“Sa…”
Changmin, who had been struggling to speak, stopped moving. Shimun’s gaze quickly scanned Changmin’s entire body. Although he had fallen deep underground and suffered fractures all over.
“The cause of death was a penetrating injury to the abdomen.”
It looked as though something long had pierced through Changmin’s abdomen. And.
“Wait. Is there poison too?”
Faint green smoke was rising from Changmin’s abdomen. At that moment.
“Indeed, he took it too far…”
Entz prince, who was behind them, stared at the hole in the ceiling with a stern face. Soon after.
“Noble one, please escape quickly.”
He pointed towards the tunnel in front of them.
“If you go straight this way, you will come to a tunnel connected to the Scarab’s territory. If you meet them, you may receive help.”
“The Scarab are insectors in beetle form, right?”
Shimun raised his eyebrows. No wonder.
“Since when have Entz and Scarab had an alliance?”
Wasn’t the Insectia itself a dimension where endless territorial disputes were led by Queens?
But there was no time to solve the mystery.
“We will try to stall for time as much as possible. Please be safe.”
The two Entz, who had just finished metamorphosis, stuck close to Entz prince. Soon after.
Whoosh.
Entz, with wings fluttering, flew straight into the hole in the ceiling, disappearing. Alternating between the vanishing hole in the ceiling and Changmin’s body, Shimun scratched his head.
“It should be a piece of cake, but…”
Wasn’t he here in Insectia in the first place because of the Platinum promotion match?
Moreover, since it was a survival event. If he followed the escape route provided by Entz, he would be able to hold on until the time limit. If things went south, he could also receive help from Scarab, the beetle-shaped insectors.
But.
“If I go this way, it feels like the reward will just end with the promotion.”
Having been immersed in abnormal arenas for a while, Shimun instinctively felt that opting for the easy path might cause him to miss out on additional rewards.
“I need a lot of achievements like Heavenly Demon Divine Arts and Homunculus for achievement points…”
Just like last time. Weren’t the rewards for the promotion match already decent?
Was it because of such thoughts that Shimun was caught in?
– To be so greedy even in the promotion match, that’s like my oppa.
The philosophical musings of the Philosopher’s Stone continued.
—
“They’re coming again!”
“My mana is depleted! Please save me!”
Screams rang out all around. Above the heads of the players in utter chaos.
Waeaeaeang!
A chilling sound pierced the air. Like a wasp buzzing past your ear. No, it wasn’t just a feeling.
“Chirrrr!”
Various exoskeletons in different colors and towering figures over 2 meters. And even their movements blurred to the naked eye. Just enlarged in size. In reality, the Vespa Insectors were no different from Earth’s wasps.
“I-I can’t die like this!”
A defector broke away from the group of players huddled together. It wasn’t hard to understand. Giant wasps bigger than humans. Facing hundreds of these more sinister and deadly giant wasps alone was terrifying enough.
“Hey! Come back!”
“That person’s running away by themselves!”
Accusations rained down on the defector from behind.
“Shut up! We’re all doomed to die even if we stick together, so why should I…”
Before the defector could finish his retort.
Waeaeang.
“Eek!”
With a loud buzzing sound, the defector who had left was lifted into the air. Captured by the giant wasp-like Insector. Then, with a squelch. A spray of blood gushed out, accompanied by shattered body parts.
The morale of the main group plummeted even further. From 50 participants, the number had suddenly dropped to the twenties, with half of them torn apart. Yet.
『Come on! You filthy scoundrels!』
『For Entz!』
The exalted Entz species that had disappeared underground suddenly appeared and joined the fray, but that was it. Having killed nearly half of the originally over a thousand Vespar swarm with just the three of them, 『Grrgh!』
『My prince!』
Even the elite Entz were gradually being overwhelmed.
‘Once they’re gone, we’re finished, right?’
‘Even now, casualties keep mounting…’
‘What should we do?’
The elite Entz were holding their own against 80% of the Vespar swarm, no exaggeration there. However, the number of players in the main group had been halved. If those Entz fell, they wouldn’t even be able to flee and would likely be wiped out within a minute.
So.
‘We need to escape while they hold them off!’
‘We must survive. Time is running out anyway!’
Perhaps it was best to try to find a way to survive. The main group, instead of their previous chaos, became unexpectedly quiet. Did they sense that they all shared the same thought?
“Hey! Let’s go towards the hole where Kim Shimun disappeared!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, one person spoke as they ran, “If it’s underground, even wasps won’t be able to follow us!”
“Stop pushing!”
The resolute main force crumbled in an instant, rushing towards the hole where Shimun had vanished. Before such players,
*Cheeek.*
A thick green liquid spilled out.
“Ahhhh!”
“Quick, we need an antidote…!”
Those who had been at the forefront were suddenly engulfed in the toxic liquid.
“Insane! Can’t even heal them!”
“Why is the poison damage so high?!”
Players, including healers, dissolved without being able to lend a hand to the team.
In front of those players,
『A specific Entz has been continuously exposed to a Vespa swarm.』
『As specific conditions are met, the hidden boss ‘Squadron Commander Verpark’ appears.』
Even darker news emerged.
“What, what is this?!”
“What’s with this sudden announcement?!”
“Now we’re in chaos, and a hidden boss appears? Dammit! You kidding us?”
The hidden boss. A presence that marks the end of this already gloomy promotion match. However, the players’ lament did not last long.
*Whoooosh.*
“Here it comes again!”
The toxic liquid that had previously claimed the leading players covered them once more. Of course, these players aiming for Platinum rank.
“Barrier!”
“Oh, light!”
This time, the players didn’t just stand still. Protective shields of magic users and support classes unfolded. Combatants’ shields covered their heads.
*Tadadadak!*
The sound of overlapping defensive shields echoed.
“The barrier is breaking!”
“Stop, we can’t hold on any longer. Everyone, retreat!”
Players swiftly moved out of the area covered by the melting defenses. Only then could the owner of this powerful toxic liquid ordeal be identified.
『Even with such a modest racial background, you withstand my poison quite well.』
Accompanying the bold and sharp proclamation was a perfect demeanor and emotion. And in terms of size, much larger than the other Vespas.
Squadron Commander Verpark.
The hidden boss revealed by the system.
『Indeed, just a bunch of trash. I’ll let you handle them. I must entertain my esteemed guest.』
As if they were not worth the effort, he casually gestured to his subordinates and turned towards the mutated Entz.
*Waaaang!*
The aggressive flapping of hundreds of Vespas resounded from all directions. Trapped by Verpark’s toxic liquid, the escape route was blocked.
“Ugh!”
“We, we’re defeated…”
The faces of the players were quickly stained with dirt. And then, “I knew this would happen.”
Into their ears, a familiar voice was heard.
TL’s notes:
Raw for entz is 엔츠.