A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1306: Ripper Ants

Archer watched as the Kraken Termite Queen swam through the mana infused water until her voice echoed in his mind. 'How is this place so pure?'

''It's my energy pouring into this place all the time,'' he replied while opening the Shadow Realm.

Millions of sea monsters rushed out of the portal and fled to find a new home, which caused the queen to grab a sleek shark before eating it. Archer watched this with a chuckle as he spoke. ''Do you want to join? You can bring your kingdom here. You're stronger than most here, so you'll be fine.''

Following that, the queen nodded in agreement before the two of them entered the portal as she started ordering the other Kraken Termites in a frenzy as a horde of them rushed into the Domain.

Archer sensed they were already constructing another termite mound field. Seeing this fascinated him, causing him to cast Cosmic Shield and summon the two women waiting for him.

Inara and Demetra looked around as the lioness started shivering. He wrapped a cloak around her before heating up their little air pocket as the shark woman commented. ''We're deep in the Kraken Termite colony?''

''Yes. They've agreed to join us and emptying the place out,'' he replied while watching more monsters rushing through the portal.

Archer brought up a screen so the women could watch, causing Demetra to question. ''They're quick to work. It seems like the mana is encouraging this behavior, which will be useful.''

''How so?'' he curiously asked.

''Ripper and Krill Ants that set up homes around mana vents that are soaked in energy,'' the shark woman answered.

Following that, the three of them headed outside once the Kraken Termites were gone, using the Cosmic Shield to travel through the tunnels. Demetra pointed south. ''Head that way until you see a massive volcano.''

Archer nodded before the two women started chatting while he travel through the deep sea while avoiding obstacles. He kept sending out small armies of Shadow Creatures to kidnap more monsters.

Hours later, the faint silhouette of a volcano emerged on the horizon, its jagged peak piercing the water. Archer steered toward it until a sudden, jarring force crashed against the barrier surrounding him.

He turned to see a man-sized ant, its exoskeleton gleaming ominously in the dim light of the bioluminescent plants swaying in the tide. Razor-sharp mandibles snapped, and its legs, decked with cruel barbs, tapered into vicious, claw-like points.

The creature hurled itself at the shield again, its mandibles gnashing and claws scraping with relentless fury. To Archer's astonishment, a spiderweb of cracks splintered across the barrier's surface under the assault.

When seeing this, he channeled a surge of mana into the shield. Following that, Archer used Mana Manipulation to grab the monster and dragged it inside the shield while holding it still while he inspected.

''Seems to be strong and I can use them on land, but they're not as good as the Nightmare ants,'' he muttered.

''Those are Ripper Ants, handsome,'' Demetra mumbled, her mouth full as she chomped on a fish like it was a mid-afternoon snack.

Archer watched her, one eyebrow climbing higher than a confused mountain goat. ''Where'd you even get that?'' he asked, jabbing a finger at the tuna-monster thing she was gnawing on.

Inara, head cocked to the side like a perplexed puppy, glanced at Demetra just as she shrugged and said, ''Oh, you know, just yoinked it outta the water while you weren't looking.'' She grinned, flashing a few too many sharp teeth.

''Right,'' Archer deadpanned, shaking his head. ''Makes perfect sense. You're basically a shark with table manners.''

''And that's why you love little old me, isn't that right, handsome?'' Demetra retorted with a bloody smile.

He chuckled and found it adorable, causing him to reply. ''Yes, I do now enjoy your fish and let me deal with the monsters.''

Following that, he brought the Ripper Ant closer and spoke to it with a grin. ''I know you can see me. Allow me to come to your chambers or I'll slaughter your entire colony.''

The monster went still as a strange aura shot out of its body with a challenge. 'I dare you, monster!' a woman's voice responded defiantly.

Archer's smile grew wider as his eyes glowed. ''Good. Your race is pathetic and doesn't deserve to live.''

He crushed the ant and spoke to the two women. ''I'll bring the shield with me so you can see what I do to these idiots.''

Moments later, he started traveling toward the Ripper Ant colony as the Cosmic Shield followed behind. More of the creatures appeared from everywhere and tried to attack him in waves.

Archer cast Crown of Stars that started shooting beams of mana that boiled the water around the ants. He was cooking them alive as his magic destroyed hundreds of them, which made the voice return.

'Okay! You've proven your point! I will talk now,' the Ripper Ant Queen pleaded.

He didn't listen and killed thousands of them while capturing the rest, leaving the area empty. As Archer did that, he sensed several monsters watching him as he entered the colony entrance, where the remaining ants backed off.

'Maybe they could serve as cannon fodder?' he thought before opening a portal and summoning Vivienne.

The redhead was confused when she appeared in water and panicked, but Archer covered her in his mana. ''You're fine, Vivi. I'm here,'' he reassured the ant queen.

''I know, but warn me next time you summon me, husband,'' she said while giving him a kiss.

Following that, her antennae twitched, causing her body to stiffen as she spoke. ''There's another ant queen nearby, but this one isn't strong like me but can produce more eggs then any of us can.''

''That's why I dragged you here,'' Archer said with a sly grin. ''I was planning to wipe them out. Their idiot queen turned down my generous offer, but then I thought, why not keep them around? They'd make decent cannon fodder, right?''

Vivienne nodded thoughtfully before replying, ''Fair enough. Let's go have a word with her.''

A heartbeat later, the redhead spun toward Inara and Demetra, flashing a warm, easy smile as she greeted them. ''Evening ladies. Once our husband is dealing with these pests, I will take you to my home for tea and biscuits.''

When he heard that, his head snapped toward the curvy woman with a raised eyebrow as he asked. ''Why do you sound like you're from my old world?''

''Me and young Alexa spent some time together before she returned,'' Vivienne responded. ''She's a delightful young woman.''

Archer looked at the redhead with a chuckle. ''Hang out with Inara and Dem. I'll make my way to the queen's chambers so you can talk to her.''

Following that, he continued walking while Vivienne stepped into the Cosmic Shield and started gossiping with the other two. Ten minutes later, Archer stepped into the chamber just as a massive ant moved toward him.

But he swung his hand and backhanded the monster, which sent it flying across the large space. More ant attacks, but Vivienne appeared before ripping them apart as she kept them away.

Archer smiled when seeing this and spoke to the Ripper Queen. ''Look you stupid beast, I will summon my Valariana, who will demolish this whole place. So submit and join me or die here.''

Vivienne bolted toward the fallen monster, her body suddenly twisting and expanding in a flash. She morphed into her Nightmare Ant Queen form before Archer's eyes, stunning the others.

Towering and monstrous, her blood-red exoskeleton gleamed like wet crimson steel. Her massive limbs, thick as tree trunks, ended in mandibles that could shear through stone like it was butter, their edges glinting with menace.

Her glowing red eyes locked onto the scene as the Ripper Queen sprang up, reacting with feral fury, and barreled into her. But Vivienne met the charge head-on. In a blur of power, she overpowered the enemy, slamming her to the ground and pinning her down.

A bone-chilling hiss erupted from Vivienne's maw, a sound so deadly it sent shivers racing down Inara's and Demetra's spines, leaving them trembling in its wake. Archer approached the redhead.

''Keep here there, Vivi, we have some visitors,'' he said while using Mana Manipulation to pull a sneaky monster from the shadows.

'A Burrowfiend! How did that thing get in here?' she exclaimed in shock.

He grew curious as this Burrowfiend looked like a mutated humanoid but clearly wasn't as it had two legs and four arms. Two of which ended in claws and the others were blades which interested him.

Archer caught the monster glaring at Vivienne, its greedy, glinting eyes practically dripping with malice. Without hesitation, he delivered a swift, stinging slap across its hideous face, then grabbed its sinewy arms and ripped them clean off.

The beast shrieked in agony, its piercing wail echoing through the air as it writhed helplessly before him.

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