Raising A Few Wives in a Beast Apocalypse

A bit over a kilometre away from the ant colony...

"Woah...it really is like a lake of ants!" Jade, who could see things a lot clearer than the others, couldn't help but comment in awe. Her hands were already itching for a fight.

"Don't you dare! Remember what you promised! Besides, in the first days, we are all just bodyguards while these ladies fight. We wouldn't want to run out of unranked ants because you got too excited after all" Again, Muku ruthlessly burst Jade's bubble with his cold words. Her battle intent that was quickly rising deflated back to zero in seconds.

"Tsk, party pooper", Jade cursed Muku in a whisper, then stood aside in protest.

"Ladies, the plan here is that I'll first get each of you an ant to fight alone to get familiar with how they attack. After that since we wouldn't want to be here for longer than necessary. I'll increase the number of ants. Don't worry too much since these unranked beasts, even if they are ants, won't be too much stronger than you all. After all, you all got your various hidden attributes increased by the beast meat" Muku immediately explained how things were going to work to the girls while completely ignoring Jade. Much to her displeasure, but she didn't make a scene knowing that it wasn't the time for such things.

"Every understand?" Muku asked the women if they understood after finishing his explanation.

"Yes sir!" The ladies called out in unison. Of course, they weren't too loud to avoid attracting attention from the ants.

"Good, now let me go get you the first batch" Muku spoke in a pleased tone before flying off.

What he was about to do was nothing new. It was practically the same thing he did with Elsa. Just that this time he'd have to bring back more beasts than before and do it a few more times.

....

"Okay, your sixteen rings are prepared. Each of you get into one, and I'll release the ants" Muku, who had sixteen ants floating behind him, addressed the women along with Elsa.

The women hesitated a bit, seeing the large scary-looking ants with their legs kicking all over the place. Elsa was different though. She had been itching to get into action for a long time. The little girl was rather pitiful. Seeing everyone else fighting almost every day and being around for big fights and yet being too weak to even tickle the enemy.

So, while her facial expressions hadn't changed much, underneath the veil, she was super excited. While she thought she was hiding it well, the others from her group could see it clearly enough. After all, they had been spending every day with her, so they had her all figured out.

Seeing her so excited made Layla seem a bit conflicted for some reason. But after a few seconds of thought, a resolute look appeared on her face. Then just as Elsa was about to walk to her ring, she stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Hmm?" Elsa made a confused sound while looking back at Layla. Firstly she didn't understand why she was being stopped. And secondly for it to be the ice queen who basically never talked to her before to be the one to stop her? She was more than confused.

"Umm. Layla, what's the problem?" Emily, who was standing with the group, asked, also confused. After all, Layla rarely involved herself with anything when she didn't have to.

"...She can't go...not now" Layla replied after thinking about it for a bit.

"Why's that?" Emily asked, not looking offended or angry. She had faith in Layla's decision-making. So she felt that there must be a reason for her current actions too.

"Every time someone from our group makes a significant advancement. There's always a large spectacle accompanying it. With that mark on her forehead, I suspect something similar will happen. It would be best if she evolved closer to home where it's safe, away from most beasts," Layla explained her reasoning.

"O...oh. I guess you're right. It's just a little more time. I'm sure she can wait" Hearing Layla's reasoning, Emily wanted to call it absurd at first. But after thinking about it a bit. She realised that there really was a high possibility of something like that happening. Their group was just that weird after all.

"Yeah, I also agree with that. Don't know why it slipped my mind. We could have gotten into some real trouble" Muku chimed in.

He was even sweating a bit. Even without considering his group's weird disposition. Just considering how Elsa got the Water Drop mark on her forehead was reason enough to play it safe. After all, the thing caused such a spectacle when it was just an embryo and unclaimed. Who knows what it will do when it emerges?

Like him, the others also thought the same. And so, to Elsa's slight dissatisfaction, she was held back from participating in the killing event. Well, it really was like an event.

The girls were even betting on who they thought would kill their beast first among the women. Of course, at first, it was only Jade who wanted to bet. But after putting up her juicy R2 beast meat dinner on the line. The others joined in too. The meat was just that tasty.

Only Muku and Audrey didn't participate like the down-to-earth and responsible adults they were. Though internally, both of them were cursing their years for not allowing them to be rash.

And so, while all this was happening with Muku's group. The women finally managed to gather their courage and all entered their respective rings. Surprisingly the timid Freya was first to get in. Her reason? Only she knew. Just before entering, she glanced at the merrymaking that Muku's group was doing, and she felt somewhat weird about it, unlike the simple admiration from before. And before she knew it, she was in the metal ring ready to battle.

Not wanting to be outdone by her. The others quickly made up their minds and entered their own rings. It's truly weird how humans operate, huh?

...

A bit later...

"Okay Ms Freya, are you ready? I'm about to let go of the ant" Muku spoke to Freya from outside the ring.

Gulp

"Y-yes, I'm ready" Freya gulped down some saliva while looking at the large ant that was standing more than a metre tall in front of her. Its large black head and sickle-like mandibles looked threatening like they were ready to cut her in half and eat her on the spot.

She then looked at the silver blade she held. Her confidence immediately surged up for some reason. Then she gave a hesitant at first, but confident at the end reply.

"Good", Muku replied with a smile, then immediately let the ant go. He then went to deal with the other women one by one until everyone's battle began.

...

Back at Freya's battle...

She was visibly tired. Her rather big chest heaved up and down, sweating all over her body. There were even a few bloody scratches on her body. Clearly, she was having an easy time. But her eyes were still resolute, and her grip on her sword was still as strong as ever.

Opposite her, the ant was in a worse state than her. One of its back legs was cut off. There was a large slash on its forehead and another one on its side. On top of that, many little cuts were all over its body. Its body fluids were leaking all over the place. It could barely stand.

"Wow, she's good", Jade, who was overseeing her battle along with those of a few other girls, spoke to herself. At first, she hoped that Freya would fail badly and then ask for her help. That way, any interest in her Muku might have would end, and she wouldn't be a problem anymore. The outcome was set in stone!...at least in Jade's head.

But surprisingly. No matter how much she struggled. How hurt she got. Freya never once asked for help. She kept on fighting until the point where the ant was almost dead, and she still stood strong even in her wounded and tired condition.

Before she knew it, Jade found herself rooting for Freya. She couldn't help but be reminded of their weaker days when the battle seemed like a life-and-death crisis. It might as well have been since they really could have been killed then. By the claws and teeth of an unranked dog no less...an idea completely absurd to the current her.

"Haaa...yah!" Freya shouted as she drew upon her last energy and rushed toward the ant. The ant, not willing to be outdone, also rushed forward. The two warriors, at the end of their strength, met in the middle of the ring for their final clash.

While it was painfully slow to Jade. It was still quite entertaining to watch. It's like watching two toddlers slapping each other nonstop. You just won't be able to look away wanting to see which one will win their little fight.

The battle was decided when Freya said "yah!" As she had finally managed to come at the ant from the right angle and managed to stab right through its head without being cut by its mandibles.

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[Condition for evolution met. Kill nine more beasts to become a Rank One Evolver and gain specialisation]

An old and familiar prompt to many rang out in Freya's head for the first time. Startling the poor girl into jumping up in fright since Muku and his girls had forgotten to mention it. This is understandable since they've been in the game for so long that they've forgotten the little things about how they got in.