Chapter 1407 – Smash the Slugs!

The giant, bat-faced gorilla turned away from the small, slightly uneven section of dirt he’d been picturing himself punching and saw the first of the attacking monsters begin to charge. Excitement sparked in his belly, along with actual sparks, but it was a mild sort of interest at first. A few beasts, most of which would be blown apart by the friendly one before they even reached him, weren’t something to get too worked up over.

But then, something amazing happened.

More monsters emerged! Not only did they emerge, they charged! Right before Tiny’s widening eyes, a full assault materialised as if from nothing. He was so happy.

Energy surged through his bulging limbs as lightning began to crackle all over his body, the pleasant tingling sensation it brought only further lifting his mood. Some of the beasts were massive, little more than huge mouths propelled by fat, crawly legs that belched yellow gas from vents along their bodies. Hitting them was going to be so satisfying!

Filled with joy, Tiny pounded his open palms against his chest, beating out a war-rhythm as he bellowed his challenge at the horde.

All around, the ants readied themselves for battle, the lines of little ones clearing space around Tiny’s feet and giving him room to punch in.

BOOM!

An explosion rocked the tunnel, blue flames belching outwards, dust, rock and mucus flying everywhere. Tiny leaned forward, concerned the friendly one had taken out one of the big monsters, but grinned when he realised they were fine.

[I will leavesssss the fat onessss for you,] the friendly one declared, placing a mini-hand on Tiny’s impossibly broad shoulder.

The big ape gave his little friend a thumbs up and extended a finger to rub him on his lid, at the top of his eye. Invidia had always been helpful, but since evolving, he was so… so nice! Such a good friend.

Turning his attention back to the oncoming horde, Tiny hooted with joy as he judged the time had almost arrived. Drawing back one arm, he compressed the power of his lightning, then sent it blasting forward along with his fist.

A bar of lightning arced through the air, sizzling with energy before it fell just short of his target, blasting the rock and sending dust flying.

So close!

Eagerly, he drew back for another try, but then paused, confusion and sadness welling up from within. The charge had stopped. But… but they were outside punching range… why would they stop?

The huge mouth-beasts, and other, squishy-looking creatures rose up, and Tiny could sense the power they gathered. As one, the monsters leaned forward and unleashed blasts of thick goop which flew in a graceful arc toward the ants’ position.

Tiny wrinkled his nose in disgust as the awful stuff flew towards him. He raised both hands and unleashed a blinding flurry of punches. The air warped in front of him for a brief moment, bent out of shape by the speed of his fists. Light exploded outwards as each of his blows launched a fist of light out of the safe-zone. His aim was unnerving, each punch connecting with a different blast of goop and annihilating its momentum, sending the stuff sizzling to the tunnel floor.

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Even then, there were so many globs that dozens still made it through and entered the safe-zone. The moment they contacted the blue mana, they popped and sizzled, the dense mana inside fighting to overcome the purified energy provided by the wuffers.

All of this was greatly upsetting to Tiny. He wanted to punch, but the punching bags didn’t want to get close enough….

No matter how much he wanted to leap out of the safe-zone, he knew he couldn’t. He’d been ordered to stay in the blue… which meant he couldn’t leave. Stupid orders….

[Don’t even put a finger out there,] Crinis snapped at him. [You know what will happen to you.]