Chapter 1696 – How the Tables do the Turn Thing

“What… what do we do?” Elsi whispered urgently. “It’s an ant. Didn’t we come for an ant?”

Shamus shook his head.

“Fool girl,” he replied, “we didn’t come for a tier eight giant. We are getting out of here.”

“Ah! AHHHH!!! HELP!”

Screams echoed in the tunnel as a delver lost their cool. Elsi couldn’t see what was happening at first. Heart pounding in her chest, she looked out over the rocks, casting her eyes about trying to see what was happening.

After a few seconds, she saw it. Someone she didn’t know, a delver from another team, was rising up into the air, glowing red axe in hand, and flailing as they floated helplessly in the air. Desperate, they lashed out, sending an arc of deadly energy streaking through the air and crashing into the ant’s carapace.

Only for it to dissipate harmlessly against that deep purple material.

Clackclackclackclackclack.

A rapid staccato of mandible snaps, like a chuckle, emanated from the beast. The giant ant extended an antenna and prodded the helpless Delver, mocking him as he continued to swing wildly. Without his feet planted, or any leverage, he couldn’t exert much power, and the ant was clearly unharmed.

A sick feeling rose in Elsi’s stomach as she knew what was coming next.

Monsters and delvers fought and killed each other every day. She herself had killed hundreds, if not thousands of Dungeon spawn. Someone like Shamus had probably killed tens of thousands over their career. Everyone knew it could easily go the other way. She just didn’t like to see it happen.

Mandibles opened wide as the screaming delver hung in the air, right before the monster’s face.

“Whoa… whoa! IT’S GOT ME! ATTACK!”

Another voice cried out, another person, drifting up into the air, rising from their concealed location against the tunnel wall.

This time, someone listened and leapt out of hiding, bow shining with golden light as they pulled back on the string. When they released, a beam of pure radiance fired from the bow, slamming into the monster’s side. Shards of light scattered everywhere, blinding Elsi for a moment as she raised her hand to shield her eyes.

Stolen novel; please report.

The ant… was unharmed.

“Get out and fight!” the archer demanded, stringing another arrow to her bow. “Are you going to let it snatch us out of hiding one by one?”

Her voice rang through the tunnel, and, after a moment, others leapt to her call.

Bolts of sizzling magic tore through the air and detonated against the ant’s carapace. Warriors leapt out of hiding, brandishing their weapons and sending deadly arcs of blade light against the creature.