Chapter 174 – Ant Solo.

“(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)”

“You’re awfully happy today, but I get it, Gleam. It’s just you and me! Time to conquer this dungeon and go deeper than we’ve ever gone before!”

Gleam wiggled on Rusty’s shoulder as the two descended into the dark cavern below. They had returned to the dungeon, leaving behind the city where they were still trying to establish themselves. There was a lot they needed to accomplish, and this place offered the best chance to do it.

“Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

As Rusty spoke to his ant companion, another voice echoed from within his helmet. It was a voice that made his right eye socket glow with a sudden white light.

“I suppose you two count as well, but it’s not like either of you are actually helping to fight the monsters.”

Rusty responded, and this time around, his left eye socket started to shine.

“Haven’t we talked about this already, my dear Rusty? Just build me the proper body and this demon lord will be your loyal ally~”

“Don’t trust him, Rusty. If you’re planning to create suits of armor to house us, give me the first one. I’ll test the limitations. Don’t rely on that demon.”

“You wound me, hero. What could little old me possibly do? We’re both bound to Rusty’s soul. There’s no way I could defy his orders.”

“I still don’t trust you. The moment you see an opportunity, you will betray us both.”

As always, Alexander and Aburdon had begun arguing. At first, Rusty wanted to step in and stop them, but eventually, he let them continue shouting at each other. It felt like they were adventuring again, his two guides bickering while he went off to explore new places. He still planned to build bodies for both of them, but giving the first one to Alexander to test seemed like the better choice. The late hero was more likely to be truthful and not attack him if he were somehow set free from his grasp.

“Should we head straight for the lower levels or kill some monsters on the way?”

“( •̀ ᴗ •́ )”

“You want to go after the easy ones first to test your new skills and magic? That might be a good idea.”

Rusty nodded at Gleam’s suggestion and made his way toward the area where they had previously encountered the Lesser Mermlocks. Those creatures were low E-rank monsters, perfect for testing how much progress the two of them had made. Rusty was now a D-rank monster, so they posed no real threat to him. Gleam, however, was still E-rank and needed to catch up quickly.

Rusty moved through a series of tunnels, using his life detection ability to locate adventurers and avoid them. Even as a D-rank, he was traveling alone, and sometimes adventurers attacked other solo travelers. He didn’t fear them, but adventurers were far more unpredictable than monsters, who generally stayed within areas suited to their rank and grouped with others of similar strength.

“There they are. Two on the shore and another three hiding in the water.”

After about twenty minutes, they reached an unoccupied section of the dungeon that was partially flooded. The stagnant water rippled gently under the faint glow of moss clinging to the cavern walls. Two Lesser Mermlocks lingered near the edge, their bulbous eyes twitching and wide mouths opening and closing as if tasting the air for prey. Rusty knelt beside a stalagmite and studied the scene.

“Are you sure, Gleam?”

“ ( •̀ ᴗ •́ )و “

“All right then. I’ll be here if you need me.”

Rusty gave a nod and shifted away, keeping his eyes on her as she climbed one of the walls. She moved swiftly, positioning herself in a spot where the monsters wouldn’t be able to detect her. While he trusted her, he still wanted to be ready in case anything went wrong. From his inventory, he drew a bow and a few arrows, notching one carefully. If trouble broke out, he would put an arrow straight through their oversized eyes.

‘I wonder how Gleam will handle this.’

Rusty stayed in his hiding spot and watched as she finally settled above him, choosing a position atop the wall. Jagged rocks hung along the edge, creating natural cover, and more importantly, keeping her out of the monster’s reach.

Gleam crouched silently in the shadows of the jagged rocks overhead, her tiny antennae twitching. The flickering moss-light reflected off her silvery shell as she slowly began to channel mana. A soft glint of heat built within her, at first invisible to the naked eye, then steadily growing until it lit up the space around her.

The Lesser Mermlocks remained unaware of her presence. One swatted at a buzzing cave gnat. Another let out a gurgling hiss, sniffing the air with its flared gills. The three in the water floated silently just beneath the surface, waiting for prey to wander close.

Gleam raised her forelegs. Then, with a sudden burst, she unleashed a narrow stream of fire straight into the center of the pool. The water hissed violently as steam exploded upward. Boiling bubbles surged to the surface, quickly transforming the shallow pool into a deadly trap. The two Mermlocks on land shrieked and scrambled backward, but it was too late for the three in the water. Their slick, scaled skin began to blister as they were boiled alive.

They thrashed wildly, trying to leap out, but Gleam was not finished. As the three lunged for the edge, more flames met them. Fiery arrows rained down with deadly accuracy, driving them back into the scalding water. The monsters, in a panic, tried to douse the flames by diving again, only to be cooked further. Their shrieks echoed throughout the cavern, and the rising steam concealed the silvery ant responsible for the chaos.

Rusty watched his status screen light up with small bursts of experience notifications. As a D-rank monster, he barely earned anything from the lowest tier of E-rank creatures. Still, it confirmed something important. His friend had just taken down three of them on her own. Only two remained, and they had spotted her perched on the wall.

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*Thunk.*

A rock slammed into the stone near Gleam’s hiding spot.

*Whack.*

A sharpened wooden spear arced upward toward her. Before it could strike, Gleam raised a glimmering mana shield. A pale blue dome surrounded her, absorbing the blow. Sparks flew as the crude weapon shattered against the barrier. In the next instant, Gleam retaliated.

“( •̀ ᴖ •́ )ノ🔥”

With a triumphant chitter, she hurled another burst of flame at the remaining Mermlocks. They screamed and stumbled backward toward the deeper part of the pool, but the water was still boiling. Their escape had turned into a trap, and Gleam showed no mercy.