The battle in the dark and stifling ant nest was still far from over. In fact, it felt as though the fight had only just entered its true phase. Wave after wave of enemies continued pouring in without end, as if the entire nest was one giant living creature that was furious and trying to expel the parasites inside its body. The echoing roars of monsters, the impacts of chains and magic, the splattering of thick green fluid, and the scraping of sharp legs against the slippery stone floor created chaos that was almost soul piercing. The sharp acidic stench mixed with the metallic smell of green blood and the foul damp earth odor made the air feel heavy, like being inside the lungs of a dying monster.

Sylvia wiped the thick green fluid from her pale face with the sleeve of her already torn and soaked black dress. Her undead body felt hot inside even though her outer skin remained cold as a corpse. Repeated regeneration had exhausted her mentally every healed wound brought phantom pain that accumulated in her mind. Beside her, Stacia was panting heavily. Several strands of her eight jet-black wings were deeply torn, the dark runes on their surface flickering weakly as they tried to repair themselves. Alicia floated lower than usual, the light of her pure white translucent spirit body growing dimmer, like a candle about to go out. Sol, the loyal golden kitten, leaped back onto Sylvia’s shoulder. Its usually gleaming golden fur was now soaked with green fluid, but its golden eyes still shone brightly with vigilance and determination.

Master, Sol’s voice echoed clearly in Sylvia’s mind through their telepathic bond, its small tone firm and urgent. We must advance now. The large hole in the center of the room... that’s the main path to the nest’s core. The queen is in the depths. I can feel it through the ground vibrations and the increasingly strong pheromones. If we stay here, we’ll only be surrounded and run out of strength.

Sylvia nodded slightly without speaking. Her dark red eyes narrowed as she stared at the massive hole in the center of the chamber, the source of the endless flood of ants. "We advance! Follow Sol’s instincts. Don’t let them pin us down here! Stacia, protect Alicia. Alicia, keep the debuffs active. Sol, guide the way."

With that swift decision, the three sisters began moving forward while continuing to fight. Not retreating or holding position, but charging straight toward the largest hole, which was nearly ten meters in diameter. Their steps were heavy and slippery in the thick pools of green fluid, each footfall producing a disgusting schlup... crrretch... sound that made maintaining balance difficult. The pools were already ankle-deep, sticky like monster blood mud.

The elite soldier ants immediately reacted to their movement. As if the nest had its own collective consciousness, dozens of black monsters swarmed to block their path. Elite variants with increasingly bright and glowing rune patterns appeared in greater numbers. Their mandibles dripped green acidic fluid that hissed SSSSSSS... upon touching the floor, leaving trails of toxic smoke that corroded the stone.

Sylvia led at the front line like an unstoppable Queen of Death. Her Abyss Chains shot out from the shadows, forming a deadly straight attack path. SCHLAAAKKK! SCHLAAAKKK! Two thick chains pierced the chests of two elite ants at once, tearing through their thick exoskeletons from the inside and spraying hot green fluid in all directions. She leaped forward with her undead strength, her fully regenerated zombie claws slashing the third ant’s neck with a loud, wet RIPPP! sound. Green fluid spurted directly onto her face, burning her skin for a moment before regeneration kicked in. Sylvia didn’t care. Her body moved like a cold and efficient killing machine, every movement calculated to maximize damage while clearing a path.

Behind her, Stacia flew low while protecting Alicia with her wings. "Spatial Corridor!" She opened a temporary spatial gap in front of their formation, creating a short tunnel that allowed the three of them to move faster through the dense enemy lines. Every time an elite ant got close, her jet-black wings slashed ferociously SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! while her grimoire unleashed "Void Burst!" that exploded space inside the enemies’ bodies. BOOM! BOOM! Several elite ants were destroyed from within, exoskeleton fragments flying like shrapnel and leaving gaping holes in their bodies.

Alicia continued supporting from the middle of the formation with strong determination. Her spirit body trembled under the mana burden, but her voice remained steady. "Mass Corrosion! Total Paralysis Field! Strength Collapse!" Thick grayish-green mist spread in front of them, making the approaching ants slow dramatically. Their exoskeleton skin melted like wax under fire, their thick legs trembled, and some collapsed on their own with satisfying CRACK! CRACK! sounds as their bones and joints snapped under their own weight.

Sol helped with deadly precision. PEW! PEW! PEW! Golden lasers fired nonstop from its eyes, precisely striking gaps in armor already weakened by Alicia’s debuffs. Each shot pierced eyes, vital joints, or gaps between exoskeleton plates. Occasionally it meowed loudly in Sylvia’s mind: Slightly to the left, Master! That hole! There’s an acid trap ahead! Turn right after this!

They successfully reached the edge of the large hole. The hole gaped wide like the mouth of hell, its walls full of small holes from which ants continued crawling out like an endless black current. A sharp acidic smell and the queen’s strong, sickly-sweet pheromones wafted from the depths, making the air feel even heavier and more oppressive.

The moment they got closer, a new wave emerged with greater strength. This time it wasn’t just elite soldier ants, but also queen guard variants that were much larger, with swollen abdomens full of toxic acidic fluid and mandibles gleaming with purple poison. They reached five meters in size, with slower movements but each strike carrying the power of a giant sledgehammer.

One queen guard immediately charged at Sylvia with ferocity. Its massive mandibles slashed like a giant axe. WHIIISSHHH! Sylvia dodged with a precise sideways leap, but the tip of the mandible still managed to graze her hip. RIPPP! A deep, wide wound formed, black undead blood mixing with green acidic fluid. The burning pain like hellfire made her grit her teeth, but she immediately countered with a maximum combined chain attack. SCHLAAAAAKKKK!!! Ten chains fused into one devastating strike that pierced the queen guard’s stomach. The monster roared loudly, its body jerking violently, but it was still alive and tried to clamp the chains with its powerful mandibles.

"Stacia!" Sylvia called without looking back.

Stacia reacted instantly. "Spatial Implosion!" The space around the queen guard’s head was heavily compressed, then exploded from within with tremendous force. KRRRAAABOOOM!!! The monster’s head shattered, green fluid and brain fragments spurting like a horrifying foul fountain.

They continued advancing, entering the large hole. Inside the steeply descending and narrow tunnel, the battle became even more brutal and claustrophobic. The tunnel walls were full of side holes from which ants continued pouring out like an endless army. Sylvia used chains as ropes to lower herself while fighting, slashing enemies that emerged from the sides and above. SCHLAAAKKK! SCHLAAAKKK! Chains coiled and tore, green fluid flowing heavily along the sloped walls.

Stacia flew ahead, her wings slashing the walls to widen the path. Alicia floated in the middle, her debuffs spreading throughout the tunnel like a mist of death. Sol continued giving accurate guidance: Turn right at the intersection ahead! There’s a larger room there! Careful, there are acid orb carrier ants above!

The deeper they went, the stronger the enemies that appeared. Queen guard ants grew more numerous, accompanied by special worker ants carrying glowing acidic orbs that exploded on impact. BOOM! BOOM! Green acid explosions filled the narrow tunnel, melting the walls and making the air increasingly toxic and hot.

Sylvia was hit directly by one of the explosions. Her body slammed hard into the wall, acid burns corroding her undead skin and flesh until bone was visible. "Ugh..." She rose quickly, regeneration working hard despite the excruciating pain. Her chains shot out in fury like starving dark serpents, destroying the acid orb carrier ants one by one with deadly precision.

EXP continued pouring heavily into them, granting new strength in this critical moment.

[EXP +3800]

[EXP +4500]

[EXP +4700]

[EXP +4200]

[EXP +4800]

Every level-up felt like a refreshing warm flow of energy to the soul. Sylvia’s Abyss Chains grew thicker, faster, and stronger. Her zombie claws became sharper, and her regeneration was almost instant. Stacia and Alicia also felt the power surge through their strong soul bond. Stacia’s wings healed faster, and Alicia’s debuffs spread wider and lasted longer.

Even though fatigue was starting to feel real in their bodies and minds, their soul bond and true strength kept their spirits burning. They continued advancing, passing tunnel after tunnel that grew deeper, darker, and more stifling.

In a larger, more spacious room after passing several steep intersections, they faced a more organized group of queen guards. Dozens of elite ants and queen guards formed a tight defensive formation in front of an even deeper tunnel, as if guarding the final gate to the queen.

"This must be close to the queen," Sylvia said while breathing heavily. Her black dress was almost completely destroyed, her cold pale body covered in freshly healed wounds and still-smoking acid marks.

Stacia smiled tiredly but with a burning spirit. "Let’s finish them all. I can still fight all day if needed!"

Alicia nodded slowly, even though her spirit body was becoming more transparent and its light was dimming. "Together... we can definitely do it. For Nocture."

Sol leaped forward, its golden lasers shining brightly like a small sun. Straight ahead, Master! The queen is behind that formation! I can feel her extremely strong aura!

The battle in the depths of the nest reached its peak. Sylvia led the charge with wildly spinning giant chains, Stacia opened deadly gaps with space magic, Alicia weakened the entire enemy line with mass debuffs, and Sol provided precise shots through the fighting gaps. Green fluid, acid explosions, spatial booms, and monster roars filled the entire tunnel like a symphony of death.

They advanced step by step, getting closer to the nest’s core. However, the deeper they dove, the more they felt the presence of the ant queen, her aura oppressive and filled with terrifying threat, as if the entire nest was breathing in rhythm with her.