I Contracted Myself-Chapter 73 – Mobile Fortress Ant

[Level: 5]

[Talents]

[Spiked Carapace: Significantly enhances carapace defense. If the carapace is shattered, the broken area will grow even harder spikes.]

[Black Ant Acid: Can secrete highly corrosive ant acid.]

[Unified March: Has an innate sense of the ant colony's movements and can coordinate with the colony.]

...

Individually, these ants weren't particularly strong; they were actually quite weak.

The problem was their sheer numbers.

As far as the eye could see, there was no end to them.

Whether it's Awakeners or Mutated Beasts, aside from having an extra superpower compared to ordinary creatures, they aren't much different. They still need rest when tired, food when hungry, and water when thirsty.

Any ability comes at a cost.

For example, Feng Laixian's Red Emperor Immortal Body consumes his stamina while repairing his body.

Many of Zhang Ping's abilities, although not explicitly stating the cost, do consume energy when used. Even the Appraisal Skill drains a small amount of his mental strength.

The most terrifying aspect of these Black Mountain Bowback Ants was their numbers.

They might lose many while attacking their prey, but in the end, they would surely emerge victorious.

"Coach Bai De, it looks like the entire mountain is surrounded," Zhang Ping said as he landed beside Bai De.

Feng Laixian, running at the front, said straightforwardly, "Then let's carve a bloody path out. Follow me and break through!"

"I'll provide aerial support!" Zhang Ping immediately said.

He flew seven or eight meters into the air, looking down to guide the two, selecting a route with the fewest Black Mountain Bowback Ants for their breakout.

But he quickly noticed that the ants weren't attacking the fleeing animals.

"Could it be that these ants aren't hunting?"

He immediately observed the direction of the Black Mountain Bowback Ants and soon noticed something unusual not far away: five Black Mountain Bowback Ants were fighting among themselves, but the ones attacking their kind were quickly overwhelmed by the ant tide.

"Is this infighting?"

Zhang Ping landed on a tree, carefully observing the direction of the ant infighting.

Sure enough, after those ants were dealt with, the ant colony continued to march forward.

Following that direction, Zhang Ping noticed a hint of white hidden in the lush underbrush.

He glanced at the ant colony, then flew over to the underbrush and cautiously parted the leaves...

At that moment, a dog-sized, jade-like translucent white ant leaped out, opening its mouth to bite his hand.

"Whoa!"

Zhang Ping quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the ant's attack.

He then curiously observed the white ant, mainly because its looks were so striking. Not only was it plump and white, but its carapace was as flawless as jade.

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It was perfect, like a work of art.

Its eyes were beautiful, completely unlike typical ant eyes, resembling two red gemstones.

The next moment, the white ant launched a series of attacks on Zhang Ping: pounce, bite, pounce, bite, pounce, bite, pounce, bite!

Zhang Ping's response was simple: retreat, retreat, retreat, retreat, and retreat again!

He laughed, "Little guy, are those black ants looking for you?"

But the little guy shook its head, still in an attacking stance, though its six legs were trembling, revealing its lack of confidence.

Zhang Ping decided to use his Appraisal Skill on it.

To his surprise, this little guy was quite difficult to appraise. After more than twenty failed attempts, he finally identified its attributes.

[Appraisal Successful]

[Mutated Beast: Mobile Fortress Ant · Queen Ant]

[Race: Mutated Ant]

[Potential: ????????]

[Lifespan: 300]

[Rank: Primary Mutated Beast]

[Level: 1]

[Talents]

[Iron Body: Extremely high body hardness, with defense increasing with size.]

[Dimensional Belly: Abdomen serves as a nest space, which can expand with strength. There are six entrances on either side of the abdomen.]

[Queen Reproduction: Can reproduce asexually after maturity, continuously laying eggs in the Dimensional Belly, with a very low chance of producing mutated ants.]

[Queen's Majesty: Can fully control its ant colony and has a strong deterrent effect on foreign ants, with deterrence related to its size.]

...

Zhang Ping's eyes lit up after reading the attributes, feeling like he had drawn an SSR in a gacha game.

Without a doubt, the little guy in front of him was a unique Mutated Beast. It was likely from the same nest as the Black Mountain Bowback Ants but had mutated.

As a result, the Black Mountain Bowback Ants were hunting down this anomaly.

"Little guy, how about you join me from now on?"

Zhang Ping smiled at the plump white ant, instantly forming a Contract Gem in his hand.

But the white ant, seeing his hand reaching out, immediately bit at it.

He retracted his hand, and the Contract Gem was bitten by the white ant.

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"Yes, yes, swallow it, good boy!"

Zhang Ping eagerly watched the white ant. Judging from its level one status, it was likely just born, so it might be easy to deceive!

However, the Mobile Fortress Ant turned its head and spat out the Contract Gem, then continued to stare at Zhang Ping with its ruby-like eyes, exuding a stubbornness.

Zhang Ping, disappointed, picked up the Contract Gem, wiped off the saliva, and then put it in his own mouth and ate it.

"See, it's really tasty. Big brother didn't lie to you," he said sincerely after eating it.

The Mobile Fortress Ant tilted its head. That thing had made it feel uncomfortable just by looking at it, so why did this human eat it?

Unable to understand, it pounced at Zhang Ping.

At this moment, Zhang Ping's body transformed into a Pureblood Body, quickly flowing into the ant's body through its mouth, completing the infiltration in an instant.

The little guy was startled, spinning in place before looking around in confusion.

"Baby, come, it's time to eat!"

Suddenly, a hand grew out from its body, holding a Contract Gem.

In this state, the Mobile Fortress Ant could understand Zhang Ping's intentions, just like the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit he had once parasitized.

But it had no desire to eat the Contract Gem and was even annoyed by its sight.

It shook its head, staring at Zhang Ping's hand, and suddenly lunged forward, trying to bite it, but couldn't reach.

As it moved forward, the hand, being part of its body, moved forward too.

It was like a lazy donkey chasing a carrot hanging in front of it, able to see but not reach the carrot.

So, after chasing for a while without success, it found a low bush to hide in, lying on the ground in frustration.