Chapter 24: The Bullfighter

Suddenly, a terrifying presence burst forth from the ground, shattering Yu Jin’s usual perception of ants.

Previously, no matter how exaggerated the size of those elite commanders was, they were merely enlarged versions of ants—just with some details adjusted to make their increased size appear proportionate. But this leader boss before him was entirely different. If you told Yu Jin it was a bull, he would believe it without hesitation, and not just any bull, but a bodybuilding champion among bulls.

Its body was divided into three segments—head, thorax, and abdomen—but unlike an ordinary ant with clearly defined sections, these segments gradually merged together. Coupled with six grotesquely thick, muscular insect legs, it gave off an incredibly solid and sturdy appearance. Its dark exoskeleton faintly glowed with a crimson sheen, indicating internal structural changes. Vital areas were specially thickened, making them as hard as steel. Most striking of all were its enormous mandibles, which Yu Jin estimated could easily snap a tree trunk held by two people.

In short, this leader boss exhibited biological traits that had diverged from the ant species. As the dust settled and his sight cleared, Yu Jin felt that what he was facing was not a mere wild bull, but a small bulldozer.

Before the ant leader could rage, Yu Jin quickly activated his Eye of Inquiry.

...

Name: Juvenile Shadow Devourer (Leader)

Health: 340/340

Attack Level: Average (26)

Defense Level: Average (26)

Attack Speed: Fast

Alert Range: Normal

Skills: Enhanced Ram, Enhanced Bite

Description: This ant-like Shadow Devourer, having absorbed vast amounts of dark energy and bio-energy, has broken through the shackles of life and undergone metamorphosis to reach its juvenile stage. All attributes have been significantly enhanced, making it a formidable combatant.

[Hint: The juvenile ant-shaped Shadow Devourer's exoskeleton is specially reinforced; some areas only take 50% damage.]

[Hint: The juvenile ant-shaped Shadow Devourer enjoys consuming spider-shaped “Shadow Devourer Eggs,” as the mild toxins within the eggs stimulate pleasure centers in its brain.]

...

“A juvenile Shadow Devourer? No wonder. The only existence superior to the larval queen must be a higher being that has completed its metamorphosis.”

A chill ran down Yu Jin’s spine as he drastically upgraded his combat evaluation of the ant leader. The final hint also made him immediately realize that this boss-level leader had a hidden weakness. Four spider nests in total had dropped two spider eggs, which could be exchanged for a thousand credit points after the assessment. But compared to a future payout, Yu Jin preferred to use them immediately. If he could trade these thousand credits for an easy kill on the ant leader, it would be an extremely worthwhile deal.

“Most of the head and thorax are reinforced. To deal heavy damage, I must find a way to strike the abdomen.”

Yu Jin studied the ant leader, contemplating his strategy. After inspecting the deaths of the two larval queens, the ant leader’s dark compound eyes instantly reddened with blood, locking its full hatred onto Yu Jin.

It had only left momentarily, yet its home was stolen. This made Yu Jin a sworn enemy in its eyes.

Boom! Boom!

The ant leader’s forelegs slammed the ground with a thunderous sound.

A charge?

Yu Jin immediately saw the attack coming and dodged into a nearby classroom. But in the blink of an eye, a pair of giant mandibles burst through the wall, tearing apart the sturdy structure. The wall that had once trapped the larval queen was no match for this juvenile ant leader. If Yu Jin hadn’t dodged in time, he would have been struck head-on.

Having completed its metamorphosis, the ant leader was no longer hindered by sluggishness. Although the wind-up for its ram and bite skills remained, it could now adjust its movements flexibly. Seeing Yu Jin take cover, it shifted direction and crashed into the wall to enter. Although initially missing its target, it violently shook its head, turning the hardened mandibles into a hammer that slammed heavily into Yu Jin’s chest!

Thud!

[Hint: You received 21 direct damage from the leader-level boss ‘Juvenile Shadow Devourer’s’ ‘Enhanced Ram.’ Your Strength level must reach 10 to avoid secondary damage from ‘Enhanced Ram.’] (43-22)

[Hint: Judging... Judgment failed! Your Strength level is 7, unable to resist ‘Ram’ effect. You take 26 ram damage!]

Boom!

The heavy blow to his chest sent Yu Jin flying, crashing into the classroom wall behind him. His health dropped by 40% instantly. But it wasn’t over. After completing the Enhanced Ram, the ant leader swiftly ended the skill’s cooldown, and before Yu Jin could recover from the stagger, six muscular insect legs pounded down. Its giant mandibles flared wide, transforming into a terrifying guillotine aimed at Yu Jin’s waist, leaving no chance to dodge.

At this critical moment, Yu Jin had no choice but to activate his Solar Golden Body to forcibly nullify the biting attack’s power. Under the ant leader’s skill, the Enhanced Bite could increase base damage by 200%. If hit, Yu Jin would surely lose most of his life and might even perish on the spot.

Ding!

Clang!

The mandibles struck the invincible Solar Golden Body, stunning the ant leader so much it shook its head repeatedly to ease the pain. While still in Golden Body state, Yu Jin saw the ant leader suffering skill backlash, its health and mental state both dropping. He couldn’t help but smirk. Two seconds later, Yu Jin rolled on the ground and quickly dashed out of the classroom, sprinting down the corridor while drinking a healing potion to restore his health.

The ant leader’s hatred was fixed on Yu Jin, unwilling to let him escape unscathed. It immediately smashed through the wall in hot pursuit.

In an instant, a chase ensued—man and ant racing down the corridor from one end to the other. Yu Jin’s absolute speed was no match for the ant leader’s, but he had the advantage of a head start. It was only at the corridor’s end that the ant leader caught up, its giant mandibles opening again to bite at Yu Jin’s back.

Danger!

Sensing the imminent threat from behind, Yu Jin didn’t hesitate. He leapt forward, narrowly avoiding the guillotine-like mandibles, and threw an object to the side.

Bang!

The strong inertia slammed Yu Jin into the wall, but the defense of his active soft-bodied biochemical suit absorbed the collision damage. The ant leader, following at full speed, crashed headlong into the building’s exterior wall, once again demonstrating its unparalleled destructive power. Its entire body burst outside, causing the floor to tremble.

Crack... crack... crack...

Yu Jin glanced up at the cracked ceiling, then got up and moved away from the wall, once again dodging the ant leader as it broke through the wall. This time, however, the ant leader charged away from Yu Jin toward the spider egg he had thrown.

Ignoring the bricks and stones that pelted its body and its fully exposed weak points, the ant leader’s blood-red eyes glowed with greed as it swallowed the spider egg from the ground.

[Hint: The leader-level boss ‘Juvenile Shadow Devourer’ has consumed a spider-shaped ‘Shadow Devourer Egg.’ For the next five seconds, it will enter a poisoned state. Attacking its defensive weak points during this time has a chance to cause ‘Bleeding.’]

Opportunity!

Seeing the ant leader’s defenses open wide, Yu Jin decisively pressed the attack, striking the relatively vulnerable abdomen with three consecutive blows, instantly creating a bowl-sized wound. Blood poured out, the stench of iron sharp in the air.

[Hint: You inflicted an average-level ‘Bleeding’ effect on the leader-level boss ‘Juvenile Shadow Devourer,’ losing 10 health points per second for 10 seconds.]

Alongside the usual damage and effect judgments, this additional hint appeared. Exhausted, Yu Jin noticed the ant leader’s painful attempt to counterattack and immediately escaped through a wall breach, leaving the building.

Having learned the true effect of the spider egg, Yu Jin’s combat strategy shifted to prolonging the fight. Since the bleeding dealt the main damage, he need not risk a direct confrontation with the ant leader. The rest of the damage could be supplemented easily—every time the ant leader crashed into the walls, it took damage. Combined with skill backlash and Yu Jin’s attacks, it had already lost nearly 150 health points.

All Yu Jin needed to do was avoid attacks as much as possible, like a bullfighter—except without a red cape.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Still poisoned, the ant leader relentlessly pursued Yu Jin. Its mental clarity was impaired by the egg’s toxin, slowing its reaction speed. The successful slow effect drastically reduced its movement speed, allowing Yu Jin to dodge charges even while fatigued and return inside the building.

“Come on!”

With his stamina rapidly recovering, Yu Jin taunted the ant leader from behind a broken wall before quickly slipping away.

The ant leader was utterly enraged. It smashed through the outer wall again with its head, only to see Yu Jin safely out of reach, sprinting toward the corridor’s far end. The metamorphosis granted it some intelligence, making it realize that relentless pursuit was unwise. But the combination of rage and poison clouded its mind, leaving only one escalating thought echoing in its heart—

Kill this human!

Thus, the ant leader resumed its chase as the ten seconds of bleeding ticked away.

When Yu Jin used the second spider egg to divert the ant leader’s attention and inflicted another average-level bleeding effect, the leader boss, with less than a hundred health left, was doomed.

Thanks to the slow effect’s excellent performance, Yu Jin took no further damage. He kept using cover to dodge, accelerating the ant leader’s demise. When its giant mandibles smashed through the wall once more, the collision damage finally finished it off.

[Hint: Leader-level boss ‘Juvenile Shadow Devourer’ defeated. You gained 3 kill points and a massive amount of contribution points.]

[Hint: You completed the main quest “Reconstruction” Stage Two. You gained 2 kill points and the future property rights to a luxury apartment. Please search the school ruins promptly to unlock the next main quest stage.]