We were outnumbered. We had stepped into a nest. I needed to tell them quickly, so we could get out of here as soon as possible. I didn't care if my cover was blown anymore. To me, getting everyone out alive was my main priority right now.
'Ari, undo the illusion on me.' Ari looked at me. She was just a child, but she helped me a lot so far.
'Are you sure, baba?'
'What kind of question is that? Of course, I am.' There was no reason for me to stay invisible anymore. Wait! Invisible! Maybe it could work. 'Ari, do you think you can do an illusion over us like how you are doing me?' Ari looked at them and then looked back at me.
'I think I can cover everyone, but they will still find you. It is only an illusion. They can still hear you walk or smell you out.' Well, that was a try. 'Also, I also need to be touching the person for it to work on.'
'Okay, make me visible.'
'Alright!' Ari jumped off of me and landed on the ground, so that must mean that the spell was off. I met their eyes. They must be in shock to see me out of the blue like that.
"Alex? What are you doing here?" That was dad. "How did you do that?" I ignored dad's questions.
"We need to get out of here," I said with urgency. I wanted everyone to escape before whatever that was coming here got here. "We are outnumbered and surrounded. There are probably, even hundreds of them."
"Alex, what are you talking about and how do you know this?" At least, Diana asked.
"I will explain it later, but we need to get out of here." Dad looked pissed off. I am sure he was pretty clear when he told me not come, so of course he would be pissed if I BS-ed him like that. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Now! Please." I was practically begging them now.
They were not taking me seriously, but they did have some other emotion that I couldn't tell. I could tell from their eyes. "Look, Alex, I need you to get inside the circle and stay with Arthur." Anne said it as simple as possible. Dad gave me a look that said 'listen to her or you will get it from me'. I walked over and went inside their protective circle that was initially for Arthur.
"Dad, you have to-"
"I can't believe you didn't listen to me. Is this how you were taught as a child? To never listen." I thought he was the chill type. He was like that since I was born. I knew he was just caring for me and didn't want me to be in danger, but it wasn't the time for that right now.
"Dad, you can scold me later. I know what I did was wrong." He let out a sigh.
"Alex, I only did that for your safety. You should realize how dangerous it is for a seven year old kid like you. Entering a dungeon can be a life or death situation, plus we finally got you back. Do you think I am willing to see you die the next day?" I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Dad turned to Arthur. "Arthur, give your dagger to Alex." Arthur gave me the dagger that I had my eyes on before.. "Make sure you use that for self-defense only. You are not going to be fighting, just like Arthur." Could they handle that many mana beasts?
I nodded. I couldn't do anything if they didn't take me seriously. This fight might even be a losing battle. I know dad clearly told me not to fight, but I know they need as much help as they can get. I should try helping them as much as I can without them knowing. I remember my sword techniques from my past life and I probably even had more experience than they had. I took a defensive stance.
"Dad is only like that since he was worried about you." I knew Arthur was trying to make me feel better.
"I know."
'Baba, they are coming in fast.'
'Alright. Keep me updated.'
"Dad, they are coming." Just as I said those four words, I heard many crawling noises. I got ready. Ari was right. They were coming fast. They came into the light where we could finally see them.
Ants. They were damn ants. Of course, there would be hundreds. They were big and red. They looked a little bigger than me and I was pretty tall for my age. Some of them were even flying.
"Aston, I thought you said this was a rank D dungeon. So why the hell are there chimera ants here?"
"I don't know. These weren't here the last time we came in here. There was only Class E monsters." Aston was not lying from the way he was talking.
"Dad, what are chimera ants?" Arthur's question was completely random, but dad answered it anyway.
"They are not a good sign. They are known for eating raw meat, including humans. They are a class C mana beast individually, but if there is a whole nest of them. It automatically becomes a Rank B dungeon. We need to get out of here." Dad started to walk towards the direction we came in from.
'It's too late. They probably blocked the entrance already, and I could smell them faintly over there.'
'How come you didn't smell them earlier?'
'I don't know. I couldn't smell that much when we went through the cave entrance, but when we got here I could smell them. But it is very faint.' I turned to dad before he went any more.
"Dad, that entrance is already blocked." Dad looked at me.
"How do you know?"
"I felt like I was being watched as came in. I am pretty sure they must have blocked the exist by now."
"I believe Alex since I felt something like that." Thanks for stepping in Jeremy. At least, someone believed me. "I think its too late to escape now. We have to get ready to fight." Dad went silent, but still came back and regrouped.
"Alex, I hope you know that we are not done talking."
"I understand." I might as well get scolded later than now. I got the dagger ready and stood back to back with Arthur. Ready for the upcoming battle.