Stars glow endlessly above the marshland, unaware of the battle below it. As the cold breeze continue to blow in a moderate force, the others who are anxious, extremely worried of their classmate's unconscious body gives heat to the ones in need. Aiding each other, relieving the ones who seek comfort in their tired and exhausted bodies and minds.
"Belle went back after giving us a head start to escape from the southern border. She said that we should give it up because it was swarming with enemies and she said that the others, who can transform were facing the queens, giving us nothing but only ourselves, to protect the hive from above and below." Jessie said sadly, looking at the wounded friend who sacrificed herself for them.
Kent looked at Belle who Maeje have been busy attending her wounds with the plants her found in the marshland. Maeje put the plants one each of the wounds after wiping the blood on Belle's body. She almost tore her clothes to cover Belle's wounds but Jessie saw the webs that Belle used to grab others who were in sleep and they used it instead.
Tearing the web slowly, Jessie used his spear to cut it down when suddenly, Cherry woke up from her sleep after getting hit by the dust the butterfly monsters had poured. "Ahhh!" Jessie moved backward, scared of the unexpected awakening of those who were put to sleep. "What happened." Cherry asked as she told everyone to cut the webs and put her hand on her head, acting in pain. "You were put to sleep." Ivan said as he approached those who woke up.
One by one, everyone started to wake up and they were released from the webs Belle made for them, making the job easier for Jessie as he grabbed those webs and cut it according to Belle's wounds.
"This is only a temporary remedy; she needs to rest and be attended. We need to change the plants from time to time, but I don't know how much long this war is going to end." Said Maeje, worried about Belle.
"I also thought, these wounds came from the termites themselves, but that doesn't seem the case. These are bruises and scratches coming from the ground and rocks, I think the termites did not really get her and exterminated all of them by herself." Said Maeje, shocked towards Belle's power.
Kent was amazed by the possible thought. She didn't know Belle could have used the powers to that extent. Alex's pain came from the southern borders that Belle defended, some termites must have dealt quite a few damages from the hive, if Belle wasn't there, Alex would've suffered more. Nevertheless, she was happy about it, extremely thankful. Belle has considered herself as a nobody in the past world, even if she didn't tell me that. I noticed it before. I can see and feel that she felt distant towards us, although, not all the time. But still, she sacrificed herself so that others could be saved. A heroine inside the class.
Kent could not help herself but to cry a little. She immediately wiped her tears down, "The others are awake now, the butterfly queen must have been defeated." Kent said.
"I think not, the creatures retreated unexpectedly." Ivan said.
"What do you mean?" Kent asked, confused.
"It seems like, they retreated, in a purpose." Ivan answered while she helped everyone who fell asleep stand up.
"Christian successfully acquired the queen of the termite's power after we killed it." Kent continued, still sitting on top of the earth wall.
"So Christian is the new Quee – King now?" Ivan asked.
Kent nodded.
"Then the death of the termite queen must have been the reason for the termites' rampage. Then if it stopped, Christian must have taken control of all of them now." Ivan continued.
The area turned silent as they indulged in their own thoughts.
"I went here immediately after Alex screamed in pain – the hive was hit." Kent continued. "Noel's taking the ant queen by himself and Jay, Matt and the others went to help the others, and since they're all here. I can see that no one was in the northern border but Noel himself." Kent continued.
Everyone nodded as they listened to Kent.
"So, what should we do now?" Ivan asked.
Kent sighed and stood up, determined to fight again, with her remaining strength. "Those who can still fight, we advance to the northern border and aid Noel. This is our fight and not his. Those who are wounded and can no longer fight, stay here and keep safe. I'll station three of the guard bees here in case there's an emergency." Kent announced.
Those who were willing to fight gathered their weapons and immediately put their tracks back on the earth pathway, towards the Northern border, facing the last queen and the most vicious of them all – the queen of the ants.
Kent looked at below and the termites who weren't dead also marched their way towards the Northern wall, swimming on the ground as they made holes in it. Alex will be tired after this, Kent thought, gazing below.
Resounding footsteps can be widely heard as they march their way on to the Northern border, determined to fight the last of the queen, risking their lives again. Tired and exhausted of the unending battle, the fuel that keeps them going is only the willingness to continue to live in this new world.
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Noel's attacks do not seem to deal much damage to the ant queen. But the ant queen's attacks can, to him.
Noel thought as he spit blood from taking the attack head on. "I never faced nor have seen you in this land. Unique, you are." Said the ant queen, looking confident in front of the big panther in front of her.
Noel chuckled, "I lived in secret." He lied.
"Then you should've never shown yourself!" The ant queen said as twirled towards Noel, dancing with her four daggers that separates enemy who make contact with it.
Noel parried the queen's attack by using his long, sharp claws. Giving out a clashing sound as blades collided hardly.
They both jumped away from each other. "You're strong." Said the ant queen. Noel smiled, "Thank you, you are too. He replied, catching his breath. "However, not strong enough to defeat me." The ant queen added where she threw her daggers to confuse Noel as he followed where the daggers went. The ant queen immediately flew towards Noel and instant, she was in front of him.
Noel knew the situation he has in; he could not evade nor parry this one. I will take a hit. He's convinced.
"Boo!" The ant queen whispered as she used her own claws sliced Noel's face, wounding the panther in front of her.
Noel hissed as he tried to hide away the pain by gritting his teeth and fangs. Red drops of liquid flowed on Noel's face as drops of blood run through his black fur.
The attack almost hit Noel's eyes, thankful it didn't. But the pain his getting isn't subsiding.
The queen's movement changed as she moved like the wind, faster than him, dealing numerous attacks towards the big black panther in the night where he boasts his strength when in contact with it. But the queen ant did not show any signs of remorse as she continues to give Noel every pain she could give. The fearsome predator of the forest has been turned nothing but a prey to the insect who they once considered weak for being little in the past world. But that wasn't the case here.
Noel can barely dodge the queen's series of attacks, leaving him in a direful situation. The queen targeted his feet to refrain himself from getting away which she succeeded as Noel was on his knees now, helpless. Noel tried to get away by using his invisibility, but he was found out in an instant by the queen's strong sense of vibration.
Noel continued to grit his teeth, not showing any weakness to the ant queen in front him. But deep inside was the agonizing pain, excruciating that he wants to leap away and just hide, to heal. But he can't do that, keeping the queen her while they face the others will be the most important job in this battle.
Noel laughed, "I didn't know you're this strong. Back in our old world you're nothing but a teeny mini pest." Noel said as he gestured one of his claws, by pointing one of it on the ground.
The queen gave out a confused look, "I don't know anything of your past world but the stapu are one of the strongest kinds that live in the marshland." The queen explained.
Ranthi told him about the stapu who are strong and gigantic insects that dominate the marshes, including the queen bee who the others defeated. I was a fool for considering this an easy job after Ranthi told me about this power than only the paral beings can have. Although she warned me of not getting too careless for, they were incredibly strong, I still chose to act this way and boasted for being a strong one. but here I am, about to be defeated and be killed by an insect. Noel regretted but still willing to fight for his life.
The ant queen sighed, "But explaining to a mere prey won't worth any." The ant queen said where she drew her weapons again after collecting them back and preparing to execute the final blow towards Noel who can't even stand, helpless and about to die.
Noel closed his eyes as he prepared himself for death, "I hoped I had done well to avenge my classmates." He smiled.
Suddenly, a clashing sound echoed as the great axe and the daggers collided in front of the helpless panther. Noel saw the familiar being saved his life. "Now go!" shouted Christian who just got right in time. His face turned white and he had acquired wings and a great axe, too. Seemed coming from the queen of the termites that attacked earlier with the other queens.
"Noel thanked Christian where he immediately turned invisible, gathering his strength, limping towards the Northern border.
"I guess you defeated the queen of the termites." Said the ant queen as their weapons still colliding.
"Not me, but them." Said Christian who pointed the creatures who are coming towards them with his mouth.
The ant queen was looking alarmed and moved away. "Tch, those weak queens. I should've been the only queen in this land." Hissed the ant queen.
Jay, Kent, Alex, Gloyd and Christian looked towards the queen as they positioned themselves in front of her.
Kent slowly moved forward, her lance in hand. "You can't win. Not against us, together." Kent said.
Together they prepared their weapons as they face the last enemy behind the greatest battle in the marshland.