[You leveled up Multiply...]
[Generating another Dimensional Clone...]
Watching his stored IDLE Points and his current run's income burned close to nothingness, Aldrin felt a little heartache.
Nonetheless, it was instantly replaced with a wide smile when the fourth Dimensional Clone split from Tank's body.
"I shall name you... Uh... Poker!" Aldrin declared as he renamed the fourth Dimensional Clone before upgrading all the pieces of its equipment to Level 1, including the Back Guard, for 170 IDLE Points.
Following that, Aldrin switched its weapon to a spear, thinking that the Dimensional Clone could position itself behind Tank, poking their enemies from there. It would timely use its spear after Tank stopped an enemy from its charge.
Aldrin was trying to make a team of Dimensional Clones that would be without glaring weaknesses that their enemies could exploit.
"Great. Now follow my instruction." Aldrin sent a mental order to the stone spear-wielding Dimensional Clone which it immediately obeyed. It's the weakest among his Dimensional Clones at the moment so he placed it in the middle.
Compared to one-handed weapons and unlike a bow, the spear took up both Weapon(R) and Weapon(L). And that meant Aldrin had to keep the level of the two in sync.
Looking at the list of locked Skills at the right side of the Equipment and Skills tab, Aldrin eyed one that had a prerequisite of both weapon slots to be level 5 before unlocking.
Just like with Ripple, apart from IDLE Points required to unlock it, leveling it up also required IDLE Points.
Moreover, Aldrin guessed that it would also have a restriction on which kind of weapon it could use.
For Ripple, it would only work on one-handed and two-handed weapons. Shields, bows and guns wouldn't be able to use it.
"It's probably a two-handed weapon Skill... I should at least give each of my Dimensional Clones exclusive Skills befitting of their names."
Although Tank could also use Ripple using its Hammer once he leveled up that weapon slot to 5, Aldrin was eyeing a locked Skill with a specific requirement of Level 5 Shield. Consequently, there's also one that requires a Level 5 long-range weapon that's great for Hitter.
After sorting out his priority for his Dimensional Clones, Aldrin resumed his hunt, now with an additional member to his party.
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[IDLE Points: 1266]
"The addition of the fourth clone is truly terrific! A thousand points, thirty minutes after its appearance. But that's still far from the 10,000 IDLE Points I used!"
His storage went down to 0 due to using it alongside his earned income earlier for the fourth Dimensional Clone. If he deducted its original amount... his current run's total income was already close to 6000 IDLE Points! A little more before surpassing his highest record when he fished during the war between ants and spiders.
"... However, I'm already feeling the fatigue. Even my refined Energy was already depleted. Summoning a Shadow Clone isn't possible now or even using a Shadow Blade. If not for the Battlesuits, I probably already died twice." Aldrin muttered as he fully utilized the sixth piece of equipment that Janet gave him, staying mid-air for a prolonged time and expertly maneuvering his body to dodge the homing Winged Ants trying to catch him.
At this point, the three Dimensional Clones below were having their last stand while being surrounded by Soldier and Elite Soldier Ants under the command of the Commander Ant not far away from the encirclement.
Moreover, there's also a Giant Head Ant approaching them from a distance. Behind it, there were more reinforcement ants.
[Level 15 Giant Head Ant (Difficulty: Totally Impossible)]
With his continued growth, the difficulty of the ants dropped one rank. The previous Totally Impossible difficulty Commander Ant dropped to Impossible which could still give him 50 IDLE Points if he killed one.
However, the Winged Ants trying to catch him and the incoming Giant Head Ant were still both Totally Impossible.
If they're alone, Aldrin was confident to tackle them, even killing both as long as he was given a chance to face them one by one along with his Dimensional Clones.
However, the current situation wouldn't allow it. Just like his own strategy of quantity over quality, he and his Dimensional Clones were being overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of surrounding ants.
Whoosh!
Another twist of his body and the Winged Ant flew past him. And at this point, he already felt that his time to hover in the air had reached its end.
Readjusting his body to diving position, he aimed the Black Iron Sword as well as the Iron Saber to the Commander Ant at the ground as he began plummeting from above.
At the same time as that, he sent a mental order to the three to clear a path of escape.
As long as one of them was still standing, they could leave the dimension without any penalty.
"Ripple!"
Shouting the Striker's Skill, the Iron Sword in his right glowed with the same vibrant wavy light as he slashed down to his target. Compared to using a Concept, the Dimensional Clone's Skill wasn't costing him his own refined energy. As for where it came from, Aldrin only attributed it to the IDLE Database.
With the Iron Sword taking the front, the Black Iron Sword on his left hand that he brought from the real world swiftly followed. It was also faintly glowing via refined energy being utilized on it.
Thud!
Along with the sound of wind being sliced open, the Commander Ant that was busy directing his subordinates had its head flew off its body, loudly thumping the ground where it landed.
And as the Ripple reached the ground, it expanded in a cone shape from its point of impact, injuring and killing some of the ants that were supposed to protect the Commander Ant.
At the same time as that, from inside the encirclement, Poker brandished its stone spear clearing a circular area for them to breathe. Hitter then pulled out its sword and together with Tank, they charged through the direction where Aldrin in Striker's body landed.
With the Commander Ant dead, the chain of command among the ants was swiftly cut, resulting in some of them that were only relying upon it to forget their role.
Using that chance, Aldrin moved over to help his Dimensional Clones leave the encirclement.
Working from inside and the outside, it didn't take long for Aldrin to reunite with his Dimensional Clones. However, Poker, who took care of their rear, had already died inside, reducing their number to three.
"Scatter!"
Pulling the two out of it, Aldrin then sent that order to the surviving Dimensional Clones.
The two were both wearing Basic Refiner Battlesuits making their speed faster than normal.
By going in a separate direction, it managed to divide the ants' attention.
Before the Giant Head Ant arrived, they had already disappeared to the tall grasses, aiding in their escape.
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[IDLE Point storage: 1585]
[Conquest progress: +1%]
By the time Aldrin's consciousness returned to his real body after successfully escaping his pursuers, the clock was already close to midnight.
Because of his nearly depleted refined Energy, Aldrin's exhaustion was starting to pull him into unconsciousness.
To prevent that, Aldrin pulled an RM-1 elixir from his Spatial Pocket and popped one in his mouth, providing him with Dimensional Energy to refine without the need to harness it from his surroundings as well as a soothing sensation in his mind.
The elixirs he received along with the benefits from his contract to the Association were like potions in a game. It was produced by the Pharmaceutical Labs that made use of Dimensional Energy for their products.
A few moments later, Aldrin's eyes that were about to close regained their brilliance. The elixir worked and his Energy Quintessence successfully refined the minuscule Dimensional Energy contained in it.
"... To think that I will be using one this early. But it's fine, I cannot fall asleep yet or I will miss a few hours of income from the merchants."
After sorting out his mind, Aldrin then waited for the arrival of midnight, ready to renew them and convert the rest for his Energy Refiner progress.