Eddie's guess was correct. At the entrance to the ant hole, a brutal massacre had erupted.
Countless mercenaries engaged in a chaotic battle, wildly slashing and hacking at each other. Some fought for survival, others for slaughter, and the battle beasts tore into each other in a frenzy. Everyone was driven mad, seeking to kill the enemy before them to save themselves. More often, they fell victim to others, collapsing amidst severed limbs, dismembered hands, and decapitated heads, with beast corpses strewn about, exuding a nauseating stench of blood.
Amid the fighting crowd, screams rang out, and bodies fell one after another, turning the ground into a bloody mess. Battle beasts roared, swords clashed, and the sound of battle echoed through the mountains.
"You've all gone mad! The Golden Ant eggs aren't with us, you're all insane!" Some mercenaries were innocently dragged into the fight.
Faced with the frenzy of killing, they had no choice but to arm themselves and fight back.
Sophia, Yehken, and Hessian were no different.
A few hours earlier.
The five of them were resting outside the ant hole, quietly waiting for Eddie. Little did they expect that shortly after, the mercenaries at the entrance began to riot.
It started with verbal insults among the mercenaries, then suddenly, someone spread a rumor that three mercenaries carrying backpacks had Golden Ant eggs...
As a result, any mercenary with a backpack became a target for the greedy mercenaries, sparking a massive brawl that engulfed everyone, sparing no one.
Sophia, Yehken, and the others initially retreated to a high rock, unwilling to partake in the mercenaries' death struggle. But within ten minutes, they were discovered, and numerous fierce and vicious mercenaries charged up at them.
Their eyes were bloodshot with killing intent, attacking anyone they saw.
To create more chaos, some mercenaries with ulterior motives pointed at Sophia and shouted, "The Golden Ant eggs are with that girl!"
The crazed mercenaries rushed to attack them, and battle beasts climbed everywhere.
There was no longer any escape from the fight.
Sophia and Yehken had intended to teleport back to Hope Valley, but upon unfolding their teleportation scrolls, they realized they were ineffective.
The gathering camp and Hope Valley were under spatial interference, making teleportation impossible... In the sky, hundreds of mercenaries mounted on flying beasts descended ominously.
Eddie's guess was spot on. At the entrance to the ant hole, a terrible massacre had broken out.
Countless mercenaries were engaged in a frenzied battle, slashing and hacking in a chaotic melee. Some were fighting to kill, others for self-preservation, and the battle beasts joined the fray.
Everyone was driven to madness, intent on killing the enemy before them to survive.
Yet, more often, they were slain by others, leaving a scene of carnage with severed hands, limbs, and heads strewn everywhere, and the corpses of battle beasts lay scattered, filling the air with a nauseating stench of blood.
Amid the melee, screams echoed, and bodies fell one after another, turning the ground into a muddy mess of blood. Battle beasts roared, swords clashed, and the sound of combat thundered through the mountains.
"You've all gone mad! The Golden Ant eggs aren't with us, you're insane!" Some mercenaries were innocently dragged into the fight, forced to take up arms and kill in self-defense.
Sophia, Yehken, and Hessian were in a similar situation.
A few hours earlier, they were resting outside the ant hole, waiting for Eddie.
Suddenly, the mercenaries at the entrance began to riot, first with verbal insults, then accusations of possessing Golden Ant eggs.
The rumor sparked a massive brawl, and the chaos quickly engulfed every mercenary, sparing no one.
Sophia and Yehken initially retreated to a high rock, unwilling to join the mercenaries' deadly struggle.
But within minutes, they were discovered, and numerous vicious mercenaries charged at them.
Blinded by rage and killing intent, they attacked anyone they saw. To add to the chaos, some mercenaries with ulterior motives pointed at Sophia and shouted, "The Golden Ant eggs are with that girl!"
The crazed mercenaries surged forward, and battle beasts clambered up the rocks.
Escape from the battle was no longer an option.
Sophia and Yehken had initially planned to teleport back to Hope Valley, but soon discovered their teleportation scrolls were ineffective due to spatial interference – no teleportation was possible in the area. They stood firm, determined to wait for Eddie's return.
Sophia, reluctant to harm others, initially summoned two century-old Treant Guardians to deter the attackers, not intending to injure them seriously. However, as powerful leaders among the mercenaries noticed Sophia's formidable strength and believed she possessed the Golden Ant eggs, their attacks intensified under the misjudgment and greed.
From the ground and sky, countless attacks rained down, including arrows, stones, poison sand, smoke, flames, ice, and lightning.
The century-old Treant Guardians were battered by the relentless assault, yet they fought unceasingly, protecting Sophia from any who dared approach.
As the battle intensified, Sophia had no choice but to fight back more fiercely. She unleashed thorns, spikes, and vines, killing any attacking beasts. Within thirty minutes, dozens of greedy mercenaries and nearly a hundred beasts were defeated and fell off the rocks.
The mercenaries' relentless tactics were ineffective against Sophia, protected by a shield and two Bronze Level Five battle beasts. However, as soon as the shield weakened, they surged forward again in a frenzy.
Hessian summoned a shield that lasted ten minutes. Sophia hoped for Eddie's return, knowing his presence would deter the mercenaries. Unfortunately, Eddie was still searching for the volcanic hot spring lake.
When Hessian's shield reached its limit and vanished, the mercenaries, driven by greed and temptation, climbed up repeatedly, intent on capturing Sophia.
In the sky, flying battle beasts circled, waiting to strike, while some mercenaries on mounts fired crossbow bolts from above.
To protect the severely drained Sophia, Yehken unleashed his power. First, he summoned a reinforced Diamond Gorilla to strengthen himself, then called forth the nearly invincible Herculean Rhino Beetle to protect Sophia.
Utilizing battle techniques enhanced by Eddie's guidance and the Diamond Gorilla's support, Yehken repelled all approaching mercenaries, demonstrating formidable prowess.
Eddie's guess was accurate. The entrance to the ant hole was a scene of brutal slaughter.
Countless mercenaries fought viciously, with some battling for survival and others for bloodlust. The chaos was unrelenting, as everyone was driven by a primal urge to survive.
The ground was littered with corpses and severed limbs, and the stench of blood permeated the air.
Sophia, Yehken, and Hessian were caught in the midst of it all. An hour earlier, they had been resting outside the ant hole, unaware of the impending chaos. Suddenly, a rumor spread among the mercenaries about someone carrying Golden Ant eggs, sparking a violent frenzy.
In the ensuing melee, mercenaries mercilessly targeted anyone with a backpack, believing it contained the coveted eggs.
Sophia and Yehken initially sought refuge on a high rock, trying to avoid the senseless battle. However, they were soon spotted, and a mob of ferocious mercenaries stormed up the rock.
In a moment of desperation, Sophia summoned her Treant Guardians to fend off the attackers. Yet, the relentless assault from the mercenaries pushed her to her limits. She unleashed a barrage of thorns and vines, turning the rock into a battleground.
With each powerful strike and spike assault from the Treant Guardians, the mountainside began to crumble, revealing a dark, bottomless cliff behind it. Trapped between the mercenaries and the cliff, Sophia faced a dire situation.
As the mercenaries realized her predicament, their attack intensified. Sophia, emotionally and physically exhausted, fought desperately. After ten grueling minutes, she collapsed to the ground, her cries for her brother echoing through the mountains.
Meanwhile, Eddie was engaged in a fierce battle with the Purple Gold Marquis, unaware of his sister's plight. Fortunately, Grey Wolf, which Sophia had sent to find Eddie, finally returned. The wolf had battled thousands of Red Fire Ants in the ant hole, unable to locate Eddie, and returned to a scene of carnage.
With only Hessian left standing, Grey Wolf unleashed its fury. It erupted in hellish black flames, decimating hundreds of mercenaries and beasts in a rampage reminiscent of a demonic invasion. After an hour, Grey Wolf had slain over three hundred mercenaries and five hundred beasts.
When Grey Wolf returned to protect Sophia, it was gravely injured, its blood staining the rock. Despite its valiant efforts, it was overwhelmed by the sheer number of attackers. Grey Wolf fought to its limits, not defeated by any single beast but by the unending onslaught.
Standing guard over Sophia one last time, Grey Wolf reached its breaking point, barely able to stand. As the mercenaries saw their opportunity, they surged forward.
"Kill!"
"Whoever gets the Golden Ant eggs will be rewarded a thousand gold!"
"Kill them and avenge our brothers! The first one to reach the top gets the girl. Charge!" The mercenaries surged up like ants, prompting Grey Wolf to growl furiously in response.
As Grey Wolf struggled to stand for one last fight, Hessian placed a hand on its head:
"What's the rush? "
"They haven't all died yet. When have we ever relied on a dog's loyalty?"
" Watch and learn. As long as I, Big Hessian, am here, there's hope. "
"If I fall, then you carry Sophia and jump off the cliff, but don't let her fall into the mercenaries' hands! "
"And don't forget about Yehken and the Ly brothers. Only men who die standing are true warriors, not those who kneel in captivity!"
Tearing off his shirt, Hessian roared furiously, "You idiots, you want Golden Ant eggs? I'll give you enough to choke on!"
He threw his and Yehken's backpacks down the rock, inciting a frenzied scramble among the mercenaries.
Amid the chaos, the backpacks were torn apart, revealing nothing but clothes and rations – no Golden Ant eggs.
The mercenaries suspected Hessian had hidden the eggs. Blaming Sophia, Yehken, the Li brothers, and Grey Wolf for the numerous deaths, they were determined to annihilate the group.
The mercenaries' leaders were more than willing to fight to the bitter end, convinced that only the living could claim the eggs.
They incited, motivated, and commanded their men to take the rock, which had withstood hours of fierce battle.
The aim was to use the mercenaries as cannon fodder, securing the final prize for themselves.
"Charge!"
The mercenaries climbed up desperately, their eyes red with bloodlust.
This time, Hessian didn't summon his tome but took out a black crystal, chanting a long summoning spell.
A dark light spread like nightfall, enveloping the land.
Roars that could chill one's spine echoed through the darkness, and the valley resounded with thunderous noise.
At the center of the dispersing black light, a monstrous creature appeared, grotesque and terrifying.
Its massive head and shoulders towered above, with tree-trunk-like legs and iron-strong arms, black claws longer than daggers.
Its hideous face bore sharp fangs protruding from its lips.
No one had seen such a monster before. Yet, the creature spoke in a distorted human voice, "Haven't seen a handsome guy before? You all deserve to die, die!"
"Is it a human or a demon?"
"It looks like a Behemoth, but I've never heard of a human turning into one! This doesn't seem like an enhanced beast. What in the world is this?"
"Kill it!"
The mercenaries, confused and frightened, charged at the monster. Hessian, transformed into this fearsome creature, prepared to face the onslaught.
In this desperate moment, the lines between human and beast blurred, as survival became the only imperative.
The mercenaries, despite their numerical advantage and continuous reinforcements from Hope Valley, were thrown into panic and chaos.
The Behemoth-like creature, believed by the mercenaries to be a fearsome monster, leaped down from the high rock.
With a single swipe of its massive claws, it sent the head of a Level Three Wild Buffalo King flying.
Countless flying axes and boulders struck the creature, but it only roared in pain, unaffected by the blows.
Enraged, it unleashed a bloody massacre among the densest crowds of mercenaries.
Two hours later, the monstrous Behemoth, having slain hundreds of beasts and mercenaries, finally fell under the relentless assault of the mercenaries.
Just as a group of them prepared to decapitate it, the creature suddenly sat up, speaking in a mutated human voice, "I'm done playing with you all. I'm tired, time to rest!"
It broke through the encirclement and attempted to climb back up the rock. Arrows rained down, piercing the Behemoth's back.
Among the attackers were powerful warriors hidden in the crowd. The Behemoth resembled a porcupine, its back covered in arrows. Exhausted, it could no longer climb the rock.
With a final effort, it embedded its claws deep into the rock, hanging just below the ledge where Sophia lay, motionless.
Whether dead or drained of blood, the Behemoth no longer responded to the mercenaries' attacks.
Grey Wolf stood up and howled mournfully to the sky. Its heart-wrenching cries echoed through the mountains.
"The Golden Ant eggs are ours now! Brothers, climb up and seize them! A reward of a hundred gold for the first to reach the rock, and a thousand for whoever finds the eggs!"
Almost all the mercenary leaders announced the same bounty.
Chaos erupted once again as mercenaries swarmed the rock like ants. Many fell to their deaths from mid-air, slain by each other or struck by stray arrows.
Those who managed to reach the top were too busy attacking each other to search for the eggs.
Grey Wolf ignored the fighting mercenaries and dragged Yehken, the Li brothers, and Sophia together.
With blood and tears streaming down its face, the wolf prepared for a final leap into the abyss, intending to end its companions' lives to spare them from capture.
As Grey Wolf's fangs neared Yehken's throat, a purple meteor streaked across the distant canyon, hurtling angrily towards them...