"I said… Why have you humans encroached upon my domain?"
A piercing, guttural feminine voice resonated through the air, chilling them to the bone.
The group collectively raised their gaze, only to behold an enormous, elephant-sized ant menace over them at the ceiling.
Its maw was a terrifying sight to behold, which didn't take long to induce shrieks from the women and even caused several men to cry out in horror.
"Good heavens! What manner of creature is that?"
"I'm terrified! Take me back home this instant!"
"Nonsense! It appears quite appetising. Let's prepare it for a feast!"
"... You savage brute!"
"Look what you've done! You've landed us in hot water!"
Jass exclaimed, pointing towards the ant with kidology. John's face clouded over, but he didn't speak a word in anger.
The ant senses evil, and can't retreat, staring at her with its many eyes.
A primal fear, Death's aura drawing near, immediately nous something amiss about this woman.
'I-Is she even devil or human?'
Through those windows to her soul, the creature could detect that this demonic individual had taken countless lives.
"H-Human, what type of being are you? You aren't a devil or human?"
Its multiple eyes widening in alarm.
'Same attitude just like its Ai role…'
Jass, with information that animals have the ability to see those who had committed numerous murders, cocked her head to one side.
She then stretched languidly, a broad grin spreading installed on her face.
"Oh, how predictable. Just like every insignificant character's script. You are undeserving of my name unless you submit as my servant. So come here, little one, before I end your existence and claim you as my own."
The onlookers looked at her with disapproval and astonished. Jass wasn't one of them to secret her prowess. On the contrary, she likes to flaunt it.
"You look very tasty and useful!"
The ant gazed at her, salivating.
In this world, creatures could advance in their cultivation by eating beings with potent bloodlines.
It smelled the aroma of Jass's demonic heritage, which could potentially aggrandize the ant from a mere beginner to the pinnacle of the Expert stage within the Novice realm.
'This is merely a sentry. I can only picture how formidable the main force must be. There is no camera or other artefact here, and this labyrinth is also shrouded in mystery from all if I count this with novels' context.'
'By this time, The headmaster surely figured out that once we have entered, our only path out is through vanquishing it or to do something with the dragon inside.'
Jass is deliberately restraining her full might, all because of that potential enemies, including would-be heroes, are present.
She comprehends the strategic advantage of clock one's true capabilities could help her to catch enemies off guard when the moment is right.
"If you let me eat your flesh, I might release these humans from captivity."
With lightning speed to students, the ant clenched a female student from the ground and scurried on the ceiling.
"Please, set me free!" The woman cried out in terror.
'These insects are cunning and at present it is using this person as bait. Haah, do they truly believe I will surrender her for the sake of that hostage?'
Jass, merely shrugging with carelessness, was still impassive from the scene.
"I have no concern for her. Your actions are inconsequential unless they have a direct threat to my well-being."
"Help! Someone, please save me!"
"Then… This human shall be my sustenance!"
The captive screamed as the creature's jaws gaped wide, and was about to devour her head at first.
'Now this is my opportunity!'
Jass thought, her eyes narrowing, conjured an icicle, tossed it skyward, and swiftly kicked its flat surface.
—fweeeeee! —crunch!
While the ant was distracted, focused on its prey, the frozen projectile penetrated the creature's skull, followed by a wet-
—squelch!
-As it ripped out from the other side. The horrified onlookers stopped breathing collectively at the gruesome movie.
The ant's grip loosened, and its victim began to drop.
The woman plummeted from the insect's hold, falling towards the earth near Jass.
'Will she do it? If she could kill it to save her then…'
The students expected her to catch the victim heroically, like a fairy tale prince.
Instead, Jass stepped aside, legitimising the woman to continue her descent.
At the last moment, John rushed in and caught her safely in his arms.
The crowd glared in disapprobation, but she was still cold and pococurante as if deeming their opinions inexcusable of her panorama.
"You could have caught her instead of stepping aside."
John chided, delicately depositing the flustered woman on her feet. He turned to Jass, his gaze foxy with oversmartness.
"... Bruhhhhhhhhh! Don't be naive. I'm a woman, and my strength alone wouldn't have been sufficient to snatch her mid-fall without risking injury to both of us. I have no interest in playing the imbecile heroine or endangering myself for others' sake."
Jass met his stare with innocent blinks, then replied matter-of-factly.
Her words were crisp and unapologetic, leaving no room for argument about her priorities or decision.
"Anyway, Would you risk your health for strangers? The world isn't benevolent, and neither are we."
"People pretend to be altruistic, but deep down, we all understand our true nature. The only difference between us is that I openly enunciate my own predominance while you all hide behind a facade of virtue."
Jass's words soaked with haughtiness as she rolled her eyes.
The surrounding students looked away uncomfortably as there was two hundred percent truth in her logic.
Without waiting for a response, Jass turned and strode purposefully into the cave's profundity. John vociferously after her, analytic about her destination.
"I'm exploring further."
She replied curtly, her voice mellifluous off the rocky walls and before she added.
"I have chosen my options. I'll go and find entertainment or meat on my own terms and motto."
"In contrast to your entanglement with others, I won't implicate others in my affairs. You have independence to pursue whatever foolishness you sensuality, Tiny worms."
Jass entered the building, accompanied by her three companions.
The other students exchanged glances before proceeding inside as well.
Although they enjoyed a life of comfort and abundance, they were not immune to the pangs of hunger and knew some survival tricks. Nobody looked at the ant since it seemed very… nasty.
The group consequently wish prudently to survive and kill some wild game suitable for human consumption.
***
After 10 minutes, when the place was deserted, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.
Jass appeared, gently extending her hand over a big insect.
[Shadow Reanimate!] The incantation intoned, a dark form segregating itself from the creature's body.
In its place, a newly animated soldier marshal, ready to serve her will.
"What is your, Order mistress?"
At that moment, comprehension was instituted on Jass, regarding the spell's true concept.
This arcane invocation did more than merely command the shadows; it eternally captured the essence(soul) of its target.
Whenever Jass wielded this power, her mind tsunami with a brand-new understanding of the implications of her magical prowess.
'This spell is very extraordinarily uncommon. I'm curious how the antagonist didn't acquire it in the original story but somehow I've obtained it here. These spells are also like supernatural abilities, accessible only to a select few.'
She decided to christen the reanimated ant 'A1' and commanded it to reside within her shadow, which it obeyed with respect.
Jass then turned her attention to the impenetrable darkness of the unexplored cavern before her.
A thought crossed her mind.
'Those three might attempt to locate me since I fled from them saying I wanted to be alone.'
'Nonetheless, my mission should be conclave with the dragon. I needn't perturb myself with their future clash against the ant army after their congregation with the queen.'