Chapter 103 - The Last Ant Queen Lair

"This is…"

Aldrin was flabbergasted. An unbelievable sight lay in front of his eyes upon arriving at the Royal Ant Queen Chamber.

Not counting the almost human-like breathtaking Royal Ant Queen that was sitting upon a throne made from different insect parts as she laid her eggs down, somewhat magically in front of her, Aldrin was more concerned at what's blocking her way towards her.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Five Ant Champions, each one carried their own uniqueness. The last warriors of the Royal Ant Colony in this particular Lower Dimension.

Different from the first twelve Dungeons that he successfully conquered and sealed, the last Dungeon of the Royal Ant Colony or specifically, the main lair of the Royal Ant Queen, didn't send him to a separate Dimension that the IDLE Database prepared.

He stepped right into its entrance after confirming the contents of the last Dungeon and killed his way to the Royal Ant Queen Chamber.

Starting from Worker Ants that failed to run, Soldier Ants, Elite Ants, Commander Ants and the enhanced versions of them, Aldrin cut them down and sent them to the Idle Storage.

Compared to the generated dungeons, the whole lair was wider and had more areas to clear. A bigger number of area bosses too that doesn't drop anything except IDLE Points and their corpses. Furthermore, there's no game mechanic to exploit anymore. He had to fight them face to face and win.

In the end, he once again spent additional 6,000 IDLE Points for the third tier of the multiplier. That way, even when he got surrounded from all sides, ambushed and overwhelmed, he came out almost unscathed.

With the sheer number of the remaining ants inside this last Dungeon or last lair, he gradually earned back the points he used.

It was a bitter struggle but from how desperate they became, Aldrin somehow understood that this would be his last battle in this Dimension.

The four automatic runs that he did during the day didn't net him a bunch of IDLE Points anymore. Why? Because the population of the Small Insect Colony #111222 has horrifyingly dwindled to the point that the last two strongholds were the main lair and cradle of the Royal Ant Colony and Black Spider Colony – Aldrin's objective for tonight. He's prepared to use more than one Idle Adventure run attempt to put a grand end to this first conquest.

The other insect species either died already or went into hiding in fear of being eaten by the desperate ants and spiders or killed by Aldrin's Dimensional Clones roaming across the land.

"No wonder I haven't run into any one of you. All the Champions are gathered together. Moreover, you're not a byproduct of the mysterious program. You're the Champions existing in this Lower Dimension." He spat as he eyed each one of them.

Aldrin believed that every Champion that he fought and encountered during the Survival and Wave Survival challenges were all generated. Or in a wilder guess, close to his Summoned Units. They're all generated by Essence.

These Champions in front of him, however, were different. They're very much alive. They were born in this dimension, grew up and became what they were today.

Aldrin had no idea if they were forced by the IDLE Database to guard the queen rather than mix in with the ants that swarmed him earlier to sneak in earlier. If they had done that, Aldrin was far from confident to win against them.

For Aldrin, that's an extremely unusual behavior from them. The past few days, he could occasionally read from the status and combat logs of Idle Adventure that his Dimensional Clones encountered different champions. They would escape or if they couldn't, they'd fight while prioritizing to save at least one to end the run.

That's why he suspected the IDLE Database of having a hand in this unusual situation where the supposed strongest warriors waited right at the Royal Chamber.

"Can't any of you talk? I recall you are capable of it." Aldrin continued.

The Ant Champions remained standing in front of him but all of them exuded the pressure of an expert. However, with the 3rd tier of multiplier cast upon himself and his Dimensional Clones, the pressure was lower.

Unfortunately, Summoned Units wasn't covered by that multiplier or else, they would be great contenders against the Champions after applying that.

As the silence reigned, Aldrin once again checked the information of the five.

[Level 27 Ant Champion Kata (Difficulty: Beyond Impossible)]

[Level 30 Ant Champion Ahab (Difficulty: Beyond Impossible)]

[Level 33 Ant Champion Gonsu (Difficulty: Beyond Impossible)]

[Level 36 Ant Champion Bogya (Difficulty: Beyond Impossible)]

[Level 39 Ant Champion Sira (Difficulty: Beyond Impossible)]

'Their levels are no longer question marks but the Difficulty never changed. It's still based on my real prowess, disregarding the buff from the multipliers. Moreover… I seem to have misjudged their strengths.'

Aldrin focused on their levels and made his conjecture. If Level 1-20 corresponds to an Ordinary Rank, then Level 21-40 corresponds to Extraordinary Rank. None of the five, even the most terrifying Ant Champion that he first sighted, was a Rare Rank.

If anything, the strongest one might be as strong as a peak Stage 2 Energy Refiner. Compared to the generated Champions in the first 12 Dungeons, the five before him are weaker.

With that line of thought, Aldrin's confidence swelled up a bit. However, he popped it soon after. 'I don't need unnecessary confidence. What I need is certainty. Certainty that I will definitely win against them and finish this.'

"Screeeech! Foul invader. We do not. Talk to enemies. This. Not your place. Leave!"

The gnarly screech and the broken sentences of the strongest Ant Champion reached Aldrin's ears.

Like he had guessed, they're capable of speech. Nonetheless, even if didn't connect those broken sentences, Aldrin could easily guess that he wasn't welcome inside the Chamber.

Why would he? Even if the ants or any other insects could kill Aldrin's Dimensional Clones, he kept on coming back to the Lower Dimension to kill them over and over. At first, they could still see the traces of the fights and recover their bodies but now, everything that was cut down by Aldrin and his Dimensional Clones was disappearing.

One of the two Hegemons of the dimension was reduced to the Royal Ant Queen, the Champions, the few workers and the unhatched eggs.

"I'm sorry, but that's not possible. I… am here to conquer."

As soon as the last word of his sentence dropped, Aldrin made his move.

A thin anthropomorphic ant wielding what may be categorized as a katana. It's wearing a ragged silk robe that's woven unskillfully. That's Kata, the Level 27.

An unrealistic aesthetic face of a woman with antennae decked on an ant's body. It's not wearing anything but there's another ragged piece of clothing draped over its insect shoulder. In its more than four insect hands, daggers glowing in oceanic blue aura or perhaps a manifestation of refined energy or Concept. Whether they're special or not, it needs confirmation. That's Ahab, the Level 30.

A scorched black bulky anthropomorphic ant wielding nothing was glowing in a deep orange aura. It kept on stomping one of its ant feet that it already made a hollow on the ground. That's Gonsu, the Level 33.

An anthropomorphic ant with white hair growing from its head wielding a fragile-looking fan and wearing another ragged robe tied by a blade of grass on its waist. Around it, the wind rumbles violently as small lightning flashes every time it would wave its fan. That's Bogya, the Level 36.

And lastly, an almost human-like Ant, slightly similar to the gorgeous queen on its throne. Its body was covered by an armor seemingly made from different parts of different insects. By its side, what may be deemed as a great sword was impaled on the ground. There were no special effects around it. However, just by the pressure oozing out from its body or its level, it's the strongest Ant Champion. Sira, the Level 39.

After making the first move, Aldrin's mind focused entirely on the battle. He's once again wearing the Dark Warrior Battlesuit, making him look like a black streak dashing through the earth.

The effects of the Battlesuit might be minimal for some, however, even a slight enhancement from channeling his refined energy to it was a welcome addition. It's a full-body armor and an ability enhancer, only idiots would forgo equipping it.

Pulling his mind back to reality, Aldrin eyed his target.

As a proven strategy, he aimed at the weakest. Bringing down his enemies' numbers was always a winning element.

With Essence Grenade clutched in his hand, Aldrin threw it to the Level 27 Kata. The swordsman, looking Ant Champion.

He didn't underestimate it. He just chose to do a preemptive strike since the Ant Champions weren't moving.

The Essence Grenade was definitely faster than Aldrin, it's lighter and he threw it with definite force.

However, the Ant Champion, Kata, stood still, seemingly inhaling a long breath before holding it in.

Moments later, Kata drew its katana in one swift motion. With the sound of the wind being slashed by something, the incoming Essence Grenade in half.

Due to that, a premature explosion ensued, not hitting anyone.

Before that flash of explosion Aldrin saw Kata sheathing his katana back and it stopped holding its breath.

"Oh. Isn't that overconfidence?" Aldrin grinned because he didn't throw only one Essence Grenade.

Before his voice could even reach them, another explosion bloomed and this time, it was followed by a horrified shriek.

"That's overconfidence, I tell you," Aldrin muttered with a smirk.. His entire focus trained towards his target.