Chapter 127 - Experts In Battlesuits

Comparing the Dreadgnaw to the insects they had been fighting in the Small Insect Colony#111222, the weakest Ant Champion that he killed was a league ahead of it

Even a Guardian Ant could face it one on one albeit it would be at a disadvantage if what he used as an indicator was their level labeled by the mysterious program.

Aldrin stared at it once more as well as on his summoned Guardian Ant's current level.

[Level 23 Dreadgnaw (Difficulty: Totally Impossible)]

[Level 21 Guardian Ant (Core Experience: 6489/10000)]

It's the first Guardian Ant. Every time he summons it, it's accumulating experience but even after all that, it's yet to level. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be long before its level was raised.

Considering levels 21-40 corresponded to Extraordinary Rank then every five levels corresponded to its sublevel; early, middle, late and peak.

In a way, he could say that both the Guardian Ant and the Dreadgnaw were early-stage Extraordinary Ranks. But still, the level was a clearer indicator on which one was stronger.

"If not for their numbers and even levels… Wrapping this up will be as easy as raiding a Dungeon. I also have this Metadome. I only need to get close to Dreadgnaw and its fate will be sealed. As for the smaller ones, it might take a while but they might run away when their leader falls. That's a serious loss of points. I have to make sure that none of them can escape. Also…" Aldrin's eyes darted to his left and right. He remained at the backlines, trying to sound out his surroundings while also providing fire.

With the new wave of hyenas showing up earlier, he's slightly wary that there were more enemies that might suddenly show up.

He had read the catalog of the known Rift Monsters or Dimensional Creatures and there's some that possessed a troublesome ability. Green-spotted hyenas were one of them but with his guess that they could only produce that toxic gas at night, they're simply a group of dangerous hounds.

As Aldrin continued observing his Dimensional Clones reducing the number of hyenas, he noticed that their high efficiency also stemmed from the Grade 2 Weapons that they're wielding.

Even though the enemies were of a higher level than the insects, letting them use those weapons he received as a reward lifted their overall prowess.

For example, the shield that Tank was wielding called Spikeguard. Although it appeared to have a smooth, unblemished surface at first glance, it actually possessed an unusual ability. Taken literally from the name bestowed to it.

Whenever something bashed into its smooth surface, there's a 50% chance that it would shoot iron spikes in a cone-shaped area. It could be a fatal counterattack to the nearest one but overall, its damage could be negligible. However, it's enough to act as a deterrent. 50% was a high odds.

Moreover, it was the hammer, Firemaul, that's responsible for dealing a fatal blow to those who would drop in front of it.

That's just for Tank. But the other three also have their own Grade 2 Weapons and they're more efficient in killings.

Naturally, with their status as peak Ordinary Rank creatures, there were times wherein a green-spotted hyena could get past Tank's defense. But that's it. With the honed cooperation between the four, it would need a stronger enemy or simply a larger group to break their formation.

Perhaps around 100.

Aldrin counted them and they're already less than half of it.

Furthermore, there's also the Guardian Ant and Spider Sentinel providing aid. It's a foregone conclusion that he'd win this battle.

"I cannot delay this any longer. It's time to end this."

Having decided that, Aldrin made his move.

He first ordered the Guardian Ant and Spider Sentinel to move to the sides. Following that, his Dimensional Clones retreated a few steps, pulling in the hyenas.

At that point, the Dreadgnaw cowardly hiding behind them had noticed that something was about to go wrong. It scrambled to its feet and hurriedly stood up with its hind legs, howling fiercely.

Hooooowl!

The howl that was akin to the blaring of a siren echoed in their slightly obscured area. The sound waves even rustled the leaves and branches of the trees.

Upon it settled on the beasts' ears, the hyenas reacted quickly as they stopped their aggressive charge and began to turn around.

However, after being lured in by the Dimensional Clones, the Guardian Ant and Spider Sentinel swiftly circled to their backs, cutting off their escape route. The Spider Spawns fill up the empty spaces.

Enraged and perhaps already scared at what's about to come, the Dreadgnaw aimed at the two giant insects' backs.

Having predicted that response, Aldrin fired his Material Blaster at the Dreadgnaw, preventing it from disturbing their harvest.

He then controlled his Metadome, using both Shadow Steps and the Maneuver Assistance, he arrived right at its side.

"This should be the point where I will say something cliched but that's distasteful. Just die for me."

Aldrin brandished the giant sword of his Metadome, Shadow Blade materializing on its blade.

The Dreadgnaw still managed to react, it desperately bit the Metadome's arm.

However, Aldrin just loosened the grip of the arm the Dreadgnaw bit, changing his slash from a two-handed to a one-handed.

With the inclusion of Shadow Blade, the colorless Aura Veil of the Dreadgnaw failed to block it as the sharp blade of its sword sank in its seemingly thick purple hide.

An ear-crushing yelp of dying mutt instantly rang out in the surrounding, marking the beast's death throes.

As if he's cutting an extremely soft butter, Aldrin's sword passed through the Dreadgnaw's body, cleaving it in equal half, albeit diagonally cut.

[IDLE Points +450]

Aldrin stared at the corpse of the Dreadgnaw, riveting the fact that he managed to cut it in half in one swing when earlier the best he could do was to open its back.

"… This is the strength of Stage 2 Energy Refiner, huh?"

A few minutes later, apart from Aldrin, his clones and the two summoned Units, the area became clean of any corpses. Even the huge Dreadgnaw was stored in the Idle Storage after he let the Guardian Ant poke it.

[IDLE Points: 43780/100000]

[Essence Storage: 569/5500]

He got more than he expected and that immediately generated a smile on his lips.

After deciding what to do next, Aldrin let the Dimensional Clones along with the two summoned Units to continue hunting but set them to be only nearby the hill's location.

He couldn't send them further into the unexplored area yet when he's not sure whether the hyenas were the end of attacks to them.

"I better go back. The best excuse to use is… I separated halfway from those mysterious experts in Battlesuits. They successfully lured away the Dreadgnaw and its minions."

With a story at hand, Aldrin turned around and let his slightly battered Metadome bring him back to their Base Camp.

He's still the leader so… he still had to assess if something else happened while he's gone.

-

-

Five minutes later, Aldrin emerged from the sea of trees  and back to where they were fighting earlier.

The ruined Metadomes were still on the ground along with the corpses of the green-spotted hyenas that were killed.

He found it a waste to leave the corpses there as they could be squeezed of Essence but still, he also couldn't risk the Dimensional Clones to be found out.

By the time he reached the foot of the hill, he noticed a Metadome descending from it.

It's not the same standard model. It's one of the Instructors.

"Aldrin?!" The operator's face popped up in his holographic screen, disbelief on his face.

"Is there something wrong, Instructor?" He asked. He couldn't make a guess if his surprise came from him returning or seeing him in one piece after last night's debacle.

"No… I can't believe they're telling the truth that you went out of your way to lure the Rift Monsters away. Even after what happened to you…"

"Ah. I got an extremely potent elixir from Instructor Janet. I woke up this morning. As the leader elected by everyone, I can't neglect my duty after my foolishness."

Attributing his survival to Janet, the Instructor in front of him soon dismissed his disbelief and even began looking at him with newfound praise.

Following that, the Instructor escorted him back to their Base Camp.

Apparently, the remaining Instructors were also attacked by various Rift Monsters on their vantage points. By the time they arrived at the camp, Irina and the others had already returned. And from Irina, they learned that he's still outside.

Using that chance, Aldrin narrated his made-up story about the experts in Battlesuits who helped him survive and lured away the hyenas.

"So, they're near here."

Upon hearing that remark, Aldrin was surprised… "You know them, Instructor?"

He carefully asked. Considering they're not really hiding, Aldrin understood that his clones would've been spotted sooner or later.

The thing he had to prevent though was for them to be discovered as unusual creatures.

Thanks to the Battlesuits though, their identity as only humanoid clones remained a secret.

"Yes. There are reports stating about the sighting death-seeking idiots hunting the Rift Monsters with only their Battlesuits. But surprisingly in every report, they're described as expert hunters…" He started.

At this point they're nearing the makeshift gate of their camp. Aldrin already spied Irina and the others waiting at the gates. But then, he waited for the continuation of the Instructor's information about his Dimensional Clones' sightings.

"… The most mystifying thing about them is that they're not leaving a trail of corpses and they're never spotted at the Plainsteed Base Camp.. No one knows who they are or what organization they belong to."