Mikhailis practically shouted at the top of his lungs, his hands gripping the armrest of his chair as he watched the view from his glasses. The frog variant chimera ant was once again fleeing from danger, leaping through the thick forest at a frantic pace. The undergrowth blurred past, and the sky peeked through gaps in the foliage as it bounded from one place to another.
He already jumped as if he's the frog variang chimera ant because of the continous jumpscare he's getting from watching it.
"This forest is damn dangerous!" Mikhailis exclaimed, shaking his head with a sigh. He let out an exaggerated groan as he watched the frog variant narrowly escape yet another hostile encounter.
<That is unsurprising, Mikhailis. You are currently navigating through the magical forest of Eldermoor,>
Rodion's voice echoed through his earpiece, calm as ever.
<The forest is known to be filled with all manner of magical beasts. It is considered one of the most dangerous areas near the kingdom, though magic wards have been placed along the highway to prevent monsters from attacking. Still, attacks against travelers and merchants are not unheard of, which is why adventurers often take up escort jobs, while knights serve to protect the nobles.>
"Adventurers, huh?" Mikhailis mused, scratching his chin.
"I guess that makes sense. The danger here basically turned into its own job market. That's kind of interesting, actually."
<It would be advisable for you not to get any ideas, Mikhailis. Unless you manage to attain a similar level of strength as Queen Elowen or Lady Vyrelda, I suggest we refrain from dreaming of joining the adventuring career.>
Rodion added a hint of dryness in his tone.
Mikhailis huffed, leaning back. "
I get it, I get it. So, you're telling me Elowen's that strong, huh? I mean, I knew she was powerful, but..." He trailed off, lost in thought.
"How strong are we talking here?"
<Queen Elowen's magic-infused physical strength is estimated to be roughly 500 times that of Yours, given her use of reinforcement magic. Furthermore, according to my energy detection, her magical power is indeed the strongest in the kingdom.
She has the ability to suppress her magic so as not to cause inconvenience to others—particularly magicians who are sensitive to fluctuations in magical energy.>
Mikhailis let out a low whistle, nodding to himself.
"So that's what I've been dealing with. I guess martial arts alone isn't going to cut it here, huh?"
<You appears to have forgotten that you, too, possess the potential for magic,>
Rodion replied with a touch of sarcasm.
<Queen Elowen herself mentioned it before. Should she not provide you with a formal curriculum soon, I can prepare a personalized training regimen, provided I gather sufficient data.>
Mikhailis raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
After a few moments of searching, something caught Mikhailis's attention. He narrowed his eyes, the camera zooming in on a clearing below. It was the same pack of direwolves they had encountered before. But this time, there were only two of them. The others were gone, leaving only a pair of the massive creatures, their dark fur matted with dirt and dried blood.
Beside them stood the treant—its massive form battered and scarred, its bark cracked and splintered. The creature swayed slightly, its roots shifting uneasily in the ground. Mikhailis could see the exhaustion in its movements, the weight of its injuries dragging it down.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a standoff," Mikhailis muttered, his eyes narrowing. The direwolves circled the treant, their growls low and guttural, their eyes locked onto their opponent. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation.
<The direwolves have likely sustained losses they did not anticipate,>
Rodion said.
<However, it appears they are unwilling to abandon the fight at this stage. The treant is gravely injured, and it would be a waste of their efforts to retreat now. Note that higher-ranked magic beasts tend to possess greater intelligence—these direwolves are no exception.>
Mikhailis watched as the battle unfolded before him, the direwolves lunging forward, their teeth bared as they snapped at the treant's legs. The treant swung its massive arm, the movement slow and labored, but powerful enough to send one of the wolves sprawling. It struggled to get up, its legs shaky as it rose to its feet once more.
The fight was brutal—each side giving everything they had left. The direwolves attacked with a ferocity born of desperation, their teeth tearing into the treant's bark, their claws raking across its surface. The treant fought back with equal determination, its branches swinging, its roots lashing out at the wolves.
Finally, one of the direwolves made a fatal mistake. It lunged forward, its jaws aimed at the treant's neck. The treant moved with surprising speed, its arm swinging down in a crushing blow. The wolf let out a strangled yelp as it crumpled to the ground, its body limp.
The last remaining direwolf paused, its eyes wide as it stared at its fallen companion. Blood dripped from its muzzle, its breath coming in ragged gasps. It turned its gaze back to the treant, its body trembling with exhaustion. But instead of retreating, it lunged forward once more, its teeth sinking into the treant's leg.
The treant let out a low groan, its body shuddering as it collapsed to the ground. The direwolf held on, its jaws locked onto the treant's leg, even as the life left the massive creature. The treant's body fell still, the light fading from its eyes.
Mikhailis watched in silence as the direwolf released its grip, its body swaying as it stood over the fallen treant. Blood dripped from its mouth, its eyes glazed with exhaustion. It slowly turned, limping away from the clearing. It approached one of the fallen direwolves, sniffing at the body before tearing into it, its teeth sinking into the flesh.
Mikhailis leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
"Rodion, hold up. Let's wait. Summon ten more soldier ants—they're going to need backup for this one."
<Understood. Summoning additional soldier units. Standby.>
Mikhailis watched as the frog variant and the other ants remained hidden, waiting for reinforcements. The direwolf continued to eat, tearing into the flesh of its fallen companion. After about an hour, the ten soldier ants arrived, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization as they approached the clearing.
The direwolf had managed to eat about a third of the treant's body, as well as one of the fallen wolves. It was still losing blood, its movements sluggish and unsteady. Mikhailis could see the exhaustion in its eyes, the way its body swayed with each step.
And finally.
It fell asleep due to exhaustion
"Now's the time," Mikhailis said, a determined smile spreading across his face. He leaned forward, his eyes locked on the screen.
"Let's do this."