Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Chapter 172 The Guardian

Back in the Grade 5 realm...

Silas leaped several meters into the air, performing a flawless backflip to evade the razor-sharp forelegs of the attacking ants. Their limbs struck the ground where he had stood just moments ago, carving deep grooves into the rocky terrain. Silas landed gracefully, his boots skidding slightly across the floor before he propelled himself forward with blinding speed, his scythe shimmering ominously in the dim light.

In a blink of an eye, he closed the distance, appearing directly in front of the advancing ants. With a firm grip on his scythe, Silas swung it in a vicious arc, the blade slicing through the air with lethal precision. A spray of dark purple blood erupted, staining the cavern walls as three severed forelegs from three separate ants clattered to the ground.

But Silas wasn't done.

Fueled by relentless determination, he tightened his grip and swung again. The scythe tore through three more forelegs, its blade gleaming with the residue of the purple ichor. The ants wobbled, struggling to maintain balance on their remaining limbs. Yet, even with their bodies damaged and their movements hindered, the creatures pressed on, driven by an unrelenting instinct to attack.

One ant lunged forward, its jagged foreleg stabbing toward Silas with deadly intent. Silas reacted instantly, sidestepping with fluid precision. Before the creature could retract its leg, Silas dashed forward, leaping onto the outstretched limb. His feet landed deftly on the chitinous surface, and he began sprinting up the length of the limb as though it were a bridge leading directly to the creature's head.

As he neared the top, Silas launched himself into the air. His body twisted mid-flight, the scythe raised high above his head. With a burst of energy, he swung it downward with devastating force.

[Passive skill: Soul Slash has been activated.]

A radiant blue aura erupted around the scythe, enveloping Silas's hands as the weapon descended. The glow illuminated the cavern, casting eerie shadows across the walls as the blade connected with the ant's head. The impact was brutal, the scythe cutting deep into the creature's skull.

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

A fountainof dark purple blood sprayed from the wound as Silas yanked the scythe free. Before the ant's lifeless body could collapse, Silas leaped toward his next target. He soared through the air, his scythe trailing an arc of light behind him. As he landed atop the next ant, he drove the scythe downward, piercing through its thick exoskeleton.

The creature let out a deafening screech, its cries echoing through the cavern. Silas gritted his teeth as he pushed the blade deeper, ensuring the kill.

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Cave Ant.]

The notifications flooded Silas's vision, each one signaling another victory. He moved like a force of nature, leaping from one ant to the next. His scythe carved through their ranks with unrelenting efficiency, each swing precise, each strike final.

Soon, the cavern was silent once more. The ground was littered with the mangled corpses of ants, their bodies sprawled amidst pools of dark purple blood. Silas stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He lowered his scythe, which dripped with the blood of his enemies, and took a moment to survey his surroundings.

"I guess that was the last one," he muttered under his breath. With a flick of his wrist, he unsummoned the scythe, watching as it dissolved into a faint mist. Reaching for his belt, he drew a short dagger, its blade glinting in the dim light. "Might as well collect the valuable parts and get out of here. I've had enough of this cursed place."

As he bent down to harvest the remains, a faint sound reached his ears. It started as a low rumble, growing louder with each passing second. Silas froze, his muscles tensing as his gaze shifted toward the source of the noise. From the shadows, dozens of glowing green eyes emerged, their eerie light piercing through the darkness.

Seconds later, a new wave of ants stepped into the open. Their sheer numbers dwarfed the previous swarm, the ground almost trembling beneath the weight of their advance. Silas's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. These creatures were identical to the ones he had just defeated, but there were twice as many, their movements synchronized as they closed in.

At the center of the group stood a creature unlike the rest. It was massive, towering over its companions, its mandibles clicking ominously. Its exoskeleton gleamed with a dark, menacing sheen, and its eyes burned with a predatory intelligence.

[Name: Cave Ant King.]

[Grade: 4.]

The notification floated above the mutant, its text glowing with a sinister red hue.

"More of these bastards," Silas muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. His gaze remained fixed on the approaching horde, his mind racing through possible strategies. "I don't have time for this. I've already wasted enough energy in here."

Without hesitation, Silas reached into his inventory and summoned the item he had been saving for emergencies. A glowing crimson orb materialized in his right hand, its surface pulsating with raw power.

[Are you sure you want to use the Orb of Destruction?]

"Yes!" Silas shouted, thrusting the orb forward with both hands.

[Orb of Destruction has been activated.]

The orb's surface began to radiate an intense crimson glow, its light spreading rapidly across the cave. Shadows of the towering ants danced erratically along the walls as the illumination grew brighter and brighter.

With a final surge of power, the orb unleashed a massive ball of fire, which roared through the cavern like a blazing comet.

BOOM!

The explosion shook the cave violently, sending tremors through the rocky terrain. The fiery inferno engulfed the entire swarm of ants, their shrill, agonized screeches reverberating through the chamber. The cacophony lasted only a few moments before being swallowed by silence as the last of the ants were reduced to ash.

[Congratulations, you have slain all Cave Ants.]

Silas lowered his trembling hand, his gaze falling to his palm. The orb, which had once pulsed with overwhelming energy, had disintegrated into nothingness. He let out a frustrated sigh, his thoughts turning bitter.

The orb was meant to be his ace, his weapon against the Realm's god. Silas had been saving it for the ultimate confrontation, knowing the battle would push him to his limits. But with the arrival of the second swarm, there had been no choice. Time was slipping through his fingers, and he couldn't afford to be delayed any longer.

His jaw clenched as he glanced at the scorched ground where the ants had fallen. Not even their remains were left; the fire had consumed everything, including the corpses of those he had slain earlier. The cavern, once teeming with life and danger, now stood eerily empty. Only charred rocks and scattered debris bore witness to the chaos that had unfolded.

Without sparing another glance, Silas turned and began walk out of the cave.

As Silas emerged from the cave, the biting cold of the mountain assaulted him. His arms instinctively folded across his chest as he shivered uncontrollably. The brief warmth generated by the fiery orb was now a distant memory, replaced by the relentless chill that seemed determined to seep into his very bones.

The climb resumed, each step a struggle against the frigid air and his own fatigue. His breath came out in frosty puffs, and he couldn't help but wonder if his blood would freeze in his veins before he reached his destination.

After what felt like an eternity, Silas finally reached the summit. Exhaustion overtook him as he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. His vision blurred momentarily, but as he lifted his head, it sharpened, revealing a structure carved into the rocky mountain face.

A building made entirely of stone stood before him, its surface weathered by time and harsh elements. At its center was a massive red door, its surface adorned with intricate symbols and markings that seemed to pulsate faintly with energy.

"The god's chamber," Silas whispered, his voice hoarse but laced with determination. His gaze remained fixated on the imposing door, the weight of his journey culminating in this moment.

For a few seconds, he knelt there, gathering his strength. As he finally pushed himself to his feet and began to advance, a shadow descended from above, landing with a heavy thud in front of him.

[Name: Guardian of the Broken Throne.]

[Grade: 5.]

Silas's eyes widened as he took in the creature standing a few meters away. It had a humanoid shape but towered over him, standing at least seven feet tall. Its skin was a sickly green, its muscular torso exposed and glistening with a faint sheen. Pointed ears framed its grotesque face, which bore razor-sharp fangs. In its left hand, it wielded a massive blade, and a crimson aura surrounded its body, pulsating with menacing energy.

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