The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 108 Let's Retreat!



"Where did they even come from?"

Rodion's voice was clipped, precise.

<Likely a response team. The base seems to be only a branch; they must have sent reinforcements. They must have another name going for their main syndicate, other than the current one>

The mage in the group suddenly paused, his gaze sharpening. He looked down at the ground beneath him, his eyes narrowing as he extended one hand. He muttered something under his breath, the arcane energy swirling around him.

"Oh no," Mikhailis said, his heart sinking.

"Don't tell me…"

The mage's eyes widened, his voice growing louder.

"There's something below us!"

One of the warriors turned, gripping his weapon—a massive mace—before slamming it down into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the underground structure, the walls trembling as part of the tunnel collapsed. Dust and dirt filled the air, the ceiling cracking as debris fell.

Mikhailis watched in horror as the image on his display flickered, showing a section of the tunnel that had collapsed—revealing around ten chimera worker ants, scrambling in confusion.

The warriors and the mage stared in shock, their eyes widening at the sight of the creatures.

"What the hell are those?" one of the warriors shouted, his eyes widening.

The mage's gaze darkened.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Ant-type monsters, perhaps. I've seen these things before. These type of monsters are dangerous creatures."

Mikhailis cursed under his breath, his heart pounding.

"Rodion, what's the plan?"

There was a brief pause before Rodion spoke, his voice level but with a hint of urgency.

<The best plan is to evacuate while using the exposed worker ants as a decoy>

Mikhailis felt a pang of regret, his eyes narrowing. He didn't like the idea of leaving anyone behind—even worker ants. But he understood the necessity. There was too much at stake.

"What if we launch an all-out attack?"

<Probability of success is moderate. However, losses would be significant—up to fifty percent of current resources.>

Mikhailis sighed, running a hand through his hair. He hated it, but he knew what needed to be done.

"We retreat," he said, his voice filled with reluctant resolve.

"No sense in losing half our forces. Tell them to hold their ground."

<Understood. Sacrificing revealed units to buy time for retreat.>

The worker ants, still disoriented, seemed to sense the command from Rodion that got sent through their connection with the chimera queen. They straightened, their mandibles clicking as they turned towards the intruders. Without hesitation, they rushed forward, their bodies moving with a fierce determination. They knew—at least in some instinctual way—what their role was now.

Mikhailis watched, his chest tightening as he saw the worker ants charging at the intruders. They leaped, their sharp mandibles aiming for the warriors, the air filled with the sound of clicking and hissing.

"Give 'em hell, guys," Mikhailis whispered, his voice almost drowned out by the chaos on the display.

The mage took a step back, his eyes widening at the sight of the charging ants. He began chanting, the air around him shimmering with arcane energy. The warriors moved to intercept, their weapons flashing in the dim light as they swung at the approaching ants.

The worker ants were fearless, throwing themselves at the enemy with the ferocity of cornered beasts. They knew they were outmatched, but they fought with everything they had, their mandibles snapping at the warriors, their bodies lunging at them with reckless abandon.

One of the warriors swung his mace, crushing one of the worker ants with a sickening crunch. Another ant lunged, biting down on the warrior's leg, its mandibles piercing through the armor. The warrior let out a pained shout, stumbling as he tried to shake the creature off.

Mikhailis gritted his teeth, his eyes glued to the display. It was a losing battle, but the workers were buying time—time that the rest of the colony desperately needed.

The mage completed his chant, his hands glowing with an intense light. He thrust his palms forward, a burst of fire erupting from his hands, engulfing several of the worker ants in flames. The tunnel lit up with the glow of the fire, the heat washing over the scene as the worker ants were incinerated.

Mikhailis clenched his jaw, his heart sinking. He knew this was the right decision, but it didn't make it any easier to watch.

The remaining worker ants continued their assault, undeterred by the losses. They lunged at the warriors, their mandibles clicking, their bodies moving with a desperate, almost primal fury. The warriors fought back, their weapons swinging, their shouts echoing through the tunnel.

Rodion's voice cut through the chaos, calm and precise.

Mikhailis took a deep breath, nodding. The rest of the ants had to make it out—the resources, the monsters, everything they'd worked so hard to secure. This sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.

The remaining worker ants threw themselves at the intruders, their bodies colliding with the warriors, their mandibles snapping. The mage raised his hands again, his eyes narrowing as he prepared another spell. Mikhailis watched, his heart pounding as the workers fought, their bodies being cut down one by one.

"Rodion, how are we doing on the retreat?"

<The path is clear>

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes fixed on the display. The worker ants were doing their job—they were buying time, giving the rest of the colony a chance to escape. He could see the dirt and rubble falling as the other ants worked to seal the tunnels, burying the pathways they'd used to infiltrate the base.

"Just a little longer," Mikhailis muttered, his voice filled with a mix of hope and determination.

The mage unleashed another spell, a bolt of lightning arcing through the tunnel, striking two of the worker ants. Their bodies convulsed, the electricity surging through them before they collapsed, lifeless. The remaining workers lunged forward, their mandibles snapping, their bodies moving with the last vestiges of their strength.

The warriors swung their weapons, cutting down the last of the worker ants. The tunnel fell silent, the bodies of the fallen ants lying amidst the debris, the air thick with the scent of smoke and blood.

Mikhailis let out a slow breath, his heart heavy. He watched as the mage and the warriors looked around, their expressions a mix of confusion and wariness. They hadn't expected this—they hadn't expected to find chimera ants beneath the base.

<All remaining units have been eliminated. Tunnel sealing is complete. Evacuation successful,>

Rodion reported, his voice steady.

Mikhailis nodded, leaning back in his chair.

"Good. Let's get everyone back to the nest. We've done what we needed to do."

<Understood. Initiating return protocols for all units.>

The display shifted, showing the remaining chimera ants as they moved through the sealed tunnels, carrying the resources they'd secured. The monsters followed, guarded by the soldier ants, their eyes glinting in the dim light. The twenty-eight corpses of the syndicate members were dragged along, their lifeless bodies wrapped in enchanted vines, ready to be delivered to the Queen.

Mikhailis watched, his chest tight. The worker ants had done their job—they'd given their lives to protect the colony, to ensure the safety of the Queen and her growing empire. It was a victory, but it was a costly one.

He let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes.

"Victory always comes with a price, huh?"

<Indeed. The decision was strategically sound, but the loss of units is regrettable,>

Rodion replied, his tone carrying a hint of something almost like sympathy.

Mikhailis nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, well. At least we live to fight another day. And next time, we'll be stronger."

<The Queen's growth is accelerating. The resources and monsters secured during this operation will contribute significantly to the colony's power.>

Mikhailis watched the display as the ants moved through the tunnels, their movements steady and determined. The Queen was waiting, and with her, the promise of more power—more control. This was just the beginning.

"Next time, we'll hit them back," Mikhailis said, his voice filled with determination. He took a deep breath, letting the tension drain from his body.

He knew that sacrifices were part of the game—a necessary evil in the pursuit of victory. And as much as it pained him to lose those worker ants, he knew that their sacrifice had paved the way for something greater.

"Let's get back to the Queen. We've got work to do."

<Affirmative. Returning to the nest.>

The chimera ants moved through the darkness, their bodies blending with the shadows as they made their way back to the nest. The Queen awaited them, and with her, the promise of growth—of power. This was a setback, but it was also a step forward. And Mikhailis was determined to see it through.

Because in the end, the sacrifices made today would be the foundation for the empire he was building—one that no one would see coming.


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