Ashen God
Chapter 288 - 287: Crimson Iron Breeding Ant

Just from the attribute list, Zhang Yanhang felt that this Crimson Iron Breeding Ant was far stronger than the Crimson Iron Soldier Ants, and it also had a rather powerful new skill, Acid Liquid Fireball.

If you ask Zhang Yanhang why he specifically mentioned this Acid Liquid Fireball, it’s because he was currently being bombarded non-stop by Acid Liquid Fireballs, compared to the Crimson Flame Fireballs that would burst and dissipate immediately upon hitting the Energy Shield.

When an Acid Liquid Fireball hit Zhang Yanhang’s Energy Shield, it also had a bursting stage like the others, but it would leave behind a large pool of sticky, burning acid that clung to the outside of the Energy Shield after the burst.

After using the Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil Skill to scan these Crimson Iron Breeding Ants, Zhang Yanhang discovered that there were exactly three hundred of them, which meant that all the Crimson Iron Breeding Ants in the nest had now appeared in front of him.

Because he had to face three hundred Crimson Iron Breeding Ants, just by taking a moment to check the attribute list, his Energy Shield’s surface was already completely covered in the acid.

Unlike the translucent acid of the Crimson Iron Worker Ants and Flying Ants previously encountered, the residue left by the Acid Liquid Fireballs that hit seemed extremely flammable and persistent, causing Zhang Yanhang’s whole body to be engulfed in roaring flames.

Of course, the damage from the flames was actually negligible to Zhang Yanhang, even if his whole body was aflame, making him resemble the Human Torch from the ’Fantastic Four.’ But to think that these flames alone can break through his Energy Shield is nothing but a pipe dream.

Therefore, Zhang Yanhang’s only concern was that the flames somewhat obstructed his view. But since he was now relying more on the Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil Skill to observe his enemies, even if his view was slightly blocked, it wasn’t much of a problem.

It is worth mentioning that the visual obstruction came not only from the flames but also from the air around him, which was heated by the high temperature and caused light refraction changes. In simple terms, the air around him was so hot that the images it projected appeared distorted.

Initially, the clarity of Zhang Yanhang’s naked-eye observation of the surroundings was 4K, but now, with the air distorted, the clarity immediately dropped to standard definition, creating a rather awkward feeling that made him feel as though he was looking at pixelated monsters.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Acid Liquid Fireballs, the size of basketballs, relentlessly and rapidly bombarded Zhang Yanhang’s body, but he had no reaction as his mind was occupied with a pressing question, "I remember when I previously came here, this place was clearly occupied by the Crimson Iron Worker Ants. How did the positions suddenly change?

Moreover, since the attribute list says that the Crimson Iron Breeding Ants are supposed to guard the core area of the Crimson Iron Ant Nest, why did they suddenly appear here?"

Zhang Yanhang’s confusion stemmed primarily from the special structure inside the Minor Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu. Unlike the outer zone which was filled with twisted passages, the inner areas had been extensively hollowed out to form several plaza-like areas, all interconnected, and each area had a separate entrance.

The inner area entered through the central entrance was the largest "plaza," which contained the most Crimson Iron Worker Ants and Crimson Iron Flying Ants during his previous visit. He had chosen to enter through the central entrance because he wanted to quickly eliminate these weakest Crimson Iron Ants.

However, unexpectedly, the Crimson Iron Worker Ants and Crimson Iron Flying Ants that should have been in this area had mysteriously disappeared, even though he hadn’t delayed much along the way.

Even accounting for the time taken to draw from the prize pool and check the Evaluation Settlement Treasure Box, he had delayed no more than twenty minutes. Yet, in such a short time, the positions of the Crimson Iron Soldier Ants and Crimson Iron Flying Ants had changed, which was quite absurd.

"Sigh, perhaps it’s because the thought patterns of humans and ants are indeed vastly different. Ever since I entered the Crimson Iron Ant Nest, I’ve never been able to understand what the Crimson Iron Ant Queen really wants... Well, it doesn’t matter anymore since the Crimson Iron Ant Queen is about to die anyway. What it thinks is no longer important to me."

Although he had never understood what the Crimson Iron Ant Queen was thinking, Zhang Yanhang was quite grateful to it, as it had successfully helped him save a lot of time.

The previous encirclement had allowed Zhang Yanhang to eliminate two thousand Crimson Iron Ants in half an hour. Now, by summoning Crimson Iron Ants to guard itself, it provided Zhang Yanhang another opportunity to rapidly kill the Crimson Iron Ants. Four thousand Crimson Iron Ants could be leisurely defeated in just about an hour.

The area Zhang Yanhang was currently in had a height of about five meters, and due to all the surrounding Crimson iron ore being completely excavated, the area surprisingly felt somewhat spacious, a sensation Zhang Yanhang had never experienced in the outer zone.

By the way, according to Zhang Yanhang’s estimates, the total area of the largest "plaza" in this inner section was roughly one square kilometer, while the sizes of other "plazas" ranged from 0.5 square kilometers to 0.8 square kilometers.

But despite having an open area of one square kilometer, the three hundred Crimson Iron Breeding Ants in front of Zhang Yanhang were all crowded beside the passageway.

"Sigh, you’re making it too easy for me," Zhang Yanhang, watching these beasts the size of sows, which could easily instill fear in any normal person, eventually couldn’t resist and silently released the Death Wave Skill.

Buzz—

Accompanied by the familiar buzzing sound, a transparent, distorting wave rapidly spread outwards.

Zhang Yanhang, with his body engulfed in flames, silently observed the final second in the lives of the First Tier Three Star Monster Crimson Iron Breeding Ants, like a divine father reigning over life.

After being enveloped by the transparent distorting wave, although the exoskeletal defensive power of the Crimson Iron Breeding Ants was much stronger than that of the Crimson Iron Soldier Ants, their manner of death was not much different. Indeed, because Zhang Yanhang’s Death Wave Skill had recently been upgraded, the death scene of the Crimson Iron Breeding Ants was even more tragic.

Under the effect of the Death Wave, the enormous wings of the Crimson Iron Breeding Ants, flying in the air and spanning several meters when fully spread, were instantly torn and twisted in the blink of an eye.