The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows over the crumbling cityscape as Jason studied his mini-map. The red dot had barely moved, stationed at the top of the science labs, the same place he had seen it before. He remembered walking through those labs during the university tour three months ago, back when everything was normal. Back when he was just another freshman trying to navigate his way through college life. But now, everything had changed. The world had turned into something out of a nightmare, and that red dot was more than just a blip on a screen. It was something dangerous. Something powerful.
He approached the building cautiously, not stepping inside just yet, instead opting to observe from the outside. His map confirmed what he had suspected, the lower levels of the labs were crawling with movement. Green and yellow dots were scattered throughout, likely weaker enemies, while the higher floors shifted into orange. That meant stronger monsters, but none compared to the one at the very top. More ants were pouring into the building, scurrying inside as if summoned. His mind raced, piecing things together. If they were all converging in one place, there had to be a reason.
"There must be a queen ant or something at the top," Jason muttered under his breath. "She's calling them to her." He clenched his fists. There was no way he could take them all on, not yet. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t gather more information. He needed to know what he was up against. He hurried to the fire escape, avoiding the main entrance entirely as he scaled the metal ladders leading to the rooftop. It took a few minutes, but eventually, he found himself outside the emergency exit of the top floor. Through the small window, he could see the flickering fluorescent lights illuminating the space beyond.
He checked his mini-map again. Three enemies. The system confirmed his suspicions as status windows appeared before him.
1 x Level 15 Queen Ant
1 x Level 14 Soldier Ant
1 x Level 14 Soldier Ant
Jason inhaled deeply. He couldn't fight them head-on, especially not with the soldier ants guarding her. He had no idea if they had abilities, but considering the way the other ants had rushed inside, it was likely the queen had some sort of communication or mind-control power. Fighting something that could override his own instincts was a dangerous gamble. He needed an advantage. That was when he spotted something inside the room. A large bottle of acetone, sitting on a shelf just a few meters from the queen.
A plan formed in his mind. If things went south, he could still run. But if they didn’t… he might just be able to pull this off. Without wasting another second, Jason climbed back down the fire escape and sprinted toward the mini-mart. By now, the sun had almost disappeared, the sky darkening into a deep purple hue. As he entered the store, he noticed how empty it was. Most of the food was gone, shelves ransacked, and there was no one in sight. It was eerie. He snatched a lighter from behind the counter and left, hurrying back toward the labs.
When he returned, he waited. He peered through the window, watching as the soldier ants scuttled down the corridor, leaving the queen alone for the time being. This was his chance. He slipped through the emergency exit, careful to keep his footsteps light. His eyes flicked toward the rugby ball-sized eggs scattered around the room. At least fifty of them.
He moved quickly. Grabbing the bottle of acetone, he poured it over the floor near the sleeping queen, drenching the ground in the highly flammable liquid. He jammed his rebar rod between the handles of the corridor doors, barricading the entrance as best as he could. If he was lucky, it would buy him a little time. Then, with a flick of his thumb, he lit the lighter. The small flame danced at his fingertips. "Let’s see how well you burn," he murmured.
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He tossed the lighter onto the soaked floor. The fire roared to life instantly, bright orange flames licking across the room as the acrid scent of burning chemicals filled the air. The queen awoke with a piercing shriek, her massive body writhing as the heat seared into her. Jason didn’t stop there. He grabbed the rest of the bottle and hurled it at her, the impact shattering the glass and dousing her in even more fuel. The fire surged, engulfing her body.
The Queen’s scream wasn't just noise, itwas something deeper, something unnatural. The moment it reached his ears, Jason's mind clouded. A voice whispered inside his head. "Serve me… Serve me… Serve me…" Jason's vision blurred, his body moving on its own as his footsteps carried him forward. The pink glow in his eyes reflected in the fire’s light as he dropped his weapons, arms slack at his sides. He stumbled closer and closer, his lips parting as the words left him in a monotone voice.
"Let me serve you, my Queen…" Pain. A sudden, searing pain shot through his foot. Jason snapped back to reality, gasping as the fire bit at his skin. His heart pounded as he stomped out the flames, his mind racing to process what had just happened. "Did I just… get controlled?" His breath came in short, sharp bursts. The looming sense of danger returned in full force. This was far more dangerous than he had thought. The Queen wasn’t just powerful, she was a mental threat. And she wasn’t dead yet.
SLAM. SLAM. SLAM.
The corridor doors rattled violently, the soldier ants smashing against them with everything they had. The metal groaned, the rebar bending under the pressure. He didn’t have much time. Jason gritted his teeth and sprinted toward the Queen, who was still shrieking amidst the flames. The whispers invaded his thoughts again. "Serve me… Serve me… Serve me…" Jason clenched his jaw, fighting against the pressure crushing his will. "No," he growled. "I must kill her."
He leapt into the air, raising his weapons high before bringing them down with full force. His pincers tore through the Queen’s abdomen, slicing into the very core of her being. Green ichor and half-formed eggs spilled onto the floor as her screams reached a deafening pitch. SLAM. SLAM. The door was seconds away from breaking. Jason didn’t hesitate. With one final strike, he drove his weapons straight through the Queen’s skull, splitting it open. The life drained from her eyes, her body convulsing one last time before slumping lifelessly to the ground. The flames consumed her, turning her body to ash. The moment she died, Jason felt it. That familiar wave of energy flooding through him, revitalizing every fiber of his being.
System Notification: You have slain Level 15 Queen Ant.
+3 Endurance, +10 Health, +4 Agility, +11 Mana, +3 Strength.
Level Up! x4.
All stats +4.
Name: Jason Cole
Level: 10
Health: 27
Agility: 22
Endurance: 25
Strength: 23
Mana: 27
Unassigned Points: 18
Jason barely had time to process his power boost before he noticed something lying near the Queen’s remains. A glowing page, humming with arcane energy. He snatched it up just as the doors to the corridor burst open. The soldier ants screeched, their antennae twitching frantically as they spotted their fallen queen. Jason didn't stick around. He turned and sprinted toward the emergency exit, leaping through just as the ants stormed inside. He climbed down the fire escape as fast as he could, taking deep breaths to steady himself. Once he was safe, he glanced at the glowing page in his hands.
System Notification: Skill Acquired: Exoskeleton.
Effect: Reinforces the user’s body with a tough exoskeleton. Increases Health + Strength by 20%. Reduces all incoming damage by 15%.
Costs: 5 Mana per activation + 1 Mana per second while active.
Jason grinned. "With this, I won’t need to be afraid anymore." He accepted the skill, and the moment he did, a surge of energy flooded his body. His skin hardened, his bones strengthened, his muscles pulsed with raw power. He flexed his fingers, feeling the overwhelming strength in his limbs. Jason turned back to the burning building, watching the flames consume the Queen’s nest. The ants had lost their leader. Their fate was sealed.
