MTLNOVEL Chapter 17: Chapter 16: The Battle Begins
As soon as Kai and his team stepped into the clearing, the atmosphere shifted. The lesser creatures immediately turned their attention toward the intruders, their glowing eyes locking onto Kai like predators spotting prey. The Verdant Reaper Queen let out a piercing, chittering screech, and the swarm began to converge on him.
"Tiny, *Harden*! Hold the line!" Kai shouted.
Tiny charged forward, its exoskeleton shimmering as its **Harden** skill activated. The first wave of Chitin Hounds crashed into the Titan Ant like a tidal wave, but Tiny held its ground, its massive frame absorbing their frenzied attacks.
"Stinger, *Poison Sting*! Spread it wide!"
Stinger darted into the fray, its stinger glowing with venom as it launched a series of rapid-fire projectiles into the swarm. The poison spread quickly, incapacitating several of the smaller creatures and slowing their advance.
"Glow, stay close and keep the light steady! We need visibility!"
Glow hovered above Kai, its golden light illuminating the battlefield. The moth's presence seemed to unnerve the lesser creatures, their movements growing more erratic as they struggled to adjust to the sudden brightness.
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### **The Queen Strikes**
Kai barely had time to react before the Verdant Reaper Queen took to the air, its massive wings creating a deafening hum as it descended toward him like a living missile.
"Damn it! Tiny, intercept!"
Tiny abandoned its position, charging toward the queen with surprising speed. The two titanic insects collided in midair, the force of their impact shaking the ground beneath Kai's feet. The queen's razor-sharp scythes slashed at Tiny's armored body, but the Titan Ant held its ground, forcing the queen back with a powerful **Mandible Strike**.
"Stinger, hit the queen while it's distracted! Glow, get ready for the flash!"
Stinger buzzed into action, launching a venomous projectile at the queen's exposed side. The attack struck true, and the queen let out an earsplitting screech, its movements faltering as the poison began to take effect.
"Now, Glow! Blind it!"
Glow flared brightly, its wings releasing a burst of searing golden light. The queen recoiled, its glowing red eyes dimming as it struggled to regain its bearings.
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### **The Turning Point**
Kai seized the opportunity. "Tiny, *Mandible Strike*! Go for the legs!"
Tiny lunged forward, its mandibles clamping down on one of the queen's spindly legs with crushing force. The queen screeched in pain, its balance faltering as it thrashed violently to free itself.
"Stinger, keep up the pressure! Don't let it recover!"
Stinger darted around the queen, launching a relentless barrage of venomous stings. The combined assault from Kai's team began to wear the queen down, its movements growing slower and more erratic with each passing second.
Finally, with one last, desperate lunge, Tiny brought the queen crashing to the ground. The massive insect let out a final, piercing screech before falling still, its glowing red eyes dimming as its life force faded.
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**[Battle Complete: Verdant Reaper Queen Defeated]**
**[Rewards Acquired: Verdant Core, 800 Beast Taming Points (BTP), New Skill Unlocked: Swarm Commander.]**
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Kai collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. "We… we did it," he muttered, a tired but triumphant grin spreading across his face.
Tiny clicked its mandibles softly, Stinger buzzed tiredly, and Glow fluttered down to rest on Kai's shoulder, its light dim but steady.
Kai reached out, carefully retrieving the **Verdant Core** from the queen's remains. Its surface pulsed faintly with green light, warm and alive in his hand.
"Looks like this was worth the trouble," Kai said, slipping the core into his satchel. He glanced at his team, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.