Joey didn't rush.
He maintained a steady pace as he moved through the forest, conserving both strength and focus.
---
Dealing with the Chimera Ants trailing him…
Wasn't difficult.
---
During his escape, he had already come up with several ways to handle them.
Whether they attacked first or not—
He would eliminate them quickly.
---
According to the map, he would reach another village in about half an hour.
And in his current situation—
He couldn't afford to gamble on whether it had already been overrun.
---
He checked the map once more, committing the route to memory.
Then put it away.
---
Reaching into his pack, he hesitated briefly—
Before pulling out a bamboo tube.
---
A simple water container.
---
But right now—
The most useful tool he had.
---
After walking a short distance, Joey suddenly stopped beneath a tall tree.
He scanned his surroundings carefully.
Listened.
Waited.
---
Only after confirming it was safe—
Did he crouch down and hide the bamboo tube among rocks at the base of the tree.
---
He checked once more.
Then turned—
And left.
---
Less than thirty seconds later—
Something appeared.
---
A Chimera Ant.
---
Its body resembled a grotesque fusion:
A bee-like head.
Thin, cicada-like wings.
Four segmented arms.
Two long hind legs.
And a swollen abdomen ending in a sharp, purplish stinger.
---
Its dark compound eyes scanned the area repeatedly.
Cautious.
Methodical.
---
Only after confirming there was no immediate danger—
Did it shift its attention.
---
To the bamboo tube.
---
Slowly—
It reached out.
---
Touched it.
---
BOOM.
---
The explosion was instant.
Violent.
---
The Chimera Ant's body was torn apart on the spot.
---
Killer Queen's First Bomb.
Anything it touched could be turned into a bomb—
Detonating the moment someone else made contact.
---
Joey had prepared this trap in advance.
---
And now—
It had worked.
---
As he moved through the forest, Joey suddenly felt a portion of his strength drain away.
---
He stopped.
---
That sensation—
Meant one thing.
---
The bomb had detonated.
---
He hesitated.
Then turned back.
---
He hadn't gone far, but he remained cautious.
His return was slow.
Measured.
---
About a minute later—
He arrived within sight of the tree.
---
What he saw—
Made his expression tighten.
---
The Chimera Ant…
Wasn't fully dead.
---
Fragments of its body still twitched on the ground.
---
"…Not enough."
---
Killer Queen moved.
---
From its left hand—
Sheer Heart Attack dropped to the ground.
---
The miniature tank surged forward, leaving twin tracks behind.
Its voice echoed arrogantly through the forest—
Though only Joey could hear it.
---
Then—
It detonated again.
---
BOOM.
---
The remains of the Chimera Ant were blasted into the air—
This time completely destroyed.
---
The small tank paused briefly—
As if confirming the kill—
Then turned and sped back.
---
Joey swallowed, suppressing the urge to vomit.
---
He glanced once more at the scene—
The scattered remains.
The intact bamboo tube in the distance.
---
But he didn't retrieve it.
---
Instead—
He turned and left.
---
The result…
Was unexpected.
---
The First Bomb hadn't been enough to kill it.
---
That raised a problem.
---
Joey frowned as he moved.
---
Was the energy output of each explosion limited?
---
If so—
Did that mean the power of the bomb depended on how much energy he unconsciously supplied?
---
Or—
Had the Chimera Ant reacted fast enough to reduce the damage?
---
There were too many unknowns.
---
Not enough data.
---
Joey couldn't draw a conclusion.
---
But—
That wasn't urgent.
---
As long as he survived—
He would have time.
---
To understand everything.
---
Stands.
Stamina.
Nen.
---
Everything.
---
About half an hour later—
More Chimera Ants arrived at the scene.
---
One, with a canine-like head, sniffed the air.
---
Then—
Pointed in a direction.
---
Joey's direction.
---
Without hesitation—
They gave chase.
---
Unaware of this, Joey checked his phone.
---
3:00 PM.
---
His expression tightened.
---
The base was still three to four hours away.
---
Time was running out.
---
If anything went wrong—
If he didn't reach it before nightfall—
---
It would be dangerous.
---
Very dangerous.
---
Less than half an hour later—
He passed the village marked on the map.
---
From a distance—
He looked down.
---
No people.
---
Only ruins.
Collapsed houses.
---
Clear signs of an attack.
---
His heart sank.
---
His vigilance rose.
---
He kept moving.
---
Deeper into the forest—
The danger increased.
---
This wasn't just Chimera Ant territory.
---
Wild animals.
Poisonous insects.
Unknown threats.
---
Even with his survival experience—
He had to be extremely careful.
---
Which slowed him down.
---
As the sun began to set—
Anxiety crept in.
---
But he suppressed it.
---
Panic would only get him killed.
---
If not for Killer Queen watching his back—
He might have already been injured.
---
After more than an hour—
He slowed further.
---
Then—
He smelled it.
---
Blood.
---
A lot of it.
---
Moments later—
Bodies came into view.
---
Human.
---
Wearing white combat uniforms.
---
Weapons scattered nearby.
---
These weren't villagers.
---
They were from the organization.
---
And they were dead.
---
The base was still an hour away—
Yet signs of the Chimera Ants had already reached this far.
---
Which meant—
Either the base was under attack…
Or it had already fallen.
---
Neither possibility was good.
---
Joey looked up at the sky.
---
Nearly six o'clock.
---
He had been moving for almost three hours.
---
Even after refilling water at a stream—
Even after eating—
---
The constant strain…
Maintaining Killer Queen…
Occasionally using its abilities—
---
Had taken its toll.
---
Exhaustion crept deeper into his body.
---
And the forest ahead…
Only grew darker.
___________________________
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