Carly noticed a change in Do-Hyeok.
He stopped talking, he seemed measured, calculative but under it all, while faint, looked like an unorganised mess.
Carly had an idea as to what it was.
The complex had taken over, at least partially.
Usually when a complex takes over the body, nothing but the insect's primal instinct remains.
But Do-Hyeok had yet to move,
Which meant he was still somewhat conscious.
"Do-Hyeok…?"
—
Meanwhile, in this dark yellow void, Do-Hyeok was face to face with thousands of ants.
"What is this… Naruto?"
Do-Hyeok quipped but this was clearly a dire situation.
They seemed… alert.
As if they'd been taken from their homes.
But what surprised Do-Hyeok the most was that none of them seemed to be dead.
Usually when ants meet other species of their kind the first course of action is to fight right?
So why are they all so friendly with each other?
Maybe they sympathized with the common goal to get back home?
Or maybe something more instinctual.
But Do-Hyeok put all these thoughts away and spoke.
"Hello?"
The massive ant cluster turned to him, it made no sound but Do-Hyeok could somehow understand.
It wanted his body.
All of them did.
But there were so many that war was pointless.
What's the point if it would just end up as a free for all.
So they opted to work together to get out of his body instead.
But nothing worked.
Thankfully however,
Do-Hyeok seemed more welcoming to them than they initially thought.
Which is why their not fighting as that would also cause problems for him.
Do-Hyeok learned all of this without a word. It was surreal.
16,000 ants agreeing to a truce over one body.
That's bizarre.
"So will you help me?"
The cluster nodded. But hesitantly.
His body couldn't withstand all that power at once currently but they would help. It wasn't as if they had much else to do anyway.
"Great! Then… where's the army ant?"
The cluster shifted once again and a small little ant landed in his hand.
It was the army ant.
Do-Hyeok felt all his stamina leave his body almost instantly.
Jackpot!
And moments later,
He woke up.
—
Back in the middle of the forest in front of Carly he looked around and found all his fatigue was gone!
"Do-Hyeok? You blanked out for a moment there." Carly wouldn't say anything about his complex just yet. He also thought Do-Hyeok had a slight idea as to what was going on.
Do-Hyeok turned to Carly, "oh i'm fine. Let's race, captain!" He had an oddly exhilarated smile on his face for someone so exhausted.
Alright then, come here and get into position.
Do-Hyeok stood next to Carly and got into position.
He was ready to test out his new complex.
"3"
[Saharan silver ant]
"2"
[Bulldog ant]
"1"
[The army ant]
"GO!"
[Overdrive.]
And the two burst forward with a force even an earthquake couldn't match.
But Carly's kickoff seemed to have more power to it.
Do-Hyeok broke the wind barrier.
Carly broke the sound barrier.
'Fast!!!'
But Do-Hyeok could see it.
Carly only moved in straight lines, zig-zag patterns, he never curved or anything of the sort.
Most likely because he was moving too fast to see so he sets a destination and moves in an instant burst.
'Cool…!' Do-Hyeok was excited.
He was going to be faster than that according to the captain!
And because of the army ant, Do-Hyeok felt he could exert even greater speeds without getting tired!
'Lets go lets go lets go!!!'
And Do-Hyeok burst even harder.
If it were to be gauged.
Do-Hyeok was now moving close to mach 1.
And yet Carly still couldn't be reached!
—
When they made it back to the schoolhouse, less than a minute had passed.
That's just how fast they were moving.
Carly didn't expect Do-Hyeok to keep up. He was pleasantly surprised.
"Good. If you keep it up like this you'll be moving faster than me by the end of the week." Carly didn't feel threatened. He knew Do-Hyeok was a good kid.
"Thanks captain!" Do-Hyeok was smiling. A genuine smile.
"Alright you should turn in for the night. It's getting late." Carly suggested.
And that was the end of day one.
—
Day 2
Do-Hyeok got up early, worked out with Woochang, then took a shower.
Which did nothing to help since he got his ass handed to him by nanami once again. Which made him all dirty.
Then after all that excruciating pain, he went to Carly and learned more about his complex. Or complexes.
As it would turn out, much like most of the professors at Nest, Captain Carl was a skilled entomologist.
Which meant, Do-Hyeok got to learn all about ants…
Including the weird stuff.
The day ended with a sprint back to the schoolhouse. Do-Hyeok got a little closer.
—
The rest of the week passed by like this.
Do-Hyeok's infinite repetition of training.
Eat, sleep, train, repeat.
That's all he did.
But 3 constants remained.
One, Nanami, absolutely destroyed him in unarmed combat. Although now he was much more precise with his technique.
Two, He was always behind the Captain. Despite being so fast now he still couldn't catch up.
And Three, every night for whatever reason, he would keep appearing in that void like place with all those ants.
And today…
Today was the last day of his group assignment. He'd have to return to campus soon.
"Alright. Let's win today shall we?"
And with that silent declaration, Do-Hyeok got out of a makeshift bed he made with school desks and began his day.
Though he started a little differently today.
Recently, about a day or two ago he found out that he could pick up on vibrations like a scorpion.
When he asked Carly about it he said that it was most likely the trap-jaw ant seeing as he had used its complex to enhance his senses.
So now, he could sense the movement of everything within a 60 meter radius. if he pushed it to its limit as he is right now at least.
So, he sensed the presence of someone behind the door, large and about to knock on the door.
'Woochangs here.'
Do-Hyeok walked up to the door and opened it before a sound could be made.
It was indeed Woochang.
"Woah Hyung, nice coincidence i was about to open the door." He said in surprise. "Wanna go for a run again today?"
"Sure Woochang." Do-Hyeok gave a slightly tired smile with his response.
And then the two left the classroom to head out for a jog.
—
"Haaah, Haaah… Damn Hyung, is it me or are you gaining stamina rather than draining it…"
Woochang, out of breath, was in slight awe at Do-Hyeoks endless tank of stamina.
"Hm? I don't feel any different though?"
Do-Hyeok had been abusing the hell out of the army ant since he first could. While right now he's not using the complex, his body adapted to the change.
Giving Do-Hyeok a near super soldier level stamina.
"Alright Woochang, i'm going to go shower." Do-Hyeok casually waved off the large young man.
"Haah, haaah… yeah see ya hyung" the out of breath Woochang waved him off with a smile.
—
Getting out of the shower Do-Hyeok got changed and headed out to the field outside.
Nanami usually didn't wake up so early but according to her, 'Do-Hyeoks training cannot be off schedule.'
Well, that's what she said.
She couldn't tell him that the smell of Do-Hyeok leaving the area with Woochang every morning was waking her up, could she?
So, unbeknownst to Do-Hyeok, Nanami woke up early every morning in a bad mood.
Which was why she seemed so strict when she trained him.
And her behavior afterward?
Completely normal.
She just put all her morning stress into unrestrained violence. Beating the life outta Do-Hyeok. How could she not be satisfied?
So, a misunderstanding was formed.
'Nanami is the scariest when teaching me…'
Do-Hyeok was in the middle of the field of which Nanami had also been waiting for him.
"Ready?" She asked
"I'm winning today." Do-Hyeok responded.
And the fight began.
Nanami rushed at Do-Hyeok, intending to feint a left hook into a grapple.
Do-Hyeok read it, dodged the swing and countered with a grab.
To which Nanami swung her body over Do-Hyeok and twisted out of his grip.
While she was midair, Do-Hyeok dashed to her approximate landing point, ready to strike before she knew what's coming.
But she anticipated it, a flying kick straight to the face!
Do-Hyeok took it head on.
Nanami thought that was it for Do-Hyeok and lowered her guard for a second.
But it was all Do-Hyeok needed.
Nanami was still midair, her foot was still in his face.
He grabbed her leg…
And flung her to the ground!
He knew that wasn't enough, Nanami was tough.
So Do-Hyeok ran over to the dazed Nanami and put her into a headlock.
Game over.
"I win."
—
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: currently in paris writing this chapter. Or at least I'm on my way back…
Sorry for just one chapter last weekend! I was just prepping for my vacation.
So here u go! An early chapter…
I think.