"Cough!"
Isaac coughed as if water had entered his lungs. After he heard that he was considered an enemy, he couldn't keep pretending to faint. He had to take action immediately.
The two antfolk who were about to save him looked surprised. Meanwhile, the antfolk warriors were getting more vigilant.
"Look! He's awake!"
"That creature is wake up."
With wide eyes, Isaac looked at the antfolk. Especially at an antfolk with black metal armor on his body.
<Information>
[Name: Yandez]
[Race: Antfolk - Superior]
[Type: Insect]
[Class: S]
[Level: 120]
"Huft, he's going to be troublesome," Isaac muttered.
The antennae on their heads seemed to vibrate rapidly, a sign that they were on alert.
The demon quickly racked his brain.
He tried to get up, but the antfolk quickly pointed their spears at him.
"Cough..."
Bloody spit came out of his mouth again, then Isaac looked at the monster ants that were swarming him.
"The antfolk. Enemy. Watch out, they're coming. They'll attack you..."
After that, the white-haired man fainted.
Of course, his words shocked the ants. Especially the Chief Warrior, Yandez.
The leader of the antfolk warriors initially wanted to kill Isaac as soon as possible, to avoid unwanted events. However, after hearing the word 'enemy' from the person who was supposed to be the enemy, he abandoned his intention.
"Boss? What should we do?"
"Shall we kill him?"
Yandez was silent for a moment, the antennae on his head lowered.
"No, don't. Take the creature into the prison."
"Yes, sir."
One antfolk warrior took Isaac and carried him on his shoulders. Yandez ordered his men to take Isaac into custody and interrogate him.
Seeing that the warriors were busy, the two worker antfolk took advantage of the situation to escape. Unfortunately, Yandez noticed them.
"Where are you going! Don't go!" he snapped.
The two poor antfolk froze instantly. The antennae on their heads wilted like dead flowers. They were afraid. Afraid of punishment from the Chief Security Guard of the Ant Kingdom.
The antfolk warriors left the waterfall and returned to the tower. While Yandez himself still remained in place, along with two antfolk workers.
The fierce-faced antfolk looked down at his two civilians who seemed to be trembling in fear.
"If the queen orders you to return, you must go back in immediately. Your actions are very dangerous."
The two antfolk lowered their heads, not daring to look at his face. They just kept quiet. Besides, making excuses would add to the punishment.
Yandez continued his reprimand. "Soon the mineral crystal will be black out. You should have gone to the tower instead of playing around in the waterfall."
The crystal minerals attached to the walls and ceiling of this cave played an important role in their survival.
Besides to growing fruits and vegetables, the bright light emitted by the crystalline minerals in the caves repels the mole from entering their territory. Moles were used to living underground, where it was dark and no light at all. They were very sensitive to light.
Hence, the moles were reluctant to enter the territory of the Ant Kingdom.
However, crystal minerals did not glow forever. Every 12 hours, the light it emitted would fade and would not be lit for another 12 hours.
"According to the rules, those who violate the order will be punished. You can't eat anything for one week."
The two antfolk felt weakness in all four knees.
If antfolk had lips, the they would probably bite them. They were truly regret for breaking the rules.
"Now, get out of my sight."
"Yes, sir," replied the two poor antfolk simultaneously.
Walking regretfully, they headed back towards the tower. Meanwhile, Yandez hissed at the sight of their backs. To him, the worker antfolk were useless slaves.
Ngeeeng ngeeeng!
Suddenly, the antennae on his head stood on end. Yandez sensed danger.
The mighty antfolk looked around, making sure no one was there. The trees, the water, the walls; his eyes scanned the corners. But he found nothing.
"Is it just my hunch?"
The antennae in his head relaxed again. Yandez finally decided to enter the tower immediately.
When the strongest monster in the Ant Kingdom left the waterfall, without him realizing it, a shadowy figure hiding behind the trees was watching him.
.
.
.
Isaac opened his eyes.
He found himself in a square cell. A plate of fruit was placed in front of him. The walls around him were earth mixed with natural stones. They looked solid and unwavering, as if there was cement covering them.
A stone grate 3 meters long and 15 cm thick fenced the cell. They were strong enough to withstand monsters, but not demon nobles.
It was easy for Isaac to destroy them. And of course he wouldn't do it or his plan would go down the drain.
"They left food for me. That means they still need me to live. The first step was a success."
Isaac grinned, then picked up an apple and bit into it. The sweet and slightly sour taste of the apple delighted his tongue.
"Let's see what happens next."
Creack! Bam!
A creaking sound followed by a bang was heard. Isaac quickly took a firm bite of his apple. He felt the presence of a powerful monster.
The sounds of heavy steps echoed down the hallway. Not long after, three antfolk arrived. Two of them were ordinary antfolk, while the other was larger and wore metal armor.
It was easy enough for Isaac to recognize who was in front of him.
"Who are you and what do you want?" a voice that was as heavy as the sound of steps in the hallway came out of Yandez's mouth.
Isaac did not answer immediately. The white-haired demon was still casually enjoying his apple.
His actions disgusted Yandez, as could be seen from the antfolk's antennae moving.
"I guess you like living in a cell, alien. But you won't last long if you ignore me."
Isaac grinned, but he covered his lips with the apple. He put the apple down, innocently saying, "I'm sorry, I'm too hungry. This apple is too delicious. I haven't eaten for days."
The mighty antfolk wrung their hands.
"Tell me your identity. What are you?"
Isaac made a surprised face. "Ah, forgive my impoliteness. My name is Isaac. I'm an explorer, originally from the surface. I research and record every single thing in this world. Not to be arrogant, but there's nothing I don't know."
The last sentence spoken by Isaac made the antenna on Yandez's head stop moving. The antfolk were curious. Even so, he had to identify Isaac first.
"Then what is your purpose here? Why did you get hurt at the waterfall?" asked the mighty antfolk.
Suddenly, Isaac's face turned dark. "They're coming. They will come and kill us all. We must prepare quickly."
Yandez was even more intrigued. "They? Who are they?"
Isaac bowed his head with a haggard face. The dungeon master then began to tell his story.
As he said earlier, Isaac was an explorer. He claimed to be a surface-dwelling human from a great empire called Earth.
His job as an explorer was to research every new thing and initiate cooperative relationships with monster nations. Thanks to this duty, he met various creatures. From those who could be savage to those with high ethics.
Once, he visited a large kingdom. A kingdom whose inhabitants were demons. They were led by nobles. The demons were cruel and cunning creatures. They pursued glory more than anything else.
Isaac tried to get them on good terms with Earth, and of course they refused.
They have ambitions to control everything on the surface.
Because he failed to establish a cooperative relationship, Isaac was finally arrested and sentenced to death. Luckily he managed to save himself.
However, they were chasing him to this day.
"So, that's my story."
Yandez was silent. Not a word came out of his mouth. While his two bodyguards vibrated the antennae on their heads.
As long as Isaac told his made-up story, the mighty antfolk did not interrupt him at all. The antfolk's facial expressions were hard to read, so it was difficult for Isaac to deduce. However, judging from the antennae that were still and motionless, he concluded that the mighty antfolk believed his words.
Silence fell between them. After both sides said nothing for a long time, Yandez finally spoke up.
"Open the cell. Bring him to the Queen. The decision is in her hands."