Chapter 208 | The Apocalypse Landlady

“Those ants... they’re truly terrifying.”

“Yeah,” Iron Bone replied, a tremor of lingering fear in his voice. “They were everywhere. You could never kill them all.”

“When we were running, I caught a glimpse of some black objects scattered near the nest...” Cold Wind said softly, almost as if talking to himself.

Iron Bone’s pace faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

Black objects? What objects?

How come I didn't see anything...

Iron Bone’s ability wasn't suited for mental power, but he wasn't stupid.

He knew Cold Wind wouldn't bring up the Non-Safe Zone now or fabricate stories about “black objects” without a reason.

Suppressing his confusion, he followed Cold Wind’s lead. “You saw them too?”

Cold Wind nodded, lowering his voice even further. “A few pieces of remains, scattered among the rubble around the ant nest.”

“They looked like the scales and bones of some animal. Pitch black and quite large.”

“True, that Aberrant must have been massive when it was alive,” Iron Bone remarked with a click of his tongue.

“But so what if it was big? It still got picked clean by those Blood-Scythe Ants. What a miserable way to go.”

“The color and texture of those scales... I feel like I've seen them somewhere before...” Cold Wind furrowed his brow, seemingly trying hard to remember.

“Incredibly black. When you look at them in the light, they seem to absorb it. There wasn't a single reflection.”

Iron Bone thought for a moment. “Now that you mention it, I think I've seen something similar.”

“Back when I was out on missions, I heard old hunters mention an Aberrant that can hide in shadows. Its scales had that exact texture.”

Cold Wind nodded. “Yes, that's the one. They can slip in and out of shadows, appearing and disappearing like ghosts.”

“A shame.” Cold Wind shook his head. “The carcass was already in pieces. Only a few scales and bones were left. The core was probably eaten by the ants long ago.”

“Even if the core were still there, who would dare go back for it?” Iron Bone snorted.

“That place is still the territory of the Blood-Scythe Ants. With our strength, we'd just be throwing our lives away.”

Cold Wind smiled and said nothing more.

He glanced at Iron Bone, who looked back at him. The two shifted the topic in silent understanding.

“Say, what do you think the higher-ups will do with us once we get back?”

“Who knows...” Iron Bone sighed. “We're at the mercy of fate.”

They continued their casual conversation, maintaining a steady pace.

Two hundred meters behind them.

Butcher was hidden in the shadows of the ruins, his yellow-green vertical pupils narrowing slightly.

Not a single word of Cold Wind and Iron Bone’s conversation had escaped his ears.

Black scales...

Absorbing light, no reflection.

Hiding in shadows, appearing and disappearing like ghosts.

Reduced to remains by Blood-Scythe Ants, scattered around the nest.

Butcher’s lips slowly curled back, revealing a row of jagged, yellow teeth.

Based on their conversation, Butcher was certain those black remains most likely belonged to a Shadow Lizard!

A Level 4 Shadow-type Aberrant.

That scale texture and the ability to hide in shadows—there was no mistaking it.

Such creatures were extremely rare because their stealth was too powerful. Even Ability Users of the same rank would find it difficult to track them in the dark.

But Blood-Scythe Ants were different.

They didn't rely on sight or perception; they relied on pheromones.

No matter how strong a Shadow Lizard’s stealth was, it couldn't mask its scent.

And before tens of thousands of Blood-Scythe Ants, any creature would be overwhelmed.

If it was a Shadow Lizard... then there was a high probability of a Shadow Crystal!

Butcher’s heart rate quickened slightly.

He had only recently promoted to Level 4, and his realm was still unstable.

If he could get a Shadow Crystal and absorb the pure energy within, his foundation would be completely stabilized.

Only then could he truly exert the power of a Level 4.

Blood-Scythe Ants weren't interested in energy crystals; they only ate flesh.

If the crystal inside the Shadow Lizard hadn't been destroyed when it was being eaten, it was very likely lying somewhere near the ant nest.

Whether Cold Wind was telling the truth or not, he had to go check.

Butcher stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the two figures still walking slowly ahead.

He had followed them all this way and hadn't gained any useful information.

These two were tight-lipped, never saying a word they shouldn't.

But that casual chatter just now had revealed an unexpected piece of news.

The smile on Butcher’s face widened.

He turned, his body turning into a wisp of black smoke that merged silently into the shadows of the ruins as he sped toward the Non-Safe Zone.

Cold Wind and Iron Bone continued forward.

Neither looked back, nor did they notice anything unusual behind them.

Butcher had left intentionally covertly, and his departure went completely unnoticed by the two.

They assumed Butcher was still following them, maintaining that two-hundred-meter distance.

But Su Wan knew.

【Ding! System Prompt—】

【Location data for enslaved targets “Cold Wind” and “Iron Bone” has been updated, but the unknown target moving in sync with them has left the tracking range.】

【The system can no longer lock the position of said target.】

【Inference: The target has broken off pursuit.】

Su Wan looked at the prompt on the system panel, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Butcher had indeed taken the bait.

By the time Su Wan received the system prompt, she was already on her way to the Blood-Scythe Ant nest.

The Terminal Station was much closer to the nest than Cold Wind and the others were.

The straight-line distance from the edge of Area A7 to the nest deep within the Green Abyss was only about twenty miles.

With Su Wan’s Level 3 Late Stage speed, traveling at full tilt, it would take her less than half an hour.

Meanwhile, Cold Wind and the others were still at the edge of Area A5, at least sixty miles from the nest.

Even if Butcher turned back immediately after breaking off, it would take him twice as long.

Su Wan had set out early, giving her a clear advantage.

By the time she reached the edge of the Green Abyss, the sun was already sinking in the west. The hazy sky light filtered through the dense canopy, casting mottled shadows on the ground.