The Pursuit Of Power

- Outside the Ant Cave -

"We're being sent to check up on Charlie since they fell out of contact... what are they doing anyway?" Izawa Ippei said as he jumped through the trees with Kei not far behind him.

"Hey, slow down."

Descending, they arrived at an approximate location of where they were before losing contact with Charlie.

"About here, I guess?" Turning around allowed him to survey the area behind him and get a better overview of what happened nearby.

'Signs of combat, I didn't think they'd have trouble dealing with the Ants.' Thinking as he observed the Ant carcasses, Izawa turned to Kei when he spoke.

"Where the hell did they disappear to?" As he heard Kei, Izawa suddenly saw something that made his eyes widen.

Picking them up, he showed Kei who's eyes also widened.

"Fujimiya's glasses?!"

They walked along the traces of battle that they were led to by finding Fujishima the ginger guy's glasses.

"I-it can't be... no... impossible." A horrid expression took its place on Izawa's face, Kei gagged before he removed his mask and threw up something brown.

'THIS STENCH! WHAT IS THIS?! I NEVER SMELLED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!'

Kei's senses revealed something was in front of him, a blast of ice erupted from his body, and the entire area in front of him was covered with a layer of ice whilst the ground had spikes poking up from it.

Seeing his reflection against his ice, Kei breathed out sharply before 3 black rays sliced his ice apart and blood splattered against the floor and coated the shattered ice with a crimson hue.

---

Inside the Ant Cave where the Korean S-Ranks were fighting, carcasses littered the ground as an abundance of Ants were slain.

"We've spent 15 minutes in here so far, let's keep moving. By my estimates, we can make it out in 30 minutes at our slowest pace." Yuuki said as he turned his head towards a certain direction and his eyes glowed with a light that made Cha Hae In think that he could see everything. "Let's keep going."

Shortly after, Cha Hae In's nose itched as a smell similar to the other Ants covered her nose.

"You can smell the Queen right now. She's with her bodyguards."

As they walked in, they saw the huge Queen at the rear with all of her Guards in front of her. They numbered 9 in total with the Guards being all S Ranks.

"Well, Ma Dong-Wook can go handle the Queen, the rest of you are enough to deal with the Guards perfectly well."

Choi Jong-In released his flames as the attack began.

"I've always believed in moderation, at least for today, I believe it would be a waste not to use my full power."

Coiling dragons formed by flame flew forward.

An Ant appeared behind Choi Jong-In but arrows shot by Lim Tae Gyu removed the threat from him and covered Choi Jong-In's back.

'Right, there's no need to save up my strength.'

Even though Baek Yoon-Ho felt it was unnecessary to use his whole strength as so far with Byung-Gu and Yuuki's buffs, he felt invincible anyway. However, he wanted to let go of his restraint and this was the perfect time to do so.

Baek Yoon-Ho's head of orange hair glowed white as it grew along with his body. Claws formed on his fingers and his bulging body broke the armor he was wearing.

'So that's his Transformation ability. Not going to lie, it looks pretty cool.' Nodding his head in appreciation, Yuuki watched for a sign of danger but was glad to find none so far. The Hunters easily dealt with the Ants which made them disbelieve in everything they previously thought. The entire time they had been on the Island, they felt Yuuki's aura over them which made them feel as though he was right behind them even when he was across the cave. They noticed the aura over the Ants but it produced different effects.

Truly, a 30% decrease in strength was too great to deal with. Alongside the 25% buff, Byung-Gu's buffs were overkill, literally. Though the aura did not decrease the Ants defensive abilities and only their offensive capabilities, it was still good.

As Ma Dong-Wook was occupying the Queen, the A-Rank part-time Hunter walked forward as he was told to get a better view. Yuuki held him back by his vest.

"Your life is in your hands if you go forward. Stay here and watch." Yuuki's handsome face became the only thing on the screen momentarily before it turned back to the fight. Some Hunters noticed that he had been sending spells without looking yet they landed exactly where they needed to.

---

Hana sat on the couch watching the Raid so far and her eyes glimmered as Yuuki came onto the screen. Before, she had seen Cha Hae In's interest in him and watched as he talked with her. She could not help but feel a tightness in her c.h.e.s.t before it disappeared after she realized the stupidity of her thoughts. Love could blind someone sometimes and the fear of losing it could remove the ability to have a cognitive function. Hana was not blinded, she knew Yuuki, he was the only person she knew.

Ever since Yuuki entered the Red Gate, their lives had been getting better. Hana felt that everything was perfect, she smiled beautifully as she watched the raid without letting her feelings cloud her judgment, and calmly got rid of the feelings of dislike for the memories it brought with it. The good can get rid of the bad, in this case, Yuuki's presence completely changed her impression of the Raid in her mind. She separated their parents' deaths from the Raid as Yuuki did.

At this moment, she wished Yuuki was home so that she could cuddle with him.

---

Across the country, people watched with angst as the number of bodyguards decreased one by one. Each defeat was a roar for the citizens as the screamed so loudly in joy. Korea was so close to closing an S-Rank Gate!

---

"Everyone! Let's push!" Ma Dong-Wook shouted as he waved his shield to block a flurry of attacks from the Queen.

Lim Tae Gyu sent arrows that hit the Ant Queen's mandibles and stunned it temporarily.

Baek Yoon-Ho slashed at its body with his large claws releasing a purple liquid that oozed from the marks he created.

Suddenly, the Ant Queen was about to release a liquid that was harmful from its mouth but was stopped by a small dark orb that absorbed the entire attack before the orb exploded and coated the Ant in the liquid it just released as an attack.

"Everyone back up!" Choi Jong-In stepped forward and his hand glowed a fervent orange whilst pillars of flame erupted and torched the Queen.

The Queen was in its dying light. Like a setting sun, its light began to dim.

So, when it screeched, naturally, the Hunters prepared themselves to fend off an attack.

So why did it collapse instead?

Dreadful Mana came pouring onto them in waves.