Chapter 359: Whispers in the woods

"Phew, that was one unnecessary battle," Erik muttered, wiping the sweat off his brow. "Those Xeridon Anteris were certainly nasty. I hope never to find them again…"

Erik stood motionless amid the bloody mayhem, which consisted of the lifeless bodies of the Xeridon Anteris strewn across the forest's ground. The scene served as a jarring instance of how dangerous the forest could be.

"Thank the gods. I managed to thin them a bit during the chase," he continued, his voice filled with relief. "Imagine if there were more of them or if they were stronger. It would have been a real bother."

The defeated ants were now motionless and cut down; their armored exoskeletons shone brightly in the diminishing light.

Erik's eyes moved quickly from one lifeless form to another, each of which stood for a life that had been lost in the struggle for survival. However, he could not allow himself to become complacent or take these victories for granted because he could not afford to do so.