Deep in the Baillutan ant nest.
The Ant Queen's massive body lay sprawled on the ground. Its three-meter-wide head had been blown apart by a blast of special Qi energy.
The compound eyes that had once shimmered with intelligence were now dull and lifeless. Shattered crystals lay scattered around it like broken black gems.
"Is it finally... over?"
Bai Luhao knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
His body was covered in wounds. The armor on his left shoulder had been completely shattered, exposing the bloody mess beneath. Sweat mixed with blood dripped from his brow, tracing streaks down his resolute face.
White light flared, visibly healing his wounds.
"It should be over."
Che Huiyi's voice came from nearby. She was leaning against a protruding rock, carefully wiping down her longsword with a handkerchief.
Of course, she wasn't nearly as elegant as she seemed.
She was covered in blood, too.
Some of it was hers, but most of it belonged to the monsters.
"An S-Class dungeon in H Country has finally been conquered."
She continued, her voice tinged with relief.
"Even if we did it alongside hunters from other countries, we were the ones in control."
Choi Joong-in's sudden remark brought complicated expressions to everyone's faces.
"Thank goodness he helped us through the latter half of the journey..."
He spoke quietly as he collected tissue samples from the Ant Queen with a special tool, his eyes discreetly glancing in one direction.
Everyone had heard him to some extent. Their eyes flickered, and they couldn't help feeling grateful to the Wind Hidden One.
Although the Wind Hidden One had remained in the shadows and hadn't coordinated much with them,
there was no denying that he had killed more ant monsters than all of them combined.
By then, Choi Joong-in had finished collecting