Steel Walls Were Hard to Shake

The night pressed down on the mouth of the valley until it could barely breathe. Mist rolled like a black tide, accompanied by the ants' cries rising and falling. The giant silhouette stood in the center of the breach. The instant it raised its forelimbs, even the air seemed to tighten under the pressure. Its body was enormous, its shell thick, and its spines stood erect. Just standing there, it resembled an impassable barrier.

The defensive line had completely collapsed. Wooden stakes lay broken, stone bunkers had caved in, and acid mixed with mud into a viscous flow that gave off a pungent stench. Ordinary ant soldiers kept pouring through the breach, far more numerous than before, pressing forward along three routes. Their movements were no longer chaotic. They rose and fell with the giant silhouette's rhythm, advancing and retreating with a faint trace of order.

The blade swept across, cleaving through the neck armor of the foremost ant. Green fluid sprayed out and immediately gave off white smoke when it struck the muddy ground. The ant toppled over, its tail thrashing wildly and snapping several remaining stakes. But two more ants immediately lunged in, their forelimbs stabbing straight toward the chest like blades. I retreated half a step and flicked my blade backhanded, forcing one away. The other circled to the side and whipped its tail around, smashing toward me with a howling gust of wind. My shoulder jerked as I barely dodged it. Acid grazed my sleeve, immediately leaving a scorched mark.

The giant silhouette finally exerted its strength. Its forelimb slammed down, and the muddy ground collapsed with a roar as stones and acid flew in every direction. The force of the impact traveled through the earth, making my chest feel tight and my steps stagger. I