As Kakarot and the others approached the volcano, heat and the smell of sulfur gradually reached them.
Kakarot suddenly detected a wave of Observation Haki sweeping openly over them, filled with brutality and killing intent, yet tempered by reason.
Lilith and the others were startled. They knew that the island's true monster had discovered them.
Kakarot was tremendously excited. "That Ant King seems really strong. I can have another all-out, exhilarating fight!"
With that, Kakarot's gaze sharpened. The immensely powerful Conqueror's Haki he had awakened when he settled on his goal shook the surrounding air, answering the Ant King.
At that moment, atop the scorching volcano, billowing smoke continuously spewed from the crater like the roars of a ferocious beast.
Fiery magma flowed freely, bathing the surroundings in red like a burning inferno.
Hellfire Demon Ants bustled about this scorching land. They were enormous, each standing a full meter tall.
Their bodies were two meters long, covered in gleaming black-and-red shells that seemed forged from flames, their blazing glow seemingly capable of igniting the air.
On their six limbs, spikes and sharp blades radiated oppressive heat like burning torches.
These demon ants busied themselves among the volcano's rocky crevices and along the edges of the magma.
Some gnawed with their hard teeth at ore that had grown even harder from the intense heat,
then swallowed it without hesitation. The sound of them chewing ore remained clearly audible amid the volcano's rumbling.
At the volcano's highest point, on a black platform formed from solidified magma, sat the king of the Hellfire Demon Ants.
He was distinctly different from ordinary Hellfire Demon Ants. He stood upright on just two legs, his tall frame nearly three meters high.
The incredibly hard exoskeleton covering his body resembled meticulously crafted crimson armor, reflecting a chilling gleam in the magma's light.
His eyes were like two burning seas of blood, their scarlet depths filled with endless brutality and slaughter, as though they could burn everything in the world to ashes.
At that moment, the Ant King held a huge beast bone, shoving it into his mouth and ravenously gnawing on it.
Crunching sounds rang out. Beneath his sharp teeth, the beast bone, as hard as steel, was like flimsy paper,
instantly crushed to pieces and then mercilessly swallowed.
Suddenly, the Ant King jerked his head up, two savage gleams shooting from his scarlet eyes.
He slowly rose from his throne. An utterly terrifying, ferocious aura swept outward from him like a raging firestorm.
The aura resembled Conqueror's Haki made tangible. Wherever it passed, the air ignited with crackling sounds.
Startled by this aura, the Hellfire Demon Ants instantly stopped what they were doing,
and knelt in perfect unison, lowering their heads deeply to express absolute submission to their king.
Sensing that aura, Kakarot fully unleashed his Observation Haki to communicate with the Ant King's Observation Haki. He discovered that the Ant King was highly intelligent.
"Hahaha! Are you showing off your strength?" Kakarot laughed, his fighting spirit boiling.
He unleashed his Conqueror's Haki at full strength. Even the sky was affected by his powerful presence, and a bank of dark clouds drifted toward the volcano in time with his steps.
Standing atop his magma-forged throne, the Hellfire Ant King let out an earth-shaking roar.
The roar echoed across the scorched land like rolling thunder, making the surrounding air twist.
A bloodthirsty gleam flickered in the Ant King's scarlet eyes as he sensed the powerful presence coming from afar.
The two flame-red antennae on his head trembled slightly, as though conveying some command to the ants under his rule.
In an instant, dozens of enormous Hellfire Demon Ants surged toward Kakarot like a black torrent.
"Haha! Lilith, you all sensed it too, right? The Ant King has sent his subordinates to 'welcome' us."
The corners of Kakarot's mouth lifted slightly, excitement gleaming in his eyes. His laughter rang out with particular exuberance amid the waves of heat.
At that moment, he felt no fear whatsoever. Instead, he was filled with anticipation for the coming battle.
"We have to do our part! We can't let a bunch of foot soldiers disturb our king."
Lina smiled softly. Her smile was like a spring breeze, yet carried a trace of unquestionable resolve.
Lilith, Vian, Iris, Emily, Simba, and Ailik all responded excitedly, the flames of battle burning in their eyes as well.
As members of the Mink Tribe, they not only possessed powerful combat instincts but were also proficient in the Six Powers.
Each also had unique combat techniques, filling them with confidence in this battle.
Since Yingyue had yet to fully recover her stamina, she stood quietly at the back, watching alongside Kakarot as Lilith and the others advanced to meet the enemy.
Before long, Lilith and the others encountered the swarm of huge black-and-red ants.
Every one of these Hellfire Demon Ants radiated a chilling aura.
Their bodies were all a meter tall and two meters long, their black-and-red shells gleaming eerily as though forged from the flames of hell.
Sharp barbs were spaced across their shells, reflecting cold killing intent in the sunlight.
Their six limbs were thick and powerful. Every step left deep footprints in the hard ground.
As their enormous jaws opened and closed, their sharp, serrated teeth were clearly visible, seemingly capable of easily crushing anything in the world.
The Hellfire Demon Ants sensed the powerful auras of Lilith and the others, but they were the overlords of this island. They never feared powerful enemies.
Without the slightest hesitation, they attacked. One particularly enormous Hellfire Demon Ant leaped high and lunged at Lilith, its jaws spread wide as it tried to bite her in half.
Lilith's gaze sharpened, and she shot toward the Hellfire Demon Ant like lightning.
Heaven-Splitting Claw Intent instantly erupted from both her claws. An invisible force seemed to gather around them, as though it would tear the sky apart.
The instant she closed in on the Hellfire Demon Ant, she swung both claws fiercely, striking its body with precision.
Under the attack of her Heaven-Splitting Claw Intent, its hard shell rang with the sound of clashing metal and developed fine cracks. The Hellfire Demon Ant let out a piercing screech of pain.
Lilith was also knocked flying, her hands trembling slightly. "What a hard shell! It's so strong, too!
"Be careful, everyone! These ants are incredibly strong!" With that, she transformed into her Sulong form, only then managing to overpower her opponent.
Seeing this, the others all transformed into their Sulong forms to increase their strength.
Meanwhile, Lina swiftly sprang into action as well. Light on her feet, she darted through the swarm like a multicolored phantom. Every sweep of her claws stirred up a hurricane.
Lina's Hurricane Claw Intent had also broken through, reaching the equivalent of a Great Swordmaster's Sword Intent. Its power was astonishing, buffeting the Hellfire Demon Ants off balance wherever it passed.
Some Hellfire Demon Ants tried to approach Lina, but the powerful winds prevented them from getting close.
Several weaker Hellfire Demon Ants were even swept straight into the air by the hurricane, their claws torn apart, before crashing heavily to the ground, unable to fight.
As a Swordmaster, Vian held a longsword, Lightning Sword Intent swirling around her.
Her gaze firm and sharp, she charged into the swarm like a streak of blue lightning.
Whenever she swung her longsword, bolts of lightning surged from its blade, lunging at the Hellfire Demon Ants like flood dragons.
The Hellfire Demon Ants struck by lightning trembled violently, dazzling arcs flashing across their shells before they collapsed to the ground, unable to fight.
Iris and Emily flew overhead like two nimble birds. Holding longbows, they nocked arrows and fired.
Every arrow carried tremendous power, its head glinting coldly in the sunlight as it shot toward the Hellfire Demon Ants like a meteor.
Some arrows could only leave dents in the Hellfire Demon Ants' shells,
while others imbued with Armament Haki triggered small explosions upon impact, dealing considerable damage to the Hellfire Demon Ants.
Simba and Ailik relied on their mastery of the Six Powers' physical techniques to fight the Hellfire Demon Ants at close range.
Their bodies were agile and their movements swift, like two fierce cheetahs.
Geppo allowed them to move nimbly through the air, avoiding the Hellfire Demon Ants' attacks while counterattacking with Finger Pistol and Rankyaku.
Their Finger Pistols were like sharp spears, stabbing precisely at the Hellfire Demon Ants' weak points;
their Rankyaku were like invisible blades, carving wounds through the swarm of Hellfire Demon Ants.
Though ferocious, the Hellfire Demon Ants gradually fell into a disadvantage against the combined attacks of Lilith and the others.
Yet these Hellfire Demon Ants showed no intention of retreating. They continued charging at Lilith and the others, one wave after another, as though they knew neither exhaustion nor fear.
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