NOVEL WEB Chapter 119: Extreme (2)
Not at all. In Extreme Mode, things rarely go as smoothly as the group hoped.
At first, Venus's fists crushed carapaces and Rudos's spells carved through the swarm, while Irina's clones darted into the mist to split enemy attention. Yet the Chrysalis Forest was alive in ways they had not imagined.
The cocoons above their heads began to tremble. Threads of pale-green silk snapped and fell, releasing wet, clicking sounds. Within seconds, new Ants clawed their way out, but these were not the same as before. Their bodies were leaner, faster, and coated in translucent armor that shimmered with venom.
[ Variant Chrysalis Ant - Level 27 ]
Three of them landed at once, their wings buzzing, slicing through the fog like living blades.
Venus narrowly dodged a strike that shattered the ground where she stood. Rudos staggered when his shield spell cracked after a single venomous strike. Even Irina's clone melted in seconds when one Ant spat a stream of acidic saliva.
Ryuzen's Ice Guardian Armour shielded him, but even he felt the sharp bite of pressure. He glanced around, golden eyes narrowing.
The forest was not simply spawning enemies. It was evolving them in real time.
And worse—the sound of clicking mandibles carried from deeper within the forest. Something larger, heavier, was moving toward them.
Venus grinned fiercely, but sweat trickled down her neck. "Looks like this won't be as easy as before."
Ryuzen's Solar Cryo Lance shimmered to life in his palm, radiating frost and sunlight. His voice was calm, steady.
"Good. Then let us test our limits."
The Chrysalis Forest had no intention of letting them leave alive.
Buzz!
The first Variant Chrysalis Ant lunged, its venomous mandibles aiming to snap Venus in half. She ducked low, gloves glowing with fiery sparks, and drove a hook straight into its jaw.
Crack!
The impact cracked its carapace, but instead of falling, the Ant screeched and whipped its tail-like abdomen, slicing the air. Venus slid back with a curse.
Rudos thrust his staff forward, chanting in a rush. A dome of blue light formed just in time to intercept the second Ant's acid spray, though the shield hissed and melted around the edges. He gritted his teeth. "It's stronger than before! My mana won't last long like this!"
Irina multiplied into a dozen misty phantoms, each darting in different directions to distract the swarm. Two Ants snapped at illusions, their mandibles passing harmlessly through, while the real Irina circled wide with a blade drawn. She slashed at a joint, leaving a crack in the carapace. "Their armor has weak spots—go for the gaps!"
The third Variant charged at Ryuzen. His golden eyes glowed, and with a step, he vanished into haze. Mist Phantom Steps carried him to the Ant's flank in an instant. His palm drew back, condensed light and frost spiraling into a lance of radiant energy.
"Solar Cryo Lance!"
The spear of solar frost tore through the creature's thorax.
Screech!
A shriek echoed as the Ant collapsed, its body freezing from the inside before shattering like glass.
But the ground quaked. From the darkness ahead, a larger Ant emerged—its body the size of a carriage, covered in crimson chitin that radiated heat.
[ Chrysalis Ant Enforcer - Level 28 ]
It released a piercing cry, summoning the remaining swarm.
Ryuzen's breath steamed in the air. Ice Guardian Armour spread across his body in jagged plates, his draconic aura flaring. "Venus, hold the left. Rudos, Heal Us. Irina, buy me an opening."
Venus grinned savagely, flames bursting from her fists as she struck another Variant. "Alright. I will leave the big one to you."
Ryuzen didn't answer. His body blurred forward.
The Enforcer met him head-on, mandibles snapping. Ryuzen's Crimson Apex Frenzy ignited—his strikes became a storm of claws and fists enhanced by draconic might. Each blow dented the Enforcer's armor, though not enough to break it. The Ant screeched, blasting a cone of fire from its maw.
The flames engulfed him.
For a moment, everyone froze. Then the blaze parted, revealing Ryuzen's silhouette within gleaming armor of ice, the flames unable to consume him. His roar shook the forest.
The draconic breath rippled out, cracking cocoons, toppling lesser Ants, and stunning the Enforcer for an instant. That was all he needed.
Ryuzen leapt high, solar frost swirling into his body.
Slash
With a downward slash, he unleashed a condensed lance of light and ice that pierced through the Enforcer's head.
Crash!
The giant collapsed with a thunderous crash, splitting the ground.
Silence followed, broken only by the crackling of burned foliage. The swarm fell apart, leaderless, retreating into the deeper mist of Chrysalis Forest.
Felux sat heavily on a rock, sighing in exhaustion. "That was really extreme.. He muttered."
Irina let her clones fade, chest heaving, while Rudos collapsed to one knee, his staff dim.
Meanwhile, Ryuzen stood amidst the shattered body of the Enforcer.
Then A notification flickered across his vision.
[ Level Up! ]
[ Current Level: 25 ]
His mana surged, vitality thickened, and his draconic aura burned brighter than before. The team had survived their first wave in Extreme Mode, but the forest whispered deeper threats ahead.
And Ryuzen knew… the Chrysalis Queen herself was waiting.
---
[ Status ]
Name: Ryuzen De Manus
Age: 6 Years
Race/Bloodline: Solarfrost Imperial Dragon (S), Abyssal Cursed Serpent (B)
Lifespan: 700 years
Level: 25
Attributes
Strength: 475 (+30)
Agility: 468 (+20)
Vitality: 500 (+30)
Mana: 3507 (+200)
Nether: 230 (+50)
Skills (Battle/Utility)
• Eclipse Cataclysmic Roar (D)
• Ice Guardian Armour (D)
• Solar Cryo Lance (D)
• Mist Phantom Steps (D)
• Crimson Apex Frenzy (D)
• Abyssal Grasp (D)
• Sun Dragon's Gaze (E)
• Half Dragonification (E)
Skill Tree: Manus (D)
Dark Abilities (Abyssal Cursed Serpent)
• Abyssal Cursed Serpent Transformation
• Cursed Tongue
• Petrification Eyes
The jump to Level 25 gave him a significant spike in raw vitality and mana reserves, which means he can now sustain high-tier skills longer and stack abilities in sequence without burning out as quickly. His Nether value climbing also hints that his Abyssal Serpent side is getting hungrier, perhaps whispering temptations or even trying to erode his draconic balance.