The chamber fell into eerie silence as the Ant Queen fell down to the ground and died.
Then after a brief moment of silence, all the Ants turned back and menacingly glared at Nihil, then, they all charged at Nihil simultaneously.
Nihil thought inwardly, All living things die if I touch them… no matter who or what they are. But what would happen if I touched the ground itself? The earth is not alive, yet it is connected to every living thing.
He remembered what Shirley once told him, beneath the surface of the world flowing a vast reservoir of energy, spreading across the earth like endless lakes and rivers hidden underground.
The ants rushed toward him in a frenzy, their mandibles clacking sharply. Calmly, Nihil bent down and placed his hand against the ground. Closing his eyes, he focused deeply, searching for the hidden flow beneath the surface.
It did not take long.
He felt it.
A massive current of energy stretching endlessly beneath the earth, connecting forests, rivers, creatures, and life itself.
Nihil slowly opened his eyes. The ants were already upon him. Staring directly into the lead ant's eyes, he whispered,
"Death Wave."
Dark death energy surged from his hand into the earth's natural pathways, corrupting the life force flowing beneath the world. The ground itself became an extension of Nihil's touch.
The ants collapsed one after another.
Then hundreds.
Then thousands.
Soon, the entire colony was silent buried beneath mountains of lifeless corpses.
But the death did not stop there.
It spread beyond the colony and consumed the forest itself. Trees withered into ash-gray husks. Grass blackened and crumbled. Birds fell from the sky while insects dropped dead onto the soil. Animals collapsed where they stood, and fish floated lifelessly upon poisoned lakes.
Whether beautiful or ugly, predator or prey, strong or weak, wild or tame-
Death did not discriminate.
It took all alike.
Milize standing on a high cliff watching the vast ant forest withered away before her very eyes, her eyes widened as sweet dripping from her face she said In a terrified tone "We shouldn't have revived this monster"
Nihil standing in front of pile of corpse's his eyes glowing purple, he said "Training complete let's go home"
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Nihil's head "Your common rank skill: Death has evolved into a noble rank skill: Noble of Death!"
Nihil said "What is that?... well, I will ask Milize later"
Then, Nihil turned back and walked away.
As he left the colony, he found Milize standing in front of the entrance waiting for him.
Nihil stood there for a while, then rushed toward Milize and asked her in a soft and worried tone "Sorry, Are you waiting for me?"
Milize nodded, then she raised her hand and petted Nihil's head and gently said "Well done! you did a great job, my lord"
Nihil looked down, there a little smile on his face, he said inwardly "First time someone praised me it's look like all the suffering does not go in vein"
Milize raised her hand and asked to Nihil "Shall, we go, my lord"
Nihil nodded and grabbed Milize's hand as Milize activate her spell "Teleport" and they both vanished from the forest.
Milize and Nihil teleported to the church of Ignis.
Nihil said in amazement "It's really amazing, we were just in forest, now we're on the church"
Milize said "My lord, Please go take a bath, I have things to report to Lady Alice"
Nihil nodded his head and asked "Really I can take bath" Milize nodded, Nihil asked "But where's the bath"
Milize raised her hand and place on top of Nihil and head "Teleport", she teleport Nihil into the corridor in front of the bath at the top of the bath entrance there a board says "men"
Nihil pulled aside the blue curtain and stepped into the bathhouse. Smooth marble covered the floor beneath his feet, while the ceiling above was carved with intricate patterns. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged boxes and folded towels.
He quietly removed his clothes and placed them inside one of the wooden compartments. Wrapping a white towel around his waist, he pushed aside the second curtain and entered the bath.
Warm steam rose from the water, carrying the soothing scent of herbs through the air. Nihil inhaled deeply before carefully lowering one foot into the bath.
"It's hot..." he muttered softly"
Slowly, he sank into the water, letting the warmth surround his tired body. His tense muscles finally relaxed as he closed his eyes breathing in the calming fragrance. Nihil said "So this is what it feels like to take a bath... This is my first time... Ah... it's amazing."
A faint smile appeared on his face. After enduring countless hardships and a long, brutal battle, Nihil finally found a moment of peace. Before long, the warmth and comfort pulled him into a deep sleep.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Enter" A delicate female voice grants the permission
Milize enters the room and bows down, Alice sitting on the sofa calmly drinking her tea with a slight smile on her face, she asks "So... how did the first training session go?"
Milize said her tone respectful yet carries a hint of fear "My lady... my lord, Nihil, successful completed the first training session and-"
Alice cut Milize mid sentence and asked with impatience "That's not what I wanted to know. Tell me about his power, his fighting style, his strategy... What exactly did he do?"
Milize lowered her head slightly before replying, "Lord Nihil destroyed the entire Ant Forest... He wiped out every living creature within it."
The teacup slipped from Alice's hand and shattered against the floor. The smile on her face vanished instantly as she rose from the sofa in shock. She said "What...? He destroyed the entire Ant Forest? How is that even possible?"
"My apologies, my lady" Milize answered nervously. "I failed to comprehend it myself."
Alice slowly sat back down, her expression darkening. "Where is he right now?"
Milize replied "Lord Nihil is currently taking a bath."
"Go" she ordered in a commanding tone. "Keep an eye on Nihil at all times. And next time, do your job properly. If you fail again, there will be consequences. Understood?"
Sweat rolled down Milize's face as she quickly bowed.
"Yes, my lady."
Without another word, she turned and left the room.